Chapter 40

The corridors of Hogwarts Castle were extremely busy before morning classes.

But today, the bustling corridors suddenly fell silent, then erupted into loud laughter...

Allen couldn’t remember how he had pushed through the crowd and arrived at Professor McGonagall’s office door...

He only remembered that Peeves had finally waved a robe made from his own bedsheet above the corridor.

He mechanically knocked on the door of Professor McGonagall’s office.

The door opened automatically; Allen walked in like a corpse and slumped into the chair opposite her desk.

Professor McGonagall still wore a stern expression, her lips tightly pressed—but her twitching mouth and trembling body betrayed her...

Allen helplessly told her, “Professor, if you want to laugh, go ahead—don’t hurt yourself. I’ve already gotten used to it on the way here.”

Professor McGonagall hurried into the office’s washroom, slammed the door shut, and inside, loud laughter erupted...

The laughter lasted five minutes before it stopped...

Professor McGonagall stepped out of the washroom, but her stern demeanor could no longer be maintained...

“I haven’t laughed so freely in ages! Thank you, Allen!” she said, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

Allen rubbed his forehead in resignation, silently thinking: as long as you’re happy.

After sampling and testing, Allen completed all the required research procedures.

Professor McGonagall couldn’t identify what kind of turtle shell it was, but its hardness was exceptional, so she followed protocol and took photographs.

Allen prepared to take his leave.

Professor McGonagall suddenly remembered: “Allen, earlier you mentioned in your letter that you wanted to take leave—do you still want to?”

Allen thought his current state must have spread throughout the school—he had already suffered social death. Taking leave now would be meaningless and only delay his studies.

So he told Professor McGonagall, “No leave. It’s pointless now!”

“Then it won’t be convenient for you to assist Hagrid tonight. Shall I cancel it for you?” Professor McGonagall asked, still concerned.

At that moment, Allen remembered Ron’s mention of magical materials in the Forbidden Forest. He suddenly didn’t want to give up such a good opportunity. Besides, his current state was entirely caused by his intention to go to the Forbidden Forest—yet if he gave up now, he’d gain nothing despite such a heavy cost. He felt deeply unbalanced.

So he made up his mind and said to Professor McGonagall, “I must cherish this work-study opportunity the school has given me. Besides, I already made plans with Hagrid yesterday. My current appearance will actually make me safer in the Forbidden Forest. Let me go!”

Professor McGonagall readily agreed to Allen’s request...

After leaving Professor McGonagall’s office...

Allen fully gave up caring. He walked through Hogwarts Castle as he was, surrounded by onlookers—even the portraits in the walls broke through their frames one after another to follow and stare at him.

Today, Allen became the most striking figure in Hogwarts, the school’s new source of amusement...

He was certain people would keep talking about this for months to come...

The news would spread through students’ owls to their families, then throughout the entire British magical community...

Perhaps even decades later, people would still remember this incident...

Perhaps this was the ultimate form of social death. Allen sighed inwardly.

The afternoon was Potions class.

Professor Snape somehow resisted Allen’s mental contamination and taught as usual...

But the students couldn’t hold back—they kept pointing at Allen during class,

and even burst into involuntary laughter.

Even Professor Snape’s authority couldn’t suppress them.

Professor Snape had to stop multiple times to restore order and punish misbehaving students, gradually regaining control—but Allen still noticed many students constantly glancing at him.

Especially Malfoy, who kept making mocking gestures at Allen. But Allen truly didn’t care anymore.

Amazingly, Professor Snape didn’t deduct a single point from Gryffindor the entire class.

During the break, he even approached Allen himself, requesting samples of his shell to test its effects in potions.

Remembering the earlier formula issue, Allen agreed to Professor Snape’s request...

Professor Snape painstakingly collected some samples and then vanished.

What puzzled Allen even more was that Hermione wasn’t sitting in the front row today—she had moved to sit beside him.

“Hermione, why did you come over here?” Allen whispered.

“I was afraid you couldn’t handle the mockery, so I found this for you!” Hermione said, placing a delicate little box in front of Allen.

“What’s this?” Allen picked up the box, puzzled.

“Open it. It’ll help ease the pressure others put on you,” Hermione whispered.

Allen quickly opened the box and found a pair of sunglasses inside. He asked Hermione, “How do you have this?”

“I brought it from the Muggle world—it’s worth quite a bit there!” Hermione added.

A warm feeling surged through Allen. He thought Hermione was truly a good girl, and he realized her solution was brilliant—it truly blocked others’ intrusive stares. His psychological burden lessened significantly.

But Allen noticed the sunglasses’ shape was odd: like an eye patch, with sharp, angular ends.

Yet he kept feeling a strange sense of familiarity—as if he’d seen this look before.

Finally, he remembered: wasn’t this the exact shape of the sunglasses worn by Squirtle Captain?

Carrying a turtle shell and wearing these sunglasses? Perfect match. A living Squirtle! Allen silently mocked himself.

But clearly, the students had no idea.

Allen quietly exhaled in relief and thanked Hermione again.

At that moment, Harry and Ron approached. Though they’d already laughed for hours that morning, seeing Allen like this made them unable to resist laughing again, quietly beside him. Allen had to remind them to watch their cauldrons.

He could tolerate others, but these two close friends? He couldn’t. He couldn’t help but retaliate against their roaring laughter.

He suddenly remembered Squirtle’s famous move: “Rocket Headbutt!”

He grabbed Ron and slammed his head into Ron’s back, making him cough violently...

After striking, he suddenly felt something was wrong...

He remembered those widely circulated Squirtle meme faces... (I’ll just post the image in the comments!)