The pain is normal…
If the ritual succeeds, you will experience unbearable pain and feel two violently beating hearts…
The instructions for the Animagus transformation surfaced briefly in Vincent’s mind before being swallowed by the agony.
The taste of blood mixed strangely with the lingering floral scent of camellias.
It felt as though every bone in his body was being torn apart and remade from within.
The second heartbeat grew louder and louder until it completely drowned out the first.
He could barely breathe.
His consciousness faded.
Then…
Something appeared.
A large circular panel floated before him.
It resembled a wheel, though it remained perfectly still.
Only a single section was illuminated.
Within it was the silhouette of a small, slender, four-legged animal.
Every other section remained dull gray.
“What… is this?”
According to the Animagus instructions, a wizard should naturally envision the animal they were destined to become.
This…
…wasn’t mentioned anywhere.
“Can I transform into more than one animal?”
“No…”
“At least for now, an Animagus should only have one form.”
The pain became almost unbearable.
Vincent no longer had time to think.
He focused all of his attention on the lone illuminated animal.
A notification immediately appeared.
[Step Seven: Your destined Animagus form has appeared within your mind — Completed.]
[Completion Progress: (7/10)]
His body twisted violently.
The world spun upside down.
Pain mixed with overwhelming nausea.
His soaked raincloak seemed to melt against his skin before disappearing altogether.
His arms rapidly shrank.
Brown-gray fur spread across them.
His fingers shortened.
Sharp claws emerged where fingernails had once been.
Then…
He felt something even stranger.
His wand.
It dissolved into his right foreleg as though it had become part of him.
The sensation was so unnatural that he nearly retched.
Another notification appeared.
[Step Eight: Complete the physical transformation — Completed.]
[Completion Progress: (8/10)]
For several long moments…
Vincent simply lay motionless in the wet grass.
Panting.
Gradually…
The unbearable pain disappeared.
He slowly pushed himself upright.
His perspective was astonishingly low.
The surrounding grass towered above him like a forest.
Instinctively, he lifted a forepaw.
Instead of a human hand…
A tiny paw covered in gray-brown fur greeted his eyes.
“What…”
“What have I become?”
Walking on four legs proved awkward at first.
He stumbled repeatedly.
Yet every fall seemed strangely natural.
His new body instinctively corrected itself with incredible flexibility.
Within only a few minutes…
Everything began to feel effortless.
Running.
Jumping.
Turning.
His body felt unbelievably light.
Every leap carried him over the tall grass.
Rainwater slid effortlessly across his sleek fur.
He darted through the meadow with astonishing speed.
Eventually…
He reached a shallow puddle.
The surrounding grass grew thinner here, allowing him a clear reflection.
Rain dripped steadily from his whiskers.
His fur was divided into two distinct colors.
The upper half of his body was grayish-brown.
His throat, chest, and belly were pure white.
His ears were large.
His tail ended in a dark brown tip.
Recognition dawned immediately.
“A least weasel…”
During the weeks spent waiting for the thunderstorm, Vincent had read several books about British wildlife.
He recognized the animal at once.
The least weasel was one of the smallest carnivorous mammals in Europe.
Fast.
Agile.
Stealthy.
Almost perfectly suited for moving unnoticed.
A smile spread across his tiny muzzle.
“This is perfect.”
“Sneaking around Hogwarts will be much easier.”
He suddenly paused.
“Wait…”
“Why am I already planning to sneak around Hogwarts?”
After his initial excitement faded, Vincent continued studying his reflection.
The seasonal coat matched what he had read.
During summer, least weasels possessed brown upper fur.
In winter…
They turned almost completely white.
A bizarre thought suddenly occurred to him.
“Does becoming an Animagus mean I’ll shed fur now?”
The thought was so absurd that he almost laughed.
A notification interrupted him.
[Step Nine: Become accustomed to your Animagus form — Completed.]
[Completion Progress: (9/10)]
Only one step remained.
Vincent carefully recalled the final instructions.
“Once you have adapted to your Animagus form…”
“Visualize your human body as clearly as possible.”
“Then return to your original form.”
He frowned slightly.
One detail bothered him.
The guide stated that a wizard’s wand normally remained outside the transformation.
His…
…had merged directly into his foreleg.
He touched the paw experimentally.
Nothing felt unusual.
Perhaps the wand still existed somewhere within him.
There was no point worrying now.
He could investigate after transforming back.
Vincent closed his eyes.
He pictured himself exactly as he had been.
A soaked eleven-year-old boy standing beneath the storm.
His dark hair plastered against his forehead.
His rain-soaked clothes clinging to his body.
The sensation arrived instantly.
His body stretched.
Bones cracked.
Muscles shifted.
The world spun.
A heartbeat later…
His feet landed firmly on the muddy ground.
He was human again.
Relieved, Vincent looked down into the puddle.
His heart nearly stopped.
The lower half of his face was still that of a weasel.
Fortunately…
Before panic could fully set in…
The remaining animal features melted away, restoring his human appearance completely.
Another notification appeared.
[Step Ten: Successfully return to human form — Completed.]
[Completion Progress: (10/10)]
A much clearer notification sounded.
Different from every previous one.
[Prerequisite fulfilled: Complete the Animagus transformation.]
[Evaluating the most suitable talent…]
[Evaluation complete.]
[Congratulations!]
[Talent Unlocked: Wizarding Bloodline]
Description:
Your affinity with both magic and nature is exceptionally high.
Your wand recognizes you as an extension of itself, allowing it to merge with your Animagus form.
Unlike ordinary Animagi, you are capable of casting magic while transformed into an animal.
Next Talent Requirement:
Cast 100 spells while in Animagus form.
Completion Progress: (0/100)
Vincent stared silently at the glowing panel.
His heartbeat quickened.
This wasn’t merely a useful talent.
For an Animagus…
It was extraordinary.
A true game-changing ability.