Chapter 287: Travel Plans (Edited)

After eating two bags of sandwiches to keep from feeling hungry, Fish got permission from Professor McGonagall and left the Chamber of Secrets with the basilisk in tow.

Professor McGonagall and the others did not stay in the Chamber of Secrets, but followed Dumbledore into the Headmaster's office.

"Professor Dumbledore..."

As soon as they entered the Headmaster's office, Newt Scamander spoke with some hesitation, "Is it true that Fish is... just a born Animagus?"

He shot Professor McGonagall an apologetic look, knowing he had been impolite to ask, but Fish had shown abilities that could not be explained by a born Animagus.

Coupled with Newt's special talent with animals, he sensed something was wrong, so he couldn't help but remind him.

Also, as a Magizoologist, Newt was curious and inquisitive, so he was interested in what was going on with Fish.

Professor McGonagall smiled nonchalantly.

As a transfiguration teacher, to say she had no doubts about Fish's identity would be understating Professor McGonagall's professional standards, except that, as she had once told Fish, Professor McGonagall didn't care if he was human or cat, he was a child of the McGonagall family anyway.

"Does that matter, Newt?" asked Dumbledore cheerfully, who also seemed unconcerned, and winked at Newt.

"Well...looks like I'm being nosy."

Seeing the looks on both of their faces, Newt shook his head knowingly, knowing that they had already figured it out.

It didn't matter if they had been born Animagus or not, little Fish was such a cute little boy... though he could be a bit naughty, but it was nothing to worry about, kids are usually a bit naughty.

After settling the basilisk issue, the Scamander family stayed in Hogsmeade for a few more days, and Fish took them for a walk in the Forbidden Forest and introduced them to his animal friends....

He also introduced them to Uroboros.

Although the basilisk has shrunk and his eyes are covered with a layer of magical contact lenses, most magical animals are still very afraid of him.

The centaurs, however, were very friendly and talked about Uroboros becoming a "friend of nature" like Fluffy.

Also, although the basilisk's murderous stare has been weakened several times, it is not completely ineffective, and some magical creatures with less resistance to magic, as well as less skilled wizards like Rolf, still feel stiff when looking at the basilisk.

However, it is only a stiffness, not a state of petrification, and if one can look away from the basilisk and stop looking at it, one can recover immediately.

The funny thing is...

Fish discovered that all spiders, regardless of type, are sensitive to the scent of the basilisk and move away if they sense it approaching.

Then, the kitten rushed into the Acromantula's lair with Uroboros, chasing them....

Who told them to chase him in numbers in the first place?

Cats are very spiteful!

The Scamander's stayed in Hogsmeade for about ten days before reluctantly saying goodbye to Fish.

The kitten was also very sad to see them go, because....

As soon as the guests left, Professor McGonagall would make him do his summer homework....

In addition to the headache caused by the homework, Fish also receives occasional letters from some of his best friends, most of whom invite Fish to their homes for the summer.

Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall would not allow Fish to take Uroboros, so he had no choice but to turn them all away.

One of the most interesting letters was from Harry, who had been locked up by his aunt's family last summer,

He was not allowed to communicate with the outside world.

Only thanks to Fish's beating of the fat guy Vernon, they were now afraid to imprison Harry again.

After hearing from Harry's letter and from Hedwig's mouth that Harry was fine, Fish was relieved and then handed Hedwig a card with a cat paw print on it and asked his to take it to Harry.

It's not just Harry, but Fish prepared this kind of card for everyone's reply...

Anyway, don't try to get the cat to write extra words!

Because he didn't visit other people's houses, and Fish's writing skills and homework experience also improved, so his summer homework progress this year is much faster than last year.

Before a month had passed, Fish had almost finished his summer homework.

During this time, Professor McGonagall took him to a few more Animagus Club meetings, Fish met a few new Animagus, and a few more people gave him snacks.

"Minerva~"

?●ω●?

After reading the last few days' letters, Fish ran to Professor McGonagall's side.

"When will you ever take Fish on a trip sometime?!"

"Huh?"

Professor McGonagall put the quill down in her hand and looked at the kitten curiously.

