Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil

Chapter 99 Don't be so nervous, I definitely won't enter the Forbidden Forest without permission during this time.

To help Puni understand better, Professor McGonagall gave a concrete example: "For instance, transforming a small beetle into a small lizard is relatively easy. As long as you control your magic well, you can usually succeed. But if you transform a person into another form—whether it's an animal or another object—the difficulty increases exponentially. It requires not only much stronger magic but also extreme control. If you're not careful, it can lead to irreversible consequences."

At this point, Professor McGonagall paused for a moment, giving Puni enough time to process what she had said and ensure that he could truly understand its deeper meaning.

After Puni nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, she spoke again: "There's one more thing you must remember. Throughout the entire transformation, you must maintain tight control over your wand without the slightest lapse. The wand is the link between the wizard and magic; it carries your magical power and guides the direction of the spell's release. If the wand goes out of control, the transformation will inevitably fail. Even worse, it may trigger unexpected magical backlash, harming yourself or even those around you."

Finally, Professor McGonagall's tone grew increasingly stern, her eyes filled with warning, leaving no room for leniency: "Puni, you must understand that Transfiguration is never a spell to be attempted lightly; it harbors immense danger. Many wizards, due to overconfidence and eagerness for quick results, have attempted Transfiguration beyond their capabilities, ultimately suffering either severe magical backlash, irreversible damage, or even the complete loss of their ability to cast spells. Therefore, in your future studies and practice of Transfiguration, you must always remain cautious, never be impatient, and never easily challenge yourself with Transfiguration techniques beyond your abilities."

Professor McGonagall had her reasons for giving Puni such a stern warning.

In subsequent Transfiguration courses, it is inevitable that we will gradually come into contact with human body transformation and species transformation.

These two aspects are the most difficult and dangerous in the field of transfiguration; the slightest mistake can lead to disaster.

After the warning, Professor McGonagall put away her stern expression, took up her wand, and gracefully waved it.

A drawer on the desk slowly opened, and a thick stack of parchment flew out, landing lightly on a corner of the desk and neatly piled up.

Seeing this, Puni was filled with curiosity and couldn't help but step forward, bend down and take a closer look. When he saw the contents of the parchment, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

This stack of parchment is clearly the first-grade students' holiday transformation homework, with each student's name written on it, some neatly written, others illegible.

Puni muttered to himself.

Good grief, Professor McGonagall is treating me like a child laborer, isn't she?

They came here for tutoring, so why are they also helping to grade and sort homework?

Puni's subtle movements and facial expressions did not escape Professor McGonagall's notice.

Seeing Puni's slightly helpless expression, she smiled faintly and explained, "The school has been very busy lately, and with a lot of work piling up, I haven't been able to grade and sort some of the first-year students' holiday homework in time. I'm really overwhelmed right now, so I'd like to ask for your help. Could you pick out the unsatisfactory assignments from these, separate them from the excellent ones, and mark them? I'll come and check your work after I finish grading my own."

After saying that, Professor McGonagall said no more. She sat back down at her desk, buried herself in the mountain of assignments, picked up her quill pen, and continued to focus intently on grading papers. The quill slid quickly across the parchment, making a rustling sound. She no longer had any energy to pay attention to Puni.

Puni watched Professor McGonagall's busy figure, sighed softly with helplessness, and didn't complain any more.

He knew that Professor McGonagall was indeed too busy, and that he could do his part to help.

So he pulled up a chair, sat down at his desk, picked up the stack of first-grade students' holiday homework, and began sorting it out.

He carefully examined the length of each assignment, reading through the content word by word, looking for any students who deliberately piled up repetitive content or tried to reach the word count just to get the assignment done, striving to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable assignments.

The weekend is getting closer and closer.

The annual Quidditch match at Hogwarts is about to begin.

This competition is the most anticipated event of the year for all teachers and students.

Both the participating team members and the students watching had been eagerly anticipating this contest of speed and courage.

.

The Quidditch pitch, the largest building in the school besides Hogwarts Castle, occupies a large open area outside the castle. From a distance, the huge stands surround the central pitch, creating an impressive sight.

