"Are you ready, Hermione?"
The cat-like professor had already assumed her stance, wand held steady, her eyes carrying that faint, well-hidden gentleness.
Smart. Brave. Hardworking. Kind…
McGonagall saw so many wonderful qualities in Hermione.
In an era where everyone praised Harry and Tom, she secretly favored and liked this young witch the most.
Harry was the prophesied savior, the Boy Who Lived, showered with admiration and glory from the moment he arrived.
Tom was a genuine genius—a low-key, understated genius.
McGonagall had noticed that in her class, Tom never raised his hand to ask or answer questions, yet he always completed everything perfectly. He was a very likable child.
It seemed the same in other professors' classes—except for Professor Sprout.
Tom was especially attentive to the kind old lady. Every evening before returning to the dormitory, he would remind her that the temperature would drop tomorrow, urge her not to catch a cold, or tell her to wear an extra layer.
Because those two shone so brightly, many people forgot there was also an outstanding young witch—Hermione Granger.
"Child, I won't pry into your memories. I'll only try to break through your defenses. So…"
"Wait, Professor McGonagall." Tom asked cautiously, "Could you be gentle?"
The tense atmosphere shattered with his joke. McGonagall couldn't help but laugh. "Of course. Relax, relax. It won't hurt much."
"Legilimens!"
The moment Professor McGonagall met Tom's eyes, she felt a slight dizziness in her head.
In Tom she saw the shadow of another person—Severus Snape.
Her magic slammed into a wall that wasn't particularly thick.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every time she struck Tom's mental defenses, McGonagall felt like the wall was about to crumble, but an invisible thread kept every brick connected, preventing her from breaking through.
"Hm?"
McGonagall let out a puzzled sound. Her wand flared with intense light.
…
Fifteen minutes later, Professor McGonagall lowered her wand.
"Hermione, you're being too modest."
Tom shook his head. "Not at all, Professor. My understanding of Occlumency is still far from enough."
Just a little?
McGonagall smiled self-deprecatingly.
She wouldn't claim to be a master of Legilimency, but she had once worked in the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"Child, modesty is good, but don't overdo it. In Occlumency… perhaps only Professor Snape can truly guide you now.
Not exaggerating… child, Severus's mastery of Occlumency may only be slightly better than yours. Even for him, breaking through your defenses would take considerable effort."
Tom's mouth slowly fell open.
To be honest, he hadn't been modest—he genuinely didn't know his own level.
Snape was a tsundere bat.
He never directly told Tom how well he was doing or what stage he had reached…
Tom only knew his Occlumency was at LV.7.
Every time, Snape would crush him completely, then act like it was nothing.
"Tom! You still need to work harder. Why are you still so terrible after all this time!" — Severus Snape.
Yes, those were his exact words.
So even the bat professor was starting to feel the strain?
Tom couldn't help but smile.
"Go on, child. Go do what you need to do." McGonagall patted his shoulder. "If you're still worried… perhaps I'll come with you?"
"That would be perfect! Thank you, Professor."
"But before that, I want to ask you something." McGonagall looked seriously into Tom's eyes. "Who taught you Occlumency? I never heard that Severus taught you this."
"It was Tom.
Professor McGonagall, you know Tom and Professor Snape are very close… and I am Tom's best friend. There are almost no secrets between Tom and me. I even know what color underwear he's wearing today."
"Child, that's hardly proper! Please don't do that… Does he know what color clothes you're wearing?"
"He doesn't, Professor."
Because she had changed clothes, while Hermione hadn't.
McGonagall seemed relieved. Her body slowly shrank, black short fur sprouting, emerald-green pupils rounding.
The cat professor had transformed into a cat.
"We can go now," the little black cat said.
"Professor McGonagall…" Tom's mouth twitched. "Others might recognize you at a glance?"
McGonagall looked at her form. "No, the cat I usually transform into has a tail 1.32 inches longer, darker fur, and the claws are different… Alright, perhaps I should change forms."
The black cat spun once in the air. The black fur instantly faded, turning into a pure white cat.
"Professor McGonagall, you're so cute."
