Amanda quickly recalled the Animagi registered with the Ministry of Magic who were alive this century.
None of them had the Animagus form of a large black dog. In other words, this one was not registered.
Amanda silently withdrew her gaze. The dog was either just an ordinary large black dog that had followed them for so long for some unknown reason.
Or it was an unregistered, illegal Animagus, and the reason it was following them was unknown.
Whichever it was, it hadn't harmed the three of them yet, and since Harry and Hermione hadn't noticed, she saw no need to mention it and affect their mood.
Having quickly made up her mind, Amanda followed Hermione and Harry into Flourish and Blotts.
As soon as she entered the bookstore, she saw out of the corner of her eye that the large black dog that had been following them had run away.
Withdrawing her gaze, Amanda followed Harry and Hermione to the counter as if she hadn't noticed anything.
"Hello, we need..."
Hermione took out her book list and was about to tell the Flourish and Blotts employee what books she needed.
But he interrupted her with a smile, "Hello, welcome to Flourish and Blotts. To improve efficiency, this year we have directly imported the Hogwarts book list."
"What year are you in?"
"Uh, third year." Hermione smiled and put away her list.
"Third year. Which classes did you choose?"
Hermione told the employee her selections. The employee nodded, indicating he understood, and then turned to Amanda.
"And this young lady?"
Amanda looked up at the employee and said mechanically, "I'm also in third year, and I chose the same classes as her."
"Alright."
The employee turned around and brought out two large stacks of books, placing them in front of Hermione and Amanda.
Amanda's eyes quickly scanned the piles of books in front of her, confirming within seconds that the books were correct, but one was missing.
"No problem, these are the books, but we're still missing *the monster book of monsters*."
After telling Hermione this, Amanda watched as the employee put on thick Dragon-hide Gloves, picked up a walking stick, and reached toward a large cage.
Inside the cage were hundreds of thick books that constantly shrieked and had sharp fangs growing out of their covers.
"That is *the monster book of monsters*?"
Hermione swallowed. Although she loved books, wasn't this one a bit too much?
She wouldn't lose her fingers, would she?
"Yes," Harry confirmed with a complicated expression. "Hagrid gave me a copy of this book for my birthday over the summer."
"I was wondering why Hagrid would give me a book like that, until I saw it appear on the Hogwarts book list."
The book Hagrid gave Harry was for Care of Magical Creatures class. Professor Kettleburn, who originally taught the class, wasn't in good health.
Listening to Harry's narration, several fragmented pieces of information instantly connected in Amanda's mind.
Considering these three points, plus the fact that Hagrid, as the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds, knows a lot about magical creatures.
The most likely explanation, then, was that Professor Kettleburn had retired, and Hagrid had replaced him as the Professor of Care of Magical Creatures class.
And he had chosen *the monster book of monsters* as the textbook for this class.
"Maybe he found out somewhere that this book would be used this year, and that's why he gave it to you."
Hermione watched the employee struggle to retrieve the books and voiced her speculation to Harry.
"That's what I thought too," Harry nodded.
They watched as the employee tried repeatedly to grab the books without success, even nearly getting his arm bitten when one book jumped past the protection of the gloves.
Following the rules of politeness, Amanda stepped forward and asked, "Do you need help?"
"Oh, what?" The employee was startled and looked at Amanda, slightly bewildered.
"No, it's fine. I mean, well, this book is quite dangerous. I'll bind it first before handing it over to you."
The employee smiled gently, turned back, and continued his struggle with the books.
Seeing that the employee had declined, Amanda nodded and stepped back to her original spot. It wasn't until five minutes later that the employee laboriously slammed the cage door shut with the arm clamping two books.
Even clamped under the employee's arm, *the monster book of monsters* was not hindered in its performance.
They were shaking violently, and the employee's arm even began to tremble.
He struggled to press the two books onto the table, and immediately another employee stepped forward to bind them.
As if sensing their fate, the two Monster Books simultaneously began to struggle violently.
The employee pressing them down widened his eyes in horror; his strength was nearly depleted from the previous struggle.
