Chapter 115: Fall of Darkness

In front of the Hogsmeade Owl Post Office, Ivan managed to persuade Hermione and told her of his plans for tomorrow night.

It was still too early to go back to school, and he had planned to take Hermione back to Madam Puddifoot's tea store and finish what he had started.

The atmosphere there was very good; perhaps he could also take the opportunity to make his statement.

But Hermione didn't give him any more chances, she kept avoiding going there. Every time Ivan mentioned it, she was quick to start another topic.

You could tell that Hermione was very nervous.

She felt as if there was a rush of blood boiling in her body, burning her and making her cheeks tingle with cold.

She bit her lip softly; avoiding Ivan's searing eyes that made her heart pound.

Things unfolded in a way she had never imagined. When she first saw the Animagus records in the library, she had planned to teach Ivan a good lesson if he turned out to be that evil black cat.

Now she knew for sure, and on the last day of summer vacation, she was not only holding this naughty guy in her arms, but also.... in front of him....

Hermione blushed, not knowing what to do next. What happened in the tea store and at the post office scared her. She feared that Ivan would make another move that would make her heart beat again, or that maybe he would confess his love for her; she had never thought of an answer.

Though deep down she had feelings for him, but isn't this all too fast?

Besides, how would she tell Harry and Ron about it? She felt weird and very embarrassed at the thought of it.

She really liked Ivan, but she wasn't sure whether or not she should enter into a relationship with him so quickly.

Maybe it would be more appropriate to wait a year or two until fourth or fifth grade.

She learned from Angelina and Alicia that Hogwarts girls usually start relationships at that age.

Simply put, she couldn't date Ivan that quickly.

She took a deep breath, and clenched her fist.

She glanced at his eyes and suddenly realized how clueless she was when it came to relationships.

If Ivan was going to ask her to be with him, she had no idea how to even refuse his request.

Maybe she should go to the library and look through books on the subject, see what they said, or talk to Ginny.

Besides the Ivan problem, the fact that Peter Pettigrew was Ron's rat also worried him.

It was unbelievable that an evil assassin had been lurking near them for a long time.

For three whole years, no one noticed anything!

From a sensible point of view, Hermione believed that this information should be communicated to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall as soon as possible, to seek their help, this was the wisest choice.

However, she promised Ivan that she would not.

She wasn't sure that Ivan and Black's plan would succeed, and she had a strong sense of unease. Maybe things wouldn't go as well as they thought.

Seeing the look on Hermione's face, Ivan knew what was bothering her.

He knew he had to say something to distract her attention and ease her nervousness.

As for the confession, there was no need to rush, as the mood had been destroyed, he would look for an opportunity later.

"Hermione, aren't you going to buy Christmas presents? We can go to the store on the other side to have a look," Ivan said. "By the way, what are you getting me?"

"It's a secret, Ivan, and you'll know it when you get it." Hermione was relieved when she saw Ivan move away from the subject of confession, he seemed in a good mood and smiled slightly, "I'm not going to buy your present here, I've been preparing it for a long time and I'm sure you'll be pleased."

When he saw the look on Hermione's face, Ivan panicked. He remembered that he hadn't intended to give Hermione anything.

He had originally intended to send her a "Book of Practical Spells," but now it didn't seem to be adequate.

Since she had to carefully prepare her gift for a long time, it was clearly too shabby to send an ordinary spell book.

Ivan thought, what do girls like? candy? stuffed animals or something?

Knowing Hermione, she'd love a book. If it's going to be that, she just needs to find a better one.

Afterwards, Ivan and Hermione wandered around Hogsmeade and bought many things.

Time passed and night fell early.

After four o'clock in the afternoon, the sky began to darken. The young wizards returned to Hogwarts one after another, and the stores on both sides of the street lit up.

At the entrance to Gladrags Wizardwear (Fine Rags: Fashion for Wizards), away from the main road, Ivan stepped out of the invisibility cloak.

It was just the two of them in that alley, they didn't have to worry about getting caught.

"Ivan, it's about time. We should get back to school." Said a satisfied Hermione, who was really enjoying spending the day in Hogsmeade.

"Yeah, I'm really hungry, we really should get back for dinner." Ivan looked up and saw a large full moon in the sky.

He didn't know what happened to Harry and Ron, nor to Professor Lupin, the latter should be hiding in his own office.

"I'll meet you in the Great Dining Hall. I'll go through the one-eyed witch's secret passageway...", Ivan suddenly stopped as he saw a ragged and fierce silhouette of a man appearing in the alley, about ten meters away from him and Hermione.

He was immediately alert and sensed a dangerous aura from this person.

Through the dim candlelight in the store, Ivan noticed that the man's slender limbs were in front of him. His gray hair and beard were knotted, a torn black robe was tightly wrapped around his body, and his dirty fingers had long yellow fingernails.

He looked very excited lifting his chin and growling.

His voice was strange, and Ivan had never heard it before. On top of that, he could smell the strange odor of the man's body. It smelled of mud, sweat and.... And without a doubt, there was also the smell of blood!

"Delicious little children, what a great pleasure!" The man saw Ivan and Hermione, and suddenly smiled and showed his sharp teeth.

Looking into his eyes, Ivan sensed danger, as if he and Hermione were their prey, and hastily pulled out his wand.

"Be careful, Hermione!" said Ivan suddenly.

"What?!" Hermione blinked, not responding.

"This guy looks a bit weird, just get your wand out quickly." Ivan pulled Hermione behind him and yelled, waving his wand. "Desmaius!"

A thick red light flew out of his wand, and the man's face still held a smile, as if he hadn't expected Ivan's sudden attack.

The next second, Ivan's spell sent him flying into the air and falling to the ground.

He quickly got up, dodging Ivan's next spell, and giving a terrible roar in his mouth.

At the sight of the man's reflexes, Ivan's pupils shrank. Not only did he not faint when hit by his 'Desmaius', but he also had enough strength to avoid the next one.

Ivan was sure that his spell was not weak at all.

It only meant that the man's body was too resistant to the spell.

It was far beyond imagination, far more than an ordinary human being, AND even beyond the limits of a human being!