บท 22: Apology
Artel sat comfortably, savoring his meal as he stole a glance at Hermione, who sat beside him. With a neutral tone, he inquired, "Are you coming?"
Hermione, momentarily lost in thought, responded with a slight startle, "Huh? Oh, yes."
Glancing around the Great Hall, she let out a soft sigh and said, "I'm sorry I caused you trouble."
Artel dismissed her concerns. "It's not your fault. I wanted to teach girl a lesson."
He vividly remembered the morning incident when Pansy had provoked him. Artel had been determined to deal with her then and there.
"You don't need to comfort me. If I hadn't come to eat here, you wouldn't... Fortunately, the Headmaster didn't punish you, or else I would have really regretted it."
Hermione's tone held a trace of annoyance as she recalled the recent events. She hadn't anticipated causing Artel any trouble, but the Slytherin students had proven to be less than welcoming.
Hermione whispered, "I heard someone say that Slytherin is like a reserve for dark wizards, specialized in training them."
Artel said while munching on his food. "Don't pay attention to such nonsense. Every academy has produced its share of dark wizards, but Slytherin may have a bit more of a reputation. However, you should know that even Merlin was a Slytherin wizard. The academy isn't everything; what matters most is the wizard's own choices."
"I chose Slytherin; Slytherin didn't choose me. That's what counts."
Hermione found herself slightly taken aback by Artel's words, though she didn't fully understand their significance. However, when Artel spoke.
Artel noticed her reaction and quipped, "Do you normally eat so little in the morning?"
Hermione's plate was practically clean, with only a slice of toast and a glass of milk remaining.
"I'm not used to having a big breakfast."
Artel nodded in understanding and gestured toward Ron, who sat nearby and was heartily devouring a steak. "You should learn from him."
Ron, engrossed in his meal, paid no attention to their conversation.
This Weasley, who typically didn't indulge in good food, was savoring his meal with a sense of vengeance. After a few days of indulging in hearty portions of meat, his appetite seemed to be on the mend.
"His appetite seems to be quite hearty," someone remarked.
"His name is Ron Weasley, and the twin over there is his brother. The one you see as our prefect is also his brother. They're all Gryffindors," Hermione introduced Artel, gesturing towards the Weasley family members.
She then pointed to the bespectacled boy sitting next to Ron and continued, "And this is Harry Potter, he's quite famous. I've actually read about him in several books, and he's rumored to have done some remarkable things."
"Looks like you've made some new acquaintances," Artel observed.
Artel recognized all the individuals Hermione had introduced. Hearing his comment, Hermione pouted slightly and replied, "Well, they're not exactly friends. They just met at dinner last night. Neville mentioned that he'd like you to join Gryffindor as well."
"That's a shame," Artel replied.
Checking the time on his pocket watch, he noted that there were still over forty minutes before their next class.
Once Artel had finished eating, he and Hermione left the Great Hall, heading towards the Transfiguration classroom.
On the other side of Hogwarts, Neville, who had been waiting in Gryffindor Tower for some time, quickly caught up with them. He complained to Artel along the way, mentioning that some Gryffindor students had witnessed their altercation with Pansy and were now spreading rumors about Artel and Hermione, suggesting they were involved romantically or had fallen in love in the Muggle world.
Artel didn't pay much mind to these rumors, but Hermione blushed at the thought.
When they reached the classroom, several students were already waiting for the lesson to begin. Professor McGonagall's tabby cat sat regally on the podium. Artel walked over and respectfully nodded to the feline. Hermione and Neville, unsure of the gesture's significance, followed Artel's lead and also acknowledged the tabby cat.
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