It seemed that suddenly, their wardrobe was empty, and there was no longer the sound of young wizards' laughter in the dormitory.
However, unlike the start of the term, this time the dormitory walls had some posters left behind, with Quidditch players on them repeating their shooting actions, cheering, and celebrating, as if they knew their owner would soon return.
Notices were sent to each student, warning them against using magic during the holiday period.
Since Hagrid was still at St Mungo's, Professor McGonagall temporarily took charge of leading them to board the boats across the lake.
On the Hogwarts Express, Kael declined the Weasley Brothers' invitation to join them in the compartment to discuss future paths (how to earn Galleons next term) and the direction of the magic realm (how to sell their products outside Hogwarts).
The huge sum of a hundred Galleons had already got the Weasley Brothers a bit obsessed; in the last days of the term, they even stopped looking for clues to the Marauder's Map and were always researching how to earn more money.
Hopefully, they'll come up with some good ideas.
Kael walked forward along the train and pushed open a compartment door at the end.
There was only one person inside.
Conna was curled up on the seat, staring blankly at the neat wheat fields outside the window.
Kael naturally sat opposite her, "Still upset about the Poke matter?"
...
"She's not called Poke."
After a long silence, Conna spoke softly, "Her name is Ratree, kind of like my, great-aunt."
...
It seemed Conna also wanted someone to talk to, and she said a lot.
The countryside outside the window was becoming lusher and tidier, as the train passed through Muggle towns, Kael gradually understood the course of events.
This could be considered a very clichéd story.
Eleven years ago, Conna's father accidentally mentioned Voldemort's name while drunk and was killed by the Death Eaters who came rushing.
Luckily, Conna and her mother were not home at the time, so they escaped the disaster.
Then, just before the start of school last year, Conna's mother also died in an accident, leaving Conna as the only member of the Prince family.
Although the Prince surname isn't as famous as the Sacred Twenty-Eight, it's still a long-standing pure-blood, and this incident naturally caught much attention.
Poke... Ratree appeared during this time.
But after she came, she found that Conna's family's previous properties had already been divided up by other pure-bloods.
So she set her eyes on the Gringotts Vault, intending to use her Animagus to steal the key.
Once she got the key, she planned to find a way to eliminate Conna, allowing her to take the contents under the guise of a distant Prince relative naturally.
She actually managed to find it, but as with all pure-blood families, there's always a hidden treasure. The box storing the Prince family vault key is like that, requiring a direct bloodline to open.
But the problem is she didn't know the Imperio, nor did she dare seek cooperation.
Just when she was troubled over what to do, a devastated Conna accidentally became fond of the "rat that had always been with her," treating it as a pet and bringing it to Hogwarts.
The events that followed need not be elaborated; she started using every means to steal Conna's money, wanting her to leave Hogwarts quickly and retrieve the key from the Gringotts Vault.
Originally, her plan was quite successful; barring any accidents, Conna would have gone home to retrieve her money during the Christmas holiday, but unexpectedly, Kael intervened and extended Conna's life.
According to Conna, after Ratree was fed Veritaserum, she kept cursing that "meddlesome boy."
Kael stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, "So, you're saying I saved your life?"
"That's indeed the case." Conna nodded.
After revealing the burden she had kept hidden in her heart, she felt much better.
"So, shouldn't you thank me properly?"
Kael laughed, "And after you lost your rat, I also lost a big order for potions."
"Then I'll just keep buying from you."
Conna pulled out a Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag and placed it on the table, "Same as before, one bottle a month until these are all used up."
The bag was filled with Galleons.
In addition to the original one hundred Galleons, the previously stolen ones were also included, totaling around one hundred and fifty.
"What about your rat then?"
"I can go to Diagon Alley and buy another one."
"Are you sure... you want to keep a rat?" Kael looked at her skeptically.
"It's none of your business!" Conna's expression suddenly turned grim, recalling the scene in the Forbidden Forest, "If you don't want it, I won't buy it!"
"I want it, a fool would refuse free Galleons!"
Kael swiftly pocketed the bag from the table.
"By the way, are there many others like Poke... that rat eyeing your family vault?"
Conna turned her head aside, not speaking.
Seeing her expression, Kael knew the answer.
As expected, the magic realm is so small, for every pure-blood family, there are probably numerous distant relatives.
Conna was probably unhappy after her exams because she didn't want to face these people when she returned home.
"Here's the deal, I won't give you the potions." Kael tapped his fingers on the table, thoughtfully saying, "But taking people's money and resolving their troubles for them, how about I help you get rid of these nuisances?"
"What do you mean?" Conna tilted her head, a little confused.
"It means leave this matter to me." Kael calmly said, "I guarantee that during the summer holiday, no one will trouble you anymore."
"Really..." Conna glanced at Kael skeptically, clearly doubting him.
"You don't need to comfort me, I can handle them."
"Just wait and see, I definitely won't let you down."
Kael didn't explain further, taking out a pile of snacks and placing them on the table.
He was quite hungry.
If there's no meal prepared in advance on the train, one could only munch on some snacks to fill the stomach.
At this moment, Cedric and Cho suddenly pushed open the compartment door.
"Conna, I've been looking for you."
Cho sat down beside Conna, concerned, "How are you feeling, any better?"
"Much better." Conna returned a smile.
In fact, they had already visited earlier but had not entered.
"Kael, what plans do you have for the summer vacation?"
Cedric opened a package of Chocolate Frogs, saying, "My dad plans to take me to France, we can go together."
France?
Kael thought for a moment, it was indeed a nice place, and he was quite curious about Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
But it was a bit too far.
After careful consideration, Kael shook his head, "Next time, Cedric, I have other plans for the summer."
"That's a pity." Cedric said with some disappointment, "I'll bring you a gift."