Waiting for the Storm

After completing the steps for the Crystal Vial, Sean needs to wait for the storm to arrive, which could take weeks, months, or even years, depending entirely on the weather that day.

Meanwhile, during the waiting period, Sean needs to complete the necessary actions at sunrise and sunset every day.

Point the tip of your wand towards your heart and chant the spell. "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."

The incantation must be recited the correct number of times; no recitation should be omitted.

If you are exceptionally gifted and have followed the steps flawlessly, then after continuously chanting the incantation, at some point you will feel a second heartbeat when the tip of your wand touches your chest. Sometimes this second heartbeat will be stronger than the original, and sometimes weaker. Of course, even if you notice this second heartbeat, everything must remain unchanged until the storm arrives.

The arrival of a storm depends entirely on luck, but some wizards are just too lucky—the storm arrives the very next day after they place the potion.

Unfortunately, the wizard only performed the sunrise incantation once, and he never felt a second heartbeat—the wizard mentioned in detail in Dumbledore's notes serves as a good example of what not to do.

Without feeling a heartbeat, he proceeded to the next step as the storm began, and as he Transfiguration, the wizard vanished.

Yes, completely vanished. His Wizarding Robes, his ornaments, his body—after a twist, they didn't turn into scales or fur. The wizard had completely disappeared into thin air, leaving only a wand lying on the ground.

When Dumbledore mentioned the wizard from America, he emphasized that, as far as he knew, the wizard was a rather timid and hesitant person, who ended up losing his life in the one and only act of recklessness he had ever made.

Furthermore, the wizard seemed like someone who could return to the real world as a ghost, but he didn't. Therefore, the Animagus's failed Transfiguration might have led to the loss of his soul.

Therefore, just as Professor McGonagall said in her first lesson, we must maintain a sense of awe towards Transfiguration.

After Sean repeatedly confirmed that the Stone Chamber had been completely sealed, he left the underground level with peace of mind.

As Sean reached the top of the stairs leading to the ground, he suddenly saw a figure. It was a girl wearing the fourth-year uniform of Newmontgard.

She had long chestnut-red hair with a few strands of blue highlights on her forehead, and some freckles on the sides of her face. Despite the extremely cold weather, she still left her uniform open, revealing her bulging black vest.

Sean's gaze immediately darkened, but he didn't speak, only casually looking at the other person.

"What a coincidence, Wallerup— " she greeted him cheerfully, showing no shyness whatsoever, nor the hostility that the students of Newmontgard often displayed towards him.

"I thought I was the only one who dared to run away from Professor Grindelwald's ban. I didn't expect you to be so brave. Oh, you just went to the dungeon? What's in there?" She had a pair of droopy eyes that seemed listless, but they Winky when she asked the question.

Was it just a coincidence...? Sean remained vigilant; he was currently in a severe stage of paranoia. He had just completed the first step of the Animagus, so how did he end up running into this person...?

However, it's entirely possible that she sneaked out...

He subtly raised his eyelids. "Do we know each other?"

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Patricia De Lasalle, a fourth-year student." The other person seemed quite cheerful.

"Hmm, nice to meet you, but it's getting late, aren't you going home?"

Patricia looked incredulous. "Didn't you hear what Professor Rosier said?"

I wasn't in the Great Hall at the time, so what could I possibly hear...?

Patricia looked on with great interest. "Dangerous Magical Creatures for research purposes have been transported to Newmontgard, which is why she sent all the students back to rest—good heavens, I couldn't believe it when I first sneaked out, wasn't anyone curious? Just me?"

Then, as if she had met a kindred spirit, she said, "Hey, handsome young man, that guy who was sent here must be in the dungeon. Tell me what it's like."

"Are you that curious?" Sean was speechless. The other party had actually sneaked out for this reason.

However, that was just an excuse Grindelwald came up with to help him clear out the castle. He had just come up from the basement, where there were no Magical Creatures that had been sent.

"Aren't you curious? You must have done very well in Transfiguration, right?" Patricia asked incredulously. "Who doesn't know? Those most dangerous Magical Creatures are the products of wizards' failed Transfiguration! How could anyone not be interested?!"

"Maybe we can find new ways to Transfiguration, who knows!" she added a "we" to herself.

"There is no 'we,' only you. And again, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss De Lasalle. The entrance to the dungeon is right here; you can go in anytime. I'm going back now. Goodbye." Sean didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he strode away after saying this.

