The Transfiguration Classroom was a lot chattier than usual. I could swear I heard some of my classmates talking about my “visit” to Slytherin Common Room. Thankfully, almost no one knows it was me, but as Penny said, rumors travel fast around Hogwarts. Hopefully, I won’t get in any trouble for that. It’s the last thing I need right now…

“Hello, Professor McGonagall,” I said my greetings as I approached her table.

“Ah, Mister Edwards. I understand that you visited Mr. Copper in the Hospital Wing,” she replied. “Although you didn’t discover his whereabouts, you should be rewarded for your dedicated search and the concern you’ve shown for his recovery. Twenty points for Gryffindor.”

Now, that’s a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting that, but nevertheless, I’m glad that she acknowledged my efforts to help Ben.

“Thank you, Professor, but I actually wanted to talk about something else…”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Edwards?” She asked.

“Could I have the advanced Transfiguration lesson you offered after our first class?” I went straight to the topic. Hopefully, it’s the right approach.

“I told you that you would receive an owl when it was time for your private lesson,” she replied.

“I know, but I really need to learn the Revelio Charm, Professor.” I decided to be even more direct. Let’s see if this will work.

“Why?” My last sentence definitely sparked her curiosity.

“I want to learn every spell, but especially Transfiguration spells. It’s obviously the most challenging and fascinating discipline.” I came up with a rather cheeky excuse, but hopefully, the one that will allow me to avoid revealing the real reason for wanting to learn the Revealing Charm.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Mister Edwards. You aren’t ready to learn a spell as difficult as Revelio,” she explained with a serious look.

“Please, Professor McGonagall. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t very important. I’ll do anything…” I replied.

“I will teach you Revelio when you have proven yourself ready, Mister Edwards,” she said with a calm voice. “I would typically have you attend many classes in preparation, but since you accepted my offer for a private lesson, this will be much easier. You will receive an owl when I’ve determined that you are ready to learn Revelio.”

Well, to be fair, that went better than I expected. Thankfully, she didn’t ask too much about my reason for wanting to learn Revelio. Still, she definitely suspects something. I should be careful when the time comes for the lesson. I surely want to avoid telling her I am looking for the vaults…

***

I wonder why did Penny ask me to meet her in the Great Hall… She did say it was something important, perhaps something related to the vaults? Did she discover some crucial piece of information that could help with this mystery? I was thinking about it when I noticed her and Ben standing close to the High Table. Hmm, maybe he remembered something and she wanted to tell me that? Anyway, there’s no point in thinking about it, I’ll just ask them what’s going on.

“Hey Ben and Penny, you wanted to talk to me?” I greeted them as I was approaching.

“I just wanted you to know what we’ve been hearing, Dylan,” she answered. “People are saying that Merula wants to duel you again.”

“I’ve heard she wants to do far worse than that. To all of us.” Ben said with a frightened voice.

“Seriously? I’ve hardly seen her lately. I thought all that was in the past,” I replied. Now that I think of it, I haven’t really seen her at all since I sneaked in the Slytherin Common Room. With all that’s happening, I didn’t have much time to think about anything, to be honest. Just what is she planning to do this time…

“Not for her. She’s still embarrassed about everyone knowing that you beat her last year. I hear she’s been training with some Slytherin friends of hers and is about to challenge you to a rematch.” Penny explained.

“I heard she’s a werewolf, and she’s going to invite the rest of her werewolf pack to storm Hogwarts and eat us alive,” Ben added.

“I certainly haven’t heard that…” Penny gave him a confused look.

“It may have just been one of my nightmarish daydreams…” He replied.

“I need to stay focused on helping my friends, and trying to find the Cursed Vaults. I don’t want to duel Merula…” I said. Honestly, dueling her is the last thing on my mind.

“I don’t think she’s going to give you a choice, Dylan. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help,” she replied.

“And watch out for packs of bloodthirsty werewolves,” Ben added.

“Thanks. I’m about to see Merula in Potions Class. I’ll try to talk her out of this nonsense…” I said.

