Chapter 304 "Facing Herself"

After posing her question, Hermione inwardly shook her head, realizing the futility of expecting a straightforward answer from her enigmatic counterpart. However, to her surprise, the doppelgänger offered a response with a smile.

"I'm... Heart K," the other Hermione replied, prompting a puzzled frown from Hermione.

"Heart K? It sounded more like a codename than a name. Could her counterpart be affiliated with an organization rather than an individual?" Hermione thought to herself.

As this thought raced through Hermione's mind, a sudden recollection dawned upon her. She pointed a finger at her doppelgänger and ventured, "Are you... a member of the organization known as the Secret Hallows?"

Cassandra, taken aback by Hermione's astute deduction, couldn't help but confirm, "How did you know I was part of the Secret Hallows?"

Surprised by the admission, Hermione explained, "I happened to be in the Room of Requirement that night, and I noticed a playing card placed in front of each member. The King of Hearts was among them."

Upon hearing Hermione's explanation, Cassandra nodded approvingly and commended, "Excellent observation! It's clear now why I chose you to join the Secret Hallows."

Rather than feeling pleased by the praise, Hermione tentatively inquired, "So, did you open the Chamber of Secrets? Are you descendants of Salazar Slytherin?"

Cassandra sighed and shook her head, disappointment evident in her tone. "That was a foolish question; you are a smart girl; I am pretty sure you have other questions better than that. Would the heir of Salazar Slytherin recruit a wizard from a Muggle family into his organization?"

Realizing the folly of her question, Hermione felt a pang of embarrassment. However, she persisted, "Then why did you disguise yourself as me and enter Ginny's bedroom?"

Cassandra responded casually, "To carry out JoKer's orders."

Hermione furrowed her brow, repeating the words incredulously, "Carry out... JoKer's... order?"

With a nod, Cassandra elaborated, "Yes, JoKer issued an order for Secret Hallows members to collaborate in resolving the secret room issue promptly. Furthermore, we've unearthed some leads through our investigation."

Upon hearing Cassandra's words, Hermione hastily inquired, "You appeared in Ginny's bedroom. Does that mean Ginny opened the door to the secret room? Is Ginny Salazar Slytherin's heir? No, that's absurd! It's impossible!"

To Hermione's relief, Cassandra nodded in agreement and echoed, "Indeed, it's truly impossible. Ginny hails from the Weasley family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, so naturally, she can't be Salazar Slytherin's heir."

Relieved by Cassandra's concurrence, Hermione was taken aback when Cassandra continued, "She's merely a pawn being manipulated in the bigger scheme of someone's plan!"

Startled by this revelation, Hermione pressed, "Who? Who manipulated Ginny? Is that person responsible for Ginny's recent mental state as well? Did you know how much suffering she had to endure all this time? You need to tell me who is responsible for her state!"

However, this time, Cassandra didn't offer an immediate response as before. Instead, she smiled faintly and stated, "I'm sorry. As I mentioned earlier, enough is enough! The subsequent matters pertain to the secrets of our Secret Hallows. I regret to inform you that I cannot divulge further information."

Understanding Cassandra's implication, Hermione paused for a moment, then resolvedly nodded and declared, "I comprehend your stance. I am willing to join the Secret Hallows!"

However, in the next moment, Hermione was taken aback to hear the opposite "self" shake their head and utter, "I'm sorry, I must decline. You are smart but you're out of the line for this. I truly admire you and could understand why you wanted to join our ranks."

Perplexed, Hermione inquired, "If you understand, then why? You know how useful I could be to your organization!"

The "self" across from her explained calmly, "Because only JoKer can extend invitations to new members to join the Secret Hallows. However, the last time you declined his invitation and forfeited the opportunity."

With a growing seriousness, the "self" continued, "The Secret Hallows is not a place where one can come and go as they please. You've been given a chance to join us, but you outright rejected JoKer's kindness."

Upon hearing this response, Hermione fell into a momentary silence. After gathering her thoughts, she pressed on, "So, how can I reapply to join the Secret Hallows?"

Internally amused by Hermione's persistence, Cassandra maintained her composure and replied, "You must wait until JoKer extends another invitation to you."

Eagerly, Hermione interjected, "When will he..."

Before she could finish, Cassandra interjected swiftly, "Alright, some opportunities, once missed, may never come again. Whether you seize them or not is your responsibility."

"This concludes today's affairs. It's imperative that you keep our conversation confidential. Otherwise, the consequences could be unpredictable. You may not fully grasp our influence yet, but you'll soon realize that the Secret Hallows is omnipresent."

With a swift motion, Cassandra reached for Hermione's wand, which had been disarmed, and in the blink of an eye, it flew into Cassandra's hand. She held it steadily, her gaze fixed on Hermione.

Despite the circumstances, Hermione's curiosity about spellcasting couldn't be suppressed. She couldn't help but inquire, "How did you manage that?"

Cassandra responded with a reserved smile, her tone casual, "It's quite simple, really. Just a matter of silent and wandless casting."

Though Cassandra's explanation sounded effortless, Hermione understood the skill required, even for the most basic levitation charm.

Before Hermione could delve further, Cassandra continued eagerly, "Reflect on what you've missed, consider how to attract JoKer's attention once again, and earn another opportunity from him."

After bidding farewell, Hermione watched as her doppelganger walked away without a backward glance. She remained still, lost in thought, as she contemplated the wand in her grasp.

Meanwhile, Cassandra hastened to the nearest bathroom, eager to shed her Gryffindor attire.

She felt a sense of urgency, sensing that the effects of the Polyjuice Potion she had ingested were wearing off. It was crucial for her to find a secluded spot to revert to her original form before being discovered.

As Cassandra swiftly changed her clothes, she thought she heard a peculiar noise. Pausing to listen intently, she strained her ears but couldn't discern the sound again.

Shaking her head, she dismissed it as a figment of her imagination and continued with her task.

Emerging from the cubicle, Cassandra adjusted her attire while facing the mirror. To her horror, she noticed a pair of enormous eyes peering at her from the edge of the mirror.