19: Chapter 18: I’m on the Same Page as Professor Thorne!
19: Chapter 18: I’m on the Same Page as Professor Thorne!
But the next second, both figures changed in his vision.
A large, sturdy earthworm.
And a giant mosquito in robes.
“… ” Thorne blinked.
His throat bobbed.
His voice came out slightly dazed.
“Professor Sprout… Professor McGonagall?” Sprout and McGonagall exchanged a glance.
“Professor Thorne,” Sprout said with a smile, “how strange.
I’m not the Earthworm Lady anymore?” There was a teasing note in her voice.
She studied his face more carefully, her brow furrowing.
“You don’t look well.
Is something wrong?” McGonagall added, “Should we take you to Madam Pomfrey?
The Welcome Feast is still half an hour away.” Thorne shook his head and rubbed his temples.
“I’m fine…” “Just felt a little stuffy inside the castle.
Needed some fresh air.
I’ll be alright in a minute.” The mosquito lady nodded.
“Oh, good.” The next moment, she pulled a sheet of parchment from her robes with a completely straight face.
“Then let’s do a practice test.” Thorne looked down at the parchment.
His eyes slowly turned into dead-fish eyes.
When he looked back up, McGonagall was clearly fighting back a smile.
“… ” “Haha, just kidding.” McGonagall finally couldn’t hold it in.
She cleared her throat and tucked the parchment away.
“This is the list of this year’s new students.” She glanced toward the castle.
“Come on.
We should head to the Great Hall.” On the way to the Great Hall, Professor Sprout left early to change into her feast robes.
That left only Professor McGonagall and Thorne walking together.
Over the past month, Thorne had asked McGonagall plenty of questions about Transfiguration.
Her attitude had stayed consistently warm.
Outside of work, she’d even started treating him like a student—patiently explaining things and occasionally handing him practice sheets to work on.
For a second there, he’d actually thought she was going to make him sit down and take a test on the spot.
Still, because of her help, he’d managed to get a handle on the Transfiguration techniques he needed to shape basic bone nails with stable effects.
As they walked, something surprised Thorne.
Maybe it was because McGonagall was beside him, but the constant insect-like buzzing that had been driving him crazy earlier gradually faded back into normal human voices.
He could greet passing portraits and ghosts without any problem.
“… ” Thorne felt a small flicker of hope.
Was his “condition” improving because his relationship with Professor McGonagall had reached the point where they could joke around with each other?
But the more he thought about it, the less it made sense.
That episode on the main corridor earlier hadn’t felt like improvement at all.
It had felt more like the symptoms were getting worse.
As they walked, Thorne quietly considered whether he should go back to St.
Mungo’s soon and get the red ant doctor to check him over again.
Maybe get some medication or something.
While he was thinking, they stepped into the Great Hall.
They ran straight into Hagrid, who was carrying a lantern and heading out.
“Hey!
I’m off to fetch the first-years!” Hagrid grinned widely.
“Eric, you’re looking sharp tonight.” “This time I don’t just look like a good person, right?” Thorne laughed and patted Hagrid’s elbow.
“That’s right.
A great person.
Haha!” Hagrid laughed and headed off.
Thorne made his way toward the staff table.
The Great Hall was already set up with the four long House tables.
Empty for now, it felt enormous.
Thorne couldn’t help glancing around, curious what it would look like once every seat was filled with students.
Just as he was about to sit down, Professor McGonagall suddenly walked a slow circle around him.
Like she was inspecting something.
Thorne shifted uncomfortably.
He noticed her proboscis had tightened slightly and asked, “What’s wrong, Professor?
Is there a problem?” McGonagall shook her head.
“Nothing… it’s perfectly appropriate.” She hesitated, a trace of displeasure slipping into her voice.
“It’s just… this black robe of yours, with those green accents… the color choice is really quite…” Thorne raised an eyebrow and tugged at his robes.
“Is there a problem?” He said it with complete confidence.
“I saw all the mammals wearing it this way.” From the side, Snape suddenly sneezed.
— Ten minutes later.
Out on the Black Lake, several small boats glided forward through the night, carrying groups of first-years toward the distant shore.
High above on the cliff, Hogwarts Castle glowed with warm light, like a sleeping giant quietly watching over the water.
Harry stood at the front of one boat, staring at the castle.
His heart beat a little faster.
Excited.
And nervous.
A clear voice spoke up beside him.
“Harry, you said earlier… you’ve already met the professor for the new subject?” It was a curly-haired girl with slightly prominent front teeth.
She was studying a list in her hands, curiosity shining in her eyes.
“What kind of person is he?” She looked up, clearly hopeful.
“He must be very impressive and wise, right?” “According to the Hogwarts history I’ve read, it’s been over a hundred years since they last added a new subject.” “Someone who could make that happen has to be really outstanding.” Harry paused, then rubbed his chin without thinking.
Sitting across from them, a red-haired boy and a round-faced boy both turned to look.
“Yeah,” the red-haired boy chimed in.
“Percy and the others said it’s a completely new subject.
It’s not even part of the O.W.L.s yet.” Several pairs of eyes landed on Harry at once.
“Hm…” Harry thought for a moment, his expression a little complicated.
“If I had to describe my impression… this professor really likes giving people nicknames.” “Nicknames?” The curly-haired girl blinked.
“Yeah.” Harry nodded.
“For example, he calls me Stag Beetle.” Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
“That’s a weird habit.” “Right?
He should be calling you the Boy Who Lived.” “Ron… that’s a title, not a nickname.” Harry thought for another second, then added, “He also really likes money.” “Mm.
Apparently he lost a really high-paying job and looked like he wanted to hang the Headmaster from a lamppost because of it.” Ron’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Really?” He slapped his thigh, full of agreement.
“Then we’re on the same page!”