29

September 13, Friday, Hogwarts.

 The ancient castle stood motionless. For many centuries no one has been able to encroach on its monumental protection. It is always calm and safe within its walls. No problems of the outside world can get beyond the walls of this majestic castle.

 Today the castle was as beautiful as always. Evening was approaching. The solar disk gradually inclined towards the horizon. The light rays that emanated from the disk fell on the castle at an angle. Because of them, a picture of mystery and mysticism was created. Shadows covered more and more territory every second. It seemed a little more and they would capture everything.

 In the shadow of the castle and its towers life was seething. Here and there students were sitting in pairs. Elsewhere, students were either chatting merrily or arguing. What can we take from them, children?

Couples were already beginning to retire to hidden corners. There were few of them, but they still existed. And that says something.

 Flocks of birds flew around the towers. If you looked closely, you could recognize them as owls and eagle owls. They were completely different: large and small, light and dark, speckled and striped. In a word, a complete set. They all flew out of the same tower and flew into it. There was an owlery there.

In a word, life was in full swing. And it was undoubtedly good.

If we pay attention to the people and non-humans living in the castle, we will see a complete difference between them.

Some were minding their own business, others were gossiping, others were studying, others were idle, and others were scheming.

But there was one figure that at the moment stood out from the basic picture.

At the moment, she was moving along the corridor of the eighth floor of the castle. Well, what do you think could be strange? A completely natural question. And there is an answer to it.

The fact is that this figure was hiding from the other inhabitants of the castle. How to understand this? Very simple.

 Firstly, she moved in slow steps, stopping all the time and listening to her surroundings.

Secondly, she was hiding. She walked close to the wall, as soon as someone walked nearby she hid in a niche.

Well, the third, most important. The figure was invisible. Yes, yes, you didn't think so - she is invisible. There were no shapes, no sounds. Nothing. Only with magical vision can one understand that someone is here. And then, his gaze kept slipping away from her. It was as if she merged with the surrounding mana background.

But her journey is over. A door appeared and opened directly opposite her. Although she wasn't there a second ago. But why should we be surprised, right?

 As soon as the figure entered the door, it closed. And in its place there was nothing left, only a wall.

The sound of the door closing was like music to my ears. Until the last minute I expected something that would force me to change plans again. But no, everything worked out. I am in place and ready to fulfill my plans.

 A slight concentration and my appearance swam slightly. A moment and in my place I stand again, as I came to Hogwarts, only about fourteen or sixteen years old and with more regular facial features, and also the figure not of a magician, which is thinness, but of some semblance of a warrior.

I decided to take the test in my true form, otherwise you never know. I wouldn't want to have to deal with the consequences later.

Well, okay, it's time to start.

Having taken off my outer clothes, I headed in one direction known to me. These were shelves with books on metamorphism.

In general, I think it's worth explaining what schools of magic there are, or rather what they were under the founders.

 1.Animagus

 Controlling a beast with sheer willpower – isn't this what every tamer dreams of? Subdue the mind of the dumb creature, force it to fulfill your desires! Creatures are shaggy and feathered, scaled and insects - all will obey you, all will come to your call and do according to your word!

 2.Alchemy

 The magical equivalent of chemistry. Enchanted bombs and grenades, explosive powders, mixtures with a variety of properties. In their crucibles and retorts, potions and spells are prepared that can be carried in your pocket. Why bother with mana when you can just dispel the powder?

 3. Apostleship

 True holiness accompanies them. If you have Faith in your soul, become an apostle of your God, and at the right time he will come to your aid, encourage and console you, and give you strength to withstand adversity. If you own this magic, your prayer will never be wasted, it will always find a response from heaven.

 4. Artifacts

 A good craftsman is always a magician! Make an amulet, weapon, armor, clothing, any item, fill it with mana, charge it with a spell, and the artifact is in your hands! A good artifact takes time, but at the right time it will not fail - it no longer needs mana, it does not need recharging.

 5. Aeromancy

 Air magic. Winds and storms, clouds and clouds - everything is at your service, all heavens are subordinate to you, so ascend! Rain, hail, snow - call whatever you want! The air spirits will bow before you, the winds will mark out your enemies, the cloud will become your chariot! Command the skies - become equal to the gods!

