Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and every item in the Transfiguration Club classroom immediately snapped back into place.
"You know why I asked you to stay behind, Mr. Trollope." She looked at Scott, who was standing nearby.
"Please rest assured, Professor," Scott assured her. "So far, I've never studied anything beyond what's in our textbooks."
Professor McGonagall looked into his eyes. "But you're very interested in Mr. Weasley's theory."
"I am interested in the conjecture Mr. Weasley put forward in his paper." Scott met Professor McGonagall's gaze without flinching. "But I won't study it in depth until I've thoroughly mastered the material covered in our school courses."
"Good. I trust you, Mr. Trollope."
Professor McGonagall looked away first.
She had taught Scott for three years and knew his usual academic goals quite well. She knew that he valued a solid foundation above all else.
"That's enough for today."
Professor McGonagall turned and led the way out of the club classroom.
Scott left the classroom too, and exchanged goodnights with Professor McGonagall in the corridor.
"Oh, right." Professor McGonagall stopped as she turned away. "Mr. Trollope."
"Professor?" Scott stopped in his tracks.
"Professor Flitwick has bragged to me more than once about the birthday present you gave him early. And if I remember correctly, his birthday is October 17."
Professor McGonagall suddenly gave him a mischievous wink.
"But I thought I should remind you, Mr. Trollope, that your Transfiguration professor's birthday comes more than ten days before your Charms professor's."
With that, she walked straight into her office without looking back, leaving Scott standing alone in the corridor, dumbfounded.
Honestly, why did Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry professors like to compete with one another so much? They were all getting on in years.
Scott shook his head and turned toward the stairs.
Since Professor McGonagall had reminded him, it seemed he'd have to prepare an equally thoughtful gift. Besides, forgetting her birthday in the first place had been his mistake.
But more importantly... he thought it over carefully. Professor McGonagall's birthday was October 4, and it was only five days away!
So, what should he give her?
Scott pondered as he walked.
Would giving Professor McGonagall another painting on the same theme seem too perfunctory?
After all, he knew she had looked after him very well for the past three years, and her guidance in Transfiguration had gone beyond the duties of a school professor.
In Scott's eyes, as someone who had been Chinese in his previous life, that was the difference between a disciple and a student.
If Scott had simply given his professors presents at Christmas as he had in previous years, that would have been fine. But this time, he'd been eager to show off, and had used a birthday present as an excuse to give Professor Flitwick that painting. No wonder Professor McGonagall felt a little slighted.
Being too popular with your professors was a headache for a student.
Thinking rather highly of himself, Scott hurried down the stairs.
Meow...
At the sound of a cat, Scott's expression instantly soured, and he couldn't help pursing his lips.
Sure enough, Filch was striding down the first-floor corridor with his bony, ugly cat, Mrs. Norris.
The Magic Lamp in his hand lit up the bulging, lamp-like eyes of both man and cat.
"Curfew's almost here, Trollope." Filch gave Scott a malicious smile, baring his ugly teeth. "You'd better get a move on and run all the way back to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Otherwise, you'll be in detention starting tomorrow."
Although Filch had never caught Scott during his previous nighttime wanderings, and Scott had barely interacted with him, he wasn't surprised by the hostility Filch showed now.
He knew that the old Squib hated everyone who could learn magic with all his heart.
"Curfew's almost here? But it hasn't started yet, has it?" Scott gave Filch an obviously fake smile and quickened his pace as he passed him and Mrs. Norris.
Filch's angry voice followed him. "I'll catch you if you don't get back to the Ravenclaw Common Room on time..."
"Oh, if you can manage it," Scott replied carelessly.
Although curfew was indeed close, he didn't follow Filch's advice and run. Even if he did sneak out at night, Filch wouldn't catch him.
But he was still preoccupied with finding a birthday present and had no interest in sneaking out.
Yet when he left the castle's main building and passed through the Atrium, he stopped.
"Come out."
He spoke to the monster statue in the Atrium.
"Fred, George."
Two identical figures immediately stepped out from behind the statue, one on each side.
"Just as sharp as ever!"
"Ravenclaw's Hound!"
"...Since when did I get such an awful nickname?" Scott glared at them through gritted teeth. "You must have made it up just now!"
"It wasn't us!"
Fred protested loudly.
"It's been going around Ravenclaw these past few days!"
George added.
"How come I haven't heard about it?" Scott frowned.
He'd always thought he was fairly popular at Ravenclaw, so surely nobody would maliciously give him a nickname like that.
"We don't know who came up with it either."
"Maybe you could look into it yourself."
Fred and George spread their hands in unison, watching him with innocent expressions.
"Or ask Eddie."
"He definitely knows, but he didn't tell you!"
That was right. Eddie.
Scott nodded in agreement. That kid definitely knew about the nickname, but hadn't bothered to warn him.
Scott decided he'd settle the score with him as soon as he got back.
"Well, goodbye, you two."
Scott waved and turned to leave.
"It's a beautiful night, and curfew's almost here."
"Won't you join us for a pleasant adventure?"
The Twins followed after him, inviting him along.
"No. Have fun."
Scott turned them down without hesitation.
"Then don't blame us..."
"...for not writing to introduce you to Bill."
The Twins grinned. They weren't in the Transfiguration Club, but they were clearly well-informed.
Scott kept walking. "It's fine. Percy already agreed to help me."
"Percy?" Fred sighed theatrically.
George said smugly, "Obviously, Bill likes us better than Percy."
Scott ignored them. Right now, he was more interested in finding out who'd given him a dog-related nickname.
But the Twins kept chattering in his ear.
"And we're not sure Mum and Dad would accept Bill getting a boyfriend."
"Maybe we could help you persuade them."
Scott felt the veins in his forehead start to throb. Unable to take it anymore, he pulled his wand from his robes.
But as soon as he turned around, the Twins ran off, laughing.
Scott took a deep breath.
Very well. This was England!
He hurried toward Ravenclaw Tower, suddenly feeling an urgent desire to find a girlfriend.
Before you continue