Ravenclaw's Blue Gem

It’s just that this reason makes perfect sense to Hermione. She looked at Zoe’s firm eyes, knowing that she could not stop her: "Well, I promise you. After supper... Seven o’clock, the one in the kitchen Meet in front of the portrait of Da Lizi."

"Don't you think the three of us are like detectives? It's the one you lent Zoe before. I've also read it. It's very interesting." Luna said with full interest."Three or three?" Hermione blinked, and Zoe smiled helplessly. Luna always does this. If she wants to participate in anything, she won't ask for your consent at all, but will join as a matter of course.

Hermione gave up because Luna also took the small badge from her pocket and waved it.In fact, she is in a very complicated mood now, not only because she feels nervous and happy to talk to Zoe again, but also because she is not indifferent like the indifferent attitude of the World Cup finals and relieved.For Luna's joining, she was also embarrassed because of the mess in the morning, and because she didn't need to be alone with Zoe (at least for now) to relax.

"Do you still have classes in the afternoon?" After the agreement was made, the atmosphere in the three-person room finally became more natural.Zoe can also temporarily forget the vows she made when she was angry. She has reason to tell herself that something has happened now, which is a special situation.Of course she didn't forgive Hermione, but she couldn't ignore her and could only deceive herself awkwardly.

"There is also a divination." They walked side by side, discussing with each other about the new semester. Although most professors did not assign written assignments in the first class, Hermione told Zoe that they should not let it go. I know there is one more year...no, we have only one year left to take the OWLs exam. Even if the Triwizard Tournament is going to be held this year, we should never give up our studies. The Triwizard Tournament is a duel of senior students. We They can't do anything except cheer. But the two boys always spend their free time on wizard chess or other gadgets. They don't even think about next year's exam, and start preparing now."

Zoe frowned. Hermione rarely took the initiative to tell her about Potter, because she knew that the two of them had a bad relationship, and Harry was innocent because Zoe hated him unilaterally.But Ron Weasley was never a man who swallowed his breath, which also led to a very bad relationship even if there was almost no frontal conflict between them (of course also because Draco was always provocative).

"I was so surprised, I didn't expect you to take the initiative to show Harry to Harry." Zoe was startled, but she didn't let herself show any flaws in her facial expression, but listened carefully."Is it so rare?" she asked calmly."Of course! I can understand it if it weren't for Harry, but you are...stubborn to him. You were like a different person at the time."

"But I did that because I misunderstood what happened to Potter." Zoe began to think again. It was not her who did this, and it must be Max, but why did she do such an extra thing?It's true that Zoe reflected on her after Hermione told her what happened to Harry, but she would never be all right to be courteous with the boy who survived the disaster.

Max is not a person who will please others, so she must have a reason to do so.She wants to get close to Potter?Is there something Potter cares about?Or was it because Potter stopped Voldemort and failed him, so she approached Potter for revenge?

Impossible, Zoe denied this guess in the next second.In the short contact with Max, she could feel that Max could not do this kind of thing.She never regards Voldemort as someone who should be feared for someone to retaliate against, but even because of love... Forgive her, for whom would Max really take the initiative because of love?

She needs Potter, no matter what she needs, so she will approach him and show her good: "Tell Potter, let him be careful lately. Something invisible is approaching him."

Chapter Forty Three

Hearing this dumb warning, Hermione was at a loss, but Zoe’s attitude was so serious. She didn’t think Zoe’s words were deceiving her, but she couldn’t immediately believe: "What’s going on, why suddenly so?"

Zoe shook her head. She knew that Hermione wanted to ask her why she came to this conclusion, but she couldn't tell her directly that it was because "she" actually showed up with Potter. It would look weird. Hermione believed her judgment, she had to expose Max in her body, and this was something she didn't want Hermione to know.

"There is no reason... but I just feel uneasy. What happens every year at Hogwarts." Hermione was not fooled by her."But what does this have to do with you asking me to warn Harry to be careful? You must have gotten some news to say that, right? You are not an empty talker, Zoe."

