"But... didn't you say you haven't picked your classes yet?" Hermione had a sinking feeling she was about to suffer.
Deep down, though, she was kind of looking forward to it.
Her ideal day: Rush through classes, take a nice hot bath, drink a glass of milk, then snuggle into bed with some extracurricular reading—like Gadding with Ghouls or whatever the latest Gilderoy Lockhart book was.
She really enjoyed that kind of life.
But she knew exactly what Tom meant by "busy."
His version of "no time" probably meant scarfing down two burgers for dinner on the go, then collapsing into bed the second he got back to the dorm with zero energy left for anything else.
That was Tom's idea of busy.
"You just said something about building relationships with professors... Does that mean..." Hermione suddenly grabbed Tom's shoulders with both hands. "Tom, tell me—how many times a week will I have to meet with Snape?"
"Four hours to start."
"Per week?"
"Per day." Tom corrected her, a triumphant smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. Sunlight hit him just right, making that bright smile absolutely dazzling.
Meanwhile, Hermione felt like the world had gone gray.
Tall branches overhead cast a shadow that swallowed her whole. She kept muttering the word under her breath.
"Every day, every day, every day..."
Four hours every single day?
I'd die. I'd actually die!
"Tom, no!" Hermione clung to him. "We can't do this—I beg you!"
This was the first time Hermione had ever bowed her head to Tom.
"Maybe we could just come clean with Professor Snape? You'd agree to that, right?"
"No, I'd refuse." Tom gently pushed her hands away. "Hermione, have you thought about what happens if Professor Snape finds out? What about the other professors? Are you going to tell them all too?
Once every professor knows, how are we supposed to attend classes normally? We'd be total freaks. The boys would know they have a dorm mate who turns into a girl every week.
Your dorm mates would totally shun me. Worst case... we might end up forced to share a single dorm room."
"I'd rather take Snape's Potions lessons," Hermione shot back without hesitation, her eyes hardening.
"?"
"What's wrong with living with me?" Tom gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed.
"If you watched me walk into the bathroom, what would go through your head?" Hermione lowered her voice, a blush creeping across her face.
She absolutely could not picture it!
If they shared a dorm and swapped bodies... she'd have to watch Tom (in her body) stroll into the bathroom, then come out with wet hair and a fresh change of clothes!
She'd want to die!
Tom hesitated for just a second before answering her dilemma. "Shower together? Perfect—I could teach you how boys do it."
"Get lost!" Hermione couldn't take it anymore. She shoved him away. "Lunchtime's here—you! Go! Eat! Now!"
Just as Tom started walking off, he remembered something and turned back. "Oh yeah, Hermione—you can start prepping."
"Prepping?"
"Yeah. Charms homework. You don't want to get punished by our super-nice Professor Flitwick next week for not turning it in, do you?"
Hermione: "???"
"You jerk!"
Hermione's yell faded into the crowd.
Ron and Harry only dared approach once Tom was gone.
Hermione was crouched under the tree shade, arms wrapped around her knees. Her face... didn't look great.
"Hermione?" Ron asked, puzzled. "What'd you and Tom talk about? Your face is redder than a baboon's butt—I even saw you crying."
"I wasn't crying!" Hermione snapped through clenched teeth. "And your hair's redder than a baboon's butt anyway!"
Way to hit a sore spot!
"Harry, did I say something wrong?" Ron scratched his head awkwardly.
"Huh?" Harry finally snapped out of it—he'd been replaying that last moment between Hermione and Tom.
It did look pretty misleading.
Hermione grabbing Tom's hands, suddenly tearing up like she was pleading, then less than a minute later blushing bright red...
Harry had never been this curious about what those two talked about.
Hermione wiped her face. "We should go eat too."
After lunch... no, after her nap... she was going to pay Professor McGonagall a visit.
Tom had made her miserable—she wasn't about to let him have it too easy!
...
"Tom!" Hagrid threw his arms wide and pulled Tom into a bear hug. "Didn't think you'd come visit me. This... you brought this for me?"
"Yeah. I was worried you wouldn't dare eat your fill in the Great Hall again."
"Kid, good kid." Hagrid's beard quivered with emotion.
"Hagrid, actually... there's something I'd like to ask for your help with..."
Tom cleared his throat and spoke up while Hagrid was munching. "I'm really interested in magical creatures—whether it's griffins like before or anything else."
"Kid, I get you." Hagrid gave a big thumbs-up. "Every young wizard should be interested in these lovely critters."
"So..." Tom looked straight into Hagrid's eyes. "I hear you're amazing with magical creatures. Could you teach me?"
Hagrid blinked, then nodded. "Of course—no problem."
"It's not just identifying them. I want the deeper stuff—like breeding. I want to raise my own magical creature someday, like Professor Dumbledore's Fawkes."
