Chapter 639: Animagus
Chapter 639: Animagus
After the match, Harry delivered a brief victory speech in the changing room.
"I'm proud of you all. Each of you did an amazing job! Katie, despite the risk of criticism, you showed exceptional courage and decisiveness—"
He named each player, standing in front of a giant Quidditch tactics board. This was another legacy from Wood, with various colored figures, arrows, and strange symbols crawling around. Harry still hadn't figured out what they all meant.
"I didn't think about it much", Katie shook her head.
"Demelza, scoring three goals while facing two opponents—"
Demelza smiled.
"Parks and Gut, your teamwork was outstanding. You saved your teammates multiple times and created opportunities for offense—"
The two Beaters grinned and clapped enthusiastically.
"Ron—blocking five shots, one of them was particularly impressive;" Harry said quickly, trying not to look at Ron's strange, stiff face and focusing on the player next to him, "Ginny, scoring sixty points, a remarkable achievement—"
"And you, the best Seeker", Ginny said with a smile.
Harry pretended not to hear the teasing from the other players and added, "Yes, and me... catching the Golden Snitch." He racked his brain for more encouraging words, even reciting parts of Wood's old speeches, which he remembered so well that they flowed smoothly. Katie stifled a giggle, and Harry, blushing slightly, concluded the speech.
The players left the changing room in high spirits. Ginny kissed Harry on the cheek and floated away like a ballet dancer.
For a moment, only Harry and Ron were left in the changing room.
Harry glanced nervously at the corner, where Ron still had that gloomy expression. He opened his mouth to speak, "Ron, about Ginny and me—"
Just then, the door opened, and Hermione called out, "Not done yet? We're going to be late for Hagrid's!"
"Coming", Harry muttered, stepping forward to help Ron up. But Ron fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Harry jumped in surprise, and Hermione, hearing the noise, rushed over. After some investigation, they discovered Ron had been hit with a Petrification Charm and a Tongue-Tying Curse. "It must have been Ginny! How could she?" Ron rubbed his jaw, indignant. By this time, they were already at Hagrid's hut, and Ron used a tongue cramp as an excuse to refuse Hagrid's homemade butter fudge.
"Your sister loves pranks, I've noticed", Hagrid said absentmindedly, turning the sizzling sausages with a pair of tongs. "How's everything going? I mean, your advanced class—"
Harry immediately put down the fudge, which was already covered in tooth marks, and began complaining to Hagrid, Ron, and Hermione about the new professor's strictness, the difficulty and dullness of the course, and regretting not continuing with Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid seemed pleased to listen.
He handed them the sizzling, slightly burnt sausages, and the three of them immediately took them (including Ron). While Hagrid was making tea, Harry quickly stuffed his sticky fudge into Fang's mouth.
Hermione glared at Harry, gritted her teeth, and didn't dare to follow suit.
"You're definitely exaggerating... trying to cheer me up", Hagrid chuckled, pouring boiling water into their cups. "Slughorn—definitely has the skills, though I didn't learn much from him... you know, I was expelled in my third year." He mumbled, "And that Professor Bashir isn't simple either. I think he and Dumbledore are old acquaintances, quite close—"
"How did you know that?" Ron said with a mouth full of food.
"Ah!" Hagrid laughed. "I saw them myself. This morning, while patrolling the Forbidden Forest, I saw them walking together from a distance, maybe discussing something... I've seen it more than once."
"They might be discussing Professor Bashir's teaching", Harry thought for a moment. "His classes are quite controversial."
"I didn't know that", Hagrid said, taken aback. "He also came to me to inquire about the school—quite a nice person, makes one feel at ease. He's also interested in Grawp, which is rare—"
None of them responded. For the rest of the time, they happily ate the grilled sausages and drank hot tea until Hermione mentioned they had to study Animagus transformations the next morning. Harry and Ron became restless and soon bid farewell and left.
