Hermione's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet Transfiguration Class, even echoing slightly.
Neville, sitting behind them, nervously wrung his fingers, his worried gaze darting between Nios and Hermione.
If they started arguing… what should he do? Go up and mediate? He felt he would be instantly overwhelmed by Hermione's rapid-fire words and Nios's cold expression.
Nios, however, appeared very calm.
He didn't immediately respond to Hermione's question, but instead first glanced up at the tabby cat on the podium.
From the moment he walked into the classroom, he had "seen" through this cat; the soul within it clearly and unmistakably pointed to Professor McGonagall.
Although he didn't understand what kind of magic this was, a soul could not be faked.
Only then did he slowly turn his gaze back to Hermione, the eye on his eye patch curving into an intrigued arc: "Oh? So, what do you think I used?"
"I think you used Transfiguration!"
Hermione did not back down, her brown eyes fixed intently on the comical eye on Nios's eye patch, her tone resolute.
On the podium, the tabby cat's ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and its golden cat eyes sharply focused on Nios.
"An interesting guess," Nios curved his lips into a slight smile, "but unfortunately, it's wrong. I did indeed use Alchemy."
A flicker of imperceptible panic crossed Hermione's face.
She came from a Muggle family and had limited knowledge of the Wizarding World's common sense.
Although she had only met Nios yesterday and he hadn't mentioned his family background, his composure and self-confidence beyond his age, and his calm attitude towards everything, made her subconsciously guess that he, like Ron and Neville, came from a Wizarding family.
But her competitive spirit immediately overwhelmed that trace of hesitation.
She straightened her back, her voice still insistent: "But Percy, the prefect, explicitly said that Alchemy couldn't possibly produce the kind of effect you demonstrated!"
She had specifically stopped Percy that morning to ask, and the answer she received made her even more confused: Alchemy was one of the most profound and difficult subjects, requiring the completion of five years of basic compulsory courses (Potion, Transfiguration, Herbology, Ancient Runes) and the accumulation of enough knowledge to be eligible to choose it as an elective in sixth year!
Moreover, graduating from Hogwarts was merely an introduction; usually, one could only create basic magic items.
Want to further your studies? That depended on whether those elusive old Alchemy masters were willing to take apprentices…
Facing Hermione's questioning, Nios had another plan in mind.
To control enough "root-level authorities," going it alone was definitely not a good strategy; establishing an organization was imperative.
What he needed were capable and trustworthy core members.
As the creator of demons, he had countless ways to force others to submit, but how could he ensure their ability and loyalty?
The variables of human nature were too great; instead of blindly "drawing cards," it was better to directly seize those "high-quality cards" favored by the Soul Sea!
At this moment, he was immensely grateful for accepting Dumbledore's invitation.
Yesterday at the station, he had "seen" several beings favored by the Soul Sea: Harry's was the most intense, followed by Hermione and Ron, and while Neville's was slightly weaker, it was equally pure.
"If you want to learn." The eye on Nios's eye patch stared at Hermione, with a strange allure, "I can teach you."
He then turned to Neville behind him, "Neville, you too."
"Really?!"
Hermione's eyes instantly lit up, like ignited stars.
Although the essence of Nios's Alchemy remained a mystery, the power he displayed was undoubtedly potent and mysterious! This was undoubtedly a huge opportunity!
"No… no need…" Neville, however, waved his hands frantically, his small face flushed red.
"Neville?" Hermione looked at him in confusion, "Don't you want to learn?"
"No… it's not that!" Neville hurriedly explained, his voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "Such powerful magic… it must be a very important… secret family art of Nios's, right? If he just teaches it to us… his family will definitely be very angry…"
Hermione's heart tightened! She had been so caught up in excitement that she had completely overlooked this point!
Nios's unique "Alchemy" was very likely a closely guarded secret of an ancient Wizarding family!
The consequences of privately teaching it to outsiders… she didn't dare to imagine what kind of punishment Nios would receive because of it.
Both of them looked at Nios with worry, unwilling for their friend to get into trouble because of them.
"It's fine." Nios's voice was calm, and he spread his hands, "I'm an orphan; I don't have a family." He paused, his gaze sweeping over their shocked faces, "As for this… well… let's call it 'Alchemy' for now, it's something I 'invented' myself. So you don't need to have any qualms."
Boom—!
These words exploded in Hermione and Neville's minds like a clap of thunder!
They stared at Nios dumbfounded, an orphan?! Invented it himself?! This completely overturned their understanding!
