My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

"I think we need to reassess our strategy, George."

"I wholeheartedly agree, Fred. The balance of the game is broken when the opponents start to play unpredictably—I mean, when they start bringing in those little monsters with swallow tails that can shatter glass with their screams."

In a secret, abandoned classroom, the Weasley twins were pointing at a hastily drawn battle analysis diagram they had made themselves on the wall.

The two stick figures in the picture represent them, and the two stick figures opposite each have a simple dog with a forked tail drawn on their heads. There are also sound wave symbols and a cracked wine glass next to them.

"Swallowtail dog," Fred said, arms crossed, his voice heavy.

"Two despicable Slytherins, each with one! Their screams are torture for the ears! The problem isn't the harm, it's the constant mental interference!"

"Absolutely right!" George nodded vigorously, mimicking the look of someone tormented by noise, and covered his ears.

"You're trying to concentrate on reciting a complex binding spell when suddenly, 'Awooo—!!' A sharp, terrifying sound that could scare away a Boggart blasts straight into your head!"

"Your spell's flow of energy snapped! And then another guy's disarming charm flew over while you were grimacing!"

"We're like two gibbons trying to solve an arithmetic problem in the middle of a symphony orchestra!" Fred concluded bitterly.

"Disgrace! The Weasley brothers' brilliant plan has been defeated by two noise-generating machines!" George pounded his chest in frustration.

The two were silent for a moment, then simultaneously touched their chins in the humid air.

"The rules," Fred began, his eyes fixed on the graffiti representing "Fantastic Beasts" on the analysis chart.

"Professor Victor and Professor McGonagall's revised Supplementary Rule No. 7: It is forbidden to bring or drive a magical creature with a danger level higher than 3X into dueling practice or competition."

"Swallowtail dogs? Although the rating is 3X, I think they are definitely 5X in terms of 'causing chaos' and 'noise pollution'! They have exploited loopholes in the breeding permit system and brought war to the battlefield."

"And we," George continued, gesturing with his finger in the air.

"We need a... well, a 'partner' that won't violate the explicit rules—we're the ones who push for 'rule perfection,' we have our pride—but can also effectively counter this sonic attack, and even... bring an overwhelming 'quiet' advantage."

"Partner," Fred repeated, his eyes beginning to light up.

"Cannot exceed 3X. The Bowtruckle? Limited strategic value, unless the opponent intends to cut down the ring."

"Sniff? It might steal the wand gems from our opponents, but it's more likely to empty our own pockets first."

"The 'divination bird'? It comes with its own ominous background music, but we might also be defeated by our own depressive moods first..."

"A cat-like creature?" George suggested. "It's sharp enough to detect malice early, and might be able to distract the swallowtail dog..."

"But not enough... not decisive enough." Fred shook his head.

"We need a bit of 'Weasleyian' elegant retort. A bit... jaw-dropping, so that Professor Snape can't even find the corresponding clause in the rulesbook..."

Their eyes met in the air, as if sparks were crackling between them.

Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads sharply, their gazes focusing behind a pile of old crucibles in the corner.

Although the place was empty, their thoughts had clearly drifted elsewhere.

"Wait a minute..." Fred said slowly, his speech becoming faster and faster.

"The regulations refer to the level restrictions for 'Fantastic Beasts,' right? The defining criteria are the book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' and the Ministry of Magic's classification..."

George's eyes widened as he caught up with his brother's train of thought.

"And some things... they might not even be in that book! Nor in the Ministry of Magic's regular classifications! Because... they are unique!"

"One of a kind!" Fred snapped his fingers, his voice rising with excitement.

"Professor Victor said it himself! In the Great Hall, to everyone! 'He is a unique being in the magical world; his form and nature are still under observation and research!'"

"So!" George jumped up, as if a light bulb had suddenly popped out of his head, shining brightly.

"It has no official rating! It's neither 3X nor 5X, it's an 'X'! Unknown! Uncategorized!"

"The rules only apply to 'Fantastic Beasts of known level'!" Fred jumped up and excitedly high-fived George.

"But for an 'unknown, unique, and professor-certified special entity'... the regulations do not explicitly prohibit bringing it!"

"Not carrying!" George corrected, a signature smile on his face that was a mix of slyness and innocence.

