57 Hermione and Animagus

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Then Ron remembered the question Harry asked earlier. "Oh, right. I was about to show you my spell." He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old wand, its appearance worn and clearly handed down through generations. Harry observed the wand, noting its aged condition, which mirrored Ron's secondhand clothes.

As Ron prepared to cast the spell, he brought out a rat from his sleeve. Harry's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion at the sight of the rat. 'Something is off,' he thought, turning to Nigel. "That rat, Nigel. It's not just an ordinary rat, is it?"

Before he could utilize the Observe function on the rat, their compartment door slid open, and a young girl with bushy hair stepped in. She looked around eleven years old, her eyes scanning the compartment curiously. "Have you seen any toad? A boy named Neville lost his," she inquired earnestly.

Ron, looking momentarily distracted from his spellcasting, replied with a simple "No." The girl's gaze then shifted to Ron's wand. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it then," she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

Ron cleared his throat, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. He raised his wand and chanted, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." He waved his wand, but to no effect. The rat remained its usual color, unaltered by the spell.

Harry, still intrigued by the rat, used his Observe function, a System message appearing before his eyes:

[System Message: Scabbers the Rat - Animagus Detection Warning: Possible human in animagus form. Caution advised. Name: Unknown. History: Concealed. Magical Signature: Altered.]

Nigel chimed in Harry's mind, his tone reflective of the situation's absurdity. "Shall I use System Points to unveil the rat's true identity, Master Harry?" he inquired, his voice carrying a subtle hint of amusement at the spectacle.

Harry inwardly shook his head, deciding against it for the moment. 'Not yet, Nigel. Let's not rush into unmasking our furry friend. I'll investigate further later,' he thought, his mind already formulating a strategy to uncover the rat's secrets.

The girl spoke up at this moment, her voice tinged with a blend of curiosity and critique. "Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've only tried simple ones myself, but they have all worked for me," she said, her tone suggesting a mix of genuine intrigue and a desire to showcase her own prowess.

She sat down across Harry, and her eyes, filled with a mixture of curiosity and purpose, fixed upon him. As she pointed her wand directly at Harry's face, his instinctive reaction was swift. He squinted and reached out, his hand firmly gripping her wrist to turn the wand away. "You shouldn't point your wand at people," he said in a low, measured voice. His grip was firm but not aggressive, reflecting his caution rather than hostility.

The girl, Hermione Granger, winced slightly under the pressure of Harry's grip, her face contorting in a mix of discomfort and surprise. "I just wanted to fix your glasses," she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of defensiveness.

Harry released her wrist, his expression unyielding. "My glasses are unbreakable, and work just fine. We don't know each other, and you shouldn't point your wand at people you don't know," he reiterated, his tone colder now, underscoring the seriousness of his statement.

Hermione pulled back, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She seemed unaccustomed to being reprimanded in such a manner. "Are you alright, Harry?" Ron asked, his mouth full.

Harry, his gaze still fixed on Hermione, activated his Observe function. The System message that appeared confirmed his suspicions:

[System Message: Hermione Granger (11) - Under Compelling Spell

Objective: Befriend Harry Potter and influence his academic pursuits.

Spell Origin: Unknown.

Note: Subject's awareness of the spell's influence - Minimal.]

Harry's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. 'Another one under a spell,' he thought, a tinge of annoyance creeping into his mind. 'Dumbledore, what are you trying to do with me?' He internally questioned the Headmaster's motives, his distrust growing.

Hermione, seemingly oblivious to Harry's internal musings, attempted to regain her composure. "I've read about you, you know," she started, trying to shift the conversation. "In 'Modern Magical History' and 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts,' and 'Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.'"

Harry listened, his expression neutral. He was aware of the books she mentioned, having read them himself. The mention of his own story in such books was no surprise, but the content couldn't be more off.

"Quite the reader, aren't we?" Nigel's voice echoed in Harry's mind, a subtle note of amusement underlying his words. "A refreshing change from our snack-loving friend here."

Harry couldn't help but internally smile at Nigel's observation. He glanced at Ron, who was still engrossed in the sweets, seemingly oblivious to the deeper conversation unfolding.

Hermione decided to forget her slight. She then turned to Ron, who was still munching on the snacks. "And you are?" she asked, her tone polite yet marked with a hint of impatience.

Ron, his mouth full, mumbled a response, "Ron Weasley."

Hermione's expression shifted to a scowl, clearly unimpressed with Ron's lack of manners. "A pleasure," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. She then stood up, addressing them both. "You two better change into robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon."

As she made to leave, Harry, noticing her adherence to the compelling spell's directive, called out, "You should ask a prefect."

Hermione turned back, a look of confusion crossing her face. "What?" she inquired, her brows furrowed.

Harry, with a knowing smirk, added, "The toad. Ask a prefect. They can help."

For a moment, Hermione's eyes glazed over, a clear indication of the spell's influence. She nodded, albeit mechanically. "Right. I will just do that," she agreed, before exiting the compartment.

Harry watched her leave, his mind analyzing the situation. 'So, she's under a compelling spell to befriend me and influence my academic path,' he thought. 'Dumbledore's machinations, perhaps?'

Nigel's voice commented on the encounter. "Seems like our dear Headmaster is quite interested in scripting your Hogwarts experience, Master Harry. How do you plan to navigate this woven web?"

Harry pondered Nigel's words. "I'll play along for now, but on my terms," he decided, his gaze shifting to the scenery outside the window. "It's clear Dumbledore has a plan for me, but I won't be led blindly."

Ron, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "She's a bit much, isn't she?"

Harry chuckled, his attention now back on Ron. "She's certainly... dedicated," he replied diplomatically. "But, let's focus on our arrival. We should change into our robes."

As they prepared to change, Harry's thoughts lingered on Hermione's behavior. Her actions, clearly dictated by the spell, indicated a larger plan at play, one that involved not just Ron but Hermione as well. 'Why these two?' he wondered.

Nigel's voice broke through his contemplation. "It seems, Master Harry, that your journey at Hogwarts will be far from ordinary. Allies and obstacles, all part of a grander scheme."

Harry nodded, acknowledging the insight Nigel provided. With a subtle gesture, his hand moving deftly, he took out his wand. A flick of his wrist, and the window of the compartment turned pitch black. "Colovaria." The magic was swift but effective, a testament to Harry's growing prowess in magic. Ron's reaction was immediate and filled with wonder. "Blimey! How did you do that?" he exclaimed, his eyes and mouth agape in awe.

Harry merely shrugged in response. He saw no point in explaining the intricacies of his magical abilities to Ron, especially considering the boy's earlier attempt at spellcasting with a chant as simple as "Sunshine and daisies." It was clear to Harry that Ron, while earnest, had much to learn about the true nature of magic.

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