Loren understood George and Fred's intentions and agreed without hesitation. This way, he could eliminate a hidden danger nearby, deepen the twins' goodwill toward him, and most importantly, secure a crucial experimental subject.
He had long wanted to deal with Scabbers, especially after obtaining the research notes passed down through the Weasley family. Now he was even more eager to capture Scabbers for study. After all, Scabbers was an unregistered Animagus, and Loren just happened to need one for his research. With a living subject, progress would come quickly.
Clearing his thoughts, Loren packed up his makeshift alchemy workshop and tucked it back into his robe.
A glance at the time showed it was nearly four o'clock. He left the Room of Requirement and went to find Hermione, intending to check on her experiment, see if she needed help, and perhaps go to dinner together.
Following the Marauder's Map, he arrived at the classroom where Hermione was. Inside, the atmosphere was grim: the students hadn't even finished cutting all the materials.
Loren's experimental plan included measurements that were extremely difficult for young wizards to manage. Weight and volume could be handled with tools, but cutting materials to precise densities was another matter entirely.
Every material needed to be shaped into perfect cubes for ease of calculation. Only Hermione could quickly compute the necessary edge lengths for cubes of different masses and densities.
Thus, Hermione first had to calculate each material's density, then determine the edge length required for a given mass. The others worked on cutting the materials accordingly, and once they finished, Hermione and Irene checked them. Any failed pieces had to be redone.
Older students managed somewhat with precise cutting charms. Younger ones could only use knives, correcting mistakes by having Hermione or Irene restore the material with a "Reparo" before trying again.
By the time Loren arrived, several materials still hadn't even been shaped.
He looked at his exhausted classmates and decided to step in. Taking Hermione's calculations, he read them once, then waved his wand. Instantly, the pile of raw materials floated up and sliced themselves into the required shapes.
For someone who had mastered advanced alchemy, it was nothing. The room filled with gasps of awe—especially from the older students, who knew firsthand how difficult precise cutting was.
With Loren's help, the materials were finished in record time. But the long day had drained everyone's patience. They decided to rest and resume the experiment next Saturday, when everyone would be free.
With that settled, Loren led the group out. He walked at the front, holding Hermione's hand, while even the older students followed behind, tacitly acknowledging him as their leader.
At dinner, talk of the transfiguration experiment dominated the Great Hall. Each House had its own group, and even those not involved were clamoring for news. At the staff table, Dumbledore himself leaned toward McGonagall, inquiring about the experiment's progress.
Afterward, Loren returned to the common room with the others. There, he handed Harry the completed transformation bracer.
He explained that it was crafted specifically for Harry, a magical tool with certain benefits and a special function—but one that could only be used during Potions class and had to be deactivated afterward.
Harry was delighted. Ron, however, grew sour. Among Loren's friends, he was now the only one without a personal gift.
Loren knew Ron well enough. Smiling, he reached into his robe and produced another bracer. This one, a pared-down version of Harry's, lacked the transformation feature but was otherwise identical.
Ron's face lit up with joy. Loren waited until he calmed a little before explaining its effects: an integration of the automatic training suit and the alchemy pillow, improving sleep quality, applying mild physical resistance to strengthen the body, and accelerating food digestion. Now Ron could resume his eating contests with Neville.
Ron was so caught up in his new toy that he didn't even ask about Harry's special function.
Hermione, of course, wasn't surprised. Her own collection of Loren's unusual magical tools was proof enough of his endless ingenuity.
Once Ron skipped off in excitement, Loren turned his mind to Scabbers. The compensation had already been given; now he could proceed without guilt.
…
At eleven that night, the dorm was quiet, everyone asleep.
Loren slipped from bed, pulled a chest from underneath, opened it, and climbed inside. The entire process made barely a sound. None of the boys stirred—except Scabbers.
From behind the velvet curtains, the rat poked out its head. Peter Pettigrew, ever cautious, spent most days sleeping and nights awake, alert to the slightest disturbance.
Loren had promised the twins he would deal with Scabbers discreetly, without causing a fuss. Otherwise, they would have done it themselves long ago.
Once Loren entered, the chest shut tight, looking perfectly undisturbed.
Soon, a strange scent seeped from the seams. The sleeping boys didn't notice—but the rat did.
Instinct drove him toward it, as irresistible as catnip to a cat.
This was, in fact, a byproduct of Loren's research on catnip. When infused with magic, it affected nearly all furred mammals, not just cats.
Pettigrew clung to Ron's sheets, trembling, fighting against his body's pull. Minutes dragged into eternity as the smell grew stronger. His resolve frayed.
Just as he was about to leap down, the scent vanished. The chest opened, and Loren emerged holding a small wooden box.
He walked toward Ron's bed, muttering to himself.
"Almost forgot Scabbers' gift. Since Hermione's Crookshanks has one, Ron's Scabbers and Neville's Leif ought to as well. Let's give this one to Scabbers tonight. It's nearly midnight anyway—Leif's can wait until tomorrow."
He tossed the box onto Ron's bed. It slid to the foot, slightly ajar. From the gap, the smell returned, stronger than ever, mere inches from Pettigrew's whiskers.
Combined with Loren's words, Pettigrew guessed the box contained catnip. He had overheard Hermione complaining before about Crookshanks being useless from overindulgence, and warning Ron that Scabbers might meet the same fate.
Convinced it was safe, Pettigrew waited, watching. When he was certain all five boys were asleep, he crept toward the box.
Using his paws, he pried the gap wider and slipped inside.
At once, the overwhelming scent obliterated his reason. A crystalline, sugar-like extract of enchanted catnip filled two-thirds of the box. Sliding inside, he brushed it with his nose and sank into bliss, finally pulling the lid shut behind him.
The box gave a faint click, like a lock snapping shut.
It lifted into the air, floated silently to Loren's trunk, and slipped inside.
Within, a table awaited, etched with glowing runes save for the empty space in the center. The box settled neatly into place.
The circle flared to life, runes gleaming as the trap was sealed.
The experimental subject was secured.
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