The days at Hogwarts

Q: How can I reduce the amount of residual mouse hair?

Answer: The more hair you lose due to torture, the less rat hair you will have.

Although it's just a joke, it can help us understand the pain of some young wizards who don't have the talent for transfiguration.

Some students did not take the selection exam, and some did not pass the exam. The rest are the little wizards sitting here, about 100 people.

There were many familiar faces to Loren, the twin brothers, Percy and Penelope, Cedric, Rolf, and Marcus and Draco from Slytherin. There were no first-year students, they had no foundation at all and were not suitable for participating in club activities.

There was a patter of rain outside the window. The rain had been falling for a few days and there was no sign of it stopping. Dark clouds and fog covered the sky and the wilderness, and everything was gray. All the candlesticks on the wall were filled with bright candles, illuminating the entire classroom, bright and cheerful.

Professor McGonagall walked into the classroom with a smile on her face: "Let's check the list first, starting from the second grade: Loren Morgan, Hermione Granger..."

She read out the names of the club members one by one, and the little wizards whose names were called answered loudly, from the second grade to the seventh grade, without missing a single one. Loren felt that Professor McGonagall was much gentler than usual.

After counting the names, Professor McGonagall looked at the young wizards below and their vigorous vitality: "I have told you before that Transfiguration is the most complicated and dangerous spell in the Hogwarts curriculum. You may wonder, what is the danger of spells such as a match turning into a needle, a beetle into a button, a teapot into a turtle, a guinea fowl into a guinea pig, and a plate into a mushroom?"

"Yes! What's the danger?" George asked loudly.

Professor McGonagall did not answer immediately, but asked another question: "Can anyone tell me what branches of Transfiguration there are?"

Hermione raised her hand, and after receiving a signal from Professor McGonagall, she stood up and answered loudly: "Interspecies Transfiguration, Human Transfiguration, Exorcism, Animagus, Apparition, and Basic Transfiguration."

"Very good, Miss Granger. Gryffindor..." Professor McGonagall stopped in time and said with a smile, "I forgot that this is in the club and there will be no extra class points."

"It's okay! We don't mind!" Fred shouted.

There was laughter from the audience.

"I think everyone has noticed that the teaching content of Hogwarts is mainly basic transformation, summoning, and cross-species transformation. Spells related to the human body are rarely involved."

Professor McGonagall's words sparked a flurry of discussion. Cedric, a young wizard from Hufflepuff, asked loudly, "Yes, Professor, why is that?"

"This is related to several special events in the wizarding world." Professor McGonagall began to explain, "A witch named Mirabella Plunkett fell in love with a mermaid while on vacation at Loch Lomond, but her family strongly opposed such a marriage, so Mirabella turned herself into a haddock and disappeared, never to be seen again."

"The Ministry of Magic suspected that something went wrong with the Transfiguration spell she used on herself, and some unpredictable changes occurred. Coupled with the fact that no one helped her to remove the spell in time, she became one of the countless haddocks in Loch Lomond."

Professor McGonagall finished her first story and paused to watch the young wizards discussing.

Hermione suddenly remembered something. She turned around and tugged at Loren's clothes: "We have seen Mirabella's picture, do you remember?"

"Huh? When have we met?" Loren had no impression.

"Last year when I was investigating Nicolas Flamel, you tricked me into eating a lot of chocolate frogs, and one of the pictures was of Mirabella."

Speaking of this, Hermione couldn't help but slap him, and then sighed: "Such a beautiful witch has turned into a fish forever, what a pity."

Ron was puzzled: "Why can't she become a mermaid? Can't codfish marry mermaids?"

"Transfiguration cannot turn humans into magical creatures, and mermaids are also a kind of magical creatures," Loren explained.

"This is too..."

The young wizards couldn't describe how they felt. If Mirabella hadn't been so impulsive, or if there were other wizards protecting her, perhaps such a tragedy would not have happened.

Or, if Mirabella didn't understand human body transformation and cross-species transformation, the tragedy wouldn't have happened.

Professor McGonagall began to talk about the second thing: "Thaddeus Circe was a wizard. All of his seven sons were Squibs. Out of disgust, he turned all seven sons into hedgehogs. Because they lived as hedgehogs for many years, they could not think like normal people after they turned back into human form."

