"Today we will learn simple biological transfiguration, which is more difficult than ordinary object transfiguration. I need you all to pay extra attention—"
Professor McGonagall was lecturing at the front, while chalk automatically wrote down key points on the blackboard.
"—Alright, does anyone know how many dangers there are in biological transfiguration?"
The classroom was silent, unlike usual when a hand would eagerly shoot up. After a while, someone hesitantly raised their hand.
"Miss Mandy Brocklehurst?" Professor McGonagall encouraged her with a look.
Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw stood up: "There are four points in total. First, incomplete transfiguration can cause significant distress to the creature and lead it to attack the wizard; second..."
Vid lifted his head, glanced around the classroom, but didn't see that familiar brown-haired figure, although all the other Gryffindor students were present.
He asked Michael beside him, "Have you seen Hermione?"
Michael also lifted his head, took a look around, and guessed, "Is she feeling unwell and resting in the dormitory? You see, Professor McGonagall hasn't said anything."
The reasoning made sense, but Vid felt inexplicably uneasy.
At this moment, Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept over them, and the two immediately closed their mouths, not daring to say another word.
At the end of the class, the students rushed out. Vid pushed through the crowded corridor and found Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me, Potter, Weasley."
Seeing Vid walk straight towards them, Ron inexplicably took a step back, "W-what's up, Gray?"
"Have you seen Hermione?" Vid asked, "Why didn't she come to Transfiguration class?"
Harry instinctively looked at Ron, who showed a trace of unease on his face and said guiltily, "How would I know? We're not that close with Granger!"
Vid narrowed his eyes slightly, staring into Ron's eyes.
Ron lowered his eyes to avoid his gaze, pulled Harry along, and said in a blustering tone, "If you have nothing else, we're going to rest now!"
He dragged Harry away, but suddenly a voice came from behind—
"Harry Potter!"
Harry turned back to see Vid staring at him seriously, "Do you really not know what happened?"
Under his gaze, Harry felt like he was being exposed under the sunlight, feeling parched and uncomfortable.
He wanted to protect his friend but couldn't lie.
"Hermione, Hermione cried after Spell Class." Harry finally said softly, "We haven't seen her since—I'm really sorry."
He was eventually pulled away by Ron, leaving Vid standing there, motionless and frowning in thought.
However, time locked his memory, and he struggled to recall anything.
"Was it a quarrel?" Michael said knowingly, "Hermione's a bit too serious. It's not surprising she'd argue with those Gryffindors. Come on, she wouldn't miss the Halloween feast, we can ask her then what's going on."
Vid nodded.
Not far behind, Padma was thoughtfully tapping her fingers and then quickly caught up with her twin sister, whispering to her.
By evening, the Great Hall was newly decorated, with giant pumpkin lanterns floating beneath the ceiling, and the walls adorned with colorful skulls. Countless bats flew around the hall, sometimes swooping together like clouds, making the flames in the pumpkin lanterns flicker.
The feast hadn't started yet, but the students from the four houses had almost filled every seat, and the professors were arriving one after another. Dumbledore had even dressed in a Halloween-themed outfit—a pumpkin-colored robe with little bat patterns on his hat, chatting merrily with Professor McGonagall.
Vid scanned the Gryffindor table, but the lions were too lively. The Weasley twins were leading a group of boys running around, occasionally prompting exclamations and laughter. Despite staring for a long time, Vid couldn't find Hermione anywhere.
Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder, and before Vid turned around, he smelled a faint fragrance.
Padma squeezed Anthony, who had been sitting next to Vid, aside and leaned in to say, "I know where Granger went."
Vid asked, "She didn't attend the feast?"
"No." Padma tucked her hair behind an ear and whispered, "Pavarti—you know, Pavarti is my sister, she's in Gryffindor—she said after Spell Class, that Weasley guy badmouthed Granger—said she's like a nightmare or something."
"—Ron Weasley?" Michael leaned over, asking in surprise, "He's that bold?—I mean, Hermione didn't hex him on the spot?"
"She cried, cried in the bathroom for a long time." Padma emphasized, "—Really upset, wouldn't let anyone comfort her, Pavarti covered for her during the afternoon Transfiguration class. I just went around the bathroom, and Granger's still in there."
"I'll go check." Vid immediately stood up.
Padma eagerly said, "I'll take you."
"—But the feast is about to start, I didn't eat much at noon just for this meal." Michael grumbled, seeing Vid striding outside the hall, finally sighed and got up to follow at a small trot.
As the students continued arriving at the Great Hall, a few heading in the opposite direction were quite noticeable. At the Gryffindor table, Harry inadvertently saw Vid's figure leaving the hall. He had been immersed in the cheerful Halloween atmosphere, completely forgetting the earlier events, but at this moment it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and his memory instantly revived.
"Ron!" He grabbed his friend's arm, asking, "Has Hermione not returned yet?"
Excited about the upcoming feast, Ron didn't seem to care much: "Seems so—why?"
"I just saw Gray and them leaving—is it to find Hermione?" Harry said.
"Could be, Granger's on good terms with them. Anyway, they're looking for her, so you don't need to worry." Ron said indifferently.
He was really fed up with Hermione's lectures—though he felt a bit guilty seeing her tears at the time, that guilt had long faded over time, while the annoyance from Hermione's constant "advice" had only deepened.
"But—" Harry hesitated, "They're all Ravenclaws, but Hermione's like us, a Gryffindor!"
A bat controlled by Fred's wand landed on Ron's head, causing a burst of laughter around them. Ron, busy driving away the bat, didn't catch what Harry said.
Harry hesitated for a moment, but ultimately left his seat before the feast began and ran out of the Great Hall. Dumbledore and Snape simultaneously turned their gaze, watching him leave.