"I'm already an old woman. If I were fifty years younger, I'd be much happier to hear that." The white cat chuckled softly and climbed onto Tom's shoulder. "You can tell Professor Quirrell I'm your magical creature. Don't worry, I won't mind."
Animagi are truly amazing.
Tom thought to himself.
Animagi were wizards who could transform into animals while retaining their magical abilities—like Professor McGonagall.
With the little white cat on his shoulder, Tom's head-turning rate around the school skyrocketed.
To the point that…
"Hermione!" An annoying voice rang out behind Tom. The person rushed forward and grabbed his shoulder.
She suddenly saw the little white cat in Tom's arms and locked eyes with it.
It was as if she had been injected with a tranquilizer. Her angry expression froze. "What an adorable cat. Hermione, where did you find this magical creature?"
It's your favorite Professor McGonagall.
Of course, Tom didn't say that. He coughed. "Even little wizards have lucky encounters. Fate doesn't mistreat hardworking witches."
"Forget that, let me hold her." Without waiting for permission, Hermione snatched the white cat from Tom's arms.
Although Hermione's favorite was an otter, she didn't dislike cats either—she quite liked them.
And this white cat was very well-behaved, which suited her taste perfectly.
"Cough, cough…" Tom coughed twice. "I still have things to do. Can you give the cat back?"
"Tch, stingy. I'll just play for a bit." Hermione rolled her eyes. She placed McGonagall on the ground, reached into her pocket, and pulled out half a sausage left over from breakfast.
Hermione got playful. She squatted down, one hand supporting her chin, the other dangling the sausage forward teasingly.
"You really should give Professor McGonagall back to me…" Tom said helplessly.
An ordinary sentence sent ripples through Hermione's heart.
What?
What did he just call the little white cat?
Hermione already had a vague answer. Her face turned pale.
But because she still didn't want to believe it, she forced herself to say, "How can you name a cat Professor McGonagall! I have to go, I have things to do."
Hermione's movements became stiff, turning around mechanically.
"Mr. Riddle." The little white cat on the ground spoke. "I hope in the future you'll be this lively in my Transfiguration class too. It would make me feel like you're a child instead of a mature little adult."
"I'm sorry, Professor!" Hermione instantly deflated and bowed deeply. "I… you… your Transfiguration is so advanced, I didn't recognize you right away.
For my rudeness, I request to serve detention next week. Please don't be too gentle with me."
Tom: "?"
Why not this week?
"Professor McGonagall, perhaps there's no need to give him detention. Tom is a child who cries easily. If you lock him up, this criminal child will cry to me nonstop.
It's good he didn't recognize you. It shows your mastery of Transfiguration has reached the pinnacle."
"No, please give me detention next week."
"Tom!"
"Hermione! Don't worry about me. I've recognized my mistake. Everyone should take responsibility for their errors!"
But you can't make me take responsibility!!!
Tom gritted his teeth and caught the flash of amusement in the other's eyes.
"Alright, you two children. I won't give detention over such a small matter. I'm very envious of how deep your friendship is. I hope you remain such good friends in the future. Hermione, we should go."
Tom stuck his tongue out and gave Hermione a mocking grin before leaving with Professor McGonagall.
Only after Tom left did the full weight of what she'd done hit Hermione.
What had she just done?!
Using a half-eaten sausage—she had used a leftover sausage on Professor McGonagall in such a disrespectful way!
And that annoying Tom—how could he use her body to do something like that, and make that disgusting gesture at the end!
What a jerk!
…
"I didn't expect Tom to have this side to him." Professor McGonagall laughed softly in Tom's arms. "I always saw him as a mature little adult, but deep down, Tom is still a child."
Tom hummed in agreement. "A stubborn child. Actually, he's a good person. He's kind to every classmate. Even someone as annoying as Malfoy still has a chance to change in Tom's eyes.
I still like Tom better. When he's around, I feel at ease."
Professor McGonagall lifted her cat head, looking at Hermione in surprise. "I didn't expect you to feel that way about him."
"After all, we're friends… best friends."
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