Back in the common room, Harry and Ron eagerly asked Hermione for her notes to prepare for their late-night study session. But Hermione had lent her notes to Neville, so they found him and used a Duplicating Charm to make two copies. The three of them sat together, frowning as they studied.
Hermione took out her book on Runic Script and began to read.
"How much have you read?" Ron asked Neville.
"Not much", Neville whispered. "I'm not very good at Transfiguration. There's a lot of human transformation knowledge in here, and I don't understand most of the theories."
Ron sighed and turned to Harry.
"I remember you read a bit, too?"
"It's all about failed cases", Harry said dejectedly. "I was reading it to pass the time, but it scared me. It says that if you make a mistake during practice, you could end up growing an extra tail or nose."
"I don't know how Sirius and the others managed it", Ron muttered.
They opened Hermione's notes and started reading. To their surprise, Hermione herself wasn't completely sure about everything. She had marked many questions in her notes, apparently planning to ask them the next day. The three of them discussed it in hushed tones and eventually agreed that if even Hermione found it challenging, they didn't need to waste their time on the difficult parts. They skipped over the tough sections, and their progress sped up significantly.
As the lights were about to be turned off, Harry yawned, his eyes brimming with tears. He had only read a third of the material, and his mind was a blur. In a daze, he noticed Hermione's eyes gleaming.
"Hermione, your eyes—"
"What about them?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"…They seem to be glowing", Harry said honestly. Ron and Neville looked up and stared at her intently.
"That's impossible; I haven't used any magic", Hermione said. Harry thought he must have been mistaken and continued reading with renewed patience. After a while, Hermione went upstairs to rest, and the common room lights dimmed.
Ron yawned and cast a Light spell, making a circle of white fire rotate around them. Harry and Neville's hair stood on end, and they immediately became more alert. They stayed up until one or two in the morning before finally going to bed.
The next morning, Harry was woken by Hermione's pet, Crookshanks.
Harry woke Ron and Neville, and once they were dressed, they went downstairs. Hermione was already waiting at the door. They didn't even stop for breakfast, just knocked on the staff room door. When it opened, Harry, Ron, and Neville were still shoving Hermione's bear-shaped cookies into their mouths.
"Only you guys are missing", Felix said with a friendly smile.
They went inside and found that the staff room's tables and chairs had been pushed to the corners, leaving a large open space in the middle. Professor Mcgonagall was wearing a deep green plaid robe, her hair pulled back into a high bun, and she looked stern.
Harry and his friends joined the crowd, surprised to see several unfamiliar faces. They seemed to be seventh-year students. A golden circle, about two feet in diameter, was drawn on the floor in front of Professor Mcgonagall.
"Alright, students", Professor Mcgonagall said sternly, "we have a few new faces among you. They are the top members of the Transfiguration Club and will be joining your class today." Harry understood immediately. Professor Hup, leaning against the wall, watched them with interest.
Professor Mcgonagall continued, "Many of you are not truly qualified to learn Animagus transformation. You only got here because you excelled in your O.W.Ls in Defense Against the Dark Arts, showing some potential—" She pursed her lips, clearly disapproving of the previous professor's decision.
She thought Sirius's bet was too frivolous.
"—so I require you to give your all, work harder, and approach this with the utmost seriousness. There are many rules you must follow, and if I catch you breaking any of them, I will not hesitate to remove you from the class."
Professor Mcgonagall's stern gaze swept over the students, who fell silent.
Professor Hup smiled from behind Professor Mcgonagall. He was in a good mood. In the restricted section of the library, Voldemort, hiding in Hogwarts Castle, had taken a crucial step. He found an 'ancient manuscript'—the notes of a Gant family ancestor. The content was obscure and rarely studied.
Riddle carefully compared the notes and concluded that the Gant notes were genuine. He was ecstatic, believing this was a gift from his ancestors, destined to be his.
He tore out the first few pages, shuffled them, and asked the professors about them, discovering that they were about the Patronus Charm. He spent months meticulously deciphering each word, marveling at the powerful Patronus magic described in the book. The essence of the Patronus Charm was not just to combat Dementors but to summon a manifestation of a powerful, death-defying spiritual force.