 6.Biomagic

 If life is created once, it can be created again. Grow a monster in your basement, and let your enemies tremble! Take a ready-made creature and change it according to your desire - make the ugly beautiful, the weak strong, the dwarf a giant, the old man young. A sharp knife and skillful hands are all a biomagician needs.

 7.Combat magic

 Even a magician sometimes has to go into battle. Learn to burn the enemy with fire and freeze with ice, shower with stone hail and shower with steel needles. Why do you need to carry sharp or rattling pieces of iron with you when you can bring down the witchcraft power generated by your hands on the enemy?

 8.Household magic.

 A magician is also a person. Food and drink, clean clothes and furniture, home comfort - all this is not alien to him. If the most valuable thing for you is comfort and peace, without hesitation, become a household magician. You will not accomplish great things, you will not create or destroy kingdoms, but in your home life there will be no person happier than you.

 9.Vampirism

 Energy is life. And the easiest way to get it is to take it from someone else. Catch the victim, find a way and drink life energy from it - you will be full and satisfied. Why bother collecting mana yourself when you can siphon it from another mage? Blood, feelings, thoughts, the soul itself - a vampire magician can suck out anything.

 10. Geomancy

 Earth magic. The soil under your feet is not only stone, dirt and black soil. Shake it up, make it change shape, open it and close it again! Mountains, abysses, caves - everything is yours, everything is in your hands! The bowels of the earth will give up their treasures, the earthly spirits will bow to your will!

 11. Hydromancy

 The magic of water. Rivers and lakes, seas and oceans are all water. The waves will rise at your word in order to carry the ship to the port or drown it in the abyss! Sink to the very bottom - the water will not touch you, will not harm you - it is yours, it is obedient. Water spirits will come to your call, the currents will turn their course for you, the ocean itself will invite you to visit!

 12. Golem construction

 Mason. Metallurgist. Potter. What do these people have in common? Any one of them can create a golem! Just create a figure, endow it with life, and behold, your servant steps forward, ready to fulfill the command! Sorry for mana? Don't have the strength to perform powerful magic? Provide a golem with a mechanism and you'll get an automatic machine; just a little is enough for him!

 13. Demonology

 This is dangerous fun - playing with demons. But if you love risk, if you are not afraid to face what might come out of the Dark World, call the demon and boldly look him in the eye! You are the master, he is the slave, he obeys, he will carry out your order! But be careful - the fee may be more than you think...

 14. Doppel magic

 Who said emptiness can't kill? How could she - if she was embodied in a doppel! Remove the matrix from yourself, your best warrior, wild beast, terrible monster, anyone - and create a doppel. He will not let you down, he will not deceive you, he has no thoughts or feelings, he exists only to serve.

 15. Natural magic

 This is a Gift. This is a great Gift. Developing natural magic in yourself is not easy, but if you do... then you can forget about this fuss with mana and spells. Just wish, and everything will come true according to your wishes. Of course, if you have developed a skill capable of performing it... In our time, this school does not exist, but there is a stage of development. Silent and wandless spells.

 16. Protective magic

 Safety is not the least important thing. The magician has many enemies, and he must defend himself from them all. Protective fields and domes, Kaldian shields and armor, armor made of fire and a helmet made of ice - nothing will interfere, everything will come in handy. Who knows when the enemy will lie in wait for you? Be prepared, protect your skin!

 17. Mirror magic

A mirror is not just a fun trinket. It is impossible to describe all the miracles that can be created with mirrors. To see what is far away, to be transported over vast distances, to split into two and become disorganized, to reflect other people's spells... And who can know what else is hidden behind the smooth surface of the mirror?

 18. Illusions

This is just a deception of feelings, they say. Just, ha! An illusionist is capable of such miracles that no one else can achieve! Visual illusions, auditory, smell, taste, even touch! Create an illusory palace and live in it - yes, it will disappear after you die, but who cares?

