Harry Potter: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me from Studying

"Today we'll be learning basic Transfiguration of living things, which is more difficult than regular object Transfiguration. I need you to pay extra close attention—"

Professor McGonagall lectured at the front, chalk writing the key points automatically on the blackboard.

"—Alright, does anyone know how many dangers there are in Transfiguring living things?"

The classroom was quiet, unlike usual when a hand would eagerly shoot up. After a moment, someone hesitantly raised a hand.

"Miss Mandy Brocklehurst?" Professor McGonagall looked at her encouragingly.

Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw stood up: "There are four points. First, incomplete Transfiguration will greatly agitate the creature, causing it to attack the wizard; second..."

Wade looked up, scanning the classroom, but didn't see the brown-haired figure, though the other Gryffindor students were present.

He asked Michael next to him, "Have you seen Hermione?"

Michael also looked around, guessing, "Is she feeling unwell and resting in the dorm? See, Professor McGonagall didn't say anything."

That made sense, but Wade felt inexplicably uneasy.

Just then, Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept their way, and the two immediately fell silent, not daring to speak further.

When class ended, students poured out. Wade pushed through the crowded corridor and found Harry and Ron.

"Excuse me, Potter, Weasley."

Seeing Wade walk straight towards them, Ron inexplicably took a step back. "Wh-what is it, Gray?"

"Have you seen Hermione?" Wade asked. "Why wasn't she in Transfiguration class?"

Harry instinctively looked at Ron, whose face flickered with unease. He said guiltily, "How would I know? We're not close with Granger!"

Wade narrowed his eyes slightly, looking directly into Ron's eyes.

Ron lowered his gaze, avoiding his stare, and tugged on Harry's arm, saying in a blustering tone, "If you don't have anything else, we're going to rest!"

He pulled Harry away, but then a voice suddenly came from behind them—

"Harry Potter!"

Harry turned back to see Wade staring at him seriously. "Do you really not know what happened?"

Under his gaze, Harry felt as if he was being dragged into direct sunlight, his mouth dry.

He wanted to defend his friend, but he couldn't lie.

"Hermione, Hermione she cried, after Charms class," Harry finally whispered. "We haven't seen her since—I'm really sorry."

He was finally pulled away by Ron. Wade stood still, motionless, frowning in thought.

However, time had locked away his memory; he tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.

"They must have had a fight, right?" Michael said knowingly. "Hermione's personality is a bit too serious; it's not surprising if she argued with those Gryffindors. Come on, she wouldn't miss the Halloween feast, surely. We can ask what happened then."

Wade nodded.

Not far behind them, Padma tapped her fingers thoughtfully, then quickly caught up to her twin sister, whispering to her.

In the evening, the Great Hall was newly decorated. Giant pumpkin lanterns floated below the ceiling, and colorful skeletons adorned the walls. Countless bats swirled and flew around the Hall, sometimes gathering together and whistling past like dark clouds, making the flames in the pumpkin lanterns flicker.

The feast hadn't begun yet, but students from all four houses had almost filled every seat, and the professors were arriving one after another. Dumbledore had even changed into a Halloween-themed outfit—he wore pumpkin-colored robes with small bat patterns on his hat, chuckling as he spoke to Professor McGonagall beside him.

Wade scanned the Gryffindor table, but the lions were too boisterous. The Weasley twins were running around with a few boys, and shouts and laughter constantly erupted. Wade watched for a long time but couldn't find Hermione anywhere.

Just then, someone suddenly patted his shoulder. Before Wade could turn around, he smelled a faint fragrance.

Padma squeezed Anthony, who was sitting next to him, aside and leaned closer. "I know where Granger went."

Wade asked, "She's not at the feast?"

"No," Padma said, brushing a strand of hair from her temple, whispering, "Parvati said—oh, you should know, Parvati's my sister, she's in Gryffindor—she said after Charms class, that Weasley fellow spoke ill of Granger—said she was like a nightmare or something."

"—Ron Weasley?" Michael leaned his head over, asking in surprise, "He's got that much nerve?—I mean, didn't Hermione immediately hit him with a jinx?"

"She cried, in the bathroom, for a long time," Padma emphasized. "—She was extremely upset, and wouldn't let anyone comfort her. Parvati got her excused from Transfiguration this afternoon. I just went to the bathroom area, and Granger is still in there."

"I'll go check," Wade immediately stood up.

Padma eagerly said, "I'll take you."

"—But the feast is about to start; for this meal, I barely ate anything at lunch," Michael grumbled. Seeing Wade striding quickly, almost out of the Great Hall, he finally sighed and stood up, jogging to catch up.

As students continued to arrive at the Great Hall, a few individuals walking against the flow stood out. At the Gryffindor table, Harry accidentally caught sight of Wade leaving the Great Hall. He had been immersed in the joyful Halloween atmosphere and had completely forgotten about what happened earlier, but at that moment, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and his memory instantly revived.

"Ron!" He grabbed his friend's arm. "Hermione still hasn't come back, has she?"

Ron, eagerly anticipating the feast, didn't pay much attention. "I guess so—what's up?"

"I just saw Gray and them leaving—are they going to find Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Maybe, Granger gets along with them pretty well. Anyway, they're going to find her, so don't worry," Ron said indifferently.

He was truly fed up with Hermione's lecturing—although he felt a little guilty when he saw the girl's tears at the time, that guilt had long since disappeared after so long. Instead, the aversion caused by Hermione's condescending "advice" over and over was much deeper.

"But—" Harry hesitated. "They're Ravenclaws, but Hermione's a Gryffindor, just like us!"

A bat, controlled by Fred with his wand, landed on Ron's head, amidst a chorus of laughter. Ron was busy shooing away the bat and didn't notice what Harry said.

Harry hesitated for a moment, then finally left his seat before the feast began, running out of the Great Hall. Dumbledore and Snape almost simultaneously turned their gazes, watching him leave.