[HP] Can you be gentle with me

Staring blankly at the letter, Tahlia didn't understand.

They would indeed be able to go to Hogsmeade next week too, so did sir mean to find her at Malfoy Manor himself?

The last time I saw myself was to tell myself his name, so what about this time?

Probably also a very important thing!

Thinking about it, he took up a pen and wrote a reply letter, expressing that he would arrive on time, tied the letter paper back to the owl's feet, and let it fly out of the hall.

From the beginning to the end, the white-bearded headmaster sitting in the front seat kept watching her.

After breakfast, Tahlia packed up her things, reported to Sirius, and planned to go to the library. They seemed to plan to study all day today, and Snape told himself that this time the potion would improve him Wanting to do it by herself, she couldn't help feeling like being forgotten by everyone──

Walking slowly on the way to the library, my thoughts drift away unconsciously...

four years ago!

It has been the fourth year since I entered Hogwarts.

In fact, she still felt that it was very unreal, and she was afraid that she would wake up one morning and find that all this was just a dream. In reality, she was just an ordinary student who didn't know magic, didn't know this group of good friends, and didn't go through walls. And there is no such magical castle on the platform...

but……

Anyway, she knew Snape, he was the only person who allowed her to connect the Muggle world with the wizarding world, because she knew him in elementary school, and if Snape was real, then the world must be real too of!

Besides, sir...

Snape seemed eager to see him. She knew that Mr. was very powerful, but she didn't expect him to have that kind of influence on Snape. It was because of her Muggle background... No matter how many books she had studied, for this kind of book I still don't understand the current situation that has not been recorded, so it is impossible to chat with Sirius and others about who is as influential as that?

She had completely forgotten what Sirius and James had said to her on the train in first year - 'there's a bad guy out there, a Slytherin graduate'.

It should be said that she didn't associate that elegant, charismatic and charming man with the bad guy Sirius said.

So - where is this place?

She was in a trance, completely oblivious to the fact that she had completely deviated from the path leading to the library. At this moment, this corridor was unfamiliar. She was sure that she had never been to this place before. When did she go the wrong way?Couldn't it be that I didn't realize that they were moving when I was walking up the stairs?

"Miss Watson."

A voice came from behind her suddenly, and Tahlia, who was thinking, was so startled that she almost jumped up, turned around and saw that it was Dumbledore.

"Principal, principal!" she shouted quickly, but she stuttered inevitably, after all, she hadn't spoken to this gentle elder since the principal led her and Josh to Diagon Alley last time However, it is normal for students to have a sense of distance from the principal.

Dumbledore didn't seem to show the slightest bit of sullenness at Tahlia's reaction, and was still smiling. "Don't be so nervous, can I ask why you are here?"

"Uh..." Tahlia was so embarrassed and ashamed that he should just say that she was lost?She is already in the fourth grade, and she is no longer a first-year freshman who just entered school and doesn't understand anything. "I──" Of course he couldn't utter any words.

Dumbledore chuckled. "I think you're lost, am I right?"

"You, how do you know?" Tahlia stared at Dumbledore with wide eyes.

"There's nothing I don't know about school...Tahlia." He winked at Tahlia playfully.

Tahlia immediately felt that the distance between her and the headmaster had shortened a lot. What she saw in front of her was just a kind old man, not the strict headmaster in her school before. Thinking about it, she was not so nervous anymore.

"Then why are you here, principal?"

Dumbledore pointed to the stone statue behind Tahlia. "Here is the entrance to my office."

"Oh! Sorry! I, I don't know..." Tahlia panicked again, so she not only lost her way, but also rushed into the principal's office. Merlin, her luck is really bad today ...

"I don't mind, Tahlia." Dumbledore smiled. "I just got some snacks, I wonder if I have the honor to invite you to have a taste?"

"What, what?" Tahlia was stunned.What did she just hear?Does the principal want to treat her to a snack?No, this must be my own illusion...

"─By the way, talk about your school affairs?" Dumbledore continued. "Have you encountered any difficulties?"

"Uh…" Tahlia was flattered. "There's no need for some snacks, I... I lived in school──not bad."

"That's good." Dumbledore seemed relieved. "I've been worried that you might not fit in well at your house—"

Tahlia shook her head hastily. "No, Sirius is—uh, Sirius is—"

"Black boy, I know."

"Well, Sirius is very close to me, so I haven't been bullied."

The headmaster knew that she must be discriminated against in Slytherin as a Muggle-born, but how should I explain the current situation to him?Even she herself didn't know the reason, so she had to move out of Sirius, and silently apologized to him in her heart.

"...child," Dumbledore said after a brief silence, staring straight at Tahlia through half-moon eyes. "You have to know, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me──"

"I don't have any difficulties, principal." Tahlia didn't lie, she really didn't encounter any difficulties, even if she did, she wouldn't bother the principal with small personal matters.

