"What kind of curse do you think could cause that?"
"The soul…"
Sean answered.
"So stay alert, my student. Magic is vast—and dangerous.
The more gifted you are, the easier it is to stray. The more magic you learn, the more you glimpse its depth.
If you want to study soul transfiguration, you must at least reach an expert level in Transfiguration. That's still below professor level, and already very difficult. At the same time, mastering an Animagus form will greatly help you understand the secrets of soul transfiguration."
Professor Tayra left the back room to go "fight" for some books.
Sean was left alone, writing all of her words into his notebook and thinking them through.
Her explanation untangled many of his doubts.
Finishing the Animagus transformation had just become his first priority.
The professor had said that a wizard might… not have only one familiar.
As soon as Sean stepped out of the back room, he heard her arguing with the witch from Uagadou.
"Tayra, you know Uagadou's secret texts are never shared!"
The brown-skinned Latin witch sounded furious.
"Not even if I trade you some allocations?"
Tayra sounded like she was doing something she was very good at—her tone lazy, but full of quiet certainty.
The other witch's breathing quickened.
Tayra knew exactly what the Fairy Tale biscuits meant to them, which was why she'd put a nearly irresistible chip on the table.
European wizards almost never manage to stay conscious while transformed. For Uagadou wizards, who specialize in soul transfiguration, the Fairy Tale series was nothing short of miraculous.
"How many?"
The witch blurted, then quickly shook her head.
"Tayra, you never think about Uagadou—you actually want to trick me into handing over our soul-transfiguration research notes? That's the work of who knows how many generations!"
"What if I double it?"
Tayra murmured like a devil at someone's ear.
"You… don't even think about it!"
In the end, the brown-skinned witch held out.
"All right, then the deal falls through. I thought you'd be happy to let Green take a look…"
Tayra turned as if to leave—only to be grabbed.
"My dear senior, you should have said that first—"
The witch's furious expression flipped into warmth.
For Hermes?
She practically wanted to drag him to Uagadou herself. Not only had he independently walked a path perfectly aligned with Uagadou's magic, his identity alone merited their trust.
He was, after all, Uagadou's lifetime honorary professor's student, her senior, Tayra's one and only student.
"I remember you saying this was the work of countless generations of Uagadou wizards…"
Tayra remarked.
"Tayra—you are too much!"
The witch stomped her hooves again.
And that was how Tayra "won" a few precious books from Uagadou's library for Sean.
"Abigail, don't forget to bring those books next time."
Tayra called as the witch left the shop.
"No need for you to worry. But let me warn you—soul transfiguration is extremely dangerous. You've been away from Uagadou for years—are you sure you still have the skill?"
Abigail's face was grim.
"Oh? And what do you mean by that?"
"I'm happy to handle it in your place…"
"Heh—"
…
Compared to the brown-skinned witch shivering in silence outside, the wizards inside the shop were glowing with excitement.
Mrs Weasley was holding Mr Weasley's hand.
"Arthur, I just can't believe they invited me too—that must be because of you, dear."
Her cheeks were flushed. That morning she'd been reading Witch Weekly; now, here she was, standing inside the mysterious alchemy workshop from the article.
"This isn't my doing. Let me see… that's another hundred Galleons saved."
Mr Weasley—Arthur—said, very satisfied, as he held up two beautifully boxed Bowtruckle sets.
With two trips, he'd managed to come out two hundred Galleons ahead. The cost of new Floo powder and Ginny's school supplies suddenly didn't look so scary.
"The Ministry gave us an extra two hundred Galleons for this, all thanks to that good boy Green…"
As he was murmuring, Professor McGonagall walked in through the door.
Once upon a time she and a certain elderly alchemist had kept to their own lanes, but now that he was outside the shop, it only made sense to come in and take a look.
She glanced at the boy still half-lost in thought, then at the alchemical creations selling for over a thousand Galleons, and couldn't help remembering him in Diagon Alley, hunched over price lists, counting every Knut.
"Well now, child, it seems you've become a rich man?"
She sounded pleased, even made a rare joke.
"Professor McGonagall… it's good to see you,"
the brooch said for him.
"You're right. I do seem to have a lot of Galleons now—but that's not what makes me rich.
Real wealth isn't in a vault, it's…"
Sean tapped the brooch to cut it off. His green eyes held something deeper—like calm sea hiding a live volcano.
Minerva McGonagall hadn't expected that answer. She paused, and for some reason her nose stung.
She suddenly thought that if the storm needed for the next stage of his Animagus ritual arrived a bit later, that might not be such a bad thing…
…
"…the Ministry gave us an extra two hundred Galleons; it's all thanks to that good boy Green…"
The shop was still quietly buzzing. As she heard Arthur's words, she could easily piece it together.
"The Weasleys are all excellent witches and wizards. You've done well, child."
She always did know how to encourage.
"I… only did something very small."
Sean followed her gaze to the Weasleys' happy smiles.
Then he let his own lips curl upward.
So that was the truth, then…
McGonagall's eyes rested gently on him. It's easy for a wizard to be born with great talent; it's rare to have a great character as well.
She didn't feel she'd done anything special. Fate had simply nudged her toward a certain place and a certain child, and she had brought back a seed worth guarding for a lifetime.
Barren soil often grows stubborn seeds that take the wrong direction.
Because when suffering forges resilience in a person, it always mixes in pride, arrogance, and resentment as a test—
and what it ultimately wants to shape is compassion.