Suddenly, Hermione's body underwent a complete transformation, marking the official completion of her first Animagus transformation. Her transformation process appeared smoother than anticipated; even without Evan's assistance, she wouldn't have encountered major issues. Hermione possessed remarkable strength, and her foundation in Transfiguration was solid. With normal magical power reserves, she might have completed this complex human-to-animal transformation in three or four years. However, Evan was accelerating the process.
What surprised Evan somewhat was that Hermione indeed transformed into a cat, but this may have been influenced by him. Unlike Evan's black cat form, Hermione's cat was pure white, with only a touch of chestnut on her ears. Her grape-sized eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her soft body exuded an irresistible charm, radiating adorableness.
If one had to describe it in a single word, it would be "adorable."
Hermione rolled playfully in the center of the magic rune, seemingly affected by the changes in her new body. The kitten sat on the ground much like a human, studying her claws and body with amazement. Her soft, thick paw pads gently pressed against the ground. Then, she glanced up at Evan with a look of surprise.
"Meow!" Hermione let out a faint meow, sounding rather anxious.
"Congratulations, Hermione! You did it! You've completed the transformation, and it was exceptionally successful. Your Animagus form is a white kitten," Evan exclaimed with joy. "Honestly, this is the most adorable cat I've ever seen."
He extended his hand to pick Hermione up, but she leaped gracefully, agilely evading Evan's grasp. She playfully leaped and bounded around the room, testing her newfound agility.
Evan understood the feeling – adapting to the strength within one's new body. He vividly recalled his first transformation into a black cat and how he had encountered Sirius on the streets of London, resulting in a playful chase.
He thought back to that moment and decided to help Hermione adjust to her new form. After about ten minutes, Hermione's reaction time became faster, and she moved like a genuine cat.
Evan ceased their playful interaction, signaling Hermione to follow him. The room was too confined for their current situation. He opened the balcony door and jumped out onto the giant palm tree below, using it as a landing pad.
Hermione lay on the balcony, hesitating momentarily. Then, she mimicked Evan's graceful leap and joined him.
Hermione marveled at the strength within her newfound body, the exhilaration of completing her Animagus transformation filling her with excitement. Up to this point, she could hardly believe her success – she had truly become a cat.
Evan and Hermione silently roamed the courtyard and the hotel lobby, venturing onto the streets. The ancient palace that had once been the Explorer's Inn lay in ruins, part of the ancient city's remnants. These shattered structures still held thousands of years of history within them, their remains piled together. Although they had endured over 4,000 years of wind and rain, the stones still fit together perfectly, without any gaps.
"Can one conquer the power of time?" Evan mused aloud. It reminded him of the ancient Egyptian proverb that said, "Humanity fears time, but time fears the Pyramid." He felt the overwhelming presence of time's passage here, where all the world's forces ground smoothly.
Under the moonlight, he looked up at the three enormous outlines of the Pyramids not far away. Humans may fear time, but the Pyramids, these colossal miracles of human history, represented an impressive mastery over time.
Even from a distance, Evan could sense the imposing aura that these three gigantic structures emanated. Hundreds of thousands of limestone and granite blocks had been stacked together, forming the Pyramids without the use of any binding material. The seams between the stones were nearly invisible, despite more than 4,000 years of exposure to the elements.
"Can one conquer the power of time?" Evan murmured again, feeling the deep sense of history in the air. The Pyramids stood as a testament to the ancient Egyptians' mastery over time. They sought eternal accomplishment, and while they hadn't achieved it in life, their legacy lived on.
Evan came to a halt, gazing at the Pyramid's peak. He suddenly felt like he was standing in front of a giant miracle.
"Meow!" Hermione approached Evan, puzzled by his sudden stop. She had no idea where they were going; she had simply followed Evan.
As they wandered through the ruins, Hermione felt a sense of contentment. It seemed like a romantic adventure, like lovers sneaking away for a secret rendezvous in a secluded spot. Hermione felt that if she were to follow Evan anywhere, it would be an enjoyable journey.
"Hermione, I'll take you to a place that I think you'll absolutely love," Evan said, snapping back to reality.
"Meow?" Hermione tilted her head, nodding in curiosity.
"Well, since you've agreed with that nod, I'll take that as a yes," Evan chuckled, holding Hermione close.
As he carried her, Hermione struggled at first. She didn't mind where Evan was taking her, but she hadn't expected him to carry her.
She finally looked around and saw the cityscape of Cairo below, the nighttime lights twinkling like gemstones adorning this ancient city. In the distance, the calm waters of the Nile River glistened silver under the moonlight. The beauty of the earthly world and the cosmic stars combined to create a breathtaking panorama.
Hermione gazed at the scenery, losing herself in the moment. After a few minutes, she suddenly realized where they were.
