Stepping out of the Pensieve, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick blinked, their eyes adjusting to the reality around them. For a moment, the familiar surroundings felt strangely dreamlike, and both let out a soft sigh.
Animagus transformation was an obscure branch of magic—rarely practiced, fraught with danger, and notoriously complex. Few wizards studied it in depth, and even the Hogwarts library held only a handful of references.
Yet, in spite of these challenges, Wyzett had managed to deduce so many intricate details from merely the first step alone. His talent was undeniable.
"Wyzett, have you ever thought about writing a paper?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Publishing a paper?" Wyzett was caught off guard, his mind still turning over the mysteries of Animagus magic.
"Yes! The kind that appears in Transfiguration Today," McGonagall pressed, her words tumbling out faster than usual. "Transfiguration Today has a Most Promising Newcomer Award. I think you have a real shot—no, let me put it another way: if you publish a paper on Animagus, you're a shoo-in for the award!"
There was a rare note of excitement in her voice, quite unlike her usual stern demeanor. It was as if the indomitable Gryffindor spirit was flaring up inside her.
"Professor McGonagall, I think…" Wyzett replied softly, "I'll wait until I've actually completed the Animagus transformation before considering a paper."
"I mean, it's one thing to analyze the steps, but if I can truly pull off the transformation, that would be far more convincing."
"Absolutely!" McGonagall agreed, nodding. "And don't forget, Transfiguration Today has strict formatting requirements. That takes some getting used to."
Wyzett continued, "Actually, I have another idea about the Animagus process…"
"What if, like when crafting magical artifacts, I inscribed Runes onto the 'siphon tube'?"
"Inscribing Runes?" Dumbledore echoed. "You mean enchanting it, so that the final animal form possesses certain magical properties?"
Wyzett nodded. "Yes. I think the Animagus process is similar to making magical items in some ways. And since I have some grounding in mental magic, the memory-imprinting part is at least controllable for me."
"So my question is… if I infuse it with memories—purely magical memories—could those be inscribed onto it?"
"I believe it's entirely possible!" Dumbledore encouraged, his eyes twinkling. "It's a fascinating experiment worth attempting."
"But could there be risks?" Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick spoke up in unison.
"Wyzett already understands the soul—that's the first safeguard," Dumbledore explained. "And he's mastered mental magic—that's the second. With those protections, and his unique experiences and talent, I'm confident in his safety. Don't you agree?"
Still, the concern on McGonagall's and Flitwick's faces lingered.
Seeing this, Dumbledore added warmly, "When he reaches the final step, I'll be there in person to ensure nothing goes wrong."
Wyzett looked a bit embarrassed. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you…?"
"Of course not!" both professors replied at once.
Dumbledore chuckled, stretching his arms. "Any other questions?"
"Well, I do have one more," Wyzett said. "I remember that the Weather Charm can change the weather—could it be used to control the formation of lightning?"
"After all, the Animagus ritual requires waiting for a thunderstorm. If the location isn't right, you might be waiting forever."
"Thunderstorms conjured with the Weather Charm won't work for the Animagus ritual," Dumbledore replied. "At least, not those created with ordinary magic."
From his words—and the glint in his eyes—Wyzett sensed a hidden meaning.
So, ordinary Weather Charms were useless. But what about those powered by Ancient Magic? That could be a different story. And if all else failed, he still had his trump card—the mighty Ancient Magic spell, Fulgur.
"I'd still like to learn the Weather Charm," Wyzett said earnestly. "Learning another spell can only help. Are there any reference books you'd recommend?"
Ottery St. Catchpole didn't always get snow over the Christmas holidays. Last year, they'd been lucky—a gentle snowfall arrived just in time for Christmas Eve. If he could master the Weather Charm, he could conjure up his own festive weather.
"It's not a difficult spell," Professor Flitwick said. "But it's rather late tonight… not the best time for a lesson."
"If you're interested, just come and find me. I'll be happy to teach you."
Wyzett nodded eagerly. "Thank you so much, Professor Flitwick!"
Every professor's time was precious. That they were willing to spend it teaching him—he could only feel deeply grateful.
Dumbledore stretched and yawned. "It's late, everyone. Time for bed!"
One by one, the group took their leave, and the headmaster's office returned to its usual quiet. Only the portraits on the walls occasionally muttered sleepily in their frames.
Snape entered, his robes billowing. "They've all gone?"
"Yes," Dumbledore replied with a gentle smile. "I thought you'd already turned in for the night."
Snape's gaze lingered on the Pensieve, which hadn't yet been returned to its place. His tone was casual, almost bored.
"No sound of cat-and-mouse games tonight. Hogwarts is quiet—as if someone's died."
"Wyzett is perfectly safe," Dumbledore assured him. "It's been a remarkable night. We witnessed the birth of a brilliant new theory in the Pensieve!"
"Wyzett told you himself?" Snape arched an eyebrow. "Did you extract his memory?"
"Of course not," Dumbledore replied, shaking his head. "He's already mastered the essentials of mental magic—he can use it with ease."
"There was hardly any personal bias in what we saw—it was a most comfortable Pensieve experience. Would you care to try it?"
"I'm not interested." Snape curled his lip, even stepping back from the Pensieve.
"Oh?" Dumbledore narrowed his eyes like a sly old fox. "Severus, are you hoping to borrow the Pensieve?"
Snape snorted. "Tch!"
Dumbledore leaned forward, his tone light and teasing. "He's discovered some fascinating properties in young Mandrake leaves. Aren't you the least bit curious?"
🔥 Want to read the next 50+ chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/GoldenLong]