However, this stadium has one special feature.

Its location is too close to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and it is usually filled with a faint mysterious atmosphere from the Forbidden Forest. In addition, it is far from the castle, so students rarely come here unless there is training or competition.

To get to the Quidditch pitch, students must first pass through the school's outer wall and walk a short distance along a winding path to reach the open space.

As the match date approached, the once quiet Quidditch stadium finally broke its silence.

All four college Quidditch teams have entered the intense pre-match training phase, with fixed times each day dedicated to refining tactics and practicing skills on the field.

This transformed the previously empty stadium into a bustling hub, where students in their respective college gowns could be seen everywhere, either training players or spectators coming to watch the excitement and cheer for their teams.

Today, it's Ravenclaw Academy's Quidditch team's turn for pre-match practice.

After the news spread, many Ravenclaw students who didn't have classes put down what they were doing and flocked to the Quidditch pitch, wanting to see their house team's training session in person and cheer for their players.

Puni and his three roommates also appeared in the stands of the stadium.

Damn!

Why is it so cold?

Puni suddenly longed to return to the warm and comfortable library as soon as possible.

There was plenty of heating, mountains of books, and his unfinished Transfiguration notes, making it far more comfortable than freezing in the howling wind on the court.

However, his three roommates were all very enthusiastic.

When Marcos and his companions found Puni in the library, he was still engrossed in his book. Without saying a word, they grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the library.

Along the way, they pushed Puni forward while excitedly discussing the Ravenclaw team's tactics, acting as if they were "escorting" a prisoner. Puni was dragged along by them all the way to the Quidditch stadium.

The group of young wizards around me were all shivering in the cold, their necks hunched and their hands rubbing together, like a bunch of little guys with nowhere to warm themselves.

Puni couldn't help but mutter to himself.

This was just a pre-match practice session, not an official match. There was no need for spectators to cheer them on. Was it really necessary to come all the way here to suffer like this?

He looked up at the stands and saw a few young wizards sitting sparsely, each one wrapped up tightly, silently enduring the cold wind, but with expectant looks on their faces.

Meanwhile, in the air above the center of the pitch, Ravenclaw's Quidditch players were circling and flying on broomsticks, their figures intertwining in mid-air, occasionally stopping to chat together.

Judging from their gestures and facial expressions, they were clearly discussing tactics urgently, and judging from their focused expressions, they were most likely researching specific ways to counter the Gryffindor team.

"Hey, Puni, hurry up! Even though you're new to the team and only a freshman, you can't let your guard down! Ravenclaw's team needs you!" Roger shouted.

Puni sighed and walked toward the Ravenclaw group.

Puni had heard of the Gryffindor Quidditch team's reputation to some extent, especially their famous tactics—not focusing on skill, but on being "ruthless, fierce, and aggressive."

During each match, the Gryffindor Chaser would hold the Quaffle tightly and, under the close protection of his teammates, charge headlong toward the opponent's goal with ferocious momentum, like a hunting lion.

This fighting style may seem simple and direct, even somewhat crude, and lacking in flexibility, but it often catches the opponent off guard, perfectly fitting the image of the brave, fearless, and forward-moving lion of Lanfondo Academy.

In addition, Puni also recalled the Weasley twins, who had just joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year. They always liked to brag to him about how accurate their stick fighting was and how neat their passing was, and they even boasted that they would lead Gryffindor to defeat all their opponents in the game.

Their college's competition only lasted half a day; the other half was for other colleges.

Puni left the team but didn't go straight back; instead, he planned to visit Haige.

Walk along the path leading to the Forbidden Forest.

Along the way, the cold wind continued to howl, and the roadside weeds rustled in the wind. Occasionally, a few small creatures could be seen running by hurriedly, fleeing towards the forbidden forest.

Soon, he arrived at Hagrid's cabin.

The cottage was still the same as before, simple yet cozy, with some wood piled up at the door and dried herbs hanging under the eaves.

Hagrid was sitting on a wooden stool in front of the cabin, holding a sharp knife in his hand, head down, intently whittling a thick wooden stick. Wood shavings drifted gently down the blade and piled up at his feet.

