During the next day's Defence Against the Dark Arts class, Quirrell was lecturing by the book on the many ways to treat a werewolf bite.
As Kate took her class notes, she could hear Harry and Ron discussing what they would do if they got the Philosopher's Stone.
They weren't even afraid of Voldemort on the back of Quirrell's head hearing them.
Kate speechlessly crumpled the piece of parchment in her hand and tossed it over to interrupt them. "If you have time for this, you might as well consider what to do about this weekend's Quidditch match first."
Harry had a sudden realization. Only then did he remember that there was a match against Hufflepuff this weekend, and Snape was the referee.
After the incident on the pitch last time, they had ruled Snape out as a suspect.
But even though Harry knew he was secretly helping him, every time he tried to study hard in Potions, his enthusiasm would be snuffed out by the old bat's cold taunts and sarcasm.
Alright, so Snape wasn't the one trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but he definitely didn't like him.
In contrast, Snape's undeniable favorite was Malfoy, whom he would praise every class.
Aside from him, there was Kate.
Kate always maintained a respectful but distant attitude towards him, yet Snape would always approach her to observe her potion-brewing methods, occasionally offering a few pointers.
To this, Kate could only say that she was benefiting from being in Slytherin. If she were in any other house, Snape would definitely not pay her any mind.
Harry thought she was right. After nearly a semester of interaction, he had already figured out that Snape was both protective of his own and exclusionary towards others.
"Gentlemen," Quirrell stopped beside them, stammering, "H-Have you finished... finished copying the class notes?"
Harry snapped back to reality and met Quirrell's gaze with some alarm. "Professor, I've finished writing!"
"Mm, I'll be covering new content next. Don't let your minds wander again." Quirrell nodded and slowly walked back to the lectern.
Whenever the back of that head, wrapped in a large turban, faced Harry, the scar on his forehead would give him a strange feeling.
This feeling wasn't obvious at first. It was only later, after they had eliminated Snape as a suspect and Quirrell's suspicion level immediately shot up, that he started to feel this way.
"Harry," Kate said, seeing him still staring blankly at the back of Quirrell's head. She couldn't help but pat him. "Stop spacing out."
If he kept staring at him like that, his intentions would be discovered.
But the current Savior was simply unable to hide his thoughts. The moment he agreed, his gaze involuntarily started following that large head again.
This guy made her so nervous every time they had Defence Against the Dark Arts!
Kate sighed inwardly and poked him again gently. "The Quidditch match is coming up. Are you interested in seeing the trophies of past champions?"
"What trophies?" Harry immediately snapped out of it and asked curiously.
Previously, Dumbledore had hinted that she should retrieve her Phantom Clone, but because Kate had been dealing with a recurring cold recently, she never had the time to go.
Now was a good time to divert this guy's attention.
"It's a secret," she said with a raised eyebrow. "After class, I'll take you to see it."
The three of them whispered cheerfully throughout the class, completely ignoring the fact that Hermione was also in their row, concentrating on the lecture...
Well, actually, none of the three in her row were paying attention to the class. How could she possibly quiet her own mind?
In fact, since yesterday, Hermione had been wondering more than once what the scene in the Mirror of Erised really meant.
There were too many things to do during the day, so she didn't have the leisure to think about it.
But when she was free at night and saw her roommates returning affectionately hand in hand, she couldn't help but think of that scene.
Her, taking the initiative to kiss Kate?
Although she already considered herself Kate's closest friend, she had never thought about kissing her.
Or was it that other girls, when they got along, would also hug and kiss from time to time?
She was too embarrassed to even ask her roommates about this.
No matter how they answered, they would definitely tease her about Kate.
Her roommates were out of the question, and the boys were even more useless. Or perhaps... she could ask Kate?
Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Kate, only to see her simultaneously having a magically enchanted pen automatically copy notes while whispering with Harry.
Hermione silently turned her head back.
So annoying, but I can't say it.
This inner conflict lasted until the end of Defence Against the Dark Arts. It was only after Professor Quirrell had left the classroom that Hermione stood up, hesitating, wanting to pull Kate aside and ask her clearly.
"Professor Snape told Malfoy to keep an eye on me, so I probably won't be able to cheer for you tomorrow."
Kate was still talking to Harry, completely unaware. "So today I'm taking you to the Trophy Room to have a look!"
"I want to go too, I want to go too!" Ron immediately raised his hand.
The three of them simultaneously looked at a blushing Hermione, causing her to step back in confusion. "Wh-What's wrong?"
Just looking at Kate's face right now made her feel unusually guilty!
"Want to go to the Trophy Room together?" Kate laughed, raising a hand to tidy the stray hairs by her ear. "It's near that forbidden corridor."
