Robert flipped through a book late into the night and discovered a potion related to breeding magical animals.
According to the book, this potion could enhance the intelligence of magical creatures and make them stronger. As he examined the ingredients, Robert realized that this might be a formula from the future. The materials listed were common today, but the recipe involved complex processing steps.
Robert speculated that in the future, many potion ingredients would become extinct, forcing potion masters to modify existing materials through extensive refinement to replicate the lost effects. However, this also had its advantages. For someone living in his era, the cost of producing this potion was far lower than it would be in the future.
This time, Robert didn't even need to ask Toby to visit Knockturn Alley for rare ingredients. He simply used the materials he already had to brew a special nutrient potion for magical animals.
Once the potion was ready, Robert excitedly ran downstairs to find Tom Cat, who was napping by the fireplace.
Tom Cat lazily lifted its head, glancing at Robert before turning its attention to the potion bottle in his hand.
"Meow~" Tom Cat protested.
"I'm a cat, not a toad! I can't be a test subject for potions!"
However, as soon as Robert opened the bottle, Tom Cat's ears perked up, and its eyes widened in anticipation.
The cat approached, licking the back of Robert's hand gently before gazing longingly at the potion.
Robert sniffed the liquid but didn't detect any particularly strong scent.
"Is it really that fragrant?" he murmured.
He used a strand of cat fur from the ground to transfigure a small plate and set it before Tom Cat. He poured a small amount of potion onto the plate and slid it toward the cat.
Tom Cat stared at Robert as if offended by his stinginess. With a sigh, it crouched down and licked the potion clean in just a few licks.
"Meow~"
"You want more? But I don't know if I should increase the dosage..."
"Meow!"
"Alright, alright! It's all yours."
This time, Robert poured half the bottle.
Tom Cat happily lay beside the plate and eagerly drank every drop. Surprisingly, it seemed to enjoy the potion even more than the dried fish that Toby had specially prepared for it.
After finishing half the bottle, Tom Cat licked the plate with satisfaction.
Seeing this, Robert shrugged and poured in the rest.
"If you can't drink anymore, just stop."
Despite Robert's warning, Tom Cat lapped up the remaining potion until the plate was spotless. Then, looking content, it rubbed its head against Robert's hand before strolling back to the fireplace, curling up in its usual spot.
As Robert approached to check on it, Tom Cat was already snoring.
"This... this potion seems to make magical creatures drowsy. But what are the actual effects?"
The book had not mentioned any side effects, but Robert still felt uneasy as he watched his sleeping cat.
Curious and concerned, Robert decided not to return to his room. Instead, he settled on the sofa, reading while waiting for Tom Cat to wake up.
At midnight, Tom Cat finally stirred.
Robert immediately put his book down and observed the cat carefully.
Tom Cat stretched, yawned, and stood up. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Robert frowned. "Maybe it really has no side effects... Drowsiness is common in healing potions, so it might not be a big deal."
He was about to dismiss the matter when Tom Cat suddenly grinned at him, then pointed at its mouth with a paw.
Robert's eyes widened.
Was Tom Cat... trying to communicate?
Seeing no reaction from Robert, Tom Cat sighed, walked over to the cabinet where the dried fish were stored, opened it, and pulled out a can of fish treats.
Robert rubbed his eyes, convinced he was hallucinating.
Tom Cat, standing on its hind legs, unscrewed the lid, picked out the largest dried fish, and began munching with an expression of pure bliss.
Robert was stunned.
"What the—?"
A cat standing upright, using its paws like hands, opening cabinets and jars?!
Tom Cat, startled by Robert's exclamation, almost dropped the can of dried fish. It turned around and saw Robert's dumbfounded expression. Assuming it had been caught stealing food, it quickly placed the can back in the cabinet, shut the door with its foot, and smiled awkwardly.
Robert muttered, "It's over... my cat has become Tom Cat from the cartoons..."
The Experiment Continues
Determined to understand this transformation, Robert spent the next few days brewing more of the magic potion.
He wanted to test whether the potion had the same effect on other magical creatures. If it did, he could potentially create an army of highly intelligent magical animals!
For his next experiment, he Apparated to the Forbidden Forest and caught a Kneazle, a magical feline species.
Returning home, he fed the Kneazle the potion and observed it closely.
Tom Cat, however, was not pleased.
"Meow!"
It glared at Robert, clearly upset that he had brought another cat into the house—and fed it the delicious potion!
Robert sighed. "Relax, it's just an experiment."
Tom Cat narrowed its eyes but ultimately forgave him.
By the next morning, the Kneazle had awakened, and Robert eagerly watched for changes.
To his disappointment, the Kneazle only seemed slightly smarter and a bit stronger. It didn't undergo the dramatic transformation Tom Cat had experienced.
Robert tested the potion on multiple magical creatures, but none displayed the same level of intelligence as Tom Cat.
"Why did it only work on you?" he muttered, looking at Tom Cat.
Determined to find an answer, Robert entered the dream realm to consult his senior, a powerful sorceress.
She examined Tom Cat thoroughly, both physically and within the dream world. After much analysis, she finally reached a conclusion.
"It's the power of ancient magic and nightmare magic," she said.
Robert was taken aback. "Ancient magic and nightmare magic?"
"Yes. When you used ancient magic to enhance Tom Cat's Transfiguration and then infused nightmare magic, it unintentionally altered its brain and soul structure."
"So... it was my spells that caused this change?"
"Not entirely." She smiled. "When I possessed Tom Cat during our training sessions, my consciousness required a stable host. My power inadvertently strengthened its brain, making it more capable of processing magic."
Robert blinked. "So... his brain evolved because of your possession?"
"Exactly. Your potion only accelerated the transformation. Even without it, Tom Cat would have gradually become smarter over time."
Robert sighed. "So, replicating this is nearly impossible. I can't just have you possess every magical creature I find..."
The sorceress smirked. "Unless you want me to give you nightmares for ten years, I suggest you drop that idea."
Robert groaned. "There goes my dream of a magical creature army..."
Unexpected Development
The next morning, as Robert sat contemplating his failed experiments, Tom Cat approached him with a familiar, longing expression.
"You want more potion?" Robert asked, unamused. "I'm not in the mood. Go make it yourself. You've watched me do it enough times."
He said it as a joke.
But then—
To his absolute shock, Tom Cat walked to the workbench, set up the cauldron, lit a fire, processed the ingredients, and began brewing the potion.
Robert's jaw dropped.
He had just been joking—was Tom Cat seriously making the potion?!
Just then, the door burst open. Tom, his best friend, entered the room.
"Robert, school starts tomorrow—what the hell?!"
His eyes locked onto the scene before him.
A cat. Standing on two legs. Brewing a potion.
Tom pointed at Robert accusingly.
"You did something to me again, didn't you?"
"What?"
"I'm hallucinating!"
Robert stared at his cat, then at Tom.
"Yeah... we might both be hallucinating..."
(End of Chapter)