At that moment, the latecomers, the Potter and Weasley brothers, were still wandering into the classroom with looks of relief on their faces.
"Lucky we made it. If we were late, McGonagall's face would be scary enough to kill," Ron whispered.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, the tabby cat on the podium jumped into the air, rapidly completing the transformation from cat to human.
"Mr. Weasley, perhaps I should transfigure you and Mr. Potter into a pocket watch. That way, at least one of you might be able to keep time."
McGonagall looked at them with a predictably unpleasant expression.
Amidst this dialogue between teacher and students, Kate resentfully shifted her gaze away from Hermione and stared curiously at McGonagall.
An Animagus. throughout the entire 20th century, there were only seven registered ones. Even adding the Marauders from the original story, it barely scraped ten people.
The difficulty of this Transfiguration technique could be imagined.
She had always wanted to know what kind of animal she could turn into, just as many people in her past life had wanted to know what kind of Patronus they would possess.
McGonagall, having finished lecturing the two fellows who were late to their very first class, turned around and happened to meet Kate's probing gaze.
She wanted to say something, but remembering the conversation between Kate and Malfoy earlier, she changed her words: "Let's begin the class."
Today's lesson required them to turn a matchstick into a needle.
For Kate, this was no longer a difficult task. However, her decision to attend first-year classes did not mean she intended to relax and follow only first-year standards.
"Miss Granger has perfectly turned the matchstick into a needle! Five points to Gryffindor!"
"Miss Shafiq not only turned the matchstick into a needle but also engraved patterns upon it. Very good. Ten points to Slytherin!"
Ah, this... Although Hermione had also become stronger, it seemed Kate had accidentally stolen her thunder again.
Halfway through the class, Kate could faintly sense the chill radiating from the little lion beside her.
Heaven have pity, she had already lowered her magic output; how could this be blamed on her?
She looked cautiously at Hermione, who was staring in a daze at the shiny embroidery needle before her.
Kate swallowed subconsciously and scooted, inch by inch, from her seat toward Hermione's direction.
"It seems practicing at home during the summer really paid off. Look, Hermione, your needle has become..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Hermione turned her head with a puffy, angry face and glared at her.
Then she turned back and worked hard at waving her wand, attempting to engrave patterns onto her needle as well.
Just as Kate was feeling awkward, Professor McGonagall noticed her expression and walked over to ask, "Miss Shafiq, you must have practiced Transfiguration in advance, correct?"
"Yes, actually, I studied for a full year at my tutor's home," Kate admitted frankly.
McGonagall was aware of her situation. "Then why didn't you go directly to the second-year classes?"
"Well..." Kate scratched her face, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Hermione, who was still practicing diligently beside her. "Because I wanted to be in the same year as my good friend."
McGonagall was stunned for a moment, and the sound of Hermione chanting incantations beside them suddenly grew quieter.
"You might think it sounds childish for me to say this," Kate smiled embarrassedly.
"But I cherish my friend very much, so even if I graduate a year later than my peers, it doesn't matter."
After a long while, Professor McGonagall let out a soft sigh. "Miss Shafiq, I cannot make any judgments regarding your decision."
"However, since it is your own voluntary choice, then there is no need to care about the eyes of others."
"Mhm, thank you for the guidance, Professor!" Kate raised her small face and gave her a sweet smile.
Perhaps these words had an effect; at least the cold air Kate had felt earlier had dissipated.
Once McGonagall left their station, Kate looked eagerly at Hermione, moving a little closer to her again.
This time, Hermione didn't have any extreme reaction to her approach, though her eyes remained fixed on her textbook and needle, never once looking at Kate.
When the Transfiguration class ended, Gryffindor still had a Charms class to attend, while Slytherin's classes were scheduled for the afternoon.
Kate seized the short ten-minute break, racing against time to stop Hermione, wanting to earnestly apologize and explain things to her.
But before she could speak, she heard a Slytherin student calling her from the doorway: "Shafiq! The Head of House wants you to go to his office immediately!"
Damn it! Calling her at a time like this!
Kate's face turned green then white. She hurriedly tried to speak.
But Hermione was also in a rush to get to the next classroom. Dropping a sentence, "We'll talk after dinner," she walked away quickly.
Kate, left behind once again, looked speechlessly at the figure disappearing into the corridor. She could only drag her heavy footsteps toward Snape's office.
Not far from the Potions classroom, Snape's office was also located in the Hogwarts castle dungeons.
Just walking through the dungeon corridor, one could already feel the pervasive gloom and cold.
No wonder Snape was so gloomy; seeing no sunlight all year round, how could anyone's mood possibly improve?
Kate inwardly grumbled as she knocked on the office door. "Head of House, it's Kate."
A sound came from inside, and soon, Snape pulled open the office door.
"Miss Shafiq," he said, letting Kate in, his eyes cold and hollow. "I heard that on your first day of school, you entered into a conflict with a student of the same year."
Kate had met him several times before. gauging the scale of her expression, she lowered her head somewhat timidly, unwilling to meet his gaze.
"It was because she attacked me first, so I used Protego..."
Just like a year ago, when facing him, her voice trembled terribly.
Snape sneered. "Then you also violated school rules."
Kate abruptly raised her head, her eyes unknowingly rimmed with red. "Professor... I want to ask you a question."
"Speak."
"School rules forbid students from fighting, but they don't stipulate that students cannot defend themselves when facing an attack, do they?"
"If I face her attack without fighting back or defending, then am I supposed to just stand there and get beaten?"
"Do you also believe, Professor, that just because I am different from them, I must endure the violence they inflict?"
Snape's pupils constricted slightly. It was unclear if her words had reminded him of other unpleasant memories.
Seeing him remain silent, Kate continued to pour oil on the fire. "Professor, if you also think I did wrong, then I am willing to accept punishment. It is just that I hope there won't be any other victims of school violence appearing..."
"Enough!" Snape interrupted her harshly. "Get out!"
Kate's body trembled again. "Then... the school rules..."
"Just this once. Send Wilson in here."
Wilson—that was the surname of the girl who had attacked her last night.
Kate lowered her head and curved her lips silently. "Alright, I'll go right now."
Saying this, she walked out with a look of lingering fear on her face.
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