HP: Wizards at Hogwarts

Clearly, Hermione wouldn't do something like asking Dumbledore to punish Elaine.

She would never betray her friend!

But seeing Elavin's arrogant "what can you do to me?" attitude, she still couldn't swallow her anger.

"Harry, Ron, Neville, aren't you going to say anything?"

Harry immediately realized what was happening, nodded, and looked at Elaine with gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, Elaine. You saved me again!"

Hermione: "...??"

Did I ask you to say this?!

Elaine laughed heartily: "Hey~ that's too polite!"

"Even if we weren't friends and I had to help in danger, I would still have done it even if I were the only one here."

Hermione could only look at Neville.

However, Elaine beat him to it, stepping forward to help Neville up from the ground.

"Are you alright, Neville?"

"The ground is cold, be careful not to catch a cold!"

Neville stood up and gave Elaine a silly, good-natured smile. "I'm fine, thank you, Elaine!"

Seeing that there was no hope for those two, Hermione could only look at the last person on the scene.

Even though she was still angry with Ron, she still hoped he could support her.

Hermione secretly decided that as long as Ron was on her side, she would forgive his previous bluntness no matter what he said, even if it was just a simple "Hermione, you're so smart".

Ron noticed Hermione's gaze and immediately realized this was an opportunity to mend their relationship. He gave her a confident smile that said, "Don't worry, leave it all to me," before turning to look at Elaine.

"Elevin, that was an amazing move!"

"How did you do that? Can you teach us?!"

"Oh, and let's teach Hermione too, she seems really interested."

Hermione: "..."

What is this idiot saying?!

Was that what my look just now meant?!

I knew I shouldn't have had any expectations of these boys!

Elivin took in their reactions throughout, a smile creeping onto his lips: "Sorry, this magic is a personal talent; it can't be taught."

"Oh, I see. Then there's nothing we can do..."

Ron nodded, giving Hermione a helpless look.

Hermione's face darkened, and she immediately turned her head away.

Ron muttered to himself: This girl is so hard to please!

Harry cautiously approached the Cerberus ice sculpture and reached out to touch it.

"Is it dead?"

"He's not dead yet, he's just temporarily frozen."

Elivin explained, "My magic will not harm the bodily functions of the sealed person. Even if the person frozen is an ordinary human, they will be as lively as ever after being unsealed."

Harry exclaimed, "That's incredible!"

Neville couldn't help but exclaim, "I've never heard of magic like this in the magical world..."

Ron and Hermione also stepped forward.

"Tell me, what is Professor Dumbledore doing? I mean, why did he leave such a big dog here?"

"What are your eyes for? Didn't you see it's standing on a trapdoor? This big guy is obviously guarding something!"

After Hermione's reminder, Harry and the others moved closer and looked at the ground.

Although the ground was frozen, the ice was very clear and clean, and the environment underneath was clearly visible.

"It really is a trapdoor!"

"So... what do you think is hidden here?"

Harry suddenly remembered what Hagrid had told him earlier—

"If you want to hide something, Gringotts is the safest place in the world—probably besides Hogwarts."

He felt he might know what was inside.

"I...may know."

"You know?"

Hermione, Ron, and Neville all turned to look at Harry.

Harry looked at Elaine, however.

Unfortunately, Elaine looked completely uninterested.

Harry's face showed a hint of disappointment, but he still expressed his thoughts.

"The day Hagrid found me, he took something from Gringotts, saying that Professor Dumbledore had sent him to get it, and it seemed he intended to hide it."

"Then, not long after, Gringotts was attacked."

"I guess the attackers were after that thing, but it's been moved to Hogwarts and is now hidden there."

The attack on Gringotts was a major event in the wizarding world. They had all heard the news, and now, hearing Harry's speculation, their hearts were filled with turmoil.

"What do you think it is that would warrant an attack on Gringotts to steal it, and that it would need to be sent to Hogwarts so that Dumbledore would send this big dog to guard it?"

Hermione's mind began to wander.

Ron guessed, "It's either extremely valuable, extremely dangerous, or both."

"Perhaps Harry has seen him before?" Neville looked at Harry.

Harry shook his head: "I only remember it being about two inches long, but that's all I can think of."

"Why don't we go down and take a look? Aren't you curious?"

Ron enthusiastically encouraged everyone.

Harry looked somewhat interested, while Hermione and Neville showed absolutely no interest.

"Sorry, I'm not curious at all about what that thing is!"

"I agree. Since Dumbledore hid that thing here and even arranged for guards, there must be a reason! If it really is dangerous, how many of us have survived?"

Ron thought Neville's words made a lot of sense and was speechless for a moment.

Hermione said smugly, "Now you understand? Whatever it is, it's safe in here. We should worry less about things that aren't our concern."

"Where is it safe to put it here?"

Ron was somewhat unconvinced: "Look, this big dog was frozen solid by Eleven in an instant, which means its security is completely inadequate!"

Hermione sneered, "Do you think just anyone can freeze an entire corridor instantly like Elaine, plus a magical creature that looks at least XXXX level?"

Elivin was pleased with this statement: "That's right, not everyone is as good as me!"

Harry joined in: "But, Elaine, now that you've frozen the dog, doesn't that mean anyone can get off?"

"But only someone who can melt my ice will do!"

"Your ice... By the way, what's the deal with your ice?"

Harry finally realized something he had overlooked: "It's only September, the temperature hasn't dropped yet. Logically, after so many days, the ice on the Black Lake should have melted by now, but in fact, it hasn't moved an inch."

"Won't your ice melt?"

Elaine's answer was concise and to the point.

"Unless I personally thaw it, there are probably no more than three people in the world capable of breaking it!"