The days at Hogwarts

"Compared to Hermione, Neville's transformation took longer and he suffered more pain. This may be related to the size of the animal after transformation..." Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione thoughtfully, "It may also be due to other reasons."

Hermione vaguely realized something, and her eyes widened slightly.

"Loren, tell me truthfully, have you ever used human transfiguration to tease Hermione and turn her into some kind of animal?" Professor McGonagall asked in a deep voice.

"Emmm...Yes, Professor, it's probably during the Christmas vacation..."

Loren whispered: "In order to explore the knowledge of transfiguration, I once briefly turned Hermione into a cat. Does this have anything to do with Animagus?"

Several people in the audience turned their attention to Hermione, causing Hermione to glare at Loren in shame.

Is that short-lived?

For a whole hour, and he kept teasing her!

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and her eyes became stern: "The first time I talked about human transformation, I emphasized that it is strictly forbidden to use transformation on real people without authorization... Do you remember, Thaddeus? The Seven Hedgehog Sons and Mirabella, the Cod Lady of Loch Lomond?”

Professor McGonagall's rebuke was beyond everyone's expectations. Hermione wanted to explain to Loren, but was stopped by Professor Lupin's eyes.

Loren nodded silently and moved his lips a few times, but did not say any words of defense.

He was absolutely sure that there would be no danger.

He was just for fun and his transformation was short-lived...

Loren knew very well that these could not be counted as reasons.

Professor McGonagall's eyes softened a little: "Because you made the mistake during the vacation, I won't punish you according to the school rules. I will assign you an extra paper. The topic is about human body deformation and the dangers of Animagus."

"I understand, Professor."

Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall, then at Loren, and squeezed his hand, imitating his previous actions.

"I think human body transformation may have some inspiration for Animagus. I will discuss it with Albus. After the holidays, the teaching class may add some teaching content..."

After Professor McGonagall finished speaking, she and Professor Lupin left in a hurry.

Harry and Ron were a little regretful that they hadn't had time to ask Professor Lupin about last night's results and what his Animagus form was?

A few minutes later.

Harry, Ron and Neville left the classroom together in tacit agreement, even though they desperately wanted to ask about the specifics of human transformation.

Hermione and Loren walked side by side in the corridor, walking very slowly. She still held Loren's index finger in her hand and muttered: "Why didn't you explain to Professor McGonagall just now? Your The human body is very skilled in deformation, so there will be no danger, and we are just joking, there will be no danger..."

"Stop reading it, Professor Granger..."

Facing Hermione's complaining gaze, Loren smiled and pulled out his index finger, squeezed Hermione's palm away and interlocked with her fingers: "Professor McGonagall is right, no matter what, I shouldn't turn you into a cat. We should not violate your will, restrict your behavior, or even play with your body..."

"..." Hermione reminded in a low voice, "Pay attention to your wording."

"Anyway, Professor McGonagall's words made me realize that our close relationship cannot be the reason for me to cast magic on you..." Loren shook her hand, "I remember there was a period after I turned you into a cat. Days, many times I deliberately made you angry and you tolerated it. You know that in the past, you would always beat me up..."

Hermione lowered her head guiltily.

Did she think so much at the time?

I can’t remember exactly, but at that time I was all about studying human body transformation, planning to come back for revenge, and turn Loren into a cat in his spare time.

However, it feels good to be cared for and respected.

……

At the long dinner table, Loren saw a circle of empty seats around George and Fred, and the faces of several junior wizards who were nearby could not conceal their horror.

By the way, today is April Fool's Day.

Loren turned around and asked, "Seamus, is there anything interesting?"

"Oh, actually, George and Fred didn't throw dung eggs at anyone. They were peaceful all day long, so peaceful that it was almost boring..."

Seamus spread his hands and looked at Neville with pity, "It's our Mr. Lion, he is extremely unlucky."

Several people looked at Neville. His expression was sad and painful, as if he was about to have a nervous breakdown.

Seamus sighed and explained: "Poor Neville, no matter where he hides to do his homework, there is always a little wizard popping up from the corner, asking him for advice on Animagus experience, and even offering to see him 's patronus and animagus form."

Neville said with a cry: "I have summoned the patron saint seventeen times today. I feel that all the happy memories I have accumulated in my life have been used up!"

To be honest, he was really miserable, but a few people around him couldn't help laughing.

At this moment, Hufflepuff's Ernie Macmillan came over from the side, holding a cup of strange-colored butterbeer in his hand. He hugged Neville's shoulders carelessly and shouted:

"Neville, quickly turn into a lion and show us! You know we are best friends. I just made a bet with Finch-Fletchley that you will definitely show us..."

His impudent words made the surroundings quiet for a short time, and even the smiles on Loren's and the others' faces disappeared. Neville's face turned red from suppressing his anger, and he looked like he wanted to get angry, but his restraint prevented him from scolding.

"McMillan!"

