The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 61: Daily Life

On Saturday morning, only a few people were up early in the Gryffindor common room, including Miss Hermione Granger.

She sat intently by the fireplace in the common room, taking careful notes with a quill, while the Defense Against the Dark Arts headdress sat on the table.

Every now and then, she would put on the headband to check the content of the class, and then carefully write down each piece of knowledge.

This headband is amazing... It allows you to review your memory repeatedly, so even if you didn't hear something clearly, you can relearn it.

Professor Hamilton is a genius...

But even geniuses have their own personalities... Hermione bit the end of the quill pen with a hint of annoyance. Professor Hamilton had never said a word.

It is said that when Harry saw her in Knockturn Alley, he didn't seem to hear her speak.

She's such a strange person...

Within two weeks of the start of the semester, Professor Hamilton had surpassed all previous Hogwarts professors, becoming the strangest and most mysterious figure among the students.

First of all, she is not a graduate of Hogwarts, which is already quite unusual for Hogwarts... Secondly, she never speaks and never reveals her appearance.

It's like someone hiding in a school conducting some horrific experiments.

Of course, many people thought it was cool, including Ron's two older brothers, Fred and George... They somehow got their hands on two silver masks and would often bend over and pretend to be Professor Hamilton to scare the students.

Ron seemed quite frightened... Even though Headmaster Dumbledore had healed him in his memories, the painful recollection of facing the Killing Curse that day still affected him greatly.

It's unlikely to be eliminated in the short term...

Of course, Hermione had also heard some rumors, such as that some people said Professor Hamilton was a dark wizard, a dark wizard who enjoyed torturing rats.

Miss Granger, of course, didn't believe any of this, because Ron really did have a mouse in his pocket... and Professor Hamilton... at least for now, didn't seem to have shown any interest.

But I'm really curious about where Professor Hamilton came from, what he looks like, and what he's done...

Hermione was completely unaware that Professor Hamilton had mentioned Mr. Lockhart far more often than she had in the past two weeks.

The mysterious Professor Hamilton... he's just so intriguing.

Hermione pondered for a few seconds and then shook her head. No matter how curious she was, she wouldn't get any leads on this matter. After all, she couldn't possibly investigate Durmstrang's graduates, could she?

Moreover... the other professors didn't seem to have much interaction with Professor Hamilton either...

She rarely saw Professor Hamilton in the auditorium, and even when she did, she only watched her take the leftover lunch back to her office.

She never took off her mask.

No wonder the Weasley brothers thought the mask was some kind of cursed artifact, something that could never be removed once worn...

She realized she had been daydreaming a bit… Hermione shook her head and turned her attention back to her studies.

Professor Dumbledore said... love is the most powerful magic... and the Unforgivable Curse has no counter...

Hermione wrote slowly and deliberately, but soon she shook her head again.

No, I'm still very curious about Professor Hamilton's true identity... what her past and secrets are... and there's only one place in Hogwarts where I might find the answers.

So Hermione picked up her notebook, left the Gryffindor common room, and headed toward the library.

There weren't many students along the way. After all, it was a Saturday morning, and even though it was almost ten o'clock, most people were still resting. Only at the entrance of the library did she see a somewhat unfamiliar face.

It was a girl with red hair, standing timidly in the corner, seemingly muttering something to herself.

"Go out the door and turn left, then go down the stairs... finally through the main door... follow the path and you'll find... Hogsmeade..."

Hogsmeade?

Hermione glanced at the student with some surprise. Was she already in the third year?

Only students in their third year and above are allowed to leave Hogwarts on weekends... but they should have already left, right?

And... what are we doing here in Hogsmeade?

Hermione pursed her lips and asked instinctively, "Are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"Ah!" Seemingly startled by Hermione, the red-haired girl shuddered and took a few steps back.

"..." Am I that scary?

Hermione asked again, displeased, "Are you going to Hogsmeade?"

"Ah...yes...I...I'm going to..." the girl stammered softly, "to Hogwood...no...Hogsmeade."

She's a rather strange person... Have I seen her before?

Hermione frowned, thought for a few seconds, and then said, "It seems a bit too late for Hogsmeade now."

"Professor McGonagall should have already arranged for the students to go."

"Ah..." the girl whimpered in surprise, then said, "It's okay... I can..."

"That won't do." Hermione shrugged. "Students need a professor's permission to leave Hogwarts... and only in their third year or above."

"I'm already... I'm already in third grade..." the red-haired girl whispered, twirling two fingers as she spoke.

"All I need to know is... all I need to know is... how to get there..."

Hermione couldn't help but feel a little angry at her for saying that.

Didn't I tell you that you need a professor's approval? Even if you wanted to go now, you wouldn't be able to find a professor... And if Hermione remembers correctly, she should also need her parents' permission to go there.

Did your parents agree?

Also... Hermione has some doubts about whether this girl can come back on her own after arriving in Hogsmeade.

"I...I have to go..." the girl whispered, "to buy...to buy some things..."

There's nothing I can do about this... Wait... I need to buy some things...

Hermione seemed to remember something and asked, "Do you know Hagrid?"

"Ha...Hagrid?" The red-haired girl paused, then hesitated before saying, "I know him...he...he shouldn't eat people..."

"Nobody thinks he'd eat people," Hermione said, frowning.

"I'm...sorry."

"I mean... Hagrid said he's going to Hogsmeade today."

"You could ask him to buy you something," Hermione said, shrugging. "Do you know how to get to Hagrid's cabin?"

"No... I don't really know..."

"Go straight from here, then turn right, then left, go down one flight of stairs... and finally walk straight out the door and you'll arrive."

"what……"

Seeing the girl who seemed a little dazed, Hermione sighed, then casually took out a quill and wrote it down in her notebook.

"Click."

After handing the paper to the girl, Hermione shrugged. "This will do, right?"

"That's surprising... Shouldn't you have been at this school for three years?"

"You don't even know how to get to Hogsmeade...?"

"I'm sorry... I... I didn't know this was... common sense..."

"This isn't common sense... but... but it's something you should know." Hermione shook her head and said, "Alright, I've already written down how to find Hagrid for you."

"You'd better go find him soon."

"If it gets too late, he'll set off."

"Ah... well... thank you." The girl said softly, clutching the paper.

"You're welcome." Hermione smiled and quickly walked into the library; she still wanted to find out Professor Hamilton's identity...

There's no time to waste here.