A Day Trip to Gryffindor

"The most important thing about Transfiguration is that your belief must be firm enough, and you must also have a good understanding of your target."

Room of Requirement, Kyle transformed a table into a small, half-meter-tall stone statue and controlled it to cut an apple in front of it in half.

Not far away, Hermione diligently wrote down Kyle's words, even taking notes...

In fact, Kyle originally wanted to go to the flowerbed to check on the Venomous Tentacula, but he certainly couldn't say that in front of Hermione, so he just made up an excuse and said he needed to practice Transfiguration.

But Kyle forgot that Hermione was different from Harry and Ron; she was a top student, and a very curious one at that.

Kyle's ability to Transfiguration was something she had already witnessed at the Duelling Club.

That was also the first time Hermione directly felt just how big the gap was between herself and Kyle.

Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps out of concern that Kyle would discover their secret of brewing Polyjuice Potion, Hermione immediately expressed her desire to go along and observe from the sidelines.

Moreover, their attitude was very sincere.

Kyle was completely numb, but in order not to arouse suspicion, he had no choice but to agree to Hermione's request.

And so it turned out like this... He was forced to practice Transfiguration for more than half an hour in an empty room.

"It's not as difficult as you think."

Kyle picked up the half apple from the ground, took a bite, and handed the other half to Hermione.

"I suggest you observe the things around you more often and understand their specific structures... Of course, I don't mean seeing with your eyes, but with magic."

Hermione took a bite of her apple and said thoughtfully, "Like those statues you turned into?"

"To keep it simple, an apple, a table, or slippers will do."

Kyle shook his head. "Those statues are all magical creations, even involving ancient alchemy. It's difficult to analyze their structure with magic... at least I can't do it right now."

"In fact, I didn't transform into a stone statue, but rather into a suit of armor resembling a stone statue."

After Kyle's reminder, Hermione realized that the half-meter-tall "statue" did indeed have many gaps like those on armor, but they were well hidden and difficult to spot without careful observation.

"Did you learn all of this from the Transfiguration Club?"

Hermione asked, "I heard from Fred and George that you joined Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club. What's that like...? Is it the same as the Duelling Club?"

"The number of students will be much smaller, and it will only be for students in the third year and above. Professor McGonagall will cover a lot of material outside of the exams; you could consider it an advanced class of Transfiguration Class."

Kyle explained, "As for the rest, I can't say too much, otherwise it would be considered revealing the questions, which Professor McGonagall wouldn't allow."

Hermione looked somewhat disappointed.

"I'm going back." Kyle quickly packed his things and asked, "Are you going to stay here any longer?"

"No, thank you." Hermione shook her head. "I've already arranged with Harry and Ron to go to the library to do my homework today."

The two left the Room of Requirement together.

Kyle had planned to come back after Hermione returned, but he ran into Fred and George as soon as he got near the stairs.

Each of them was carrying a large amount of food, indicating they had just been in the kitchen.

"Kyle, what are you doing here!"

Fred said in surprise, "We looked for you at the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room."

"I ended up getting doused with vinegar!" George wrinkled his nose. "That felt awful; I didn't like the Christmas present at all."

The two of them had a faint sour smell, but their clothes and hair were dry, so they must have been cleansed with magic beforehand.

"Since you're here, come with us."

Christmas is more fun when everyone's together!

The two approached Kyle from either side and led him forward without saying a word.

The Gryffindor common room was also on the Seventh Floor, very close by, and the group soon arrived in front of a huge portrait.

The portrait depicts a plump lady who looks very kind.

"Password," she said.

"A heavenly sound."

"Thank you for your compliment..." The Fat Lady happily opened the passage.

"What did she just say?" Kyle asked, puzzled.

"The Fat Lady likes to sing," Fred said, "But she clearly doesn't have a talent for it."

"So she changed the password to this," George laughed. "Every time we come back, it's like we're praising her singing."

"Never mind that, Kyle."

Fred stepped across the passageway first, opening his arms and laughing loudly, "Welcome to the Gryffindor Common Room!"

Normally, students aren't allowed to go to other colleges, but it's the holidays now... so nobody cares.

Kyle was pushed in by George.

It was a bright, round room, predominantly red, with a high ceiling and surrounded by plush armchairs.

"How are you feeling?" Fred asked with a smile.

"Great," Kyle said, "But a little smaller than I expected."

"Is the Hufflepuff common room big?" Hermione asked curiously as she entered last.

Kyle nodded. "It's considerably bigger than here, but the ceiling is lower."

"After all, we're in different positions." George sat down in an armchair.

They knew something about this; the area downstairs only contained the kitchen and the Hufflepuff Common Room, so it was normal for it to be a bit larger.

Hermione nodded, not paying any attention.

She glanced around and asked, "Where are Harry and Ron?"

"I don't know, they probably haven't gotten up yet," Fred said. "I think they probably want to sleep until noon."

"Oh no, that won't do! We still have a lot of homework to do."

Hermione frowned and rushed into the boys' dormitory.

"I don't think Ron wants to do homework on the first day of vacation."

George handed Kyle a sandwich. "By the way, Kyle, we've already looked into what you told us before."

"What?"

George took a bite of his sandwich. "Remember when you told us that the behavior of the inheritor of the Chamber of Secrets would definitely change?"

Kyle nodded.

He remembered; he had indeed casually mentioned it during a previous chat, but he hadn't expected Fred and George to actually investigate it...

"Have you found out who it is?" Kyle asked.

"It's either not possible... or it's simply impossible to find."

Fred sighed.

"The castle has been attacked three times, and due to the panic, almost everyone is behaving differently than usual... Surely they can't all be the inheritors who opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Like Ron ..." George glanced towards the dormitory, "They almost never go to the library except to do homework..."

"But lately, he's been heading there as soon as class is over and not coming back until just before curfew... I even suspect Ron is under the influence of the Imperius Curse."

"Shut up, Fred!"

Just then, Ron arrived in the common room, rubbing his eyes. He sat down in an armchair and said irritably, "If everyone thought you were the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets, you'd go to the library too... at least there no one will be staring at you like that."