 19. Yoga

 Know yourself, know your body and make sure that it is capable of very, very much! Bend a steel pole with your bare hands, jump onto a tree without a running start, dive into boiling lava without any protection, live without air or food for years and centuries! And let them cut the yogi with swords as much as they want - they won't pierce his skin!

 20. Witchcraft

 Soul, you say? Who needs this useless nonsense? Isn't it better to exchange it for a better price? Sell ​​your soul to a demon, receive immeasurable power in return, and live for today - what difference does it make what happens after death? This path is the easiest and fastest - so don't neglect it!

 21. Cryomancy

 Frost and cold, ice and snow, blizzards and blizzards - this is the path of the cryomancer! There is only one constant - Absolute Zero! And you are the only one who is not afraid even of him - your blood is cold, your mind is like a sharpened piece of ice, and frost flows from under your nails! Everything freezes...

 22. The magic of time

 Time is a protector and destroyer. We can't bring back the past, but why not change the future? Stop time for the enemy, and he is in your power, speed up his time a thousandfold, and he will die of old age before he can harm you! Time is the subtlest of arts! And there will always be fresh food in the cellar...

 23. Magic of the spirit

 Every living thing has a soul. Life is impossible without a soul. The soul is an inexhaustible source of energy. So use it! Learn to work with souls, and you will understand that no art can do without the magic of the spirit. As a main skill, it may not be very useful, but when you pick up auxiliary skills, take it first!

 24. Blood magic

 Just red liquid?! Ye-e-eh!!! Blood flows through your veins, and there is nothing more priceless! Blood magic is the magic of sacrifice, the magic of murder! Kill your enemy, and every drop of blood he loses will turn into mana for you! Let God or a demon drink fresh blood - and he will do everything! And don't believe the fairy tales that Blood magic brings madness, ah-ha-ha-ha!!!

 25. The magic of space

 Big in small, small in big. Space is only an appearance; it can be compressed or expanded at your discretion. Take your home and put it in your pocket - isn't it convenient? We are creators of worlds, we create new enclaves and even real worlds! And what kind of face will your enemy make when he sees a cockroach the size of a mountain...

 26. Magic of the mind

 Reason is the most important virtue of a magician. So use it! Memory and thinking provide the key to the most important thing in the world - information. The one who owns the information owns the world! Subdue someone else's mind, bring madness to the enemy, force his brain to serve you... but be careful - it is very easy to make mistakes in mind games...

 27. Magic of Light

 Light! The best half of this world! Honor and respect – that's what awaits the adept of Light! To do good forever in order to glorify your name in the worlds and gain immortality, this is a deed worthy of a magician! Do not fall for the promises of the Dark Side - only Light and Truth will grant the fulfillment of all desires!

 28. Magic of Words

 Let this type of Art be contemptuously called "slow" - there is no richer magic than the Word. Compose the spell the way you want, load it into memory - and use it when you need it. The magic of the Word is the only one of all that can give everything without exception, without restrictions! Just train your memory properly...

 29. Death magic

 Why get into a fight where you risk losing your life? Isn't it easier to kill the enemy from a distance, from your tower? Death has thousands of faces, recognize them, subjugate them, and everyone will tremble! Just snap your finger, and life will leave the body, and there will be one less enemy! And remember - you can kill not only a living creature...

 30. The magic of dreams

 Dreams and visions... Where is the border between sleep and reality? In a dream you can do something that you will never be able to do in reality, remember this. Found a dream on a person... and then go in there yourself and do whatever you want with him! And what kind of wonderful creatures live in the Kingdom of Dreams, how wonderfully they can be used...

 31. Shadow Magic

 There is nothing more valuable than magic for a thief. Become invisible, penetrate walls, disappear without a trace and reappear when least expected. The World of Shadows is very close, it is waiting for you, just take a step in the right direction, and it will open its arms. The Shadow Kingdom will take you anywhere...

 32. Dark Magic

 Darkness and gloom are what rules the world! Do not listen to those who call the Darkness Evil - only common sense, only clear reason drives the Dark Ones! Give yourself to the Darkness, become a particle of it, and you will receive incredible, impossible power! Remember - Space also consists of Darkness...