Many young wizards became indignant, and even Slytherins found this behavior disgusting.

"A long time ago, Hogwarts' teaching included human body transformation, Animagus and other related content. After more and more tragedies caused by Transfiguration, the Ministry of Magic issued a new education order and made large-scale deletions to the teaching content."

"The rectification has had a significant effect, and the number of accidents caused by Transfiguration has decreased significantly. However, the development of Transfiguration has also been greatly affected. Branches such as basic Transfiguration, Summoning, and Apparition have flourished, while the development of branches such as human Transfiguration, Animagus, and cross-species Transfiguration has stagnated."

"For a long time, there were only a few Animagus registered. When he was a student, Headmaster Dumbledore made great achievements in the field of Transfiguration and published many articles in the magazine Transfiguration Today. Even he only had one article that covered the field of cross-species transformation."

At this point, Professor McGonagall was a little depressed. Looking at the young wizards in the audience, she became more excited: "Transfiguration is a more complex and profound spell than Charms. I firmly believe that the comprehensive development of Transfiguration will drive the progress of the wizarding world!"

The little wizards began to understand that the focus of the Transfiguration Club seemed to be on these contents that had been deleted.

The lively chattering made Professor McGonagall even happier: "The main activity of the Transfiguration Club is the teaching of Transfiguration theory. I will hold another selection test after returning to school after the Christmas holiday. The little wizards who pass the test will be selected into the Animagus teaching class!"

boom!

A loud thunder exploded in the ears of the little wizard. The news made them frenzy and some people shouted excitedly.

"I want to be an owl!"

"I want to be a lion!"

"tiger!"

The first activity of the Transfiguration Club did not contain any substantial content. It ended after Professor McGonagall told the young wizards about the teaching plan, the subsequent exam arrangements, and the time and place arrangements for future activities.

But the storm caused by Animagus was not over. The Transfiguration Club took over the limelight from the Charms Club and became the most popular topic among the young wizards. During dinner, the whole hall was discussing Animagus.

Especially the members of the Transfiguration Club, who repeated Professor McGonagall's words with great joy, gesticulating as they talked about the two tragic cases of Transfiguration, the Ministry of Magic's educational orders, and their plan to revitalize Transfiguration.

The young wizard who gave up the club exam for the sake of ease is now regretting his decision. Although Transfiguration is time-consuming and boring, it is Animagus!

A group of students made up their minds that they must take part in the selection exam next year, no matter what.

Saturday night, Gryffindor lounge.

Some time has passed, and the young wizards are still discussing club matters with great interest, not just the Animagus Club, but also the Charms Club and the Potions Club.

The Quidditch team had just returned from practice. The fast twins had washed off the mud and rain and were sitting in front of the fireplace to keep warm. A group of people were gathered around the large square table next to them.

Loren sat on the carpet, looking over the Deluminator blueprint that Dumbledore had given him, and trying to disassemble the alchemical array on it.

In fact, there is a faster and more convenient method. If you project the Deluminator into the Book of Fantasy, Flamel can disassemble all the magic circles in a few minutes. However, since there are ready-made drawings, Loren wants to try it himself. This is also a required skill for every alchemist.

Hermione and he were back to back, with a large book spread out on their laps. Ever since Professor McGonagall announced the selection of members for the Animagus teaching class, Hermione immediately went to the library to sort out a list of books. There were dozens of books all about human body deformation, cross-species deformation, and Animagus. She planned to finish reading them before Christmas - or memorize them.

Ron trembled at the sight. Is this the world of academic masters?

Harry had just returned from training and was still washing up. Hermione looked difficult to deal with, so Ron could only ask Loren, "How was Harry and your Potions Club activities?"

Ginny, who was looking around for Harry, moved her ears and moved closer to Ron, listening to their conversation.

"I've been preparing rue essence. Each grade has a different job to do. It's rather boring, but the atmosphere is good." Loren looked away from the blueprint and pinched his brows to relax his tense nerves.

There were basically no fools in the Potions Club and they quickly realized that this was a way to adapt to the job of a pharmacist in advance. Not only did they not complain, they adapted well.