"But I can't tell you the reason." Zoe said, "This is a secret. I can't tell anyone. I'm not sure that Potter will be in danger, but it's always right to be careful. You know Hogwarts this year. The Triwizard Tournament will be held, and people from other schools will enter the school. If anyone wants to make a ghost..."

"I can't accept this judgment because it sounds illogical at all." Hermione frowned. "But I'll tell Harry, Zoe. It won't hurt if you can let those two Personally, it’s always good to pay more attention to your surroundings. But Harry’s learning status has improved a lot this year. I bet Professor Lupin and Sirius must give him private tutoring."

They walked slowly in a nice atmosphere, until they had to separate, because Hermione had to go to divination, and Zoe and Luna were going to the library."What do you think is going to happen? Then we need to make some preparations." Luna's tone seemed to be a foregone conclusion, without any doubt.

Zoe shook her head: "I don't know what that guy has done. I can't act rashly." She became anxious about being completely exposed to Max's prying eyes, and she was more eager to learn Occlumency.She couldn't pin her hope in Max's strange tolerance for her, especially when the other party was obviously obsessed with Voldemort's resurrection.

She now wants to avoid thinking too much about countermeasures, and she must collect more information.On the first day of school, the library was empty. Only one or two students who looked like nerds were studying hard. Zoe discovered that they were almost all Ravenclaws, but she unexpectedly found Qiu in the corner. Zhang, she doesn't look so much like someone who is immersed in school every day.

But walking further forward, another person who was covered by the plants in the corner showed up. It was a tall and handsome boy, a Hufflepuff, and he must be a senior, because he felt very calm. , Not at all like those naive boys her age.

Qiu smiled very happily. She was talking intimately with the boy. There were books on their desks, but no one touched them.The boy looked at Qiu with gentle eyes. Of course Zoe was familiar with this look, and he understood the identity of the Hufflepuff boy who looked like a perfect male god: Cedric Diggory, Qiu and him Is a lover.

She was originally just sneaking a glance at the two when she was looking for books. It is not uncommon for couples to use the library for trysts, especially when there are few people, the library is the most comfortable, and can also use the name of homework to avoid people. Ears and eyes (if this is needed).

But Qiu actually saw her. She didn't ignore this even a one-sided school girl who hadn't even said anything. Instead, she smiled and nodded to her. Cedric was pushed by her. When he noticed this, he showed a gentle smile.Zoe has always done a good job of superficial skills, and looked back and smiled and nodded at the two.

Students at Hogwarts can only find books on the outermost shelves unless they have notes handwritten by the professor. These books do not involve dark magic at all, and they are all theoretical books. Hogwarts There is a forbidden book zone in the depths, where books are of greater value.When Zoe was a child, she often asked Dumbledore to bring back books for her, but she had only heard of this area that was said to have a large collection of dangerous dark magic books.

She rummaged through those bookshelves and found only two books that mentioned Occlusive Cerebral, but they both theoretically explained the value of Occlusive Cerebral. One of them tended to deal with the conflict between Occlusive Cerebral and Panic. Contrast (it is logical to say that they belong to the relationship between spear and shield); the other book combines Occlumency with the "open brain" social situation that has been popular for a long time decades ago, advocating wizards' defense against their own spirit and soul.

If only mentioning Occlumency, there must be a lot of books, but Zoe didn't have time to find them from the shelf.And even if you find it, there is not much value, because no book will directly tell you how to practice Occlumency.

"Sure enough, someone needs to teach." Zoe reluctantly shoved the book back into the shelf.But she didn't know anyone who could teach her Occlumency.The only possible candidate is probably Dumbledore, but Dumbledore is very busy every day, and she does not want to burden him with extra things.

Do you have to ask one by one?This is a good way, but it is easy to attract the attention of professors. If they ask why they want to learn this, how should she answer?After all, neither OWLs nor NEWTs are required to investigate Occlumency, and Hogwarts will not actively teach students Occidental.

Sure enough, I still had to go to Dumbledore, at least to ask who could help her.Zoe happened to walk with her head down, and when she changed to another bookshelf, she ran into someone.An exclamation leaked from Zoe's mouth, but she immediately restrained herself. She didn't want to lead Mrs. Pince over.

