Chapter 172: Restrictions of Transfiguration, Return to the Dragon Reserve
Ethan knew Voldemort had at least two ways to create a physical body, but he only knew they existed, not the specifics. The method involving the Philosopher's Stone seemed the most complete. Voldemort had possessed Quirrell last year specifically to use that method for his resurrection. However, the Stone was destroyed, and Nicolas Flamel had no intention of making another.
Ethan had obtained the process for creating the Philosopher's Stone, but he lacked the alchemical skill himself. He could only hope the twins would eventually figure it out. Given their current level, however, he didn't know how long he'd have to wait. Even if the Stone were placed right in front of him, he wouldn't know how to use it.
Thinking of the twins and Flamel, he recalled the notes stored at the manor. *When I go back, I'll retrieve more alchemy notes from the manor and bring them to the twins. After more than half a year, they should have finished studying the ones I gave them at the start of term.*
The second method was the one Voldemort eventually used. It was Dark Magic that required the blood of an enemy, the flesh of a servant, and the bone of a father. The ingredients weren't difficult to obtain, but the method for combining them and the necessary spells remained a mystery to Ethan. Furthermore, this method had its flaws, though he couldn't say exactly what they were. *Surely it couldn't be the hair?* Then again, considering his appearance when he emerged from Quirrell, he'd already been missing both his nose and hair.
Ethan made a quiet decision. Horcruxes came with too many unresolved variables. It was best not to create one unless absolutely necessary. For now, he'd have to keep relying on Snape's therapeutic brews. He needed to speed up his potion research as well. Once the Animagus transformation was complete, he would devote all his energy to Potions.
Setting the matter of Horcruxes aside, Ethan unleashed his massive Patronus to show Cyril.
It truly was beautiful. If he kept having these magical surges, would he eventually transform into that legendary seven-headed, ten-horned red dragon? As Cyril gazed at the three single-horned dragon heads, the legend of Satan was clearly on his mind.
"I think it's possible. At the current rate of one magical riot per year, I should know by sixth year." Ethan dispersed the silver dragon hovering in the living room.
Then he told Cyril what he'd been working on this semester. "Combining Salazar's research with Nathaniel's, I'm developing new potions related to bloodlines. My Potions professor is quite knowledgeable in this area too, so I've been constantly refining my recipes."
"That's good. I'm not entirely sure what impact a bloodline potion would have on the wizarding world, but at the very least, it would let Sofia and Albert glimpse the mysteries of magic and fulfill their wishes." Cyril had long known the main reason Ethan pursued this research was to make his parents wizards.
Ethan nodded. "Right. But I don't think it will have much impact on the wizarding world either. This set of potions is incredibly complex. By my estimate, it takes at least a dozen potions working in tandem to achieve the intended effect. I've successfully refined less than half of them so far. For the rest, I can determine their intended functions, but I don't know when I'll perfect the recipes. Even if all the recipes are complete, I'll still need test subjects. That's at least two or three years minimum."
He couldn't help but sigh. Two or three years was a conservative estimate. He had more urgent potions to develop first.
He glanced at Cyril's soul again. "Covered in cracks, but no new injuries have appeared. So the problem is definitely in the physical body. But I can't pin all my hopes on Snape's potions. I need to develop a targeted potion too."
This idea had been on Ethan's mind for a long time. Ever since he started assisting Snape with potion brewing, he'd wondered if he could do something about it. After getting Nathaniel's research notes, the idea took shape. Combined with recent lessons from Snape, an insight borrowed from the Muggle world might just be the solution.
Because he'd been busy with Animagus training and magical creature Transfiguration, he'd only jotted down his thoughts. Now it was time to make this his main focus. His parents were young enough to wait, but Cyril didn't have that luxury. *During summer vacation, no matter what the St. Mungo's trial results are, I have to tell Grandpa about this. I hope there's a good outcome.*
He sighed inwardly and changed the subject, chatting about creature Transfiguration and the special Animagus techniques Dumbledore had taught him. He had promised Dumbledore not to pass on the method, but since Cyril also had a magical creature Patronus, he shared his experiences and impressions without revealing any specifics.
Finally, Ethan asked, "Grandpa, do you want to learn it? If you ask Dumbledore, he'll probably agree."
"I won't be learning it. It takes too much time, and I wouldn't use it anyway." Cyril smiled and waved his hand, dismissing the idea.
"There's something else. I think you should be mentally prepared."
"What is it?"
"Transfiguration cannot transform you into things that have never existed."
Cyril paused, then continued, "So your Human Transfiguration into a three-headed dragon might fail, and your Animagus transformation might fail too. You've only seen the Patronus form, but you've never seen a real three-headed dragon."
"There's a rule like that? Dumbledore never told me!" Ethan was startled. This wasn't in the old man's notes, either. He didn't know if Dumbledore had forgotten or just assumed Ethan already knew.
"There is. It's common knowledge. Maybe Hogwarts, like Beauxbatons, doesn't teach it in the lower years because you're currently following the professors' instructions and don't need to imagine what to transform into. But in the upper years, the professors should cover this restriction."
