As a group of Ravenclaw witches walked into the Transfiguration Classroom, Kael hurriedly followed them, walking towards the podium with them, everything appearing so natural.
When he reached the second row, there was only one little witch left in front of Kael.
And there was only one step left to the podium.
Kael's hand in his pocket tightly gripped the package of dried fish. Although he was extremely nervous inside, he still maintained a calm and composed appearance on the outside.
Just as Kael was about to take out the fish and unlock an achievement, he suddenly realized that the Ravenclaw little witch in front of him seemed to have the same idea.
Because Kael was closer, he could even see a green object slowly being taken out of her pocket.
Is that... a cat toy stick??
"Oh no, someone beat me to it!"
Kael's vision went black, and he was completely numbed.
No need to think, as soon as that little witch took out the cat toy stick, Meowgonagall would surely turn back into Professor McGonagall.
The plan he had thought about for so long was utterly foiled!
"Damn it, I should have acted immediately instead of overthinking!"
Kael lamented inwardly, regretfully pounding his leg, wishing he could use the Time Turner to go back five minutes and give his past self a good kick.
But at this point, nothing could be done, so Kael could only sigh, move to the left, and sit in the first row.
As if he originally intended to sit there.
Meanwhile, the little witch that Kael resented had already reached the podium, her hand completely out of her pocket.
But just then, the tabby cat on the podium suddenly smiled. With a gentle push of its hind leg on the table, it transformed back into Professor McGonagall in the blink of an eye.
"Miss Leona, having compassion is a good trait, but as a wizard, maintaining keen insight is clearly more important."
Professor McGonagall appeared next to the new student named Leona, speaking while gently patting her on the shoulder, pressing her hand holding the cat toy stick back into her pocket.
"Pro, Pro, Pro...fessor McGonagall." The little witch was clearly startled, stammering as she spoke.
"It's me, if you observed carefully, you would have noticed the markings around the cat's eyes are identical to the square glasses I wear." Professor McGonagall said calmly, "Now, can you return to your seat? We need to start the class."
No deducted points or stern scolding, because to Professor McGonagall, Leona's behavior was just as unsurprising as a freshman being late.
She had worked at Hogwarts for half her life, and the tradition of demonstrating the Animagus in the first class had been ongoing for seven to eight years. During this period, she had seen many freshmen like Leona.
Those who teased cats, fed cats, petted cats... there were all kinds.
Of course, Professor McGonagall had never allowed them to succeed.
Without true skill, how could such a tradition continue for so long? Did they really think her title of the contemporary Transfiguration master was bought with money?
Not to mention, a cat's reaction time is much faster than a wizard's. If she could be caught by these freshmen, she would have no face to stay at Hogwarts and would rather resign.
After Leona was helped back by her Ravenclaw classmates, Professor McGonagall skillfully waved her wand, using a simple calming charm to help her regain calmness.
"Calm and Tranquil."
The charm worked wonders, and Leona immediately stopped trembling, her once pale face gaining more color.
"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, I didn't know it was you."
"Let it not happen again."
Professor McGonagall returned to the podium, but as she passed the first row, she casually glanced at Kael.
She initially suspected that Kael had the same intentions as Leona, but soon noticed that after she lifted the Animagus form, Kael didn't show an incredulous expression.
It seemed that Kael probably recognized her Animagus form from the start and had purely wanted to sit in the first row.
Indeed, she shouldn't have trusted Weasley's words, Kael really was a smart and eager learner.
...
After returning to the podium, Professor McGonagall looked at the little wizards below and said sternly, "Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts.
If anyone dares to fool around in my class, I will invite him out and never allow him back in. I have warned you all."
As soon as Professor McGonagall spoke, the entire room fell silent instantly. At the same time, Kael finally felt relieved.
A close call, thanks to Leona. If it wasn't for her, it would have been him making a fool of himself publicly just now.
Kael decided to tell Cho after class that whether Leona wanted to buy a map or not, he would pay to give her one.
He couldn't let a good person be disheartened.
The joy of surviving a crisis made Kael's note-taking much more lively, and even the tedious Gamp's Basic Transfiguration Law sounded more pleasant.
However, unlike him, sitting in the first row, Conna was currently feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Conna couldn't understand why, even after sitting in the first row, she still encountered Kael when the student he came with was sitting at the back.
Could it be just a coincidence?
But that didn't make sense; she clearly remembered they were roommates. Had she not known this, she would never have dared to sit in the first row.
But what was happening now?
She was sitting in the first row, with Kael beside her... the worst and the even worse together?
Conna's mind was in chaos, mechanically jotting down Professor McGonagall's words without realizing she had been writing in the wrong lines.
On the podium, Professor McGonagall continued talking about transfiguration precautions, oblivious to the two little wizards just under her nose acting unusually.
"Alright, that's all for Gamp's Basic Transfiguration Law. Everyone must remember this; it's fundamental to Transfiguration."
On the podium, Professor McGonagall finished all the necessary notes and once again reminded everyone:
"Remember, Transfiguration is a precise subject. When you wave your wand, you must focus, like this..."
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, turning the podium into a pig.
It looked no different from a normal pig, capable of running and jumping, with all parts intact. When it noticed all eyes on it, the pig squealed in fear.
This trick left the freshmen dumbfounded.
Especially those experiencing magic for the first time, finding it hard to believe that such a realistic animal was just a transformed table.
Everyone looked at Professor McGonagall eagerly, wishing they could start learning immediately.