Chapter 190: Seeking Hagrid
January afforded a rare day of clear weather.
Compared to an ordinary cat, the Kneazle form offered a clear advantage in speed.
And it was immune to the cold... Sean was certain of that.
So why did Mrs. Norris wear clothing? Sean guessed it was merely Mr. Filch's sentimental delusion, which Mrs. Norris tolerated out of convenience.
In the Great Hall, Michael was decimating the opposition with his "Gandoka Knight."
Wizards opposing him no longer dared to deploy their "irascible, greedy, or lecherous" Kings, as the Gandoka Knight might just decide to eliminate them outright.
Michael firmly believed the piece was brought by a black cat, though Sean wasn't sure if he should correct that theory.
In any case, the first-year wizards at Hogwarts readily accepted the narrative.
At night, Sean often spotted students on the third floor leaving dried fish under his statue, praying for an "Arthur King" piece:
—This was the strongest King piece in the Weird Wizard's Chess, capable of transforming a wizard chess piece into either "Merlin" or "Morgan," both of whom could instantly decide the outcome of the match.
To describe its effect: "Everyone stop playing!"—the piece gave the player a fifty percent chance of immediate victory and a fifty percent chance of immediate loss.
The Weasleys had released the news that "Arthur King" was officially available in the Weird Wizard's Chess sets...
But Sean hadn't actually gotten around to making it yet. The twins' imitation of the Wizarding Lottery was now completely blatant.
To Sean's further consternation, the same praying wizard who left the dried fish for the statue would, after having enjoyed a "Mrs. Norris" biscuit, unconsciously eat the fish himself.
...And still believed the Lucky Black Cat had granted his wish.
All in all, Hogwarts had become a much more entertaining place since Christmas.
Over the past few days, Sean had quietly moved a new plan onto his schedule: a visit to Hagrid's hut.
This plan ran parallel to [Grind Advanced Kneazle Biscuit to Expert Level]. For instance, Sean was currently taking a leisurely stroll across the Quidditch pitch in his Kneazle form.
He deliberately avoided the castle interior whenever possible. There was now a "Castle Spirit Cat Club," established after Christmas and approved jointly by Headmaster Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall.
The speed of approval was suspect; most Hogwarts clubs took months to get off the ground. Sean suspected a setup.
On the Quidditch pitch, today's practice was particularly wet and muddy.
Sean was waiting for Hagrid, who was likely to appear soon. He felt a little nervous; he didn't know if a Transfiguration Biscuit would be enough to win Hagrid's trust and allow him to observe the Norwegian Ridgeback.
Suddenly, a shout of frustration echoed across the pitch:
"Will you stop messing around?!" Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Wood roared. "That's how we lose! Snape's refereeing this match, and he'll seize any excuse to deduct points from Gryffindor!"
A cat's vision is six times more sensitive than a human's. Even from a distance, Sean could clearly see the Weasleys, who were dive-bombing each other and pretending to fall off their brooms, widen their eyes in shock.
George Weasley actually slipped and fell.
"Snape's refereeing?" he asked, spitting mud. "When has he ever refereed a Quidditch match? If we have a chance to beat Slytherin, he won't be fair."
The other players landed near George, complaining loudly.
"It can't be helped," Wood said. "We just have to make sure we follow every rule. Then Snape won't have an excuse to bother us."
Sean realized the Forbidden Forest plotline was about to unfold, leading to the arrival of the Norwegian Ridgeback—Nobert.
Unfortunately, Hagrid didn't emerge from the edge of the forest before Sean had to return to the castle. Sean knew Hagrid would eventually come back to the castle kitchens for supplies, so he remained patient.
In the early evening, Sean leaped up the stairs. Passing a suit of armour, he caught a glimpse of several Slytherins leaving the dungeon area. He paid them no mind and quickly slipped back into the Room of Hope. Neville was improving rapidly with charms, patiently taught by Hermione. Sean, the Expert, offered solutions to their trickier questions.
Early Morning.
The January cold was fiercely blocked by the castle's thick stone walls.
Torches sputtered in iron sconces in the corridor. Near the Fat Lady's portrait, several first-years rubbed their hands, grinning as their breath fogged the cold air.
Inside the common room, the fireplace roared, warming the deep red armchairs and thick rug.
A black cat sat with its eyes closed, attempting to use its long, white whiskers to sense its surroundings.
A cat's whiskers were highly evolved sensory organs, performing core functions like navigation, spatial measurement, balance, environmental sensing, emotion display, and hunting assistance. They could even detect minute changes in air currents.
Incredibly powerful.
But Sean couldn't replicate the full effect yet. That's why Professor McGonagall happily helped him master his Animagus form every week.
The tabby cat sat elegantly on a small cushion transfigured from a book, watching the black cat accidentally bump its head. Her whiskers twitched slightly with amusement.
The black cat quickly mastered the whisker technique. Now, he had to practice squeezing through narrow gaps.
Just outside the door, in the corridor.
"Neville Longbottom! I've been looking for someone to practice this charm on, and you look like the perfect candidate! Come here!" a platinum-blonde Slytherin shouted.
His two cronies snickered.
Neville's round face filled with terror. He instinctively took a step forward, then stopped.
"I—I don't want trouble," Neville mumbled, stuttering badly.
Malfoy's sneering continued:
"Ah, I remember the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They only pick people they pity. Potter, no parents. The Weasleys, no money. You should join too, Neville Longbottom. Because you have no brains."
Neville's face flushed crimson. He raised his head, facing Malfoy.
"You shouldn't say that..."
The moment his shaky voice began, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle erupted in mocking laughter.
(End of Chapter)
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