Until Professor McGonagall disappeared, Ian and the other six finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Hermione fell into Ian's arms, looking distraught. "I've never lost points before, not once in my life. Ian, I lost 50 points this time."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes, watching Hermione closely. Where Ian couldn't see, the little witch's lips curled into a small knowing smile.
Damn! Granger is really good at acting!
"It doesn't matter; it's just points. You can earn them back if you lose them," Ian said softly, trying to comfort her.
Hermione muffled a small "hmm" and didn't say anything else.
"Hermione, you're fine, but what about me?" Draco complained, his face full of despair. "If my father finds out I lost 50 points, he'll scold me to death!"
Ron suddenly felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Draco. "My mum's the same. She'll definitely give me an earful."
Harry, watching Draco and Ron suddenly bonding over their shared plight, found himself a little amused.
"What should we do now?" Hermione asked Ian, looking worried. "Are we really going to patrol the Forbidden Forest tomorrow?"
"She isn't someone who jokes around about stuff like this, right?" Ian shrugged. "Professor McGonagall said it herself. We have to go."
Cassandra, however, seemed unbothered. "Let's go. Just treat it as an adventure."
"Adventure?!" Draco's voice rose sharply. "Cassandra, are you out of your mind? It's the Forbidden Forest! Who knows how many dangerous creatures are in there?"
"What are you so afraid of?" Cassandra rolled her eyes at him. "There are so many of us, and Hagrid will be there. What could possibly go wrong?"
"But..."
Draco muttered, wanting to say more, but Ian interrupted him.
"Alright, Draco, don't scare yourself. Cassandra is right—there are so many of us, and Hagrid will be there. Nothing will go wrong."
Ian said this as he held Hermione and Cassandra's hands. "Let's go. Let's get some rest first; we have to patrol the Forbidden Forest tomorrow night."
With that, Ian dragged Hermione and Cassandra away, leaving Harry, Draco, and Ron standing there, exchanging looks.
"Ian, he..." Ron hesitated.
"He's always like this," Harry said with a smile. "Come on, let's head back too."
Ian escorted Hermione and Cassandra back to the castle before letting them return to their dormitories to rest.
He then sat on the sofa in the lounge, his thoughts focused on the patrol of the Forbidden Forest the next night.
If his memory of the original plot was correct, they would encounter the lingering noseless monster—Voldemort—and the centaur Firenze.
Ian began to wonder if there was a way to save the unicorn.
If he could rescue the unicorn that was supposed to die, there would surely be numerous benefits.
The unicorn wouldn't hesitate to reward its benefactor with some pure, sacred blood and hair.
And with that, Ian could sell those rare ingredients for a fortune or hand them to Snape for the creation of innovative potions...
[Ding! Detected the host's strong desire! Ancient magic—Near-Death Quick Rescue Spell! Special price: 99 charm value!]
"You really know how to pick your timing, but your naming sense is a bit... never mind," Ian muttered, rolling his eyes. Still, he chose to purchase the spell.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host! Purchase successful!]
Ian's mind was suddenly flooded with knowledge about the Near-Death Quick Rescue Spell.
This spell could revive a creature on the brink of death. As long as there was even a faint breath left, the spell could save it.
Ian figured that this spell should be enough to save the unicorn.
As he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone sit next to him. Looking up, he saw Cassandra.
"Why are you still awake?" Ian asked, surprised.
"Aren't you still awake?" Cassandra replied casually. She gazed into Ian's green eyes. "What are you thinking about? The patrol in the Forbidden Forest tomorrow night?"
"Yeah," Ian admitted with a nod. "To be honest, I just feel uneasy about it."
Cassandra frowned slightly. "It should be fine. Professor McGonagall isn't the kind of professor who would put students in danger."
Ian remained silent. He agreed that Professor McGonagall wouldn't knowingly send them into harm's way.
Under normal circumstances, the Forbidden Forest wouldn't be dangerous, especially with Hagrid there to protect them.
But the issue was that Professor McGonagall had no idea that Voldemort would appear in the forest.
