After returning from Diagon Alley, Lucius Malfoy's greedy, vulture-like gaze became a persistent thorn in Hermione's heart.
Her protective instinct for Lia reached an unprecedented peak.
Back at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters for the return to Hogwarts, Hermione held Lia in her arms almost every step of the way, warily eyeing every Wizard who approached.
It wasn't until the train started moving, leaving the noisy platform behind, that her tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, and she lowered her head to nuzzle the little one's warm ears.
Returning to the familiar Castle, Lia seemed exceptionally happy.
The wildness she had suppressed all summer was completely released in the spacious Gryffindor Common Room.
She transformed back into Lia the Cat, like a queen surveying her territory, pacing elegantly from the warm fireplace to the moonlit windowsill, then running lightly from the spiral staircase to the boys' dormitory door, tapping it gently with the tip of her fluffy tail before laughing and running away like the wind before Ron's complaints could be heard from inside.
Using her scent and gaze, she re-marked this safe zone belonging to her and Hermione.
Harry and Ron watched her jumping up and down in the common room, finding it both funny and cute.
Only Hermione knew that this was Lia's way of completely relaxing after confirming every inch of her territory was safe.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by the new Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Professor Gilderoy Lockhart's first class brought a "surprise" for everyone.
"Now — be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You face Cornish Pixies in this room today!"
Lockhart whipped the cover off the cage. A group of electric-blue creatures about eight inches high, with pointed ears, were huddled in the cage, letting out high-pitched squeals.
Before any of the students could react, Lockhart opened the cage door.
"Let's see what you make of them!"
Disaster struck instantly.
The pixies shot out of the cage like blue rockets, wreaking havoc everywhere. They shrieked in high-pitched voices, smashing ink bottles against the walls and shredding books into flying fragments; Neville Longbottom was even grabbed by the ears by two pixies and hung, howling, from the ceiling chandelier.
The entire classroom was in chaos as students screamed and hid under desks.
Lockhart tried to control the situation with a spell, but a pixie snatched his magic wand, and the scene spiraled completely out of control.
While everyone else was in a sorry state, a white shadow appeared exceptionally... excited amidst the confusion.
Lia had long since transformed into her Ragdoll Cat form, lying on Hermione's desk.
In her world, these jumping, squeaking little blue things were no threat at all.
They were... top-tier automatic flying cat teasers!
Her hunting instinct was fully activated.
A pixie shrieked as it flew over her head; Lia's hind leg muscles tightened instantly, and with a sudden burst of power, her entire body turned into a streak of elegant white lightning as she leaped into the air, her front paw swiping with precision!
"Smack!"
That pixie was swatted away like a shuttlecock, hitting the wall and sliding down dizzily.
Another tried to pull Hermione's bushy hair; as Lia landed, she made a sharp turn, and her beautiful long fluffy tail swept out like a steel whip, knocking the pixie over directly.
She was having the time of her life, rolling, jumping, and pouncing in the air. Those pixies that gave the young Wizards such headaches were helpless before her, as if she were their natural counter.
Finally, she even managed to catch one, pinning it to the ground with her soft paw pads, tilting her head to sniff it curiously, and then sticking out her pink tongue to give it a lick.
The pinned pixie was so terrified its indigo skin turned pale, and it didn't dare move a muscle.
"Lia, don't lick it! It's dirty!" Hermione, hiding behind a desk, watched Lia "dominating the battlefield" in the chaos, feeling both annoyed and amused as she scolded in a low voice, "Merlin's beard, that's not a chocolate frog!"
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