Chapter 744: It's a Cat! (Edited)

"What?! Fish still can't simply use the Apparition Charm?"

∑(ΦДΦ)

At the end of the class, Fish became furious upon learning that he still couldn't use the Apparition Charm at will.

"Hasn't Fish learned it already? Why isn't Fish using it?"

(`н´)

Fish pouted and questioned.

"Because only after turning seventeen can you obtain your Apparition certification. Didn't it say so in the notice? Only those who have turned seventeen or will do so before August 31 can attend," Hermione patiently explained. "We can only use this spell in our everyday life after obtaining the Apparition certification."

"Nya?" Fish immediately detected the loophole. "But Hermione, your birthday is in October, nya! You're still attending the class!"

(ˇˇ)

"Because I was born in 1979..." Hermione helplessly replied. "I'm already seventeen."

"Then Fish must have been born in 1979 too!" Fish playfully said, knowing that nobody knew his actual birthday.

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "That can't be changed now. The date you arranged with Professor McGonagall is the date you registered as your birthday. The Ministry doesn't care about your actual birthday."

"Why is the Ministry of Magic so annoying?! And Minerva, why don't you make Fish older?"

(`ω´)

Fish was irrationally angry.

After sulking for a while, Fish came up with the thought that... he didn't care what the Ministry of Magic thought.

So, Fish rolled his eyes and asked, "What would happen if Fish used it?"

If the consequences weren't so severe, he could have used it secretly!

Hermione naturally guessed what Fish was thinking and was about to say that he would be caught and sent to Azkaban, but then she thought maybe Fish would like that, so she changed her mind and said, "If you do that, Minerva, who is the guardian, will be in a little trouble."

"...Fish hates the Ministry of Magic more and more!"

(ΦДΦ)

Fish whipped his tail behind him, then looked at Hermione seriously and asked, "Are you really going to work at the Ministry of Magic in the future?"

"Um, if I go to the Ministry in the future, maybe I can change it to your liking," Hermione quickly came up with an acceptable excuse for Fish.

"Really?"

?ω?

Fish tilted his head, torn.

Hermione's comment was a brilliant idea, and even Fish was tempted to enter the Ministry of Magic and make it the way he wanted it, but then he thought about the work that would need to be done...

So, within less than three seconds, Fish gave up on the idea.

Hermione thought Fish looked upset because he couldn't use the Apparition Charm at will, so she continued, "Anyway, there's always an Anti-Apparition spell in place at Hogwarts, except during the Apparition class every Saturday, so you can't use it during the week. And when you leave school for the summer in June, just a few days before your birthday, you can take the test at the Ministry of Magic's Apparition Test Centre in Hogsmeade, and then you'll be able to use the Apparition Charm at will."

"Right..."

⊙ω⊙

Fish blinked, and instantly, he became less angry.

So, Fish started thinking about how to overcome the discomfort after using the Apparition Charm continuously...

If he couldn't solve this problem, there was a high chance that Voldemort would escape again when he "caught" him in the future.

So, that afternoon, Fish used the Two-Way Mirror to contact Dumbledore.

"Albus, when the hell are you coming back? Fish wants to see you."

(`ω´)

Fish looked at the headmaster in the mirror.

"I'm sorry, Fish. I have some leads on Voldemort's Horcruxes, so I can't come back for a while." In the mirror, Dumbledore said cheerfully, although if you looked closely, you could see that he actually seemed a bit weary, clearly finding the search not easy.

"If you have something to say, say it here," Dumbledore said, not waiting for Fish to ask again. "Is it a story you want to read? I've left a few bottles of memories in my office; you can find them yourself, just ask Phineas where they are... Well, remember to bring Harry."

"Really?"

(?ω?)

Fish's eyes lit up, but quickly he shook his head. "No nya! That's not what Fish was asking!"

"Hmm?" Dumbledore looked puzzled.

"Today Fish learned the Apparition Charm..."

"Did you? What an incredible spell Fish has learned, it's not easy to master."

"Hmph~ Of course, Fish is good..."

(`´)

Fish was immediately carried away by the compliment but quickly composed himself.

"No nya! Fish isn't done yet! Don't interrupt, Albus!"

(`н´)

"Yes, yes, please continue," Dumbledore said with a quick smile.

So, Fish told Dumbledore about the discomfort he felt after continuously using the Apparition Charm.

"... So, Albus, do you have any ideas on how to mitigate the side effects of the Apparition Charm?"

?ω?

Fish asked with utmost seriousness.

Dumbledore seemed surprised by Fish's serious question and appeared clearly bewildered.

"There is no particular method," he said with a smile. "It's just that as I become more skilled in the Apparition Charm, my body gets accustomed to the sensation, and even now, I can't do it continuously for long periods of time."

"Tsk!"

Fish clicked his tongue in displeasure. According to Hermione, Hogwarts didn't allow the use of the Apparition Charm, so the only time Fish could practice was every Saturday...

"You're not lying to Fish again, are you?" Fish gave Dumbledore a suspicious look.

"Of course not!" Dumbledore feigned offense.

Unfortunately, Fish didn't believe him.

So Dumbledore began reasoning with Fish, "I gain nothing by lying to you about this, and you can confirm it with Minerva and Severus and Filius."

Of the four Heads of House, only Professor Pomona Sprout was relatively weak in practical terms, but not entirely.

Now Fish believed Dumbledore's words, so Fish bid him a reluctant goodnight, then grabbed Hermione, who had remained silent, and ran to the kitchen.

Since Dumbledore had mentioned wanting to show Harry the memories in his office, Fish would leave it for tomorrow.

So the two transformed into cats and headed (mostly Fish) to the basement, through the hidden door behind the fruit painting, and into Hogwarts' kitchens.

"Master Fish!" Comey, the house-elf, abruptly caught Fish's and Hermione's attention.

"Ah!"

(ΦДΦ)

Fish pointed at Comey, who had suddenly appeared in front of him, then turned to Hermione. "I thought you said Hogwarts doesn't allow the use of the Apparition Charm. Why can Comey and the others use it?"

"Because wizards try to make house-elves more efficient, so most counter-charms don't apply to house-elves," Hermione explained indignantly.

"Besides, doesn't Fawkes teleport as well? Probably Hogwarts' anti-Apparition spell is only for wizards," she speculated.

"Miss Hermione is as clever as ever!" Comey joked.

"It's so unfair, nya!" Fish was very dissatisfied with this. "Why are we the only ones targeted... eh?"

Suddenly, he reacted.

"Then this spell shouldn't work on Fish either! Fish isn't human! He's a cat!"

∑(ΦωΦ)