Chapter 473: – Arrival

It's really reliable, because in the next class Professor Moody declared that every student must take his one‑shot Soul‑Snatching Curse. "But— but you said it's illegal, professor," Hermione said uncertainly as Moody waved his wand, making the desks shift aside and leaving a large open space in the center of the classroom, "You said— using it on someone else is—"

"Dumbledore wants you to experience it," Moody said—his magical eye turned toward Hermione, staring grimly and unblinking, "If you're willing to learn by a harsher method—waiting for someone to cast this spell on you, holding you completely in the palm of their hand—that's fine. I agree. You may leave." Bai Lang laughed heartily.

He could of course laugh. That day on the way back, Neville Longbottom went straight to Bai Lang wanting him to teach how to resist the Heart‑Piercing Curse. Bai Lang said to him, "Don't worry, Neville Longbottom. The magical martial arts you learn from me can resist that curse—when you grow up you'll find the Heart‑Piercing Curse is about the same as taking a few punches, you can endure it completely."

The result was that, except for Bai Lang, all the students went up. So everyone laughed uncontrollably, watching others embarrass themselves, seeing them perform shameful actions that normal people could never do, and when it was Harry Potter's turn, the situation changed—this guy was supposed to jump onto the desk, but it seemed Harry partially resisted the curse.

The result was that one leg wanted to jump while the other refused to obey; Harry slammed into the edge of the desk, then fell to his knees—predictably his jaw and knee were badly injured… Bai Lang saw the female classmates covering their faces and letting out snickering laughs, while Ron Weasley, that sort of guy, swallowed a mouthful of saliva and inhaled a gasp of cold air, and some people instinctively clutched their legs.

Moody praised Harry enthusiastically, "He almost succeeded! Very good! One more time, Potter!" So the unlucky Harry Potter tried three times in total, and finally he successfully resisted the Soul‑Snatching Curse, doing what Bai Lang had managed from the start. "Gryffindor, add five points!"

All fourth‑year students noticed that their homework this semester had clearly increased. When the students loudly complained that Professor McGonagall assigned too much Transfiguration homework, Professor McGonagall explained the reason. "You are entering an important stage of magical education!" she told them, her two eyes behind round lenses shining authoritatively, "Your O. W. L. exams are approaching—"

Of course most people lamented, "We don't take the exams until fifth year, professor." Yet Professor McGonagall harshly disparaged their Transfiguration skill level, claiming that only Miss Hermione Granger was a competent Transfiguration practitioner, and that the others, besides Hermione, still couldn't even turn a hedgehog into a pincushion, while Bai Lang gave a mysterious smile.

"Ah, professor. I think some of those present probably aren't expecting to pass the O. W. L. s exam." Bai Lang said, simultaneously flashing a grin that belonged to a slacker student and a scoundrel, that nonchalant attitude leaving Professor McGonagall momentarily speechless.

Indeed, the students have given up their own future prospects, and as a professor she could do nothing about it. She waved her hand, "Mr. Lang En, even if you want to waste your life, please do not disturb your classmates." Bai Lang scratched his chin, now sprouting a stubble, "But professor, if I have completed an Animagus, can I apply to be exempt from the Transfiguration level exam?"

Professor McGonagall lowered her head slightly, her gaze projecting from above her spectacles; she adjusted her glasses, "Animagus? I think I've told you, that's an extremely dangerous act! You haven't even mastered basic Transfiguration; attempting an Animagus transformation is essentially suicide—no, worse than suicide."

"But professor, I have completed it." When Bai Lang said that, all the classmates went "Oh…" in surprise; they were naturally shocked, because Bai Lang is actually a poor student, his practical Transfiguration results being the worst, not even better than Neville Longbottom's, and now this person claims he has completed the high‑difficulty Animagus?

Hermione even covered her mouth, her eyes filled with incredulous light, "Really?" Professor McGonagall also stood up. "I think you need to show me." Bai Lang heard her say, "A student has learned the Animagus…" Her voice was very soft, but it seemed to confirm that someone had previously learned the Animagus while still a student; she was merely sighing.

Bai Lang stood up; he simply rolled on the spot and instantly transformed into a massive tiger—prompting his classmates' screams and the desks and chairs collapsing as they fled. "Stop." Professor McGonagall's words were not loud, but all the classmates calmed down—presumably due to the magic.

"Whoa, it's really an Animagus! A tiger!" everyone whispered. Bai Lang rolled on the spot again and reverted to human form, "I recall we need to report this to the Ministry of Magic?" he asked Professor McGonagall, who nodded. "Since Mr. Lang En you have already mastered the Animagus, I think at least in Transfiguration you can pass the ordinary wizard level exam."

