The Wheelchair War God Speedruns Hogwarts

"I knew it!" Harry clenched her fists excitedly. "That rumor must be true!"

"Or maybe you heard someone's nonsense during the day and got so scared that you had nightmares at night." Hermione maintained her usual skepticism.

Vera shook her head. "No, I really saw something... outside the window."

She deliberately kept it vague. She did not want to drag them into danger, but she hoped to make them more vigilant.

Hearing how certain she was, even Hermione could not help growing nervous. "Really? Did you tell a professor?"

"I told Madam Pomfrey. She went to find Professor McGonagall," Vera said softly. "...But I don't know whether Professor McGonagall found anything."

After all, she had only just woken up.

For a moment, Harry and Hermione exchanged uneasy glances.

Vera studied them in confusion, then suddenly realized something and hurriedly sat up. "Did something happen to Professor McGonagall?"

"Don't worry!" Hermione quickly reassured her. "Professor McGonagall is perfectly fine. Nothing happened!"

Vera blinked and said nothing more.

She truly was worried. If McGonagall had investigated because of her warning and encountered Quirrell while he was trying to break into the Three-Headed Dog's room...

She knew the chances were low. After all, she had meant the third floor, while Quirrell had gone to the fourth. Besides, Professor McGonagall knew about the Three-Headed Dog and would not rashly investigate that room.

Still, she felt uneasy.

But seeing Harry and Hermione looking at her with concern, Vera pursed her lips and decided to change the subject first, drawing their attention elsewhere.

At the very least, they should stop dwelling on what had happened last night.

"By the way, have you made any progress looking into Nicolas Flamel?" she asked gently.

Hermione was immediately drawn in by the topic. "Not yet. There are too many books in the library. We need more time."

"It's okay. The three of us can find it if we work together!" Harry gripped their hands, her face utterly serious.

Vera secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had temporarily diverted their attention from Quirrell.

Just then, Madam Pomfrey walked in. "Miss Black, how are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you," Vera replied softly.

Madam Pomfrey examined her and nodded in satisfaction. "Phoenix Tears worked well. Your condition is much more stable than before."

"Really?" Harry could not help asking hopefully. "Then the other problems...?"

Madam Pomfrey's expression became somewhat regretful. Though she said nothing, they all understood.

Harry bit her lip and instinctively tightened her grip on Vera's hand. "Take it slowly. Things will get better."

"Yes, we'll always be here." At a time like this, Hermione could only offer a few dry words of comfort.

Vera nodded calmly. She had expected this outcome long ago, so she did not feel particularly disappointed.

After that, Madam Pomfrey gave her a few more instructions before allowing her to leave the Hospital Wing.

Harry pushed the wheelchair as the three of them headed toward the Great Hall.

Along the way, Harry and Hermione discussed the strange events of last night and how they should continue investigating Nicolas Flamel.

Vera listened quietly, but her thoughts had already drifted far away—Voldemort's patience was running out. He would certainly take more aggressive action.

An injured Voldemort, an increasingly unstable Quirrell... If the three of them ran into them unprepared, who knew what even more uncontrollable dangers might follow?

Even though Vera knew there was a good chance everything was under Dumbledore's control, she could not simply let them put themselves in danger.

At times like this, every bit of strength meant a little more safety.

Taming the Three-Headed Dog had to be put on the agenda.

When they arrived at the Great Hall, breakfast had already begun. Students gathered in small groups, enjoying the leisurely weekend morning.

Quirrell's seat was still empty, which was not surprising. Almost every week, he missed a meal once or twice, and everyone had grown used to it.

But when Vera saw that Professor McGonagall's seat was empty as well, her heart still sank.

She instinctively straightened up and searched the teachers' table for Dumbledore.

Fortunately, the silver-haired old man was sitting safely in the seat of honor, eating breakfast while talking with Professor Flitwick.

She relaxed a little.

If Dumbledore was here at a time like this, then nothing major should have happened.

"Vera?" Harry noticed something was off. "What's wrong?"

Following her gaze toward the teachers' table, Hermione could not help saying in surprise, "Professor McGonagall isn't here... She almost never misses a meal."

Harry noticed it too and immediately grew nervous. "Could it have something to do with last night?"

Vera picked up a glass of milk and took a sip. Only after her emotions gradually settled did she speak slowly. "I have some Transfiguration questions I want to ask Professor McGonagall. Would you like to come with me?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances and immediately understood Vera's intent.

"Of course!" Harry nodded quickly.

The three hurriedly finished breakfast and left the Great Hall.

Harry pushed Vera's wheelchair as they headed for the office of Gryffindor's head on the second floor.

"If the professor isn't in her office," Hermione said as they walked, trying to soothe Vera's worries, "that doesn't necessarily mean something happened. Maybe she just had something urgent to deal with."

Vera nodded silently. She hoped so too.

When they arrived outside Professor McGonagall's office, the door was tightly shut.

Harry stepped forward and knocked gently. Footsteps sounded from within, and Snape emerged. When he saw that Harry was the one knocking, his expression froze for a moment.

Author's note: How about a poll? Besides Harry and Hermione, who else would you like to see have a romance route with Vera?

Cho Chang

Luna

Pheobe

Ginny

A certain fifth-year transfer student

Finally Flying Together

Snape looked down at the three girls from above, his gaze sweeping over Vera in the wheelchair before lingering on Harry's face for a moment.

"Miss Potter," he drawled, "what are you doing here?"

Harry instinctively straightened her back. "Professor, we... we came to see Professor McGonagall."

