"Today we'll be learning simple Transfiguration of Living Beings, which is more difficult than ordinary object transfiguration. I need you all to pay extra close attention—"
Professor McGonagall lectured from the front, chalk automatically writing the key points on the blackboard.
"—Now, who can tell me how many dangers there are in Transfiguration of Living Beings?"
The classroom was quiet, not like usual where a hand would eagerly shoot up. After a moment, someone hesitantly raised their hand.
"Miss Mandy Brocklehurst?" Professor McGonagall looked at her encouragingly.
Mandy Brocklehurst, a Ravenclaw, stood up: "There are four points. First, incomplete transfiguration can cause extreme irritation to the creature, leading it to attack the wizard; second…"
Wade looked up, scanning the classroom, but didn't see the brown-haired figure, though the other Gryffindor students were all there.
He asked Michael, who was beside him, "Have you seen Hermione?"
Michael also looked around, guessing, "Maybe she's not feeling well and is resting in the dorm? Professor McGonagall didn't say anything, either."
That made sense, but Wade felt an inexplicable unease.
Just then, Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept over them, and the two immediately fell silent, not daring to speak again.
When class ended, students swarmed out. Wade pushed through the crowded corridor and found Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me, Potter, Weasley."
Seeing Wade walking straight towards them, Ron inexplicably took a step back. "Wh-what is it, Grey?"
"Have you seen Hermione?" Wade asked. "Why wasn't she in Transfiguration Class?"
Harry instinctively looked at Ron, whose face briefly showed a hint of unease. He said guiltily, "How should I know? We're not close with Granger!"
Wade narrowed his eyes slightly, staring directly into Ron's eyes.
Ron lowered his eyes to avoid his gaze, then tugged at Harry beside him, saying in a blustering tone, "If you don't need anything else, we're going to rest!"
He pulled Harry away, but then a voice suddenly came from behind them—
"Harry Potter!"
Harry looked back to see Wade staring at him seriously: "Do you really not know what happened?"
Under his gaze, Harry felt as if he'd been dragged out into the scorching sun, his mouth going dry.
He wanted to protect his friend, but he couldn't lie.
"Hermione, Hermione cried, after Charms Class," Harry finally whispered. "We haven't seen her since—I'm so sorry."
He was finally pulled away by Ron. Wade stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, frowning in thought.
However, time had put a lock on his memory. He tried hard to recall, but nothing came to mind.
"They had a fight, didn't they?" Michael said knowingly. "Hermione's personality is a bit too serious, so it's not surprising if she got into an argument with those Gryffindors. Let's go, she wouldn't possibly miss the Halloween Feast too. We can ask her what happened then."
Wade nodded.
Not far behind them, Padma thoughtfully tapped her fingers, then quickly caught up to her twin sister, whispering quietly to her.
In the evening, the Great Hall was already decorated. Giant pumpkin lanterns floated beneath the ceiling, and colorful skeletons adorned the walls. Countless bats circled and flew through the hall, sometimes gathering and whistling past like dark clouds, making the flames in the pumpkin lanterns flicker.
The feast hadn't begun yet, but students from all four houses had nearly filled every seat, and the professors were arriving one after another. Dumbledore had even specially dressed up for the Halloween theme—he wore pumpkin-colored robes with small bat patterns on his hat, chuckling as he spoke to Professor McGonagall beside him.
Wade scanned the Gryffindor table, but the lions were too boisterous. The Weasley twins were running around with a few boys, punctuated by exclamations and laughter. Wade watched for a long time, but couldn't find Hermione anywhere.
Just then, someone suddenly tapped his shoulder. Before Wade could turn his head, he caught a faint scent of perfume.
Padma squeezed Anthony, who was sitting next to him, aside and leaned in, saying, "I know where Granger is."
Wade asked, "She's not at the feast?"
"No." Padma brushed a strand of hair from her temple and whispered, "Parvati said—oh, you should know, Parvati is my sister, she's in Gryffindor—she said that after Charms Class, that Weasley fellow spoke ill of Granger—said she was like a nightmare or something."
"—Ron Weasley?" Michael poked his head over, asking in surprise, "He's that brave?—I mean, didn't Hermione immediately hit him with a curse?"
"She cried, she cried in the bathroom for a long time," Padma emphasized. "—She was particularly upset, and she wouldn't let anyone comfort her. Parvati got her excused from Transfiguration Class this afternoon. I just went to check the bathroom, and Granger is still in there."
"I'll go check." Wade immediately stood up.
Padma enthusiastically said, "I'll take you."
"—But the feast is about to start, and I didn't eat much lunch for this," Michael grumbled. Seeing Wade striding quickly towards the exit of the Great Hall, he finally sighed and stood up, jogging to follow him.
As students arrived in the Great Hall, a few people going against the tide stood out. At the Gryffindor table, Harry inadvertently saw Wade leaving the Great Hall. He had been immersed in the festive Halloween atmosphere and had completely forgotten about what happened earlier, but now it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and his memories instantly resurfaced.
"Ron!" He grabbed his friend's arm and asked, "Has Hermione still not come back?"
Ron, who was eagerly anticipating feasting, didn't pay much attention: "I think so—what's wrong?"
"I just saw Grey and them leave—were they going to look for Hermione?" Harry said.
"Maybe. Granger is quite friendly with them. Anyway, they've gone to look, so don't worry about it," Ron said indifferently.
He was truly fed up with Hermione's lectures—although he felt a bit guilty when he saw the girl's tears at the time, that guilt had long since disappeared. Instead, the repeated condescending "advice" from Hermione caused a deeper aversion.
"But—" Harry hesitated. "They're all Ravenclaws, but Hermione is Gryffindor, just like us!"
A bat, controlled by Fred with his wand, landed on Ron's head, and laughter erupted around them. Ron was busy shooing away the bat and didn't pay attention to what Harry said.
Harry hesitated for a moment, and finally, before the feast began, he left his seat and ran out of the Great Hall. Dumbledore and Snape almost simultaneously turned their gazes, watching him leave.
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