On Monday, there was a Transfiguration class scheduled. John woke up to the sight of Tom's enthusiastic licking. Groggily, he walked over to the table, scooped a generous portion of dog food for Tom, and then proceeded to freshen up. As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, a nagging feeling suggested he was forgetting something important. Suddenly, it hit him. "Oh no, today is Transfiguration class!" He had stayed up late the previous night for a swim and had fallen asleep immediately upon returning, exhausted from the exercise. In his rush, he noticed the alarm clock on the floor, covered in Tom's saliva. "No wonder I didn't hear the alarm; Tom must have thought it was a chew toy."
After donning his wizard robes, John found the Slytherin common room deserted. As he walked through the hallway, he couldn't help but envy the Weasley twins for their knack for finding convenient shortcuts. Thankfully, his own physical fitness meant he wasn't too far behind. Upon reaching the dining hall, he was relieved to see there was still time for a quick breakfast. Hermione, who was scanning the room, waved him over as soon as she spotted him. John joined her, noting that she was in the midst of a lively discussion with Harry and Ron but chose not to interject.
"Where's Neville? Did he oversleep or get lost again?" John inquired, aware of Neville's tendency to be forgetful and easily disoriented.
"He's searching the Gryffindor common room for his toad," Hermione replied, her mouth full of bread and butter, crumbs decorating the corner of her mouth. She slowed her pace to wait for John, who otherwise would have found her already on her way to class.
As John tackled his fried egg, he mused, "I think I know what to get Neville for Christmas—a proper cage for Trevor." Noticing the crumbs on Hermione's face, he subtly gestured towards his own mouth to hint at her to clean up. Hermione's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly wiped her face.
Just as John was finishing his meal, Neville arrived, looking bewildered. This was the fourth time Neville had lost his way, prompting John to consider gifting him a Marauder's Map. Neville, puzzled by his red memory ball—a device that changes color when its owner forgets something—couldn't recall what he had forgotten. John, after a quick glance, informed him, "Neville, you might have to skip breakfast today."
"Why?" Neville asked, clearly disheartened by his late arrival.
John listed two reasons, "First, class is about to start, and second, you need to return to your dormitory."
Confused, Neville inquired, "Why do I need to go back?"
"Because you forgot to wear your coat," John pointed out. Realizing his mistake, Neville hurried back to his dormitory, navigating the dizzying moving staircases without a second thought for breakfast.
...
Upon arriving at the Transfiguration classroom, John regretted missing the previous class due to being locked up after a fight. He had always been fascinated by Transfiguration but struggled to recall the specifics. The classroom was divided, with Slytherin's green sharply contrasting Gryffindor's red, forcing him and Hermione to sit apart. It was an unspoken rule among students that the front row was to be avoided, leaving John with no choice but to head there.
As he approached, a tabby cat caught his eye on the podium, its face marked with a peculiar pattern resembling a pair of square glasses. As an animal lover, John felt an immediate pull towards the cat, despite a vague recollection of its significance in the story. Acting on impulse, he took out a cat treat from his pocket and approached the tabby with a friendly smile.
"This is a treat; would you like to try it?" he offered, his gesture leaving both the students and the cat momentarily stunned. John couldn't quite explain his actions, but his fondness for animals often led him to act before thinking. His tone eerily resembled that of an uncle luring children away, a realization that dawned on him only after his actions had already drawn both awe and admiration. The tabby cat, quick to react, freed itself from its constraints, leaped down from the podium, and transformed into an older woman. "Mr. Wick, I believe it would be more appropriate for you to find a seat rather than standing here like an obstruction," Professor McGonagall said, maintaining her composure. The square glasses she wore helped John connect her to the tabby cat with the distinctive markings.
Feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment, John reluctantly returned to his seat, pondering over the peculiarities of Animagi, particularly Professor McGonagall's ability to transform into a tabby cat. He made a mental note to be more cautious in the future, especially when dealing with Animagi, to avoid any awkward or unsettling surprises.
The snickers from his classmates caught John's attention. A glance from him was enough to silence the Slytherins momentarily, while the Gryffindors looked on with admiration. Harry Potter, the boy who lived, appeared genuinely surprised, as if he had met someone even more daring than himself for the first time. Hermione Granger tried to stifle her laughter, but her shaking curls betrayed her amusement.
This incident altered the students' perception of John, revealing a more relatable and endearing side to him. During the Transfiguration class, they were tasked with transforming objects. John focused on turning a paper clip box into a mouse, a task that proved to be challenging. Despite multiple attempts, he managed to cast the spell successfully, albeit the result was a lifeless mouse, far from the impressive transformation demonstrated by Professor McGonagall. Nevertheless, his efforts earned him five points for Slytherin, a commendable achievement for a beginner.
After class, Hermione, driven by her innate curiosity and slight frustration at her own failure, approached John with questions about his technique. John, unable to reveal his secret advantage, simply mentioned having seen Professor McGonagall's demonstration prior to enrolling. Hermione, though persistent, did not press further.
While wandering the corridors, John's attention was caught by a set of medieval armor. Hermione, noticing his interest, inquired about it. John, contemplating the practicality of the armor and especially the sword for physical training, decided to return at night to take the sword.
In addition to his adventures, John accompanied Hermione to the library, a place she frequented for everything except Divination. There, amidst the strict silence enforced by Ms. Irma Pince, the librarian, John witnessed Neville Longbottom being chased for causing a disturbance, a humorous end to an eventful day. John felt a pang of sympathy. It was nighttime, and after he had finished cleaning the trophy display room, he stealthily made his way to the armor standing guard in the corridor. The poor suit of armor would awaken the next day, only to discover its sword missing. This incident soon became one of Hogwarts' unsolved mysteries. The only person who had any theory about it was Mr. Filch, who vehemently insisted that the Weasley twins were behind the mischief.
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https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge