The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 226 Snape's Silent Scheme

Evening, third floor of the castle.

A desolate corridor, only a hundred meters long, with no classrooms, no professors' offices, and not even a decent room.

But in this corridor, there was now a tall figure, seemingly searching for some clue, moving unusually slowly.

……

Metamorphosis Club.

The hidden classroom was now somewhat lively.

"Which college do you think the new student will be from? Is it possible they're a freshman?"

Qiu sat in her special hanging chair and asked with a curious expression.

As Qiu finished speaking, Cedric sat up straight as if by reflex.

"It shouldn't be a freshman, because I asked around in Hufflepuff, and basically none of the freshmen this year received special praise from Professor McGonagall."

"Perhaps!" Qiu replied casually, then changed the subject: "Don't ask around in the future; that's not what a gentleman should do."

"Of course, I won't do that again!" Cedric quickly stated his position.

Even though she was being scolded, she still managed to show a happy expression.

Seeing the two people opposite him interacting as if no one else was around, honestly, Ino really wanted to turn around and leave.

Madam Parthoff somehow managed to open a teahouse in Hogwarts, filling the entire hidden classroom with a sweet, cloying aroma.

Having seemingly had her fill of sweetness, Qiu then remembered that there was another person in the room, someone who also left her with regrets.

"Ino, what do you think? Could it be Slytherin?"

"I think it will be Gryffindor!" Ino shook her head slightly.

This is not the result of divination, but a basic inference based on rules.

The Gryffindor Headmaster's private club, with three students belonging to three different houses, but conspicuously none of them are from the Gryffindor house.

Under relatively fair circumstances, Professor McGonagall would prefer someone from Gryffindor to join the club more than anyone else.

……

Third floor corridor.

Hermione had been pacing around for several hours.

They searched almost everywhere – the floors, the beams, the armor – but still couldn't find the hidden classroom Professor McGonagall had mentioned.

With only twenty minutes left, she instinctively reached into her pocket, where she found a small half-bottle of Felix Felicis.

Thinking about this makes her feel amazed.

A few days ago, this precious potion was found in an abandoned display case in the Potions classroom.

But what's even more amazing is that after she handed the potion to Snape, this professor, who never liked Gryffindor, surprisingly said a lot.

Not only did they explain the uses and identification methods of Felix Felicis, but they also generously stated that anything found in the Potions classroom is ownerless and can be safely kept.

And just like that, Hermione ended up with a whole bottle of Felix Felicis without even realizing it.

To verify the effect, she immediately drank a spoonful of the Good Luck Potion, and as a result, her extraordinary performance in the following Transfiguration class impressed Professor McGonagall.

So, it was only natural that Hermione was invited to join the Transfiguration Club.

As for Hermione's unusually rapid progress in Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall didn't want to guess, or if she vaguely guessed, she didn't care.

She only needs to base her invitations on the students' classroom performance and then issue them fairly.

……

Time passed by, second by second.

With the agreed-upon time of seven o'clock fast approaching, Hermione couldn't help but feel anxious.

In the third-floor corridor, a tabby cat quietly crouched in the shadows, and the scene before her made her more anxious than the person involved.

But when Hermione's gaze fell on the mural on the wall, Professor McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she really couldn't help but give her a hint.

After all, the invitation has already been sent, so we can't let the only Gryffindor boy not get in.

A hidden classroom on the third floor.

Five minutes to seven o'clock, the classroom door was finally opened from the outside.

"Hermione?" Ino stood up in surprise.

"Hmm!" Hermione responded with a slightly nasal tone.

Meeting her here was a bit of a surprise to her.

The conversation between the two caught Qiu's eye, because Hermione's reply looked exactly like a sulky, coquettish act.

Similarly, Cedric also gave a meaningful smile.

……

"First, use transformation magic to make myself a chair! The style doesn't matter."

As a friend, Ino immediately explained the rules to Hermione.

He completely ignored the two people next to him who had just finished making sugar and wanted to watch the excitement.

Upon hearing this, Hermione waved her wand, and a perfectly ordinary chair appeared in everyone's sight.

"Thanks!"

Sitting in her chair, Hermione turned her head and said softly.

"It's nothing, I just didn't expect to run into you here," Ino said casually, then stood up to introduce Hermione:

"The two of them, Cho Chang in fourth grade and Cedric Diggory in fifth grade."

They were all the same age, and after a brief introduction, they quickly became familiar with each other, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Cedric, in particular, always seemed to have a joyful sense of relief, as if he had let go of some hidden worry.

It was 7 p.m. in the evening.

Professor McGonagall entered the classroom on time.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let's stop our idle chatter, for it is time for us to discuss transfiguration."

As Professor McGonagall finished speaking, everyone stopped chatting and picked up the latest issue of "Today's Metamorphosis" that they were carrying with them.

"Make a pair!"

Seeing that Hermione's hands were empty, Ino decisively waved his wand and handed her the copied magazine.

Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly. "Now please turn to page 165 of the magazine. Today we will discuss the transformation of the material basis and changes in form."

Okay, everyone here isn't stupid. Faced with this kind of basic, almost review-like discussion, everyone understands the reason.

But no one voiced any dissenting opinions, after all, they had all been newcomers before.

This kind of care is sometimes very necessary.

Moreover, strictly speaking, the discussion of the basics of Transfiguration is not a review. Just like an improvisation on the piano, new inspirations will always emerge unexpectedly, thus composing a beautiful movement.

After about fifteen minutes, Professor McGonagall and everyone else had finished reading the article, their gazes turned to Hermione.

"Miss Granger! Let's start with you. Tell me your views on the transformation of form and matter through transfiguration."

Seemingly expecting to be called out, Hermione thought for a moment before slowly speaking:

"Transformation is not creation, nor is permanent transformation possible. Therefore, the transformation of matter is merely based on the wizard's understanding of transformable objects..."

The answer is as standard as a textbook, perfect beyond compare.

However, even such a perfect answer caused a hint of disappointment to flash in Professor McGonagall's eyes.

But since they've already arrived, many things can't be changed.

She now only hoped that this one Gryffindor could keep up, otherwise the Transfiguration Club wouldn't be of much help to Hermione.

No sharing of knowledge during the holidays!

Xiao Di wishes everyone a happy and healthy Dragon Boat Festival! May you have peace and joy! Remember to eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings)!

(End of this chapter)