He couldn't hold them down anymore. "Get back!"
He shouted at Amanda and the other two, but unfortunately, he spoke too late. The two Monster Books had already broken free from his grasp and lunged out.
Shrieking and flapping their pages, their sharp teeth headed straight for Hermione and Harry.
Neither of the two children had time to react, both freezing in place simultaneously.
Fortunately, someone was moving just as fast as the Monster Books: Amanda, standing next to Hermione.
"Roar!"
A low roar sounded, and Hermione, Harry, and the employees behind the counter didn't even have time to see clearly.
The two Monster Books were already firmly pinned under the foot of a two-meter-tall Deinonychus.
Firmly pinning the two Monster Books, the longest claw on Amanda's foot quickly extended downward, but abruptly checked its force just as it reached the book covers, merely resting on them without actually destroying the books.
Even though they weren't truly damaged, the force pressing down on them and the claw resting on top made the two Monster Books understand their current predicament.
They immediately stopped struggling and fell completely silent.
Snorting a breath, Amanda slowly turned her head to look at the Monster Books still shrieking in the cage.
"ROAR!!!"
A fierce roar up close caused everyone in Flourish and Blotts to instinctively raise their hands and cover their ears.
The hundreds of Monster Books in the cage seemed to instantly lose their magic, falling down one by one, completely motionless.
"Merlin's beard... that's an Animagus..."
One of the employees behind the counter murmured as he looked at Amanda's Deinonychus form.
"It is, isn't it?" Another employee swallowed hard. As soon as he spoke, Amanda transformed back into her original form right in front of them, bent down, picked up the two Monster Books, and handed one to Hermione.
Looking at Amanda's childlike appearance and recalling that she had asked for third-year books.
The employee couldn't help but pull a long face. "She mastered Animagus before even reaching third year?"
"Merlin is so unfair. Geniuses are this amazing, and I only deserve the 'P' grades I got in Transfiguration every year?"
The employee standing behind him twitched his mouth severely. Good heavens, getting 'P' (Poor) every year—how terrible must his Transfiguration be?
"Professor McGonagall must value you greatly."
He stepped forward and patted the employee's shoulder. Valuing students who struggle and helping them study—how is that not valuing them?
Facing Amanda and the other two, the two employees offered sincere apologies together.
"We are so sorry. It was our mistake that nearly caused you to be bitten by the Monster Books."
After that, they continued thanking Amanda, "Thank you for intervening in time to stop all this. Otherwise, we would have been in trouble. You are truly amazing!"
Amanda shook her head expressionlessly. "You're welcome. I just did what needed to be done."
Hermione and Harry also recovered, smiling and saying it was fine.
After paying for all the books, Amanda and Hermione carried their books and followed Harry out of Flourish and Blotts.
"Your Animagus form just now was so cool!"
As soon as they stepped out of Flourish and Blotts, Hermione turned and told Amanda admiringly.
Amanda nodded calmly. "Thank you."
"That's incredible," Harry remarked to Amanda. "You've mastered Animagus, and there are fewer than ten registered ones in the whole UK."
Amanda blinked, her tone flat. "Based on probability assessment, there is a high chance of illegal Animagi, meaning unregistered Animagi."
"Therefore, there should be more than ten Animagi in the whole UK."
"Well, you're still amazing," Hermione said cheerfully, wrapping her free arm around Amanda's shoulder. "You should be proud of yourself."
"Mhm," Amanda responded with a distant expression. "I am proud of myself."
Now she could say that sentence, or rather, she could acknowledge herself to a certain extent.
Hearing Amanda affirm herself, Hermione showed a relieved smile and tightened her grip on Amanda's shoulder.
Harry subconsciously averted his gaze from the two of them.
Walking straight ahead to lead the way, the three arrived at a restaurant. Amanda slightly turned her head to look at Hermione, who was sitting right next to her.
"Hermione, aren't you hot?"
It was the middle of summer, and the weather was so hot the sun seemed ready to melt people where they stood.
Hermione was sitting so close to her; wasn't she hot?