Cyril laced his fingers together. "When you wrote me that letter, I thought you knew and had a solution, so I didn't mention it before. But after hearing your experience just now, I realized you actually didn't know."
Ethan's heart sank instantly. He bit his lower lip, frustrated. "Then did I just waste all this time on something impossible?"
"Not necessarily. True, no one's ever seen a three-headed dragon. But the fact that you can produce a three-headed dragon Patronus proves, in a way, that this creature isn't entirely fantasy either. That's why I only said your Transfiguration carries a risk of failure. There's still hope for success." Cyril patted his shoulder. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up. If you fail, don't be discouraged."
"Mm, I understand. I believe I can succeed. If I can summon that Patronus, that's proof enough." Even as he said it, Ethan still felt the pressure.
The method he had come up with earlier, using the Swedish Short-Snout as a blueprint to redesign the three-headed dragon, now seemed unlikely to work. *I'll use my three-headed dragon Patronus as the template. For the internal body structure, I can reference other dragons. The color should be red.* That night, he carefully observed his Patronus and sketched it onto paper.
Early the next morning, Cyril brought Ethan to Knockturn Alley again.
The same dark, cramped street. Ethan walked forward, watching the heavily cloaked wizards hurrying past. *These are probably wanted dark wizards. Their souls all have cracks, though the size and number vary.* He glanced at the down-and-out wizards lurking in the corners and found their souls surprisingly intact. *Just as Grandpa said, they're minor wizards with little power. They haven't worked up the nerve to kill yet.*
He took one last look at them and pushed open the main door of Borgin and Burkes.
Cyril rang the bell on the counter for Mr. Borgin. While they waited, Ethan inspected the new stock filling the space where the Vanishing Cabinet used to be.
Moments later, the stooped shopkeeper emerged from behind the counter. "Welcome, Messrs. Shafiq. What can I get for you today?" Mr. Borgin's voice retained its usual oily quality.
"We aren't here to buy. The Vanishing Cabinet is damaged and needs repair." Cyril produced the broken cabinet.
"Broken already?" Mr. Borgin seemed surprised. He stepped out from behind the counter and carefully examined the cracked, scratched cabinet.
After a close inspection, he noticed the difference. "No, this isn't the one I sold you!"
Unhurried and without a trace of guilt, Cyril insisted, "You must be mistaken. This is the Vanishing Cabinet we bought from you a few months ago. What, you think we found the matching cabinet that quickly? If that were true, why would I come to you for repairs? I'd go straight to France and ask Nicolas to fix it." He deliberately dropped Nicolas Flamel's name.
Ethan and Cyril had genuinely considered asking Flamel for help. They were certain he could repair the item, but the timing was uncertain. Ethan planned to install the cabinet at Hogwarts after Easter, which left them only three or four days to spend in France, so they had visited Mr. Borgin first. He was certainly capable of fixing it and had a much more flexible schedule.
"Nicolas? Nicolas Flamel?" The oily-haired shopkeeper was confused by the name, but he quickly realized who they meant. Unwilling to let the business slip away, he answered immediately. "I can fix it. Give me a month, five hundred Galleons."
"Ten days. Do it in ten days, and five hundred Galleons is yours."
"Time is short. It'll cost more." Mr. Borgin stroked his oily hair.
"Forget it, then. I'm heading to France the day after tomorrow. It would be better to have Nicolas repair it. I doubt he would need that much time." Cyril stowed the cabinet and turned to leave, Ethan following close behind.
Just as they reached the door, Mr. Borgin called out reluctantly, "Five hundred it is. Leave the cabinet here."
Cyril returned to the counter with a satisfied look, set the cabinet down, and paid the deposit. Ethan also picked up a pocket Sneakoscope while he was at it. Mr. Borgin tried to sweet-talk them into a higher price, but they weren't fooled. Ethan walked out with it for a single Galleon.
After leaving Borgin and Burkes, Ethan stopped at a stationery shop to restock paper, which he had been burning through at an alarming rate lately. He then headed over to their own shop. Since they frequently held Wizarding Cards competitions and needed group photos, the shop had recently purchased a camera. Ethan snapped a few pictures of the bustling scene.
*Excellent.* In just twelve minutes, he watched at least ten people buy card packs, with most buying ten packs each to start. He took a photo of this too, planning to show the twins the photos when he got back to school.
Today was Easter, so rather than lingering in Diagon Alley, Ethan and Cyril traveled home via the Floo Network to spend the holiday with his parents.
The day after Easter marked the third day of the vacation, so Cyril and Ethan boarded a plane to Paris. Having flown once before, Ethan was familiar with the process and followed Cyril through check-in with ease.
After leaving the airport, they got into the car Cyril had arranged and headed straight for the dragon reserve. They stopped only once along the way for a quick meal, without even turning off the engine.
They arrived just past one in the afternoon. Stepping out, Ethan recognized several employees from his previous visit. After exchanging greetings, Cyril headed to the office to review the accounts and attend to recent business. Ethan, led by a short, black-haired wizard named Isaac, made his way to the dragon reserve's slaughter and dissection room, a place he had never visited before.
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