"We came to ask the professor some questions about Transfiguration," Vera added slowly.

Snape narrowed his eyes, his gaze settling on Vera. "Miss Black, if I recall correctly, you only underwent treatment yesterday."

Vera calmly met his gaze. "Yes. I feel much better now. Thank you for your concern, Professor."

A complicated emotion flashed through Snape's eyes before he said coldly, "I thought Madam Pomfrey would have you rest for another day, rather than let you run around everywhere."

Harry could not help explaining, "Madam Pomfrey already allowed Vera to leave, Professor."

At her interruption, Snape's expression darkened further.

It was unclear whether he had remembered the Troll incident, or merely thought of... another Potter and Black pairing.

He glanced at Harry, then turned to go back inside. "Professor McGonagall has important matters to handle. Now return to your common room."

"Wait, Professor!" Seeing this, Hermione gathered her courage and called after him. "Did another animal break into the castle? We heard—"

"Enough!" Snape spun around and cut her off sharply. "Five points from Gryffindor for your baseless speculation and for disturbing a professor at work."

Harry wanted to argue, but Vera gently tugged on her sleeve, signaling for her to look inside the doorway.

The office door opened again, and Professor McGonagall stepped out. Her face was pale, but her expression remained composed. "Children, what are you doing here?"

Seizing the chance, Hermione quickly stepped forward. "Professor, we have some Transfiguration questions we would like to ask you."

Professor McGonagall looked at the three girls, then at Snape, seeming to understand something. "I see. Severus, we will discuss this later."

Snape gave a cold snort and strode away.

Professor McGonagall ushered the three girls into her office. "Come in, children."

They carefully squeezed inside. The fireplace burned warmly, its glow driving away the chill of early winter.

Professor McGonagall's office was simply and warmly arranged. From the window of the small room, they could see the Quidditch Pitch.

"Sit down," Professor McGonagall said, pointing to the small sofa in front of her. "What would you like to ask?"

Vera wheeled herself closer, her gaze resting on Professor McGonagall for a moment.

She looked tired, but showed no signs of injury.

"Professor," Vera said softly, "are you all right?"

Professor McGonagall paused slightly, then smiled gently. "I'm fine, Miss Black. Also, I should commend you. You did the right thing last night. When you encounter anything suspicious, you should report it to a professor immediately."

Harry could not help pressing further. "Professor, did something really break into the castle last night?"

Professor McGonagall's expression turned serious. "Miss Potter, the professors will handle these matters. Please rest assured that the castle is safe now. You only need to focus on your studies."

It was obvious that asking further would not yield any more information. In any case, Vera had only wanted to confirm that McGonagall was safe.

"Alright, Professor." She nodded, then actually pulled a Transfiguration-related book from beneath her wheelchair.

"I've recently encountered some difficulties while practicing Transfiguration, and I wanted to ask about some of the principles discussed in this book."

Professor McGonagall glanced at the copy of "Advanced: The Wonderful Uses of Transfiguration" Vera had taken out, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Miss Black, this does not seem to be a book for someone your age."

"Yes, Professor," Vera admitted frankly. "I'm very interested in Transfiguration and wanted to learn more."

Seeing her earnest expression, Professor McGonagall's face softened. "It is good to be interested in Transfiguration, but you must proceed step by step."

She took the book, flipped to the page Vera had marked, and began explaining patiently. She even demonstrated several Transfiguration techniques.

Harry and Hermione leaned in to listen as well. Though some of the material was still too profound for them, Professor McGonagall explained it vividly enough that they listened with great interest.

Half an hour later, the three finally left Professor McGonagall's office.

"Remember," she instructed them sternly before they left, "if you discover anything unusual, inform a professor immediately. Do not act on your own."

The three nodded obediently and left the office.

The moment they stepped outside, Harry lowered her voice impatiently. "Professor McGonagall is definitely hiding something from us! And Professor Snape was there too. They must have been discussing last night!"

Hermione shrugged. "But the professors do not seem to want us to know about it..."

Vera thought for a moment. "Maybe they want to avoid causing panic. After all, the Troll incident was not that long ago."

She was now basically certain that Quirrell had indeed tried to break into the Three-Headed Dog's room last night, but the professors had discovered and stopped him in time.

As for what Professor McGonagall and Snape had been discussing, it was either potion treatment or information related to her, perhaps how to strengthen the defenses.

"What do we do now?" Harry asked. "Keep investigating Nicolas Flamel?"

"Of course." Hermione nodded. "We can't exactly go into the Forbidden Forest to find the animal that broke in. Other than returning to the library, we have no other leads."

Of course, that was also because Hagrid had clearly become much busier lately. He did not even have time for afternoon tea with them.

Since they could not ask Hagrid for information, there was naturally no new information for them to uncover.

Vera had no objections. "Mm, let's go to the library."

The three went to the library and found a quiet corner to sit in.

Hermione immediately began going through the books she had marked earlier. Harry, meanwhile, seemed distracted. She kept reading for a while, then drifting off and staring out the window.

"Harry?" Vera called softly. "What's wrong?"

Harry bit her lip and hesitated for a while before speaking. "The weather is really nice today, and it's the weekend too."

"...Hm?" Vera blinked, not understanding what she meant.

Hermione could not stand it anymore and reminded her helplessly, "She means she wants to take you flying."

Vera froze slightly and instinctively looked out the window—the sun was bright, and the breeze was gentle. It truly was perfect weather for flying.

Then she turned her head and saw Harry's bright, expectant eyes.

She pursed her lips and turned to look at Hermione.