A sharp female voice scolded, and Hannah Abbott, who was wearing a golden ponytail, walked over from the Hufflepuff table, pulled Macmillan off Neville's body, and handed it to Finch-Fletchley, who looked ashamed.

Finch-Fletchie lowered his head, his ears turned red with embarrassment, and muttered a few apologies before dragging MacMillan back to the long table next door.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Neville and Hannah, who said nothing, but seemed to have said everything.

Ron pondered for a few seconds, then opened his eyes and exclaimed: "The butterbeer he drank was brought over by Fred!"

The stagnant scene suddenly came to life because of these words. Everyone rushed to denounce George, Fred, and MacMillan. The two shy parties also breathed a sigh of relief.

Chapter 375 Hao Qi’s Funeral

Entering April, the rain and sunshine in Hogwarts became more and more abundant, and the leaves of the forest became emerald green, as shiny as water.

The Easter holiday is not easy. The third-year students have never done so much homework. The professors seem to be starting the prelude to final review. A whole year of knowledge is crammed into the homework during the Easter holiday, even more than during the Christmas holiday. More.

"This is also called a festival!"

One day after lunch Seamus Finnigan shouted in the common room: "We're still far away from the exams. What are they doing?"

No one paid any attention to him. Compared to Seamus Finnigan, who had not participated in Quidditch classes and was not a Quidditch player, the others were even more busy.

The Quidditch final was scheduled for the first Saturday after the Easter holiday. Harry and Ron had to do their homework every day after Quidditch training, not to mention that they had to discuss endlessly with Wood. Tactics, even though they looked like they were enjoying it.

Gryffindor's old Quidditch captain Oliver Wood is about to graduate, and Slytherin's Quidditch captain Marcus Flint has retained a level. It is foreseeable that this will be the end of the two old rivals. A battle.

Slytherin once had a glorious time, and Gryffindor has been unparalleled in recent years. For the senior wizards, this game will bring an end to their era. No matter they win or lose, they will be in the future. The academy will be left to the little wizards behind.

Even Percy seemed to have a similar idea. Every night, when Wood and other players discussed tactics in the common room, he would always ask the crackle player to stay away.

In everyone's memory, no game has ever come in such an atmosphere of anticipation and gunpowder.

Hearing Seamus' complaint, Loren yawned lazily and continued to flip through the tome in his hand - "Psychological Studies of House Elves".

He also had books of the same type on hand, such as "Pets or Slaves" and "The History of House Elf Domestication".

This is the book Hermione asked him to help read. Among all the third-year wizards, no one is as busy as Hermione. Although she has dropped out of Divination and Muggle Studies, she still has many classes.

Complicated arithmetic and divination, and obscure ancient runes, these two subjects took up her main focus.

In addition to completing her homework, she often discussed some grand topics with Professor Bubaji, such as the harmonious coexistence of Muggles and wizards, and the future development of the two societies...

Recently, the topic of house elves has been added, and the topic of house elves has been extended to other non-human intelligent races, including goblins, giants, Veela, centaurs, unicorns, vampires, werewolves, merfolk, and even acromantula... …

Inspired by Hermione, Loren discovered that the current social situation in the wizarding world was more complicated than imagined. The differences in the interests of all parties were not only the differences in the wizard class, but also dozens of races and humans with independent intelligence. Humans They are also divided into wizards and Muggles.

Wizards are divided into pure blood and mixed blood...

Loren became more and more convinced that there would be a huge war in the future, not just between wizards and Muggles, but also between humans and other intelligent creatures. The whole world is like a high-pressure boiler that is gradually boiling. The tentacles of Muggle society are constantly extending into the originally mysterious territory. It is like adding pressure to the boiler. Sooner or later, it will explode and the world will be turned upside down.

But that should be hundreds of years later, and it has nothing to do with him anyway.

Loren turned the page and saw this paragraph in the upper left corner, with something strange in his eyes: "In the 18th century, there was a house elf who put forward an idea from the perspective of an elf. If the wizard master wanted to punish the house elf, You should choose the most cruel punishment. When the wizard master can't stand his cruelty, he will be considerate of the house elf."

"It's crazy, it sounds like he's letting someone beat him up and then he relents when he gets tired!"

Hermione's eyebrows knitted together as she heard this, and she even put down the travel notes of Professor Bubaji that she was reading in her hand: "I just can't believe it, why would any creature have such an idea?"

"Hermione, do you need to put this paragraph into your notebook?" Loren asked.

Hermione hesitated for a while: "Yes, once we collect enough cases, we will go to Professor Dumbledore and ask if there is anything that can help Hao Qi."

Loren nodded noncommittally, tapped the page with his wand, and used the copy spell to leave an identical page on the spot. He held the page and laid it flat on the notebook, then cast a sticky spell, and a page of notes was That's it.

By the time Loren finished reading "The Psychological Study of House Elves", most of Hermione's notebook was filled with sticky notes.

