"We Never Use Transfiguration to Punish Students"

Hermione asked in disbelief, "Irina, where did you get catnip?!"

Irina stuck out her tongue and leaned close to Hermione's ear. "When I was studying ahead at home over the summer, I heard about an advanced form of Transfiguration called Animagus, which can turn wizards into small animals. And among the Animagi registered with the Ministry of Magic in England is Professor McGonagall, who can turn into a kitty!"

Irina's breath brushed Hermione's earlobe, making her pretty face flush slightly.

But after hearing Irina's words, Hermione looked even more incredulous. "So you knew that tabby cat was Professor McGonagall, and you still did that?!"

As a model student, Hermione simply could not imagine doing what Irina had done.

Irina grinned. "Oh, come on. Who could refuse an adorable kitty Head of House?"

Hermione could not help rolling her eyes.

Oh, Merlin's lace stockings!

Just as Hermione was about to say more, she seemed to spot something utterly terrifying and immediately fell silent.

Irina, however, noticed nothing and continued, "If Professor McGonagall hadn't transformed back so quickly, I'd even prepared cat treats and a teaser wand!"

Just as Irina was speaking enthusiastically, a hand landed on her shoulder.

Irina immediately froze. Her head turned backward inch by inch.

"Oh? Would Miss Lowell care to let me see these cat treats and teaser wand of yours?"

Professor McGonagall looked at her with a faint smile. Her tightly clenched right hand revealed the anger she was holding back.

Seeing the helpless look on Hermione's face, Irina forced out a smile. "Professor, would you believe me if I said you heard wrong?"

Professor McGonagall's gaze sharpened. "Do you think I would?"

Under Professor McGonagall's murderous stare, Irina suppressed the urge to say, Do you think I think you would? and lowered her head.

Just as the classroom fell into a deathly silence, two boys burst clumsily through the door, rescuing Irina from the situation.

With her head lowered, Irina watched Professor McGonagall turn toward the classroom door from the corner of her eye and finally let out a breath of relief.

Thank you, Harry and Ron!

Having been caught arriving late, Harry and Ron immediately stood where they were and waited for Professor McGonagall's reprimand.

"Perhaps I should turn Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley into a pocket watch. Then at least one of you would be on time!"

Professor McGonagall spoke sternly to the two of them.

Harry defended himself. "Professor, we got lost."

Professor McGonagall said noncommittally, "Then perhaps I should turn you into a map. Surely you don't need a map to find your seats?"

With that, Professor McGonagall sent the two of them back to their seats.

Irina cautiously raised her head to look at them and murmured so quietly that even she could barely hear it, "We never use Transfiguration to punish students..."

Just then—

"Irina, stay behind after class!"

Professor McGonagall said it without even turning around.

"I'm done for!" Irina wailed as she threw herself into Hermione's arms, leaving the red-faced Hermione at a complete loss.

At lunch, Irvin Fleury leaned over and whispered, "Did you hear? That Gryffindor first-year named Lowell actually stuffed catnip into Professor McGonagall's Animagus form! I'm so jealous... pfft, I mean, it's unbelievable!"

Linley shot him a glance. "Are you a Hufflepuff? Since when did you like gossip so much?!"

Although Linley appeared calm on the surface, a storm was raging in his heart.

Damn, she actually dared to give Professor McGonagall catnip?!

I seriously wouldn't dare pull something like that!

So envi—pfft, that's completely insane!

But could that Irina be a transmigrator too?!

Linley pondered suspiciously. He turned his head to glance at the silver-haired girl chatting and laughing with Hermione at the Gryffindor table. Her delicate features and clear laughter drew the surrounding Gryffindor boys to turn and look at her.

Linley shook his head.

Forget it. Even if that Irina Lowell is a transmigrator too, she isn't much of a threat to me right now.

This school year, my greatest threat is still Voldemort behind Quirrell's head!

At that thought, Linley subconsciously glanced at Quirrell on the High Table.

That garlic head was wrapped in a thick turban, and it stank like an old woman's foot-binding cloth.

Could this Quirrell be a double agent or something?!

Voldemort's ability to endure that smell is honestly admirable!

Linley grumbled inwardly.

At three-thirty in the afternoon came Hogwarts' first Flying lesson for first-year students.

Irina, Hermione, and the other Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years hurried down the steps to the grounds outside, ready for their first Flying lesson.

By then, most of the young wizards had already arrived. Harry and Ron stood beside Irina and Hermione; the four had met earlier in a compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Madam Hooch, the Flying lesson instructor, arrived. She had short gray hair and yellow eyes like an eagle's.

"Well, what are you all waiting for?" she said sharply. "Everyone stand beside a Flying Broomstick. Quickly, quickly, no time to waste!"

Irina looked at the Flying Broomsticks beside everyone's feet. They were old and battered, with some twigs sticking out at all angles. She was afraid they might come apart in midair.

"Stretch out your right hand over the broom handle," Madam Hooch called from the front, "and say, 'Up!'"

The young wizards cried out, "Up!"

Irina instinctively shouted, "Pigeon!"

Hermione looked puzzled. "What does that have to do with pigeons?"

Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Irina hurriedly called out again, "Up!"

Up was pronounced "UP," but Irina would never admit that she thought every "UP" meant pigeon!

As everyone spoke, Harry's broom immediately jumped into his hand, while Hermione's merely rolled over on the ground. As for Neville's broom, it did not move at all.

The broom at Irina's feet floated up a little, only to quickly fall back down.

But Irina, utterly shameless, kicked it near the bristles as it dropped. The broom spun once in the air before she caught it in her hand.

Madam Hooch then demonstrated how to mount a broom without sliding off the end.

She walked up and down the line, correcting the young wizards' hand positions.

Soon, it was time for them to practice.

"All right, when I blow my whistle, you kick off hard with both feet and leave the ground," Madam Hooch said. "Hold the broom steady, rise a few feet, then lean forward slightly and come straight back down. Listen for my whistle! Three! Two! One!"

But things did not go as Madam Hooch had hoped. Before the whistle could sound, the extremely nervous Neville instinctively kicked off, sending himself flying into the air.

"Come back, child!" Madam Hooch shouted.

Neville shot straight upward like a cork popping from a bottle.

His terrified, pale face stared down at the rapidly receding ground below. He gasped with his mouth wide open and slipped off one side of the broom handle.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Knowing what would happen, Irina swiftly cast the Levitation Charm. Her spell landed precisely on Neville, greatly slowing his fall.