Slytherin's locket and Hufflepuff's cup.
Although those two items might sound unfamiliar, and most wizards might not know much about them, they were in fact precious treasures left behind by two of the Founders, objects of special significance to their respective Houses.
However, just as Hermione had discovered, both of those treasures had mysteriously vanished around the same time.
And by a striking coincidence, they disappeared during the very years Voldemort was attending Hogwarts...
As for that line of reasoning, Draco did not dismiss Hermione's bold guess outright. Instead, he fell into thought.
Although he had known that information for a long time, he had never really questioned the coincidence of it. Rather, he simply had not made that connection until Hermione pointed it out now.
At that, seeing that Draco had not denied her, Hermione's expression brightened noticeably. Her already graceful figure even lifted proudly toward him...
"Right. If we assume the Dark Lord made a total of seven Horcruxes, then after obtaining Hufflepuff's and Slytherin's treasures, wouldn't he naturally set his sights on Gryffindor's and Ravenclaw's as well?"
"There's no doubt that's a very reasonable guess."
"So I think... those four treasures of the four Founders must have held an enormous attraction for the Dark Lord."
"Then do you think the remaining two treasures were also made into Horcruxes?" Although Draco already had an answer in his heart, seeing the excitement on Hermione's face, he still played along.
"On that point, I can't say whether the Dark Lord ever found Ravenclaw's treasure, because that one was lost long ago. As for Gryffindor's, I don't believe Dumbledore would have given the Dark Lord a chance to get his hands on it."
Draco nodded silently. "So... at the very least, there's still one Horcrux we have absolutely no clue about."
"Exactly. But I think it must be something the Dark Lord cared deeply about. It's even possible he kept that final Horcrux, the one containing the soul fragment, on his person."
Looking at Hermione, who seemed to glow whenever she started talking seriously about something, Draco could not help applauding her inwardly.
To be honest, the fact that Hermione could work out so much from just one night and so few clues was already remarkable.
That was her talent, and part of her charm.
Unaware that an intense gaze was resting on her, Hermione gave the final summary of their discussion. "At the moment, I can only infer that although the Dark Lord failed to fulfill his ambition of collecting all four Founders' relics, he definitely obtained two, and may even have found three. But at the very least, we have a lot ahead of us."
Yes.
What Hermione wanted to do next was investigate the whereabouts of those missing relics.
If possible, she even wanted to find them and destroy them...
...
From Draco and the others' point of view, they were actually not more anxious than Dumbledore's side when it came to destroying Horcruxes.
More accurately, it was only because Voldemort was there to hold Dumbledore and the others in check that Lucius and his group could profit while the two sides fought each other.
Of course, if they managed to find Voldemort's Horcruxes first, that would not be a bad thing either....
By the time Draco and the others finished breakfast and returned to the common room, Pansy, who had only just gotten up, finally appeared, rubbing her eyes and looking half asleep.
The instant she saw Draco, she swayed and toppled straight into his arms. "I'm so sleepy. Let me sleep a little."
"...."
Watching Pansy cling to Draco like that, Hermione was so angry that the veins at her temple throbbed, and she shot Draco a fierce glare.
Just how practiced did someone have to be to do something like that with their eyes closed?
So really, not being in the same House put you hopelessly behind...
"Only getting up now? You're really taking it easy, Parkinson."
"....."
Pansy did not move away from Draco's warm embrace after hearing that. Instead, she rubbed her cheek against him before mumbling in a muffled voice, "I actually dreamed about Granger. Was it a nightmare?"
"Hey!"
"...Ugh, you awful woman. Draco, save me!"
Hermione, so mad she laughed, reached out and tickled Pansy's waist. That immediately made it impossible for Pansy to keep snuggling in Draco's arms, and before long she was crying out for help.
They rolled around.
They fought back.
Fortunately, since it was Christmas break, most of the other wizards were either still lazing in bed or had already gone home the day before for the holiday.
So aside from Draco, who got to enjoy the scene up close, no one else saw this blush-inducing sight.
Perhaps because they knew that, Draco did not stop them, and Pansy and Hermione were able to let themselves go like this...
No one knew how much time passed.
By the time only ragged breathing remained in the air, both Pansy and Hermione had collapsed onto the sofa nearby.
With their clothes in disarray, anyone who saw them would probably think Draco had done something improper with them.
Mm... right there in the common room...
"So our next goal is to find those Horcruxes?"
During this break, Draco told Pansy everything he and Hermione had just discussed, partly to distract himself.
Interestingly, Draco did not seem to have any intention of reminding them what an enticing sight they made at the moment.
After all, other than him, no one else was going to see it....