Chapter 627 - 228: Unveiling Secrets and Speculations; Awkward Encounters and Tense Moments

"Evan, do you still remember the words Sirius spoke?" Hermione inquired, as she combined the information she currently had. "Karkaroff is a Death Eater, and he may be plotting something. Furthermore, he likely has a close relationship with Snape."

"Don't jump to conclusions, Hermione," Evan cautioned. He knew she was speculating, but the facts were different. The information Hermione had was limited, and her analysis and conclusions were potentially inaccurate. She had only seen part of the picture, with many details eluding her understanding. Evan couldn't reveal everything directly.

He continued, "Snape and Karkaroff were probably discussing matters related to Voldemort. You know that Voldemort's power is growing steadily. Karkaroff carries the Dark Mark, so he can feel these changes. He's afraid and wants to escape."

"But if Voldemort's power is growing, why would Karkaroff be afraid?" Hermione questioned. "Isn't he a Death Eater?"

"To be more precise, Karkaroff is a Death Eater who betrayed the group in the past," Evan explained. "Because he didn't end up in Azkaban, he betrayed many of his former companions. If I were Voldemort, I wouldn't let him off so easily."

"But what about Snape?"

"Snape is trustworthy. Dumbledore believes in him, and so should we," Evan replied quickly. "Alright, Hermione, let's not dwell on this matter anymore. What we need to focus on now is strengthening ourselves. We need to find the remaining secret treasure keys and gain more battle experience, mastering powerful spells to defend against any threats."

Anxious, Hermione nodded, and Evan shifted his thoughts to other matters. Given the current circumstances, it would take some time to fully learn Parseltongue, ancient magical languages, and silent spellcasting. Evan estimated it would take at least a year. Therefore, he didn't plan to delay and intended to expedite his quest for the remaining Merpeople and Ravenclaw treasure keys, aiming to obtain the second Philosopher's Stone as soon as possible.

The Philosopher's Stone had the potential to significantly enhance a wizard's magical power, making it a valuable asset. If Voldemort's return was inevitable, then increasing their strength was paramount. Evan also emphasized the need to bolster Hermione's abilities, ensuring her safety when facing Death Eaters.

As for Evan himself, he had made numerous preparations and recently received a letter from Sirius. Sirius had helped him register for Apparition at the Ministry of Magic, allowing Evan to learn this magical skill without being restricted by age.

However, mastering Apparition required practice, and Sirius had promised to help him during the next Hogsmeade visit. Once Evan had a firm grasp of Apparition, it would provide an additional layer of defense against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. They wouldn't anticipate that he had learned this skill.

In summary, strengthening their abilities was the most urgent task at hand.

After Snape and Karkaroff departed, Evan and Hermione's mood had been disrupted, and they decided to return to the castle. To avoid encountering Ron and Lavender, they took an alternative path and circled back.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a large stone statue of a reindeer. As they crossed the area, they noticed a high fountain with water splashing and sparkling under the moonlight.

Two shadowy figures sat on stone stools by the fountain, gazing at the spring water.

Evan heard Hagrid's voice. "I see you, deep down."

Startled, Evan and Hermione exchanged glances. It seemed that they shouldn't have intruded on this conversation.

They considered quietly leaving to avoid eavesdropping on Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Hagrid had made it clear in the past that he didn't like others overhearing his conversations, especially when it came to his romantic interests.

As they prepared to sneak away, they suddenly spotted Fleur and Roger Davies walking towards them along the trail. Hermione looked panicked and turned to Evan. They couldn't afford to be seen by Fleur, as that might alert Hagrid and Madame Maxime.

What should they do? Perhaps they should hide! That was Evan's initial reaction, and he motioned for Hermione to follow him into a grove adjacent to the trail.

However, upon entering the grove, they realized the space was quite small, and it wasn't suitable for hiding. The grove's low branches and uneven ground made it difficult to find a comfortable spot. Evan thought about getting back on the trail, but before he could do anything, Hermione bumped into him and fell backward onto the ground.

Hermione had been flustered upon entering the grove, and the uneven terrain had caused her to stumble and fall. She tumbled forward and landed directly on top of Evan.

Their bodies were suddenly pressed together, and the proximity was more than a little awkward and nerve-wracking. They found themselves in an intimate position, and it was hard to ignore.

Evan reached out and covered Hermione's mouth to prevent her from making any noise. He blinked, signaling to her that there were others outside the grove.

Hermione nodded subtly, and Evan removed his hand from her mouth. They both paid close attention to the situation outside. The atmosphere in the grove had suddenly become tense, and the temperature seemed to rise. Both Evan and Hermione could feel their bodies responding to the situation.

With Hermione lying on top of Evan, their positions were extremely close, and the situation was becoming increasingly awkward and tense. However, neither of them knew how to break the tension or what to do next.

"Evan, do you remember what Sirius said?" Hermione analyzed, combining the information she currently had. "Karkaroff is a Death Eater; he may be plotting something, and he likely has a good relationship with Snape."