 33. Chaos Magic

 Chaos is the beginning of everything. We live in a world of Order, but behind a thin membrane the primordial Chaos still seethes - and the one who subjugates it will take possession of everything he wants. Our strength is uncontrollable, our power is immeasurable! Do you know what kind of creatures live in Chaos?..

 34. Magic of the elements

 The elements will give you whatever you want! Elemental spirits overflow the Universe - they are everywhere, in every atom of matter! They need a job - so give it to them! Become their ally, their master, their ruler - and you will become the ruler of all things! The entire periodic table will submit to the elementalist!

 35. Materialization

 Conservation of substances is the main principle of our world. You cannot turn emptiness into matter. But we don't need this - after all, there are so many orphan molecules around, why not use them? Line them up in the right order and create whatever your heart desires from these invisible balls! For a true materializer, nothing is impossible!

 36. Metamorphism

 Your body is YOUR body. It must obey your wishes! So make him become what you like best! Why should we be limited to the form in which we were born? Change! Transform! And remember - you are limited only by your own imagination!

 37. Meteomagic

 Predicting the weather is not an easy task. It is much easier and more convenient to change it! Rain and snow, lightning and wind, tornadoes and snowstorms - everything is within the power of a meteorologist! This skill cannot be used in the quiet of an office, but go out into the open, raise your hands... and roar! Let the planet do what it is told to do!

 38. Musical magic

 Great poets and musicians are sometimes called wizards. Sometimes this is indeed the case. If you have a gift for art, don't waste it on entertaining the mob! Learn to use your talent, direct your genius in the right direction! Write poems and they will become a spell, play a melody and it will strike with raging magic!

 39. Necromancy

 Death is not the end. We know this better than anyone. After death, a person is fed to worms, or even simply burned... what kind of wastefulness?! Say the word, revive the dead man, and let him work - he doesn't care anymore! Extra labor never hurts... And how excellent is the army of the dead!

 40. Pyromancy

 Fire and flame! This is the true element for a real magician! Let everything around burn with fire, let everything burn, let the red-hot plasma rage! Fry your enemy until crispy and you'll end up with a delicious meal! Fire is the sorcerer's most faithful ally, it is always with you, it will not let you down!

 41. Curses

 An evil word can become a terrible weapon - if you know how to curse. Found damage to the enemy, give him troubles and hardships, make him suffer! Curse a field - nothing will grow on it, curse a lake - it will dry up, curse a house - it will burn! Curses are an evil force... but extremely useful!

 42. Runic magic

 Rulers and compasses can be stronger than swords and wands - if you know how to use them. Runes and drawings, symbols and petroglyphs can carry enormous power. A tattoo carved on the skin will become protection stronger than any spell, and a rune drawn in the air will turn into a crushing fire.

 43. Holy magic

 We believe. And this is our strength. We don't need sources of mana - our own is enough for us. Believe me, there will be no obstacles for you. What exactly to believe does not matter. In God, in the Cosmos, in nature... even in yourself. Faith can turn into a terrible weapon, or maybe into armor. And don't you dare call us fanatics!

 44. Spiritualism

 Beyond our worldview lie myriads of subtle worlds. And they are teeming with spirits who can help or advise. Subdue them, learn to summon ghosts and go visit them yourself - this power is fraught with immense possibilities. Do not believe those who call spiritualists charlatans - our power is simply not so visible to the eye...

 45. Telekinesis and levitation

 Learning to fly - isn't this what you dreamed of when you first saw a bird soaring in the sky? Well, fulfill your dream - free yourself from the restrictions of gravity! And not only himself - everything will fly up, whatever you wish! Sit in a chair and relax - you won't need to get up if you suddenly want a beer... It will come by itself!

 46. ​​Technomagic

 Magic touches all aspects of human life. Technology is no exception. Don't believe those who say that technology and magic are incompatible - they just haven't met a techno-mage! Learn to control devices by force of will, infuse your car with a soul, enter the Network in the flesh! The magic virus is a terrible force!

