Professor Tom Gaunt

The Hogwarts Headmaster's office was so quiet you could hear the sound of white steam rising from the silverware. The walls were covered with portraits of past headmasters, these animated Magical portrait all with the same expression, peeking out from their frames at the chair in front of the desk.

Dumbledore's expression grew even calmer and deeper as he quietly observed the white lion cat perched on the cushion, an interesting glint in his azure eyes.

"To be honest, as a former professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts, I have witnessed many Human Transfiguration and many extraordinary talents..."

Dumbledore's eyes held a keen interest. "But if you ask me, such a unique ability deserves to be featured in ' Today's Transfiguration '..."

"The variety of animals that Transfiguration is greater than that of the Animagus, and the scope of Transfiguration is broader than that of the Metamorphmagus."

Dumbledore paused, then asked with great interest, "Can you transform into other people, like with Polyjuice Potion?"

"Meow--"

Loren opened his mouth to answer, then realized he was now a cat. He flicked the mane around his neck and returned to human form. "I can't. It seems I can't flexibly change my appearance when I'm an animal. Whether I'm a cat or an owl, my transformed form has highly consistent features, especially my heterochromatic eyes..."

It didn't feel like a free-form Transfiguration; rather, it was more like my appearance being converted into the physical characteristics of a corresponding animal through some inexplicable magical process... I was just about to ask you how to control this magical talent."

"After all, this is magic passed down from the Fairy Morgan..." Dumbledore fell into thought, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the teacup. Half a minute later, he came back to his senses, shook his head, and said, "Hmm, I can't think of anything for the time being, but... wizards' magic is always full of infinite possibilities."

You could try learning Parselmouth; the effects of Metamorphmagus are similar to advanced Human Transfiguration. Perhaps in the future, when you deeply understand the essence of Transfiguration, you'll be able to completely master these subtle changes.

Loren took a sip of tea and slowly exhaled. "That's a long time ago..."

His lazy, even somewhat leisurely tone made it clear that he had no intention of exploring this direction.

Dumbledore smiled helplessly, "Perhaps you could reverse the Transfiguration process and turn it into a magical ritual... to transform into other animals without restraint, that would be magic that surpasses the Animagus."

"Forget it, I'm not Miranda Goshak. This kind of thing that benefits the masses and gets my name in textbooks sounds exhausting..."

Loren leaned back in his chair. "Speaking of which, this Transfiguration is quite different from that of the Animagus. After I Transfiguration an animal, a strange Magic Power remains within me, and I can Transfiguration by controlling this Magic Power."

So I was thinking, since I possess Magic Power, could I Transfiguration Fantastic Beasts?

"A groundbreaking idea..." Dumbledore exclaimed. "If your vision can be realized, it would almost be considered the creation of a new realm of magic."

"Right?" Loren smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"As long as safety is guaranteed, the professors at Hogwarts encourage students to experiment..." Dumbledore gazed intently at Loren's face and sincerely advised, "However, I must also remind you that although Fantastic Beasts have inspired the creation of many spells, wizarding magic is far more dazzling and colorful than any Fantastic Beasts."

"Don't worry, Principal, I know which is more important."

In the following time, Loren consulted Dumbledore on some questions about Alchemy and Transfiguration. He had also asked Flamel the same questions, and the two old wizards gave answers that focused on different aspects.

Flamel was more adept at the theoretical knowledge of Alchemy and could often guide Loren towards exploring deeper Alchemy systems, while Dumbledore focused more on the basic applications of Alchemy, such as how to replace extinct materials and which materials were more cost-effective at present...

In the field of Transfiguration, Dumbledore almost completely ahead of Flamel, both in theory and application.

After finishing the discussion about the Demiguise and the Disillusionment Charm, Loren looked out the window. The sky was gradually darkening, and night was beginning to envelop the sky and the earth.

Loren sat up from his chair, patted his sleeves, and said goodbye, "Professor, I'm going to have dinner now. I'll chat with you again when I have time."

"Wait a moment, I have a favor to ask of you..." Dumbledore said slowly, meeting Loren's curious gaze, "Keep an eye on Harry for me. If he dreams of any strange scenes or conversations again, be sure to let me know immediately."