Perhaps she will listen to reason if I try to talk some sense into her… However, knowing her, it might be a difficult thing to accomplish. I’ll just have to hope for the best. I mean, she isn’t all bad, so hopefully, I’ll manage to persuade her to drop this nonsense…

***

Several students suddenly turned their gaze my way as soon as I entered the classroom. None of them said a word while I was walking past them, but I could feel the tension rising as I was approaching my desk. There she was, sitting next to my place as if she was eagerly waiting for me to arrive. Surprisingly, she didn’t say anything when I approaching. As if she wasn’t interested in talking to me. I guess I should make the first move…

“Hey, Merula. Do you have time to talk?” I asked.

“Not to you,” she answered with a very cold tone.

“People are saying that you want to duel me because of what happened last year…” I said.

“I don’t want to duel you, Edwards,” she calmly replied.

“Oh, good.” She doesn’t? That sounds good. So I guess all that worrying was…

“I want to destroy you,” she continued with a very serious, determined tone. “Now stop talking before I remove your tongue, and put it in today’s potion…”

I noticed that Professor Snape was looking at us, so I decided to stay silent until the end of the class. I really don’t want to give him any reason to punish me.

I then tried to place my focus on the lesson. I was listening to the Professor as he was giving us instructions on how to brew the potions correctly. Sadly, his words were entering my ears, but I had a hard time remembering anything he said. My mind was elsewhere. I was preoccupied with thinking about what she said. Sure, I was following instructions and brewing the potion, but I wasn’t really focused on it. Just what is she planning to do this time? Would it be possible to talk some sense into her? Well, the class is nearly finished, I guess I’ll try talking to her now…

“I know we’ll never be friends, but I wish we could move on. No one cares about what happened last year.” I said with a calm, collected voice.

“No one cares?” She pierced me with a sharp, serious tone. “Every time anyone mentions the word dueling, they bring up our duel. Every time I talk about being powerful, they talk about you being more powerful. Every time I see your stupid face, I want to bash it with the Knockback Jinx. Unless you’re a coward like your friend or a Death Eater like your brother, you’ll duel me again…”

I sat there speechless for a while. Why is she so full of hate? I had no idea she feels this way. Is she really that much obsessed about being powerful that she has to prove it to others? I guess I should agree to her ridiculous proposition.

“When I beat you again, will you finally be able to move on with your life?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as serious as possible.

“One way or another, this will be the last time we ever duel, Edwards,” she angrily replied. “Get some practice first. Not that it will do you any good…”

Oh, how nice of her. Is she that confident in her skills or just too arrogant? Or is there something else? I wish I knew, but there isn’t much I can do about it. For now, I think it’s better to agree to duel her than to refuse. Who knew what she could do otherwise…

***

I rushed into the Transfiguration Classroom excited about the lesson. It’s finally time to learn Revelio. Hopefully, this will allow me to find out why the cursed ice appeared in the corridor. Professor McGonagall was already in the classroom, waiting for me.

“I’ve been very impressed with your work ethic, Mr. Edwards,” she said as I was approaching. “You have made great progress in Transfiguration both in the classroom and in your private studies.”

“Thank you, Professor. Do you think I’m finally ready to learn Revelio?” I asked, eager to hear her response.

“I do. Please pay close attention…” She replied with a calm, collected voice. “The Revelio Charm is used to show the true form of things and to make the invisible visible. Let us begin.”

She then raised her wand and started tutoring me. She was very strict but exact and precise with her instructions. It was fairly easy to understand, but I had to stay focused the entire time. Even though I had so much on my mind, I somehow managed to collect my thoughts and I pay enough attention to learn all she was teaching me. It took a while, but eventually, I was starting to get the hang of it.

“You may now attempt to cast the Revelio Charm, Mister Edwards,” she turned to me once she considered I learned enough.

I steadied my hand and focused on the cauldron in front of me. Then I made the movement the Professor taught me while saying the word “Revelio” as clear as I could. The cauldron suddenly transformed into a cat.

“Well done, Mister Edwards,” she praised me once she saw me successfully casting the spell. “I trust you will find this spell useful. It can reveal messages, disguises, and even secret passages.”

I thanked the Professor for being kind and patient enough to teach me before I left the classroom. Tonight, I’ll need to face Merula and duel her again. She seemed so determined back in the potions class. I still can’t figure out why is she stressing so much over that. I have the feeling there’s more to it, something she isn’t telling me, or perhaps something she’s afraid to tell me for some reason… In any case, I should prepare before the duel…

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