After becoming familiar with their own work sections, several grades began to rotate with the help of a seventh-year Ravenclaw senior. It is estimated that the situation will change only after the first transaction is completed.

"Prefect, can you tell us what the senior branch of the Charms Club is doing recently?" asked a third-year Gryffindor wizard.

Percy sighed and said, "Well, Professor Flitwick is taking us to study ancient magic."

"Cool!" A group of junior wizards exclaimed enviously.

"It's not cool at all. The ancient magic power is disordered and unstable. Every time there is an activity, it keeps exploding."

Percy was very depressed. He and Penelope attended events together, but he was always bombed and looked shabby, which made him look terrible. However, Penelope seemed to be closer to him.

Ximo became even more envious, full of envy.

"Ron! Loren! It's time for us to go!" Harry shouted at the exit of the lounge. He had just finished washing up and the ends of his hair were still a little wet.

Their detention was not over yet. Ron had to go to the trophy display room to clean the trophies, Harry had to help Lockhart copy envelopes, and Loren had to learn the Oblivion Charm.

Ron got up, jumped up and went to ask Harry about Quidditch.

Loren turned around and stuffed the Deluminator blueprint into Hermione's tome, then held her shoulders and moved to the side, letting the back of the sofa take his place for Hermione to lean against.

"Don't wait for me in the lounge at night. Go to bed early." Loren instructed.

Hermione was so dizzy from reciting that she didn't hear what he said clearly. She raised her head and smiled at him dazedly, then her consciousness went back into the book. She was as cute as a little squirrel.

When they came to Harry, the three of them were talking about Quidditch and emerged from the Gryffindor Common Room.

"George and Fred have been scouting the Slytherin team. According to their report, the Slytherin team members were riding on the Nimbus 2001, and when they flew, only seven blurry light green shadows could be seen, whizzing through the air like jet planes." Harry looked gloomy and worried.

"Quidditch is not just a sport of speed..."

"I know, but..."

Headaches about knowledge and learning, young feelings growing in the dark, worries about the ball game with the neighboring college, this is the youth in school.

Chapter 185 Nick's Story

in the corridor.

Harry and Ron were discussing Quidditch tactics in a low voice, not even looking at the road, and letting Loren lead them forward.

"How about the Pokov Tactic? This is a classic tactic to eliminate speed differences?" Ron used his hands to simulate a chaser, pretending to throw the Quaffle to score, but in fact he was preparing to pass the ball to his teammates at a subtle angle to assist in the breakthrough.

"No, the speed gap is too big. They can definitely switch defense in time." The more Harry discussed it, the more frustrated he became. It seemed that all his hopes lay in whether he could catch the Golden Snitch in time to end the game before the Slytherin team narrowed the gap to 150 points.

Loren didn't know Quidditch or broomsticks, so he led the two of them leisurely to prevent them from falling out of a window or down the stairs without looking. If that happened, it would be on the headlines of the Daily Prophet tomorrow.

"Speed, speed, speed..." Ron muttered with a frown, his mind unconsciously simulating the players of both sides, one side was faster and the other side had better coordination.

How can we use cooperation to eliminate the speed advantage?

As he calmed down and thought, the flying brooms and players in the sky gradually turned into black and white chess pieces, which fell on the chessboard and turned into an endgame.

The black pieces represent Slytherin, and there are live pieces everywhere on the board, so the speed is fast and the advantage is full. As long as you make use of the live pieces and place your pieces step by step, you can win.

The white piece represents Gryffindor. The white piece has very little energy and is struggling to move in the cracks.

However, it seemed that there was still hope. Ron's eyes became brighter and brighter, Quidditch turned into a form that he was more familiar with, and his mind was liberated at a certain moment, as if it were sublimated.

Break, block, and make up, break, change, block, and break. The fallen chess pieces turned into fourteen flying brooms, flying all over the sky. According to his ideas, he executed Quidditch tactics such as reverse pass, counter-attack bludger, Parkin clamp tactics, and eagle head attack formation.

In this case, it seems...

Ron, lost in thought, turned around on the fourth floor and walked towards the trophy display room without even thinking of saying goodbye to Harry and Loren.

Harry looked at his receding back with a puzzled look on his face. Was his friend perhaps crazy about Quidditch?

