Chapter 305. Strange Thoughts
Harry looked at the words on the badge on Malfoy's chest, and his eyes went cold.
At the same time, the other Slytherin students behind Malfoy pressed their own badges one after another.
In an instant, the words "POTTER, BIG STINKING TURD" flashed up and down the corridor in waves.
Pansy Parkinson shrieked with laughter, holding her badge up where it was most obvious; the others did the same.
Seeing this, Harry's hand on his wand trembled slightly, but his face stayed calm.
To be blocked in a corridor and humiliated by a crowd like this would test even the mildest temper—let alone someone his age, hot-blooded as he was.
Just then, something subtle shifted in Harry's thoughts.
School rules?
What are those?
Wave your wand, Harry thought.
He was certain that even if everyone in front of him came at him together, they wouldn't be his match.
He knew his strength already far surpassed that of most people his age; even Professor Wesson often praised his talent for combat.
All it would take was a small thunderous blast, and he could make these annoying gits in front of him shut up forever.
Just…
Just like…
Just like that fire dragon…
Harry started as if waking from a dream, a shiver running through him; cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Wait!
What on earth was he thinking!
He shook his head hard, flinging those eerie thoughts out of his mind.
Seeing Harry like this, Malfoy thought he was simply furious; he lifted his chin in triumph, as if he had already won.
"What's wrong?" he deliberately raised his voice. "Do you think the badge is good too? It cost me no small effort."
Meanwhile, the Slytherins behind him clumsily mimicked Harry's head-shaking and burst into harsh, piercing laughter.
Harry was just about to say something when a clear voice suddenly came from behind him. "So you're here, Harry."
Everyone turned to look and saw Cedric striding toward them.
Cedric calmly stepped to Harry's side, set his right hand on Harry's shoulder, and said toward the Slytherins, "Sorry, but I'm taking him with me now. Ah, and I'd suggest you lot put those badges away, or they may cause trouble."
"No need to hel—"
Harry's words were cut off by Malfoy.
"Diggory, what's that supposed to mean?" The smug smile froze on Malfoy's face as he narrowed his eyes. "Since when did you become Potter's nanny?"
"Hmm?" Cedric kept his gentle smile, but Harry felt the hand on his shoulder tighten slightly. "I simply think that three days before the Tournament, Hogwarts's champions ought to keep their minds on proper business."
He glanced meaningfully at the flashing badges. "Rather than this tasteless, childish rubbish."
Malfoy's face darkened; he was about to retort when Harry flicked his wand—so fast it caught everyone off guard.
In an instant, the badge on Malfoy's chest changed with a pop to bright pink, and a line of words surfaced on it: "I AM A BIG STINKING TURD."
Immediately, all the Slytherin students' badges changed colour as well.
"Wha—" Malfoy fumbled to tear his badge off, but it was as if it had been glued to his robes.
"Run!"
Laughing, Harry grabbed Cedric by the arm and bolted.
Behind them, Malfoy's enraged roars and Pansy's hysterical screams started to echo.
"When did you cast the spell?" Cedric asked in surprise as they ran.
"While you were talking," Harry panted. "Nonverbal magic. I was going to turn that badge into fireworks, but I couldn't… oh, blast, I cast magic in the corridor; can't let a professor catch that."
"Brilliant."
They rounded a sharp corner and finally stopped before a long bench.
"Thanks, Cedric," Harry finally had time to say. "But I should tell you, Malfoy's pettiness is far worse than you think. He'll definitely get back at you."
Cedric shrugged, expression steady. "No need to thank me—we're friends, aren't we? And… Malfoy—let him come. Honestly, I've long wanted to teach that arrogant bloke a lesson."
Harry stared at Cedric in surprise; he hadn't expected the always-polite Hufflepuff upper-year to have this side to him.
Still—friends.
Harry's feelings were complicated.
After a brief rest, Cedric suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, I nearly forgot the main thing," he said. "Professor Wesson asked me to tell you to go to his office as soon as you're free. Mm… it's probably just to check on your health—after all, you could barely stand yesterday."
"I'm completely fine now. I'll go at once." Harry nodded, then reminded him again, "And be careful of Malfoy's revenge."
"Don't worry," Cedric waved. "It'll be fine."
Bidding Cedric goodbye, Harry set off at once for Professor Wesson's office.
At the office door, Harry knocked politely.
"Come in."
As soon as Professor Wesson's voice sounded, Harry pushed the door open—and was so startled by the scene before him that he took a step back.
A lifelike, enormous dragon model took up nearly the entire office.
With the dragon model blocking his way, Harry didn't quite know where to put his feet.
"Come over, Harry." Professor Wesson beckoned and explained, "No need to be afraid; it's not a real dragon. I'm using this model to study Transfiguration… all right, it does take up a bit of space—give me just a moment."
With an apparently casual wave of his wand, Professor Wesson shrank the dragon model at speed until it became a delicate ornament and set it on the corner of the desk.
Only then did Harry notice that the desk held even more models of magical creatures—a curled-up Unicorn, a Hippogriff with wings spread, and several different kinds of dragons.
Yes, this was precisely what Professor Wesson had been studying of late.
Transfiguration involving magical creatures.
Unfortunately, his research had recently hit a standstill.
Because of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, every creature he transfigured had only the outward form, with none of the magical properties.
Just like the dragon earlier.
It might look like a dragon, with strong resistance to magic and even able to belch fire,
but in fact, certain clever workarounds were being used.
For example, the "magic resistance" was pre-enchanted by Professor Wesson.
As for dragonfire, that was simpler still: pack a bit of flamewood into the dragon's throat and lay on fire magic, and you could easily produce a similar effect.
To transfigure a true dragon, ordinary Transfiguration was far from enough.
It would require far more precise and far more complex ritual work.
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