My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

After lunch, Viktor planned to go to the Black Lake to digest his food, take a nap, and then take a stroll in the Forbidden Forest.

However, before he could even leave the auditorium, he was stopped by Professor McGonagall, who was in a hurry.

"How did you adjust to the first lesson, Viktor?"

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall pulled out a packet of dried fish from somewhere and handed it to Tom, who was standing obediently to the side with longing eyes.

"That's great, Professor McGonagall. The students are very well-behaved too."

"You'll get used to it. I came to see you mainly for two things. The first is about the content of your lectures. Dumbledore asked me to tell you some things about the origins of the Magical Creatures Protection Class, but not too much about it to the students."

Upon hearing Professor McGonagall's words, Victor's expression turned serious, and he nodded in agreement.

"Oh, I know. Professor McGonagall, I won't talk about those things in front of the young wizards."

Victor knew perfectly well what Professor McGonagall was referring to.

That is the study of the bloodlines of magical animals.

This study, however, is the one that has caused the most damage to the magical creatures.

Other fields such as alchemy and potion-making, in terms of experiments and content related to magical creatures, actually did not involve much harm to magical creatures.

Even when dissecting and studying magical creatures, most of the creatures used are those of the X and XX grades that are prone to overpopulation.

Just like when he was a child, and when his grandfather Newtscarman was a child, they both dissected and studied magical creatures like Hocrape.

However, the study of the bloodlines of magical creatures is different.

The number of magical animals needed for this experiment is enormous.

And this is also the main culprit behind the extinction of the vast majority of magical creatures.

Furthermore, compared to other studies, the research process on the bloodlines of magical creatures is bloody and distorted.

In this process, some extremely dangerous and deformed magical animals are often created.

It can also cause physical and even mental mutations in the wizards conducting the research.

The most famous examples of this are Slytherin, the founder of Hogwarts, and Voldemort, the Dark Lord.

Legend has it that Slytherin became ugly due to his research, and while the other three founders still looked like middle-aged men, he was already so old that he was no longer recognizable as a human.

As for Voldemort, there's not much to say, according to his grandfather Newt and Dumbledore's accounts.

Voldemort was once a handsome young man who was loved by many.

He modified his body in pursuit of power, which ultimately resulted in him losing his handsome face and his nose.

Of course, if the price of power is losing his hair, Viktor might consider it.

In short, without firm belief and the right methods...

The study of magical creature bloodlines can easily corrupt a wizard's mind, much like black magic.

Having learned from Voldemort's example, given his grandfather's earnest advice, and considering his love for small animals, Victor simply couldn't accept the idea of ​​bloodline research.

Seeing Victor's serious expression, Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction.

Although it sometimes seems a bit unreliable.

But compared to Lockhart, who was a complete mess in class.

Viktor is very reliable, both in teaching and in serious matters.

"Okay, just keep that in mind. The second thing is that I've already arranged the professors' night patrol schedule based on their recent schedules. Take a look."

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Victor.

Hearing Professor McGonagall's words and looking at the parchment in his hand, Victor's eyes lit up.

To be honest, he had wanted to try this for a long time.

Back when he was in school, because of Slytherin's targeting, he never had time to experience Hogwarts' unique nighttime tour.

Now that he's a professor, he can finally legitimately stroll around Hogwarts at night.

And you can also catch the small animals whenever you want and see what they're like to do.

Unfortunately, after becoming a professor, he could no longer experience the thrill and tension of potentially being caught by a professor on night patrol.

And look at the barely suppressed smile on Viktor's face.

Professor McGonagall silently dismissed her assessment of Victor as somewhat reliable.

Because when she looked at Victor at that moment, it was as if she were seeing a larger version of the Weasley twins.

She didn't even need to look; she could smell the sheer amusement of it from a mile away, just like the headmaster of Gryffindor.

In a great mood, Victor led Tom, who was munching on dried fish given to him by Professor McGonagall with a protruding belly, toward the Black Lake, beginning their daily post-meal digestion routine.

We walked with Tom along the Black Lake, enjoying the afternoon sun.

Just as Victor was thinking about what kind of tricks he should play for the seventh-grade wizards tomorrow.

Suddenly, a loud "splash" rang out on the Black Lake.

Victor and Tom turned their heads at the same time and saw a huge tentacle emerging from the black lake, waving at Victor and Tom as if to greet them.

Viktor was slightly taken aback when he saw the enormous tentacle, then smiled and waved in response.

Tom, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets, his entire eye transforming into the shape of that enormous tentacle.

Saliva gushed from his wide-open mouth.

Meanwhile, clouds were already gathering above Tom's head.

One hundred and eight ways to prepare this giant tentacle, such as grilling, braising, deep-frying, steaming, spicy cooking, smoking, blanching, and stewing, have already emerged.

Seeing this, Victor slapped Tom on the forehead, waking him from his reverie.

"Wake up, Tom! This giant squid is an old Hogwarts resident, over a thousand years old! If you dare to eat him, Dumbledore might just eat you!"

Victor, who once shared the same thoughts as Tom, reprimanded Tom without any self-awareness.

Upon hearing Victor's words, Tom immediately pictured the white-bearded old man grinning as he ate cockroaches.

Tom immediately shivered.

That's a ruthless character who can eat cockroaches with a smile.

In Tom's mind, this was comparable to Jerry's whole bunch of outrageous relatives.

If this old man dares to eat cockroaches, then he definitely dares to eat his poor, weak, and helpless cute cat.

In an instant, all the thoughts in Tom's mind vanished.

It even mimicked Viktor, waving and grinning at the giant tentacle in the Black Lake.