"Mom, what's the date today?" Hermione asked, her lips pursed in impatience.
"June fourteenth! Darling, that's the eleventh time you've asked me since you woke up this morning," Mrs. Granger replied, her patience unwavering.
"Then tonight, Qin should be at the End-of-Term Feast at Hogwarts," Hermione muttered under her breath.
"Mmhmm, and with Qin taking first place in his year, the professors will surely have plenty of praise for him," Mrs. Granger said, already well aware of Qin's results thanks to her daughter.
"Tomorrow morning, he'll board the train, and he should be home by afternoon or evening," Hermione continued, still half-talking to herself.
"Yes, dear!" Mrs. Granger could only nod along—otherwise, Hermione would keep going all day.
Seizing the moment, she interjected, "Sweetheart, you'd better finish your breakfast, or you'll be late for your exams. You wouldn't want to tell Qin you flunked a test when he gets back, would you?"
"I'll eat up and head out now! I'm definitely going to be first in my year, too!" Hermione declared, her eyes shining with determination.
"That's my girl. Here, let me pour you another glass of juice," Mrs. Granger said with a smile, getting up from the table.
"Thank you, Mum!" Hermione replied sweetly.
She made quick work of her breakfast and drained her juice, then hurried out the door—her mind already racing ahead to the long summer break.
But as she walked, a small frown crept onto her face.
"I've saved up over a year's worth of allowance… will it be enough?" Hermione wondered.
Truth be told, she never really knew how much money Qin Yu had. Last time they shopped in Diagon Alley, she'd pinched every Knut, convinced that Qin must have been scrimping and saving for ages. The wizarding world's currency was still a mystery to her, but she was certain Qin had worked hard for every coin.
So, she'd decided—this summer, she'd cover all the expenses herself. After all, most of her plans were for outings in the Muggle world, so wizarding money wouldn't be needed.
"I should get a job… but nobody wants to hire someone my age," she thought, a little glum.
Still lost in her thoughts, Hermione soon arrived at school and began her exams.
Right—if she wanted to be top of her year, she'd have to put summer plans aside for now and focus on the questions in front of her.
…
…
As the saying goes, Merlin's trousers have two legs—so let's see how our story unfolds on both sides.
While Hermione was laser-focused on her exams, Qin Yu was at Hagrid's hut, sorting through a mountain of goods to bring home.
The floor was covered with all sorts of food, clothing, and trinkets—everything Hagrid had picked up in Hogsmeade over the past few days.
For a moment, Qin Yu considered bringing the unicorn hair scarf home for Hermione. But then he thought better of it—he and Hermione had years ahead of them, plenty of time for gifts. Professor Swinton was leaving, and a proper farewell present was the least he could do.
He was sure Hermione wouldn't mind. Family is family, after all.
Still, he wanted to bring her plenty of little treats—at the very least, make sure she could eat her fill.
That's why he'd sent Hagrid shopping.
"Shame my trunk's so small. I can't fit half of this stuff," Qin Yu muttered, shaking his head.
He wondered if all his not-so-subtle hints over the past term would finally pay off—would Professor Swinton give him that bag?
He couldn't help but look forward to the gift Swinton had promised.
…
The End-of-Term Feast began at dusk.
When the last rays of sunlight vanished, every lamp in Hogwarts flared to life, bathing the ancient castle in a magical glow.
Of course, Hogwarts was magic itself—a legendary school that had shaped the wizarding world for centuries, sending forth wave after wave of talented young witches and wizards. There was nothing quite like being here in person—the real thing was so much more dazzling than any legend.
Qin Yu stood at the entrance to the Great Hall, awestruck by its grandeur, the festive atmosphere, the shimmering magic in the air.
"In a moment like this, I feel I have to say something…" he said, voice trembling with excitement.
"What is it?" Elvis asked, playing along.
"Today, we are proud of Hogwarts—tomorrow, Hogwarts will be proud of us!" Qin Yu declared, solemn as a knight.
Clap, clap, clap!
A round of applause broke out among the children.
"Qin, that's brilliant! I'm so proud to be a Hogwarts student," Elvis said, beaming.
"Do you really think we'll be Hogwarts' pride one day?" Jimmy chimed in.
"We will—as long as we keep working hard," Qin Yu nodded, grinning at them.
Truth be told, he was swept up by the energy of the Hall himself—sometimes you just can't help it.
Humans are creatures of the crowd. When everyone around you is buzzing with excitement, it's impossible not to catch the fever.
Especially in a place like the Great Hall, where magic and joy fill the air.
…
Students poured in, taking their places at their House tables.
Soon, Dumbledore and the professors ascended the high table, and Dumbledore raised his goblet for the opening speech:
"Another year has come and gone, my dear students. I hope you have learned much, made new friends, and grown in magic and wisdom. Summer is nearly upon us—enjoy your holidays, but do remember to reflect on what you've learned, and clear your minds for the year ahead…
Now, for what you've all been waiting for—the House Cup results! The final scores are: Hufflepuff, 372 points; Ravenclaw, 416; Slytherin, 422; and Gryffindor… 436!"