"Oh, this is no fun..." Patricia muttered, watching Sean's departing voice.

She looked back at the entrance to the dungeon, a look of lingering fear on her face, as if she had experienced something bad there.

"Ha... He must have seen something, but he doesn't want to tell me... But everyone else has become too shrewd now, and no one is willing to go down and scout ahead for me anymore. What a hassle..." She muttered to herself for a moment, then looked in the direction Sean had left and began to think.

After a long while, she began to walk lightly.

"Sorry, Bach, I'll have to make things better with your enemy now."

When Sean returned to the Common Room, Hermione and Daisy were both still awake, waiting for him to come back.

"How is it?" Hermione immediately stood up from her chair upon hearing his voice; she looked much more nervous Sean.

"Sigh..." Sean sighed dramatically.

"Oh... that's a shame, Sean," the girl sighed as well, then comforted him, "But that's normal, isn't it? It takes a lot of luck to become Animagus, and it's not your fault. You've done enough—wait a minute."

Hermione suddenly realized that she knew Sean's personality all too well; if they had really failed, he definitely wouldn't be like this now—

She looked at Sean and, sure enough, noticed the smile on the boy's lips.

"Sean Wallerup!"

"Okay, I was just kidding. Luckily, we've already succeeded in the first step," Sean said.

Hermione glared at him, annoyed. "Can't you at least put our minds at ease first?!"

"Just trying to ease the tension—okay, sorry." Sean raised his hands in a France military salute.

"Hmph!" Hermione raised her nose, then pulled Daisy along and headed back. "I'm so sleepy, let's go to sleep!"

The Little White Flower she was pulling gave Sean a thumbs-up. "Sean, congratulations~ Hermione and I have been worried about you—ouch, Hermione, don't pinch my cheek~"

"Don't talk to him, go to sleep!"

Sean chuckled and shook his head. Hermione said that, but there was no sign of anger on her face.

He glanced at the spot where the two girls had just been sitting. There was a dinner set out there, and next to it was a small glass jar containing a Bluebell Flame, which was keeping the food warm.

Dinner was still warm, clearly left for him by Hermione.

"Ha...although Mr. Grindelwald's steak was delicious, Hermione knows my recipes better—" He sat down and enjoyed his late-night snack after a long day.

Sean slept soundly that night. Although he was already used to the leaf in his mouth, he still felt a refreshing sensation after getting rid of it, like... like a grain of rice stuck to the roof of his mouth falling off while eating.

This feeling is very comfortable.

At seven o'clock in the morning, Sean opened his eyes precisely on time. In Austria, sunrise is usually around 7:30 in the morning and sunset is around 7:00 in the afternoon.

He quickly washed up and went outside. As the sun gradually rose above the horizon, Sean pointed his wand at his heart.

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus"

Whether it was the sunlight gradually spreading out or magic circulating in the air, Sean felt an extremely faint warmth welling up in his chest.

The warmth came and went quickly; after Sean finished reciting the incantation a fixed number of times, the warmth gradually disappeared.

He looked up at the sky. The weather had been fine lately, and it seemed the storm was still some time away.

After one night, Hermione had clearly returned to normal, and her thirst for knowledge had returned. During breakfast, she kept quietly asking Sean how he felt at the time.

Sean, of course, didn't hide anything. He described all his feelings in detail and told Hermione and Daisy some points to note, since they were also practicing on the Animagus.

Hermione wrote down all the key points and situations described by Sean on the parchment, and also added a lot of information she had read in the book for reference.

She blew the ink off the parchment with satisfaction and asked, "Can we still go to that underground classroom? You put Potions there—and Professor Rosier said yesterday that some Magical Creatures for research have been transported into the castle."

How am I supposed to explain this? That it was just a made-up excuse, because Grindelwald was being biased...? Sean blinked.

"Hmm, it should be fine. We can still go there—we're not going anywhere else anyway, and the Potions is in the Stone Chamber, so it won't disturb us."

"That's fine then..."

In the afternoon class, Sean was thinking about what excuse to ask for leave to sneak out for a while when Transfiguration Rosier called his name.

"Mr. Wallop, the headmaster is looking for you."

After he left, Professor Rosier handed him a note, which was handwritten by Grindelwald.

"If you have class, ask for leave yourself. Make up your own reasons. The professors won't stop you."

Mr. Grindelwald is so considerate...

There will be another 4000-word chapter later.