There is a dark place in everyone's heart.

It has been said that where there is light, there must be shadows, but shadows are always hidden behind them, and they are often not as clear as the light.

But if you suddenly turn around, you will find that you are so close to the shadows that it seems like you will fall into it with a light step.

"Hermione, look at me."

In the Room of Requirement, Maca sits facing her. At this time, there were only these two chairs in the room, and even Harry, Ron, and even Luna could only wait quietly in the corridor outside.

It could be seen that Hermione looked very uncomfortable, and she was probably not mentally prepared to tell the truth at the moment.

Or rather, she didn't want Maca to know that she was jealous of Luna.

However, Maca didn't ask anything.

"Look at me, inhale, exhale...... Don't overthink it and allow yourself to really relax. Now I'm starting to ask you some simple questions, which I think should help you regain your composure. ”

In this empty room with only two people, Maca's voice was particularly clear.

Hermione heard that he seemed to be trying to keep his voice as soft as possible, his slightly flaccid vocal cords vibrating with the air currents in a familiar pronunciation and tone, with his usual easy-going style.

Just this way of speaking made Hemin feel extremely relieved.

"So......" Maka asked calmly with a hint of a smile on her lips, "Do you need a license from the Ministry of Magic to keep a swallow-tailed dog?" ”

"Yes."

"What fertilizer is effective in increasing the growth rate of glow-in-the-dark grass?"

"The feces of the moon beast."

"Can the leaves of a mandrake be used for cooking?"

"Yes."

"What 14th-century member of the Wizarding Council defined 'man' as 'any creature in the wizarding world that walks on two legs'?"

"Speaker Burdock Malden."

"What is the name of a chocolate butterfat bar launched by Mars Magic Foods in 1990?"

"Mars Stick."

"Fifth Usage of Dragon's Blood......"

When Maca asked these questions, her tone was soft, but she spoke quite quickly.

Clearly, he knew that Hermione would be able to answer questions that encompassed everything from many disciplines to common sense. And in order for the other person to be fully focused and think without interruption, he must ask questions at a fast pace.

In fact, Maca had originally wanted Hermione to empty her mind as much as possible, but this method similar to the meditation of an ancient wizard was really not easy.

For this reason, Maca simply did the opposite, filling Hermione's mind with a large number of fast-paced questions.

And this would leave Hermione with no more energy to think about anything else.

Seeing that Hermione was gradually entering a state of full thought, Maca knew that the effect he wanted had been achieved. However, although there are actually only two steps for Maca to do, the second step is much more difficult than the first step.

As she continued to ask Hermione the all-encompassing questions, Maca suddenly took out her staff and placed it between him and Hermione.

The next moment, I saw a looming rune suddenly outlined on the tip of the staff, and it continued to spread outward with layers of fluctuations that were invisible to the naked eye.

It's a Soul Rule Rune, and it's the one that Maca learned from the Tablet of Bewitchment. Through countless studies and the gains she has received from Sarah, Maca has begun to understand its meaning.

Through this rune, he can induce the desires of others, but if used in reverse, it can also appease certain desires that have appeared abnormal.

Yes, based on Luna and Ron's hasty narration, they already had some idea of Hermione's strange Maca.

Moments later, Maca canceled the delivery of mana, and the soul rule runes quietly dispersed. And when the invisible ripples that spread out also disappeared, he also put away the staff.

"Last question," Maka said softly, "whose pen is the phrase 'When you are gazing into the abyss, the abyss is staring at you'?" ”

"What...... What the? ”

Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Maca with a puzzled expression.

"Well, I think you're indeed a qualified resident of the wizarding world," Maca said in a relaxed tone, leaning back in her chair suddenly, "that quote came from a well-known Muggle scholar whose name was 'Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche'. ”

"......'The abyss is staring at you,'" Hermione said as she chewed on the phrase, "and that's a creepy remark. ”

"Not necessarily," Maca shook her head, "if you think of something as an abyss, then it will really be an abyss. And the struggle against the abyss, the process of struggle often becomes another abyss (1) ......"

As Hermione could listen, Maca reached out and shook it in front of her eyes, as if to tell her not to keep her nerves so tight.

