Chapter 270: The Dream
After the first Animagus transformation, in order to return to human form, Sean had to imagine his human self as clearly as possible.
Usually, this was enough. However, the transformation didn't always happen immediately. In such cases, one must not panic. With practice, simply imagining the creature would eventually allow a wizard to switch between animal and human forms at will.
But... how long would this practice take?
This question troubled Sean, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.
Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore left quickly, and the house soon returned to a state of silence and lifelessness.
Lightning streaked across the sky above Spinner's End. Even the Dursleys would look down on this impoverished neighborhood. But in the eyes of a cat, everything here was novel.
After the black cat wandered around, it could even close its eyes and stealthily creep to a desired location purely by feel.
It seemed the abilities of the magical beast, the Kneazle, were gradually being mastered.
However, problems arose with this.
He couldn't live as a magical beast forever.
Before leaving, Professor McGonagall had told him not to worry, that the Animagus transformation would be quickly mastered by the wizard. At the latest, it would take no more than a day.
But... he was not an ordinary Animagus.
If he hadn't changed back after a day, he would call for the Professor.
During Sean's practice, the night passed quickly, and dawn broke.
Puddles remained from the stormy night, slowly draining into the filthy river. The sun rose above the cluttered streets in front of the house, illuminating the brass number plate at the end of Spinner's End; sunlight also crept quietly into the cramped living room.
Sean had fallen asleep on the cushion created by Transfiguration. When he woke, the hooting of an owl came from outside the window.
During the night, he had entered a dream.
The dream was filled with mist, and within it, he had complete mastery over his Kneazle body.
He recalled the description in Soul Transfiguration:
"Those who do not know they possess a Revenant... interpret what they see as a dream, but those who know are well aware they are not dreaming, but have manifested a Revenant.
"In Norse mythology, such dreams allow the Revenant to borrow the dream and its corresponding scenes to turn its owner's thoughts into reality."
Sean recalled the future Harry: he dreamed of Nagini attacking Mr. Weasley, which became reality; he dreamed of the first communication between Wormtail and Voldemort, which also became reality...
Upon waking, the black cat shook its head and remained still as usual. He was imagining his wizard body, and this time, he quickly felt his own physical form.
This meant that he could now control his Animagus form in reality as well!
The arrival of success filled Sean with excitement.
Just as he transformed, a crisp shattering sound came from above. Sean looked up to see an owl crashing through the window, scattering shards of glass all over the floor.
Professor Snape, expressionless, grabbed the owl, intending to throw it into the fireplace.
Ultimately, it was the name on the letter that distracted him, allowing the sturdy owl to flap its wings and escape.
—"To Mr. Sean Green."
Sean quickly took the letter and opened it.
Sunlight fell upon the pages, smoothing out the slightly crumpled paper and revealing the handwriting:
Dear Mr. Green:
It has been a long time since an orphan at Hollysey fell ill without receiving aid.
This can only be attributed to you. Do you know what I think of when I shed tears?
There are always people who hold the truest kindness for the world.
The children here are all well. Shaun from the farm wrote a small poem for you. I wanted you to know:
Dear Mr. Green:
If I were to send you a book,
I would not send you poetry,
I would give you a book about plants, about crops.
To tell you the difference between rice and barnyard grass,
To tell you of a barnyard grass, trembling with fear,
Hoping to sprout,
In spring.
Spring has passed. Do you have time to come to Hollysey and see these seeds?
—Yours faithfully: Roland Taylor
Sean's gaze remained unfocused for a long time. He put away the letter, only to find Professor Snape standing beside him.
Snape's face turned cold. This fool never kept his guard up around him. With a casual glance, he knew what foolish act the boy had committed.
Because of these ridiculous reasons, he had emptied his own vault...
"Idi... Foolish! I'm afraid your head is always filled with these naive thoughts."
Snape scoffed, mocking him with a tone of disappointment.
"May I go out for a bit, Professor?" Sean asked.
"Heh—the self-righteous, kind-hearted Mr. Green—what do you think you are doing? In what way are you inferior to them..."
Snape's words caught in his throat. For a long while, he looked as if he had just woken from a nightmare.
He... in what way was he different from them?
He swallowed his words. Whenever he looked into the fool's calm eyes, he inexplicably forgot that the boy had once been in the same situation as himself.
A broken, almost non-existent family; poverty and frailty that followed like a shadow; utterly naive thoughts...
Snape's gaze roamed restlessly around the familiar room. Before his eyes, a vision blurred into existence: a man with a hooked nose shouting at a cowering woman and a small boy, while the black-haired boy wept in the corner.
As his gaze swept over the bedroom, he hallucinated a greasy-haired teenager sitting alone in the dark room, using his wand to shoot flies on the ceiling...
He was repeating the story that had happened to him. He was always good at doing that...
He felt a pain rising from the bottom of his heart. In the end, he was no different from the people he loathed.
He heard a voice mocking him: Severus, you've done a fine job—you hated those people so much, fought them for so long. Yet in the end, you became just like them. What ideal in this world is worth paying such a price of degradation?
His throat trembled, and he couldn't speak a word.
The sound seemed forced out:
"I will—take you—"
Professor Snape didn't look well and remained silent on the journey.
"Professor, can we go to Diagon Alley?"
Sean intended to withdraw some Galleons; there were always places where they would be more useful than sitting in a vault.
Regarding Sean's request, Professor Snape once again said nothing. He merely gave Sean a deep look before Apparating them to Diagon Alley.
The sun-drenched street was filled with noise and bustle. The snow-white building of Gringotts stood right before them.
The goblins were always respectful to the professors. After entering, a cart driven by a goblin sped along the miniature tracks, whizzing through the bank's underground passages to reach the various vaults.
The rushing wind did nothing to change Snape's gloomy expression; only the goblin seemed even more cowed by the Professor's low pressure.
When the vault door opened, the blinding pile of Galleons caused Snape's expression to change drastically for the first time:
"This is your vault?! What on earth have you done?!"
☆☆☆
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 400 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you