(19) Transfiguration
Cassandra Vole blushing?!
How… how is that possible?
Draco rubbed his eyes and looked at Cassandra again.
Her face remained cold and aristocratic, but the faint blush on the tips of her ears was unmistakable.
"Draco, what are you staring at?" Ian noticed Draco's gaze and asked curiously.
"Huh? Nothing," Draco quickly looked away, trying to play it off. "I just think this bacon is really good, haha."
Ian scratched his head in confusion at Draco's flustered demeanor. "Uh, really?"
Cassandra, overhearing Draco's words, seemed thoughtful for a moment. Then, under Draco's utterly shocked gaze, she picked up several pieces of bacon with her fork and placed them onto Ian's plate.
"Try it. Draco says it's good. If it isn't, you can hit him," Cassandra said seriously, looking straight at Ian.
Ian blinked at the additional bacon on his plate before breaking into a smile. "Thanks, Miss Vole."
"No need to be polite with me. Eat up," Cassandra said, a faint curve gracing her lips.
Draco, witnessing the scene, stared with wide eyes, his disbelief reaching new heights.
Merlin! What is going on here?
Ian noticed Draco's incredulous expression and couldn't resist teasing him. "Draco, looks like your recommendation hit the mark. Miss Vole personally added food to my plate."
"Huh? Haha, really?" Draco let out an awkward laugh. "I just thought the bacon tasted good; I didn't expect Vole to think so too."
Ian was about to respond when he suddenly felt a chill, as if he was being watched. He instinctively looked around and locked eyes with Hermione at the Gryffindor table.
Her gaze screamed betrayed lover.
Seeing Hermione's expression, Ian's heart skipped a beat.
Oh no, I forgot to appease my girlfriend!
Ian quickly gave Hermione an apologetic smile and mouthed the words, "Hermione, wait for me."
Hermione huffed softly, shifted her gaze away, and picked up her book, preparing to head to class.
This idiot, ignoring me for so long and getting cozy with other girls. Just wait—he's in for it later!
Seeing Hermione look away, Ian let out a breath of relief.
Whew, good. It doesn't seem like she's really mad.
Draco, who had noticed Hermione's glare as well, leaned over and whispered in Ian's ear, "Still haven't smoothed things over with your little childhood sweetheart, huh?"
"After the Sorting last night, I went straight to the Slytherin dorms. Where was I supposed to find the time?" Ian replied flatly, biting into a piece of bread. "We only have Transfiguration this morning. I'll sit with Hermione then and make it right."
"You, a Slytherin prefect, are going to sit with the Gryffindors?" Draco's eyes widened. "Aren't you worried people will gossip?"
"You think I care about gossip?" Ian shot Draco a glance. "Besides, just being a Potter in Slytherin is already enough to get people talking."
Draco opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words. After thinking it over, he realized Ian had a point and decided to drop the subject.
Neither of them noticed Cassandra's expression turn a bit colder after overhearing Ian's remark.
"Potter, I'll take the girls ahead. Finish your breakfast quickly and catch up," Cassandra said as she stood up.
"Alright," Ian nodded. "You go ahead; we'll be right behind you."
Cassandra didn't say anything further and left with the group of Slytherin first year girls.
Watching her retreating figure, Draco couldn't help but sigh. "Ian, I think Cassandra is genuinely pretty good to you."
"Why do you say that?" Ian asked, puzzled.
"Don't you think so? She even personally gave you food!" Draco said dramatically.
"I've known her since we were kids, and I've never seen Cassandra treat anyone so well!"
Ian thought about it and realized Draco might have a point. However, he still felt there was some ulterior motive behind Cassandra's kindness.
"You're overthinking it," Ian replied with a chuckle. "I think Cassandra just has a cold exterior but a warm heart. She's probably like this with everyone."
"Really?" Draco rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Then why do I feel like she treats you differently?"
"Who knows what Cassandra is thinking," Ian said, patting Draco on the shoulder. "We should get going, or we'll be late."
With that, Ian stood up and began organizing the other Slytherin students to head to Transfiguration class together.
As soon as Ian walked into the classroom, he noticed a silver tabby cat perched on the podium. If anyone inspected it closely, the markings around its eyes resembled square-shaped spectacles.
Cassandra had already led the girls to sit on the left side of the classroom, leaving a large section of seats empty behind them, obviously reserved for the boys.
Hermione was seated at the very front of the Gryffindor side, with a few open seats on her right, clearly left for Ian, Harry, and Ron.
Instead of joining the others, Ian brought Draco to the front of the classroom. He bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, surprising everyone.
Although Draco was confused, he followed Ian's lead and bowed as well.
"Good day, Professor McGonagall," Ian said warmly.
A glimmer of amusement flashed in the cat's eyes.
If I'm going to make a good impression, my deputy should, too. Time to boost our favorability with the oldest "cat girl" in the school!
Ah! Too bad Hermione and Cassandra are already seated—no chance to call them up for this. And my brother and Ron? Late again. Useless! Such a golden opportunity wasted!
"Transfiguration is truly a remarkable branch of magic," Ian continued in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "It is an honor to witness the Animagus form of the greatest Transfiguration master of our time."
His words echoed clearly through the classroom, ensuring every student heard him.
The tabby cat on the podium lifted its head to look at Ian, a glint of human-like curiosity and surprise flashing in its eyes, as if trying to figure out how this young wizard knew she was an Animagus.
Draco also finally realized that the tabby cat was, in fact, their Transfiguration professor—Minerva McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall merely blinked at Ian but did not respond to his comment.
Ian glanced at the empty seats on the Gryffindor side and immediately understood. His brother was going to be late, and Professor McGonagall, known for her strictness, would no doubt give Harry a "big surprise" as punishment.
Thinking quickly, Ian pulled Draco into another bow before signaling him with a glance to go sit in the Slytherin section.
Ian, however, boldly walked over to the Gryffindor side and sat down right next to Hermione without hesitation.
The other students in the classroom were stunned by Ian's actions.
A Slytherin sitting at the Gryffindor table?