Hermione nodded.
“Of course I have.” “Professor McGonagall is a registered Animagus with the Ministry of Magic.” “She can transform into a black cat.” “We all saw it during our first Transfiguration lesson.” “Exactly.” Charlotte nodded.
“It’s an incredibly advanced form of Transfiguration.” “But it’s also extremely dangerous.” “There are only a dozen or so successful Animagi in the entire world.” “Mandrake is one of the essential ingredients required to become one.” By now…
The Mandrake root had finished dehydrating.
Charlotte lifted it out and placed it into the cauldron filled with pure water, slowly stirring the mixture.
Only after the clear water had turned a light brown did he stop.
Next…
He added the frog brains.
The instant they entered the cauldron…
The liquid transformed into a dark emerald green.
Green bubbles continuously rose to the surface.
Seeing that Charlotte had paused for a moment…
Hermione asked curiously, “What exactly does Mandrake do during the process of becoming an Animagus?” Harry and Ron also leaned in with interest.
They had both seen Professor McGonagall transform.
It was one of the coolest forms of magic imaginable.
More than once…
The two boys had dreamed of transforming into animals themselves.
After arriving at Hogwarts, Charlotte had deliberately searched through numerous books and ancient records concerning Animagi.
One particularly old volume had described the process in remarkable detail.
“To become an Animagus…” “The first step is to place a Mandrake leaf inside your mouth during a full moon.” “You must keep it there until the next full moon.” “If anything goes wrong during that month…” “You’ll have to start over.” “When the next full moon arrives…” “Remove the leaf.” “Place it inside a crystal vial filled with your own saliva.” “Leave the vial under pure moonlight.” “Then add one of your hairs…” “And a silver teaspoon of dew.” “If the night you remove the leaf happens to be cloudy…” “You’ll have to repeat the entire process from the beginning.” “And the dew…” “Must come from a place that hasn’t seen sunlight or human activity for at least seven days.” After hearing the explanation…
Harry and Ron exchanged helpless glances.
That’s impossible…
No wonder Animagi were so incredibly rare.
There were simply too many complicated steps.
A single mistake…
No matter how small…
Forced you to begin everything again.
Someone with poor luck could easily spend years before reaching the final stage.
And…
Even then…
Failure was still possible.
Only Hermione’s eyes sparkled brighter and brighter.
“If I could become a bird…” “That would be amazing.” Ron stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re seriously thinking about trying?” “Why shouldn’t I?” Hermione smiled dreamily.
“Ever since I was little…” “I’ve wanted to become an eagle.” “To soar freely through the sky.” “It must feel wonderful.” Ron scratched his head.
“Isn’t flying on a broom basically the same thing?” Hermione rolled her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared.
She simply turned away without answering.
Sometimes…
She genuinely wondered whether Ron’s brain functioned properly.
Meanwhile…
Charlotte poured the finely ground Graphorn horn into the cauldron.
After stirring thoroughly…
He added a small amount of slug mucus.
The thick mixture gradually became clearer and clearer.
When the potion had completely cooled…
Half a cauldron of transparent brown liquid remained.
Ding!
Congratulations!
The host has successfully brewed the Mandrake Restorative Draught independently.
Reward: Skill Points ×5 Additional Reward: Flight Charm.
The Flight Charm?!
Charlotte was genuinely stunned.
He had never expected the system to reward him with the very spell that, in the original story, only Voldemort and Severus Snape could use.
It was a spell that allowed a wizard to fly without a broomstick or any other magical means of flight.
According to legend…
Voldemort had created it himself.
And the only person he had ever taught was Snape.
When mastered completely…
Its flying speed could even surpass that of a broomstick.
Charlotte didn’t hesitate for even a second.
He immediately upgraded the Flight Charm to its maximum level.
His Thunderstorm talent had already granted him extraordinary flying aptitude through its affinity with wind.
Now…
Combined with a max-level Flight Charm…
Charlotte was one hundred percent confident of winning this year’s Quidditch Cup.
“Charlotte…” Hermione’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
“I want to become an Animagus.” “Will you help me?” Charlotte looked at her seriously.
“Becoming an Animagus is extremely dangerous.” “Have you truly made up your mind?” Hermione nodded without the slightest hesitation.
To Charlotte’s surprise…
Harry stepped forward as well.
“I want to become an Animagus too.” “I don’t care what animal I become.” “As long as I can sneak out of the Dursleys’ house without anyone noticing.” Hermione immediately smiled and held out both hands.
“Welcome aboard, Harry.” Then she turned towards Ron.
“What about you, Ron?” “Aren’t you joining us?” Ron stared at the three of them as though they had all gone mad.
“You’re all insane!” “That spell can literally get you killed!” “Haven’t you noticed?” “Even a genius like Charlotte hasn’t dared to attempt it casually!” Charlotte chuckled.
“Actually…” “I already am a genuine Animagus.” The instant he finished speaking…
Golden feathers began spreading across his face.
Only for a brief moment.
Then…
He immediately returned to his human appearance.
Even that brief glimpse…
Left Harry, Ron, and Hermione completely dumbfounded.
Ron was especially stunned.
His eyes were as wide as saucers.
His mouth hung open in a perfect O.
Charlotte smiled.
“I hope the three of you will keep this secret for me.” “As for what animal I can become…” “I’ll tell you after all of you successfully become Animagi yourselves.” Hermione and Harry answered simultaneously.
“We promise!” “We’ll keep it secret!” In the end…
After relentless persuasion—and more than a little pressure—from Harry and Hermione…
Ron reluctantly agreed to join their little Animagus project.
It reminded Charlotte of Harry’s father.
The Marauders had once consisted of three Animagi…
Alongside Remus Lupin, the lone werewolf.
The four parted ways outside the bathroom.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to Gryffindor Tower to begin gathering everything required for the Animagus transformation.
Charlotte, meanwhile…
Returned to his dormitory.
He carefully placed the petrified Abyssal Flame Demon Blood into the freshly brewed Mandrake Restorative Draught.
All he had to do now…
Was wait seven days for the blood to regain its vitality.
And seven days later…
The Quidditch season would begin.