naruto-story Chapter 187 186 The feet were the first to be cured, their fair color replacing the gray of the stone.
Chapter 187 186 The feet were the first to be cured, their fair color replacing the gray of the stone.
The feet were the first to be cured, their fair color replacing the gray of the stone.
Then the calves, thighs, hands, and head. After seeing Hermione completely cured, Lynn reached out and slowly helped her up.
"Hermione, how do you feel? Are you okay?"
Hermione blinked blankly; it took a few seconds for her to fully regain her responsiveness.
The first thing she did upon regaining her responsiveness was reach out to pinch Lynn's ear.
"You're really something, aren't you? You actually dared to use the Cruciatus Curse on yourself!"
"I told you not to punish yourself, but you not only did it, you even upgraded the punishment!"
Anxious and angry, Hermione wanted to give Lynn's ear a hard tug, but once she gripped it, she realized she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She could only hold her ear and glare at her huffily.
"Hermione being petrified... was because I wasn't skilled enough and didn't completely eliminate the Basilisk. Hermione told me not to punish myself, but she was petrified because of me. I..."
Before Lynn could finish, Hermione let go of her ear and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You dummy! In everything except studying, you really are a dummy!"
"How could I possibly blame you?" Hermione's voice softened as her right hand gently stroked Lynn's back. "It was only because of your warning that I even had the chance to be petrified; otherwise, I might have died."
"You gave me the chance to live, Lynn. You saved me."
"Thank you."
Lynn's brain stopped functioning; Hermione's words overlapped with those of Professor McGonagall and the Grangers—they were all saying she had done well enough and that Hermione's petrification wasn't her fault.
"Mm..."
Closing her eyes slightly, Lynn's body relaxed.
"Also," Hermione let go of Lynn and held her shoulders, "did you go looking for the Basilisk to avenge me?"
Lynn looked into Hermione's eyes and nodded honestly. "Yes."
"I knew it," Hermione's eyes reddened, filled with both emotion and heartache. "You really... honestly, five Cruciatus Curses, and then you went after the Basilisk."
"Do you have any idea? Hearing you cast the Cruciatus Curse five times in a row, I wished your wand had been pointed at me instead."
"When the curtain was blown up and I saw you walking out so weakly, I hated myself so much—hated that I was too weak to protect myself."
Two lines of tears slowly slid down as Hermione looked at Lynn through tearful eyes. "If something happened to you because of me, what would be the point of my safety?"
Lynn opened her mouth, wanting to say that Hermione's life was more important than her own, that it had a higher priority.
But she remembered what Hermione had once told her about how life cannot be measured that way.
"I was wrong."
Lynn lowered her head and obediently admitted her mistake. Hermione, dragging her still somewhat stiff body, knelt up and hugged her, pressing her cheek gently against Lynn's.
"No, I was the one who was wrong. I shouldn't have left you alone; I should have stayed with you the whole time."
Lynn's lifeless gaze flickered slightly, returning to its usual dullness after a few seconds.
"Also..."
Hermione pulled back and wiped the tears from her face. "I heard everything you said to me on Christmas, too."
Lynn looked up at Hermione, her face still expressionless, yet somehow she seemed indescribably cute.
"I really like your gift; it's truly beautiful."
Hermione glanced at the quill on her bedside table. "And it's really impressive that you managed to become an Animagus."
"Also..."
Hermione arched an eyebrow and broke into a smile through her tears. "I've also figured out how to complete the part of that sentence you didn't finish."
"You participated in my past by looking at the photos; you participated in my present by entering the photo; and my future..."
Hermione paused here, then spoke the following words one by one.
"...you must participate in as well, and walk the entire journey of life with me."
Lynn's mind quickly resumed functioning, pondering the meaning of Hermione's words.
To have herself participate in Hermione's future and walk the entire journey of life with her.
It probably means staying by Hermione's side forever; there's no problem with that.
After all, she wanted to ensure Hermione's safety, and... she and Hermione were friends.
"Okay," Lynn nodded mechanically, her voice as flat as a light breeze.
Hermione watched her mechanical movements and heard her emotionless voice, sighing helplessly.
She reached out and ruffled Lynn's hair. "Not on the same wavelength..."
Staring fixedly at Lynn, affection and possessiveness continued to grow in Hermione's heart.
During her days of petrification, she had plenty of time to think—to reflect on every detail of her time with Lynn.
She also had plenty of time to think about what Lynn had said to her on Christmas.
After thinking for a whole term until the petrification was finally lifted, she had finally figured it out.
She simply liked Lynn—liked the kindness she maintained toward others despite everything she'd been through.
She liked the unique protection Lynn gave her, her seriousness in life and study, and every aspect she displayed.
As for Lynn... based on that sentence she'd said, the now-enlightened Hermione was certain that Lynn felt the same way about her.
It was just that her emotions hadn't completely "grown" yet, so she couldn't understand or express them well.
But it didn't matter; she could wait and teach her slowly. They were still young, and there was plenty of time.
Hermione's words made Maranhao and the other two outside widen their eyes. Lynn might not have caught on, but how could they not understand what Hermione meant?
"Hiss... Has Hermione... realized her feelings?"
Marietta sucked in a breath and looked at Maranhao beside her.
"It seems so," Maranhao nodded with a serious expression.
"So early," Penelope frowned slightly. Although they trusted and liked Hermione...
...that didn't mean they wanted their junior to be spirited away so quickly and so early.
However, Lynn's emotions hadn't fully "grown" yet, let alone her realizing her own feelings.
It seemed Hermione still had a long way to go.
The three seniors, who were just saying Hermione had realized her feelings too early, were now starting to think about how Hermione should navigate this path to reach Lynn faster and bring her out.
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