"Ba, Professor Barbara!" She lowered her voice, and was shocked to see a certain squatting professor walking out of her office. You must know that she didn't sit in the teacher's bench for a long time even at the opening ceremony. gone."Even if you don't need to take care of your mind, I know you are thinking of something bad about me." Barbara said lightly, and at the same time took a book from the top of the shelf and gave it to Luna next to her, "Come, this is me A book recommended to you."

Zoe twitched the corners of his mouth and watched as the two people met at first sight. Barbara was much gentler to her than to herself, although she was still very cold, but at least in line with the attitude of a professor.She knew that Luna chose the ancient magic text this year: "Do you have an ancient magic text class today?" she asked quietly.

Luna nodded."Miss Lovegood has a unique talent in Rune. I suggest that if she has this consideration, she can try to delve into it." She never said this to Zoe, probably because she knew Zoe Yi's rapid progress in ancient magic texts all came from Max's accumulation.

"Miss Lovegood, what I can probably tell you is to make more use of silence and night to listen to and feel the words on the paper, and let them dance at your fingertips... I can see from today’s class Your imagination will not be constrained, and your perception is very keen. You can even guess most of the meaning of letters by intuition, although you can't do anything else."

Luna is also very happy. She has nothing to call talent. Now someone is willing to tell her: You are very talented.This is really encouraging."You mean don't look and read, but talk and feel?"

Barbara raised her mouth: "I can't give you much advice on how to do it. I belong to the kind of person who can understand through reading and then communicate. And you have crossed from the beginning, our path is different...but The foundation is also very important, so I suggest that you use your talents and don't completely abandon the theory, it will make you better."

After she explained this, she planned to leave, but was stopped by Zoe: "Professor, I have something to ask you."

"Do you know Occlumency?" Zoe added, "Or is there anyone you know who can teach me Occlumency?" Barbara glanced at Luna."Have to learn?" Zoe nodded.

"I can't teach you, because I won't. But you have a good candidate by your side." Barbara thought for a while. "Severus Snape. He is an excellent Occlumency, maybe the best One of the excellent ones, why don’t you ask him, he happens to be your mentor, isn’t he?"

"Professor Snape?" Zoe was surprised for a moment, but he took it for granted after thinking about it.She only knew that Snape was a senior potion master, good at duels and obsessed with teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.After a year of study, she naturally knew that Snape was definitely not a "greasy bat who abused power" as some students said. He was an extremely dazzling personal ability under his harsh and vicious surface.Even if someone told her now that Snape was also proficient in brain defense, she wouldn't be surprised.

Chapter 44 The Murder of the Elf (Part 1)

After a quick dinner, Zoe and Luna left the auditorium, but instead of heading to the Ravenclaw Tower, they followed the small door on the side of the auditorium to the basement, which was on the first floor of the Hufflepuff Lounge. direction.Away from the other side of the aisle, there are a lot of "delicious" portraits hanging on the walls on both sides, because most of them are eaten, and the torch stretches the shadows of the two people long, and they draw a picture full of fruit I saw Hermione before the portrait of the huge silver bowl.

"You are so fast, Hermione." Luna said briskly."This makes me very anxious. If it's not for worrying that my mind won't be able to turn around, I can't even eat dinner." Hermione nodded to the two of them, and she reached out and scratched the big green pear in the portrait. Squirming and laughing, then it turned into a green doorknob.

Hermione pulled the doorknob, and they walked into a large room. It looked as spacious as an auditorium. The ceiling was high. There were many long tables in the room with copper pots, basins, and various Tableware, some food materials that can be placed neatly stacked in the corner, and a large brick fireplace on the other side.

"Wow! This looks really spectacular." Luna exclaimed. In front of her, dozens of elves were working methodically. Some of them were cleaning materials in front of the kitchen table, and some were walking around the pot on the fire. Go, and the elf carrying a large plate of jam and tarts, and placing them on four long tables. The magic is that these desserts disappeared immediately after they were placed on the table.The layout of these tables looks very familiar.

"Ravenclaw's table is over there, Zoe." Luna whispered and pointed to one of the four tables. She looked a little pity, "I knew that today's dessert is jam pie. You should wait until dinner time is over before you leave."