"No, I'm not hot. Are you feeling hot?"
As Hermione spoke, she pulled out her wand, ready to cast a cooling Charm on Amanda immediately.
"No," Amanda shook her head.
"That's good." Hermione smiled, withdrew her hand, and leaned sideways against Amanda's shoulder.
Harry, sitting across from them, felt a stinging sensation in his eyes. Where was that glaring pink light coming from?... Amanda and Hermione only separated slightly when they started eating. Amanda ate her lunch slowly and methodically with a knife and fork.
Hermione looked away satisfied after seeing Amanda eat normally and began eating her own portion.
Checking Amanda's eating status before starting her own meal had become a habit for Hermione.
Harry, sitting opposite them, was currently the most vigorous eater of the three.
He was a growing boy, at the age where he could eat a lot and get hungry quickly.
After finishing their meal, they had a large scoop of ice cream. Amanda carefully reviewed the food she, Hermione, and Harry had just eaten in her mind.
Only after confirming there was nothing particularly 'hot' did she feel reassured enough not to stop Hermione and Harry, and she began eating her own ice cream, spoonful by tiny spoonful.
By the time the three of them finished their ice cream, it was almost time to meet Ron.
Amanda stood up and wiped her mouth. Hermione immediately latched onto her arm again.
The three walked toward the Leaky Cauldron together. Back at the Leaky Cauldron, The Weasley Family came into view.
"Harry, I'm so glad you're alright."
Mr. Weasley stepped forward to greet Harry. "You have no idea, we were frantic when we heard you left your aunt and uncle's house. The Ministry of Magic was worried too."
Harry gave an embarrassed smile, explained the reason, and admitted that he had acted impulsively.
Mr. Weasley shook his head after hearing the explanation, saying Harry had done nothing wrong. Anyone else would have reacted the same way when faced with insults against their parents.
Especially Harry.
Amanda politely greeted everyone in The Weasley Family, while simultaneously reviewing the unconscious remark Mr. Weasley had just made in her mind.
The premise of the first half of the sentence: people only got worried after learning Harry had left his aunt and uncle's house.
In other words, if Harry hadn't left his aunt and uncle's house, no one would have worried.
It is known that Harry's aunt and uncle are Muggles, and Muggles without significant capital. Considering that the only likely source of harm to Harry would be Voldemort or a Death Eater.
Therefore, they should not possess the ability to create any truly reliable protective measures for Harry.
Thus, it can be inferred that there must be some additional protective measures, applied at and only at Harry's aunt and uncle's house, to protect Harry from harm while he is there.
Judging by Harry's attitude, it is highly probable that he himself is unaware of these protective measures.
Her brain instinctively continued to analyze the second half of the sentence: "we were frantic... The Ministry of Magic was worried too."
'We' undoubtedly included Mr. Weasley himself. The Ministry of Magic was mentioned separately afterward, meaning Mr. Weasley included himself in 'we' but excluded himself from 'the Ministry of Magic.'
However, Mr. Weasley is an employee of the Ministry of Magic.
Amanda looked up at Mr. Weasley, her thoughts racing.
He included himself in 'we' but excluded himself from 'the Ministry of Magic.'
This proves that his allegiance to 'we' is higher than his allegiance to the Ministry of Magic.
Considering Mr. Weasley's social circle, the members of 'we' are 90% likely to be Headmaster Dumbledore and the Hogwarts Professors.
Therefore, one can conclude that Mr. Weasley, Headmaster Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Professors, and an unknown number of other individuals have formed an unknown organization.
Considering their level of anxiety regarding Harry, besides their concern for Harry himself, it is highly probable that this organization exists to oppose Voldemort.
A dozen seconds passed while she finished analyzing all the hidden information in that single sentence.
Everyone had just finished greeting each other. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley distributed money to each of their children, gave a few instructions, and then announced free time.
They were to meet back at the Leaky Cauldron in two hours.
Amanda, Hermione, Harry, and Ron entered Diagon Alley together again.
Upon entering Diagon Alley, Ron pulled Scabbers, the rat from his pocket, out.
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