Chapter 40: How dare you bring catnip to Professor McGonagall? !

"The Freezing Charm, do you know it?" Irina asked.

Hermione pondered for a moment, searching her vast spell knowledge before reciting as if to a professor, "I know it! The Freezing Charm, incantation 'Glacius', freezes the target creature or object it hits!"

Irina wasn't surprised Hermione knew the charm. After all, in the second book, Hermione had used it to freeze the rogue Cornish pixie released by that fool Lockhart.

To demonstrate, Hermione withdrew her wand and aimed at a nearby vase. "Glacius!" 

A beam of ice-blue light burst forth, instantly freezing the vase into an ice sculpture. 

Hermione looked at Irina proudly, seeking praise. But then her face fell. "Oh... I don't seem to know how to unfreeze it. Using a fire spell might just shatter the vase..."

Irina simply smiled, gave a wave of her wand, and the frozen vase returned to normal.

After mastering the Freezing Charm silently, Irina's understanding had deepened tremendously. Without using a general counter-charm like Finite Incantatem, she could reverse it through her intrinsic grasp of the freezing magic itself.

Hermione's eyes went wide with wonder. "Wow, Irina! How did you do that?"

As she spoke, Hermione joined Irina on the bed, plopping down beside her. Irina unconsciously leaned against her, gently nuzzling Hermione's shoulder with her chin.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Hermione blushed, acutely aware of Irina's strange intimacy.

Irina gave an enigmatic smile. "Nothing untoward, Hermione. Come, let me show you how to reverse the Freezing Charm - you must carefully feel the flow of your magic!"

Saying so, Irina wrapped her arms around Hermione's waist, grasping the wrist that held her wand. 

Being a tiny first-year, Hermione fitted perfectly in Irina's slender embrace. Irina breathed deeply, satisfied, before whispering the incantation.

Hermione felt Irina guiding her magic through her body and into her wand. A beam of ice-blue light shot out, freezing the vase once more. 

Immediately, Irina incanted again, the syllables slightly altered, and a deeper beam struck the vase, unfreezing it.

Although blushing from the intimate contact, Hermione's academic zeal overrode any discomfort with her new best friend's closeness. She repeated the counter-charm Irina taught, practicing freezing and unfreezing the vase.

Soon, her extraordinary intelligence mastered the technique. Beaming, she demonstrated for Irina's approval.

Irina refrained from revealing her silent spell ability to avoid stoking Hermione's competitive fire. Instead, she simply applauded her friend's success.

Just then, their two other roommates returned, forcing them to cease magic practice, douse the lights and retire for the night. 

...

The next morning in the Slytherin dormitory, Lynn awoke early again. Their first class was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Quirrell. 

Though Quirrell's lectures were utterly useless stuttering, to guard against Voldemort lurking behind that turbaned head, Lynn decided to remain vigilant and energized for any contingency.

Thus, the previous night he had merely engraved the power source and rune matrix, going to bed early after completing his Desert Eagle enchantment plans. Now he only needed to undertake the alchemical work step-by-step.

The morning's first class began soon after. When Lynn arrived at the DADA classroom, Quirrell stood at the lectern clutching a textbook. Lynn opened his own book and took a seat, playing the ordinary obedient student.

Meanwhile, the first-year Gryffindors started with Transfiguration class that morning. Hermione rose early, dragging a sleepy Irina along to preview in the classroom.

Irina was so drowsy she nearly collapsed onto a desk for more sleep. She had thought attending Hogwarts meant indulging her lazy tendencies, but Hermione's diligence forced the early morning routine.

As class time neared, Irina rubbed her eyes and looked up to see a tabby cat slink through the door, leap onto the lectern and scan the few early arrivals.

Most studious pupils ignored the feline intruder. But Irina's eyes lit up, ice-blue irises flickering like snowflakes.

To Hermione's confusion, Irina sprang up and raced over, grinning at the tabby sprawled on the lectern. She nonchalantly reached into her pockets, patting around.

Her eyes brightened as she produced a handful of catnip. "Here, kitty! Catnip, catnip!"

Irina stroked the tabby's head, offering the treat with her other hand. Her bold actions left the cat frozen in shock before the catnip's effects kicked in, prompting violent sneezing fits.

Realizing something was amiss, the cat leapt away, transforming into Professor McGonagall's human form.

"Miss Lowell! How dare you bring catnip into my Transfiguration classroom!" McGonagall raged, fury etched on her face.

Irina recoiled, feigning panic. Of course, the girl well-versed in Harry Potter lore recognized McGonagall's Animagus ability.

But who could resist treating the esteemed professor to tasty catnip?

"Professor, I didn't mean any harm..." Irina stammered an apology.

Though exasperated, McGonagall allowed Irina to return to her seat. Ignorance was no crime, after all - she had entered as a cat without explanation. These young wizards couldn't have known.

Out of McGonagall's view, Irina flashed Hermione a conspiratorial wink and thumbs up.

(end of chapter)