108: Animagus
'Even someone like Pettigrew could learn the Animagus transformation,' Ivan thought with genuine curiosity.
'How did they manage it?'
Pure-blood families, he mused, often possessed valuable secrets. The Weasleys had their magic item craftsmanship, while the Blacks excelled in transformation like Sirius's Animagus form and Tonks' Metamorpmagus from her bloodline. Some knowledge within these families was so hidden that even someone as powerful as Dumbledore might not be fully aware of it.
With centuries, if not millennia, of accumulated knowledge, what each generation of these ancient families revealed was often only the tip of the iceberg. Still, even those fragments were treasures worthy of a lifetime of study.
'Voldemort really wasted his potential,' Ivan thought, reflecting on the Dark Lord's past.
Instead of continuing his magical research, he had devoted his time to terrorizing followers and spreading fear. Although pure-blood families followed him, they offered only wealth, often hiding their most valuable knowledge.
'Maybe Voldemort thought there was little of worth left in pure-blooded lineages,' Ivan speculated, almost pitying Voldemort's shortsightedness. Just because pure-blood wizards might appear weak didn't mean their ancestral knowledge was insignificant.
Unfortunately, Ivan knew he couldn't access these pure-blood family secrets. Dumbledore, though capable, was principled. While he acknowledged the worth of pure-blood knowledge, he would never covet or seize it by force.
Fortunately, the Dumbledore family also has a rich heritage, and Ivan has sensed that Dumbledore seems to want him to inherit it.
The book given to Penelope is one part of that legacy.
"Let's start preparing," Ivan said. "Practicing Animagus transformation is incredibly time-consuming. You'll need to brew potions and wait for the right time to attempt the transformation."
"I know," Penelope nodded, well aware of the process. As Professor McGonagall's diligent student, she was familiar with the complexity of Animagus magic.
To begin practicing Animagus transformation, a wizard must first keep a mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month.
If the leaf leaves the mouth during this time, all prior efforts are lost, and the process must be restarted.
After completing the first step, they wait for the second full moon, at which point the leaf—imbued with the wizard's saliva—is placed in a small transparent bottle under pure moonlight.
To this, the wizard must add a strand of their own hair, a teaspoon of pure dew, and a hawk moth pupa.
The bottle is then left in a quiet, dark place, safe from any prying eyes or disturbances, until the next storm comes.
During this waiting period, at sunrise and sunset each day, the wizard must point their wand to their heart and chant, "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."
The waiting time for a storm could range from weeks to months, or even years.
Throughout this period, the crystal vial must remain untouched by sunlight, as exposure to sunlight can lead to severe, irreversible mutations.
If the spell is chanted correctly at sunrise and sunset each day, the practitioner will begin to sense the gradual changes brought by this magic.
When the wand's tip touches the chest, a second heartbeat will become perceptible—sometimes stronger than the original heartbeat, sometimes weaker. Throughout this period, consistency is crucial: the spell must be repeated precisely, with the exact number of recitations and no deviations.
Then, when lightning finally tears through the sky, the practitioner must quickly retrieve the crystal vial from its hidden place.
If all prior steps were completed correctly, the potion inside the vial will have turned a deep blood-red color.
At this point, the wizard must proceed to a large, secure location, ensuring that the transformation won't draw unwanted attention or put their body at risk.
There, they should point their wand to their heart, chant "Amato Animo Animato Animagus," and drink the potion.
"The complexity of the Animagus transformation is one of the highest among known magic," Ivan noted.
This complex ritual has been a cornerstone of wizarding tradition for centuries.
"As I mentioned earlier, true magical transformation requires absorbing natural magic," Ivan continued. "Almost all advanced magic draws upon this step."
Animagus transformation is considered an introductory form of magical transformation. In Ivan's view, becoming an Animagus is like a preparatory step for the more complex magic transformations. Once someone gains experience with Animagus fusion, the risks of deeper magical transformation can be significantly reduced.
"I understand," Penelope replied, tucking the mandrake leaf into her mouth and holding it firmly in place.
The most challenging step in Animagus training was now underway.
For the next month, Penelope would experience constant discomfort. There was no other way—gaining powerful abilities required enduring hardship. Without inherent talent or shortcuts, one could only rely on hard work.
Fortunately, Penelope had Ivan, a prodigy who seemed to make the impossible possible.