Puni quickened his pace and stepped forward, greeting him with a smile, "Hagrid, long time no see! What are you doing here?"

Hearing the voice, Hagrid slowly raised his head, a simple, honest smile spreading across his face. He quickly placed the small knife in his hand on the wooden table beside him and patted the sawdust off his hands: "Oh, it's Puni. What brings you here?"

His voice was loud and clear, but there seemed to be a hint of worry hidden between his brows.

"I was training at the Quidditch pitch just now, and I came over to see you after I finished."

Puni sat down on the small stool next to him, his gaze falling on the wooden stick on the table. "What are you going to do with this wooden stick?"

Hagrid picked up a half-whittled wooden stick from the table, weighed it lightly, and said with a hint of helplessness, "I'm planning to make some arrows. Something's not right in the Forbidden Forest lately. The animals have become unusually wary, scattering in all directions. Even the unicorns we usually see have disappeared. I've been searching for days, but I haven't found a single unicorn hair. I don't know where they've all gone. If this continues, I won't be able to brew many of the magical potions that require unicorn hair."

As he spoke, he picked up a sharpened arrow, held it up to his eyes to examine its shape, and only after confirming that there were no problems did he gently place it on the table.

Puni followed his gaze and saw that on the table, besides a few sharpened arrow shafts, there were also some arrowheads that Hagrid had polished himself. Each one was sharp and pointed, and although the workmanship was not exquisite, it was very sturdy.

Upon hearing about the unusual situation in the Forbidden Forest, Puni's eyes lit up instantly, and he became excited, quickly asking, "Something's wrong in the Forbidden Forest? Have poachers broken in?"

Seeing Puni's excited expression, Hagrid frowned and glared at him fiercely: "Don't get any ideas, and definitely don't even think about going into the Forbidden Forest!"

After being sternly warned by Hagrid, Puni put on a docile expression, shrugged, and said with a hint of innocence, "I was just asking out of curiosity. Don't be so nervous. I definitely won't enter the Forbidden Forest without permission during this time."

Hagrid looked at him, frowned with suspicion, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped abruptly, pausing for a moment: "I will absolutely not reveal any information about the Forbidden Forest to you, not even—"

Forehead----"

He abruptly shut his mouth, secretly glad that he had reacted quickly, almost letting slip something he shouldn't have said. If Dumbledore found out, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

Puni didn't pay much attention to Hagrid's sudden pause.

Unable to hear any more interesting news from Hagrid, he didn't linger any longer. Looking at the unfinished wooden sticks on the table, he took the initiative to pick up his wand, chanted a Transfiguration Charm, and transformed the rough wooden sticks into straight and smooth ones, saving Hagrid a lot of trouble.

After doing all that, he said goodbye to Hagrid and turned to leave Hagrid's hut.

Before we knew it, it was the weekend. As soon as it was dawn, Hogwarts Castle was already bustling with activity.

The young wizards were all very excited and got out of bed early. Even the students who were usually the sleepiest did not slack off at all.

The Ravenclaw common room was a hive of activity, with many upperclassmen sitting together, tidying up the banners and flags they had made overnight in preparation for the Quidditch match.

Most of these banners and flags were made by older students using their skillful Transfiguration spells.

The flag's background is a pure azure blue, symbolizing the sky and wisdom that Ravenclaw represents. The three words "Ravenclaw" are outlined in dazzling gold paint, and next to it is a golden eagle with outstretched wings. Every feather of the golden eagle is depicted with lifelike detail, and even the patterns on its wings are clearly visible. From a distance, it looks majestic and eye-catching.

After tidying up the flags, several senior students carefully rolled up the banners and flags, carried them on their shoulders, and planned to take them to the auditorium first. After breakfast, they would then set them up on the Quidditch pitch to cheer on the Ravenclaw players.

Meanwhile, the younger students were also busy. They made some small props to wave around, but due to their limited skills, these props looked rather crude and the colors were all over the place. From a distance, they looked more like things to cheer on Gryffindor, which made many older students laugh.

