[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts":3,"chapter-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-251":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Transfiguration Master of Hogwarts",{"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},2320956,4539,"Chapter 251: Punishment","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-251",251,"\u003Cp>The night fully concealed Allen’s figure; he quickly found the only inn in Hogsmeade, transformed into a butterfly, and silently landed on the counter while no one was at the front desk, flipping through the guest register until he found Rita Skeeter’s name and learned which room she occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately began searching for Rita Skeeter’s room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been thoroughly disgusted today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon found Rita Skeeter’s room, flew in through the open window, but to his surprise, though the room was lit, it was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Allen remained patient; he flew inside and waited patiently for Rita Skeeter’s return...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Three Broomsticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Dementors frequently appeared at the village entrance, dampening many people’s spirits, The Three Broomsticks still teemed with patrons drinking freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a private booth, two wizards were whispering urgently; they did not notice a beetle crouched in the booth’s shadowed corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beetle listened carefully to their conversation, but soon grew impatient: all they were discussing were trivial smuggling dealings in magical materials—nothing worth a headline, at best a third-page footnote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beetle listened a while longer, then lost all interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to return and focus on writing today’s exclusive interview about that detestable Allen Finis—sure to make the front page—but that brat was insufferable; I’ll make him the laughingstock of the wizarding world. The beetle resolved itself, slipped silently out of the booth, and flew back toward the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beetle flew into the room, underwent a transformation, and became Rita Skeeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a bloody day!” she muttered, kicking off her shoes, then walked toward the desk, ready to write something—she loved this room’s high-backed armchair; sitting in it to write was wonderfully comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though today’s findings wouldn’t make the front page, she could write an anonymous letter to extort some Galleons—she was an expert at this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she soon noticed something odd: why was the high-backed armchair facing away from her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoosh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita Skeeter felt twisted shadows surging toward her; she tried to dodge, but it was too late—they were vines, coiling tightly around her body, twisting her wand-hand sideways. She struggled fiercely, but the vines were strong, prying her fingers open one by one until her wand clattered to the floor, spinning uselessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Rita remember to scream—but the next instant, vines wrapped tightly around her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She realized now she had met a true adversary: not only had she exposed herself as an Animagus, but she’d lost all capacity to resist immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita Skeeter’s chest heaved as she gasped for air, when suddenly she heard the sound of parchment turning behind the high-backed chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She burned with rage, wanting to shout—but only managed to emit muffled “oohs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high-backed chair turned, revealing a strange figure: a man clad in a plain black wizard’s robe, but with a peculiar yellow leopard’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leopard-headed man was flipping through a thick notebook, not looking up. “Wait a moment—I’ve found something interesting.” His voice sounded odd, as if his leopard tongue distorted his speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Rita saw the notebook, her eyes widened; she struggled harder, trying to slam herself against the floor to make noise—but the next instant, she realized she was suspended in midair, helplessly emitting muffled “oohs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, bright arcs of electricity appeared along the vines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her entire body glowed, and within the electric light, her skeletal structure was clearly visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The electricity lasted only seconds; Rita Skeeter’s body turned completely charred, collapsing limply, a wisp of black smoke escaping her mouth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent, save for Rita Skeeter’s ragged breathing. Ten minutes passed before the intruder finally closed the notebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita remained rigid, struggling to look at the leopard-headed man as he tapped his fingers on the desk—his fingers pale, nails a healthy pale pink, neatly trimmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a spark of electricity leapt from his finger; Rita watched helplessly as it struck her, and her whole body convulsed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strange vines gently lowered her to the floor and released her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita took a long time to recover. “You—” she rasped. Her wand lay beside her hand, but she couldn’t lift even a single finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you like my welcome gift?” the leopard-headed man said cheerfully, his voice strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What you’ve done... is illegal... Azkaban...” she forced out each word with immense difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Illegal?” The leopard-headed man seemed to hear something hilarious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows that the famed Daily Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter is an illegal Animagus?” he said with mocking tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Rita Skeeter uses her Animagus form to eavesdrop on secret matters, then blackmails people with them. The irony? Lady Skeeter keeps meticulous ledgers—she’s recorded every single blackmail transaction.” He lifted the notebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These records could keep you in Azkaban for life.” He spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita Skeeter didn’t notice when the vines vanished; she had regained full mobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stole a glance at her wand, then at the leopard-headed man reading the notebook, her eyes darting nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she quickly abandoned this foolish thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Decided yet? Shall you strike? This might be your chance—grab me, your crisis vanishes, and the rest of the story becomes yours to write.” The leopard-headed man looked up, his yellow eyes fixed on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You jest, Sir—” Rita Skeeter said humbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leopard-headed man closed the notebook. “Think carefully—I’m actually quite reasonable. I have no time for you. But unfortunately, you’ve provoked a friend of mine...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(https:\u002F\u002F)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please remember the original publishing domain: . Mobile reading URL:\u003C\u002Fp>",911,"2026-06-20T16:09:24.693Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","310b152877a98e359890e9d7fecf3bda0391d299951559ed14f2445786b40786","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-252","the-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-chapter-250",284,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-transfiguration-master-of-hogwarts-cover.jpg"]