Level 5 Transfiguration Spell

It was getting later and later.

Professor McGonagall finally slowed to a stop.

She glanced at the time and even felt that it had passed rather quickly.

A trace of lingering regret flickered in her eyes, but she smiled at Dylan. "Let's leave it here for today. It's getting late, and you still have classes tomorrow, so hurry back and get some rest."

Dylan nodded, still wanting more.

As expected of Professor McGonagall, the author of the Guide to Advanced Transfiguration.

She was able to get straight to the heart of many issues.

Your Transfiguration Spell proficiency has increased! Current progress: 50%!

Dylan checked his Transfiguration proficiency.

It had jumped another level!

He had reached Level 5 directly!

"Nice~"

His painstaking study over the past few days had not been in vain.

Whenever he had the chance, he ran over to Professor McGonagall.

Every day, he dragged Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress into giving him private lessons.

And each lesson lasted at least several hours. He practically wanted to keep the elderly professor up all night teaching him.

"Still, even though I've basically mastered Inanimate Transfiguration, there's still far too much to fully grasp when it comes to Animate Transfiguration."

The Transfiguration Spell was an immensely complex spell.

And the higher one's proficiency rose, the harder it became to increase.

But if he found the right key, his proficiency level might suddenly leap upward.

"Luckily, I have so many Max Level Spells. Though the spells are different, magic always has certain common principles. Once I understand the theory behind one spell, I can draw parallels and apply it to others."

For instance, he had recently studied Diffindo and Reducto again.

He learned them absurdly fast!

Even watching online classes at double speed could not compare to how quickly he learned.

Although these were not Dark Magic, their principles and essence had plenty in common with several Attack Charms in Dark Magic.

After only looking them over a couple of times, he quickly mastered both spells and got the hang of using them.

His proficiency rose rapidly as well.

It did not shoot straight to max level, but it was definitely comparable to an adult wizard's mastery of those two spells.

"Time to go back and sleep."

After packing up his things, Dylan bid Professor McGonagall farewell, left her office, and headed toward his dormitory.

When he entered the Gryffindor Common Room and returned to the dormitory, he saw Harry and Ron sitting together on one of the beds as soon as he walked in.

The two were leaning close together, whispering about something.

When they saw him return, Ron greeted him.

Dylan gave a slight nod.

Then he lowered his head and saw a Black Shadow dart out from his bed.

"Coal Ball, good evening~"

Seeing his Coal Ball, Dylan's smile softened even more.

After obtaining his Shadow Crow Ownership Permit, he had found time at noon to bring Coal Ball to the dormitory to raise it.

He did not plan to let it go outside during the day either.

Even the other young wizards in Gryffindor did not know that he kept a Magical Creature.

Naturally, Harry, Neville, and the others would not casually tell anyone about it.

Only Ron kept struggling to hold his tongue today, wanting to show off the fact that Dylan had raised a Shadow Crow.

But Hermione, Harry, and the others always stopped him in time.

After all, Shadow Crows were not pets Hogwarts normally allowed students to keep.

Not to mention that Shadow Crows possessed a certain degree of aggression and considerable combat ability.

Even though little Coal Ball had not fully grown yet, it was more than capable of killing young wizards who did not know much magic.

So Dylan did not want Coal Ball to be seen by too many people, lest someone cause him trouble for no reason.

"Moo~"

Coal Ball strutted over elegantly, but when it came within arm's reach of Dylan, it suddenly stopped.

The little fellow raised its chin slightly, its tail swaying gently as it shot Dylan a sidelong glance.

It seemed to be saying, "It's not like I came specially to welcome you!"

But the next moment, Dylan headed straight for the table.

Seeing that Dylan had no intention of reaching out to pick it up, Coal Ball's eyes widened. It immediately scampered after him, slowly circling around his feet.

Every now and then, it gently rubbed its head against his calf, deliberately pausing for a moment after every nudge.

After setting his schoolbag beside the table, Dylan smiled, crouched down, and gathered Coal Ball into his arms.

"Moo~!"

Coal Ball lay on its back, tilted its little head aside, and let out a haughty cry.

Dylan smiled, then cast Scourgify on himself.

He could not be bothered to wash up today. He would make do with magic for the night.

He took off his shoes and neatly placed them beside the bed, changed into pajamas, and climbed into bed.

Lifting a corner of the blanket, he held Coal Ball in one arm and burrowed straight under the covers.

The moment he lay down, he could not help letting out a long sigh. His expression relaxed, his eyes half-closed, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled into a contented smile.

"This feels so good~"

Dylan swung his legs, snuggled deeper beneath the covers, and let the blanket wrap him up snugly.

He could feel Coal Ball searching for a comfortable position in his arms.

Its fluffy little head nudged here and sniffed there, while its paws occasionally gave a gentle scratch.

Before long, it was finally satisfied. It curled itself into a ball and nestled against his chest.

Its eyes closed, and soon its breathing gradually became even and slow.

Ron and Harry blinked from nearby.

The two exchanged glances.

"Wait, he's already asleep?"

"Looks like Dylan really doesn't plan to come with us to duel Slytherin."

"How about asking him again when the time comes?"

"Wouldn't that be too late?"

"We're just asking."

The two whispered among themselves, tidied up a little, then hopped into bed without even taking off their clothes.

Several hours passed.

Until late at night.

The whole of Hogwarts had fallen silent.

The two of them secretly climbed out of bed again.

Just as they were about to leave, Ron tugged Harry, then led him over to Dylan's bed.

Like a pair of guardian statues, they stood there for ages, one pushing the other back and forth, yet in the end they could only stare eagerly at Dylan, who was fast asleep in bed.

Harry finally gave in to Ron and let out a heavy, silent sigh.

Resigned, he stepped forward, swallowed, then raised one finger and gently poked Dylan in the cheek.

"Swish."

Dylan's eyes snapped open, staring straight at the two uninvited guests by his bed.

Ron and Harry jumped in fright, and Harry hurriedly pulled his hand back.

"Uh..."

He gave an awkward dry laugh, opened his mouth, but for a moment could not say anything.

Ron was the one who quietly blurted it all out in one breath.

"Um, Dylan, we're going to the duel. We just wanted to ask... are you really not coming with us?"

As soon as Ron finished speaking, both of them looked at Dylan hopefully.

But when they saw the two eerie green lights in Dylan's eyes, like will-o'-the-wisps—

The two instantly pursed their lips, their faces stiffening as they forced out awkward smiles.