But unfortunately, the notes were incomplete, lacking detailed study methods. There was only one hint that piqued Riddle's interest: "Harness the power of your mind and tap into the emotions of life." Recalling the events of that night and the three "dead" fools, Riddle came to a logical conclusion: He had perfected this magic in the future and taught it to others as enforcers, using it to counter the Dark Wizard Dumbledore.
A new and radiant path opened up before Tom Riddle. He aspired to become the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Minister of Magic. He wanted to use the students of Hogwarts and the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic to his advantage, drowning his enemies with an army of improved Patronuses.
After much contemplation, during the tail end of his sixth year, he approached Headmaster Dippet and expressed his desire to stay at the school after graduation, even as a Teaching Assistant.
With impure intentions, he pursued noble goals, feeling confident and ambitious.
"… I have already explained the difference between transforming into an animal and Animagus transformation. In summary, the former is passive; once the spell is cast, it cannot be independently reversed. The latter is a conscious choice, allowing the wizard to decide when to revert to human form. It's important to note that the former can lead to a gradual loss of human rationality, eventually turning the person into a beast, while the latter can maintain a lower level of intelligence…"
"The Wagadu School of Magic in Africa has delved deeply into this area, and some of the materials you have are derived from their research", Professor Mcgonagall said. "You will find that the training you will undergo is different from what you read in books—assuming you have actually read them thoroughly." Her last remark was stern, and many students guiltily lowered their heads.
"… The content is a result of the improvements made by Professor Hup and myself. We will do our best to ensure your safety, but if anyone wishes to withdraw, you can speak up now."
The students huddled together, whispering rapidly.
"What does Professor Mcgonagall mean?" Ron whispered to Hermione, while Harry strained to listen. He noticed Susan Bones, Justin, and Ernie looking worried, while the members of the Transfiguration Club, brought by Professor Mcgonagall, remained calm, clearly already aware of these details.
"In simple terms, the learning process will be different", Hermione said briefly.
Harry looked up at the ceiling, trying to recall the contents of Hermione's notes. He could clearly recite the first step: from the first full moon to the next, the caster must hold a Mandrake leaf in their mouth, without swallowing it or removing it. After this step, the leaf, saturated with saliva, must be placed in a small crystal vial under the pure moonlight, along with a strand of their own hair and a silver teaspoon of dew.
The source of the dew was also important, Harry thought. It should be dew that has never been touched by sunlight… Finally, add a Death's Head Hawkmoth pupa. Once everything is complete, the vial must be secretly placed in a quiet, dark place, waiting for a storm with thunder and lightning.
"You can decide after this class", Professor Mcgonagall said. "So today, I won't delve into more advanced topics, such as methods to control magic during human transfiguration, which have been proven to significantly reduce the difficulty of becoming an Animagus… Felix?"
Felix, now a Teaching Assistant, lazily extended his hand and waved it in front of the students. At first, they were confused, but then they gasped in amazement as Professor Hup's right hand elongated, transforming into something resembling a carnivorous animal's claw. The fingers were thick and strong, the radius of the forearm bent in a way that suggested 'powerful' and 'ferocious.' The back of Professor Hup's hand and wrist were covered in fine fur, and five long claws shot out with a swift motion.
Felix raised his arms and left five deep claw marks on the wall, sparks flying and a grating, teeth-grinding sound filling the air.
"Oh, thank you, Felix, that's enough", Professor Mcgonagall said, her tone not entirely normal.
Felix shook his hand, the fur falling off, and he returned to his human form. However, all the students were still staring at his arms, desperate to know what creature he had used as a model. If it were a complete creature, it could probably crush them with a single step.
"What you saw was a more advanced form of transfiguration. You don't need to consider becoming something like Professor Hup…" Professor Mcgonagall said, somewhat uneasily. "Let's continue… We need a volunteer for a demonstration. Who is willing to help?"
