Chapter 156: Owl Biscuits
Outside the Headmaster's office, Professor Snape retrieved a necessary authorization form before vanishing from the castle grounds without a trace.
Meanwhile, in a rubbish-strewn street in Croydon, Minerva McGonagall clutched a yellowed letter tightly. She stood before the dilapidated Victorian semi-detached house in the impoverished southern suburb, observing it once again.
Passersby seemed to ignore her, leaving her to scrutinize the warped floorboards visible through the doorway and the drafty, single-paned windows.
Her grip tightened on the letter, revealing the handwritten words:
Respected Madam,
When I truly learned the news, I knew that the long days of wandering were finally over. Madam, forgive my loss of composure; I wept through the night.
May you see this, respected Madam. Forgive his dullness, please be patient, be patient.
What she didn't know was that she wasn't the only wizard on this street.
As Christmas approached, Sean perfected his Owl Biscuits. Their unveiling caused quite a stir in the Room of Hope.
The fact that Sean could make biscuits that spontaneously transformed into owls was novel enough.
Initially, everyone assumed it was just Transfiguration. But after overhearing the Weasley twins discussing "share agreements" with Sean in the corridor, they realized something more was afoot. Everyone knew the Weasleys were masters of magical mischief.
"Sean, what is this?" Justin asked, leaning in curiously.
"Owl Biscuits," Sean replied. Seeing Justin's confusion, he clarified softly, "Biscuits that allow a wizard to transform into an owl."
"Merlin's beard—" Justin stared at Sean. After a confirming nod, he examined the biscuit minutely, trying to fathom the magic within.
Hermione rushed over, scrutinizing the treat. "Alchemy?"
Sean nodded.
Harry and Ron looked bewildered.
Alchemy? Isn't that sixth-year material?
"I bet Sean's going to be the next Percy—no, three, five, ten times better than Percy!" Ron declared confidently.
"I..." Harry sometimes felt that aside from his fame, he had nothing compared to his friends. A pang of inferiority washed over him.
"Just passed testing," Sean said. He recalled the Weasleys' eagerness to be test subjects. The result was successful, though they ended up stuck in a pine tree and had to be retrieved by Sean's snowman. Ignoring the shock of waking up in a giant snow-monster's grip, the process went smoothly.
"Mm, there are caveats. One at a time. Transforming into an owl causes temporary loss of reason."
This aligned with Quidditch Through the Ages:
Later, wizards transfigured themselves into bats.
This proved foolish. While wizards who transfigured themselves into bats could indeed fly, they invariably forgot where they intended to go once they had bat-brains.
Magic's vastness meant that any "new" discovery had often been documented by predecessors.
Owl Biscuits were only safe under supervision. But Sean had a theory, based on a hunch: A wizard possesses a Doppelgänger. When self-transfiguration into an animate form matches the Doppelgänger, the transformation is easier.
If Professor McGonagall ate a "Cat Biscuit," would she retain her reason?
It was just a hypothesis. But solving the loss of consciousness was simple enough: master the Advanced Transfiguration of self-into-animate. Krum maintaining his mind while transforming his head into a shark proved it was possible.
In the Room of Hope, everyone gathered around, waiting for the unveiling of this magical product.
"Alright, I'll go first," Justin volunteered, eyeing the excited yet worried faces of his friends. He picked up an Owl Biscuit.
His expression soured upon the first bite, but he swallowed it stoically.
"How is it?" Sean asked suddenly.
"Excellent, of course!" Justin didn't blink.
"The truth."
"It tastes awful." Justin grimaced. It was the worst thing he'd ever eaten.
As Justin transformed into an owl and flapped around the room, Sean faced a strange problem: his biscuits were terrible.
One by one, the students in the Room of Hope ate the biscuits with grimacing faces, swallowed, and transformed.
Before seeking out Professor Terra, Sean realized his biggest hurdle: none of the books he'd studied taught cooking.
While Sean searched his library books, Justin hovered nearby.
When Sean borrowed magical cookbooks, Justin sighed loudly.
When Sean was scouring Conjuring a Feast!, Justin's voice drifted over, mixed with the sound of falling snow.
"My mother says half of a person's life lives within their friends... Sean, can I help?"
His eyes were bright, sincere, and generous.
Hours flew by. When a fresh batch of biscuits emerged from the Hogwarts kitchens, Justin couldn't stop smiling.
"Flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, butter, milk... the ratios are..." Justin recited the recipe one last time. Sean recorded every word. The Owl Biscuit was finally complete.
Sean waved his wand, sending the biscuits into Justin's hands.
"See you tonight."
He bid Justin farewell and headed to the Alchemy office with his samples. The Howler and the Owl Biscuit were his debut works in Alchemy.
In the corridor, Sean walked briskly.
Ever since receiving the letter from London, he had kept himself deliberately busy, leaving no time to dwell on the exciting, expectant, unsettling, and worrisome thoughts that crowded his mind.
Professor McGonagall's gentle blue eyes, calm and soft as a clear lake, often appeared in his mind.
In both his past and present life, she was old enough to be his grandmother. Yet he still didn't know how to face it all.
This winter.
The wind howled past his shoulders, sweeping from the past towards the future.
Above the wind, the stars shone, deep and unfathomable.
(End of Chapter)
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