Chapter 37: A Narrow Escape

Taking advantage of the group of Ravenclaw witches walking into the Transfiguration classroom, Kyle followed them, walking toward the podium with them. Everything seemed so natural.

When he reached the second row, there was only one young witch in front of him.

And they were only one step away from the podium.

Kyle's hand in his pocket was clutching the package of fish tightly. Although he was nervous as hell, he still kept a calm facade.

But just as Kyle was about to take out the fish and unlock the achievement, he suddenly realized that the Ravenclaw witch in front of him seemed to have the same idea as him.

Because she was closer to the front, Kyle could even see a green object being pulled out of her pocket little by little.

It was… a cat toy?

"Damn, someone beat me to it!"

Kyle's heart sank. He was stunned.

He didn't have to think. As soon as the young witch took out the cat toy, Mrs. Norris would turn back into Professor McGonagall.

His plan, which he had thought about for so long, was completely ruined!

"Damn it, I should have just gone for it! Why was I overthinking it?"

Kyle lamented, pounding his leg in frustration. He wished he could use a Time-Turner to go back five minutes and kick himself.

But there was nothing he could do about it now. Kyle could only sigh and move to the left, sitting in the front row.

It was as if he had wanted to sit here all along.

Meanwhile, the young witch, who Kyle detested, had already reached the podium. Her hand was completely extended out of her pocket.

But at that moment, the tabby cat on the podium suddenly smiled. It lightly tapped the table with its back legs. In a blink, it transformed back into Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Leona, it's good to be caring, but as a wizard, it's even more important to always be sharp and observant."

Professor McGonagall appeared next to the new student named Leona. As she spoke, she patted her shoulder lightly, pushing her hand, which was holding the cat toy, back into her pocket.

"Pr, Pr, Pr... Professor McGonagall." The young witch was scared. She started to stutter.

"It's me. If you had looked carefully, you would have noticed that the patterns around the cat's eyes are the same as the square glasses I wear." Professor McGonagall said calmly, "Now, please return to your seat. We're about to start class."

She didn't deduct any points, nor did she scold her harshly. Because in Professor McGonagall's opinion, Leona's behavior was no different from a new student being late. There was nothing unusual about it.

She had been at Hogwarts for half a lifetime, and the tradition of showing her Animagus form in the first Transfiguration class had lasted for seven or eight years. During this time, she had seen many new students like Leona.

Those who teased the cat, those who fed it, those who petted it... they did all kinds of things.

Of course, Professor McGonagall never let them succeed.

Without real skills, how could this tradition last so long? Did they think her title as a contemporary Transfiguration Master was bought with money?

Not to mention that the cat's reaction speed was much faster than a wizard's. If she could be outsmarted by these new students, she wouldn't have the chance to stay at Hogwarts anymore. She would just resign.

After Leona was helped back to her seat by her Ravenclaw classmates, Professor McGonagall skillfully waved her wand, using a simple healing charm to restore her calmness.

"Calm-Charm."

The charm worked wonders. Leona immediately stopped trembling. Her pale face became much more rosy.

"I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall. I didn't know it was you."

"Don't do it again."

Professor McGonagall turned back to the podium, but as she walked past the first row, she deliberately glanced at Kyle.

She had initially suspected that Kyle had the same idea as Leona. But she quickly noticed that when she undid her Animagus transformation, Kyle didn't show that look of disbelief.

It seemed like Kyle had recognized her Animagus form from the beginning. He probably just wanted to sit in the front row.

As expected, she shouldn't have believed the Weasleys. Kyle was indeed a smart and studious good boy.

...

Back at the podium, Professor McGonagall looked at the students below and said solemnly, "Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts.

Anyone who dares to play around in my class will be asked to leave and will never be allowed to come back in. I've warned you."

As soon as Professor McGonagall spoke, the entire room fell silent. At the same time, Kyle's heart finally stopped pounding.

He had escaped. Thanks to Leona. If it hadn't been for her, he would have been the one dying of embarrassment in public.

Kyle decided to talk to Cho after class, no matter whether Leona wanted to buy a map or not, he would pay for one and give it to her.

He couldn't disappoint a good person.

The joy of escaping death made Kyle even more relaxed when taking notes. The dull basics of the Transformation Law sounded more pleasant.

However, unlike him, Kanna, who was also sitting in the first row, was squirming in her seat.

Kanna couldn't understand. She had sat in the first row, why did she still have to encounter Kyle? Wasn't the new student who came with him sitting in the last row?

Could it be just a coincidence?

But it was wrong. She clearly remembered that they were roommates. If she hadn't known that, she would never have sat in the first row, no matter what.

But what was going on now?

She was sitting in the first row, Kyle was next to her… worst and worse happening at the same time?

Kanna's heart was racing. She mechanically recorded Professor McGonagall's words, not even noticing that she had been writing in the wrong order.

On the podium, Professor McGonagall was still talking about the precautions of Transfiguration. She didn't notice that the two young wizards under her nose were acting strange.

"Alright, that's all for the basic Transformation Law. Make sure you remember it. It's the foundation of Transfiguration."

Professor McGonagall had finished covering all the essential material. She looked at everyone and reminded them again,

"Remember, Transfiguration is a rigorous subject. You have to concentrate when waving your wand. Like this..."

Professor McGonagall waved her wand and turned the podium into a pig.

It was no different from a normal pig. It could run and jump, it had all the trimmings. And when it noticed that everyone was looking at it, the pig squealed in fear.

This move stunned the new students.

Especially those who had only been exposed to magic for the first time. They couldn't imagine how a real animal could be transformed from a table.

Everyone looked at Professor McGonagall, eager to start learning.