Chapter 124
Chapter 124
That evening, Suer took some little snacks and Crookshanks to visit Hermione.
Crookshanks was rather startled to find that the owner had somehow turned into a cat as well, but soon accepted the fact and lay atop Hermione, purring.
As the saying went, the first time was unfamiliar, the second familiar, and by the third it became second nature.
Head lowered, Hermione expertly petted Crookshanks. Suer’s conscience was soothed by the reminder that every touch was one fewer remaining, and he reached out and began petting Hermione too.
A catgirl was still a cat. As a red-blooded man, was there anything wrong with enjoying petting cats? No!
Unsurprisingly, Suer ended up jogging all the way back to the dormitory. Leaving Crookshanks behind did not matter; collection could wait until tomorrow.
Before falling asleep, he thought of the diary he had handed to Dumbledore the previous night and wondered how Dumbledore would deal with it.
And there was also the basilisk…
The night passed peacefully. Without his dormmate’s occasional snoring, Suer slept wonderfully. At some point, Crookshanks returned to the dormitory and was now sleeping soundly on Morn’s bed.
Time passed particularly quickly as Suer followed a regular four-point circuit: dormitory, hospital wing to pet the cat, Professor Flitwick’s office, Great Hall. A week went by in the blink of an eye.
The holiday was almost over.
During that time, Suer successfully cast the Patronus Charm. It was not a corporeal Patronus, however. In fact, not even an incorporeal shape appeared. All he produced was a small cloud of silvery-white mist.
“When casting the Patronus Charm, a wizard must sustain a feeling of happiness. Positive and optimistic emotions can help a Patronus take shape more quickly,” Professor Flitwick had said.
But saying it was one thing. Doing it was another.
“Happiness? What is happiness? Happiness is being happy. The time I spend with my parents and little sister is happy. Sparring playfully with Hermione is happy. Studying at Hogwarts is happy. But what must I do to pour that happiness into the Patronus Charm?”
Suer had been pondering this question whenever he had time. Making emotion align with the spell was the greatest obstacle.
“Surely I cannot be like all those transmigrated protagonists before me and catch a Dementor as a sparring partner.” Suer felt utterly helpless.
As Professor Flitwick had said, the Patronus Charm was a form of magic composed entirely of emotion. Its dependence on a wizard’s magical power was comparatively slight.
It had been passed down from ancient times without even its incantation changing, so its difficulty could well be imagined. Suer could only improve his proficiency through constant practice.
If only he had a system that displayed his proficiency.
Hermione’s treatment had also progressed considerably. Under Madam Pomfrey’s superb care, the cat fur covering her body rapidly receded. Fortunately, the two ears remained.
Professor Dumbledore had given no word since taking possession of the diary the previous week. Suer did not dare march over and casually ask the headmaster what he had done with that evil object.
“Another beautifully clear day…” After getting out of bed, Suer recited the incantation as usual. The second heartbeat had progressed rapidly during this time and had clearly grown much stronger.
When exactly would the thunderstorm Professor Sinistra had mentioned finally arrive?
This was the most frustrating aspect of becoming an Animagus. Endless waiting was what most readily drove a person to despair. Suer had heard that particularly unlucky wizards sometimes waited several years before the weather perfectly met the requirements.
“I hope my luck is better. Surely a wizarding weather forecast ought to be more accurate than a certain channel’s?” Suer complained, then pushed the matter from his mind.
Animagus transformation was entirely a matter of luck. If success was meant to come, it would.
That afternoon, as always, he went to Professor Flitwick’s office without fail. In truth, the professor could no longer help him much with the Patronus Charm. From the perspective of spellcasting, Suer had already successfully learnt the magic.
What followed would be slow, painstaking work. Perhaps one day, a sudden flash of insight would allow him to conjure a Patronus successfully.
But the opportunity was rare. One-to-one instruction from a veteran master of Charms was something no number of Galleons could buy.
In the evening, of course, it was time to pet Hermione…
So that he could keep petting Hermione’s cat ears for a long time, Suer had even quietly asked Madam Pomfrey whether the pair of ears could be left in place. He retreated under the gentle but strict healer’s peculiar gaze.
Truly, what a sin. How could he even entertain such a thought? It was terribly immoral.
After carrying Crookshanks back to the dormitory, Suer slipped into the kitchen for a midnight snack. He leisurely used Transfiguration to conjure a small square table, reading as he filled his stomach.
The instant he put an egg tart into his mouth, bright fire enveloped him.
“Mreow!” Crookshanks’s fur stood on end as the large head swivelled this way and that.
“Where did the litter-box servant disappear to again?”
“Why did I say ‘again’?”
Ten thousand tiny question marks appeared above that orange head.
Apart from the house-elves, what else in the entire castle could brazenly carry a young wizard away by Apparition?
“Er… good evening, Professor Dumbledore.” Suer hurriedly swallowed the egg tart in two or three bites and greeted the old bee standing before the desk.
“Hmph…” A cold snort drifted over from the other side.
“Ah…” Only when Suer turned did he notice that Snape was present too. In addition, there were Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall and several other subject professors.
Naturally, the half-baked Professor Lockhart was not among them. He was probably snoring in bed or answering a fan’s letter.
“Good evening, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick.” Suer greeted each of them with the utmost respect.
Flitwick was an old acquaintance by now. Without saying a word, he gave Suer a playful wink.
“Albus…” Professor McGonagall nodded slightly, then turned to Dumbledore, who stood before them all. “Regarding that matter, is it wise to bring Mr Bones…?”
“Do not worry, Minerva,” Dumbledore said gently. “Mr Bones was the one who discovered the monster. I believe it is necessary for him to see it. Fawkes will keep him safe.”
Suer started and looked at Dumbledore in surprise, only to find Dumbledore winking at him.
Well, well. He had not expected to take part in what came next. The professors battling the basilisk — merely imagining it was thrilling.
His anticipation shot all the way to the limit!
“Very well, it is getting late. If we finish early, I can still get a little more sleep.” Dumbledore extended an arm, and Fawkes landed lightly upon it.
Then he stepped forwards and placed his other hand on Professor Snape’s shoulder. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick likewise joined the chain of contact.
His old acquaintance Flitwick took hold of Suer’s arm.
Sharp-eyed Suer noticed Snape twist his body somewhat unnaturally.
Heh-heh… Suer snickered to himself.
At that moment, the phoenix gave a clear, ringing cry and spread his wings.
Flowing fire swiftly enveloped all five of them.