Chapter 159: Don't Pry Into Other People's Secrets (Patreon)

Ancient Runes was a theoretical subject taught by Professor Bathsheda Babbling.

Weide had been looking forward to the class. After all, Ancient Runes played an important role in alchemy and had considerable practical value.

But after a single lesson, his anticipation turned into disappointment.

Professor Babbling spent the class explaining the history of Ancient Runes before teaching the students the meanings of various runic words.

For the most part, she was simply following the textbook, making it easier for the students to understand the material.

The problem was that Weide had mastered everything in the textbook long ago.

He wasn't being modest.

After studying alchemy on his own for two years and receiving a month of meticulous instruction from Nicolas Flamel, there were very few people in the wizarding world who could match his understanding of Ancient Runes.

Professor Babbling clearly wasn't one of them.

When the bell rang, Weide had already reached his conclusion.

This class was of little use to him. In fact, it was even less useful than History of Magic.

“How do you feel about it?” Daphne asked curiously. “You're an alchemist. Ancient Runes should be somewhat useful to you, right?”

“I benefited tremendously!”

Weide answered without the slightest change in expression.

The only thing he had learned from the class was that he could safely drop it.

“Those words and symbols are so complicated. They're really difficult to memorize.”

Hermione, however, looked extremely confident.

“It feels like learning an entirely new language. But that's what makes it challenging.”

“Why are you here?” Daphne frowned. “Shouldn't you be in the Divination classroom?”

“I can be in the Ancient Runes classroom too.”

Hermione answered matter-of-factly.

“That’s how my timetable is arranged.”

Weide inexplicably sensed the smell of gunpowder in the air.

He couldn't help feeling confused.

What happened? When did these two start having a problem with each other?

“Uh... what class do we have next?”

“Transfiguration,” Hermione answered. “It's not far. We can get there in two minutes.”

“Then let's go.”

The three picked up their textbooks and headed toward the Transfiguration classroom.

When they arrived, they discovered that most of the students were discussing Harry Potter.

Harry, sitting in the back row beside Ron, was clearly distracted. He looked so uncomfortable that it was almost as though Gilderoy Lockhart were sitting beside him.

“What happened to him this time?”

“An omen of death.”

Draco laughed gleefully.

“Professor Trelawney saw a terrible omen of death surrounding him. And Sirius Black just happens to want to kill him. Don't you think that's a bit of a coincidence?”

“Shut up, Malfoy.”

Hermione dismissed him without a second thought.

“Professor Trelawney is always acting mysterious and dramatic. She's basically talking nonsense.”

Draco was about to retort when Professor McGonagall walked into the classroom.

He immediately sat properly.

“Today, I’m going to introduce you to a very dangerous form of Transfiguration—Animagi.”

“A wizard capable of transforming into a specific animal while retaining his or her magical abilities is known as an Animagus.

“Learning to become an Animagus is extremely difficult. It normally takes years and requires complicated procedures involving mandrake leaves, moonlight, and various other steps, all accompanied by considerable risks.

“If something goes wrong, the wizard may fail to transform properly and could even lose the ability to return to human form.”

“Because of this, the Ministry of Magic strictly regulates Animagi. Every Animagus must register the animal form they transform into, along with their identifying characteristics, with the Improper Use of Magic Office.”

After finishing her explanation, Professor McGonagall transformed into a tabby cat.

A few seconds later, she transformed back into a human.

She looked around the classroom in confusion.

“What is wrong with everyone today? Why does everyone seem so distracted?”

“Professor.”

Hermione raised her hand.

“We just had Divination and read tea leaves. Professor Trelawney—”

“I understand.”

Professor McGonagall interrupted her.

“Trelawney must have predicted that someone was going to die again, didn't she?”

“She does this every year. She predicts that one of the students will die, yet it has never happened.”

Hearing this, a light immediately appeared in Harry's eyes.

The gloom weighing on his heart seemed to vanish, and his entire body relaxed.

Anyone who was told they were going to die soon would naturally spend the entire day worrying.

It turned out to be nothing more than a cruel joke.

“Divination is the least rigorous branch of magic. Genuine Seers are exceedingly rare, and Professor Trelawney...”

McGonagall paused before continuing.

“In any case, Mr. Potter, instead of worrying about whether you're going to die, you should worry about whether you can finish today's homework.

“Of course, if you die, you won't have to hand it in.”

Harry gave an awkward smile and stopped thinking about Trelawney's unfortunate prophecy.

After Transfiguration ended, everyone headed toward the Great Hall.

“Don't you find it strange?”

Daphne looked at Weide, carefully glancing toward Hermione, who was eating lunch at the Gryffindor table.

“She was attending Ancient Runes with us this morning. So why does she know everything that happened in Divination?”

Weide pondered for a moment.

A person could simultaneously attend two, or even three, classrooms at once.

But when class ended, they could only leave one classroom.

No wonder Hermione dared to choose every elective.

But this was clearly not something ordinary magic could accomplish.

“It's best not to pry into other people's secrets.”

“This isn't exactly a little secret.”

Daphne's tone was meaningful.

“Then it's even more important not to pry into it.”

Daphne rolled her eyes and spoke sarcastically.

“You're already defending her. Would you pretend not to care if it were someone else?”

Weide was speechless.

What kind of nonsense are you imagining?

At the Gryffindor table, Hermione looked seriously at Harry and Ron.

“We can't wait any longer. Our first class this afternoon is Care of Magical Creatures.

“If we really let Hagrid bring something like a three-headed dog or an Acromantula into class, who knows what kind of trouble we'll end up in.”

Harry and Ron exchanged glances before nodding at Hermione.

The three put down their utensils and walked toward the staff table.

“It's you three!”

Hagrid could barely contain his excitement.

“I asked Professor McGonagall, and she told me all three of you would be taking my class.

“I never thought I'd get to be a professor. When Dumbledore came to tell me, I thought I was dreaming. I even slapped myself right there to make sure I was awake.”

“Hagrid, what are you planning to do in class?”

Harry had no choice but to interrupt Hagrid's excitement.

“I’m going to introduce you to a magical creature.”

The three immediately felt their hearts sink.

Ron couldn't help swallowing nervously.

“Don't tell me it's an Acromantula?”

“Aragog?”

Hagrid froze for a moment before vigorously shaking his head.

“No, no, no! Of course not. Aragog and his children are far too dangerous for students.”

“That's good.”

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

At least Hagrid knew his limits.

“What creature are you going to introduce us to?”

Hagrid opened his mouth to answer, then stopped himself.

“You'll find out this afternoon.”

“It won't be dangerous, will it?”

Hermione was still somewhat worried.

“Buckbeak isn't dangerous at all.”

Hagrid blurted it out before immediately finding himself staring into three pairs of curious eyes.

“I won't tell you what Buckbeak is until class starts.”

“Is Buckbeak very big?”

Ron ventured a question.

“Covered in fur? Does it bite people and have a really aggressive temperament?”

“Of course not! Buckbeak isn't big at all, and he's the most polite magical creature in the Forbidden Forest.”

“Then we can relax.”

Harry spoke somewhat awkwardly.

“Hagrid, we just want your first class to go smoothly.”

“No problem!”

Hagrid thumped his chest confidently.

“I've been preparing since five this morning. I guarantee I'll give you an experience you'll never forget.”