"I mean difficulties - including mental ones, Tahlia," Dumbledore said softly. "Any troubles?"

"Annoyance, annoyance?" Tahlia was confused. In fact, she had troubles, such as getting along with Snape, being jealous of Lily, having a headache about the mismatch between Sirius and the others and Snape, improving Wolfsbane potion with no progress, helping Sirius, etc. The Animagus study of human beings, worrying that her classmates in the college will be unfavorable to her, fearing that she will disappoint her husband, and even worrying about how she will prepare for next year's exam...etc.

It can be said that since she entered school, she has been troubled constantly, and she can't count them or talk about them.Do you really want her to tell the old man in front of her all?

No, even if she had the heart to speak, the principal might not have the heart to listen.

The headmaster is very busy, and she felt that what the old man said to her just now was based on basic concern, and she didn't expect her to really share her troubles with him, so when she opened her mouth, she said words of rejection.

"Thank you, Headmaster," she said. "But I don't think I should bother you for too long." The tone was sincere.

After listening, Dumbledore didn't say anything more, still maintaining a gentle tone, and pointed to the stairs not far away. "If you want to go to the library, just go there."

Tahlia thanked Dumbledore, hurriedly informed Dumbledore, and turned to walk in the direction he pointed.

"Tahlia."

She stopped, turned her head and looked suspiciously at the white-bearded elder who stopped her again.

"Don't do anything you'll regret, kid."

Tahlia smiled, nodding in agreement.

As long as she can protect what she cares about, she will never regret anything she does!

After a week of school days, soon they were going to Hogsmeade again. Tahlia didn't tell Sirius that she was leaving Hogsmeade. She just felt that this matter could not be said, so she Told them that she wanted to go shopping alone - to buy Hamish's birthday present, in fact, she had already chosen.

So not long after arriving in Hogsmeade, she walked alone into the alley where she met Lucius last time, and after confirming that no one was paying attention here, she took out the badge that Mr. Malfoy had given her earlier, Start door key──

Arriving at Malfoy Manor just in time to hear the wall clock strike ten o'clock. Fortunately, she was not late for the appointment with the husband, and it took her a lot of time to convince Sirius and others.

"Tahlia."

Knowing the identity of the owner of the familiar long-pitched voice, Tahlia turned around with a smile. "Lucius."

The platinum long-haired man in front of him smiled standardly, but Tahlia felt something was wrong.

All of the Malfoy family had beautiful looks, smooth and fair skin that any woman would envy, coupled with bright hair color, they really looked like the elves described in the book──and Tahlia felt that way before.

But now Lucius' face was extremely pale, with no blood left at all. Tahlia didn't believe that Lucius, who always paid attention to his image, would allow himself to show such an expression in front of others. Thinking about it, she opened her mouth, revealing deep worry.

"what happens?"

Lucius' smile froze for a moment.

He thought that his cover-up was perfect enough, and it was impossible for this little girl whom he hadn't seen for a long time to see through, but after thinking about it--Tahlia's observation skills have always been amazing, and it must be inevitable that she would see something wrong with her.

What really caught his attention was the emotion in Tahlia's words──

Lucius never thought that besides his father and Narcissa, there would be people talking to him like this in this world. Could it be that this girl really took those two short years together to heart?She should be very clear, it's just an exchange of benefits, isn't it?She still owes herself a big favor, how did this feeling of treating herself as a friend come about?

"Nothing happened, you're overthinking, Tahlia." He said flatly.

He was no longer the kid who hid under his father's wing, and now he had to be alone, carrying the whole of Malfoy on his shoulders, representing those easy times before, and had to give up.

Tahlia didn't speak anymore, but her eyes still projected concern. She never thought that Lucius was helping her purely out of profit. She's got a lot of friends—well, not too far off, if not pure friends.

Lucius was surprised, and suddenly had the urge to tell her all the pressure and troubles he had suffered these days, but he endured it forcefully, he couldn't be weak again, he told himself.

Cough lightly. "Anyway, I'm glad you arrived on time, I'll take you to meet Lo... the gentleman right now."

Tahlia nodded, although she was still wondering what made Lucius so pale, but he didn't want to tell himself, and she couldn't force him to say it, after all, Slytherins always value privacy, so she didn't ask any more questions along the way.

Leading Tahlia through the corridor, Tahlia felt that the lights in the corridor seemed to be much darker than when she came here before. It should be an illusion... After all, she hasn't been here for a while.

Finally, when he reached a heavy door, Lucius knocked respectfully, and then, the door opened automatically──

He held out his arm, motioning for Tahlia to come in, but he didn't follow.

The door closed behind Tahlia.