Of course, there was no harm in taking Fish out to play, and Professor McGonagall had thought of that.

It just seemed to her that Fish was still too much of a kitten, and it would be unpleasant to take him out, in case he got into any trouble.

Besides, she was also a little curious as to why Fish suddenly proposed the idea of traveling.

"Why do you suddenly want to travel?" asked Professor McGonagall directly.

Then she saw Fish hold up the letter in his hand and reply, "Ron wrote to say that his father had won a prize and they were going to Egypt with him, and that he would see lots of new and interesting things and send me a present in a few days!"

?(●?ω?●)?

No need to explain further, it was obvious that the cat had heard about something new and interesting and was itching with curiosity.

"No problem taking you on a trip..." nodded Professor McGonagall calmly, then changed her mind, "But it depends on how well you do in school this year, and if you do well, I'll take you out next summer.

Next summer, it would be the Quidditch World Cup, which is held every four years, and although Fish wouldn't say so, as an avid Quidditch fan, Professor McGonagall was going to take Fish to the tournament, and took advantage of the kitten's request.

As for the fact that Fish isn't really interested in Quidditch, and that England will be hosting next year....

Anyway, he didn't say where he was going to take Fish, so he could try to make it up to the cat later.

Unaware that Mummy McGonagall was tricking him again, Fish patted his chest confidently and promised, "Don't worry Minerva! Fish will be good!"

?(●ΦωΦ●)?

Probably inspired by Professor McGonagall's promise, over the next few days Fish took it upon himself to finish the rest of his summer homework, which even included a History of Magic paper on the burning of witches in the 14th century.

And once he was done, the kitten made no fuss, as usual, except for cheating on his food and drink in Hogsmeade, and for what Comey will send him back to Hogwarts to play with his animal friends.

Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, was suddenly busy as July drew to a close, and often Fish didn't see her at home during the day, and even when she returned from her evening outings, she still seemed busy...

Even when she would tell Fish a story, she would become a bit distracted and superficial.

"Minerva, what's wrong with you?"

?(●?ω?●)?

Fish tugged at Professor McGonagall's robe and asked worriedly, she had already repeated three times that Grandpa Newt used the Thunderbird to rain, and now she was repeating it for the fourth time.

"Ah... sorry, Fish, Mum seems a bit indisposed, so that's enough for today."

Professor McGonagall came to, pinched the bridge of her nose, and said softly to Fish, "Go play with your friends."

Hearing this, the little cat first cast a [Rejuvenation] spell on Professor McGonagall and then suggested, "How about we go to the school and get Grandma Poppy to check you out?"

"No need to bother Madam Pomfrey," Professor McGonagall smiled and rubbed Fish's head, "I'll be fine after I get some rest."

"Are you really alright nya?"

(??ˇ?ˇ??)

"Don't worry, she's really fine."

Professor McGonagall turned Fish around, then gently pushed his back, urging him, "Go play by yourself, let Mummy rest for a while."

Fish, who was afraid of disturbing Professor McGonagall's rest, could only leave his room step by step, then trotted into the living room and found a copy of "The Daily Prophet" from the stack of newspapers on the coffee table.

Yes Fish remembered correctly, it was this paper and a letter that had made Professor McGonagall so busy and worried.

Spreading the paper out in his hands, Fish glimpsed the headline on the front page of the issue: Sirius Black Escapes Azkaban!

Fish scratched his head, if he remembered correctly, Azkaban was supposed to be a place for wizards who did bad things.

Is it because of this guy that Minerva has been having headaches lately?

The kitten looked at the gaunt-faced man with the long, disheveled hair in the paper, a fierce glint in his eyes.

As he read on, Fish's eyes grew increasingly fierce....

This thin, gaunt man was actually one of the followers under the great villain called Voldemort, and he had killed a dozen Muggles and a wizard.

Fish checked the rest of the paper's contents and confirmed that Professor McGonagall was concerned about this person named Black.

But...

What does this bad guy's escape from prison have to do with Minerva?

The kitten scratched its head in confusion.

?(●?ω?●)?