Gryffindor had done it—beating Slytherin by 14 points, ending their six-year winning streak.
With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, the banners overhead transformed into roaring lions, gold and scarlet flooding the Hall.
The Gryffindors erupted in cheers, faces flushed with pride.
Of course, Qin Yu had played no small part in this victory. After losing a heap of points earlier in the year, he'd clawed them back one by one—it had been a long, hard road.
"I declare the feast begun! Eat, drink, and be merry!" Dumbledore announced, raising his glass.
Thunderous applause filled the Hall. Laughter and chatter broke out as the students dug in. Hagrid, seated at the high table, wasted no time downing a glass of brandy and pouring himself another.
Qin Yu was starving. He and his friends tucked in, eating with wild abandon.
He figured he'd be missing Hogwarts food for the next two months, so he might as well fill up tonight.
…
When Qin Yu was finally stuffed, sipping a mug of butterbeer that George had handed him, his gaze wandered to the high table. There sat Professor Swinton, who caught his eye, nodded, and gestured toward the Hall's exit.
Qin Yu nodded back and slipped away from his seat.
A few minutes later, they met in a quiet corridor outside the Great Hall.
"Alright, here's the gift I promised you," Professor Swinton said, tossing him a small cloth bundle.
Qin Yu caught it, a little disappointed—it wasn't the bag he'd been hoping for.
But it felt heavy, substantial.
"Go on, open it," Swinton urged.
Curious, Qin Yu untied the bundle.
Inside was a golden mask.
"What's this?" he asked, puzzled.
"An alchemical mask," Professor Swinton explained. "I combined ideas from that book you gave me, ancient runes from the pyramids, and my own alchemical insights. The result is this."
Seeing Qin Yu's stunned silence, he continued, "Put it on, and not only will your features be hidden—your voice, your posture, every physical detail will be transformed."
"That powerful?" Qin Yu was genuinely impressed.
It was nearly on par with a high-level Disillusionment Charm—except instead of making him invisible, it let him walk around unrecognized. Different tools for different jobs.
"Of course! It took over two months to craft," Swinton said, a note of pride in his voice.
Which meant he'd started preparing this farewell gift long before the end of term.
At that, Qin Yu dropped his usual playfulness and said sincerely, "Thank you, Professor Swinton."
"Oh, come now, no need for thanks between us. After all, I am your brother~" Swinton winked.
Qin Yu froze, at a loss for words.
"Honestly, I thought long and hard about what to give you. The sword was one thing—it'll help you in a pinch. But since you have a knack for getting into trouble, this mask will help you stay hidden and safe. That way, if you ever want to stir up a little mischief, you won't have to worry about being caught," Swinton said, entirely serious.
Wait, how did I become the troublemaker here? I'm always the victim! And I don't do anything wrong—I'm a model student! Qin Yu grumbled inwardly.
"You really do think of everything," he said, forcing a smile.
"It's my job. There are instructions tucked inside—read them carefully when you get home," Swinton said, looking pleased with himself. Then he asked, "So, where's my gift? What are you giving me?"
At this, Qin Yu pulled out the package he'd prepared and handed it over.
Swinton unwrapped it, holding up the odd-colored scarf.
"This is it?" he said, feigning disappointment.
"What do you mean, 'this is it'? I wove that myself from unicorn hair—it's tougher than anything you'll find in Diagon Alley!" Qin Yu protested.
"I'm not saying the material isn't good, just that it's a bit… unsightly. Might not suit my style," Swinton said, already wrapping the scarf around his neck.
He turned to show it off.
"If you don't like it, give it back," Qin Yu shot back, rolling his eyes.
"You can't take back a gift," Swinton retorted, adjusting the scarf. "Actually, it's starting to grow on me."
The tall professor, wrapped in a drab, mismatched scarf, looked a bit ridiculous.
Qin Yu wanted to laugh—but instead, a strange ache rose in his chest.
"When are you leaving?" he finally asked.
"Tonight, I suppose. I got to attend the End-of-Term Feast, and say my goodbyes," Swinton shrugged.
Qin Yu hadn't expected him to leave so soon.
But goodbyes are inevitable. A day sooner or later makes little difference—he'd be leaving Hogwarts himself in the morning.
"Then… how about a farewell hug?" Qin Yu said, arms wide, grinning.
"Haha, yes, a farewell hug," Swinton replied, embracing the boy who so often made him forget their age difference.
"Take care, Professor Swinton," Qin Yu whispered.
"Look after yourself, Qin," Swinton replied, giving his shoulder a firm pat.
…
After parting with Swinton, Qin Yu returned to the Great Hall and reclaimed his seat.
He gazed out over the bustling crowd, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Tonight, Hogwarts was more beautiful than ever.
Everyone was savoring the feast and the laughter—the last revelry before parting ways.
——Dimensional Wall——
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