"It's an 'invitation'! It's a 'cooperation'! This special individual has developed a strong academic interest in our dueling art, voluntarily joined, and provided valuable case studies to support the diversity of magical duels!"

"Oh, George, you're absolutely right!" Fred clutched his chest, feigning emotion.

"We are providing a platform for academic research! What a noble motivation!"

The two could no longer contain themselves and burst into suppressed laughter at the same time.

Fred quickly pulled out the square, somewhat old-looking parchment from his pocket.

"I solemnly swear that I will not do any good deeds!"

The ink lines spread rapidly, outlining every corner of Hogwarts and the little dots moving within it.

Their fingers flew across the Gryffindor Tower, Great Hall, and corridors.

"Where is our great, unrated Big Brother…" George muttered.

"Found it!" Fred's finger stopped on an area in the eighth-floor corridor. "Look! Loitering around there... Boss Tom always has a unique perspective on the tapestries and vases there."

"action?"

"Take action immediately!"

The two of them, like two red whirlwinds, swept out of the secret base.

Guided by the Marauder's Map and the agility of a seasoned night owl, they perfectly evaded all patrols.

Finally, they rushed all the way to the eighth floor to see the tapestry depicting the giant beating of Banaba with a stick.

They had just rounded the last bend, panting as they peered out, only to witness a scene that made them hold their breath for a moment.

Their target was the older brother who had brought them fame and fortune.

At this moment, they appeared on the wall opposite the tapestry in a "sneaky" manner that they were extremely familiar with, a manner unique to those who did bad things.

Tom, carrying a torch, tiptoed stealthily to the opposite side of the tapestry depicting the troll beating Barnabas.

He pricked up his ears, then looked around furtively.

After confirming that the corridor was empty, Tom actually revealed a cunning smile, his mustache twitching smugly.

Then, without hesitation, it began to slowly stroll along the bare wall in front of the tapestry.

It didn't follow a straight path, but rather moved with a peculiar rhythm and focus, its eyes fixed on the wall.

At the same time, a cloud appeared above his head, with a huge room drawn on it, filled with all sorts of imaginable and unimaginable things.

One lap, two laps, three laps...

Fred and George stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape, gripping each other's arms tightly, exchanging frantic glances.

"What's the boss doing?!"

"I don't know! But it looks amazing!"

Just as they finished the third lap, something shocking happened to the twins.

Without warning, the outline of a door appeared silently on the smooth stone wall, and then quickly became clear and real.

A smooth, heavy wooden door appeared out of nowhere in front of Tom!

"Merlin's beard..." George took a silent breath.

Tom seemed used to all of this. He wagged his tail contentedly, stretched out his front paws, and placed them on the doorknob, ready to push the door open and go inside.

Just as Tom was about to disappear behind the door, the twins could no longer contain themselves and suddenly jumped out of their hiding place, shouting in unison in low voices.

"Boss Tom!"

"Meow!!!"

This greeting had a surprisingly effective effect.

Tom, who was about to enjoy his "secret base," was startled.

It jumped up, and the fur on its body instantly bristled.

The torch in his hand flew out and spun countless times in mid-air.

However, Tom managed to catch the torch that was spinning in mid-air.

After Tom caught the torch, he realized that it was the Weasley twins who had frightened him, and he immediately glared at them fiercely.

However, the twins stared wide-eyed in terror at Tom's hand holding the torch.

"Boss, boss, your hand."

Tom then followed the twins' fingers and looked at his own hand.

Then he realized that what he was holding was actually the side of the torch that was on fire.

And at that moment, his hand holding the torch was smoking.

The belated, burning pain shot through my entire body like lightning!

Tom let out a piercing, distorted scream, and flung the "torch" in his hand away as if he had been electrocuted.

Tom desperately tried to bring the unfortunate paw to his mouth.

Puffing out its cheeks, it blew hard with all its might, and the edges of its paw pads were already bright red and even slightly swollen. The tips of its whiskers seemed to have been singed by the flames.

"Water! Quick, find water!"

Fred quickly used his Transfiguration to conjure a bathtub, while George simultaneously used Clear Water Spring.

With a soft "hiss," Tom's entire cat face scrunched up, and his whiskers trembled violently.

But the cool sensation finally suppressed the burning pain, allowing it to let out a long, trembling sigh of relief.

