Chapter 67

A white landscape was in front of him. The vast whiteness made him feel his nerves tense up. He didn't have an actual body, but he could feel himself walking. Suddenly, the sky turned vantablack, making a clear distinction between 'heaven' and 'earth' in this wide expanse. White grass began to grow from the ground, and what was before a clean cut white floor, became rough dirt, coupled with foliage all around him.

And yet, no sound was made, the more he advanced, the more he realized this place looked like a forest of some kind. It didn't make any sense, but maybe there was a reason for it.

A violent growl resounded in the distance, making him snap his neck from where he was looking, then footsteps, even though it was so far away, he could hear it clearly, coming his way.

Allen suddenly remembered what Armand told him, how his animal-self 'attacked' him, being a figure of pure whiteness. In his case, the vast expanse was somewhat similar to Armand's experience and yet, completely different at the same time.

One step.

Two steps.

Closer and closer, in the distance, a shining black figure on four legs stood proudly, the eyes of the beast shone with a violent green light, then, turned to a visceral yellow in a flash, leaving behind the green eyes.

'Wha- What? Is that- No, that's not normal! Armand didn't mention anything about this, nor did Professor Malik!' His heart began to beat at a faster rate. 'No, I need to calm down. Doesn't matter what. That's one thing that the professor did mention.

Keep calm and don't let the animal self take control.'

Without him realizing it, the black figure was already a few meters away from him, the white ground outlined his figure and its eyes judged him. Allen answered back with his Mystic Gaze, positioning himself to begin a barrage of spells as he took a step back but the animal stood its ground, looking back at him.

Allen ran towards it, arms open, the moment the two came in contact with each other, the animal self disappeared in an explosion of black light. He turned around, seeing all the small particles surrounding him until they began to fuse with him.

The landscape in front of him was no more just as fast as it came to his vision. In its place was the Bailey's garden, albeit a bit… shorter, he realized.

'Shorter? No, my vision is lower, and yet-' He turned his gaze towards the sky, a black night welcomed him with the stars shining brightly. 'I can see just fine in the dead of night, that means it worked! And not only that, it's some kind of animal similar to Armand's transfiguration!'

Unable to contain his excitement, he began to walk clumsily, tripping a few times before getting the hang of it. When he looked down he saw a pair of black paws, similar to a vantablack, yet falling a bit short behind absolute darkness.

Then a tail with a bit of fluff on the tip. He knew what kind of animal he transformed into, and now that it happened, it didn't feel one bit bad. Even if he predicted it.

Allen began to sprint, then run around the garden, feeling the winter wind caress his now furry face and ears.

From behind him, the sound of rustling leaves could be heard, when he turned around, Professor Malik was standing in front of him, with Sophia's parents in tow, looking at him, wearing proud smiles on their faces.

"Here, Mr Lionheart. Let me help you." The professor put over him the special robes for a smooth transfiguration. "Now, please turn back so I can check if there are any anomalies."

A small growl escaped his mouth while he tried to answer Professor Malik, he looked shocked for a moment before turning back. "Sorry about that professor, for some reason I felt like I could answer normally, even if that wasn't the case."

"Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. I'm glad we didn't have to transfigurate the whole garden into a small lake, in case your animagus form ended up being an aquatic creature." The professor explained as he directed Allen towards Sophia's parents. "Now, I believe we all should rest for tonight, especially, Mr Lionheart.

"Uh? But I feel fine, professor. Truly, Actually." He turned around back to the garden. "I wanted to ask if I could maybe…"

"I'm sorry, but no." Professor Malik said, cutting his sentence. "It's your first transfiguration, even if you believe it to be fine, there is bound to be backlash after managing such a feat. Don't worry. You can practice a few times tomorrow, and in no time, you'll be able to change at will without getting tired, but for now, rest is paramount."

Allen let out a defeated sigh before answering him. "Okay, professor."

"Come now, Allen, your friends are waiting, and I'm sure they want to hear what your animagus form is." Mrs Bailey spoke in a soft tone as she led the way back to the main residence.

"Well, I don't think they'll be surprised. I wasn't."

Both Mr and Mrs Bailey smiled at him as he explained how they predicted his friends and him, his animagus form.

—----------------------------

"We were right!" William shouted excitedly, jumping out of the sofa.

"Wow, just, wow. I was joking when I said that your animagus form would be a lion, but to think that it would be actually true." Added Sophia.

"Are you okay, Allen? You are not too disappointed, are you?" Elsie asked worriedly.

"No, don't worry about it, to be honest, I expected it in one way or another. Besides, now that I think about it, it's kind of cool, isn't it? Can run fast, can see at night, and lions also have a lot of strength."

"Show us, mate! Come on!"

Allen shook his head. "Sorry, Professor Malik said that I should rest for today. But I can do it tomorrow!. Maybe Armand and I can race around the garden." He finished with a smug grin on his face.

Armand exhaled a puff of air through his nose, letting out a chuckle as he looked towards him. "You are on.

But in all seriousness, are you sure you are okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry."

"Now kids, I think it's about time we go to rest. We can continue talking about today tomorrow." Said Sophia's mom.

"Hmm, yes mum."

"Yes, Mrs Bailey."

The excitement from the transfiguration still wouldn't leave Allen's mind, even after they all went to sleep, and as he laid down on the bed, the only thing that could think of was doing it again. It almost felt like Christmas all over again, being excited about gifts and food.

Without even realizing it, he fell asleep, still thinking about his animagus form, and if they would need to register, what would Professor McGonagall say to them. Would she be mad or proud that they managed to do it in their second year, of course, with supervision from one of the top graduates from Uagadou, otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to do it as smoothly.