Fawkes was Dumbledore's phoenix.
Hagrid suddenly burst out laughing. "Kid, that's no ordinary animal. Maybe start with something simpler. Let me think... Oh, right—Ravenclaw's got no classes this afternoon. Come with me. We've got two whole hours—plenty of time. But wait till I finish this burger."
Two hours felt short to Tom.
He knew where Hagrid was taking him: the Leaky Cauldron.
Hagrid was a regular there. The moment he sat down, two shady folks in black cloaks sidled up, trying to sell him magical creature eggs.
After that, Hagrid taught Tom how to care for them.
What he bought was a Rainbow-Scaled Giant Chicken—supposedly a magical creature from Spain with ancient dragon blood. Fully grown, it could reach two meters tall.
Hagrid got excited the second he heard that and shelled out Galleons for the egg on the spot.
The shell shimmered with rainbow scales. Hagrid wiped it gently while explaining to Tom: "I read about these in an old book. They need tons of food every day and grow fast. Once mature, they can even fight alongside a wizard—though that takes years.
Tom, give it a try. The hatching success rate's low, so no big deal if it fails. First, you gotta prepare..."
Tom memorized every word. By the time they finished, it was late afternoon. He smelled like poultry.
Glancing back at Hogwarts, lunch break was just ending. Students with afternoon classes were rushing to classrooms.
Tom needed a good shower to wash off the animal stink, then check if Professor Sprout was free.
...
"Professor McGonagall..." Hermione knocked timidly and peeked into the office.
Even at her desk, McGonagall wore that wizard hat wider than her shoulders, her expression as strict as ever.
"Hermione?" Seeing her, McGonagall relaxed a bit.
She liked hardworking kids like this. She'd heard Hermione was taking 15 classes in her first term—out of 20 total courses, 5 required and 15 electives.
"Child, what brings you here?" McGonagall set down her quill. "Come in—have a seat. I can see the eagerness in your eyes. You're here because you want..."
Hermione clenched her fists, thought it over, then bit the bullet. "Professor McGonagall, I want to improve!"
"Improve?" McGonagall frowned. "Child, maybe you're just tired. You should drink some milk, rest a bit, then head to your afternoon classes."
"No, Professor—I'm wide awake."
Hermione's face flushed.
This was her first time outright asking a professor for private tutoring.
But she had no choice—Tom was just too awful!
It looked like he'd gotten real one-on-one training from Snape and would totally lord it over her in the future.
Hermione wasn't having that. After thinking it through, she decided on McGonagall.
McGonagall was Gryffindor's Head of House, they got along well, and she had a great reputation with students.
But the main reason... Hermione wanted to master Transfiguration—better than anyone, even McGonagall.
Then one day, if that jerk Tom bullied her again, she'd whip out her wand and turn him into an otter!
No—otters are cute. Tom doesn't deserve that.
A nasty rat, then get a white cat and lock them in a room together.
Just imagining it gave Hermione motivation.
After hearing her request, McGonagall showed rare emotion.
"Hermione, perhaps you should tell me why you want this.
You're already top of your year. Everyone knows you won that competition in Diagon Alley—I mean, you don't need to push this hard. There's plenty of time ahead. You should enjoy life at Hogwarts."
"Professor McGonagall, I have a reason I must study. I have to become a Transfiguration master!"
That was Hermione's answer.
McGonagall was quiet for a long time. She picked up her quill, set it down, then finally spoke.
"The three hours before curfew—I'll wait for you in my office. But weekends are for proper rest, or you'll wear yourself out. Now go to your next class, child."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall!" Hermione bowed respectfully, then left the office beaming.
Success!
One day, it would happen!
She'd become the incredibly powerful Transfiguration master she dreamed of!
Then turn Tom into a little rat!
Hermione was already picturing Tom begging for mercy.
...
"Achoo!"
Tom sneezed and blew his nose.
"Tom, you catching a cold?" Professor Sprout looked worried—more worried than if she'd caught one herself.
"Nah." Tom waved it off.
He drank Snape's potions like milk every day—how could he just catch a cold?
Someone must be badmouthing him behind his back.
Hermione?
Next time, he'd give her a good spanking!
Or wait until they swapped and spank himself right in front of her!
Just thinking about it got him excited.
"Professor Sprout, let's keep going."
"Wait a sec, Tom." Professor Sprout hurried back to her office on her slightly older legs, then returned with a thick jacket and draped it over him.
"Hope you don't mind the smell of an old lady like me."
Tom smiled and shook his head. "How could I? Professor Sprout, you're the most beautiful lady I've ever met. Thank you."
Perfect—now I'm officially Professor Sprout's favorite student!
Add that to Snape's guidance...
Herbology and Potions are gonna hit max level someday!
read more inpat***
ilham20