With Ivan's support, she saw a real chance to succeed. Determined, Penelope decided to seize it firmly: I can do this. I absolutely can!
Suddenly, Ivan realized a slight complication.
How was Penelope supposed to offer him feedback if she had a mandrake leaf in her mouth?
"Tsk! Didn't think that one through," he muttered.
Seeing his mild frustration, Penelope couldn't help but smile. Despite her brilliant and skilled junior, Ivan sometimes made small missteps.
To Penelope, there was nothing wrong with this; in fact, she found it endearing.
It reminded her that Ivan, for all his abilities, wasn't an all-knowing figure without flaws—he was just as human as she was.
"I can communicate with you using an auto-quill," Penelope said, pulling a notebook and auto-quill from her suitcase.
The items floated beside her, and the quill immediately began writing notes.
"Looks like you've had some practice," Ivan noted, recalling Rita Skeeter's quick-writing quill from the books. Maybe it was standard for magical journalists?
"I actually considered working for a newspaper after graduation, so I learned the auto-quill charm early."
As the quill jotted down her ideas, Penelope followed Ivan around, offering her suggestions for decorating.
With her knowledge of magical furniture and household charms, she helped bring his vision to life.
Together, they worked until the evening, transforming the manor with ease.
This time, Ivan didn't prepare dinner; instead, he left it to Penelope.
She assured him of her skills, mentioning that she'd helped her mother with cooking since she was young.
So, they divided the tasks: Ivan gathered ingredients, while Penelope expertly enchanted the kitchen utensils, making them prepare food almost as if they had a life of their own.
It was clear Penelope had a natural talent for household magic—she was even more adept than Ivan when it came to spells for daily living.
It was clear that powerful magic didn't always mean perfect execution. When both Ivan and another wizard could cast the same spell, the one with more practice and skill would always produce a better result.
In this regard, Ivan knew he couldn't cut corners. Mastery required daily practice.
After dinner, Ivan suggested that Penelope pick out a room in the villa for herself.
After some thought, she chose the one right next to his.
"Will I be disturbing you, being so close?"
"Not at all," Ivan assured her.
"Perfect," she said with a sly smile, joking, "First come, first served—Hermione won't be back for a while, so I'm claiming this spot."
"Yup!"
Penelope chuckled at the thought of Hermione's reaction when she returned and found the room already taken. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she imagined it.
"Let's hope she handles it calmly."
Knowing Hermione's personality, Ivan thought she might actually confront Penelope about it. Luckily, there was still one more room nearby if needed.
If nothing unexpected happened, Hermione would definitely choose that room when she returned.
"Good night, senior," Ivan said, smiling. "Starting tomorrow, I'll take you around the Muggle world and give you a glimpse into the lives of some of the top Muggles."
"As your secretary, I'll keep that in mind, my junior" Penelope replied.
"Ahem… make that 'boss' when we're out there," Ivan corrected.
"Of course, boss," Penelope said with a grin.
Penelope truly lived up to her reputation as one of Hogwarts' most beautiful students. Her natural charm was undeniable.
...
The next day, Ivan used magic to transform himself into a young man, while Penelope took care to dress maturely, her appearance refined with a careful touch of makeup.
She was a senior and girls matured quickly, and with makeup's help, Penelope looked so sophisticated that Ivan almost didn't recognize her.
She was striking, truly captivating, and her confident, polished appearance made her the kind of woman who would easily turn heads—especially among young men just beginning to notice the charms of others.
"By the way," Ivan said, taking out his wand and casting a spell on Penelope.
"Hmm, hmm?" Penelope asked, confused about what Ivan was doing.
"This is a new spell I came up with last night," Ivan smiled. "Didn't you notice any changes, senior?"
"Changes?" Penelope paused, then suddenly realized that the uncomfortable feeling in her mouth had vanished.
"The mandrake leaf!"
She looked at Ivan with gratitude, realizing he had developed this spell specifically to ease her discomfort during the first step of the Animagus transformation.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
"You're welcome," Ivan replied. "I'm the big boss in the Muggle world—how could my secretary go around looking uncomfortable?"
"Hehe~~"
The girl smiled but said nothing.
Penelope felt Ivan's gentleness and thoughtfulness for the first time.
Silently, but always able to warm their hearts in some details.
"Let's go.
"Yes!"
Without thinking any more, Penelope quickly followed Ivan's footsteps.
________
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