Since that talk with Professor McGonagall, Hermione's attitude and behavior towards Lynn had changed significantly.
For example, right now, after Lynn had finished all her homework, Hermione looked away from her own unfinished work and turned to her.
"Lynn, are you finished with your homework?"
"Yes, I'm done." Lynn nodded calmly.
"Then let's go for a walk by the lake? Maybe we can play with the Giant Squid if it comes ashore?"
Hermione looked at Lynn with sparkling eyes, filled with expectation.
Just as Lynn was about to say that her study time wasn't over yet, Ron spoke up first from across them.
He stared at Hermione in disbelief, "Merlin's sun... did it rise from the west today? Hermione, you're actually suggesting going for a walk? Instead of studying in the Library?"
Hermione's brow twitched violently, and she shot a fierce glare at Ron, "Shut up, Ron!"
"If you and Harry could be like Lynn and self-study enough extra material, I would suggest you go for a walk and rest too!"
Having said that, she quickly turned her gaze back to Lynn, but it was too late.
Lynn had already entered her study state, and as someone who also loved learning, Hermione really couldn't bring herself to disturb her in such a state.
The sense of guilt was too much, so she could only glare fiercely at Ron again, and even Harry beside him wasn't spared.
Harry, who was caught in the crossfire, sat in his chair with his head bowed, feeling Hermione's gaze, and consciously didn't even look up.
He was truly wronged... he hadn't said a single word!
Thus, the entire afternoon passed. On the way to the Great Hall for dinner, Hermione specifically told Lynn to go ahead and not wait for them.
Lynn nodded expressionlessly and walked quickly toward the Great Hall.
Hermione's expression changed instantly after she left, her bright smile turning into a gnashing of teeth.
She raised the heavy tome in her hand and gave Ron a light thwack; she couldn't help it, Ron wasn't... very smart to begin with, and she was afraid of actually knocking him silly.
But while she showed mercy with her hand, don't expect her to show mercy with her tongue.
"You really... if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute, Ron!"
"Can't you see how hard Lynn pushes herself to study? I finally found a gap to let her rest, and you went and ruined it!"
Seeing the anger on Hermione's face and thinking about how every time they came to the Library lately, they saw Lynn studying, Ron lowered his head in guilt.
"I'm sorry... I was just so surprised, I didn't think."
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Forget it, I'll find another chance."
Hearing Hermione say this, Ron quickly tried to earn some points by raising his hand.
"November, it's almost November. Harry's first Quidditch match is coming up then; we can drag Lynn along to watch it."
Hermione lowered her eyes slightly, considering Ron's suggestion.
A Quidditch match... it was indeed a very popular sport in the Wizarding World.
The Quidditch matches held between the houses at Hogwarts should be quite lively.
Perhaps the excitement could help Lynn feel some happiness.
According to Professor McGonagall, wasn't Lynn's emotional insensitivity possibly because she was always studying and had no chance to interact with the outside world? Then she would take Lynn to interact with the outside world, and a sufficiently lively one at that; it would surely let her feel emotions!
Yes! That's what they'd do! Hermione nodded to herself, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
Nodding at Ron, Hermione praised him with satisfaction, "You finally came up with a good idea, Ron. This is a great idea; we'll drag Lynn along to watch the Quidditch match when the time comes."
After saying that, she turned and walked toward the Great Hall for dinner in a much better mood.
Ron, left behind her, slowly turned his head to look at his best friend, Harry.
"Why don't I feel like she's praising me...?"
Harry suppressed a smile and cleared his throat, "Ahem, it's an illusion. She is praising you."
Ron squinted at Hermione's back, "Fine... I'll just take it as her praising me then."
He didn't dwell on it further and pulled Harry toward the Great Hall. Eating was the most important thing in the world; instead of thinking so much, eating two chicken legs would be much better!
Having decided to bring Lynn to the Quidditch match in November—which was in two days, on Saturday—Hermione finished her dinner quickly and then stood behind Harry and Ron, urging them to eat faster.
Harry and Ron were forced to speed up their eating again, especially Ron, who could barely keep up even with a chicken leg in each hand.
"Look, Hermione," Ron swallowed the chicken meat in his mouth and quickly took another bite, speaking as he ate, "Why are you rushing us so much?"
Harry bowed his head and ate his vegetable salad in large gulps, finally finding a chance to speak while covering his mouth as he chewed.
"Yeah, why are you even rushing us through dinner today?"
Hermione turned to look at Lynn, who had already finished dinner and left the Great Hall, then turned back to Harry and Ron and spoke urgently.
"Didn't we just say we'd bring Lynn to the Quidditch match? That's why I'm telling you to hurry up. We need to tell her before she starts studying."
Harry and Ron exchanged a look and resignedly sped up their eating again. After finishing the battle in a few bites, they were pulled up by Hermione and ran out of the Great Hall.
By the time they caught up with Lynn, she had already reached the Library entrance.
If they had been a few steps later, she would have sat down and started reading.
Hearing the huffing and puffing behind her, Lynn's expression didn't change in the slightest. She didn't even turn her head, sitting down and preparing to pull a book out of her bag.
Seeing this, Hermione didn't even wait to catch her breath and quickly spoke, "Lynn..."
Hearing Hermione call her name, Lynn put the book on the table and turned to look at her, "What is it?"
"In two days... on Saturday, it's Harry's first Quidditch match. Come and watch it with us."
As Hermione spoke, she tapped Harry twice, signaling him to speak.
Signaled, Harry quickly spoke up in cooperation, "Ah, yes, that's right. It's my first Quidditch match. If you could come and watch, Lynn, I'd be very happy."
