"Hey, seniors, why aren't you guys laughing anymore?"
"Don't you like to smile?"
Hermione feigned a very puzzled expression.
From the moment Argus entered, these people had already been showing off their smarts by analyzing the situation.
The analysis results all concluded that Argus would be lucky to make it to third year!
Fourth year?
Don't even think about it!
This greatly displeased Hermione, who was a big fan of Argus!
Now, Argus had given them a resounding slap in the face with his actions!
The more confident they had been before, the more thoroughly wrong they were proven now!
Cho Chang, standing next to her, covered her mouth and chuckled.
Not far away, at the Gryffindor long table, the Weasley twins, who had also been humiliated, looked completely bewildered.
"Who wins this bet?"
Harry scratched his head and looked at the Weasley twins.
The two of them stood so slack-jawed that they could practically fit an ostrich egg in their mouths.
They expected Argus to be strong, but they never imagined he would be this strong!
One freshman had dragged down all the fifth-year students who were about to take OWLs!
Was this something a human being could do?
Ron seized the opportunity and snatched his scabbard back.
"Give it to me!"
...
Professor's chair in the restaurant.
Professor Filius was so excited that he danced around.
"Genius! It's unbelievable that a freshman could reach this position! I'm really looking forward to his performance in Charms class!"
"I just don't know how good this child's shapeshifting skills are. I hope they are as outstanding as his talent for spellcasting."
"Don't worry, Minerva. Although I haven't had much contact with him, I can tell that he is a very smart kid."
Professor Flitwick smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes caused by the strenuous exercise and continued.
"A child like that would definitely grasp the importance of Transfiguration at a glance!"
"I hope so!"
Professor McGonagall had mixed feelings.
As a teacher, the allure of a gifted student was no less than that of a Quidditch match!
She had high hopes for Argus's talent.
But she worried that Argus's talent lay only in spellcasting, and that he knew nothing about Transfiguration.
Anticipation and worry intertwined within Professor McGonagall's heart.
It made her keep glancing at Argus's back.
...
On the Slytherin table.
"Alright everyone, let me say something first."
Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Argus stood up.
"Later, I will go with a few senior students to help the freshmen find the locations of the various classrooms."
"To prevent new students from losing points because they can't find their classroom."
"I hope everyone can set aside time in advance."
"Yes, sir!"
"Let's get ready first. Those who didn't bring their textbooks, go to the dormitory to get them. We'll go to the first classroom in ten minutes."
Argus waved his hand, signaling everyone to go about their business.
When he led the Slytherins to the Transfiguration classroom, many Gryffindors were already seated.
A group of people were chatting and laughing, and none of them paid attention to the tabby cat on the podium.
"Argus, Goyle, Crabbe, and I are going to the back of the classroom to catch up on some sleep."
"Remember to call me when class is over!"
Draco yawned as he approached Argus.
He was not alone in being a Slytherin freshman.
Last night, after they returned to their dorm, many of them had still been excited and chatted for several hours straight.
The price of doing this was that they had absolutely no energy for class the next day.
After Draco finished speaking, Argus clearly felt the cat on the podium glare at him.
Argus then remembered.
It seemed that Professor McGonagall's Animagus form was a tabby cat!
She was an older witch with that ability!
It was a pity he had transmigrated too late, otherwise...
Argus shook his head and forcefully cleared the messy thoughts from his mind.
Argus came to the front of the stage and bowed to the cat.
He pulled Draco and the others to sit quietly in the first row.
Draco wondered why Argus was bowing to a cat, and after looking at it several times, he still couldn't figure it out.
"Argus, that cat…"
"That's Professor McGonagall! There are only seven Animagi currently registered with the British Ministry of Magic, and Professor McGonagall is one of them," Argus said softly, while simultaneously alerting Draco.
"Look closely at the area around her eyes. Aren't the stripes similar to Professor McGonagall's glasses?"
"It really is true!"
Draco was so frightened that his legs went weak.
If it weren't for Argus blocking him, he almost impulsively reached out and petted it a couple of times.
Thank goodness!
If she actually transformed, who knew how many points Professor McGonagall would deduct from Slytherin's score!
"Squeak!"
Just then, a head with a full head of red hair poked in, and after looking around, let out a long sigh of relief.
He pushed open the door and came in, panting.
"Oh, we've finally arrived!"
"If Professor McGonagall were here, her face would be terrifying!"
Ron and Harry looked relieved and were about to find seats when the tabby cat on the podium suddenly jumped up and off the podium.
In the instant of falling, she transformed into a woman wearing a dark green robe with a serious expression.
"That move is absolutely amazing!"
Ron's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he took two steps back in awe.
Professor McGonagall spoke expressionlessly: "Thank you for your assessment, Mr. Weasley."
"Perhaps I should turn Mr. Potter and you into a pocket watch, so that at least one of you can keep to the time."
"We're lost!" Harry explained.
"Then let's turn it into a map?" Professor McGonagall scanned the classroom. "Finding your seats shouldn't require a map, right?"
Before the two could even sit down, Professor McGonagall's cold voice came from behind them.
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, I have to deduct five points from each of you for your lateness."
"Hopefully, this will teach you a lesson."
"And Mr. Grindelwald!"
Professor McGonagall's voice softened considerably when Argus was mentioned.
"You are the first and only student among this year's freshmen to recognize me."
"It's clear that you know a lot about Transfiguration and are very observant."
"Thank you for your compliment, Professor McGonagall," Argus replied with a smile.
"For your keen observation, Slytherin gets five points."
Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly and walked up to the podium, dragging her long robe along.
"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."
"Anyone who causes trouble in my class will be asked to leave and never be allowed to come back in."
"I warned you!"
"Now, take out your wands and textbooks, and I'll show you what real Transfiguration is."
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and the podium behind her transformed into a squeaking little pig!
This drew gasps of amazement from countless young wizards.
Argus's focus differed from the others.
Looking at the little white pig in front of him, he unconsciously fell into deep thought…