Midnight Apparition

"Professor Snape, I... I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

Hearing Jerry's words, Snape placed both hands on his shoulders and said earnestly, "Jerry, Potions and magic are wonderful, but please don't devote all your time to them. There are more precious things around you, waiting for you to discover and cherish them!"

Jerry was startled. He could hardly believe those words had come from Snape.

It sounded more like something Dumbledore would say.

Jerry knew what Snape meant, of course, but Snape had it all wrong. He and Hermione were only eleven, not even twelve yet!

Jerry had meant to explain, but after speaking, Snape sank back into his seat with a weary expression and waved him away.

Jerry understood that this was no time to explain. Better to leave for now.

"Jerry, you're back. What did Professor Snape want?"

Hermione noticed that Jerry seemed distracted. He hadn't even noticed when she handed him his cutlery.

Jerry shook his head without a word, took the cutlery from Hermione, and quietly began eating dinner.

Thinking Snape had put Jerry in a bad mood, Hermione passed him the pudding in front of her. "Jerry, try this. I saved it especially for you. Ron and the others tried to take it, but I wouldn't let them."

Jerry took the pudding from Hermione, glanced toward Snape, then dug in happily.

Mmm! Delicious!

Time slipped by unnoticed, and before long, it was late October.

That night, in the Room of Requirement.

[Host: Jerry Green

Occupation: Wizard

Inventory: Free points +1

Talents (maximum 10):

Charms: 8 (exceptionally gifted)

Potions: 7 (fairly gifted)

Transfiguration: 9 (supremely gifted)

Divination: 1 (works sometimes, fails sometimes)

...

Dark Magic: 11 (even Dementors tremble at the sight of you!!!)

Spells: Killing Curse (Lv3, 0.04%), Patronus Charm (Lv1, 98.35%), Lumos (Lv2, 41.04%), Unlocking Charm (Lv2, 3.17%), Mending Charm (Lv2, 5.07%), Nonverbal Spell (Lv2, 2.4%), Fire-Making Spell (Lv2, 18.64%), Impediment Jinx (Lv2, 1.83%), Levitation Charm (Lv2, 9.14%), Blasting Curse (Lv2, 90.82%), Disarming Charm (Lv2, 5.15%), Levicorpus (Lv2, 8.25%), Densaugeo (Lv2, 6.25%)...

Card draws: 50

(Become the mightiest, most terrifying Dark Lord!!)]

After two months of intense practice, almost all his spells had reached level two. The Patronus Charm was still at level one. Improving it had proved much harder than Jerry had expected, though it should level up within the next few days.

As for the Killing Curse, his only level-three spell, Jerry could swear on Merlin's underpants that he had never practiced it once.

Every morning when Jerry woke, he checked his system panel. The Killing Curse was like a spell training itself in the background: its proficiency kept climbing on its own.

That must be talent!

He had also saved up fifty card draws. After holding back for two months, Jerry was ready to use them all tonight.

My turn. Draw!

"Better luck next time."

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (spinach flavor)"

"Better luck next time."

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum"

"Revealing Potion (1 bottle)"

"Rechargeable Stun Gun"

"Better luck next time."

"Complete set of collectible Chocolate Frog cards"

Jerry looked over the results of his ten draws and sighed. It was all useless stuff. One item was even technological: the Rechargeable Stun Gun. Anyone it hit would be paralyzed all over and fall unconscious.

Jerry tested it. Its effective range was about twenty meters, and it made almost no sound when fired. Not bad. It might prove surprisingly useful for an ambush.

Another ten draws!

When the card-draw animation ended, golden light flooded the entire screen. The moment Jerry had been waiting for had finally arrived!

"Magic: Midnight Apparition"

"Better luck next time."

"Chocolate Frog"

"Better luck next time."

"Aragog's venom (two pints)"

"Better luck next time."

"Better luck next time."

"Licorice Wand"

Midnight Apparition: Move at high speed in the form of your Patronus, dealing massive magical damage to nearby enemies.

Holy shit! No way!

Jerry was beside himself with excitement. An incredible spell, plus two pints of Acromantula venom—he'd hit the jackpot!

Jerry glanced at his system panel. Midnight Apparition (Lv1, 0.01%) had appeared in his spell list. He could hardly wait to try his new magic.

Jerry neither used his wand nor spoke an incantation. At a thought, dark purple light flashed. His figure vanished instantly, replaced by a raven flying with its wings spread wide.

Jerry felt strange in this form.

After becoming a raven, Jerry felt no discomfort at all. It was as though the transformation were part of his body. Soaring with his wings spread felt instinctive, as natural as the way he normally moved.

He flew to a mirror by the wall and examined himself closely. He looked almost exactly like his Patronus. The only difference was that his Patronus was silvery white, while he was now purple-black.

When Jerry spread his wings, dark red lightning flickered between his feathers. It danced through the air like twisting electric snakes, crackling with tremendous power.

Then Jerry shot toward the four Dummies in the center of the room like a bolt of lightning. As he closed in, he unleashed all his power.

A powerful field of lightning engulfed all four Dummies. Under its terrifying force, they were reduced to ash in an instant, vanishing completely.

After the attack, Jerry left his Patronus form and returned to his usual appearance.

"Hah... hah..." Sitting on the floor, Jerry gasped for breath. The spell was as impressive as it looked, and its power was astonishing, but it had nearly drained him of all his strength and magic.

After a short rest, Jerry tried Midnight Apparition again. Without using the lightning attack, he could maintain his Patronus form for about five minutes.

That was nothing compared with an Animagus, but an Animagus could not match the spell's offensive power.

Jerry even began to think that as Midnight Apparition leveled up and his own magical reserves grew, he would be able to maintain the form for longer.

By then, Midnight Apparition might replace an Animagus form and become his form for battle.