Chapter 23: Halloween Boss: Troll - Part 1
Chapter 23: Halloween Boss: Troll - Part 1
During class, Liam was surprised to find that Hermione, the model student, was absent. This made Liam a bit uneasy. Thinking about the Troll, he knew it was definitely not something a first-year student could handle.
Fortunately, it seemed that Quirrell-Voldemort Complex was busy with class and couldn't release the Troll. The castle was filled with a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Liam asked around the Common Room to find out where Hermione was. Parvati, the Indian witch from their year, told Liam that she had seen Hermione crying in the girls' bathroom and refusing to let anyone comfort her.
After thanking Parvati, Liam ran downstairs, passing through the Great Hall adorned with colorful Halloween decorations, and headed straight for the first-floor public bathroom.
At the bathroom door, Liam saw Angelina coming out and called to her.
"Good afternoon, Angelina. Did you see Hermione in there?"
"Hermione? The first-year girl from our house?" Angelina nodded. "She was crying in one of the stalls. We tried to comfort her, but she refused. Are you her friend?"
"I think so. Could you please help me get her to come out? Just tell her that Liam is waiting for her at the door."
"Sure." Angelina smiled and turned to go back into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Angelina came out with Hermione. Hermione's hair was a mess, her eyes were red, and she was still sniffing occasionally.
"Friends are one of the most precious treasures a person can have. I hope you have a good talk." Angelina waved at them and then left.
Seeing a familiar face, Hermione's tears started welling up in her eyes again.
Liam quickly pulled out a napkin and handed it to Hermione. "It's okay, don't cry. Let's find a place to talk. Standing here in the corridor isn't appropriate." He then led Hermione to the nearest empty classroom.
The bathroom entrance, although not crowded, always had people coming and going. It wouldn't be good if someone saw her crying there.
After turning a corner, they found an empty classroom. Liam opened the door and let Hermione go in first. He then found two chairs, wiped them clean with the napkin, and they sat down facing each other (he didn't know the cleaning spell).
Liam looked at Hermione's red, swollen eyes, unsure of what to say. After all, he had been single in both of his lives and had little experience comforting girls.
They stared at each other for a minute or two. Perhaps noticing Liam's discomfort, Hermione's lips curved into a smile.
Her smile broke the heavy atmosphere, and Liam found himself laughing along for no reason.
A few minutes later, they stopped laughing. Liam finally gathered his thoughts and said to Hermione, "You don't need to feel so sad about something that isn't your fault. Weasley and Potter don't mean to hurt others, but sometimes they act without thinking. For example, the hurtful things they said today, I'm sure they didn't mean it."
"But what did I do wrong for them to be so hostile towards me?" Hermione wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked up, her expression stubborn.
"I participate actively in every class and do my best to earn points for our house. But they don't appreciate my efforts and easily undo all the points I've earned."
Liam made a gesture with his hands as if pressing down. "Hermione, calm down. To be honest, the most points are deducted in Professor Snape's class. Sometimes it's just the professor's bias and not entirely their fault. If you ignore the points deducted by Professor Snape, you'll see that Harry and Ron are at the average level for the entire house."
"Why do Gryffindor students seem less concerned about the House Cup?" Hermione asked, a bit confused. "Many of our classmates lose points for discipline or academics. When I point out their mistakes, they don't care at all and even dislike me for it."
Hermione gently shook her head and continued. "The Sorting Hat wanted to place me in Ravenclaw, but I chose Gryffindor because I knew the greatest White Wizard, Headmaster Dumbledore, graduated from here. Now, I wonder if I don't belong in this house."
"Of course not", Liam said, reaching out to pat Hermione's head in a way he used to comfort his niece, but she gave him a stern look.
"Actually, the Sorting Hat sorts students based on their character and then considers their personal wishes. If you were sorted into Gryffindor, there must be a reason why you fit in here."
"Students sorted into Gryffindor are described as brave, but I think it's more accurate to say they are emotionally driven. Harry and Ron are typical examples. So, don't get upset by their comments. Sometimes they speak without thinking, but what you say is usually correct."
"If what I say is correct, why do I feel like the house is a bit hostile towards me?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"It's simple. What you say is correct, but your way of expressing it is a bit off", Liam explained, drawing from his past experience with novels.
"From what I know, you've struggled with social interactions since primary school. Often, when you try to help others, they perceive it as condescending. Even in primary school, I heard about you, but you were often described as arrogant. Ravenclaws might understand your true intentions after some thought, but you can't expect Gryffindors, who are more impulsive, to think that deeply."
"Whether it's Harry Potter or Ron, they are fundamentally good people. However, Harry's sudden transition from an orphan to the Chosen One likely amplifies his emotional side. As for Ron, with so many brothers and being the least favored at home, his actions are understandably more extreme in such an environment."
"So, the comments from an impulsive person and an emotional person in a heated moment aren't necessarily correct. You don't need to take them to heart."
After an afternoon of talking, Hermione finally felt relieved. She realized she shouldn't torment herself with others' mistakes and understood what she needed to change.
As the sky darkened, Hermione composed herself and stood up. She extended her hand. "Thank you for spending the afternoon comforting me. I think you are my first friend at Hogwarts, right?"
So, we were just acquaintances before. Liam stood up and shook Hermione's hand. "Yes, we are friends."
(End of Chapter)
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