"Has something gone wrong?" Loren asked, somewhat puzzled.

Dumbledore rarely mentioned Harry's dreams. He always hoped that Harry would master Occlumency and sever his connection with Voldemort, even though Harry, that reckless fellow, didn't think so at all.

"Wormtail Peter's body has been stolen..." Dumbledore rubbed his temples, as if the thought of it gave him a headache. "Shortly after Bellatrix Lestrange attacked Gringotts, the body that had been stored at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries disappeared. I suspect it's related to Voldemort."

"What?!"

"Voldemort stole Wormtail Peter's body?"

Harry and Ron stared in surprise, and even Hermione was a little confused, completely baffled.

Loren nodded. "It's not entirely certain, but that's what Dumbledore guessed."

Anyway, Dumbledore hadn't said anything about keeping it a secret, and this kind of news would probably be on the front page of the Daily Prophet soon. After having dinner after leaving the Headmaster's office, Loren called the group to the Abandoned Classroom and shared the information Dumbledore had just released with them.

The thought of that short, fat, bald middle-aged man suddenly made Ron feel a sense of unease, and he shuddered with disgust. "What would he want a man's body for?"

"Of course, we'd find a host..." Loren shrugged and told a lame joke, "What else? Winter temperatures are too low, so we'd cuddle him to warm the bed."

"That's what Percy did, I never cuddled up to sleep with Scabbers!" Ron retorted excitedly.

Harry: "..."

It was as if I had heard some incredible news.

Loren: "..."

Percy, you must have taken Felix Felicis in your past life to be able to have such a good brother like you.

Hermione: "..."

That's a lot of information in that sentence. I wonder if Penelope has heard about this dark history of Percy.

"Let's continue talking about Voldemort ..." Harry said, subtly moving a short distance away. "I remember the last time I dreamed about Voldemort, he was in a strange infant state. He was probably very weak then. I wonder how he is now?"

Loren and speculated, "Regardless of the body, he was in a state of parasitic possession, probably similar to Quirrell's situation."

"I think that stinky Quirrell is already difficult to deal with," Ron sighed worriedly. "Why didn't the Ministry of Magic just execute that Wormtail? Now, even bigger trouble has arisen, really..."

"Stop complaining," Hermione interrupted. "These are not things we should be worrying about right now. What you need to do is study hard and prepare for the upcoming exams."

"Merlin's beard—"

Ron looked at her in horror, even more so than when he heard about Wormtail and Voldemort. "School has only just started, and the exams are still a century away!"

His expression amused the other three, and the conversation lightened, shifting to the new semester's studies, the exams for the new elective courses, and the Quidditch Match next week.

Back in the dorm, before going to sleep.

Loren sat on the four-poster bed, dusting off the thick silk quilt. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Harry hadn't gotten into bed yet, sitting on the edge of the bed with his head down, seemingly deep in thought.

"Harry?" Loren called softly.

"Huh?" Harry replied blankly.

"Stop thinking about that. Go to sleep early. It would be best if you didn't dream about Voldemort."

Harry sensed a warmth in those words, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, he nodded heavily, turned over, and crawled into bed.

But the human mind is a wondrous thing. The more you try to stop thinking about something, the clearer the image of that thing becomes, and the deeper the impression becomes.

That night, Harry drifted off to sleep, his mind filled with thoughts of Voldemort.

Meanwhile, in a magic academy in another distant country, Tom Gaunt, the newly enrolled Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for this semester, awoke with a start from his bed in the common room.

In the pitch-black shadows, a flash of blood-red eyes appeared. The short, stout, bald, middle-aged man sitting on the bed was pale, like a drowned corpse pulled from icy water.

Voldemort frowned. He had just vaguely sensed a faint fluctuation from the soul, but when he focused his attention to sense it carefully, the fluctuation quickly dissipated.

After searching the room for a while, they found nothing.

Voldemort could only conclude that there was something wrong with the body; since Wormtail was in a strange state between life and death, it was normal for his soul to fluctuate.

Hogwarts' new semester courses are gradually getting on track, with most professors choosing to spend a week or two reviewing and consolidating the material learned in the previous semester.

