Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 171: Taking Control of Good Fortune

Mrs. Lorris's cat meows grew closer.

In the corridor, the black cat on the armor sighed in a human-like manner.

Hufflepuff always follows the rules, except for one upperclassman who really loves magical creatures.

Let's not let any unexpected events spoil the Christmas mood of Hogwarts students and staff.

While Hannah and Sarian were too frightened to move, the black cat had already disappeared into the shadows of the corridor like ink, only to reappear in the firelight.

"Is it... that lucky black cat? Hannah, am I seeing things?"

Sarian asked, stammering.

ten minutes later.

Beneath the thick band of holly and mistletoe, Hannah and Sarian still couldn't believe it.

They were led to the lounge by a black cat, and surprisingly, Mrs. Lorris didn't follow after the cat appeared—even though their legs were so weak and they walked so slowly.

So now they stood there dumbfounded at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. The common room behind them was warmer than ever, the curtains were drawn, a fire was burning in the fireplace, and the usual fresh scent of plants and the sweet aroma of food wafted in, but even that couldn't entice the two little witches to go inside.

"You're right, that's the lucky black cat! Oh my god—Sarian, could it be the will of that statue come to life?!"

Hannah was easily startled.

"Oh! I guess you're right—"

Sarian connected with the signal.

And so the story of the lucky black cat began to circulate inexplicably.

Sheehan heard the story in the auditorium the next day.

"The messenger of Christmas night, the castle cat who holds good fortune, the majestic castle is his ears, the spiral staircase is his breath..."

Sheen was stunned.

When did this rumor originate?

Then he heard Sarian's confident statement at the Hufflepuff table:

"If you could touch its ears,"

Her voice was clear and firm.
"Good luck will be with you for a whole year!"

That's not true at all!

Sheen had witnessed firsthand the young wizards' ability to spread rumors.

The Hufflepuffs, who always believed their companions implicitly, began to discuss the matter with curiosity and excitement.

At the head table, Sheehan felt many eyes on him. Headmaster Dumbledore's beard trembled with laughter, and Professor McGonagall remained very gentle, but the smile in her eyes seemed a little excessive.

But the professor wasn't always smiling; when she looked at Headmaster Dumbledore, her expression would always turn blank.

Sheen sighed, "Let them spread whatever they want."

I just hope that when he goes to study Animagus, Professor... or Headmaster Dumbledore won't be laughing the whole time...

Today is the first day of the Christmas holiday, and it's a Saturday morning with heavy snowfall.

A whole bunch of young wizards—like Harry and the Weasleys—were having a snowball fight on the playground, playing wildly for a long time. Then, they got so cold, their clothes were soaking wet, and they returned breathlessly to the fireplace in the Great Hall.

Sheen had just come out of Hope Hut when Mr. Owl had been swooping and biting at the portrait for a full half hour. Of course, there was more than one noisy place.

In the principal's office.

“Headmaster Dumbledore, if you have so much time on your hands, shouldn’t you take care of some of the things a headmaster should be doing…”

Professor McGonagall remained expressionless, her lips pressed into a serious line.
"I need to leave for a few days this Christmas, and this is my leave application."

After speaking, she gently placed an application form on the table, maintaining her composure despite her anger.

On the brand-new envelope, the names of Ephesus O'Quailt and Malcolm are faintly visible.

Dumbledore was momentarily stunned, and for the first time in a long time, he gave a genuine smile from the bottom of his heart:

“That’s how it should be. I agree, Minerva, I agree with everything. Let’s go for a walk.”

His candor caused Professor McGonagall to pause slightly as well.

The wind and snow were as fierce as ever, falling on the windows and doorways of the principal's office, but quickly melting into gentle streams.

Those names are from stories that took place several winters ago.

A story that is both perfect and flawed.

Early in her career at Hogwarts, Professor Minerva McGonagall had a brief but happy marriage with Ephesus O'Quailt, her former superior at the Ministry of Magic.

Not long after Voldemort's first defeat, on a summer afternoon, while the two were strolling along the shore of Hogwarts Lake, the white-haired Ephesus proposed to Professor Minerva McGonagall for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

This time she agreed. Ephesus, who had already retired, was overjoyed and bought a small villa for the two of them in Hogsmeade, making it much more convenient for Professor Minerva McGonagall to get to work every day.

The marriage was happy, though tragically short-lived, as was destined. Although they had no children of their own, Professor Minerva McGonagall was very happy during this time because her nephews and nieces (the children of her brother Malcolm and Robert Jr.) often visited them.

Just three years after their marriage, Effie Stone tragically died from a poisonous tentacle bite, leaving those who knew the couple deeply saddened.

Professor Minerva McGonagall couldn't bear being alone in the villa, so after her husband's funeral, she packed her bags and returned to Hogwarts Castle, moving into a slate bedroom. An extremely brave and private person, Professor McGonagall devoted herself entirely to her work, and few understood the pain she endured; perhaps the only exception was Dumbledore.

Today, the professor received another letter from afar; her former family members are still deeply moved by this story.

They begged the professor to bring the child back to see them no matter what, and the professor couldn't find a reason to refuse.

In the principal's office, Professor McGonagall's light blue eyes flickered as she looked at the letter, then turned and left the office.

It was as if... she had only glanced at her briefly and cautiously in the face of past happiness.

Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked at the mountain of unfinished casebooks.

Did he... agree a little too soon?

However, when Sheen knocked on the door of the Transfiguration office, he was greeted by Professor McGonagall's gentle eyes.

“Come in, child. Headmaster Dumbledore is very busy. I will teach you Animagus Transfiguration from now on.”

The professor said with a smile.

The fireplace in the Transfiguration office was the most intensely burning fireplace Sheen had ever seen, and from the windows, you could see the little wizards playing wildly on the Quidditch pitch.

There was a silver kitten figurine on the edge of the window, along with a box of delicate cat-shaped cookies.

"Let me see how your Transfiguration is progressing, child."

The professor said.

(End of this chapter)