She poked her head out and glanced at the stack of stones below. It dawned on her that Evan had led her to the top of a Pyramid, the holiest place for spiritual connection.
Hermione's body tensed up, afraid to make any sudden movements that might lead to a fatal fall. The Pyramid was already quite steep, and every year, unfortunate individuals met their demise by falling from it – a curse left by the ancient pharaohs, they said.
She nestled in Evan's arms, feeling his warmth and presence, and her initial nervousness began to fade. Hermione peeked at the beautiful scenery in the distance, realizing that they were in an extraordinary place.
Then, under the dim moonlight, high above the giant Pyramid, a young man and a kitten sat quietly, taking in the breathtaking view.
"Meow!" For a while, Hermione softly meowed. Evan looked down at the kitten in his arms, understanding her request. He gently placed her on the granite surface. He held her paw gently, and Hermione's body began to change rapidly, returning to her original form.
That night, the two of them sat hand in hand on the peak of the Pyramid, chatting until late into the night. It was a rare and romantic experience, but it also resulted in Evan and Hermione oversleeping the next day.
As they were walking out of their respective rooms, Fleur and Gabrielle arrived at the Explorer Inn. Gabrielle sat on the hall sofa, holding a glass of fruit juice and an atlas about Egypt, occasionally looking up as if searching for something. Fleur was engrossed in a conversation with Bill, and it was clear she had a strong interest in him. Bill was equally interested in Fleur, and Evan had never seen her so happy. She was flirting and tossing her head, making her silver hair shimmer.
"Evan, Hermione!" When they saw Evan and Hermione walking out, Gabrielle waved and ran over with an adorable smile on her face.
"Hello, Gabrielle," Evan greeted her.
"When did you arrive?" Hermione asked directly. "I was planning to meet you."
"We just arrived. We used the Floo Network and happened to run into this gentleman here. Are they your friends?" Fleur asked, nodding towards Bill.
"Yes, he's Ron's brother, Bill Weasley. He's currently working at Gringotts as a Curse-Breaker," Evan explained, looking at Bill and Fleur. "I think you can see that Bill and Fleur don't need much of an introduction."
"They seem to get along very well," Gabrielle observed, noticing the unusual connection between Bill and Fleur.
Indeed, Bill and Fleur appeared to be old friends or even more than that. They hadn't noticed Evan and Hermione at all, and the atmosphere was a bit tense.
"Alright, let's not stand here in the hall. Let's head to our rooms," Evan suggested awkwardly.
"I'll help with your luggage," Bill offered, picking up a nearby suitcase. "Unfortunately, there are no vacant rooms in the inn, so you'll have to share..."
"That's alright," Fleur interrupted. "We can stay together."
This wasn't like the Fleur that Evan knew. In the past, she had complained about the food and the gloomy environment at Hogwarts for an entire year. She had always compared Hogwarts unfavorably to Beauxbatons and had been quite critical. It was hard to believe that she now wanted to share a room with Hermione, especially since they had had their disagreements and were still not on the best terms.
Evan glanced at Hermione and then at Fleur, sensing the tension in the air. He didn't want to get involved and quickly ran off to help Bill with the luggage.
"I'm really infatuated with that girl," Bill confessed once they were alone.
"She has Veela blood, which makes her very attractive to the opposite sex," Evan said discreetly. He had seen how Fleur had charmed many male students, including Ron. The way Ron had acted in her presence had been unbearable to watch.
"I know you mentioned that before," Bill said, "but it's not just because of her Veela blood. It's because of her."
"I hope you seize the opportunity, and I hope you succeed," Evan sighed, hoping that Bill could handle Fleur's temperament. Despite her flaws, if Fleur could change some of her customs, their love would be strong.
For the rest of the day, Bill and the others toured Cairo, visiting many places. Bill and Fleur took the lead, with Evan, Hermione, and Gabrielle following behind.
Evan recounted his experiences of the past few months to Gabrielle, not mentioning too many dangers but emphasizing the encounter with the giant. Gabrielle was in awe of Evan and looked up to him even more.
They visited a museum where Evan was captivated by the ancient relics displayed in glass cabinets. He felt a direct connection to the history of Egypt, as if he were experiencing the grandeur of a bygone era. While most of the items in the museum lacked magical properties, a few still retained a trace of magical aura, which excited Evan.
Later, they visited the Egyptian Ministry of Magic, a structure resembling a mosque with a dome. It appeared as though the Ministry of Magic was not located underground in Egypt, but rather in a stretch of ancient ruins, at least in the eyes of Muggles. In reality, all they needed to do was pass through a special arched entrance, and they would find themselves in the magical world of Cairo, a place larger than Diagon Alley.