For the next half month, Kate went to the Potions office every night to act as Snape's assistant, taking the opportunity to secretly learn some exclusive techniques.
During this period, because she had to see Snape every day, no one came to challenge her privately anymore.
Hermione also kept her promise, waiting at the office door every night while practicing the Disillusionment Charm.
However, perhaps because the technique required for this spell far exceeded the learning limit of lower years, Hermione practiced for nearly half a month and could barely maintain it for one minute.
But being able to reach such a level was already far superior to her peers.
Time passed gradually like this, and soon, Kate's detention arrived at its final day.
"Professor, can I really not come to the office in the future? Not even to ask a few small questions?"
"Miss Shafiq, I have said that I have no time to play boring games with you. Your detention is over. Please leave."
Kate could only leave the office reluctantly, unable to hold back a sigh.
Although Snape had a bad temper, the title of Potions Master was well-deserved. The small techniques she had secretly learned over this half-month were enough to deal with most basic potions.
She really dared not imagine what effects those top-tier potions made by Snape would have.
Kate, who had only drunk two types of potions so far—the magic-suppressing potion and the Draught of Peace—felt like a complete novice.
As soon as she left the office, Kate looked around for a long time but didn't see Hermione's shadow.
Was she delayed by something and didn't come? Or...
She suddenly turned her head, reached out, and grabbed a thin arm. "Caught you."
A human figure quickly revealed itself from the originally empty space in front of her. Hermione stared at her in astonishment: "How did you know I was behind you?"
"Your magical fluctuations are too large," Kate explained solemnly.
Every Wizard produces magical fluctuations when using spells, but the size of the fluctuation varies according to the proficiency of the spell.
For example, with Kate's own Levitation Charm, her proficiency was sufficient that even Dumbledore would not be able to detect the fluctuation.
However, such magical fluctuations could only be detected by wizards with sufficiently deep Mana; it was basically impossible for students to have such massive Mana.
But unfortunately, Kate happened to be that exception.
Hermione pursed her lips: "I thought I had practiced well enough."
"Magic is endless. Even the Headmaster might not be able to pat his chest and say he is strong enough." Kate habitually educated her like she was teaching a child.
As soon as the words fell, she noticed Hermione's resentful look.
Uh...
She scratched her cheek awkwardly and quickly changed the subject: "It's almost curfew time. I'll walk you back to the Common Room."
Just like every night for the past half month, she routinely cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself and Hermione respectively before holding this person's hand and walking out of the dungeon together.
It was already nearing curfew, and there were few students still wandering outside along the way.
"I seem to hear Mrs. Norris's voice," Hermione whispered.
Mrs. Norris was a scrawny cat kept by the Hogwarts caretaker, Filch.
Like its owner, Mrs. Norris loved to patrol the corridors, catch those students who violated the rules, and then run quickly to notify its owner to administer punishment to the students.
Because tonight was the last night of detention, the time was a bit later than usual. If they were caught at this time, even if it wasn't curfew time yet, they would be targeted by Filch.
Kate cried out internally that this was bad. She pulled Hermione and went upstairs quickly, intending to send her back to the Gryffindor Common Room as soon as possible.
"It's too late today," Hermione pulled her back disapprovingly and whispered, "You should go back first."
"The Gryffindor and Slytherin Common Rooms are too far apart. If you walk me back and then return, you will definitely be past curfew time!"
Kate shook her head: "I can continue to use the Disillusionment Charm. Don't worry, Filch can't catch me."
But unlike her, Hermione's Disillusionment Charm was very unstable. If she were discovered, it would be over.
Saying that, she took her and continued upstairs.
However, unexpectedly, just as they reached the fourth floor, Mrs. Norris seemed to have heard their footsteps. With a light leap, it jumped onto the staircase between the fourth and fifth floors.
Unlike other cute cats, this cat was just like its owner, with bulging, bulb-like eyes staring in their direction.
"Let me see, which unruly student is night-wandering near curfew..."
Filch's annoying voice also followed from the direction of the fifth floor.
In front of Hermione, she couldn't make any move to harm Filch and the cat, but the risk of rushing directly past was too great.
She just wanted to use a Levitation Charm to block their steps, but as soon as she waved her wand, she felt the emptiness of the Mana in her body.
No, her Mana was insufficient now. The remaining half had to be saved to cast the Disillusionment Charm again midway to ensure she wouldn't be caught.
Tsk, they could only detour.
Kate gritted her teeth and carefully pulled Hermione away from the stairwell.
They quickly passed through a corridor lined with many suits of armor, but Mrs. Norris's voice still followed closely behind.
"Kate," Hermione suddenly pointed to a corridor in the distance, "We can pass through there."
She looked in that direction. This was the corridor that Dumbledore had explicitly forbidden entry to at the start of the school year.
Other students didn't know clearly at this moment, but Kate understood very well that this corridor led to the underground room where the Philosopher's Stone was stored.
But as long as they passed through this corridor, they could avoid Mrs. Norris and get to the stairs leading to the fifth floor.
Can the world line actually repair itself like this?
Without Malfoy provoking Harry, we have them night-touring Hogwarts.
Seeing Mrs. Norris getting closer and closer to their position, Kate had no choice but to take Hermione and sprint all the way over.
Just at this time, the effect of the Disillusionment Charm on their bodies began to gradually lose its effect because the time limit was up.
While being pulled by her to escape in a hurry, Hermione inadvertently glimpsed the door at the end of the corridor. "Kate, let's go inside and hide first!"
Her intention was just to go inside so they could cast the spell again.
Kate glanced at the door panel close at hand, then looked at the distance still remaining to the stairs, and nodded helplessly.
With an Unlocking Charm, the door panel opened, and the two hid inside together.
The moment they entered the door, Kate immediately pulled out her wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on Hermione, hiding her figure once again.
Vaguely sensing something wrong, Hermione raised her head, and her gaze was caught off guard by the eyes of a monster-like big dog.
This dog was so big it filled all the space from the ceiling to the floor, standing there motionless.
Three heads, three pairs of eyes, three noses, and three drooling mouths. It looked deformed and terrifying.
Undoubtedly, it had now set its sights on them... or rather, it had set its sights only on Kate.
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