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Professor McGonagall was stunned.
She had been transforming into a tabby cat for the first Transfiguration lesson for new students for many years.
Because this little trick, like the Sorting Ceremony, was required to be kept strictly confidential, she had been able to observe generation after generation of first years from a cat's perspective all these years.
It was quite amusing.
The vast majority of first years couldn't discern the mystery of the cat, assuming the teacher hadn't arrived yet, and would chatter loudly without restraint, not quieting down even when the class time arrived.
This year was no exception.
Perhaps due to Harry Potter's enrollment, this year's little lions were particularly excited, glancing towards Harry every few sentences.
Watching their behavior, McGonagall had even mentally prepared her concluding remarks for the end of the lesson:
"You are the worst class I have ever taught!"
But she never, ever expected that one day, she would be picked up by the scruff of her neck by a student.
Unbelievable!
Friends who often pet cats know that felines have a fatal weakness:
Once grabbed by the scruff of the neck, no matter how feisty or unruly they usually are, they become docile and compliant, allowing you to handle them as you please.
Cats in the wizarding world were no exception.
Furthermore, any wizard who transforms into an animal via Animagus transformation acquires the characteristics of that animal.
This tabby cat happened to be Professor McGonagall, transformed via the Animagus method.
So, in a moment of carelessness, she didn't dodge, and Sherlock ambushed her.
She wanted to resist but couldn't break free due to this feline instinct.
Just as her human side managed to overcome her animal instincts, Sherlock released the fateful scruff, placed her in his lap, and switched from grabbing to petting.
Sherlock's cat-petting technique was remarkably skilled. Light strokes, slow kneading, plucking, and stroking – soon, Professor McGonagall found herself completely immersed, unable to extricate herself.
"Sherlock, don't you think the markings around this cat's eyes look a lot like Professor McGonagall's glasses?"
After Sherlock had explained the difference between seeing and observing, Harry had been diligently trying to learn.
So, upon noticing this detail, he was quite excited.
He had heard that when pets are kept for a long time, the owner and pet start to resemble each other.
Sherlock had just said this wasn't Professor McGonagall's pet.
Now it seemed he was finally wrong this time!
Harry felt slightly smug, though he didn't say it aloud.
After all, Sherlock was so clever; he must have understood his meaning.
Unexpectedly, before Sherlock could reply, the cat seemed to understand his words and suddenly struggled out of Sherlock's grasp, landing on the floor.
In the next moment, the tabby cat vanished, and a stern-looking woman appeared before everyone.
She wore an emerald-green cloak, her black hair pulled back into a tight bun.
The square glasses she wore looked exactly like the markings around the cat's eyes.
It was none other than the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor House, and Professor of Transfiguration – Minerva McGonagall.
Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
The first years who witnessed this were stunned.
Harry and Ron, who had just watched Sherlock petting the cat, gaped, their mouths wide enough to fit a bezoar.
Ron even stuttered, "M-M-M-M-M... Professor McGonagall!"
McGonagall first cast a grateful glance at Harry, then fixed her piercing gaze on Sherlock:
"Mr. Holmes, you recognized me all along?"
At their first meeting, Sherlock had deduced Hogwarts was in Scotland just from the texture of the acceptance letter and his analysis of her.
Faced with a young wizard possessing such uncanny abilities, she had reason to be suspicious.
Seeing Professor McGonagall's stern tone, Harry and Ron suddenly realized what Sherlock had just done.
Both broke out in a cold sweat.
They looked at Sherlock with a mixture of admiration and worry, secretly sweating for him.
"Not exactly," Sherlock said calmly. "But I have never seen a cat sit so stiffly before."
Seeing the clarity in Sherlock's eyes, indicating he wasn't lying, Professor McGonagall's expression softened slightly.
He's just a young wizard fascinated by the magical world, just starting school. What bad intentions could he possibly have?
"You'd be stiff too if you saw your students behaving like this."
McGonagall's dramatic transformation had already captured the first years' attention, but this sentence silenced everyone.
"The professor's transfiguration is almost flawless, and I can't sense any magical aura. It's truly amazing!"
Only Sherlock continued to marvel at Professor McGonagall's brilliant performance, as if he hadn't been the one handling her just moments ago.
"Mr. Holmes, this transformation is called Animagus. It allows one to truly become an animal and is a very difficult form of Transfiguration.
During practice, one might even become unable to change back into a human due to confused thoughts. It is far too dangerous for you at this stage!
Alright, everyone back to your seats now – I shall begin the Transfiguration!"
Hearing that Sherlock hadn't noticed anything unusual about her, McGonagall secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Mainly because her recent behavior had been rather... embarrassing.
Truthfully, when Sherlock first started petting her, she had resisted.
But in her Animagus state, she had unconsciously succumbed to feline nature.
Coupled with Sherlock's skilled technique, she soon found her whole cat self going Duang~ Duang~ Duang (a sound effect implying enjoyment/purring).
Fortunately, Harry's sudden comment about the markings around her eyes snapped her out of her comfort zone, allowing her to struggle back to her human form without too much disgrace.
But the fact remained that she had been petted by a student.
At this point, she could only use other methods to divert attention.
Luckily, such things weren't difficult for her.
She first transformed her desk into a pig, then changed it back.
The students were predictably captivated, eager to start learning immediately.
However, her first words poured cold water on everyone:
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."
Her gaze swept over everyone, lingering briefly on Sherlock and Harry, before she continued slowly:
"Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
Seeing the students sitting bolt upright, McGonagall began her lecture with satisfaction.
This lecture also made everyone realize that turning furniture into animals was still a long way off.
They had to start with the basics.
For instance, this lesson's content was turning a matchstick into a needle.
But even this seemingly simple task stumped almost everyone.
By the end of the class, only Hermione's matchstick had changed, though one end remained a match head while the other became sharp.
McGonagall gave her a smile.
Seeing the rare smile from the usually stern McGonagall, Hermione held her head high, like a proud swan.
This is what a true Gryffindor is, possessing a talent for Transfiguration!
And then...
"Five points to Gryffindor!"
Hermione was instantly astonished.
That shouldn't be right!
I heard Professor McGonagall is notoriously stingy with points. Although my performance was good, getting a smile from her was already a victory. It shouldn't warrant points, should it?
(End of Chapter)