The feathers felt cool and smooth. Maranhao fell in love with the sensation instantly. Seeing her having fun, Marietta and Penelope couldn't help but step forward.
They also joined in, "rubbing" Lynn. Lynn just leaned down and let the three seniors do as they pleased.
A dangerous dinosaur lowering its head to let three young girls pet it—this scene would be incredibly impactful no matter where it was shown.
After letting the four children "play" for a while, Professor McGonagall spoke to Lynn.
"Now try to transform back, Miss Lynn. It's okay if you don't succeed the first time; just try a few more times and don't panic."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lynn instantly reverted to her human form, and even her wizard robe wasn't the least bit messy.
Her hair, however, was a bit messy. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, seeing Lynn succeed in transforming back on her first try.
"Wonderful talent, Miss Lynn."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall." Lynn nodded politely, thanking her for the praise.
"I only did what I was supposed to do."
"You are far ahead of the curve, child," Professor McGonagall said, reaching out to tidy Lynn's hair. "Be proud of yourself."
"I am proud of you as well."
Hearing Professor McGonagall's praise for Lynn, Maranhao and the other two exchanged looks and made faces.
Maranhao stepped forward and grabbed Lynn's arm. "Quick, quick, be proud of yourself. It's not often Professor McGonagall praises someone so openly."
Penelope and Marietta nodded in agreement beside her.
"Exactly! From first year until now, there's almost no one Professor McGonagall has praised like this!"
Professor McGonagall felt a hint of warmth on her face. "Ahem..."
She coughed twice, her expression returning to serious as she looked at the three girls holding onto Lynn's arms and shoulders.
"I only worry that you'll become complacent because of praise," she paused for two seconds, then lifted her head slightly. "But I must say, as long as they are a student of Hogwarts..."
"...and as long as they stay on the right path, they are all my pride."
Having said that, Professor McGonagall turned and strode toward the Castle entrance.
She left behind Maranhao and the others, who were still processing her words, and Lynn, who was being held by all three and couldn't move.
"Is Professor McGonagall... embarrassed?" Penelope whispered.
"She must be shy," Maranhao affirmed softly.
"She probably can't hear what we're saying, right?" Marietta lowered her voice too.
"Miss Penelope, Miss Maranhao, Miss Marietta, be careful not to catch a cold staying out too long."
Professor McGonagall looked back at the four girls from the Castle entrance. The three girls finally snapped out of it and hurriedly pulled Lynn back inside.
Entering the Castle, Lynn pulled her wand from her wizard robe. She had hidden it in her feathers when she transformed into her Animagus form.
Now that she was back to human form, it happened to be in her pocket.
"Scourgify."
She cast Scourgify on her own shoes and those of the other three. Lynn always remembered the rule in the Hogwarts crest about not damaging the corridors and keeping them clean.
Professor McGonagall cast a Drying Charm and a Warming Charm on each of the four girls, then fixed her gaze on Lynn.
"Miss Lynn, I will take you to the Ministry of Magic tomorrow to register your Animagus form."
"Alright."
"Also," Professor McGonagall softened her tone as much as possible, "I have already notified Miss Granger's parents about her situation."
"Her parents wish to accompany her during Christmas. We have agreed, so they will be coming in a few days."
Her aunt and uncle were coming. Lynn's mind quickly processed this.
Then, she instinctively began to think. She hadn't eliminated the threat of the Basilisk in time, so Hermione was Petrified... What would her aunt and uncle say? Lynn wasn't confused, just continuing her train of thought.
They would scold her, call her useless, or maybe hit her or use some other way to punish her.
But it was what she deserved, Lynn thought with certainty, her eyes as dull as ever.
"Besides that, they are also very concerned about how you are doing at Hogwarts. They said they want to thank you in person when they see you at Christmas."
Lynn automatically extracted keywords from the first half and skipped it, but the second half was heavily "marked" in her brain.
"Thank me in person? Why?"
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