The next morning, the first rays of sunlight streamed through the tower window, illuminating the deep crimson bed curtains.
Hermione awoke to a strange sensation.
She felt as if something was wrapped around her; it was a bit heavy, but very warm.
She forced her eyes open, and the first thing that entered her view was a cascade of soft, silver-white long hair spread across the pillow.
A small figure was clinging to her like an octopus, using all four limbs, with a fluffy little head resting on her shoulder, sleeping soundly.
The fine fluff on the earlobes of those snow-white cat ears twitched slightly with steady breathing, clearly visible in the morning light.
Lia had reverted to her Cat-girl form at some point and was using Hermione as a giant body pillow.
Hermione: "..."
Her cheeks instantly flushed, turning red from her neck all the way to her earlobes.
She tried to move but found that Lia's fluffy long tail had somehow coiled around her waist, holding her quite tightly.
"Lia, wake up, we're going to be late," Hermione gently nudged her.
Lia only whimpered discontentedly in her sleep. Not only did she not let go, but she hugged tighter, rubbing her cheek dependently against Hermione's pajamas, murmuring incoherently in her sleep.
"Hermione... so warm... comfortable..."
It felt as if her heart had been gently bumped by something soft, and all rational urges got stuck in her throat.
"Don't... don't move around!" she whispered, gently pushing the little Cat-girl with her hand, feeling her cheeks grow hot. "Hurry up, we need to go eat breakfast, we can't be late on the first day!"
Just then, the bed curtain was gently pulled aside a little. Lavender Brown, sharing the room, poked her head in with a head full of messy blonde hair, her eyes still sleepy.
"Hermione, you're awake... Wow!"
Although her gasp wasn't loud, it was exceptionally clear in the quiet morning. Hermione reacted faster than her brain could process, abruptly pulling up the covers, enveloping herself and the cat together, wrapping herself into a giant spring roll.
"Don't make a sound!" Hermione lowered her voice, her cheeks so red they looked like they could bleed.
Lavender and Parvati, who peeked in right after her, exchanged a look full of 'we understand,' then covered their mouths and quietly retreated.
[Wow, I didn't expect our roommate to be so wild! On the very first night of school...]
[I totally underestimated her! But isn't that too young?]
[Should we pretend we didn't see anything?]
Suppressed giggles and deliberately light footsteps could be heard from outside.
Under the covers, feeling the warm, soft body in her arms while listening to the undisguised snickering outside, Hermione felt that her straight-A student career was facing an unprecedented, history-making crisis of social death on the very first day of school.
After a flurry of chaos, Hermione finally managed to 'peel' Lia off herself and taught her how to get dressed properly.
By the time they rushed to the Great Hall, breakfast was already underway.
Having learned from last night's experience, Hermione skillfully ignored all the stares directed at them and walked straight to the Gryffindor table.
"Good morning, Hermione! Good morning, Cat... Lia!" Ron greeted her indistinctly, his mouth full of sausage.
The familiar scene replayed itself at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione naturally pulled the plate in front of Lia over, picked up a piece of bread, added a slice of bacon and scrambled eggs, made a simple sandwich, then broke it into small pieces and placed it back on Lia's plate.
"Eat this."
The entire process was smooth and flowing, without any unnecessary words; she had already arranged things for Lia.
Lia looked at the food on her plate that she could eat directly with her hands without utensils. She gently picked up a small piece and ate it bit by bit, secretly glancing at Hermione next to her while eating.
Just then, the Weasley Twins 'happened' to pass by again, magically pulling out a small bag of exquisitely packaged Dried Fish from their pockets.
"Exclusive recipe, proudly produced by Weasleys Wizard Wheezes," Fred winked.
"Try some, little lady. Guaranteed to make you quit catnip," George added with exaggerated sincerity, his tone as dramatic as if he were reciting poetry.
Lia's nose twitched. That rich, slightly smoky fish aroma made her involuntarily swallow.
She looked back at Hermione. After receiving a helpless but tacit nod of approval, she cautiously extended a finger and pinched one.
The Dried Fish dissolved instantly in her mouth, the savory flavor exploding on her taste buds.
Lia's eyes instantly lit up.
"Delicious!"
This was the first time she had actively expressed heartfelt praise for a human other than Hermione.
Fred and George puffed out their chests and exchanged a proud look, as if they had just accomplished a great feat, feeling prouder than if they had received the order of merlin, first class.
The first class was Transfiguration, taught by the Gryffindor Dean, Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall's classroom was solemn and majestic, and she herself was known for her severity.
When she instantly transformed from a tabby cat squatting on the lectern into a stern-faced Witch in emerald green robes in mid-air, the entire classroom fell silent. Even Ron was so startled that he choked back the yawn he was about to let out.
"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous branches of magic you will study at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall's voice was clear and stern. "Anyone who causes trouble in my class will be sent out, and they won't be allowed back. I have warned you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the lectern instantly turned into a rampaging wild boar, and then transformed back into the original desk in the next second.
The first-years let out a collective gasp of amazement.
Lia was also stunned by the magical sight, her tail uncontrollably curling up in curiosity, like a giant question mark.
Today's lesson was to change a matchstick into a needle.
Hermione succeeded almost immediately; her matchstick became sharp and shiny, earning her a valuable point from Professor McGonagall.
When it was Lia's turn, she ran into difficulty.
She didn't have a magic wand at all.
She looked at the small matchstick on the desk, imitating Hermione, trying hard to concentrate. She imagined what a needle looked like—sharp, cold, capable of piercing things... "No."
The thought surfaced and was immediately cut off by herself. Sharp things reminded her of unpleasant memories.
She forced the image of a scalpel out of her mind and tried to imagine again. She thought of the sewing needles Hermione used to mend clothes, passing through fabric, rejoining torn parts.
It wasn't a weapon; it was a tool for repair.
She extended her finger and carefully touched the matchstick.
A faint stream of magic flowed out from her fingertips.
The matchstick on the desk began to twist and deform. But instead of turning into the needle Lia imagined, it transformed, amidst a soft white light, into a small ball of... fluffy, soft white yarn.
The yarn ball retained a faint scent of wood, rolled twice on the desk, and stopped next to Hermione's book.
The entire classroom fell silent.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the ball of yarn that had absolutely nothing to do with a 'needle.'
Ron was struggling to hold back laughter, his face turning bright red, while Harry stretched his neck out in surprise, eyes wide.
Professor McGonagall walked over, picked up the yarn ball, squeezed it, noting its realistic texture and stable magic.
She looked at the bewildered and helpless Lia, and then at her empty hands.
"Wandless magic... and it's a transformation purely driven by instinct, by pure emotion..." Professor McGonagall murmured to herself. A rare softening appeared on her severe expression, her eyes filled with surprise and deep thought. "Miss Granger, it seems your friend has more talent than we imagined, but... her magic has chosen a gentler path."
---------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!