The house elves that can be recorded in this book are more psychologically twisted than the last, but according to the author's discussion in the preface, these twisted psychology are not uncommon among the house elves. It only takes a sign, even if they have never been exposed to it before. If you learn similar ideas, house elves will quickly become die-hard fans of these ideas.

Harry and Ron came over several times to borrow Potions homework for reference. Later, they stopped pretending and sat across from Loren and Hermione, copying the homework openly.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the light of the sun had dimmed. Prefect Percy came back from outside and walked towards the four people sitting together with a serious expression: "Hermione Granger, Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you, Principal Dumbledore. I'm looking for you, I need you to go to the principal's office."

The four people raised their heads together and looked at him blankly.

Percy paused and looked at the other three people: "Professor McGonagall has asked you to go too. Today's password is Edinburgh Rock Candy, so hurry up."

The four people hurriedly came to the monster statue and gave the command to take the spiral staircase.

Ron came back to his senses and asked in confusion: "It's a bit strange, why did Dumbledore specifically look for Hermione and said that we can go too... I mean, it used to be Harry and Loren, they Get to know the principal better.”

Hermione blinked thoughtfully, her eyes a little more uneasy.

A minute later, several people pushed open the oak door of the principal's office and saw Dumbledore standing by the window of the office from a distance. He was wearing a dull gray robe, a black scarf, and a pearl brooch on his chest. Looking at the grounds outside the castle intently.

Fox on the branch winked at several people, but no one could understand what it wanted to express.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, are you looking for us?"

Loren noticed that there was an ornately carved pensieve on the desk, with mysterious runes engraved on it. There was a medium-sized wooden box next to it, and he didn't know what was inside.

"To be precise, looking for Hermione."

There was apology in Dumbledore's blue eyes. He turned back to look at Hermione seriously and said softly: "I'm sorry, Hao Qi passed away just yesterday."

Hermione was stunned for a moment, unable to react.

Harry and Ron looked at each other quietly, with the same doubts in their eyes: Who is Hao Qi?

Loren looked at the wooden box on the table a few more times, and he probably guessed what was inside.

"I was originally planning to bury her in the Smith family cemetery, but I heard from the people nearby that their family has no tradition of burying house-elves. Only Hepzibah's great-grandmother once cut off the head of a house-elf and put it in the coffin..."

Dumbledore paused, "So I brought her ashes back, and I plan to ask Hagrid to bury her in the Forbidden Forest."

The light in Hermione's eyes gradually focused. She seemed to have thought about a lot of things in an instant, and her expression was a little dazed: "I, I thought I would be very sad, or even cry..."

"But I'm not as sad as I thought. I've never met Hao Qi. Even if she was standing in front of me, I wouldn't recognize her... In fact, I haven't met many house elves."

"Obviously just now, I was still thinking about saving her from Azkaban..." Hermione's voice began to have a hint of crying, "Professor, am I a hypocrite?"

Loren looked at the girl with some distress.

Of course she was not hypocritical. She just knew the name Hao Qi and some of her experiences, so she was willing to put it into practice to save a house elf she had never seen before.

When she suddenly learned of Hao Qi's death, she even doubted herself because she wasn't that sad...

If this is a hypocrite, what about the rest of the world?

"I don't think so..." Dumbledore comforted softly. He patted Hermione's hair. "We can go see Haoqi now and see this poor house elf. She hasn't faded yet." In memory.”

Harry glanced at the pensieve on the table and probably understood something.

"Sorry..." Ron said bravely, "I still want to ask, who is Hao Qi?"

"This is a poor house elf..." Dumbledore said softly, "Her owner is an old and very wealthy witch named Hepzibah Smith."

Dumbledore produced a small crystal bottle containing a silvery mist of memory. He tapped the bottle with his wand, and the cork flew out, sending the memories swirling into the Pensieve.

"let's start……"

Loren and Hermione already had a rough idea of ​​what had happened. Harry and Ron were a little confused. They approached the Pensieve doubtfully and got into the ethereal silver ripples.

In the next half hour, Dumbledore took them into the Smith family's old house in the memory of house elf Hao Qi.

They met Hokey, a house-elf that was tiny and impossibly old, far beyond any Dobby they had ever seen.

The old witch Hepzibah was a very fat old lady. In Hao Qi’s memory, she wore an exquisite ginger wig, her old cheeks were covered with rouge, and she wore a gorgeous pink robe. Like a piece of melted ice cream.

And she dressed up all this to meet the newly graduated Tom Riqueur, a tall and handsome young man with elegant manners and polite words.

Not much had changed from the student Voldemort Harry had last seen in the Pensieve.

Hepzibah was obsessed with Tom Riquil and lost her mind. She showed the treasured Slytherin pendant and Hufflepuff gold cup to Voldemort...

Seeing Voldemort greedily playing with the treasure, with a flash of frightening red light in his eyes, Ron shivered: "Oh my god, was he already so scary at that time?"

"In fact, what's even scarier than that is his heart," Dumbledore said.