A Night of Whispers Around the Pot, The Animagus's Second Step

Headmaster's Office.

Lucien and Dumbledore sat around a round table.

In the center of the table sat a shallow crucible, divided in two.

Half of it is milky white bone broth, and the other half is bright red spicy broth.

"Lucien, why use a crucible?"

"Because it feels better this way?"

"I don't really understand you young people, oh, we've gotten to know each other!"

Dumbledore scooped up a piece of beef, dipped it in the bowl, and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.

"Yeah, hot pot. I ate it a few times when I went to Dongfang many years ago, and it's truly unforgettable."

"By the way, after you taught those House-elf how to cook Chinese food, the students really enjoyed it."

As Lucien slid the meat slices into the pot, he said:

"Perhaps it's because Eastern cuisine has a wide variety of dishes and rich flavors."

Dumbledore adjusted his glasses with the back of his hand.

"Moreover, different seasons call for different ingredients and cooking methods, truly demonstrating its profound and extensive nature."

"Hot pot is perfect for times like this. Sigh, the weather is getting colder and colder. I've been going to watch Quidditch live these past few days, which isn't very friendly to older folks."

"It's more comfortable to watch remotely from the warm fireplace, like we did for the first match, using magic."

Hearing Dumbledore's words, Lucien continued eating without showing any emotion.

Dumbledore indeed had methods for remote surveillance, not just using ghosts and portraits as informants.

Wow, just how many interesting and amazing spells did this wizard, who lived for over a hundred years, develop?

"Headmaster, your magical abilities are truly amazing."

"You must have found Harry's performance quite thrilling, right?"

Dumbledore nodded and scooped out a shrimp paste.

"Yes, I didn't expect this accident to happen so suddenly."

"Fortunately, Harry has your help, his good friend."

Lucien picked out a slice of fish and calmly told Dumbledore that he was the one who had done it.

Dumbledore himself mentioned that he could use magic to remotely monitor the situation at the time.

It wouldn't be surprising if it were discovered who was targeting Harry and who was helping Harry.

"It's nothing, and it'll be a good opportunity to try out the new magic I've learned."

"Besides, Headmaster, given the situation, you could have directly stopped him and protected Harry, right?"

Dumbledore chuckled at Lucien's question.

"Many people think I'm omnipotent, always believing I can do all sorts of incredible things, but this time..."

"You guessed right."

Dumbledore winked at Lucien, then quickly grabbed a piece of mutton.

He admitted it outright. That makes sense; Dumbledore's goal was to train Harry, so ensuring his safety was paramount.

After all, they needed to keep this the Boy Who Lived to defeat Voldemort.

"Principal, I have a question. In the Animagus procedure, it is necessary to wait for a thunderstorm. Is this step something that must be done by waiting for time and luck?"

Dumbledore put down his bowl, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

"Lucien, you're not thinking of using magic to create a storm, are you?"

"Yes, I've considered that idea."

Seeing Lucien's serious expression, Dumbledore amused and exasperated.

"This idea is interesting, but the difficulty in implementing it..."

"Although your ability to compete with an adult wizard in magic, and your extraordinary magical power, is frankly another 'surprise' for me."

"Ahem, but the storm that Animagus needs is beyond the capabilities of any wizard."

"Furthermore, it's best not to use magic to intervene."

Lucien nodded slightly, but then asked a somewhat strange question:

"What if we create a thunderstorm of sufficient size without using magic?"

This question stumped Dumbledore; he hadn't expected Lucien to ask such a question.

In ancient times, some Muggle worshipped wizards who used powerful magic as gods, believing that they had the power to change the world.

But these things, when traced back to their origins, are all the work of magic, not nature itself.

But Lucien actually said that without using magic, he would create a natural phenomenon?

Before Dumbledore respond, Lucien changed the subject.

"Principal, try this beef ball, it's so chewy!"

Seeing that Lucien wasn't dwelling on the matter, Dumbledore started chatting casually:

"Christmas is almost here again, Lucien. What kind of Christmas present are you looking forward to?"

Lucien answered without hesitation:

"Bookstore."

This answer did not surprise Dumbledore at all.

"Hehe, you're such a Little Eagle who loves knowledge."

"People love to give me books, every year, but sometimes I think warm wool socks are nice too."

wool socks?

In Britain, wool socks also symbolize family affection.

This is usually a gift between family members.

Lucien began to understand; Dumbledore was hailed as the greatest wizard of the century.

Strip away those halos, strip away the glory recorded on the Chocolate Frog Card.

Dumbledore was also an old man, an old man without family by his side.

His only relative didn't want to see him.

His lover was staying in Nurmengard.

Lucien suddenly thought of a sentence:

The higher you climb, the colder it gets.

People who achieve extraordinary things, or rather, people who achieve extraordinary things, give up a lot, whether actively or passively.

Mid-December.

Strolling through the Forbidden Forest.

Lucien looked up at the dark, heavy clouds.

"The weather is not cooperating."

"Liuguang."

Two or three seconds later.

A golden ray of light shot up from the ground and soared into the sky.

Lucien rode on the back of the little Qilin, his body enveloped in a semi-transparent membrane.

This is a spell that Lucien casually cast upon himself.

Used to protect against strong winds and cold.

The Liuguang flew at an extremely fast speed, leaving the thick clouds behind in just a few breaths.

I looked up at the bright, round full moon.

Bathed in the cool moonlight, Lucien took out a crystal medicine bottle from his pocket, which was already filled with his saliva.

Remove the Mandrake leaf from your mouth and soak it in a crystal medicine bottle.

Lucien observed that a crescent-white hue quickly spread across the veins on the leaf surface.

This step was successful!

Then, Lucien plucked a strand of dark gold hair and put it into the bottle opening.

He asked the little Qilin to use Auspicious Cloud to support the medicine bottle for him.

Lucien took out a small jar filled with dew, collected from places that had not seen sunlight or been touched by humans for seven days.

Carefully scoop out just the right amount with a silver teaspoon.

Pour the dew into a medicine bottle and let it mix thoroughly.

Finally, Lucien took out a pupa.

The pupa is entirely dark black, but its surface has patterns resembling white skulls.

This is the Death's-head Hawkmoth Pupa.

After being placed in the medicine bottle, the originally clear solution quickly turned black.

Even in the black solution, Lucien could still see the veins of his leaves, which shimmered with a faint white light.

Yes, no problem.

Quickly put the medicine bottle into a small box lined with soft cotton.

After putting the box away, Lucien patted the little Qilin on the back.

"Phew, that's good for you, Liuguang. Let's go back."

"Yes, Master."

Lucien suddenly said:

"Liuguang, starting tomorrow, I'll teach you some meteorology."

Upon hearing this, the little Qilin shivered slightly, but it was clearly not from the cold air.

The childish voice echoed directly in Lucien's mind, saying in a coquettish tone:

"Um, can I not learn it?"

Lucien stroked the little Qilin's mane and chuckled softly:

"I won't learn everything, just a specific area."

"After you finish this course, I'll give you a month's break."

This statement pleased Liuguang.

"Master, is this the winter vacation you were talking about?"

"Yes."