How about we go back tonight and teach it to recognize a word?
Looking at the overly relaxed Niffler, William rubbed his chin, having heard that Hagrid’s literacy action for Argo was going quite smoothly (just kidding)...
Seemingly sensing malice, Kabuda awkwardly sat up, only to see William just entering the door. "Squeak squeak—" Kabuda excitedly waved its claws in greeting, clearly not having pondered the source of the earlier sudden malice.
And with Niffler’s screech, everyone in the Hospital Wing turned their gaze, some quickly and some slowly—
"Ah, it’s you?" said the blonde from Ravenclaw.
"..." Silently widening their eyes were Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and Cho Chang.
"Meow~" was the sound of Mrs. Loris, who had come over wanting to snuggle.
"What the..." The most dramatic reaction came from Cedric, who instinctively ducked under the covers, realizing he had been lying in a hospital bed for half a week, feigning illness, and neglecting the Magical Creatures in the Room of Requirement.
"I knew you’d be here—"
Luna emerged from behind William, quickly rushing over to Ginny. The two first-year girls and Kabuda, who had just jumped off Mrs. Loris’s head, quickly conspired, whispering something together.
William, meanwhile, approached the other side, looking at the two Ravenclaw girls by Cedric’s bed, with a professional smile on his face, "It’s already noon, aren’t you going to get something to eat?"
"I, um..."
The blonde wanted to say more but was silenced by Cho Chang, who covered her mouth and nodded to William before leaving the infirmary.
"...Comfy lying there, are you?"
William picked up an apple from Cedric’s bedside and transformed another apple into a fruit knife, carefully peeling it.
"Cough cough, not comfortable, not comfortable..."
Realizing there was no escaping, Cedric hurriedly sat up straight, scratching his head, "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I came to apologize, after all... your injuries are all my doing—"
William transformed the whole apple peel into a plate, neatly arranged the sliced apples, and turned the core into two thin toothpicks—the Transfiguration Technique can do anything as long as it doesn’t violate the five exceptions of Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration.
"I mainly wanted to see how much harm I did to have you lying in the Hospital Wing for so long..."
William squinted, gently placing the fruit plate beside Cedric’s hand.
"Ah, haha, actually... it’s just that..."
Having wanted to say Madam Pomfrey kept him for observation, Cedric decisively shut his mouth, remained silent for a moment, then closed his eyes, preparing for a noble sacrifice.
"Forget it, can you be discharged today?"
"Uh, of course—"
Cedric was startled, seeming surprised there was no punishment today—mostly William treated him like a friend, but he had stated early on that if you wanted to learn things, you must obediently be his... ahem, apprentice.
So, technically speaking, he had just skipped work to go on a date.
"By the way, I hope you haven’t forgotten about the paper due Friday night." William stood up with the plate of apples, "I hope you’ve finished it."
Cedric’s breath caught, eyes widening, "So, what day is today?"
"Chaos Thursday."
"..."
...
Ignoring Cedric, who began to panic, William walked to the other side of the ward. He stared at the boy’s head bandage, frowning in confusion, "What’s this... cosplaying Kennedy?" He said, handing over a plate of apples.
"Oh, I fell and hit my head going down the stairs—"
Harry dumbly accepted the plate William handed over.
"Does that require hospitalization?"
William blinked, somewhat puzzled.
"Uh, actually, he fell on a senior student this morning, causing them both to tumble down two floors of the rotating staircase into the foyer—then collided with someone else who was holding their magic wand, which for some reason was triggered..." Seeing Harry still dazed, Hermione offered an explanation with some resignation.
"Got cursed?" William nodded, that seemed reasonable.
"No..." Hermione bit into an apple and continued, "Then the charm ignited Professor Lockhart’s robe—"
"Where did this Lockhart come from?"
"Oh, Professor Lockhart happened to be passing by."
"...Alright, go on."
"Uh, after Professor Lockhart’s robe caught fire, he seemed frightened and started running around the foyer, the flames spread to his entire robe and the foyer’s wooden feathers, many little wizards got scared and released a bunch of... Chomping Cabbage." At this point, Hermione instinctively glanced at William.
"..."
This was indeed a practice William started; ever since the Duel Club a few days ago, many students had been inspired to sneak Chomping Cabbage from the greenhouse.
And they actually did it.
"...So, Harry is hospitalized for a broken arm?" William looked at Harry’s recently revealed arm, puzzled.
"Yes."
Then why tell such a long story? To pique readers’ curiosity?
"And what about Lockhart?"
"Uh..."
Hermione fell silent for a moment, then pointed behind William. He turned to see the innermost bed of the entire ward curtained off.