Place the prepared Animagus mixture in a quiet, dark place.
Do not disturb or examine it again until the next thunderstorm.
While waiting for the thunderstorm, at every sunrise and sunset, point your wand at your heart and recite:
“Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus.”
The first rays of the morning sun slowly rose over the horizon, bathing the orphanage roof in golden light.
Vincent stood among rows of freshly washed bedsheets swaying gently in the breeze.
The cool morning wind brushed through his hair.
He raised his wand and pressed its tip lightly against his chest.
“Amato… Animo… Animato… Animagus.”
A faint warmth traveled from the wand into his body before settling briefly around his heart.
Then it faded.
“According to the instructions, that means it worked.”
Unfortunately…
The sensation wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Along with the warmth came an irritating itch, as though a tiny squirrel were running circles inside his chest.
And he would have to endure it twice every day.
For who knew how long.
“Once upon a time, there were three children who lived in a beautiful cottage beside the sea…”
As Vincent walked downstairs, he heard the sound of reading echoing through the orphanage corridors.
Now that Ms.
Kenna had agreed to help maintain the illusion that he was deaf, he no longer had to attend the orphanage’s daily lessons.
Watching everyone else go to class while I get to skip them…
…is surprisingly satisfying.
Of course, everyone else was studying ordinary school subjects.
He, meanwhile…
…was preparing for Hogwarts.
Returning to the storeroom, Vincent lay down for a short nap.
Before closing his eyes, he carefully set an alarm clock.
No matter how tired he became, he couldn’t afford to miss the sunset incantation.
He had no idea how long he had slept.
Somewhere in the haze between dreaming and waking, he heard someone calling his name.
His first instinct was to cover his mouth.
Then he remembered.
The mandrake leaf was gone.
Step Two had already been completed.
“Good afternoon, Vincent.”
Ms.
Kenna stood at the doorway of the storeroom.
“Another all-night study session?”
“It’s been an entire month, and you’re still working this hard.”
Vincent sat up awkwardly.
“Sorry, Ms. Kenna.”
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
She smiled.
“I’ve already told you.”
“Studying is important.”
“But so is getting enough rest.”
Then she gestured toward the hallway.
“Someone has come to see you.”
Vincent frowned slightly.
Since arriving at the orphanage, he had practically no acquaintances outside its walls.
Who could possibly be visiting him?
Following Ms.
Kenna into the reception room, he immediately recognized the visitor.
A familiar, slightly chubby boy sat nervously on the sofa.
The moment he saw Vincent, he hurried to his feet.
“…Neville.”
Vincent suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
“Sorry.”
“I still don’t have the money to repay you.”
Originally, he had planned to earn some spending money after starting Hogwarts.
With Transfiguration Mastery, tutoring classmates in Transfiguration or helping them practice practical exercises seemed like a reasonable source of income.
Unfortunately…
School hadn’t even started yet.
He was completely broke.
Neville blinked.
“Repay me?”
“Oh!”
“N-no!”
“I’m not here to collect the money!”
“I came because…”
“…because…”
“…to study with you!”
“My grandmother found out what happened in Diagon Alley.”
Neville looked thoroughly defeated.
“I’m terrible at keeping secrets.”
“She realized something was bothering me almost immediately.”
“Then…”
“…she used Legilimency.”
Vincent couldn’t help blinking.
Only Augusta Longbottom would use Legilimency on her own grandson…
Neville sighed.
“After that…”
“I got a very long lecture.”
“First she scolded me for letting myself get bullied.”
“She said I’d embarrassed the Longbottom family.”
“Then she scolded me again because you tried to repay the money.”
“She said lending money to someone in need isn’t something that should come with pressure afterward.”
“She talked for so long…”
“…even the garden gnomes ran away.”
Vincent almost laughed.
That certainly sounded like Augusta Longbottom.
“Anyway…”
“Grandmother said you’re brave.”
“Generous.”
“Hard-working.”
“And that you managed to teach yourself magic before even starting Hogwarts.”
“She said I should come here and learn from you.”
Neville scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“She actually wanted me to visit the very next day.”
“She even baked rock cakes for you.”
“But then she performed a tea-leaf reading.”
“She said the timing wasn’t right and that I should wait.”
“So…”
“…I only came today.”
He looked down nervously.
“I…”
“I hope I’m not bothering you.”
Vincent considered the proposal carefully.
It was actually perfect.
He had already intended to spend the coming weeks studying magic while waiting for the thunderstorm.
Practicing alone had been frustrating.
The textbooks often assumed readers already understood concepts that were never properly explained.
Neville, however, had grown up in a traditional wizarding family.
Everything his grandmother taught him represented generations of practical magical experience.
Learning together would save Vincent countless hours.
Seeing Vincent remain silent, Neville grew anxious.
“If…”
“If you’d rather not study…”
“We could just play instead.”
Vincent smiled.
“No.”
“I genuinely want to study.”
Neville stared blankly.
Apparently…
The idea of someone actually enjoying studying was difficult for him to comprehend.
Vincent wondered whether Neville’s worldview would completely collapse once he met the more academically obsessed Ravenclaws at Hogwarts.
He led Neville into the storeroom.
The two boys spread their textbooks across the floor and began studying together.
“My grandmother says that when casting the Levitation Charm, the ‘-vi-‘ in Wingardium Leviosa should be pronounced clearly.”
“My grandmother says beginners should practice the Unlocking Charm by placing the wand close to the lock so they can better understand how the magic interacts with it.”
“My grandmother says…”
It had to be admitted.
Neville’s endless stream of “My grandmother says…” turned out to be surprisingly valuable.
Following Augusta Longbottom’s advice, Vincent immediately noticed a difference.
Only a few attempts later…
His wand became pleasantly warm in his hand.
The sensation resembled using Transfiguration magic, although it was much weaker.
Neville nodded enthusiastically.
“My grandmother says that’s a good sign.”
“It means your magic is gathering properly.”
“It just hasn’t been released successfully yet.”
Then he sighed.
“…I said ‘my grandmother says’ again.”
“Everyone always laughs at me for repeating her.”
Vincent shook his head.
“They’re wrong.”
“The experience of older witches and wizards is invaluable.”
“You should be proud of what your grandmother has taught you.”
“And…”
“When you write to her…”
“Please give her my regards.”
With that, Vincent picked up his wand once more and resumed practicing in earnest.