Here's a bonus chapter for you all! Thank you so much for waiting. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and I hope you have a wonderful time reading!
Glenn finally managed to calm down the enraged Hermione. The little girl remained expressionless - she decided to slack off for the rest of the term since there were no classes for a week after exams, meaning no chances to earn points while deduction opportunities still existed. Gryffindor had almost caught up to Slytherin's points, but now thanks to Snape's underhanded move, those little lio... lion cubs directly lost sixty to seventy points.
This was no fun at all.
Hermione couldn't be bothered to watch the remaining Defense Against the Dark Arts exams, burying her face in Glenn's chest without wanting to speak.
Feeling Glenn's presence around her, the little girl felt her irritation calm down.
She snuggled even deeper into his embrace.
Ah, so healing!
Glenn silently cast a Disillusionment Charm on them both.
...
After finishing the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, the remaining course exams weren't difficult, and they completed them easily.
Only the History of Magic written test remained - after finishing this subject, the young wizards could properly relax and do whatever they wanted for a whole week.
Everyone was clearly eager to welcome their holiday, showing high spirits.
The first-year History of Magic exam was obviously much simpler compared to other subjects. An hour later, everyone handed in their papers and the young wizards cheered happily. After finishing, Hermione quietly complained to Glenn: "Why was there so little exam content? Did we really need to review this little material?"
Since she spoke very softly, the young wizards immersed in the joy of approaching holidays didn't hear Hermione's humble-bragging.
Glenn patted her head: "You're different from others - you're amazing and have already mastered knowledge beyond first year, but they need to review."
The little girl beamed.
Praised by Glenn again, hehe.
The little girl stretched lazily. After finishing exams, she finally relaxed. Looking at the weather outside, the temperature wasn't very cold anymore, and the sun had made a rare appearance today.
Hermione suggested: "The weather seems nice today, let's go sunbathe."
Glenn nodded in agreement.
The weather was indeed nice today - many young wizards sat on the open ground by the Black Lake, apparently all there to enjoy the rare sunshine.
Glenn and Hermione strolled leisurely around the Black Lake, choosing an empty spot to sit. The gentle sunlight warmly bathed their faces, making Hermione feel her whole body instantly relax.
The little girl simply pulled Glenn down to lie beside her, holding hands side by side forming two spread-eagled shapes, fully experiencing the warmth of sunlight on their bodies, attempting photosynthesis.
Hermione made a comfortable cooing sound, her voice becoming soft and tender: "Days like this are so nice."
Glenn felt the warmth in his hand, gently squeezing Hermione's little hand.
"Mm."
...
Little Hermione basked in the sun, almost falling asleep.
Glenn prepared to take her back to her dormitory. When they were almost at the Gryffindor common room, perhaps because Hermione's tense nerves had relaxed after finishing exams, the little girl began whining in a soft voice.
"Come sleep with me in the Room of Requirement~ It's been sooo long since we slept together~"
Glenn had originally planned to use Hermione's nap time to continue researching alchemy and soul magic, but hearing the little girl's whining, Glenn didn't know what came over him - the jumbled thoughts in his mind instantly vanished without a trace.
Only three words remained in his mind.
Sleep with her! Sleep with her! Sleep with her!
Nothing was more important than the present matter. Glenn decisively changed direction, heading toward the Room of Requirement.
Glenn's thoughts were pure, only thinking about sleeping with the little girl - when they said sleeping, it was purely just sleeping.
What were you all thinking about? (points)
Watching the little girl sweetly hugging his arm and gradually falling asleep, Glenn also felt somewhat drowsy.
The two slept in each other's embrace.
Compared to the peaceful atmosphere in the Room of Requirement at this time, Harry and Ron's situation truly felt like the sky was falling.
Since exams were over, they resumed their efforts to protect the Philosopher's Stone. The two finally decided to tell Professor Dumbledore what they had deduced.
When asking Professor McGonagall where Dumbledore's office was, they horrifically learned the worst possible bad news.
"Professor Dumbledore left not long ago - he received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and immediately flew to London."
What?!
The two immediately panicked and lost their heads, their dramatic emotional change fully observed by Professor McGonagall.
"Harry, Ron? Is what you want to tell Professor Dumbledore very important?" Professor McGonagall asked suspiciously.
Without thinking, Harry blurted out everything about the Philosopher's Stone.
Professor McGonagall was shocked - how did these two little ones know about the Stone??