 47. Transformation

 Constant transformations are the key to the diversity of the Universe. And if you learn to manage them, your possibilities will be truly inexhaustible! Change the shape and consistency of the object as you please, turn a cobblestone into a diamond, and a pumpkin into a carriage! And how funny the enemy looks, thanks to you, doomed to eat flies in the swamp...

 48. Floristry

 The plants look peaceful and harmless. This is usually true. But a real florist will be able to reveal all their facets. Medicine and poison, a protective amulet and a terrible weapon - all this can be found in a simple garden. Make the plant grow to the skies and devour your opponent! And don't forget to go into the forest and look for a fern flower...

 49. Healing

 Medicine is always needed by everyone. A good healer will not be left without work - to heal a wound, cure a disease, save a dying person... even resurrect the dead! Gratitude, praise, admiration always accompany the healer. And if really necessary, a surgeon's scalpel can become a killing blade...

 50. Shamanism

 Thump thump! Thump thump! Then the shaman's tambourine rings, calling great forces from beyond the edge! Dance and rhythm, swirling spirits and witchcraft words! Perhaps the shaman seems funny and absurd from the outside... but it only seems! Don't call this power the magic of savages - a truly great shaman can twist anyone into a ram's horn!

 51. Electromagic

 Direct the flow of electrons the way you want. Make them work for you, illuminate your home, or turn into deadly lightning. Electricity and magnetism have enormous potential - learn to use it and you will be amazed at the possibilities!

 52. Elixirology

 Potions bubbling in flasks and retorts. Multi-colored elixirs with a variety of properties. Magic wafers that give great power. Wonderful ointments covering the body. And, of course, deadly poisons... Pharmaceuticals are a great power if the pharmacist has secret knowledge...

 53. Clairvoyance and telepathy

 Behold! These are the thoughts lurking in other people's heads! But this is what is happening thousands of miles away! The five senses given to man by nature... this is too few! The sixth, seventh, eighth sense... develop them within yourself, and the world will become deeper and richer! The greatest clairvoyants are able to see even the future - they are called prophets.

 53 schools. This is exactly how much the founders allocated. Their list is based on the Sumerian schools, but some were combined into one school. The Sumerians simply believed in the magic number 60, so they crammed everything they could into it.

 In modern times there are even fewer schools. Something like 40... Some schools are forgotten, and some are discarded due to fear or uselessness. This is sad.

 In general, schools of magic are such a controversial issue that one is amazed that they seem to have any classification. For so many years there were an endless number of questions about schools of magic, but in the end we came to this one.

Thinking about all this, I came to the section dedicated to metamorphism.

*Inhale*

And now a ritual phrase for preparing the testing field.

– I ask the spirit of the room to witness the magical tests of the magic schools. Metamorphism. – This was said in a confident and loud voice, and every word was filled with mana. This is a must, otherwise the spirit of the room will not hear. And so I shared the mana with the spirit and the test will begin. We'll see what happens as a result.

As soon as I said it, it all started.

 First came discomfort, as if someone was staring at you intently. This feeling lasted for 5-10 seconds, and then disappeared as if it had never happened.

 The room began to spin, or the space in it began to spin. The bookcases were gone. The walls began to approach me with amazing speed. The ceiling rose higher and higher, there was no longer the illusion of the sky, no. It was a stone ceiling.

 Magic molasses took over everything. Space, walls, ceiling, me. Nothing escaped their influence.

 Flash. The silhouette of the Elder appeared opposite me. He looked like a kind grandfather, something like Dumbledore, only more serious.

 Looking at me, he nodded at something, and then waved his hand. With his wave, a table, a chair, ink and paper appeared between us.

"Sit down, neophyte," came an old, creaky voice.

– The test begins with the theoretical part. Remember: you have thirty minutes to do everything about everything. It is prohibited to use foreign objects; it is prohibited to ask questions at the fire. Violation of any of the rules means failure of the test. I am a material illusion created by the founders for the convenience of passing tests. I was created to follow the rules on probation. After the end of the test, only you and the spirit of the spatial room will remember everything that happened here. My appearance depends on the user's idea of ​​the best teacher," he said all this so quickly and dryly that one is amazed. All the information poured out in a stormy stream onto my suffering head.

