The Transfiguration classroom.
A few mice being used as teaching aids were squeaking softly.
Neville raised his hand.
"Sorry, Professor, I…"
Neville stammered.
He twisted his robes tightly in his hands and glanced nervously to the side.
"Neville, go on,"
Sean said from beside him.
Neville had been unable to find his permission slip from the very beginning. Sean knew that Neville's grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, had sent it directly to Professor McGonagall herself.
Grandma Augusta Longbottom was very considerate. She'd been afraid Neville would lose it.
After all, Neville had had far too many Memory Charms cast on him.
But…
Neville hadn't been at ease these past few days.
"My gran… she sent it to you… Professor…"
Neville kept staring at Sean's eyes and didn't dare look at Professor McGonagall at all.
"Yes, your grandmother sent your form directly to me, Longbottom,"
said Professor McGonagall, her stern face softening a little.
"She said that next time, you'll have to send it yourself."
"Oh… I will…"
Neville lowered his hand, blushing.
He glanced down instinctively and saw Hermione quietly pumping a fist at him, Ron looking at him in surprise and delight, and the young wizard simply giving him a small smile and a nod.
All his panic vanished in an instant.
His face grew hot, and he ended up grinning foolishly.
"That's better."
Hermione sniffed. Neville had been frightened half to death these past few days, convinced he'd lost the form and too scared to ask.
They'd gone to a lot of trouble just to get Neville to use his enchanted hand mirror.
"My mother says taking responsibility for yourself is the first step you have to take."
Justin's voice drifted out of the magical mirror.
Thanks to the mirror's special design, only the intended wizard could hear what was said.
So some of the younger students would secretly use them during class, though there weren't many of them, and they used them very carefully.
Professor McGonagall simply let it slide.
Judging by the results, the occasional whispered exchange born of nerves was a lot better than students constantly muttering through the whole lesson.
"Alright, the rest of you can hand them to me."
Professor McGonagall spoke at last.
The Ravenclaws rose and left in a noisy cluster, while the Gryffindors enthusiastically formed a long line.
They kept chattering, talking nonstop about what they wanted to do once they got to Hogsmeade.
Oddly enough, mixed in with the sea of red-and-gold scarves was one little wizard wearing a blue-and-bronze one.
"You're handing yours to Professor McGonagall too?"
Hermione leaned in toward Sean, puzzled.
"Sean, y-you—you joined Gryffindor? Can you even do that?!"
Ron's eyes went wide, and then he lit up with joy.
"There has never—been—a case like that—"
Hermione shot Ron a glare, but he was still lost in his happy fantasy.
If Sean were in Gryffindor?
Oh!
How many championships would Gryffindor win then…
"But—Professor—you know I really want to go—my parents—they don't understand what Hogsmeade means—you can't—"
A voice full of desperate pleading rose from the front of the line.
They saw a wizard standing there, earnestly begging Professor McGonagall.
"If you just say I can go—"
he said.
He looked older and taller, and had apparently rushed in from outside, flustered and out of breath.
"But I won't say that,"
Professor McGonagall replied, rising to her feet and neatly sliding her notes into a drawer.
"It states it quite clearly on the form. It must be signed by a parent or guardian. If you want to go, then you'll need a signature from your parent or guardian and then bring it to me."
She turned to look at the wizard, cool and firm, and he slunk off miserably.
As soon as he left, Hermione suddenly started carefully inspecting Sean's form.
There was still a letter attached to it.
[Dear Mr. Green:
Please note that the new school term begins on September 1st…]
Not that part. Hermione's eyes moved down.
[The Hogwarts Express departs at eleven o'clock from Platform Nine at King's Cross Station. If you plan to spend the last week of the summer holiday at the farm, please contact me in person…]
What farm?
Hermione couldn't make sense of that at all. Why would Sean be going to a farm?
And why would he need to contact Professor McGonagall?
She felt as if countless clues were flashing through her mind, only none of them would stay put long enough to connect.
> I am pleased to inform you, dear Mr. Green, that third-year students are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends.
Please hand the enclosed permission form to…
Hermione narrowed her eyes at once and focused on spying a little more closely.
Unfortunately, the crucial word was blocked by Sean's fingers.
"To who…"
It sounded like someone behind her was muttering.
Hermione turned her head and saw Ron staring with a look of utter shock and worry.
The two of them locked eyes and saw the same startled panic reflected in each other.
"What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?"
they said in unison.
The young wizard at the front of the line, who had been reading, seemed to notice the disturbance. He tilted his head slightly and saw Hermione and Ron glaring at each other again.
"You saw that…"
Hermione quickly clapped a hand over Ron's mouth, then squinted and asked,
"I didn't see anything. There's no signature on the back."
Ron had completely forgotten they were supposed to be in the middle of a cold war. He spread his hands, confused.
"No signature?!"
Hermione froze.
"Yeah… kind of proves McGonagall can play favorites too. She's letting Sean turn in an unsigned form."
Ron muttered.
Hermione stared at him as though he were an idiot.
"Then why didn't Sean hand it to Professor Flitwick?"
"You mean…"
Ron blinked.
"Professor Flitwick isn't the Deputy Head, so he can't sign it?!"
Ron suddenly looked enlightened.
Hogwarts really was strict about rank.
"You…"
Hermione froze for a second, then slowly nodded.
Was that really it?
At the front of the line, Professor McGonagall had already put the forms away. She said gently,
"You may go."
Sean nodded.
"And…"
Professor McGonagall tucked her notes away and stepped a little closer. Hermione had never seen the professor like this before.
She quickly tugged Ron too so they could both stare at the larger and smaller wizard in front of them.
"Be careful. If anything happens, contact us immediately."
Thinking about the escaped fugitive who had broken in not long ago, Professor McGonagall frowned slightly.
"I understand, Professor."
Sean said.
Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction. After collecting Hermione's and Ron's forms last, she left the Transfiguration classroom together with Sean.
The rest of the students spilled out after them, until the room was left with only Hermione and Ron, both sunk in thought.
They seemed to have forgotten all the unpleasantness from before and were now huddled together, thinking hard.
"I've got it—"
Ron suddenly jerked upright.