The holidays arrived in the blink of an eye.
Hogwarts students had packed their luggage early and followed their prefects onto the homebound train.
Hermione ran to the Slytherin common room entrance with bubbling excitement, Harry and Ron standing helplessly behind her.
At that moment, Theodore happened to return from the library with several books. When he saw Hermione and the others waiting outside the common room, he considered briefly, then led them inside the Slytherin common room.
The common room was completely empty.
"Merlin's treasure vault!"
Seeing the gorgeous, exquisite decorations within the Slytherin common room, Ron couldn't suppress his amazed exclamation.
This was his first time entering another House's common room, and everything before him stood in complete contrast to the dungeon scenes the Weasley twins had described.
"Their common room is absolutely massive."
Harry also stood frozen in place.
Various aquatic creatures from the Black Lake occasionally swam past the domed ceiling above. Standing inside felt like being submerged underwater.
The enormous, plush velvet sofas looked so inviting you'd want to sink into them for a perfect nap. The crystal tables held far more games than Gryffindor possessed.
Behind the bar, wine cabinets overflowed with drinks and delicacies. Various specialized chambers surrounded the main area like orbiting stars.
Moonstone embedded in the walls radiated magnificent light under the lake's ethereal glow...
"Looking for Father?"
Theodore ignored Ron's exclamations, turning his expressionless gaze toward Hermione.
Though Hermione belonged to Gryffindor, given that her father served as the Shelby family's black-market doctor, Theodore considered her one of their own.
"Yes!"
Hermione nodded excitedly, particularly curious about Tiger's dormitory.
Muffled knocking echoed faintly.
"Father, may I come in?"
"Miss Granger..."
"Come in."
Tiger yawned and opened his eyes. Theodore's voice sounded somewhat muffled—he hadn't caught everything clearly.
Recently, all the magic in his body had been absorbed by Venom. Compared to usual, he felt rather drained, even unconsciously extending his afternoon rest periods.
As the door opened, Tiger sat up and leaned against the headboard. The thin summer blanket slipped from his chest.
Beneath his casual, unrestrained languor, his powerful, sculpted torso was exposed to the air. His abdominal muscles were sharply defined—winding, sensual lines without an ounce of excess.
Unlike the perpetually meticulous Slytherins, he never wore sleep clothes, not even for naps.
"..."
Hermione instantly held her breath, her entire face flushing burning red, her gaze trembling and scattered.
Though she was still young with no romantic thoughts about the opposite sex, this hormone-charged scene proved devastatingly overwhelming.
"Father, we should depart. Tequila has packed your luggage."
Theodore paid no attention to Hermione, walking directly to the bedside and offering Tiger the ice water prepared at the headboard.
"Right, give me five minutes..."
Tiger accepted the ice water. As he tilted his head back to drink, his peripheral vision caught the know-it-all miss standing in his dormitory.
"Pfft!"
"How did you get in here..."
As water sprayed, Tiger grabbed a shirt from the bedside rack and quickly pulled it on.
Nobody met guests shirtless.
Not even gangsters.
Especially with a young girl present. Though Tiger was casual about most things, he still maintained some dignity.
Little did he know—this half-covered state created even greater impact.
"I-I-I..."
"I'll just..."
Her stammering voice trembled faintly.
Hermione spun to leave but crashed directly into the doorframe with a resounding thud.
Before she could cry out in pain, she covered her nose and fled the dormitory, nearly stumbling in her panicked retreat...
"Did I..."
"Was my voice too loud?"
Tiger blinked in bewilderment, the bloodstains on the doorframe particularly conspicuous.
"Not at all. Your voice is like Mom's—utterly reassuring..."
Theodore replied with complete seriousness. "Perhaps Miss Granger forgot some luggage."
"You're absolutely right."
Tiger shamelessly agreed.
The atmosphere aboard the train felt unusually subdued.
With Tiger sitting so close, Harry and Ron completely suppressed any desire for conversation.
Even Hermione kept her mouth tightly sealed. She dared not look at Tiger once—didn't even dare close her eyes.
That blood-pumping scene would surge into her mind the moment her eyelids shut, making her head feel feverish.
Tiger remained completely oblivious, only vaguely sensing something felt different. Gunpowder, curled in his arms, enjoyed her first peaceful train journey in her entire life...
"See you next term, Tiger!"
After disembarking, before Tiger could respond, Hermione fled toward the Grangers like her life depended on it.
Harry followed Ron toward the Weasley family gathering.
Watching Hermione actively grab her parents' arms and hurry away, Tiger raised his eyebrows in confusion, but then led Theodore toward Arthur nearby.
Before they could approach, Arthur's hearty laughter already rang out. He opened his arms and embraced both Tiger and Theodore.
"Ha! You two little rascals."
"Getting stronger every day!"
"Theodore, Mom prepared a special gift just for you—been waiting for you to come home."
Theodore said nothing, but the perpetual cold indifference in his eyes completely melted into warmth at this moment.
"I brought gifts for you too..."
The Shelby pub's atmosphere remained as lively as ever. Seeing Tiger and Theodore return, celebratory toasts erupted from every corner.
If not for Mother Polly keeping watch, these men would have immediately dragged them over for whiskey shots.
"You've grown taller, boy..."
Mother Polly extinguished her cigar, looking pleased as she affectionately pinched Theodore's cheek.
Theodore rarely blushed.
"As for you..."
An ominous tone emerged. Tiger couldn't help but shiver, his eyes full of bewilderment.
"Dumbledore told me what happened."
Mother Polly's initially fierce expression gradually softened, revealing underlying worry.
Cool palms cupped Tiger's face.
"You did well, Tiger."
"Shelby is proud of you. Lawrence is proud of you. Mom is proud of you..."
"But remember one thing, Tiger."
"You must remember."
"You boys are my entire life. I won't lose any of my children. Don't break Mom's heart."
"Please..."
Scalding tears slid down her cheeks. Tiger reached out to wipe them away, his low, hoarse voice carrying deep remorse.
"Sorry, Mom."
"Never again. Next time, I'll hang that bastard's head at your bedside..."
The night she received Dumbledore's letter, Polly had already raced to Hogwarts. Filch, who answered the door, was knocked unconscious by her rifle butt.
Before Professor Snape could speak, John used his supernatural speed to snatch the man's wand. A razor-sharp blade pressed against his throat without hesitation.
Blood slowly seeped out.
The special protective charms Martin crafted from shells began dissolving into powder one by one under hidden potion effects.
Even after Snape's defensive potions were completely exhausted, John still had two strings of shell bracelets remaining on his wrist.
This Potions Master's face turned iron-gray with fury, but this gangster matriarch didn't spare him a single glance.
She led Arthur and Tommy in a furious march toward the headmaster's office.
Faced with the questioning gargoyle, Arthur simply blew it to smithereens with TNT, stone fragments scattering throughout the corridor.
Polly and Tommy charged directly into the headmaster's office.
Chicago Typewriter muzzle flashes and Killing Curse green light flickered at the doorway for a full ten minutes.
Though they couldn't breach Dumbledore's magical defenses, Dumbledore experienced firsthand just how utterly mad a mother becomes when her son faces mortal danger...
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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