"Don't jump to conclusions, Hermione," Evan replied. He knew Hermione was trying to make sense of the situation, but the facts were quite different. Hermione's information was limited, and her conclusions were likely to be incorrect. There were many details that Evan couldn't reveal directly.

He continued, "I believe Snape and Karkaroff were discussing matters related to Voldemort. You know that Voldemort's power is steadily growing. Karkaroff bears the Dark Mark, so he can sense these changes. He's afraid and wants to escape."

"But why would Karkaroff be afraid if he's a Death Eater?" Hermione asked.

"To be more precise, he's a betrayed Death Eater," Evan explained. "In the past, he didn't end up in Azkaban like many others because he betrayed his comrades. If I were Voldemort, I wouldn't spare him."

"But what about Snape?"

"Snape is trustworthy; Dumbledore trusts him, and we should too," Evan replied quickly. "Alright, Hermione, let's not dwell on this matter. What we need to focus on now is strength. We must find the remaining keys to the secret treasures and ensure that you, Harry, and the others gain valuable combat experience. Mastering powerful spells is essential to protect ourselves."

Hermione nodded anxiously, and Evan began considering other matters. Given the current circumstances, completing his research on Parseltongue, ancient magical languages, and silent spells in a short time was impossible. Evan estimated that it would take at least a year. Therefore, he didn't plan to delay and aimed to speed up the search for the remaining treasure keys left by the Merpeople and Ravenclaw. Obtaining the Philosopher's Stone was a top priority.

The Philosopher's Stone could significantly boost a wizard's magical power and progress. It held immense significance. Since they couldn't prevent Voldemort's return, strengthening their own abilities was crucial. Evan also had many preparations to make, including mastering Apparition.

Sirius had recently sent him a letter, informing him that he had helped with Evan's registration for Apparition at the Ministry of Magic. Evan could now use this magical skill without being hindered by age restrictions. However, this was just the first step. To truly master Apparition, Evan needed practice. He had already grasped the theoretical aspects, and Sirius had promised to help him practice during the next Hogsmeade visit. With Apparition, Evan would have an additional safeguard against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, who wouldn't anticipate him having this skill.

Evan estimated that Voldemort's strength was likely comparable to Dumbledore's, but it was still uncertain. In his heart, he had no definitive answer when it came to the power of that terrifying dark force. In any case, strengthening themselves was of utmost importance.

After Snape and Karkaroff left, Evan and Hermione decided to return to the castle. They took a different path to avoid encountering Ron and Lavender, circling around. After a few minutes, they found themselves near a large stone carving of a reindeer.

As they passed by the stone deer, they noticed a high fountain, with water splashing and sparkling in the moonlight. Two vague figures sat on a stone stool, gazing at the flowing water. It was Hagrid speaking.

"I see you and understand," he said in an unusually hoarse voice.

Evan and Hermione were taken aback and exchanged glances. It seemed they weren't supposed to be there. They had planned to sneak away to avoid eavesdropping on Hagrid and Madame Maxime's conversation.

Hagrid clearly disliked people eavesdropping, especially after the incident with Madame Maxime. If their presence was discovered, it could lead to trouble. They took a few steps forward, hoping to quietly leave and not disturb Hagrid and Madame Maxime.

However, just as they moved, they saw Fleur and Roger Davies walking along the path in front of them. Hermione looked at Evan in panic. It was likely that Fleur would spot them, potentially leading to Hagrid and Madame Maxime becoming aware of their presence.

They needed a plan. Hiding seemed like the best option. This was Evan's initial reaction, and he hurriedly pulled Hermione towards a nearby grove by the trail. But once they were in the grove, they realized they couldn't explain their presence if they were discovered. They hadn't done anything wrong, but being seen together in the grove could raise suspicions.

The grove turned out to be quite small, and there was hardly any space to stand or crouch. They could only lie down or stay horizontally. It was an awkward position, and Evan realized that the size of the space didn't quite suit them. Just as he tried to adjust, Hermione, who had been behind him, pushed him, causing him to fall backward onto the ground.

Hermione, flustered by her stumble on the uneven ground, fell forward and ended up lying on top of Evan. Their bodies were suddenly very close, and the situation felt incredibly awkward. They were almost nose to nose, and the atmosphere became intense.

Evan placed a hand over Hermione's mouth, signaling her to stay quiet. Hermione nodded slightly to indicate she understood, and Evan removed his hand. They unintentionally focused on what was happening outside the grove.

The atmosphere within the grove suddenly became charged, and the temperature began to rise. Both of them had a physical response to the tension in the air. Hermione, with a flushed complexion, didn't know where to put her head. Their close proximity made everything even more uncomfortable.

With their faces almost touching, Hermione had two options: She could turn her head and rest it on Evan's shoulder, giving up the fight and shifting her center of gravity entirely onto him, or she could try to stay upright by supporting herself with her hands. However, if she chose the latter, her head would be right under Evan's face, and there was a risk of an accidental kiss.

Hermione, driven by the tension of the moment, decided to take the initiative.