In recent days, Professor McGonagall's most frequent complaint to Sprout was. "I suspect that many young wizards were attacked by dark wizards during the holidays, otherwise how could the knowledge in their little heads have been wiped away as if by Memory Charm?"

Professor Snape wholeheartedly agreed with this.

The young wizards, suspected by the professors of being under Memory Charm, were completely oblivious. They were laughing and enjoying the novelty and excitement of starting school, finding everything in the school much more agreeable, except for a certain Potions Master and Peeves.

The students were also looking forward to the club activities in various subjects. The first club activity of the new semester was led by Professor Lupin. On the first Thursday after returning to school, after dinner, he conducted a review and teaching activity on the Patronus Charm in the Great Hall.

Hundreds of floating candles burned, their soft light illuminating every inch of the Great Hall. The Head of House were removed, and a gilded stage appeared along the walls.

"... I'm sorry to add to your burden in the first week!" Professor Lupin stood on the podium with a gentle smile. "But I thought that you might have many happy memories after just finishing your Christmas holidays... While these memories are still fresh and vivid, maybe someone can use them to summon a physical Patronus."

He was met with cheers that echoed throughout the Great Hall.

"Now I will lead everyone through a review of the incantation and key points of the Patronus Charm..."

From the side of the stage, Loren observed Professor Lupin's back, pondered for a moment, and then asked Harry and Hermione beside him, "Don't you think Professor Lupin has gained some weight?"

Hermione observed carefully for a moment, then nodded with a slight hesitation.

"..."

Harry fell silent, recalling how Professor Lupin had lived in the days following the removal of the Mandrake Leaf.

With so many roasted chicken legs, anyone who eats them will gain weight.

"... Also! To help everyone learn the Patronus Charm more quickly, I've invited three teaching assistants for you!" Lupin's voice suddenly rose, gesturing for everyone to look towards the side of the stage. "Besides Harry Potter, whom we already know from last semester, the other two are newly joined teaching assistants Morgan and Granger. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have..."

Below the stage, familiar young wizards cheered and shouted the names of the three, with two red-haired Twins who declined to give their names being the loudest.

Suddenly being watched by everyone, Loren and his two companions instinctively straightened their backs and walked into the group of people practicing separately.

"[Patronus Charm] "

"[Patronus Charm] "

"..."

As the young wizards chanted their spells, a soft, silvery-white light began to appear in the Great Hall, like ribbons of silk woven together, making the light even more captivating.

Seeing his three friends become teaching assistants, Ron was inspired and initially put all his effort into unleashing the Patronus's Radiance, but he became discouraged after only ten minutes.

"I can't see any shape at all..." Ron said with a mournful face, looking at the small ball of light at the tip of the wand.

"Happy memories, Ron, you must pour out happy memories," Harry earnestly instructed.

"Is that all you can say?" Ron said resentfully. "I know I should remember happy memories... I spent my Christmas holidays with you, and obviously those memories aren't enough to sustain my Patronus."

"..." Harry paused for a moment, then turned to instruct Ginny beside him.

On the right side of the Great Hall wall, Hermione was instructing her roommates:

"Parvati, just a slight turn of the tip of the cane, no need to draw big circles. Don't laugh, Lavender, I'm just letting you pour out happy memories, not actually making you laugh out loud."

"I find Parvati's silly antics to make me happy!"

Lavender grinned from ear to ear. She glanced at Loren among the Slytherin wizards, pulled Hermione aside with one hand and Parvati with the other, and whispered, suppressing her laughter, "Hermione, Hermione, tell us, do happy memories of being with Loren help form a Patronus?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly when she was called out, and she weakly retorted, "What... what are you saying? Happy memories don't discriminate."

Parvati suddenly realized, "No wonder you and Loren both learned the Patronus Charm!"

"Oh dear—" Lavender said, feigning disappointment, "It seems neither of us will ever learn the Patronus Charm."

"Don't talk nonsense, Harry also learned the Patronus Charm."

"!!"

Upon hearing this, Lavender and Parvati both revealed excited yet strange smiles, giggling as they looked towards Harry not far away.