When Harry was about to elaborate on the evidence of Snape's imminent theft of the Stone, McGonagall seriously interrupted: "Professor Dumbledore will return tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but you don't need to worry about these things - it's under strict protection and no one can steal it."
Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses: "As for your speculation that Professor Snape might steal the Stone - completely impossible. I advise you to abandon this idea. Now, go back to your dormitories and rest."
With that, Professor McGonagall left directly.
She kept thinking about those two overly curious Gryffindor young wizards all the way, wondering how they knew about the Philosopher's Stone.
Then Professor McGonagall seemed to realize something, her expression changing - oh no, if Harry and Ron already knew about the Stone's existence, they might even know it was hidden on the fourth floor, and knowing Gryffindor students as she did, these two would definitely ignore her advice and might go investigate in person.
She quickly abandoned her current tasks and went to the door containing the three-headed dog on the fourth-floor corridor. Sure enough! She found two sneaking figures.
"Harry Potter! Ron Weasley!" Professor McGonagall roared, startling the two cowering figures ahead into jumping.
As she expected, these two troublemakers had come straight here after her warning, apparently preparing to do something to the door's lock.
"Go back! I don't want to say it twice! If I hear you've come to this place again, you'll cost Gryffindor fifty points - yes, I'll have to deduct fifty points from my own House. Now, back to your dormitories."
Professor McGonagall was truly furious, feeling utterly exhausted. Watching the two panicked little lions flee with their tails between their legs, she felt overwhelmed.
Why couldn't they be obedient like Hermione!
Professor McGonagall suddenly thought of her most promising student, sweet and lovely little Hermione.
No, I need to find Hermione to help me watch these two - they'll definitely try to sneak out again.
Professor McGonagall made up her mind to find Hermione.
Could she find her? No.
"Where has that girl Hermione gone?!" Professor McGonagall held her head.
The little girl Professor McGonagall was thinking of was soundly sleeping in Glenn's embrace, of course she couldn't be found.
This wouldn't do - she couldn't spend the whole night as a professor staking out these two troublemakers in front of the Gryffindor common room!
At this moment, Professor McGonagall's peripheral vision caught Neville passing through the corridor carrying books.
...
"We'll go again during curfew tonight - I need to get the Stone before Snape," Harry decisively concluded, and began reading "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1", trying to find some spells to use against Snape.
Not just to guard the Stone, he also planned to avenge his exam humiliation from today.
Ron looked at him in surprise: "Harry, are you crazy? How is that possible?"
"Don't you understand? If Snape gets the Stone, he'll have unlimited life and wealth - with those two things, he can have almost anything! I don't know why Snape wants to harm me, but there must be some special reason. I can barely survive under his persecution now, but once he gets the Stone, I'll truly have no chance of recovery!"
He looked seriously at Ron, saying tragically: "This is my only chance, Ron - either I successfully stop Snape, or I'll die. This has nothing to do with you, let me go alone, I can't involve you too."
Ron wasn't happy hearing this - was he the kind of person to abandon his friend to life and death?
"I won't leave you alone, Harry." He patted Harry's shoulder, "You're my good mate! We go in together, live or die!" Though he was also scared, youthful vigor and invaluable friendship gave him courage too.
Harry was deeply moved by this.
Ron, you're my brother for life!
"Let's discuss tonight's action plan now! We don't have much time." Ron pulled Harry toward the dormitory.
Psst, come into the room with me.
Even now the two didn't understand the situation, still believing Snape wanted to steal the Stone, but this didn't prevent them from showing the courage buried deep in their hearts.
But the situation was actually much worse than they imagined.
And much more dangerous.
In the darkness, a person missing half their body opened their eyes, endless malice radiating from red, turbid pupils.
"Finally waited for today, Dumbledore, cough! cough!" A hoarse, deep voice came from his throat.
This person was Quirrell-Voldemort.
No, at this time he should just be called Voldemort.
The real Quirrell had been consumed by Voldemort as an emergency healing pack after their body was shattered by Glenn's bullet.
But this could only maintain his current disabled state for a short time - if he couldn't obtain the Stone soon, he would have to abandon this body.
His possession technique couldn't be used at will - he had to entice the host to willingly accept him before he could possess them.
He wasn't ready to give up this flesh yet.
Perhaps because Quirrell's incomplete body couldn't provide enough life force, Voldemort didn't consider the unreasonableness of Dumbledore conveniently leaving today. Only one thought remained in his mind now.
Seize the Stone! Tonight!
He closed his eyes to rest and gather strength - success or failure would be determined in one move.
...
In the Room of Requirement, Glenn woke up.