The next day, Tuesday.
Today was Morris's third day at Hogwarts.
The first lesson that morning was History of Magic.
This was the class he was most interested in.
Not because he was interested in history, but because he had heard that the professor teaching it was a ghost.
Cuthbert Binns, Professor Binns.
A real, live ghost!
For someone as obsessed with ghosts as Morris, this was an enormous temptation.
After breakfast, he went straight to the History of Magic classroom, wanting to meet the ghost professor who had supposedly been there since the school's founding.
It was a very large classroom, big enough for all four houses to have lessons together.
But because he had arrived so early, it was empty, and Professor Binns naturally had not appeared yet either.
Morris could only choose a seat near the front, lay out his notebook and textbook, and wait patiently.
The History of Magic textbook was a book called "A History of Magic," written by Bathilda Bagshot. It was frighteningly thick and supposedly covered every major event in the Wizarding World from ancient times to the twentieth century.
He had already skimmed through the whole thing during the summer holidays.
He had to admit that its contents were extremely detailed and thorough.
Just a little boring.
While waiting, Morris leafed through a few pages, then closed his eyes and began meditating.
He was already very practiced at meditation and could even enter the state anytime, anywhere.
As his breathing steadied, his awareness began to sink inward, as though slipping into a tranquil lake.
The feeling was addictive every time.
"Hey-hey-"
After an unknown amount of time, Morris felt someone tapping on his desk.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw a familiar face.
"Do you need something, Hermione?"
Hermione set her enormous textbook on the desk beside Morris, her brows slightly furrowed. "I called you several times. Why didn't you answer?"
Morris could not be bothered to explain about meditation and replied casually, "I was asleep. Sorry."
Hermione did not know what to say.
The way Morris had looked just now-with his eyes closed but sitting perfectly straight-had given off a strange sense of tranquility, but he certainly had not looked asleep.
She studied him suspiciously for a few seconds, but in the end did not press him.
Morris had ignored her during their first meeting at the pet shop in Diagon Alley, too.
Though it was very rude, perhaps that was simply his personality.
"Anyway, why did you come so early?" Hermione sat down beside Morris and made conversation. "I thought I was early enough. I wanted to find a good seat and reread the chapter on the Goblin Rebellion before class."
"Same," Morris answered briefly.
He looked around and found that they were the only two people in the classroom, with almost half an hour left before class.
"Then have you read 'A History of Magic'?" Hermione said enthusiastically. "I finished my first read over the summer, and now I'm taking notes on my second read. The perspective in those chapters on the International Statute of Secrecy is particularly interesting. The emphasis is completely different from 'Important Modern Magical Discoveries'..."
"..."
Watching Hermione talk on and on, Morris felt that something was a little odd.
Was this what an eleven-year-old girl should be talking about?
Girls her age should be talking about dolls and gossip.
Could it be-
Was she a regressor or transmigrator too?
Morris made agreeing noises as he discreetly studied her.
As time passed, students began entering the classroom one after another.
History of Magic was a somewhat unusual class, with all four houses attending together, and the classroom soon grew crowded and noisy.
Harry and Ron entered the classroom in the last few minutes. They looked around the entire room and finally chose to sit behind Morris.
Morris turned around and greeted the red-haired boy. "Ron, is your leg better?"
Ron put his textbook on the desk and froze at the question. A trace of awkwardness crossed his face, but he quickly put on a relaxed expression. "Oh, that. It's fine. It pretty much recovered overnight. Thanks for asking... Morris."
He only remembered Morris's name after a pause-Harry had told him.
Besides, Fred had told him that morning that Morris was the actual owner of that Acromantula, and they had merely borrowed it.
That made him shudder involuntarily.
Someone who looked so friendly actually kept a spider as a pet. You really could not judge a book by its cover.
"That's good." Morris nodded, took a sweet from his pocket, and offered it to Ron. "I'm sorry I scared you last night. This is to make up for it. I got it from your two brothers. It tastes pretty good, but eating it will make your tongue-"
Before he could finish, Ron had already taken the sweet, immediately unwrapped it, and tossed it into his mouth.
"Wha-mmph-"
He was about to ask what Morris had said when he suddenly felt his tongue swelling uncontrollably.
His tongue quickly filled his entire mouth, leaving him unable even to close it. He could only make muffled "mmph, mmph" sounds.
His eyes went round, and he frantically covered his bulging cheeks with both hands, looking at Morris in horror.
Harry was startled and nearly jumped out of his chair. "Ron, your tongue!"
Seeing Ron's ridiculous yet pitiful appearance, Hermione was first stunned, then frowned at Morris in disapproval. "What did you give him?"
"Uh, the side effect only lasts half a minute. Don't worry." Morris felt a little helpless.
Why was this guy in such a hurry?
At least let me finish speaking.
About thirty seconds later, Ron's swollen tongue rapidly shrank back to its normal size like a deflating balloon.
Hermione was still somewhat displeased and spoke up for Ron. "You should have explained the side effect beforehand, Morris. Even if it's just a harmless joke, it's irresponsible."
Before Morris could speak, Ron himself waved a hand.
"It's fine." He smacked his lips, looking unconcerned. "The sweet tasted pretty good."
Compared with that baby Acromantula yesterday, this was nothing.
He was taking things very well now.
Besides, at that moment, he cared more about something else-
"Morris, do you know my two brothers?" he asked curiously.
"Yes." Morris nodded. "Fred and George. They're both decent people."
"Are you close?" he pressed.
"Fairly," Morris replied.
"I see." Ron sank into thought.
He was clearly a first-year, so why was he hanging around with Fred and George?
Just then, Hermione suddenly realized something. Her gaze swept over Morris, Harry, and Ron. "Come to think of it, did you three already know each other?"
She had noticed that Harry and Ron did not treat Morris like a stranger.
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance.
"There was a little accident," Harry said vaguely, glossing over it. "We met last night."
"I see." Hermione did not ask any further questions.