A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

"Stay on guard, he's just itching for a fight with us," Harry said calmly. "Malfoy, in two days, we'll be completing the first step too. If luck is on our side, we'll be Animagi by the end of the Easter break."

"Exactly," Ron chimed in, alert now. "I'm waiting," Draco squinted, looking down at them. "If there's anything you don't understand, I can give you some pointers. If you don't faint, that is," he directed this last comment at Harry.

"If you knew what Harry's been up to, Malfoy, you'd wet yourself," Ron retorted loudly. Draco started to move closer, a threatening look in his eye, but just then Professor Sprout approached, eyeing them suspiciously. "What are you all up to?" she inquired.

"Nothing," they chorused.

"Then get a move on. You're falling behind," she pointed out sternly.

So they hurried over to the corner of the greenhouse, where various fertilizers were sorted by type, mostly magical creature dung. The students wrinkled their noses as they levitated suitable materials and quickly retreated.

As they waited in line, Ron suddenly asked Hermione, "You still dream of becoming Minister of Magic, don't you?"

"Yeah. Why?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"Then you better keep at it and kick him out of the Ministry sooner rather than later," Ron advised.

"I don't think so," Ron insisted. "I bet his dad will arrange some cushy job for him in the Ministry, like a consultant... How about this? You could introduce a law that requires everyone on the Ministry's payroll to clock in and out on time..."

He launched into his idea enthusiastically, while Draco returned with his materials, giving Ron a smug look. With a pat to his chest, the peacock on his robe caught Ron's eye, and Draco strutted off.

Ron thought it looked more like an exploded chicken, much to the displeasure of Justin behind them, whose Patronus was a pheasant. But his best friend Ernie said Justin's favorite food was actually chicken legs, and they started joking around.

Professor Sprout deducted five points each from Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Hurry up!" she called out again.

"Oh no!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed when it was their turn, causing Harry and Ron to gasp and hold their breath against the overwhelming stench.

"My wand's gone!" Hermione said, and Harry and Ron's eyes widened in disbelief. "No, not like you're thinking. I think I know where it is though."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small stick, which looked like a wand at first glance, but Harry noticed something different given her previous statement.

"A personalized wand?"

"Valen's," Hermione said shortly.

"Ohhh," Ron drawled. Hermione blushed.

"I, uh, Valen invited me... It's interested in Animagi, so I thought... transforming alone can be a bit boring. It's better to wander around outside the castle with Valen... Some familiar sights can be quite fascinating from an animal's perspective. Valen's an expert at that."

"No need to explain, Hermione," Ron said casually. "Sirius even managed to make friends with the Kneazle on Crookshanks' account. Maybe this is a hidden benefit of being an Animagus that we hadn't thought of..."

Finally, Harry helped Hermione select the appropriate materials with his wand. Hermione had initially wanted to try with her personalized wand, but Harry stopped her. It wasn't the time, and if Hermione made a mistake, scattering fertilizer everywhere, it would be trouble.

The students returned to a spacious workbench, starting to mix the fertilizers. "Take a portion of rotten fruit soil, a portion of Mooncalf dung... Merlin, this smell is horrendous!" Before long, the greenhouse was filled with an even more overpowering stench.

The Bubble-Head Charm came in handy at this point.

"I don't recommend using spells, because the smell is an important factor in judging the quality of the fertilizer. Of course, it's not mandatory. If you can't stand it..." Professor Sprout said dryly.

But only Neville didn't use the Bubble-Head Charm. After he finished handling his fertilizer, he looked like he was about to pass out.

"Very well done, Mr. Longbottom," Professor Sprout said approvingly.

"P-professor? Can I g-go outside f-for a bit?" Neville asked, breathless and with an abnormal flush on his face.

"Oh, of course," Professor Sprout said understandingly, and Neville immediately dashed towards the door. "And Gryffindor, ten points," she added loudly, hoping to inspire other students, but they were all huddled behind a fishbowl-shaped shield charm, quietly dealing with their own sticky mess in their small barrels.

After class, Hermione disappeared immediately.

Harry knew Hermione must have gone to retrieve her own wand. Professor McGonagall had instructed them to hide their wands properly during transfiguration, as wands couldn't transform along with them, nor could any item associated with magic.

So the process probably went like this: Hermione entrusted her wand to Valen, had it hide in her pocket, then transformed into a beaver. The two little ones leisurely wandered around the castle walls...

Ancient Runes office.

"Miss Granger?" Felix asked, somewhat surprised. "Is something the matter?"

Hermione gasped for breath, extending a finger, "S-sorry, Professor, I need Valen."

"Uh..." Felix turned his head, puzzled. the niffler, who was drawing on parchment, looked up and blinked in confusion, pointing at himself. Hermione waved at it, indicating, "Yes, it's you."

Valen jumped down from the sofa and made its way over leisurely. Hermione scooped it up.

"Sorry, Professor, we'll be right back."

A little while later, Valen returned alone. It shook its head, looking dazed. Hermione was so careless, she resolved to tease herself next time they met, but not now, as she clearly didn't have the upper hand in size.

"What did she want with you?" Felix asked curiously.

Valen hurriedly shook its head, unable to speak. It couldn't let the Dark Lord know about its efforts to forge alliances.

"Is she your new animal friend?" Felix mused.

"Chirp!?" Valen squawked.

"I didn't peek into your diary," Felix shrugged, "You were sleep-talking last night, saying something about uniting and defeating the Dark Lord... What did Grindelwald do to provoke you again?"

Valen stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless.

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