Chapter 658: Plans (Edited)

That night, Fish headed outside the dormitory as usual, except this time Hermione wasn't with him.

As he exited through the hole in the wall, Fish transformed into Mrs. Norris, who had already arranged with Filch to spend the night in his office.

He hadn't gone far from the dormitory when he heard Umbridge's footsteps. She had arrived panting on the seventh floor and was heading towards the Fat Lady portrait.

Fish, disguised as Madame Norris, glanced at her for a moment and then casually walked to the side as if nothing was amiss.

Umbridge, on her part, seemed surprised to see Fish but was instantly disappointed when she noticed his appearance.

She stopped paying attention to Fish, who silently observed her, and waited expectantly in a corner not far from the Fat Lady portrait.

Fish fought the urge to scratch that toad-like face, flicked his tail, and ran downstairs. Instead of wandering around the castle as usual, he headed to the first floor, to a small secluded room at the end of the marble staircase.

It was Professor McGonagall's office, and the door was slightly ajar at that moment, allowing a dim light to filter through the threshold and cast a yellow line on the floor.

Fish wrinkled his nose at the smell of Dumbledore in the room, in addition to Professor McGonagall's scent.

Without bothering to consider why Dumbledore was there, Fish pushed his head through the hidden door and slipped inside, then closed the door behind him with a stomp, not looking back.

Inside the room, Dumbledore was seated right across from Professor McGonagall, with a beautiful white porcelain teapot and two steaming cups of black tea in front of them.

When they noticed the door opening, the headmaster and deputy headmistress turned their attention to him, and Dumbledore was slightly surprised to see that it was "Mrs. Norris" who had entered.

But after Professor McGonagall saw the familiar way of closing the door, an affectionate smile appeared on her face.

"It seems you hit the mark, Albus," she shook her head and then gave Fish a reproachful look. "Aren't you worried that Umbridge will catch you and punish me?"

"Nya~"

(=`△=)

Fish leaped over the desk and threw himself into Professor McGonagall's arms, transforming back into his tabby form, resting his two paws on her shoulders, rubbing his furry head against her face while purring in grievance.

"Obviously, Fish has thought about that and asked Argus and his cat for a little favor." Dumbledore defended Fish with a smile and a sip of his tea.

Then he shook his head again and said, "I had forgotten that Fish could take the form of other cats."

Judging by their appearance and Professor McGonagall's earlier conversation, it seemed that Dumbledore had already guessed that Fish would come tonight.

And after a moment of wasting time, Fish jumped off Professor McGonagall's body and transformed back into his human form.

"Minerva, Fish wants to teach Umbridge a lesson, nya!"

(`ω´)

As usual, Fish was straightforward.

Professor McGonagall didn't speak, but she gave Dumbledore an ironic smile, and the mischievous old Dumbledore winked playfully at her.

Apparently, even Dumbledore had guessed what Fish was planning.

"So, how do you plan to teach her a lesson?"

Professor McGonagall had no intention of stopping Fish. After seeing Fish get into trouble so many times, she had learned that it was better to go along with him to control the situation rather than stopping Fish and having him do it behind her back.

"Umbridge has just issued an educational decree against you and me, and if something happens to her afterwards, it could easily arouse suspicion towards us," warned Professor McGonagall.

"Awwww..."

(≥△≤)

Fish let out a distressed cry of anguish, then grimaced and murmured, "So Fish can behave for a while, but Umbridge needs a lesson, nya!"

"Nevertheless," Professor McGonagall said softly, "How do you plan to teach her a lesson? Turn her into a toad again?"

"Well... that shouldn't work, nya," Fish pondered for a moment before shaking their head sadly. "Do it again, and Umbridge, even if she's dumb, will know it was someone from the school who did it, and then she'll come up with some new educational decree, nya."

Professor McGonagall nodded, relieved that at least Fish wasn't overwhelmed by anger, and then smiled bitterly, realizing that if things continued like this, she wouldn't be able to catch any more of Fish's sneaky pranks.

But then she thought, two more years and Fish will graduate, so she would let the girl Granger worry about it...

Wait a moment...

I think Dumbledore said he wanted Fish to come to Hogwarts to teach after graduating, and he had considered asking Fish to succeed him as the Transfiguration professor in the future...

Professor McGonagall contemplated it, feeling inexplicably conflicted.

"Minerva, Minerva, Minerva!"

Professor McGonagall snapped back to attention as Fish's call reached her ears, and then she saw Fish's head almost right in front of her nose.

"Minerva, are you alright?"

(°Д°)

Fish looked at her with concern, asking anxiously.

"I'm fine," Professor McGonagall quickly waved her hand and explained with a bit of embarrassment, "I was just dazed for a while."

Fish stared at her intently for a few moments to make sure she was okay before asking, "What do you suggest, Minerva? Fish can't think of anything..."

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes and said, "My advice is for you to behave, since, anyway, all Hogwarts professors have a limit of one year in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

"No way! I'd have to spend months at the school with that annoying toad!"

(`н´)

Fish puffed up their chest, then slumped and said, "Why don't you expel Fish first, Minerva, and come back after Fish has taught Umbridge a lesson?"

"Well, that's a good idea..." Dumbledore, who was watching the drama, interrupted.

Professor McGonagall glared at him.

"Don't listen to Albus's nonsense." Professor McGonagall pinched Fish's ear, looked at them with a hint of suspicion, and asked, "You're not saying that on purpose because you want to skip your homework, are you?"

"No, I'm not! As if homework were difficult!"

∑(`Д´)

That's what they said, but it's not what they actually thought...

Professor McGonagall knows this little cat too well.

Fish didn't dare think of anything else, so they kept turning it over in their mind...

What could be the best way to bring Umbridge down without arousing suspicion towards them?

"Actually... you don't have to do it alone..." Dumbledore took a sip of black tea and faintly remembered, "Why don't you ask for help from your friends?"

He emphasized the word "friends" deliberately.

"Nya!"

(ΦωΦ)

Fish's eyes lit up: "Fish seems to know what to do, nya!"