"That's my BOY!!!"
Click—flash!
A blinding light snapped Cedric back to attention, and a familiar voice rang out in the aftermath. For a moment, he stood stunned in the glowing echo of the camera flash, uncertain if that cry was one of distress or elation.
It took him a few seconds to realize—it was joy. Absolute, unfiltered joy.
Looking up, he saw them: Mr. and Mrs. Diggory, standing just beyond the small crowd of reporters, bursting with pride. Mr. Diggory was waving his arms wildly, almost hopping in place, while Mrs. Diggory held a trembling handkerchief tightly in one hand, her eyes glistening with tears.
In that instant, all of Cedric's exhaustion, all of his effort, felt worth it.
"Make way—parents coming through!" Dumbledore said with a gentle but commanding tone as he guided Cedric away from the flashing bulbs and shouting reporters.
The five of them—Dumbledore, Cedric, McGonagall, and his parents—quickly regrouped in a quieter corridor.
"I knew we would be proud of you someday!" Mr. Diggory said, clapping a large, warm hand on Cedric's shoulder. He didn't grip too hard—he just held him there, like he was afraid to let go.
Mrs. Diggory caught his other arm, her grip firm and motherly. Cedric suddenly found himself cocooned between them, safe and proud and completely overwhelmed.
Even Dumbledore had been nudged slightly aside by the force of their joy.
Sandwiched between their love, Cedric felt full to bursting—fulfilled in a way he hadn't quite expected. But it also reignited the fire within him. A silent promise rose up from his soul:
I will not die.
Not at the hands of Wormtail. Not in some graveyard. Not by Voldemort's wand.
No one will take me from this.
"No one," he whispered under his breath.
Dumbledore leaned in and said quietly, "Let's take this somewhere less chaotic, shall we?"
They made their way to a private office in the Ministry of Magic. Cedric underwent the Animagus registration under the supervision of three senior officials, in a chamber equipped with anti-cheating enchantments.
When the time came, Cedric stepped forward and, with fluid precision, transformed into a compact, powerful iron-eating beast—a rare magical creature known for its impenetrable hide and astonishing strength for its size. The transformation was smooth, seamless, undeniable.
The officials were speechless.
Measurements were taken, magical photographs were snapped, and documents were stamped with a flurry of golden seals.
Then they handed Cedric two things: a golden Animagus badge bearing his name, and a crystal trophy engraved with bold letters:
> Youngest Registered Animagus in History
A warm chime echoed in his ears as a system notification appeared:
[Ding! Achievement unlocked: Youngest Animagus in history — Legendary Value +1]
As the Ministry staff congratulated him and left, Mr. Diggory practically burst with excitement.
"Would you like to do an interview?" he asked eagerly. "A few of the reporters were begging me to bring you over."
Mrs. Diggory nodded tearfully, her expression glowing with pride.
But Cedric shook his head, gently hugging them both. "You go ahead if you want. But please… don't talk too much about me. I'm not ready for that kind of attention. I don't want the pressure."
He meant it. This moment wasn't about fame or glory. It was about peace. Fulfillment. Happiness.
He wanted to return to Hogwarts. He wanted to dive back into training. There were spells he needed to master—spells that might one day save his life. The fame could wait.
"Good boy!" Mr. Diggory beamed, hugging him again before they finally said their reluctant goodbyes.
As Cedric prepared to return, he failed to notice a change in Dumbledore's expression—his normally twinkling eyes behind the half-moon glasses were now quietly thoughtful, even slightly troubled.
Back at Hogwarts, as they stepped through the fireplace in the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore didn't even remove his coat before speaking.
"Cedric," he said calmly, "you seemed very eager to come back. Is there something you're in a hurry to do?"
Cedric blinked, caught off guard. "I just wanted to practice spells..."
The moment he said it, he realized it might have been another test—another subtle probe from the most calculating wizard alive. Dumbledore's eyes met his, and for a few seconds, the room felt heavier than before.
But Cedric didn't flinch.
He couldn't guess what Dumbledore was truly thinking, but one thing was certain—he had to keep moving forward. Keep getting stronger.
"I'll leave you to it, then," said Dumbledore with a smile that gave nothing away.
Cedric nodded politely and exited. Once back in the Hufflepuff common room, he wasted no time. He activated Professor Flitwick's special personal template, a magical learning framework designed by the Charms Master himself.
Template Card: Filius Flitwick
Talent: Magic (Upgradeable to S-Rank)
Super Master Wizard: +5 Magic, raising the cap to 95.
Special Talent: Duel Champion
+10% Reflex Speed
+10% Spellcasting Speed
Flitwick's Life Wish List:
1. Duel Glory – Become the Charms Class Duel Champion (Unlocks SS-level Magic Talent)
2. Knowledge Dissemination – Pass on three personal magical techniques to worthy students (Removes template card slot usage)
3. Glory of the Fighter – Continually grow stronger and defeat his personal idol, Albus Dumbledore (Unlocks Special Talent: Duel Intuition)
> Duel Intuition: When someone secretly targets you, you have a 50% chance of detecting it instinctively and counterattacking.
Cedric studied the list carefully. He couldn't help but admire the spirit behind it. Flitwick had been small in stature, but mighty in will—and just like Cedric, he had dared to dream of defeating Dumbledore, the most revered wizard of the age.
"A small man, infinite energy," Cedric murmured with a smile. "Just like me."
To complete the list, he would have to master and pass on Flitwick's three signature techniques. Cedric opened the enchanted notebook left to him and began reading.
1. Chain Casting
A high-speed combo casting technique that used a sequence of similar syllables and wand movements. It allowed the caster to release multiple spells in rapid succession with little delay.
Pros: Overwhelming firepower and speed.
Cons: Individual spells were slightly weakened for efficiency.
2. Ultimate Protection
An advanced defensive enchantment composed of several layers of white magic, forming a translucent dome shield similar to those used during the Battle of Hogwarts.
Pros: Immense magical defense, nearly impenetrable.
Cons: Vulnerable to certain dark curses like Fiendfyre.
3. Symphony Casting
Inspired by orchestral rhythm, this technique used elegant wand movements to channel magic in harmony with the wizard's intent, enhancing the power of individual spells.
Pros: Increases raw power of spells.
Cons: Slower casting time due to complexity of movement.
Cedric stared at the page, deep in thought.
Each technique had its strengths. Each would serve him in different situations.
Chain Casting could let him dominate duels.
Ultimate Protection would keep him alive in chaos.
Symphony Casting could give him the edge in power-packed showdowns.
"So… which one do I start with?" he muttered to himself.
And with that question echoing in his mind, Cedric stepped into the next stage of his legend—determined to become not just the youngest Animagus in history, but also the most prepared warrior the wizarding world had ever seen.
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