"Don't worry."
Noticing Ian still looked concerned, Cassandra reached out and held his hand. "I'll protect you."
Ian couldn't help but smile at her words. "Cassandra, I should be the one protecting you."
"Ian."
Cassandra suddenly leaned closer to him, the space between them shrinking to just a centimeter.
The little witch cupped Ian's face and gently kissed the corner of his mouth. "Good night, Ian."
With that, Cassandra stood up and left.
Ian, still sitting on the sofa, was left in a daze. Slowly, he reached out to touch the corner of his mouth.
There was still Cassandra's warmth lingering there.
Did she just tease me? Ian's brain was still in a fog.
Meanwhile, Cassandra ran back to the Slytherin girls' dormitory, her face flushed red.
She covered her face and flopped onto her bed, Ian's dazed expression replaying in her mind.
What was I thinking just now?! How could I just do that?!
But...
Ian's stunned look was so handsome...
Cassandra rolled around on her bed several times before forcing herself to calm down.
Forget it! It was just a kiss on the corner of the mouth! We're still young; it's no big deal!
With that thought, Cassandra finally closed her eyes.
Back in the common room, Ian sat on the sofa in a daze for a long time before finally standing up and heading to his dormitory.
Lying in bed, Ian tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Cassandra's face, leaning in close to kiss him, played on a loop in his mind.
Hermione's never kissed me so boldly... but Cassandra did it first.
Hmm... does that make Hermione the shy one?
Hermione: "...…" Yes! Yes!
Lost in thought, Ian wasn't sure how much time had passed before he finally drifted off to sleep.
The next day, as Ian and the other six were eating in the Great Hall, Ian noticed something unusual—many eyes were secretly watching them.
"Why do Harry and the others look so down?" Ian glanced at the Gryffindor table in confusion.
"Ian, don't you know? The news about your nighttime escapade has spread everywhere," Theodore said, pointing toward the Slytherin hourglass. "Everyone knows both Slytherin and Gryffindor lost 150 points because of it."
"The Gryffindor students are... um... isolating Harry and the others," Theodore added, carefully choosing his words.
Ian frowned. "Then why hasn't anyone in Slytherin come after the three of us?"
Blaise strolled over slowly, holding a piece of toast. "My dear prefect, you alone have earned Slytherin more than 150 points. What right do they have to criticize you?"
"As for Cassandra and Draco—a young lady from the Vole family and a young master Malfoy—who would dare to offend them?" Blaise added with a smirk.
Ian nodded. "That makes sense."
"So, Harry and the others are in a tough spot right now," Blaise shrugged.
"But hasn't Hermione also earned a lot of points for Gryffindor?" Ian asked with a frown, glancing at Hermione. The little witch was sitting silently, her head lowered.
Ian's mind wandered briefly. Hermione's so smart. Even though Snape often teases her in class, she's still managed to earn plenty of points for Gryffindor.
"Of course Hermione has earned a lot of points for Gryffindor," Blaise explained. "But don't forget—Harry and Ron have hardly ever added any points to their house. On the contrary, they've lost quite a few."
Blaise continued, "And your Miss Know-It-All is a close friend of Harry and Ron. Naturally, the Gryffindor students are isolating her too."
Ian's frown deepened as he stood up, turning his gaze toward the Gryffindor table.
No one was sitting near Harry, Ron, or Hermione. The three of them sat with their heads down, not saying a word.
"Ian, what are you planning to do?" Draco asked, immediately looking at Ian with a wary expression.
"Nothing," Ian said lightly. "You guys eat; I'm going to the Gryffindor table."
Without waiting for Draco's reaction, Ian stood up and walked straight to the Gryffindor table.
Cassandra didn't say anything. She simply watched quietly in the direction Ian had gone.
Ian sat directly next to Hermione, under the surprised gazes of Harry and Ron.
"Ian, you..." Harry began, staring at Ian in shock.
Though everyone at Hogwarts knew that Ian got along well with them, he had never sat at the Gryffindor table so openly before.
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