Tsk.
Tver looked at Hermione approvingly.
Even Harry himself was still muddling through the situation. Granted, that had a lot to do with how much Tver and Dumbledore had guided him along, but Hermione had still managed to piece together Harry's real condition from all kinds of tiny clues.
He had to admit, if Hermione had already graduated, Tver would have wanted to send her straight to the Wizarding Confederation to help him handle those endless, complicated affairs.
As for the Ministry of Magic, that kind of stage was already too small for Hermione now.
"You're right. If we want to deal with Voldemort, we have to deal with Harry first, no matter what method we use," Tver admitted bluntly.
It was not something that needed to be hidden in itself. They had only avoided making it public because they were worried that, if Harry learned the truth too soon, it would damage the courage he had finally built up to face Voldemort.
The fact that Hermione had come quietly to confirm it with him instead of telling Harry directly meant she had also realized how important this matter was.
But Hermione did not feel happy about being right.
"Deal with?"
The moment she heard that word, her brows drew tightly together, worry written all over her face.
"Do you mean that, in order to defeat Voldemort, if Harry can't get rid of the Horcrux inside him, then we have to deal with... Harry?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Tver raised his eyes slightly and said to her rather coldly, "Yes. I think you should understand that compared with the harm Voldemort will continue causing, one Harry is already the smallest possible price."
Hermione's eyes immediately reddened.
As early as the start of the school year, when Sirius and Dumbledore began giving Harry private lessons, she had sensed something was wrong.
But at the time, she had only thought that Voldemort would target Harry especially because of the prophecy, and that they were using this method to teach him how to protect himself.
Now that she knew the truth, she almost wished she had not been so perceptive.
"But Professor, you're so powerful. Can't you help Harry destroy that Horcrux?" she asked, almost pleading.
The only answer she received was Tver's cold expression.
It was obvious. If that were truly possible, Harry's problem would not be so difficult.
At the thought of this, Hermione's tears finally spilled over and silently rolled down her cheeks.
Seeing this, Tver was both amused and helpless.
"Harry isn't certain to lose to Voldemort. After all these years, can't you have a little faith in him? My novel still needs Harry to finish it."
Only after hearing the professor say this did Hermione pout and wipe the tears from her face.
"I'm just too worried about Harry. That's Voldemort. Even you, Professor, couldn't have said you could defeat Voldemort before you turned seventeen, could you?"
That idea was actually rather interesting. Tver rubbed his chin and thought about it.
At sixteen, he had already been the undisputed strongest student at Durmstrang. His Curse had also been well suppressed, and with Dumbledore's private instruction for a year and the enhancement of the Elder Wand...
He could not say he would definitely win, but he might not necessarily lose either.
Thinking of this, Tver could not help smiling happily, leaving Hermione stunned.
"The duel between Harry and Voldemort won't be fought on the level of ordinary reality. It will be a collision between two souls. Inner courage matters more than strength."
He thought for a moment. At this point, creating an encouraging atmosphere for Harry would indeed help with that confrontation.
"So what Harry has been learning from Sirius and Dumbledore is how to gather the courage to stand against Voldemort."
"Harry is stronger than you imagine. You don't need to be so afraid for him. Encouraging him is the best way you can help him right now."
Hermione thought it over and realized that she had simply lost her composure after receiving the information all at once.
After all, the professor and Dumbledore would never send Harry to die for nothing. Otherwise, they would not have been helping him so carefully and indirectly.
"Then..."
Hermione hesitated. She had not come here only because of Harry.
"What about you, Professor?"
"Me? What does this have to do with me?"
The sudden turn in the conversation made Tver pause.
"You've been troubled by something lately too, haven't you, Professor?" Hermione said with certainty.
"Although you've always seemed very gentle, there's always been a kind of..." Perhaps realizing that she was revealing how closely she watched him, her face reddened slightly. "A particularly reassuring composure and calmness, as if everything was under your control."
"But ever since you returned to Hogwarts this time, although you're still just as gentle, there's always a trace of worry in your eyes, as if something is troubling you."
"It isn't very obvious. In fact, people often have that kind of expression. But honestly, seeing it on your face makes it feel very... worrying."
As she finished speaking, concern filled Hermione's eyes again.
The reason she, and most of the students at Hogwarts, could continue studying at school with peace of mind was largely because they had been influenced by the composure Professor Fawley and Headmaster Dumbledore had always shown.
But now, the professor had revealed an extremely rare hint of worry. Naturally, it made her anxious, and she wanted to contribute what little strength she had to help him.
Tver could no longer remember how many times he had marveled at Hermione's sharpness. And judging from the future, there would probably be many more.
"You're right. There are indeed some things troubling me. So, are you planning to comfort me?"
He looked at Hermione with considerable anticipation.
When it came to his situation, Grindelwald, Dumbledore, Marvolio, and Cynthia had all shown concern to varying degrees.
But someone trying to comfort him... To be honest, he had always been the one comforting others and persuading them with words. Being comforted by someone else was truly a first.
Under the professor's expectant gaze, Hermione instead grew embarrassed.
"I... I just thought about how you once tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone, and I've always felt that you've been carrying a lot..."
As she spoke, her tone gradually became firmer.
"Although my strength means very little to you, and even all of us are still very weak, we know very clearly that you've always been protecting everyone, protecting even more children..."
"We've seen everything you've done, Professor. We all know."
She looked at Tver with hope in her eyes.
"It might be a little unreasonable, but Professor, we all hope you can always remain this strong, strong enough to overcome every difficulty..."
"And for that, we're willing to support you forever and always, and be the strongest support behind you."
To be honest, although he had always said that everything he did was for himself, and Tver had indeed done so much at the beginning for his own sake.
But who did not long to be recognized by others?
"Thank you," he said with a soft, emotional laugh. "I won't let you down."