Professor McGonagall waved her wand, and everything in the Transfiguration Club classroom immediately returned to a neat and orderly state.
“Do you know why I asked you to remain behind, Mr Trollope?” She looked at Scott, who was standing nearby.
“Please don’t worry, Professor,” Scott assured her.
“So far, I have never conducted any serious research into subjects outside the textbooks.”
Professor McGonagall looked into his eyes.
“But you are interested in Mr Weasley’s theory.”
“I am indeed interested in the conjecture Mr Weasley described in his paper.” Scott met Professor McGonagall’s gaze without looking away.
“But I won’t research it deeply until I have completely mastered everything covered in the school curriculum.”
“That is good.
I believe you, Mr Trollope.”
Professor McGonagall was the first to look away.
After teaching Scott for three years, she understood his usual academic goals.
She knew that he placed great importance on building a solid foundation.
“That will be all for today.”
Professor McGonagall turned and walked out of the club classroom first.
Scott followed her out, and they exchanged goodnights in the corridor.
“One more thing.” Professor McGonagall stopped as she was about to turn away.
“Mr Trollope.”
“Professor?” Scott also stopped walking.
“Professor Flitwick has shown off the early birthday gift you gave him more than once.
And unless I remember incorrectly, his birthday is on 17 October.”
Professor McGonagall suddenly gave him a playful wink.
“But I would like to remind you, Mr Trollope, that your Transfiguration professor’s birthday is more than ten days earlier than your Charms professor’s.”
After saying this, she walked straight into her office without looking back, leaving a stunned Scott standing alone in the corridor.
Why did the professors at Hogwarts enjoy competing with one another so much?
None of them were young.
Scott shook his head and turned towards the stairs.
Since Professor McGonagall had reminded him so openly, he would have to prepare a gift with the same amount of thought.
Besides, forgetting Professor McGonagall’s birthday had been his mistake in the first place.
More importantly, after thinking carefully, he realised that Professor McGonagall’s birthday was on 4 October, only five days away!
What should he give her?
Scott thought as he walked.
Would giving Professor McGonagall a painting with a similar theme seem too perfunctory?
After all, he knew that Professor McGonagall had taken great care of him over the past three years.
Her guidance in Transfiguration had already gone beyond the normal responsibilities of a school professor.
It would have been fine if Scott had continued giving the professors gifts only at Christmas, as he had in previous years.
But this time, he had been eager to show off and used Professor Flitwick’s birthday as an excuse to give him the painting.
Being too well liked by his professors was also troublesome.
Scott thought narcissistically as he quickly descended the stairs.
Meow…
A cat’s cry sounded.
Scott’s expression immediately worsened, and he could not help curling his lip.
As expected, Filch came striding down the first-floor corridor with his scrawny, ugly cat, Mrs Norris.
The lamp in his hand illuminated the identical pairs of bulging, light bulb-like eyes belonging to the man and the cat.
“It will soon be curfew, Trollope.” Filch gave Scott a malicious smile, revealing a mouthful of ugly teeth.
“You had better move your legs and run straight back to Ravenclaw common room, or you’ll be serving detention from tomorrow onwards.”
Although Filch had never caught Scott during his previous night-time excursions, and the two of them had barely dealt with each other, Scott was not surprised by the malice Filch displayed.
He knew that the old Squib sincerely hated everyone who was able to learn magic.
“Curfew is approaching, but it hasn’t arrived yet, has it?” Scott gave Filch an obviously false smile, quickened his pace and walked past him and Mrs Norris.
Filch’s angry voice came from behind him.
“I’ll catch you if you aren’t back in Ravenclaw common room on time—”
“Oh, if you’re able to,” Scott replied dismissively.
Although curfew was indeed close, he did not follow Filch’s instruction and start running.
Even if he went wandering around the castle at night, Filch would not be able to catch him.
Still, the matter of preparing a birthday gift continued to trouble him, so he had no interest in sneaking out that night.
Yet when he left the main castle building and passed through the courtyard, he stopped again.
“Come out.”
He spoke towards the stone statue of a monster in the courtyard.
“Fred, George.”
Two identical figures immediately stepped out from either side of the statue.
“As expected of you!”
“Ravenclaw’s Golden Boy!”
“When did I get such an awful nickname?” Scott glared at them.
“You must have made it up just now!”
“It wasn’t us!”
Fred loudly protested his innocence.
“It has been spreading through Ravenclaw over the past few days!”
George added.
“Why haven’t I heard about it?” Scott frowned deeply.
He had always thought he was fairly popular in Ravenclaw.
No one should have maliciously given him such a nickname.
“We don’t know who gave you that nickname either.”
“Perhaps you should investigate it yourself.”
Fred and George spread their hands at the same time and looked at him innocently.
“Or ask Eddie.” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“He definitely knows but hasn’t told you!”
Right, Eddie.
Scott nodded in agreement.
That fellow definitely knew about the nickname but had not warned him at all.
Scott decided that he would settle the matter with him as soon as he returned.
“In that case, goodbye, gentlemen.”
Scott waved, turned around and began walking away.
“It’s a beautiful night, and curfew is almost here.”
“Don’t you want to join us for an enjoyable adventure?”
The twins followed behind him and invited him along.
“No.
Have fun.”
Scott rejected them without mercy.
“Then don’t blame us—”
“—for refusing to write to Bill and introduce you.”
The twins spoke with broad grins.
Although neither of them attended the Transfiguration Club, they were clearly well informed.
Scott continued walking without slowing down.
“That’s fine.
Percy has already agreed to help me.”
“Percy?” Fred sighed dramatically.
George said proudly, “Bill obviously likes us more than Percy.”
Scott ignored them.
At that moment, he was more interested in learning who had given him a dog-related nickname.
But the twins continued chattering beside his ears.
“And we’re not sure whether Mum and Dad would accept Bill getting a boyfriend.”
“Perhaps we could help persuade them.”
Scott felt the vein in his forehead begin to throb.
Unable to endure them any longer, he pulled out his wand.
But the moment he turned around, the twins ran away, laughing loudly.
Scott took a deep breath.
He hurried towards Ravenclaw Tower, suddenly feeling a strong desire to find himself a girlfriend as soon as possible.
(End of Chapter)
T/N :
Feed me Power Stones to keep me motivated.
This translation is pure volunteer work, so every bit of support helps me continue.