You know, this is really the most support Draco's had.
Even Ron was nodding non-stop, hoping that Draco wouldn't just talk, but take real action.
Because there was not only Banban there, but also a few other unknown rats—if it were only Banban, Ron might still endure it, but the other rats...
"But you're impressive, Weasley," Draco looked at Ron with a complex expression, "You actually sleep with rats, my goodness..."
"That's my pet!" Ron was unhappy. "It's really impossible to deal with someone like you who doesn't keep pets. Just ask Hermione, doesn't she also sleep with Jack?"
Unexpectedly, Hermione betrayed him.
"Oh no, Ronald." Hermione's expression was full of disdain. "Even though I like Jack, I wouldn't sleep with him—you have to know, small animals are fragile, and it's very possible that one rollover could end their lives..."
"But that's impossible!" Ron retorted. "Banban has been living with us for twelve years! If it were that fragile, it would've died long ago!"
"Twelve years?" Draco laughed as if he heard something hilarious. "Oh my, Weasley, might you need a doctor? I'm serious—maybe you should visit the school hospital and see Madam Pomfrey... to see if your brain is alright, because an ordinary rat couldn't possibly live twelve years!"
"Can't be bothered with you, Malfoy." Ron rolled his eyes, deciding not to stoop to Malfoy's level of innate evilness.
It would only make him unhappy, he thought.
The standard of the midnight snacks in the Hogwarts kitchen was quite good. Ron hadn't expected that when the House-Elves heard about his excellent performance in the duel, they actually fried several chickens for him to eat.
Not the small drumsticks, but the big pistol grips.
"Now I get why Banban comes here to eat, because it's as greedy as you." Hermione commented from the side.
Ron shrugged, completely unfazed.
Eating two chicken legs, how can that be a big deal?
"I'm actually quite interested in that rat." Vivi suddenly said. "Logically speaking, an ordinary household rat wouldn't live that long. Generally, it only has a few years of lifespan—perhaps it found some way to extend its life."
As she said this, Vivi glanced leisurely at Cassandra, who was peeling a banana.
She wasn't interested in Banban the rat but simply wanted to tease Cassandra using Banban.
Cassandra retorted, "Hopefully, this little rat doesn't have intruder issues, right, Grindelwald?"
"Or maybe the rat is just too timid, which is why it lost so much," Vivi waved her hand and, grabbing a sandwich, popped it into Harry's mouth.
"However." Vivi said again, "I think we should switch dorms, don't you think so, Cassandra?"
"What do you mean?" Cassandra squinted and asked.
"Just like before, I miss my old friends." Vivi smiled. "Or are you saying you've forgotten your old friends?"
"I definitely haven't forgotten 'old' friends." Cassandra emphasized the 'old' part, "Alright, I'll take you up on your proposal."
After all, Vivi is a seventh-year student now, truly older than Cassandra.
Returning to the dorm room, Vivi immediately moved all her stuff to Cassandra's dorm.
Miss Farley, the Class Prefect, was a bit regretful about it.
In the Gryffindor dorm, Ron didn't rush to sleep.
Once Neville and Seamus fell asleep, Ron patted Harry on the shoulder, motioning for them to walk over to the balcony.
The two sat on the balcony, and Ron asked with concern, "Buddy, what's going on with you? I always feel something's off."
"What's off?" Harry asked, chewing on a Licorice Wand.
Ron collected his thoughts and began his sharp critique.
"I always feel that Malfoy is off—Miss Malfoy, of course... Grindelwald is off too. I feel like the two of them are competing over you—look, they always have that weird tone when talking..."
The matter about Vivi was also something Hermione had told him.
Ron, being the dense one, naturally couldn't see this and that, but Hermione, with her meticulous mind and the natural maturity of girls, sharply perceived what was really going on.
"Competing over me?" Harry broke a piece of the Licorice Wand with a crunch.
"It does kind of feel that way," Ron said again. "Even though Miss Malfoy acts domineering, Hermione and I can still see she's always sneaking glances at you, Harry."
"I think, buddy..." He crossed his arms, then shook his head and sighed, "Of course, I'm not one to gossip, but you should probably make a choice soon... Otherwise, I'm afraid the two of them might tear the school apart."
Saying that, Ron patted Harry on the shoulder and walked into the dorm.
Harry sat by the window, looking at the bright moon in the sky.
Do I really need to make a choice?
He had long been aware of Cassandra and Vivi's feelings for him, but he had been subconsciously avoiding the issue.
Making this choice is really hard—if it were a hundred years ago, he would've just decisively chosen one person.