Inside the auditorium, breakfast had been neatly arranged on the four school tables by the house-elves, with a variety of dishes and a wonderful aroma.

Puni found a seat by the window and sat down.

Breakfast was over quickly, and the young wizards could no longer contain their excitement. They all stood up and poured out of the hall as if attending a grand event.

They gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, and surged toward the Quidditch pitch like a tide. Many of them carried snacks and drinks, intending to enjoy the game while watching from the stands, completely immersing themselves in the joyful atmosphere of the match.

From a distance, the Quidditch pitch is tightly surrounded by a tall and sturdy wooden fence. The fence is thick enough and its surface is carefully polished, completely isolating the entire pitch from the outside world, like a huge field that protects the game inside and blocks external interference.

Many blue and red flags hung on the fence. Blue was the symbol of Ravenclaw, and red represented Gryffindor. These flags swayed gently in the breeze, adding to the atmosphere of the game and dividing the area between the two opposing houses.

Along the wooden staircases on both sides of the stadium, the young wizards climbed upwards in an orderly fashion. They moved quickly and chattered about the upcoming match, like diligent little ants, advancing step by step towards the upper stands.

These staircases wind and twist, stretching as far as the eye can see, seemingly reaching into the clouds, like steps leading to the sky, inspiring awe and fear.

But for Ravenclaw students, who climb the House Tower every day, they are already used to such heights and feel no pressure when climbing. They can even chat and laugh with their classmates while climbing.

Considering that the first-grade students are still young and relatively small, the school specially arranged their seats in the stands near the castle so that they could easily reach their seats without having to take a long detour.

The first-year wizards were extremely excited, chattering and making noise, their faces full of anticipation, like a flock of birds breaking free from their cages, chattering about all aspects of the competition.

They scrambled up to the stands, tiptoeing and peering around, each trying to find a good spot that would shelter them from the cold wind and give them a clear view of the entire stadium, afraid of missing any exciting moment of the game.

Puni was also among the crowded people, wrapped in a thick Ravenclaw house robe, the collar tied tightly, and the dark blue scarf around her neck was a gift from Cho Chang. The soft wool clung to her neck, offering some protection against the biting cold.

A while ago, there was a heavy snowfall, covering the castle inside and out with white snow. The temperature also dropped sharply, and the cold wind felt like a knife on the face. Even when wrapped in thick clothes, the chill could still spread up from the soles of the feet, penetrating into the bones and making people shiver.

Upon arriving at the stadium, Puni packed his things and went to join the team.

"Hey, you're here? Go sit down and rest for a bit before you go on stage."

The captain called out to Puni.

Puni nodded.

At this moment, on the Quidditch pitch, the players from the two teams who were the first to warm up had a thin layer of white crystals forming on their hair.

It was frost formed from moisture condensing after a long period of cold wind blowing, clinging to their hair and standing out conspicuously.

They rode brooms, circling and weaving through the air, doing their final warm-up exercises before the competition. Even though they were chilled to the bone, their eyes were full of fighting spirit, and they were not deterred by the cold.

"It's so cold. It would be good if they could have some hot soup before going on stage, otherwise their bodies definitely won't be able to handle it."

A Ravenclaw student next to him rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and couldn't help but complain.

These words immediately garnered the approval of the surrounding students, who nodded in agreement.

Even just sitting in the stands, they could feel the chill seeping into their bodies; imagine how much more uncomfortable it must have been for the players who had to fly through the air and face the cold wind.

On the field, the Ravenclaw team captain was gathering all the players together, whispering final tactical instructions and points to note before the match.

His expression was serious and resolute, exuding a calm and composed aura, and he seemed full of confidence.

But Puni could also see that behind this confidence lay a subtle concern.

He vaguely remembered that if the score remained close and neither side could widen the gap, the only way to end the game was for the Seeker to catch the Golden Snitch.

In such situations, the match time often extends indefinitely, and in extreme cases, it can even last for several days, posing a tremendous test to the players' physical strength and willpower.

As the professors from each house took their seats, the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw players also rode their brooms and gathered in the open space in the center of the field, ready for the match.