After the petrified victims and Hermione were restored, the school year at Hogwarts drew to a close.
The Great Hall of Hogwarts was brightly lit for the end-of-term feast.
Green and silver banners representing Slytherin hung from the ceiling; the students of the Snake House held their heads high, their faces filled with the arrogance of certain victory.
Harry and Ron were a bit dejected; even though they had broken into the Chamber of Secrets and faced the memory of Lord Voldemort, they still hadn't brought enough points to their house.
Dumbledore stood up, and the clamor in the Great Hall instantly quieted.
"Another school year has passed," he said, his voice resonant and carrying a hint of a smile. "Before the House Cup is awarded, I have a few points to add."
He first looked toward Ron. "...For his bravery in directly defeating an adult Wizard, I award Gryffindor twenty points!"
Scattered applause and cheers erupted from the Gryffindor long table.
"Next, Mr. Harry Potter," Dumbledore's gaze turned to Harry, "...For his calm and correct decision-making in a moment of peril for his companions, I award Gryffindor fifty points!"
The applause grew more enthusiastic, but it was still far from overtaking Slytherin.
Hermione nervously gripped Lia's hand, while Lia curiously observed the magical starry sky on the ceiling, having no concept of points or the House Cup.
"Finally," Dumbledore cleared his throat, and the bustling Great Hall fell silent once more.
His gaze swept across the room, finally fixing precisely on the silver-haired Cat-girl beside Hermione.
The eyes of the entire Great Hall followed his focus.
"We must thank a special hero."
Dumbledore's voice became solemn and grave, echoing in every corner of the Great Hall.
"She has no magic wand, yet she faced a beast unseen for a thousand years; she knows no spells, yet she destroyed our darkest enemy."
"She risked her life for her friends."
"In the darkest hour, she protected our most precious treasure and guarded the peace of Hogwarts."
Lia blinked her azure eyes blankly; she tugged on Hermione's sleeve and whispered, "Who is he talking about?"
Hermione's eyes were already moist; she shook her head and gripped Lia's hand tightly in return.
"For this loyalty and protection that transcends life and death," Dumbledore raised his voice, making every word count, "I award Gryffindor, for Miss Lia, an additional..."
He paused for a moment, seemingly enjoying the stiffened faces at the Slytherin table.
"Fifty points!"
The moment the words fell!
Boom—!
On the ceiling, the green and silver banners of Slytherin were instantly replaced by the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor!
The entire Gryffindor table erupted completely!
Cheers, screams, and the sound of colliding tables and chairs merged into a wave of sound that almost blew the roof off the Great Hall!
"We won! We won again!"
"Lia! Lia! Lia!"
Amidst the deafening cheers, Fred and George rushed over excitedly, and without a word, one on each side, they lifted Hermione—and Lia, who was being held tightly in Hermione's arms—directly onto their shoulders!
"Ow!"
Lia was startled by the sudden weightlessness and the mountain-shattering commotion. In an ocean of gold and red, she instantly transformed back into her petite cat form, let out a cry of surprise, and buried her face deep into the crook of Hermione's neck, clinging to her neck and refusing to look up.
But her long, fluffy tail betrayed her.
The tip of her tail curled up uncontrollably and happily, giving a gentle wag.
Hermione was dizzy from the massive surprise and glory. She protected the back of Lia's head with one hand and waved the other wildly, her cheeks flushed, smiling like a child.
After the feast ended, the corridors were still filled with a Gryffindor-style carnival atmosphere.
Harry, Ron, and all the Weasley brothers—Percy, Fred, and George—along with a still somewhat pale Ginny, walked solemnly up to Hermione and Lia.
Lia had already climbed down from Hermione, but she still held her hand tightly, hiding behind her and only peeking out half a head to curiously watch these "tall" boys.
"Lia," Harry took a step forward, his expression more sincere than ever before, "Thank you. Without you, we..."
He didn't know how to go on. Without Lia, Ginny would have died, Lord Voldemort would have returned, and he himself might have died in the Chamber of Secrets.
Ron nodded vigorously, his mouth opening and closing before he finally managed a clumsy, "Yeah, thanks, Lia. You... you're really amazing."
Ginny, who had been hiding behind Ron, gathered all her courage.
She stepped forward and, under Lia's surprised gaze, gently and cautiously hugged Lia's arm.
The girl's body was still a bit weak, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you, Big Sister Lia."
"I... I don't remember what happened, but I seem to remember that in a very dark and cold place, a very beautiful big white cat was protecting me the whole time..."
Ginny's eyes welled up with tears.
Lia was stunned; she looked down at this girl who was even smaller than herself, feeling the reliance and gratitude emanating from her.
She instinctively reached out and, imitating the way Hermione treated her, gently rubbed Ginny's head.