"But!" she said seriously, "You still must not slack off in your studies! I want to know why your level in other Transfiguration is so poor?"

Not long after class, students from the four houses learned that a Gryffindor student had become an Animagus, and that student was the fierce Easterner Bai Lang. People kept sneaking near Bai Lang to watch him; he could hear them spreading the news, and everyone already knew about his Animagus form—being able to turn into a tiger was remarkable.

The crucial point was that the tiger was also enormous—Gryffindor students said it was bigger than a water buffalo, but Bai Lang knew he was only about the size of a water buffalo.

This situation even extended to other professors' classes—Divination and History of Magic were fine, but Professor Flitwick in Spell Class was truly curious—he even had Bai Lang transform into a tiger during his lesson. "Interesting spell, your wand has always made me worry about your grades, but the Animagus… does the magic work on yourself?" he pondered for a few seconds, then quickly resumed teaching.

And Professor Snape? Ah, he was a bit sarcastic, but treated Harry much better—"I bet if Harry turned into a deer or something… Snape would definitely skin him." Bai Lang whispered to Seamus Finnigan, and Snape's remarks toward Bai Lang were only, "Impressive—if your Potions could reach this level, that would be great. And now I can only think you're a Potions idiot—both of you. By the way, Mr. Lang En, Mr. Seamus Finnigan, you two aren't planning to use Potions to rob Gringotts, are you?"

Hagrid, of course, was the most enthusiastic, the massive, fierce tiger that Bai Lang transformed into was exactly the type Hagrid loved, and the Slytherin students also got to see Bai Lang's Animagus form—the ferocious yet splendid tiger, which made them feel both fear and great admiration.

On the way back to the castle, Bai Lang noticed a large crowd of students gathered around a big notice posted at the foot of the marble staircase. "Tri‑Wizard Tournament: Representatives of Bosbaston and Demstong will arrive on Friday, October 30th at six p. m. Afternoon classes will end half an hour early—then please return your bags and textbooks to the dormitory, assemble in front of the castle to welcome our guests, and then attend the welcome banquet."

The notice in the entrance hall had a clear impact on those living in the castle. In the following week, people seemed to talk about only one topic: the Tri‑Wizard Tournament. Rumors spread rapidly among the students like highly contagious bacteria: who would vie to be Hogwarts' champion, what events the tournament would include, and how the students from Bosbaston and Demstong differed from them.

"I think the gay school possibility is higher," Bai Lang thought of the movie scene. However, almost everyone—including the professors—was very nervous, the entire castle was being cleaned spotless, and the correction of school atmosphere became very frequent. Of course, those who kept getting scolded were the students performing poorly academically—like Neville Longbottom and Bai Lang.

On the morning of October 30th, when they went downstairs for breakfast, they found the Great Hall redecorated overnight. Huge silk banners hung on the walls, each representing a Hogwarts house: a red background with a golden lion for Gryffindor, a blue background with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, a yellow background with a black badger for Hufflepuff, a green background with a silver serpent for Slytherin. Behind the staff table hung the largest banner, displaying Hogwarts' crest: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a large letter H.

Bai Lang fiddled with a medal bearing "S. P. E. W"—the badge of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare that Hermione had introduced to him; Neville Longbottom and Bai Lang each spent two silver sickles to buy the medal. "I agree with you, Hermione; this world, this era should have no slaves. People who work should be paid wages and have days off." His words seemed far better than Ron Weasley and Harry's—after all, like Hermione, he was Muggle‑born, whereas Harry, in this respect, seemed more like a wizard‑world native young wizard.

Hermione's lobbying had little effect, but no one dared mock her—anyone who saw that thing dangling on Bai Lang's chest wouldn't dare utter a mocking remark. Not even Draco Malfoy dared.

That day, the air was filled with a hopeful, joyful mood. In class, no one paid attention; everyone thought about the Bosbaston and Demstong guests arriving that night. Even Potions Class wasn't as unbearable as usual, because it ended half an hour early.

Dressed in uniform, the students filed down the steps under the professors' guidance, lining up in front of the castle. It was a cold, crisp evening, night falling, a pure, translucent moon already hanging over the Forbidden Forest. The wait was a bit long, and just as Bai Lang grew impatient, Dumbledore, standing at the back with the other teachers, shouted, "Ah! If I'm not mistaken, the Bosbaston representatives have arrived!"