[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-134":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1496308,1944,"Chapter 134: Rita Backs Down, and Hermione “Sniffs the Cat”","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-134",134,"\u003Cp>Arthur and Hermione headed toward Hogwarts' reception room. Rita Skeeter was already there, waiting eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a tight green leather coat, the sleeves and collar trimmed with dark brown fur. The moment Arthur saw her, one word leapt into his mind—beetle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Animagi often carried faint physical \"echoes\" of their animal form. With Rita, the oily green sheen said it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my! I'm certain I only invited Miss Granger,\" she drawled, eyes glinting behind her jeweled spectacles. \"But we seem to have a handsome little extra. Could it be our young prodigy is shy and needs her boyfriend to escort her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione did not look pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please don't talk nonsense. He's my cousin. He came because he's worried about me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita's self-writing quill immediately began scratching away. She thought Arthur and Hermione couldn't see the parchment—but their expanded spirit-sense let them read every word clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prodigy witch Hermione Granger and male cousin show intimate behavior, suspected secret romance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur and Hermione exchanged a look. Arthur's voice sounded directly in her mind via spirit transmission:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See now why I told you to hand-pick your editor last time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understand, Cousin. If she'd written my piece, people would think I've had eight secret relationships already…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita noticed their silent eye contact and promptly crossed out the word \"suspected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione's temper rose. \"Miss Skeeter, is this your professional standard? Making things up before the interview even begins?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita blinked innocently. \"Whatever do you mean? We haven't even started yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her quill scratched again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Granger displays fiery temper; shouts at interviewer unprovoked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione pointed sharply. \"Then what is that quill writing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, it simply records what is said,\" Rita replied smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione almost exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur finally spoke, tone cool. \"Since it's so 'old,' why don't I get you a new one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flick of his fingers—no wand, no incantation—and the quill and parchment burst into ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita jumped from her chair. \"Y–YOU! That was my favorite quill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just any quill. It had its own mind, capable of twisting words, embellishing stories—a custom alchemical artifact she'd cherished for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Arthur had vaporized it in one motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She yanked out her wand, fury on her face. Before she could even utter a spell, Arthur flicked his hand again—her wand caught fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shrieked and threw it away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she process it—Arthur hadn't used a wand, hadn't spoken a spell. The realization frightened her, but she grasped at a comforting explanation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're bluffing,\" she snapped, though her voice quivered. \"Don't think waving around a little enchanted device will fool me. I've interviewed many people. Your tricks won't—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur cut her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to conduct an interview, do it properly. If I catch you twisting a single word…\" He leaned in slightly. \"I won't mind letting the public know you're an illegal Animagus. Understood, Miss Beetle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Rita truly panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her pupils shrank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H–How do you know?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not your concern. Answer the question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I—I understand. But you must swear not to expose me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur raised an eyebrow. She surrendered far quicker than expected. Clearly, she'd used her Animagus form for plenty of shady work—enough to fear the consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't expose you—unless you give me a reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita swallowed, nodded stiffly, and from that moment on, her notes were painfully honest. No tricks. No slanting. She behaved like a rookie intern terrified of being fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the interview concluded, Arthur and Hermione stepped out into the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione looked at Arthur with shining admiration. \"Cousin, how did you know she was an Animagus?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur chuckled. \"If you focus your spirit, you can sense it. Animagi always carry two signatures—the wizard and the beast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione concentrated her spirit-sense, testing it on the only nearby target—Arthur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heartbeat later, her eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt two distinct auras within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cousin… you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur sighed. He had known the instant she focused her spirit-sense on him that this would happen. He usually kept his Animagus aura tucked away—but around his family, his guard was low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd essentially taught her the exact method to expose him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're already an Animagus?\" Hermione asked, shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn't you tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem. Because my Animagus… isn't very dignified.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione's eyes sparkled. \"What is it? Let me see!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur resisted for several seconds—then surrendered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. To the Zen Garden.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Arthur's alchemical workshop, Hermione watched eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur transformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his place stood a cat the size of a small tiger—sleek black-and-white fur, elegant lines, golden eyes brimming with intelligence. A regal, impossibly beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione's jaw dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SO. CUTE.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lunged forward and scooped Arthur-cat into her arms, burying her face in his fur with the enthusiasm of a cat-addicted maniac. She inhaled deeply, rubbed her cheek against him, and proceeded to pet him with shockingly expert handwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur lay limp, mortified yet undeniably comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all—Animagi did inherit a little of their animal instincts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his will wasn't iron-strong, he'd be purring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrapped in her arms, he also noticed something else—Hermione was, quietly and steadily, growing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long, blissful round of \"Hermione absorbs cat,\" she finally snapped back to reason. Her face flushed red when she realized what she'd been doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then she remembered he had done the same when she'd been a cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So… fair trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling, she resumed gently scratching under Arthur-cat's chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder you didn't tell me, Cousin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur curled in her arms like a dead cat, feigning nonexistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He absolutely refused to transform back while she was holding him. That would be an instant social death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his silence, Hermione mercifully changed the topic…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To read 90+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",949,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.381Z",1,"novelbin.me","4ef5b6ab70c2a89920bdec02c9ce0dedd5f59ec2fd497d95d96446c8d000d853","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-135","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-133",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]