An unfamiliar warm emotion quietly spread through her heart.
So, protecting others felt like this... The whistle of the hogwarts express blew a long blast, and the red train carved a beautiful line across the green fields.
In the four-person compartment, the atmosphere was peaceful yet tinged with a hint of oddity.
Hermione sat by the window, the sunlight gilding her bushy brown hair with a golden edge. Harry and Ron sat opposite her, engaged in a fierce but silent game of wizard chess.
The source of the oddity was Lia.
Lunchtime had arrived.
Ron had already unwrapped the slightly lopsided corned beef sandwich his mother had prepared, chewing in large bites.
Harry also took out his pumpkin pasties.
And Lia, under Hermione's encouraging gaze, took out an incredibly exquisite set of tableware from her small satchel.
It was a beautiful bento box containing pan-seared salmon, carefully deboned by Hermione earlier that morning, and a few plump blueberries.
Even more eye-catching was the set of utensils—a small silver fork with tines polished perfectly round by magic, and a similarly round-tipped table knife.
Under the dumbfounded stares of Harry and Ron, Lia spread a napkin over her lap and sat perfectly upright.
She held the fork in her left hand and the knife in her right, her movements skilled and elegant, as if practiced a thousand times.
She used the fork to steady a small piece of salmon and used the knife in her right hand to cut it precisely into a perfect size. Then, she set down the knife, switched the fork to her right hand, and brought the piece of fish to her mouth.
The entire process didn't make a single unnecessary sound.
When chewing, her lips were gently closed, her cheeks moved slightly, and her azure eyes gazed calmly at the air ahead, carrying an innate, distant, and noble air.
That posture was as standard as a pure-blood noble young lady who had received the strictest etiquette training since childhood.
"merlins beard..." Ron forgot to swallow the sandwich in his mouth. He looked at Lia, then at the mangled food in his own hand, and his face instantly turned red.
Harry was also dazed. He had never seen anyone turn the act of eating into an art form.
Was this still the same kitten who would roll around and act spoiled in Hermione's arms, or turn back into a cat to be stubborn at the slightest disagreement?
Hermione watched this scene with a complex look in her eyes.
She knew this was a "side effect" brought by the soul fragment of Tom Riddle. That boy, who came from an orphanage but desperately craved and imitated noble mannerisms—his habits and knowledge were influencing Lia in a subtle, pervasive way.
Whether it was for better or worse, no one knew.
After finishing her meal, Lia took out a snow-white handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth.
Then, she skillfully cleaned her utensils and bento box and put them back into her small satchel.
The moment she finished, that "noble young lady" aura vanished without a trace.
She unhesitatingly climbed onto the bench and familiarly rested her head on Hermione's lap, curling up into a comfortable ball.
Her long, fluffy tail wrapped around from behind, gently encircling Hermione's wrist, as if silently declaring ownership.
Hermione chuckled, set down her book, and began to gently stroke Lia's long silver hair, stroke by stroke.
As Hermione stroked her, the cold black crystal deep within Lia's soul, which constantly emitted a violent aura, fell completely silent.
It was as if it had been smoothed over by a warm palm, with no further restlessness.
Lia let out a satisfied sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying this hard-won moment of peace after the storm.
The train slowly pulled into King's Cross Station.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was as lively as ever. Steam filled the air, and the noise of the crowd was clamorous.
Hermione had just led a still somewhat sleepy Lia off the train when a fiery red figure rushed over like a whirlwind.
"Oh! My little heroes!"
Molly Weasley opened her arms, first giving Harry and her own son a forceful hug, and then her gaze fell on Lia beside Hermione.
"Oh, my dear Lia!"
Before Lia could react, she was tightly embraced by the warmest, most enthusiastic hug, smelling of toasted bread and home.
Mrs. Molly's strength was startling, almost as if she were trying to knead Lia into her own body.
"I heard from Ginny and Ron! What a brave, good child you are! You saved my Ginny!" she declared loudly, drawing the attention of many surrounding parents. "You are a friend of the Weasley Family forever! This summer, you must come to The Burrow! I'll make you a seven-layer strawberry cake!"
In Mrs. Weasley's fiery embrace, Lia was a bit at a loss.
But she didn't struggle.
This warmth was different from Hermione's exclusive, reassuring warmth.
This was a broader, more inclusive warmth, tinged with the scent of a hearth.
It was the warmth of "family."
She somewhat clumsily raised her hand and gave Mrs. Molly a light hug back.
Hermione watched this scene with a smile until The Grangers found them, then she stepped forward and gently took Lia's hand.
A school year full of twists and dangers finally came to an end in such a warm clamor.
But Hermione also knew that while a peaceful school year had ended, a summer that required her to hold the "reins" firmly had only just begun.
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