"So, huh...... Although this may be a bit inappropriate for me, ......," Maca said seriously, "just face your inner thoughts, you don't have to choose to only let yourself suffer because you are considerate of other people's feelings." ”

Hermione was stunned for a moment, and a moment of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but soon more determination emerged.

"That's really ...... It's not up to you! She pursed her lips, and a hint of rosy gradually grew on her lips, which were still slightly pale, "But since you said so...... So Maca, can I punish you? ”

"Uh......"

This time, Maca was a little stunned, but he nodded after that.

And the next second he nodded, a slap suddenly appeared in his field of vision, and began to enlarge at an extremely fast speed. He leaned back, almost reflexively, and grabbed the other man's wrist.

"Oh, sorry! My body moved involuntarily......"

Maca hurriedly let go of her hand and smiled awkwardly.

"Come on, you can do it all over again, this time I'll hold back."

But Hermione, who was sitting opposite, pouted, clasped her hands on her chest and snorted softly.

"Forget it," she said with a little dissatisfaction, "you might as well think about what to do next...... Of Ron and Harry, I think Harry has a problem, what do you think? ”

Seeing Hermione get down to business, Maca put away her smile and turned her mind to something more serious and important.

"Well, that's what I thought too."

"That'...... What happened to Harry? Why did he ......"

Hermione, of course, didn't know anything about Helbo's resurrection. In fact, she didn't know much about the rumors about Helbo, after all, she didn't find much information about those things in ordinary magic books.

"I've already had some thoughts on this matter," Maka said, "but I was in a hurry to help you solve the problem just now, and Harry hasn't had time to deal with it yet." ”

"That's—" Hermione frowned slightly, "where are they now?" ”

"It's just outside," Maca said immediately, "rest assured, the sound inside is absolutely inaudible from the outside, because the inside and outside of the Room of Requirement are not in a continuous space at all. ”

"Did you warn Ron?" Hermione couldn't help but worry.

But Maca just shook her head.

"I think it's probably the right thing to do without reminding Ron," he said, pausing, "and after you're out for a while, you pretend you haven't gotten back to normal and lure Ron away from Harry." And I'm in charge of Luna......"

"No," Hermione interrupted, "neither of them needs to be taken care of by you, especially Luna, just leave it to me...... That's it! ”

After saying this quickly, she also deliberately stared at Maca a few times, and the meaning was self-evident.

Seeing this, Maca couldn't help but smile bitterly - yes, the persuasion just now made Hermione even stronger than before.

"Okay, okay!" He had to surrender, "Then my idea will be used as a backup plan...... Then, I'll take care of the rest. ”

After the two of them finished discussing in the room where they spoke, Maca immediately stood up and walked to the door with Hermione, who had also gotten up.

……

"Click."

The brass doorknob was unscrewed open by Hermione, who pulled open the door and walked straight out.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Ron was the first to see the door open, and when he saw Hermione coming out, he hurried over to this side, "Well, it looks like it's much better......"

And just as he spoke, Harry, who was not far away, immediately turned his gaze, and looked at Hermione's movements faintly in a hurry.

"Oh, I don't think I supplied—"

Hermione smiled at Ron and walked over to him. But when she crossed the other person's shoulder and "coincidentally" saw Luna, who was also coming, the smile that had become natural suddenly stiffened.

"Don't, don't come here!"

At this time, Maca also appeared at the door of the Requirement Room. But he deliberately didn't look in Harry's direction, instead focusing on Luna and Hermione.

"Calm down, Hermione." He slowed down and said slowly, "It's okay, you can do it...... You're just burying that thought in your heart too deep, and only by facing it can you get out of its shackles......"

At this point, he turned to Luna again, "Don't worry, get closer to Hermione a little bit, this will help her get out of trouble." ”

However, Luna only took one step forward, and Hermione ran to the other end of the hallway like a frightened rabbit.

Maka suddenly glanced at Ron, who was still in a daze.

"Why are you still stunned, chasing it!" He said, patting Luna on the shoulder again, "You go too, try to get closer to her slowly." ”

With that, he turned around and waved his hand at Harry.

"Harry, come along!"