Hermione hesitated for half a second before immediately linking her arm. "Let's go!"
She still wanted to find a chance to ask Kate. Keeping such a big question bottled up inside would make Miss-Know-It-All suffocate.
The four of them went up to the Trophy Room on the fourth floor together. In the bright sunlight, trophies, shields, medals, and statues gleamed with silver and gold light.
"Look, this should be your father's trophy, right?"
Kate led the group to the deepest part of the Trophy Room, where a gleaming golden trophy was displayed. On it was inscribed the name "James Potter."
"Wow, you never said your dad was a Seeker too!" Ron said, pressing himself enviously against the glittering trophy.
Harry was also very surprised. "I... I didn't know either."
"Well, now you're a little better off than me."
Kate took a step back and leaned against the wall with a light laugh. "All I know is which house my parents were sorted into. I don't know anything else."
As soon as her voice fell, Hermione took the initiative to take her hand. "Who says? At least you're in Slytherin, and you've seen the place where your mother once lived."
"Mm, I know." Kate's lips curved. "I'm going out for some air first. You guys can look around as you please."
With that, she patted Hermione's hand, went out alone, and walked straight to the armor corridor.
Her fingers brushed over the smooth, cold armor. Kate closed her eyes, just about to retrieve the clone attached to it when she heard footsteps behind her.
She frowned and immediately turned around, only to find that Hermione had followed her all the way here.
"Why aren't you looking around inside?" she asked, then smiled in realization. "Right, you probably aren't very interested in these honors..."
"That's not it!" Hermione interrupted her suddenly, her head lowered. Her fingers unconsciously fiddled with a corner of her wizard robes, her lips pressed tightly together.
After a good while, she finally summoned the courage to look up, the blush on her face already betraying her current panic.
"Kate, how do girls normally get along with each other?"
Kate was taken aback. "Why the sudden question?"
"Just answer me first. How do you think other girls get along!"
"Well..." Kate was taken aback by her sudden intensity and took half a step back.
Although she didn't have many female friends in this life, in her previous life, she had a few friends she got along with quite well, both in school and at work.
"Isn't it pretty much like us? Sticking together all day, going to class and the bathroom together, even going to the library together..."
She counted them off on her fingers as if listing treasures.
If they hadn't been sorted into different houses, it was possible Hermione would be sleeping in the same bed with her every day.
"And things like holding hands and hugging are as common as daily meals," she replied, thinking it over seriously.
The moment Hermione heard this, her eyes lit up instantly. She immediately took a few steps closer to her. "Holding hands and hugging? Then... then... what about kissing?"
Kissing?
Caught off guard by the question, Kate couldn't help but frown. "I suppose... that happens too?"
Although she had never been that intimate with her female friends in her past life—because she herself liked girls, she would intentionally keep a bit of distance from other women.
But for straight girls, kissing and hugging were common things!
"You suppose?" Hermione raised her eyebrows and leaned in suspiciously. "Have you tried it?"
Kate was completely stumped by her question and blurted out, "Who could I try it with?"
That seemed right. Kate hadn't even... ahem! Let alone with other girls.
Hermione finally stepped back, feeling quite relieved. But then she remembered that her abrupt question would surely make Kate suspicious.
She cleared her throat and quickly tried to explain. "I-I just saw two girls kissing, so I was curious and wanted to ask you. Mmm, just curious!"
Although that's what she said, Kate understood everything when she saw the little girl's crimson face.
She immediately put her hands on her hips, feeling a bit speechless. "Are they from your house?"
"...?" Hermione couldn't follow her train of thought for a moment.
"I'm asking, was it girls from your house kissing in front of you?" Kate had an indignant look on her face, as if her own child had been led astray.
Before Hermione could answer, she waved her hand. "It doesn't matter who it was, but this kind of overly intimate action can only be done after getting the other person's consent!"
"If someone wants to kiss you and you don't want to, you must refuse them in time, understand?"
Although a kiss between girls might seem like nothing, if not handled properly, it's sexual harassment!
Not to mention Hermione is only 11 years old right now!
Ordinary friendship is one thing, but what she feared were those with ulterior motives, taking advantage of a child's youth and ignorance to act recklessly!
"Regardless of gender, if someone kisses you, you have to learn to refuse!" Kate said righteously, gripping Hermione's shoulders.
Stared at with such intensity, Hermione, who had never seen her so serious, felt dizzy and agreed without thinking.
And so, the corridor, which had a slightly pink atmosphere, instantly turned into a self-protection classroom for underage girls.
____
________________________________________
🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push... and you can help!
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 20 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