"Ah, ladies. I wonder what do you need to come here?" This sharp voice can only come from a house elf, and their voices are very distinguishable.A house elf wrapped in a linen scarf trotted to the three of them and bowed, "I'm very sorry, please wait a little longer for the three of you. When we finish serving the snacks, there is still some jam filling. The cake was not delivered."

"It's okay, please don't care about us. We are here to find Crocker, is it there?" Hermione asked kindly. The little elf opened his eyes slightly, but he barely thought, and pointed to it. The other side of the kitchen."Over there, Mr. Crocker is over there. It said before that it will be a visitor today, and we will make preparations right away."

Before Hermione could say no, it ran away."The movements are really flexible...but it's the first time I've heard of an elf calling a compatriot'Mr.'." Luna tilted her head and asked incredulously.

"It's not very common unless they respect each other sincerely," Zoe said. "But other than that, if Kroc was the leader in the Hogwarts kitchen, they would also call it that. The elves will also call Paluru "Mr."."

"Leader?" Hermione repeated in surprise. She didn't know how Crocker could do this step. "This is really amazing, at least it really conquered these house elves and got their approval, right? "

"It's not the same. But this at least shows that it is very capable and can handle the affairs of the elves in an orderly manner. You must know that elves are naturally fond of work, they do have this talent, and know how to take care of things well or How to cook delicious meals. They don’t have the concept of a monarch... Well, it’s more appropriate to say that, Kroc should be the authority among them. And I remember that elf is also very old, said It is not surprising that it is an elderly person."

They moved forward carefully and slowly, because they had to be careful not to collide with the busy elves.After walking for a short distance, they found something weird. The more they went forward, the little elves in twos and threes were not working, but sitting in the corner. Some of them stared at the ceiling with empty eyes. Some hands were knitting sweaters with needles and threads, and some elves were talking, and Hermione found that Kroc was among those chatting elves.

"Hi, Crocker." She smiled and waved to the elf who was still dressed strangely.Kroc no longer wears a thick cloak like a traveler, but a long scarf that looks exactly like the elves around him, but he still wears the iconic monocle, and the lenses are hung on it. On his big ears, it heard the shout, turned its head and bowed to the three.

But it didn’t start a conversation with Hermione right away. Instead, it glanced at the golden wall clock on the stone wall of the kitchen, stood up, clapped its hands, and shouted at the few elves around him: “Time is up, it’s time to continue working, fire. De, Bess, and Jickley were responsible for maintaining the fireplace in the lounge, and at the same time..." The elves whose names were called by it all showed happy emotions. They nodded and trot back to their posts. , And then another group of elves came over, just like the previous batch, sitting under the wall to rest.

"Unbelievable! How do you persuade them?" Hermione asked in surprise, knowing that she hadn't made any effort, but the elves always shun freedom and wages as venomous snakes, as long as she tries to mention it. Topic, they will be very resistant.

"Hermione, we like work. It's our nature." Crocker shook hands with her. "I just let them accept the fact that after they have accepted me, the short rest is for perfection. Just as sharpening knives is to make knives sharper, don’t let them accept the unfamiliar word freedom, but let freedom naturally become the air around them and be naturally accepted by them...Of course, let them know This combination of work and rest is only the first step."

"The first step is always the greatest, Kroc!" Hermione laughed in surprise. "How did you let them accept you? I found out that you don't wear that wizard robe anymore."

"Because I found that the robe makes me incompatible with them, you know, it's like putting an eye-catching mark directly on the body, telling every elf,'We are different.' Hermione, the exclusion of aliens has never been human. We will show the patents more clearly. My initial plan was to use my special to set an example for them and tell them the taste of freedom, but after less than a month, I gave up. I took off my robe, and No longer talk to them about wages and holidays, I need to let them accept me as a member of the group so that I can better influence them." Kroc helped his glasses, "But there is no way with these glasses, I have As you get older, the old guy’s eyes always have some problems."

"When they think that I'm back to'normal', I can quickly enter this group. But I can't simply be a part of it. I have to become a more special existence. Fortunately, I did it before. The housekeeper of a large family. Even the elves are more willing to agree with the powerful and excellent, and are more willing to listen to their opinions."