Hogwarts: Bloodline Legend

The moonlight grew stronger.

It streamed through the windows into the ancient castle of Hogwarts.

Hermione Granger's footsteps were particularly heavy as she walked down the corridor of Hogwarts Castle. She had not anticipated at all that she would be cornered by Lockhart on her way back to the dormitory.

Moreover.

She didn't anticipate Professor Lockhart would ask her such a deeply unsettling question right away.

"Miss Granger. Didn't we agree to meet in my office?" Professor Lockhart's voice was like a heavy hammer, striking Hermione's heart, making her feel that she could hardly control her pounding heart.

How could he ask her this question?

The one who agreed to go to this man's office should have been Professor Snape—well, at least it was Snape whom Hermione was impersonating, and it wasn't supposed to be tonight anyway.

Professor Lockhart probably never returned to his office after leaving but stayed here all along. Faced with this handsome yet vain Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Hermione felt an inexplicable nervousness. She tried to keep calm, but inside she was already in turmoil—could Lockhart have discovered something?

Otherwise.

Why would he be waiting here and then ask her such a baffling question? The little witch's fingers clutched the hem of her robe tightly, her knuckles white.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

Lockhart stood in front of her, his face, which always bore an exaggerated smile, was now exceptionally calm, and his blue eyes flickered with an elusive light.

"I-I really don't know what you're talking about, Professor." Hermione's voice trembled involuntarily, "I've been in the library all day and haven't encountered you at all..."

This was the excuse Hermione had prepared for herself, as she had already missed a whole day of classes and would need a plausible explanation if anyone asked her.

Just like Ron and Neville had thought before, if Hermione said she was sick or overslept and didn't want to go to class, neither the professors nor the classmates would believe it. Such excuses might seem reasonable for other Gryffindor students, but she was known as a student eager for knowledge.

Anyone else might skip class for those reasons, but not her, Hermione, given the reputation she had built as a top student, so Hermione had to find a suitable excuse for herself.

That was discovering a super interesting book in the library and losing track of time because of her thirst for knowledge; she felt such an excuse would definitely fool most people.

However.

Even before she faced the professors and classmates tomorrow.

Tonight.

Hermione realized she seemed to have already been caught.

"Is that so?" Lockhart let out a light laugh, and the sound made the hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stand on end. He stepped forward, his golden hair shimmering softly in the candlelight.

But it inexplicably gave off a dangerous feeling.

"You said you didn't encounter me before, yet here we are now." His voice was as light as a feather, "Come with me, Miss Granger."

These words.

Made Hermione even more nervous.

Could it be that she's going to be expelled for impersonating a professor? But it was Snape who asked her to impersonate him, and Snape might not even admit to it now.

"What do you want with me?"

Hermione couldn't help but speak worriedly.

She was truly afraid of being expelled.

This is also why the first-year little wizards often felt threatened by professors in such situations, as the children who had encountered the magic world feared nothing more than losing their access to it.

Children from Muggle families felt this even more—just like a person who has seen the bustling life of a big city would find it hard to return to his own countryside, it was a similar situation.

Even more so.

"Hermione Granger." Lockhart walked closer with a smile, wearing that signature confident grin, "You're a smart student, and I've always admired your talent."

It seemed like a genuine compliment.

However.

Hermione instinctively shrunk back a little, showing an awkward smile: "Thank you... Professor."

Her voice trembled slightly, still full of questions—why did he single me out? I have to find Snape, get Snape to testify that I'm not really a troublemaker impersonating a professor.

Thinking so.

Hermione felt a bit like running to the underground office.

Seeing this, Lockhart smiled lightly, his tone relaxed: "Don't be nervous, I just want to have a chat with you. Come on, follow me to the office."

"I don't have any punishment for you."

Professor Lockhart seemed to see through Hermione's thoughts.

"Uh..."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

But did not completely relax.

Seeing Professor Lockhart take the lead in walking, Hermione swallowed, steeled herself, and followed. The little witch's feet felt as heavy as lead at the moment, yet she had to follow Lockhart through the dim corridors. A myriad of frightening thoughts flashed through her mind: Did Lockhart discover she was impersonating Snape?

Has he been monitoring her all along? Or... a more terrifying guess surfaced—was the previous so-called invitation actually not for Snape?

But did Professor Lockhart actually have some other idea about me!?

"If he saw through my disguise as Snape long ago, he might truly be inviting me, not Snape! Even Professor Snape might not have realized this at all!"