Several arms trembled as they rose, and Professor Mcgonagall finally chose Susan Bones.
"Stand in the circle in front of me, and stay there... Miss Bones", Professor Mcgonagall instructed. Felix walked over, and both of them stared at Susan Bones, making her a bit nervous. "Don't worry", Professor Mcgonagall reassured her, "it's just a safety measure. I'll be watching the entire time and will stop the process if anything goes wrong."
The other students formed a circle around them, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"What do you need me to do, Professor?" Susan Bones asked, her voice trembling.
"Try to stay as calm and alert as possible", Felix said, which sounded like she was about to endure some inhuman torture. She took a step back in fear, and even the other students shared the same thought.
Felix cleared his throat and explained, "I will cast a Transfiguration spell to turn you into a creature. During this time, you must strive to remain calm and resist the increasingly strong wild impulses, to avoid being driven by instinct... Of course, we will turn you back before you lose control."
"This is just a demonstration. When it comes to the actual practice, Minerva and I will slow down the process as much as possible, giving you ample time to experience the subtle changes during the transformation. This will be crucial for the real Animagus transformation... One last question, Miss Bones, what animal do you like?"
"I like Unicorns", Susan said softly.
"No, I mean... a common animal."
"Maybe a little rabbit", Susan said uncertainly.
"Rabbit? Excellent, stand still."
Felix pulled out his wand, which he rarely used these days, and pointed it at Susan. With a "bang", Susan vanished, replaced by a fluffy, gray-furred rabbit. The rabbit let out a squeak and huddled in the golden circle.
"Everyone, step back. Don't frighten her", Professor Mcgonagall said sternly.
The students who had crowded close quickly moved back, their eyes still fixed on the rabbit, while those at the back strained to see better.
Felix crouched down and looked at the trembling gray rabbit.
"Stay calm, Susan. Your aunt and I are good friends, and she'd have my head if I let anything happen to you... so there's nothing to be afraid of", Felix said gently. The rabbit, now Susan, calmed down and looked around curiously. From this perspective, her classmates seemed as tall as giants.
This made her feel a bit uneasy.
"How do you feel now?" Felix asked.
The rabbit's small eyes showed a human-like expression of thought, and it chirped twice.
"Oh, you can't speak now... I'll ask you some questions, and you just need to nod or shake your head. Remember, you are a witch, and the longer you can maintain your rationality, the better... Do you like winter?"
The rabbit hesitated, then nodded.
"Good. Next question, are you a Ravenclaw student?" The rabbit shook its head.
"Do you like pink?" The rabbit nodded.
This went on for nearly ten minutes. The students watching clearly noticed that the rabbit's reactions were slowing down, interspersed with sudden, nervous glances and alert ear movements. Harry swallowed, watching the rabbit's eyes gradually lose their sharpness.
He glanced at Draco Malfoy, who, as expected, had turned deathly pale.
"Felix—" Professor Mcgonagall called hesitantly.
"Do you know who I am?" Felix asked. This time, the gray rabbit ignored him and began grooming its front paws. Felix repeated the question, but still received no response.
"Felix!" Professor Mcgonagall said sharply.
The rabbit, as if startled, suddenly leaped forward, jumping out of the golden circle. Felix calmly raised his wand, and with a loud bang, Susan Bones returned to her human form.
Professor Mcgonagall rushed over and hugged her, patting Susan's shoulder comfortingly. Felix handed Professor Mcgonagall a vial of a calming potion, and she temporarily took on the role of Madam Pomfrey. After drinking the potion, Susan's expression relaxed.
"Do you remember experiencing Professor Moody's Imperius Curse in your fourth year?" Felix said. "If you choose to continue, you will experience this feeling multiple times, but the benefit is that two professors will be guiding you through the Animagus transformation, ensuring no irreversible magical damage occurs, and the success rate is very high... You have a week to decide."
"Alright, is there anyone else who wants to try?"
(End of Chapter)
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