Chapter 81: The Headmaster Succession
Since his illness, Sean had been running on fumes. While potions cured the fever, they couldn't mend his deep-seated exhaustion. He found himself nodding off more easily, and sudden movements sometimes brought on dizzy spells.
Despite this, his progress in Transfiguration was undeniable:
[Transfiguration: Adept (5900/9000)]
Adept-level proficiency allowed him to fluidly transform inanimate objects into animate ones – what the Panel termed 'advanced intermediate Transfiguration.' He suspected Advanced Transfiguration proper involved transformations between two animate objects.
Professor McGonagall had also introduced him to an even higher level spell: the Vanishing Spell (Evanesco). It was one of the most difficult spells covered in the Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) exams. McGonagall had students practice on snails, as vanishing invertebrates was less challenging than vanishing mammals.
Flames roared in McGonagall's office fireplace. She sipped her tea while Sean, seated opposite, diligently worked on an extra essay she had assigned: On Doppelgängers.
The sheer scope of Transfiguration continued to astound him. While inanimate-to-animate was considered advanced intermediate, transforming oneself into an inanimate object spiked the difficulty dramatically. He recalled how Slughorn had transfigured himself into an armchair to evade Yaxley. This was Advanced Transfiguration because it touched upon a fundamental law, the first principle outlined in Adalbert Waffling's Magical Theory: Tampering with the deepest mysteries—the source of life, the essence of self—must be undertaken with the preparedness to accept the most extreme and dangerous consequences.
This applied to altering one's own form. Sean had previously only associated this warning with Horcruxes, but it clearly held implications for Transfiguration as well. Other Advanced forms included self-transfiguration into an animal (like Krum's partial shark transformation), transforming magic into objects (like Dumbledore's fire rope becoming a snake), and transforming objects into magic (like Dumbledore turning pool water into a binding sphere).
It dawned on Sean that Transfiguration might be the most powerful form of magic precisely because of its versatility. Why learn the Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) if you could simply transfigure the lock into a twig? It explained why nearly all truly powerful wizards were masters of Transfiguration. When a specific spell failed or was unknown, Transfiguration could often achieve the same result.
And at Hogwarts, the Transfiguration professor was, almost traditionally, the heir apparent to the Headmaster position.
Renewed determination cut through his fatigue. He focused on the essay:
[Doppelgänger, though often conflated with ghosts or fetches in magical history, originates from Norse pagan concepts. It refers to a 'double-goer,' not merely a spiritual double, but potentially a physical one – the unique aspect of the Scandinavian understanding. The hamr ('shape') follows us, while the hugr ('mind' or 'soul') travels. Thus, there is not one double, but at least two: a physical double, sometimes assuming animal form, and a spiritual double, which may also manifest animistically.]*
It sounded familiar, reminding him of Animagi and the Patronus Charm.
On the desk beside him, Intermediate Transfiguration, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, and Transfiguration Today formed a precarious stack.
"A deep understanding of the relevant history is also a crucial part of the ritual…" Professor McGonagall murmured, sipping her tea. Her gaze softened as she watched Sean, but the concern in her eyes deepened. He hasn't rested properly in weeks, she thought, sighing internally. He's running purely on willpower.
"Mr. Green. Come here."
Sean looked up, slightly dazed, noticing the clock showed six PM. After dinner, Professor Flitwick was scheduled to teach him the Knockback Jinx. He packed his books, tidied the desk, and placed his quill in the cat-shaped holder.
"Good evening, Professor." He bowed slightly, then felt a wave of warmth envelop him, accompanied by a soothing scent. The last thing he heard before consciousness faded was the professor's voice: "Never lose that determination, Mr. Green… But perhaps, allow yourself a proper night's sleep. To welcome your Friday…"
Transfiguration Office.
Sean slept soundly in an armchair. But time, strangely, seemed to flow backwards, resetting to early afternoon.
"You're cheating for him, Minerva," Albus Dumbledore chuckled, appearing beside her chair.
"I am unaware of any Hogwarts regulation prohibiting…" McGonagall began stiffly, then stopped. "Albus, if you have no further business, please leave my office."
"Oh," Dumbledore's smile remained benign, "I simply didn't realize your application for the Time-Turner was for… well, very well, Minerva. But allow an old man a nostalgic look at his former office?" His wise eyes, however, weren't focused on the room, but on the sleeping boy and the small, steam-puffing tortoise figurine on the desk beside him. "Mr. Green's Transfiguration seems to be progressing quite well?"
Sean awoke feeling significantly refreshed, though still tired. Professor McGonagall's office seemed imbued with a calming magic that had eased his frayed nerves. Most importantly, though he felt he had slept for hours, only a short time had actually passed.
He understood. His resolve hardened as he walked towards the hidden classroom.
Inside, Professor Flitwick looked him over, surprised. "It seems you are ready to learn the Knockback Jinx after all! You've maintained a good level of energy. Excellent, Mr. Green. It seems Friday will be…" The professor caught himself, quickly changing the subject. "Let us discuss the Dark Arts… Mr. Green, tell me, what is your understanding of Dark Magic?"
"Dark Magic refers to any magical spell or practice primarily used to cause harm, control, or kill," Sean recited. "Examples include the three Unforgivable Curses, brewing dark potions, and breeding dark creatures."
"A comprehensive summary," Flitwick praised, looking impressed.
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