After the pain subsided, Tom turned to look at the two culprits.

With a nimble leap, he used both hands simultaneously, his furry paws whistling through the air, and with two precise "slaps," landed on Fred and George's foreheads.

"Ouch!"

"pain!"

Before the twins could even rub their foreheads and complain, Tom had already quickly regained his composure.

It cautiously looked around again, then kicked the twins, who were still clutching their heads, into the open doorway, one foot each.

Tom kicked the two men away, clapped his hands in satisfaction, and then flicked his tail, causing the door to close and disappear silently behind them, as if it had never existed.

The sight inside the door made Fred and George instantly forget the slight pain in their foreheads and buttocks, and they stood there dumbfounded with their mouths agape.

This was an incredibly vast room, seemingly without end, filled with mountains of chaotic and disorganized items.

Broken tables and chairs are piled up into a rickety tower, and broken statues stand silently in the dust.

Thousands upon thousands of old books with blurred covers form rolling hills, along with rusted armor, broken wands, and all sorts of strange, unidentifiable objects...

It extends into the dim depths beyond the reach of sight.

Fine dust floated in the air, filled with the smells of old objects, parchment, and stale wood.

"This...this is..." Fred's voice trembled.

"The Room of Requirement!" George continued, his eyes wide as saucers.

"That legendary house! Pippi the Ghost bragged about it, and Nick, who almost lost his head, mentioned it too... but we've never found the entrance! So... so that's how you get in! Tom, you actually knew!"

Their eyes instantly filled with boundless admiration and fervor as they looked at Tom.

Tom had already jumped onto a relatively sturdy old sofa piled with cushions, lay down on it, and leisurely wagged the tip of his tail.

Upon seeing this, the twins instantly understood. Fred rushed forward, his face beaming with the brightest, most ingratiating smile.

"Big Brother! Boss Tom! We were wrong just now, we were too rash! You were frightened!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a small packet of honey candy from somewhere and offered it to you with both hands, saying, "Just a little snack to calm your nerves!"

George had already gone behind the sofa and began carefully massaging Tom's shoulders and neck. "Yes, yes, we're such weirdos! We actually disturbed your great moment of opening the secret sanctuary! How's this technique? Comfortable, isn't it? We learned a little massage from Ms. Pomfrey, it's especially effective for relieving fright!"

Tom snorted and reluctantly accepted the bag of candy. When George massaged him, he squinted his eyes and made a comfortable "gurgling" sound in his throat, which was considered his tacit consent.

Seeing that Tom's mood had improved, the twins immediately began to recount the "injustice" they had encountered at the dueling club.

Those two hateful, deafening swallow-tailed dogs, and their perfect idea based on loopholes in the rules.

They invited Tom, the "unique, unrated, exceptionally intelligent, and invincible" boss, to be their special partner/advisor/silent guardian.

In the next two-person wrestling match, I'll teach those Slytherins a lesson.

"Think about it, big brother," Fred said, gesturing wildly.

"When those two stupid dogs start howling again, all you need to do is walk gracefully to the center of the ring, as if surveying your territory, and then give them a single, unfathomable, and authoritative glance! The entire arena will fall silent instantly! That will be a historic moment!"

Tom listened, his ears twitching slightly, and the frequency of his tail swaying revealed his interest.

In fact, it had already secretly watched the recent exciting duels from a corner of the stands, quite curious about those noisy magical duels.

Now, it has two ready-made, seemingly clever "underlings" inviting it to personally participate, enjoy massages and offerings, and legitimately shut up those two noisy swallowtail dogs... This deal seems quite worthwhile.

It pondered for a moment with restraint, during which George then produced a small bowl of water from who-knows-where, while Fred contributed a mini smoked fish that he had secretly kept as a midnight snack.

After enjoying the smoked fish and licking his paws, Tom finally raised his head, a glint of eager anticipation flashing in his golden-green eyes.

It raised one of its front paws, as if making a final confirmation, and then nodded steadily and powerfully.

"Meow."

"Granted. Sardines, double the portion. And the entrance has to be really cool."

"That's awesome!!" The twins clapped and cheered excitedly, almost shaking Tom off the sofa.

"Don't worry, boss! I'll give you the best of everything!" Fred assured him, patting his chest.