On the podium, the tabby cat's body also stiffened for a moment.
Although Dumbledore had revealed that this young Wizard had created "demons" simply based on Muggle mythology, hearing him claim to have "invented" a profound magic system similar to Alchemy… Professor McGonagall's shock was even greater than her two students'! This had already exceeded the scope of "extraordinary talent"!
Just then, the classroom door was pushed open, and Seamus and Dean rushed in, panting.
Hermione and Neville instantly acted like startled rabbits, abruptly lowering their heads, quickly flipping open the "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" in front of them, their fingers trembling slightly as they pretended to read, trying to conceal the turbulent waves in their hearts.
Nios also casually opened his textbook.
Soon, except for Harry and Ron, most of the little lions had arrived.
Just as the class was about to begin, the classroom door was violently slammed open again! Harry and Ron, clutching their books, burst in like two cannonballs!
Seeing only a tabby cat on the podium, both of them let out a long sigh of relief, their faces showing the relief of having escaped a disaster.
Hermione instinctively looked up at the commotion, and seeing their disheveled appearance, she sighed helplessly and reburied her head in her book.
"Mmm mmm mmm!" (Good thing we made it!) Ron mumbled indistinctly.
"Mmm mmm mmm!" (If we were late, McGonagall's expression would be terrifying!)
This strange whimpering sound caught Hermione's attention again.
She looked closely and almost burst out laughing; both of them had a large lump of something stuffed in their mouths!
It was the little pink Nios had given her to clean her hands last night!
She immediately turned to Nios, her eyes full of accusation: "It was you who did this!"
Nios felt her gaze and actually gave her a peace sign as if nothing had happened!
"Mmm mmm mmm!" (Go find Nios quickly!)
Harry said this while he and Ron lifted their feet to walk towards the first row.
Just then!
The tabby cat, which had been sitting quietly on the podium, gracefully leaped forward without warning!
Its body elegantly stretched and elongated in mid-air, its fur receded, its bones reshaped, and in the blink of an eye, the dignified Professor McGonagall stood firmly on the floor in front of the podium, her emerald green robes immaculate, her sharp gaze instantly locking onto Harry and Ron, who had their mouths full of "little pink" and were about to move!
"Mmm…" (Cool…) Ron's exclamation was muffled by the stuff in his mouth, leaving only a vague grunt.
Professor McGonagall frowned, looking at their bulging cheeks, a trace of displeasure flashing in her eyes. She flicked her wrist, and her wand precisely pointed at the two of them.
Two flashes of light! The "little pink" in Harry and Ron's mouths instantly transformed into two plump, jelly-like mice, which scurried out of their open mouths, fell to the ground, and then changed back into little pink!
"Phew—ha! Ha!" Finally free from the elastic "breakfast," Harry and Ron gasped for air, as if they had just been pulled out of water.
"I need an explanation." Professor McGonagall's voice was icy, her gaze like a torch.
"We… we got lost." Harry tried to bluff his way through, his voice tinged with guilt.
"Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall's voice grew colder, carrying an undeniable authority.
"You know that's not what I'm asking." Her sharp gaze swept over the two of them.
Harry and Ron instinctively turned to look at Nios in the first row.
Nios calmly stood up.
"Mr. Chaos?" Professor McGonagall's gaze turned to him, with scrutiny, "Do you have anything to say?"
"Professor McGonagall." Nios was composed, even a little innocent, "This stuff, it's edible." Saying this, he pulled out a small piece of "little pink" from his pocket and put it into his mouth in front of the whole class.
His dagger-like shark teeth easily cut through the tough little pink, and he swallowed it in a few bites.
He even deliberately opened his mouth to show his empty oral cavity and two rows of gleaming sharp teeth.
Harry and Ron stared dumbfounded! Neville finally understood—no wonder Nios said this stuff was edible!
Professor McGonagall stared at Nios for a few seconds, her gaze seemingly trying to penetrate his eye patch.
Finally, she just said sternly: "I don't want there to be a next time." After speaking, she turned and walked towards the podium.
"Alright, Professor." Nios sat down compliantly.
Harry and Ron were still standing foolishly in place, still shaken.
"What?" Professor McGonagall didn't even turn her head, her voice tinged with coldness.
"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, can you get lost going to your seats too?"
The two of them, as if waking from a dream, quickly rushed to the nearest empty seats and clumsily sat down, almost dropping their books on the floor.