A day at Hogwarts.

Chapter 642 I'll talk to him later.

Pacing back and forth can sometimes make people increasingly irritable.

Percy said impatiently, "We have to do something; we can't let him continue like this."

“I’m already looking for a solution,” Hermione reassured her. “I’ve heard that Charles knows how to isolate the effects of dark magic. I’ll ask him for help another day.”

Percy stopped, his expression relaxing slightly, and said, "Thank you, Hermione."

“I know Ron can be…stubborn at times.”

He had also considered asking Charles for help, but Hermione's intervention was different from his own; just look at the decor of this private room and you'll understand.

Hermione poured tea for Percy and herself again, took a sip, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I think I know why Ron has changed like this."

Hermione gently set down her teacup, the bottom of which struck the silver tray with a crisp, lingering sound that stood out starkly against the tranquility of the luxurious private room.

The firelight danced in the fireplace, illuminating her worried face, and the golden flames cast a warm glow on her hair.

She looked at Percy, her eyes filled with worry, and said, "Percy, you have to understand that Ron becoming a prefect this year comes with tremendous pressure."

Percy nodded slightly and said seriously, "Of course I understand. The prefect has a great responsibility, representing an example and a duty."

He subconsciously straightened his back, as if to show off his former prefectural leader demeanor.

“The pressure is heavier for him than for others,” Hermione said. “Ron’s brothers are all prefects, oh… except Fred and George.”

As she said this, somewhere far away in Hogwarts Castle, the Weasley twins, who were testing a new product, sneezed at the same time and felt a strange pang of sadness.

Hermione continued, "Ron felt he had to achieve something to live up to his prefect badge, to prove himself in this wonderful family, and to set a good example for Ginny."

Percy's brow furrowed even more as he stared through his glasses at the flickering fire, as if he could see his brother's anxious figure reflected in it.

“The Weasleys never demand that their children do anything…” he murmured.

“But families unconsciously bring expectations to everyone,” Hermione interrupted him gently, “and last year, the Triwizard Tournament.”

Her voice lowered slightly as she said, "Seamus became a champion, and I, Harry, and Neville became his assistants."

"Although our experience was more like a game, it was still a formal competition."

“And Ron… he didn’t even have the chance to become an assistant.”

“During that time, he always felt… that he was useless and couldn’t help at all.”

Percy fell silent, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

He recalled the words in Ron's letter last year, words that were meant to be lighthearted but couldn't hide his disappointment.

He was busy with his work at the Ministry of Magic at the time and only offered a few words of comfort. Looking back now, he may have overlooked his brother's deep-seated unease.

“I understand,” Percy took a deep breath, his voice heavy. “The pressure of grades, the unspoken expectations of his family, the frustrations of the past… all of these combined can be suffocating. He desperately needs to find an outlet to prove his abilities and worth.”

Hermione hesitated for a moment, her fingertips turning slightly white from gripping the teacup so tightly.

She made up her mind, lowered her voice as if worried that the luxurious private room itself had ears, and said, "There's one more thing, Percy."

“Ron… he not only used contract magic, he also… organized a duel.” Percy jerked his head up, his eyes wide behind his glasses, and asked incredulously, “A duel? What duel?”

"School rules explicitly prohibit students from organizing duels in private!"

“In the Room of Requirement,” Hermione said quickly, as if she would lose courage if she didn’t say it all at once, “he made Gerald and Pedro sign a magical contract to duel in an octagon, and the loser would automatically withdraw from pursuing that girl.”

"He also persuaded the other prefects to watch the fight outside the octagon wearing masks."

Percy's face drained of color, as if he had heard the most unbelievable horror story.

"This...this...has he gone mad?!"

"Organizing a duel privately, and in this... this almost gladiator-like form!"

"If Umbridge, or any professor, finds out..."

“I know this is dangerous and irrational,” Hermione said urgently, “but it may be an extreme reaction to his stress.”

"He was too eager to solve the problem and too eager to prove that he was in control of the situation."

Percy stood up again and paced on the thick carpet once more, his steps more agitated than before, muttering to himself, "No, this absolutely can't go on!"

"He used immature magic to organize illegal duels, and his temper became volatile... It was like a vicious cycle."

“We can’t just stand by and watch him go astray like this. He needs guidance, he needs real help, not this dangerous self-affirmation.”

“I agree,” Hermione stood up, her eyes resolute. “We have to talk to him. But the question is, when and how?”

Percy stopped, clenched his fists, and then slowly opened them.

He tried to calm himself down and said, "Going to him now? When he's under the most pressure before his monthly exam? That might backfire and cause an even more intense conflict."

Hermione thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Many people are preparing for the upcoming monthly exams, and they are very irritable at this time. It's normal for people to get angry easily."

"Then let's wait until after the monthly exam. No matter what the result is, his emotions will eventually calm down."

"If we talk about it then, he might be more receptive to it."

“That makes sense,” Percy agreed, walking to the window and watching the young students walking out of the neighboring Madame Patif’s Tea House on the street below. Their relaxed and carefree attitude contrasted sharply with the heavy topics being discussed inside the private room. “Then let’s wait until after the monthly exams at the end of the month.”

"In the meantime, Hermione, please... keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't do anything any more outrageous."

“I will,” Hermione solemnly promised. “I will also intensify my search for a safe way to remove the effects of the Dark Magic.”

The two eventually reached a consensus and decided to hold back for the time being and wait for a more suitable opportunity.

Percy picked up his briefcase and prepared to leave.

Before pushing open the heavy, carved wooden door, he glanced back at Hermione and said in a complicated tone, "Thank you for telling me this, Hermione, although... it's really worrying."

Hermione saw him to the door and replied, "Because we all care about him, Percy."

(End of this chapter)