After a brief pause, Professor McGonagall looked up and confirmed the time with the unknown witch in the portrait.
Then, as if remembering something, she frowned. "In that case, I have nothing more to say. Be careful, Mr. Malfoy... and you as well, Miss Granger."
"Yes, thank you very much for the reminder, Professor... Eh? Wait for me, Draco!"
Hermione had only gotten halfway through her sentence when she heard the door open behind her, making her look rather flustered.
Seeing this, Professor McGonagall, after Hermione turned around, showed an expression that was both amused and conflicted.
She was amused because, in Hermione, she saw something of her own youth.
Friendship and love.
They were the finest encounters in a lifetime, and the most unforgettable part of youth...
As for the conflicted part, it was because Draco and Hermione came from completely opposite backgrounds.
Professor McGonagall knew very well what noble wizards were like, so naturally, she could foresee what kinds of problems Hermione would face.
It would certainly be very difficult, in every sense...
...
Click.
As the door to the Head of House's office opened, Draco gave Professor McGonagall a slight bow in a wizard's salute, then walked straight out.
Hermione hurriedly bowed to Professor McGonagall as well, then followed him and disappeared from the Gryffindor Head of House's office.
Hermione's coquettish complaint toward Draco still lingered faintly in the air...
As for this, after withdrawing her gaze from the two outstanding students who had disappeared before her, Minerva McGonagall finally murmured in a voice only she could hear, "Then what exactly made the Dark Lord set his eyes on you?"
"It seems it may be necessary to activate that last resort... At the very least, we must be prepared."
"But Dumbledore, did you... foresee this step long ago?"
The last resort.
Although it was not entirely clear what this so-called last resort was, from Minerva's tone, it was obvious that it was certainly no simple thing or ordinary magic.
From the sound of it.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry seemed to be hiding some astonishing secret, one that was somehow connected to Dumbledore.
As for Hogwarts having a last resort.
Thinking about it carefully, it did not seem all that surprising.
After all, the wizards who built Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were the legendary Four Founders.
And on top of that, the era they lived in had been far more chaotic and dangerous than the present.
So the Four Founders must have left behind some contingencies and weapons for the safety of Hogwarts.
It was easy to imagine.
Hogwarts itself must still possess some powerful magic that could be activated in a moment of crisis.
At the very least, when it came to resisting Voldemort and his dark creatures, there should not be any major problem.
At least it could hold out for a few more days and nights...
Perhaps it was precisely because such a thing existed that Voldemort had tried to use the Ministry of Magic and Snape's identity to indirectly interfere with and gradually eat away at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
For the Dark Lord, whose mind had already become rather unstable, to still use such a slow and laborious method after Dumbledore's death, he must certainly have been wary of something. That was why he had been so slow to act.
And that something was very likely the last resort Professor McGonagall had mentioned...
At the same time, from Minerva McGonagall's self-muttering just now, one could understand another important thing.
That was.
This so-called last resort did not seem to be in the hands of Severus Snape, the Headmaster.
Instead, it was in the hands of...
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor!
Perhaps this, too, was something Dumbledore had deliberately arranged.
...
In any case.
Although they were not entirely sure what the last resort Professor McGonagall mentioned was, the only thing Draco and the others could do for now was continue with the plan they were currently carrying out.
After Draco left Professor McGonagall's office, Hermione, who had finally caught up with him, spoke in a hesitant whisper. "Just now..."
"Hermione, the plan starts now."
"Now?"
"Mm."
"But we've only completed about seventy percent of what we planned. If we start now, won't it be a bit too rushed? I'm a little worried..."
"Of course I've thought about the things you're worried about. But my instincts are telling me that we no longer have enough time to prepare properly."
As the saying went, plans could not keep up with changes.
Draco was very clear about Hermione's concerns.
Of course he also understood that some key things had not truly been prepared completely. If they acted in haste, it was very likely that some unpredictable problems would appear.
However, just as Draco had said.
Snape's confusing actions, along with Professor McGonagall's warning just now, all showed that the Dark Lord's side was about to make a move. There was no extra time left for them to slowly prepare.
Because Draco had already seen the dark clouds beginning to gather over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
As for this.
Facing Draco, whose gaze had become rather grave, Hermione gradually understood the seriousness of the situation from his expression. At this point, she no longer insisted on her own view.
"Is that so... I understand. Then what do you want me to do?"
"First, I'll notify everyone to return to the base."
As he spoke, Draco took out a small badge and waved it in front of Hermione.
Seeing this, Hermione, who understood what Draco meant, nodded her little head.
"And the gathering level..."
"The highest. Also, have everyone mentally prepare themselves for the possibility that they may no longer appear inside the castle."
"I... I understand. Are we activating the highest-level room? I'll tell Pansy and the others."
Staring at Draco's serious and solemn expression, Hermione straightened up and nodded with a stern little face.
And as she responded, Hermione's small hands unconsciously pressed against her chest.
It was as if she could not calm down unless she did so.
It had to be said that the heavy expression on Hermione's face made her look as if final exams were tomorrow and she had not prepared at all...
...
In any case.
After coming back to herself, Hermione quickly voiced her thoughts. "No problem. Leave this to me. As for supplies, I'll have Astoria organize a new list."
"Mm."
"As for Goyle and Crabbe, I'll have them prepare for battle, just in case. And there's one more thing..."
Her rapid, uninterrupted voice sounded as if she was afraid of leaving out something important.
Hermione's constant muttering made her seem like a little housekeeper, continuously telling Draco every detail and every thought by his ear.
"And... although I don't know what you're going to do, you have to be careful."
It had to be said.
Compared with the Chief Wizarding Advisor of the Draco Constellation organization, Hermione at this moment looked more like the next mistress of the Malfoy family...