His mind drifted to a dreamland where a fully grown black lion was running on a grassy field, along with a white panther, while other three animals followed behind, he couldn't tell what animals were they, but one of them was flying, at the very least.

—--------------------------

"When can we start the process with the rest of us, professor?

Yule break is almost over, and, well, there's still three of us who haven't gone through it." Sophia asked in a hurried tone, a bit of blush showed on her cheeks while she spoke.

"Hmm, I understand the hurry after seeing two of your friends successfully manage their own transfiguration, but don't worry Ms Bailey, I have it all planned so we have three days left for the five of you to practice your animagus form on your own and." He looked towards the parents. "To give you time to register, in case your tutors deem it necessary, after all, I can only recommend stuff after we are done with the process.

We will have one day in between each process, so for now, let's go over what we can do as animagus and what we shouldn't do, then, Mr Malfoy and Mr Lionheart can show us their transfiguration."

They responded in unison before taking out their parchments.

—-------------------------------

"Are you ready Mr Cooper?" Said Professor Malik with a soft tone.

"Yeah! I've got everything professor!" William shouted as he waved around a part of the robes.

The professor nodded in approval. "Then, we'll take our leave, Mr and Mrs Cooper, please follow me."

"I know you can do it, dear. Don't be nervous." William's mom reassured him, gently rubbing his shoulder as they took their leave.

As they took their leave, the sudden silence of the night assaulted his senses. William knew that the professor and his parents were still there, watching over him, in case something happened, but knowing it and seeing them are two different things. He followed Armand and Allen's instructions to try to calm himself down.

'Right, don't let the animal-self take control, don't be scared, it can't actually do anything to you, it doesn't matter how big or scary it is, and… what else?

Oh, right, keep calm. Yes.'

A piercing pain ran through him the moment he drank the last drop of the blood-tinted potion. Taking him to a dark space after the pain subdued. A space where kept on falling down in an infinite loop. At first he felt himself touch something similar to ground, but as if waiting for him, a white figure passed by him, making him turn around, trying to see what it was.

The moment he took that step the floor suddenly disappeared. Spiraling into the infinite fall that he found himself at this moment.

"Ah! There you are!" He tried to catch it, extending his arms whenever it passed by him, but it was in vain.

The second time it happened, he managed to create a manifestation of his wand appear on his hand, and without missing a beat he began to shoot spells the moment his animal-self appeared to mock him.

"You…! You… Shit for brain bird! Why can't I catch you?! You are not even that fast!" William cried in anger.

After what felt like hours, he decided to stop and think what he was doing wrong. 'Everytime I'm close to catching it, the bird flies away just a few centimeters away from me. Which means that I'm doing something wrong.

But what.'

The more he fell down, the more he got used to it. To the point that it didn't even feel like a fall at all. He almost fell asleep when a sudden poke took him out of his thoughts.

*Poke*

*Poke*

But when he opened his eyes, he saw a white-clad figure of a bird, poking him with its beak.

"Argh! You-! You…! Stupid animal! I was scared at the beginning. I'm pissed off at this point!

Stop this!" His cry resounded in the vast space, making his fall stop suddenly as if it never happened.

"Uh? That was all it took?" William blinked a few times, shocked by the sudden change of things.

Then, as if it was finally satisfied, the bird posed itself on his shoulder, exuding a blinding light. "Wai- Wait, I don't think I'm ready-!" Were the last things he said in the black space before the light consumed the two of them.

—------------------------

A piercing screech resounded through the garden just as the robes William was wearing fell down.

"Ah, an eagle, good job Mr Cooper, now come here before you hurt yourself.

William nodded his head at the instructions of Professor Malik, flying down towards his robes.

The moment he ended the transfiguration, his parents came rushing at him, showering him with hugs and kisses. "Good job, dear! That was amazing!"

"He, hehehe. Stop it, mum."

"Hmm, hmm." The professor cleared his throat, gathering the family's attention before speaking. "Just as I've said with Mr Malfoy and Mr Lionheart, it's imperative to rest after the first transfiguration.

So I'm sure we can continue this conversation back inside, where Mr Cooper can sit down and talk about his experience?"

William's parents nodded in approval as they guided him back to the Bailey's house.

—-------------------------

"Umm, professor, are you sure we are not rushing things? William just did his first transfiguration the day before, so I feel like… we are going too fast, maybe…?" Elsie asked winded.

"It is your choice, Ms Wright, but I'm hundred percent sure that you can do it. Your friends have done it, and you too have exceptional talent and perseverance, but at the end of the day it's your choice, I won't force you.

Take your time to talk about it with your parents."

Elsie nodded nervously as she walked towards her parents. "So… Umm… Yeah, I'm kinda nervous about it, mum, dad."

"It's okay, dear. But you've already done so much and you are so far in the process." Both of her parents held her hands, reassuring her.

"Hmm…" She stayed pensive for a while, debating what was the best course of action.

Elsie knew that part of the process was to get over the fear, and she wanted to follow in her friend's steps.

Her dad put his hand gently on her shoulder. "I know you can do it, sweetheart, but it is your choice. We can't force you to do anything."

"Hmm."

—--------------------------

"Then, we'll take our leave Ms Wright, and remember, we are here, making sure nothing goes wrong."

Elsie nodded at the professor's words before he and her parents went back.

She took a big gulp of the potion without looking back.

In front of her laid a vast expanse of blackness. Sprinkled with a few light particles as far as her eyes could see.

A gust of wind passed by from behind her, making her turn back but when she turned around, the wind had stopped.

A peck on the back of her head distracted her from her thoughts, making her turn around again.

"Ah!" She screamed, surprised by the sudden appearance of such a small bird. The scare became relief when she seemed to understand her animal-self. Elsie extended her arm to pat its head, afterwards, everything became a shining white light, taking her out of the black space.