Chapter 712: Cabinet and Pile of Cockroaches (Edited)

In the end, neither Fish nor Hermione joined the Slug Club. However, Slughorn invited them to club meetings whenever they wanted. Later on, he even hooked Fish. Fish stayed there, curiously playing with his walrus mustache.

Harry didn't think he had the audacity of Fish, but he also wanted to learn more about his mother. So when Slughorn extended the invitation again, he hesitated for a while but eventually agreed.

After leaving Slughorn's office, the three went their separate ways. Harry, of course, returned to his dormitory to rest. Fish and Hermione were going to do their usual routine, taking a walk before coming back.

As the two kittens passed by the gargoyle statue at the entrance to the headmaster's office, Fish tilted his head for a moment and became pensive. He meowed and opened the secret door to the headmaster's study. Dumbledore hadn't been seen lately, and Fish felt the need to keep an eye on him, preventing him from kicking the bucket one day.

However, when Fish opened the oak door of the headmaster's office with his head, he discovered that Dumbledore wasn't there.

"Meow?"

(=?ω?=)

Fish tilted his head to look at Fawkes on the golden perch next to the door, asking about Dumbledore's whereabouts.

"Caw~"

Fawkes responded with a melodious chirp, indicating that Dumbledore hadn't been at the school during this time, and even if he returned occasionally, he left soon after.

"Meow meow meow."

Hermione joined the discussion after Fish's translation.

She speculated that Dumbledore was probably searching for Horcruxes again, and it was likely the same Slytherin's locket that had appeared in Ogden's memory last time.

"Meow..."

(?ω?)

Fish felt defenseless against this. He hadn't even fully recovered from his injuries, and now he was off on another adventure...

Compared to Albus, who is a lousy grandfather, Fish is a much better guy!

After a period of indignation, Fish didn't leave immediately. Instead, after transforming back into his human form, he ran to Dumbledore's desk. From the drawer and the adjacent cabinet, he pulled out a bunch of snacks and the Sorting Hat.

"Good evening!"

(Φ~Φ)

Fish chewed on the candy in his mouth and placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

"You're not good at all!" exclaimed the Sorting Hat.

Although it could only surrender to Fish, its mouth refused to relent...

Anyway, Fish has grown up and become a bit more serious. He no longer pulls various pranks like when he was a child, and after so many years, he has also grown accustomed to this way of getting along.

And Fish didn't stay idle even after putting on the Sorting Hat; instead, he played with the strange instruments in Dumbledore's office.

For a moment, these instruments emitted silver smoke, tinkled, or flashed colorful lights, making this room resemble a Muggle disco.

At this moment, Hermione wasn't keeping an eye on Fish as usual to prevent him from getting into trouble. Instead, she pinched the stack of cockroaches that Fish had just put in his hand and engaged in a fierce mental battle.

Just as she made a decision and was about to close her eyes and put the pile of cockroaches in her mouth, she heard Fish's uncertain voice next to her, "Huh? Wasn't this cabinet on the first floor before?"

Fish approached a large black cabinet, looked at it curiously, and opened the cabinet door, wanting to peek inside...

Then Hermione grabbed him by the nape of his neck.

With Fish's strength, Hermione certainly couldn't stop him, but Fish halted and turned around suspiciously.

"What are you doing, pulling Fish, Hermione?"

Fish replied nonchalantly, "?ω? Fish knows... I've gone inside before to play, meow. Except it broke a long time ago."

This black cabinet had been placed in a corridor on the first floor before. When Fish was wandering around the castle earlier, he also entered it out of curiosity. Then he was sent to another cabinet of the same kind. And that cabinet was in a place he didn't even know. It smelled bad there and was dirty. So Fish returned after wandering around that strange room for a while...

Afterwards, Fish learned more about things. He thought there was a high probability that it was a shop. The things they sold were a bit strange. At that time, there were many items there that made Fish's [Beast Instinct] alert him to danger. That was one of the reasons why Fish didn't stay there any longer.

And after Fish became stronger, he also entered the cabinet again. However, he wasn't teleported. Instead, he heard strange sounds coming from inside from time to time. It was as if his movements were restricted by something, and he felt sticky.

Because of these two reasons, Fish didn't think it was a good place to sleep. So, he didn't bother with it anymore.

He didn't know why Dumbledore had suddenly moved him to his office.

"Did Albus also put something in there?"

(?ω?)

After explaining the situation of the disappearing cabinet to Hermione, Fish looked at the cabinet and scratched his head in doubt.

"Maybe... Professor Dumbledore intends to fix it?" After knowing that the cabinet wasn't dangerous, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and made a reasonable assumption.

"That's right, nya!"

(≧≦)

Fish immediately got excited. "Fish has always wanted to go to the other side to see, meow! There are many strange things there. It's very interesting... But the smell and hygiene are a bit poor."

After finishing speaking, Fish hurriedly transformed back into a cat form, then jumped into the cabinet, and the cabinet door closed automatically.

"Fish!" Hermione shouted and ran towards him.

But her hand barely touched the doorknob of the wardrobe. The door opened automatically. Fish jumped out of it, a bit slow.

"What the hell! Albus hasn't even fixed it!"

(`ω´)

Fish was annoyed by Dumbledore's efficiency...

Then he was grabbed by the ear by Hermione.

"Didn't I tell you not to get in there?!" Hermione's expression was exactly like Professor McGonagall's.

Fish instinctively shrank his head. Then, with a serious face, he broke free from Hermione's grip and said sternly, "Didn't Fish also say that? Fish has disappeared in this cabinet before. Whether it's good or bad, it's not dangerous!"

But obviously, such a statement couldn't convince Hermione, who continued aggressively preaching with her hands on her hips, "How do you know there's no danger on the other side? And after all these years, maybe something has changed on the other side?"

At first, Fish wanted to argue, but after seeing Hermione's behavior resembling Professor McGonagall's, he chose to give in... because he knew that in this situation, the more he argued, the more Hermione wouldn't stop.

So, Fish decisively changed the subject.

"Okay, okay, Fish knows it's wrong, nya..." Fish pushed another pile of cockroaches into Hermione's hand. "Let's eat something first."

(ΦωΦ)つ

Hermione: !!!