Adrian Blackthorn exited Dumbledore's office, a sense of relief washing over his shoulders. Handing over the ominous artifact had been the right decision, and the benefits were not bad either.
After the meeting, Adrian immediately had a Transfiguration lesson, which was brisk and uneventful. Professor McGonagall continued explaining the process of transforming a match into a needle, and by the end of the class, most students had completed the task. Since Adrian had accomplished this task long ago, he asked the professor a few questions.
"Professor," Adrian began, raising his hand, "why are smaller objects easier to transfigure compared to larger, more complex ones?"
Professor McGonagall looked impressed. "Hmm... Blackthorn, you shouldn't be delving into these questions yet. They're meant for third years. However, I don't mind giving you an answer."
"Smaller objects are easier to transfigure because larger ones have greater mass. This means they require more magic to transform. Additionally, mentally visualizing larger objects is far more challenging compared to something smaller."
"Thank you, Professor," Adrian replied with a nod.
The remaining lesson concluded without incident, and Adrian joined the steady stream of students heading to their next class—History of Magic. The class, held with the Gryffindors, was extremely uneventful. Professor Binns droned on about the Goblin Rebellions in his monotonous, dreamlike voice that could rival a lullaby.
Adrian's attention drifted from the lecture as he glanced toward the Gryffindor side of the room. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were both dozing off, while Hermione Granger sat perfectly upright, diligently taking notes.
When the class finally ended, Adrian made his way to the library. He needed to improve his Transfiguration, as he struggled to incorporate it into battle. His recent duels with the dummy in the Room of Requirement had revealed this shortcoming.
The library was quiet, the scent of parchment and ink filling the air. Adrian scanned the shelves until two books caught his eye: Advanced Applications of Transfiguration and The Art of Magical Manipulation. Carrying both, he turned to find a quiet corner.
To his surprise, he spotted Evanna sitting at a nearby table with her friend Rebecca.
Adrian approached, setting his books down on their table. "Fancy seeing you here, sister," he said lightly.
Evanna glanced up, arching an eyebrow. "Oh, if it isn't my little brother. What brings you to the library?"
"I need to research Transfiguration and its applications in combat."
Rebecca smiled warmly. "That sounds fascinating. You're just like your sister—always taking on the more complex endeavors."
Adrian's gaze flicked to Evanna. "And what are you two up to?"
"Rebecca's reviewing Charms while I'm working on mastering the Disillusionment Charm," Evanna replied smoothly. A small smirk tugged at her lips. "It's been a while since we dueled. Want to have a go tomorrow?"
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Hermione Granger, who approached with a book in hand. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Hermione asked politely.
Adrian gestured to an empty seat. "Sure. No problem."
Hermione sat down, glancing at the title of one of Adrian's books.
"Isn't that book a little too advanced?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Oh, it's perfect for me," Adrian replied calmly. "I think understanding the concepts early makes them easier to apply later."
Hermione looked intrigued. "Still, why study advanced Transfiguration now? Professor McGonagall has only taught us how to turn a match into a needle."
"It doesn't hurt to study ahead," Adrian said, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.
"I suppose that makes sense," Hermione said with a thoughtful nod.
Evanna watched the exchange with interest. She recognized Hermione from their brief meeting in Diagon Alley—a girl with an academic drive so intense it seemed to isolate her. Evanna's expression remained unreadable as she observed.
Rebecca, ever the peacemaker, steered the conversation to safer ground. "What brings you to the library today, Hermione?"
Hermione's face brightened. "I'm revising Transfiguration concepts. Practicing through repetition helps me retain information better during exams and class."
Rebecca nodded enthusiastically. "That's wonderful. Dedication like that really pays off, doesn't it?"
Hermione beamed at the praise. "Thank you! I think being prepared is the best way to succeed."
Evanna tilted her head slightly, her tone neutral. "It's certainly methodical. But will memorization alone help you apply it practically?"
Hermione, unbothered, turned back to Adrian. "It works for me. I've already earned plenty of points for my house."
Adrian smirked inwardly at her naivety. He needed to strike a balance in his relationship with the trio—close enough to be useful, but distant enough to avoid any entanglement in Dumbledore's ploy.
The conversation continued in a lighter vein, with Rebecca effortlessly keeping the mood friendly. She asked thoughtful questions, offered genuine compliments, and maintained a warmth that made her presence comforting.
Before long, the afternoon turned into the evening and curfew time had approached.
As they gathered their things, Rebecca turned to Adrian with a smile. "It was nice chatting with you. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. Evanna's my bestie, and I'd be happy to help her little brother."
"Thanks, Rebecca," Adrian said. "I'll keep that in mind."
Evanna gave him a small nod, her expression neutral. "See you later, Adrian."
Adrian left the library, walking through the flickering candle lit corridors on his way back to the Slytherin dormitory.
As soon as Adrian entered the dormitory, he was greeted by his friends. His friends were asking about what Adrian had been up to. After all, he had been missing the entire day.
"Where were you, Adrian? You were missing after the History of Magic lesson?" asked a curious Theodore Nott.
"Oh, I was just at the library studying some Transfiguration," said Adrian.
"Seriously, mate? Where do you get all that drive to study even in your free time?" asked his friends in unison, except for Malfoy.
"Oh, just forget about all this studying stuff," an excited Malfoy burst out. "Have any of you heard that the first Quidditch match will be conducted next weekend? It is also Slytherin vs Gryffindor, and that Potter got into the team as a first year. It's not fair that Dumbledore's so biased with Potter. Anyways, I can't wait for Potter to be thrashed out there as a Seeker. I bet that seeing him struggle and suffer would be so satisfying."
Malfoy's words carried a hint of glee as a smile crept onto his face. The more Potter suffered, the happier Malfoy felt.