Contrary to the pain Rand had imagined, Kate only felt as if her body was being filled to the brim by something, and then she fainted.
When she woke up again, the sun was already shining brightly outside.
Her body still felt somewhat weak. Kate groggily sat up in bed, and the system screen automatically displayed itself before her eyes.
[Delicious Maiden System is continuing to serve you.]
[Host: Kate Shafiq][Class: Wizard][Charm: 7][Strength: 4][Agility: 6][Spirit: 6][Vitality: 5][Luck: 10][Magic: 50][Overlay Ability 1: Gifted Student Talent: Level 7][Overlay Ability 2: Magic Resistance: Level 6][Overlay Ability 3: Legendary Magic: Level 5]
[System Main Quest 2: Apply for a magical home tutor for a teaching period of one year.]
Aside from her Magic value soaring to 50 due to the overlaid mana, her Spirit seemed to have risen a bit too.
Although, she currently didn't know what the function of this Spirit stat was.
"Even with a fifty percent discount, Legendary Magic is still at Level 5? As expected of Old Man Dumbledore, his base stats are just too high."
She muttered softly, looking down at her still-weak hand and trying to clench it.
From the looks of it, magic power didn't provide any boost to her physical constitution. Just looking at that Strength value of only 4 confirmed it: she was essentially still that frail eleven-year-old kid who stayed at home all year round.
Her brain was still a bit dizzy. She carefully lifted the quilt, wanting to go down for breakfast.
Hearing the commotion from downstairs, Rand immediately Apparated to her bedside. Without a word, he supported her back into bed.
Kate, with a face full of confusion: ???
"Grandpa Rand..." She blinked her pretty eyes innocently. "I want to eat."
Rand was completely unmoved by her acting cute. He took out a small vial of potion and handed it to her. "This is a potion that can help Young Miss recover her energy."
Kate's eyelid twitched as she looked at the potion with its bizarre color. "Grandpa Rand, I remember that when you were in school, the subject you were worst at was Potions, right?"
She still remembered the old butler saying that his Potions grades were always at the level where he barely passed, and only thanks to the professor constantly giving him extra tutoring.
If she drank this stuff, would she really be okay?
Kate felt that her already weak body now seemed even more precarious.
"Grandpa Rand~"
Drinking this stuff would really cost a life!
Just as Kate wanted to open her mouth to beg for mercy, a knock sounded at the door downstairs. It was accompanied by the crisp shouts of a little girl.
She instantly bounced up from the bed. "It must be Hermione! I'll go open the door for her!"
Her body, which had been limp just a moment ago, suddenly burst with amazing speed. Kate didn't even have time to put on shoes before she went thumping down the stairs.
Meanwhile, at the door, little Hermione was still knocking.
She had gotten first place in her exams again. It happened to be the weekend, so her mom and dad said they wanted to celebrate and went out to buy delicious food together. Borrowing this tiny gap of time, she finally had the chance to run over next door.
"Sister Kate, Mr. Butler, open the door!"
Her small hand was almost out of energy from knocking, yet she hadn't heard any movement inside.
Her originally expectant hazel eyes gradually dimmed. Hermione lowered her sore arm and looked up at the iron gate before her, which was much taller than she was.
"Sister Kate, did you really leave..."
She murmured in a low voice. Just as she was about to turn and leave, her ears heard the movement from inside a step faster than her brain.
Her lonely eyes instantly burst with radiance. As soon as she turned her head, she saw the tightly closed main door open.
Immediately after, a figure like the wind threw itself into her arms.
Hermione froze.
A familiar scent instantly spread throughout her body. Her originally calm heart began to beat rapidly, like a butterfly flapping its wings, almost ready to fly out of her throat.
Even in past years, when she actively came over to find Sister Kate, the two of them had always properly read books and did homework. She had never been this close to Kate before...
Her brain seemed to be starting to get dizzy...
Unlike her near-catatonic delight, Kate, who had accidentally pounced into someone's arms, had only one thought in her mind right now.
She had rushed too fast just now, and her body hadn't recovered yet, so she almost stumbled and flew out...
Fortunately, there was a little Hermione to act as a cushion, so she didn't end up faceplanting.
"Cough!" She gave a light cough and crawled out of Hermione's arms in a rather sorry state.
Her pride as the older one made her temporarily unable to look the younger girl in the eye, so she deliberately turned her head away, pretending to be deep. "Why are you here?"
At this hour, the studious Hermione should be at home reviewing her lessons, right?
For some reason, Hermione, whose face had instantly flushed red, also seemed a bit off. She stammered for a long time but couldn't come up with a coherent explanation.
Should she say that because she was afraid Sister Kate left, she ran over early in the morning to knock on the door? Or was it because the thunder was too loud last night, and she was afraid Sister Kate didn't sleep well, so she came to ask today?
It felt inappropriate no matter how she put it.
The two little figures stood in a deadlock at the door, each blushing more than the other, each more awkward than the other.
In the end, it was Rand who walked over slowly. His face, usually stern when facing outsiders, revealed a rare, kindly smile when he looked at Hermione.
"So it is Miss Granger. Please, come in."
Hermione was stunned and quickly shook her head. "N-No need, I only came today while Mom and Dad weren't home to..."
Halfway through her words, her already flushed little face was dyed with an even deeper shade of red.
Kate also sensed that her complexion didn't look quite right and asked belatedly, "Then, did you come to find me for something?"
"I..." Hermione glanced cautiously at Rand behind Kate.
The old butler's expression remained unmoved. He simply said he suddenly remembered there was something boiling on the stove, and walked away quickly.
Without a third person present, Hermione secretly patted her chest, stared at Kate, and asked in one breath:
"I heard from Mom that you are going to school in a very far away place, and that you won't be coming back after that. Is that true?"
Kate blinked her eyes, silent.
She indeed had such a plan in the beginning, because according to the original story, Hermione would be going to Hogwarts next year. She had originally wanted to lie flat for her whole life, but staying next door to the female lead... if something happened, she would be finished.
That was why she proposed that the old butler move house, and even used the excuse of going to school with Mrs. Granger.
As a result, before she could even leave, the Hogwarts letter arrived first, and she even had a face-to-face meeting with Dumbledore.
Talk about impossible to guard against.
This was just great. Now, her entry into the magical world was set in stone, and Hermione would also go to Hogwarts next year.
If the two of them bumped into each other at school next year...
Kate suddenly felt a headache coming on.
________________________________________
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