 Having looked at him with magical vision, I was convinced of his glory. This is actually an illusion, he does not have the usual aura, only an illusory one. And also his entire body consisted of piles of magical blocks connected to each other. Interesting spell design.

- You can start.

 At the end of the phrase, a burning candle appeared on the table. Apparently this is my time reference.

 Sitting down at the table, I began to answer questions. In general, the first test is taken not so much for a specific school, but for everyone at once. Well, no wonder, in the library knowledge begins from the very basics to the top. Therefore, after the first test, you can gain knowledge from other schools.

 It's just that if I take tests aimed at a specific school, the test will become a little more difficult, but in the end I will receive more information about the chosen school. Also in the first test there is no "control" category. If you were able to control mana, then primary control should already exist.

 The questions themselves are a survey of the knowledge that was in the book of the founders. Nothing more. I answered them within ten minutes. As soon as I put the pen aside, the candle burned out in an instant, I wonder why? To teach self-confident neophytes a lesson or something else? Or, so to speak, there is no turning back?

 The paper with questions and answers to them disappeared. A ball appeared in their place. The size of a soccer ball. There was darkness inside her. Well, or the absence of something. You never know what they stuffed in there.

- Channel the mana into the ball. Don't stop falling until the ball turns the color of your mana, start. Time - three minutes. – Again the creaky voice from the grandfather.

The candle is burning again. There is nothing to do, just start.

 Closing my eyes, I focused on my magical beginning, namely the channels that permeated both the body and the aura. From them I directed mana into the ball.

 At first reluctantly, and after a few seconds more and more willingly, mana began to flow into the ball. After about a minute, I couldn't push any more mana into the ball. Having stopped giving mana, I opened my eyes.

 In place of darkness there was a flame burning. Gray with a blue tint, that was exactly the color of my mana. What an interesting color, but I like it.

 The fire was burning inside the ball. The sparks flew in all directions, but when they collided with the shell of the ball, they flowed down to the bottom. A wonderful picture.

I was not allowed to admire the dance of the "flame" for a long time. The ball disappeared.

 The room floated again. Again the dance of mana. If this were an ordinary test, that would be the end of it, but the skills are specialized. Therefore, the last test was aimed at the school I chose.

 I found myself in a ritual hall. All the walls, floor, and ceiling were covered with runes, circles, and diagrams.

Looking around, I noticed the illusion of an old man.

"We are in the analysis room," the elder began. "Thanks to her, the spirit of the room can appreciate your abilities in metamorphism." Stand in the center of the circle and show your maximum capabilities in metamorphism.

There is nothing to do, we will do it. Standing in the center of the circle, while trying not to step on the symbols, I concentrated. All I can do, right?

 A moment and my body floated, I became older and taller. The skin became rough, wrinkles appeared, and the hair began to turn grey. Another moment and in the center of the circle stands the same old man as the illusion, only alive. Gray-haired, with long beard and hair. Gray, tired eyes. The whole face is lined with wrinkles. Thin, slightly sickly figure. That's exactly what I became.

After standing like this for about a minute, I returned to my original appearance.

– Congratulations, young man. You've passed. All knowledge up to and including the apprentice is available to you. We look forward to your further development, young magician. - Having said this, the elder bowed slightly, and then scattered in sparks in the wind.

 There's a flash of light and I'm back in the rescue room. Only now I have access to all the knowledge from all schools up to the level of a magician, and metamorphism up to the apprentice.

 It's amazing, the most I hoped for was a magician in metamorphism, and look how it turned out. Apparently it was not in vain that I devoted so many years to this direction.

 I sat in my chair for about five minutes and pondered the results of the test. And to be honest, they made me happy. True, the further test will be much more difficult. But in the next six months to a year I will definitely not be passing the apprenticeship tests. Everything will be much more difficult there, and about the school of metamorphism will take even longer. Maybe only by the end of the second or beginning of the third year.

 Well, there is time before lights out. Dinner will be brought here by the house elves. You can begin to enlighten yourself.