Harry even gave a sincere, bright smile as he spoke.
Lynn looked at Harry's smile with zero emotion, "Sorry, Saturday is still my study—"
"Oh... Lynn," Hermione pouted, putting on a pitiful expression, "Just take some time to come and watch Harry's match with me. It'll be much more fun with you there, and Harry might even perform better!"
Interrupted by Hermione, Lynn fell silent. When Harry spoke, her brain hadn't reacted at all, only instinctively wanting to say it was her study time.
But when Hermione said she wanted Lynn to accompany her, a strange thought popped into Lynn's head, just like the time she knew Hermione was going to stop Harry's duel or when she knew Hermione was in the washroom: agree to her, accompany her.
Even if doing so would reduce her study time, require her to compress her sleep later to make up for it, and lead to punishing herself for unnecessary entertainment activities, Lynn still had the thought of accompanying Hermione to the Quidditch match.
So she didn't hesitate much and nodded without any emotion on her face, "Okay, I'll go with you on Saturday."
Hermione's mood instantly brightened upon hearing this. Great! Lynn finally agreed; she was finally going to take a break from her studies!
Lynn withdrew her gaze, sat down calmly, and opened her book to read.
After her excitement passed, Hermione packed her bag and prepared to sit down and read as well. Harry and Ron looked at the scene with expressions of pure agony.
They had been following Hermione to the Library to find Lynn whenever they had free time lately. Once there, they did homework, read, previewed, reviewed... they were practically crying from all the studying.
They really couldn't take any more study. It was as if Hermione felt Harry and Ron's painful gazes.
In a cheerful mood, Hermione looked up and waved at them, signaling that they could go.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her, pointing outside the Library to ask if she meant he and Ron were allowed to leave first.
Hermione nodded affirmatively and waved toward the Library exit.
Harry felt like he had been granted a general amnesty and pulled Ron out of the Library immediately.
The two of them had to hurry back and ask Fred and George for some fun things to play with for a while.
After letting Harry and Ron go, Hermione turned her attention back to her book, but after a short while, she couldn't help but look over at Lynn.
When Lynn studied seriously, she had an air of solemnity that was very attractive, but for some reason, it also made Hermione feel... that her studying wasn't happy. In fact, she seemed even unhappier than when Harry and Ron studied, as if her current studying wasn't voluntary.
It was as if something was forcing her to study, making her remain solemn at all times.
Shaking her head, Hermione dismissed these strange thoughts and focused on her book again.
Two days later, on Saturday, Lynn finished her breakfast quickly at the Ravenclaw Table. Just as the Little Eagles thought they were about to see the usual routine—Lynn rushing to the Library to study after breakfast—they were surprised to see Miss Granger from Gryffindor House come over to their table.
She took Lynn away directly, saying they needed to get a good spot in the Quidditch stands.
And Lynn actually allowed herself to be pulled away without any objection or resistance.
The Little Eagles immediately began discussing. Lynn... someone who never participated in anything other than studying, had actually broken her routine twice for Miss Granger that they knew of.
Maranhao and Marietta, sitting at the table, looked at each other. As Lynn's roommates, they knew better than anyone how dedicated she was to studying.
Her daily study time was incredibly long, and she had maintained it consistently for two months since the start of the term.
And now she was being pulled away by Miss Granger to watch a Quidditch match?!
Marietta, who wasn't as keen on Quidditch as Maranhao and hadn't planned on watching a match that didn't involve their own house, instantly changed her mind. After taking a few final bites, she followed Maranhao out of the Great Hall and toward the Quidditch Pitch.
At the same time, most of the Ravenclaw Little Eagles also stood up, intending to watch this Gryffindor versus Slytherin match.
Not for anything else, but just to see how Lynn watched a match in person and to see if she would read a book in the stands.
Meanwhile, Lynn had already been pulled into the stands by Hermione. Sitting there, she looked calmly at the high hoops in the distance.
According to the books, the Chasers of both teams would need to throw the Quaffle into the opponent's hoops to score points.
She withdrew her gaze without any change in expression. The stands were already packed.
Aside from the Gryffindor red and Slytherin green, there was also a significant amount of Ravenclaw blue.
However, the eyes of these Little Eagles in blue weren't on the players about to take flight, but entirely on Lynn, who was sitting next to Hermione.
When they saw that Lynn hadn't taken out a book to read, the discussion among the Little Eagles intensified instantly.
Lynn actually hadn't taken out a book to read in such a setting? She was someone who would read even while walking!
The Little Eagles' surprise didn't reach Lynn, of course; she didn't notice anything unusual around her.
She just looked at the Quidditch players on the ground with a calm gaze.
As Madam Hooch's whistle blew, the Quidditch players from both sides took to the air simultaneously, and the match began.
Lynn's eyes followed the players closely, like precise electronic eyes, missing no detail and containing no emotion.
After watching for a short while, she noticed various fouls committed by the Slytherin team.
Some were pointed out by Madam Hooch, while others were missed even by her.
Looking at this, Lynn only felt that the Slytherin team was a bit non-compliant with the rules; she felt no resentment, and her heart remained completely calm.
The roars of the Gryffindors and the taunts of the Slytherins around her didn't cause any significant stir in her heart.
While watching Harry's figure high in the sky, Hermione glanced at Lynn from time to time.
Seeing her still expressionless and her eyes devoid of emotion, the pain in Hermione's heart began to spread again, and the slight excitement she felt from the Quidditch match quickly vanished.
Pursing her lips, Hermione looked at Lynn with a complex expression, but soon, her attention was forced away.
Hagrid, who was watching Harry's performance through binoculars, suddenly let out a cry of alarm.