Chapter 702: A Kitten Lost Its Sleep (Edited)

"Albus, are you okay?"

(|ΦωΦ)

In the middle of the night, Fish gently pushed open the oak door of the Headmaster's office and peered inside.

Dumbledore, who was sitting in his chair with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and smiled happily.

"Fish, you're here."

Although he had guessed that Fish would come to see him tonight, Dumbledore was still pleasantly surprised when Fish actually approached.

Fish trotted to Dumbledore's side and, without saying a word, cast a healing spell that immediately restored Dumbledore's weakened vitality.

But, just like before, his vitality didn't regain its original level, not even a bit, but rather dissipated slightly.

"Severus's medicine didn't work either?"

?ω?

Fish furrowed his brow, looking at Dumbledore, who seemed unchanged.

"It is working, or I would be in a much worse state," said Dumbledore calmly.

He wasn't too concerned about his health because, according to his calculations, he would be able to hold on until the plan was fully executed, so even if he couldn't heal himself, Dumbledore had no regrets.

What concerned him the most now were the spells Fish had just used...

"The healing effect of your spells... seems to have increased considerably!" exclaimed Dumbledore in surprise. "Perhaps soon your healing spells can truly heal me."

Of course, this was to deceive Fish. Although his healing spells had improved, they were more in terms of effectiveness and hadn't fundamentally changed, so a wound that couldn't be healed wouldn't be healed no matter how much it improved.

And Fish himself realized this. He looked at Dumbledore and muttered in his mind, "This old codger is dying and still thinking about deceiving people!"

(?ω?)

But Fish wasn't bothered by it. His transformation energy kept increasing anyway, and when he awakened a powerful healing spell, he would scare the old codger again!

"Fish is going to find Minerva to hear a story nya." Fish was ready to leave once the task was done.

"Ah... speaking of stories..." Dumbledore dragged his voice, causing Fish, who had already opened the door halfway, to stop moving as if someone had pressed the pause button. Only the cat ears on top of his head rotated like a radar.

The old codger paused and waited for Fish to turn his head before continuing, "I've recently collected some interesting memories from others, and I would like to share them with someone..."

He paused again and looked at Fish with a smile.

"Fish wants to see them! Fish wants to see them! Show them to Fish!"

(?ω?)

Fish turned back towards Dumbledore's desk, his eyes shining as he exclaimed.

"Of course, this was meant for you." Dumbledore reached out and petted Fish's head, and then his tone changed, "But I'd like Harry to join, so... this Saturday night, you can bring Harry with you."

"Ah, oh!"

After giving Dumbledore a firm bite, Fish angrily left his office.

A few moments later, however, Fish returned, poking his head through the door and asking, "Can Fish bring Hermione with him, then?"

Dumbledore blinked his blue eyes and said, "No problem, as long as you don't spread what you see."

"Bang!"

With the response, Fish withdrew his head without saying a word, and then closed the door forcefully... Fish is still angry!

...

The next morning, during breakfast, most of the sixth-years, including the Slytherins, approached the Gryffindor table and asked Fish which classes he would choose.

"Can I not choose any?"

(??ˇ?ˇ??)

Fish asked Hermione with a serious expression.

Hermione looked at him without understanding and asked, "Do you think Minerva would agree?"

"Awwww..."

(≥△≤)

Fish's good mood vanished in an instant, wilting as he stabbed his fork into the food on his plate...

He was reminded of it over and over again as people approached him to ask which class he would take.

"I should have asked Umbridge to expel Fish from the start..."

(ω"∠)

Fish slumped lifelessly onto the table...

A kitten lost its sleep.

Although Fish had tried to eat more slowly, breakfast finally ended with his lack of enthusiasm as students from other years left the Great Hall, leaving only the sixth-year students sitting at their tables, waiting for their heads of house to descend from the staff table.

"Fish, have you decided which classes you want to take?" Hermione, too, was not immune to this, asking as she slumped onto the table like Fish, glancing sideways at a dejected-looking Fish.

"What about you, Hermione?" Fish asked.

The response Hermione gave made Fish feel even worse... she only dropped History of Magic and Astronomy, taking the other eight classes.

The reason for dropping those two classes was simple, Professor Binns just read from a book, so she could read it herself, and Astronomy... To be honest, Muggle star maps are much more detailed than the ones wizards use.

"Hermione, are you sick nya?!"

∑(ΦДΦ)

Although he knew Hermione loved to read... her exaggerated choice still startled Fish.

Not only Fish, but also the other students who overheard their conversation nearby were taken aback.

At that moment, Professor McGonagall approached, her stern eyes sweeping over the sixth-year Gryffindors through her spectacles and finally landing on Fish...

During the summer break, Professor McGonagall had tried to interrogate Fish, but Fish had left her speechless, and since Fish used to be at St. Mungo's at that time, Professor McGonagall had set the matter aside.

But now... she had to deal with Fish first.

Observing Fish's diverted gaze, Professor McGonagall immediately made a decision in her mind.

"Fish, come here." She beckoned Fish with her hand, waited for Fish to sit in front of her, and asked the same question she had asked the other preceding students, "Which classes will you be taking?"

Fish blinked and carefully asked in return, "What is the minimum number of classes Fish can take nya?"

?ω?

He knew this would happen...

Professor McGonagall twisted the corners of her mouth, but said honestly, "Four."

"That's too much!"

"It's not much at all! There are seven mandatory courses in first year! And that's not counting Flying!" Professor McGonagall scolded Fish, hitting him on the head.

"But Fish only thinks it's too much..."

(〃｀3〃)

Fish murmured with a pout, then lowered his gaze and began selecting his classes.

"I can't miss Minerva's Transfiguration class... and then Hagrid, Sybil, and Binns... Fish is done nya!"

Aside from Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class, the other three classes were the easiest for Fish.

Of course, Professor McGonagall understood what Fish was thinking, but she didn't force him to take any other class, she simply rejected Professor Binns' History of Magic... because no one at Hogwarts had taken the advanced N.E.W.T. History of Magic class in years.

"Well... then Fish will think about it again..."

The most sleep-inducing class had been rejected, much to Fish's dismay, but he didn't take it too seriously... it wasn't like he couldn't sleep in other classes anyway.

"You don't need to think about it, just take Defense Against the Dark Arts class." Professor McGonagall made the decision for Fish.

Although it wasn't very useful, she wanted Fish to learn more about dark magic, after all, Fish was determined to fight against Voldemort.

"Uh... but Fish still wants to take Pomona's Herbology class nya..."

(?ω?)

In reality, Fish was torn between which of the three classes to take: Herbology, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

As for Professor Slughorn's Potions class, Fish hadn't even considered it... Anyway, he could ask Professor Snape for help in preparing any potion he wanted.

"Alright, then, we'll add Herbology to the list." With a swift motion, Professor McGonagall tapped a blank schedule with the tip of her wand and handed it to Fish, who had already filled in the details of the classes he would attend this term.

"That's not what Fish meant!"

∑(ΦДΦ)