Loren and the other man continued walking towards Lockhart's office. When they turned a corner, they saw Nick, who was almost headless, looking sadly at the rain in the night.

He wore a fashionable hat with a feather on top of his long curly hair, and a knee-length tunic with a wheel-shaped ruffled collar that concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely cut, making him appear and disappear like a wisp of smoke.

He held a piece of letter paper in his hand, like a melancholy poet, muttering: "It doesn't meet their requirements, just half an inch short, if that..."

"Good evening, Sir Nicholas." Loren walked closer and could see the dark sky and pouring rain outside through Nick's ghost body.

"No, young Morgan and Potter, I'm not well." Nick turned to look at them, his face showing deep pain.

Nick is a cheerful and kind ghost. He is always willing to show the way to lost little wizards, provide cover for little wizards wandering at night, and even throw and catch his own head to make the little wizards happy.

Loren and Harry were a little worried when they saw Nick with such a sad expression.

Could it be a basilisk causing trouble? Loren looked around but didn't see any victims. He asked, "What happened?"

"No, it's okay. It's a small matter... I thought I could apply, but it seems I'm 'ineligible.'" Nick tried to rub his face to hide his sad expression, but the slightest touch made his head shake precariously.

Nick collapsed at once, his emotions gushing out like a flood. He waved the letter angrily, "Tell me what you think! Is a man who was chopped on the neck by a blunt axe forty-four times qualified to join the Headless Hunter Team?"

Loren and Harry took two steps back and tentatively said uncertainly: "Oh - of course there is."

Nick floated in front of the two men and unfolded the letter to them.

The ghost's letter was made of an unknown material. It was also somewhat transparent and emitted a faint light. It read:

We can only accept hunters with separate heads and bodies. You will be fully aware that without this it would be impossible for members to participate in hunter team activities such as jousting and head polo. Therefore, I regret to inform you that you do not meet our requirements. Best regards, Sir Patrick Delaney Podmore.

"More than anyone else, I want it to be done cleanly and neatly, and I want my head to be completely and thoroughly cut off. I mean, that would save me a lot of pain and I wouldn't be laughed at. But..."

Tears streamed down Nick's ghostly face, his anger subsided, and he became helpless and dazed, "Only a little skin and tendons connecting my neck, Loren! Harry! Most people would think that this is actually the same as losing your head. But no, in the eyes of Lord Podmore, who has completely lost his head, this is not enough."

The ghost uncle who was originally full of joy and always hid in the armor and scared them with his loud voice became like a fragile child, which made Loren and Harry feel heartbroken.

Nick looked at the two people who were at a loss but cared about him, calmed down and said, "Do you want to hear my story?"

"Of course!" Loren climbed up to the window first, sat down facing the night rain, and dangled his feet outside the window, looking like he wanted to listen to a story.

Harry opened his mouth, wanting to remind Loren that Lockhart was still waiting for them in the office, but seeing Nick's expectant look, he said nothing and sat down on the window like Loren did.

Nick floated out of the castle, letting the raindrops penetrate his body: "I was born into the noble Mimsy Porpington family, with noble blood..."

He spent a happy childhood in peace and security, and inherited the honor of the Porpington family, and was proud of the ancestors of the family. At the age of eleven, he entered Hogwarts and was sorted into Gryffindor College.

"Hey! Don't let Professor McGonagall know that I was terrible at Transfiguration when I was a student."

When Nick recalled that memory, he smiled, but soon became lonely again: "You may not know that Hogwarts was not as famous as it is now. I was obsessed with the glory of my family and wanted to carry it forward beyond my ability. Many friends advised me not to contact Muggles, but I was greedy for fame and did not listen to these sincere advices."

In the wizarding world, he was just a wizard with mediocre achievements, unable to make his ancestors shine again. So Nico set his sights on the Muggle world. Many friends and family members advised him against it, but he still entered the court at that time and became a courtier of King Henry VII.

Nick said with a self-mockery: "On the night of October 1492, 10, I will always remember that day..."

While walking in the park, he met Ms. Grieve, who insisted that Nick use magic to correct her crooked teeth. Nick felt that he could not do such a thing, and after several attempts to get rid of her entanglement, he had to try. However, Nick's attempt backfired, and she grew terrifying fangs.