The small commotion caused by Crookshanks's cat-chases-mouse episode dissipated in an instant under Glenn and Hermione's swift handling, and Ron, Scabbers's owner, swallowed his complaints before voicing them due to their reasonable approach.
A few days later, Ron even came to thank Glenn separately because the effects of the nutritional potions and other remedies Glenn had given him for Scabbers were unexpectedly brilliant.
"It's nothing. We were at fault first, so that was our compensation. No need for thanks."
This was Glenn's reply. Although certain unpleasant memories from first year were still vivid and hard to forget, Glenn wasn't someone who held grudges or was petty-minded...
...Well, alright, alright. Under Hermione's guidance and education, Glenn had learned to control himself and keep his petty thoughts contained within his heart.
At the very least, he wouldn't show it in his behavior toward others. If he really had any schemes, he would certainly implement them in the shadows.
But there was no need for that now.
Ron was quite surprised by the attitude Glenn displayed.
"Honestly, I think my previous impression of you was too harsh, but you... actually seem like a decent bloke?"
Glenn made no comment on this, nodded slightly at Ron in acknowledgment, then turned and left.
There was still much to do today. The renovation and upgrading of Hogwarts's protective measures couldn't be considered complete just by installing surveillance systems.
This task required enormous amounts of time. It couldn't be accomplished overnight, nor could he spend large chunks of time on it every day.
Otherwise, he'd have no time to spend with Hermione.
So Glenn had already arranged a daily schedule for himself, completing this task bit by bit through fragmented moments.
For others, such an arrangement might be completely unacceptable, but for Glenn...
This was Glenn, after all.
As if foretelling that something dreadful was about to happen, the peaceful campus life was suddenly struck by several utterly ghastly incidents at various times and places.
Like some upper-year student slipping and nearly plummeting from the moving staircases, or students' cauldrons exploding inexplicably one after another in Potions class, plus Professor Trelawney constantly churning out terrifying prophecies—the atmosphere within Hogwarts took a sharp nosedive.
During these days, the weather was almost constantly overcast. The young wizards hadn't glimpsed bright sunshine for ages, and with the Dementors prowling around the Hogwarts grounds in clusters, the air in the school became even more suffocating.
It was as if the pleasant atmosphere of the previous month and a half had been nothing but an illusion, requiring only the slightest disturbances to tear away the protective veil of self-comfort that shrouded everyone's hearts.
Something unpleasant also happened in Glenn's circle.
Well, more accurately, around Hermione.
On the morning of October 16th, before Transfiguration class, Lavender received a letter from home. After the group reached the classroom, she finally had time to examine it. But just after scanning through it, she burst into tears with a heart-wrenching wail.
"Lavender, what's wrong?"
Hermione, who had just been discussing Animagus transformation with Glenn, immediately turned her head upon hearing the crying, looking toward the sobbing Lavender.
"My... sob... my rabbit... Binky... the one at home... was killed by a fox!"
Hermione rose and embraced Lavender, offering comfort, hoping this would ease her pain. But Parvati, who was beside them, suddenly paled upon hearing this.
"Does this mean Professor Trelawney's prophecy... came true?!"
Hermione froze for a moment, then immediately grasped the implication.
"You mean that so-called prophecy about 'the thing you fear most will happen on October 16th'?"
As their roommate, Hermione naturally knew about this from dormitory chatter even though she didn't take Divination class. It's just that compared to other matters, Professor Trelawney's prophecies were...
...really far too numerous, and Hermione didn't pay much attention to them, so she hadn't made this connection at all.
From this perspective, Professor Trelawney's prophecies were indeed credible...
Were they?
Wait, thinking more carefully, something seemed off.
The definition of "happening" is "the moment when a certain event produces some change." If what Lavender feared most was "fearing that her rabbit Binky would die," then that means "rabbit Binky's death" would have occurred today.
But writing letters and having owls deliver them takes time, plus considering the distance between Lavender's home and Hogwarts, this letter couldn't possibly have reached Lavender's hands on the same day.
So Lavender's rabbit definitely couldn't have died today—that is, October 16th.
Therefore, this incident couldn't be matched to Professor Trelawney's prophecy.
As her thoughts raced, Hermione recalled an evaluation she had once read in a book:
"So-called prophecies involve giving the prophesied person some exceedingly vague judgment, thereby planting psychological suggestion in their hearts. When events that seem to fit the 'prophecy' occur, the prophesied person will subconsciously believe the prophecy has manifested in their life, matching the event to the prediction.
Cast a wide net, and you'll always catch some fish."
From this perspective, Lavender's incident...
All the above thinking was Hermione's subconscious analysis after hearing Lavender's tearful account. The little girl usually approached things with absolute rationality.
However...
Listening to Lavender's heartbroken sobbing against her shoulder, Hermione's absolutely rational thinking could only remain internal—she couldn't voice those analytical words no matter what.
At this moment, after rational consideration, Hermione's emotional side emerged to exert influence.
She remained silent. In this situation, rashly offering analytical comfort might cause Lavender's emotions to deteriorate further. Silent companionship and warmth was what this little girl who had just lost her beloved pet truly needed.
Right now, regardless of what the truth might be, a warm hug from a friend was obviously far more appropriate than cold judgment about the mechanics of prophecies.
"Oh..."
Parvati, like Hermione, also wrapped her arms around them, soothing the crying Lavender with a tender embrace.
More and more young wizards were drawn by the commotion. Seeing this, Hermione immediately caught Glenn's eye. He understood and began quietly explaining what had happened to the approaching students.
Sharing the same oppressive environment, humans are remarkably prone to empathy, especially with classmates they'd spent three years alongside. The more articulate young wizards offered gentle words of comfort, while those less skilled with words were tactfully held back by their friends to avoid worsening the situation.
In such an incredibly suffocating atmosphere, only the warm care shared between humans could pierce through the gloom.
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