"Mr. Richter, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Professor McGonagall set down her quill. "But I heard from Professor Sprout that you took some mandrake leaves from her. Is that true?"
"Yes, Professor," Dawn nodded.
As he stepped closer, he saw what Professor McGonagall had been writing—it was a report detailing the disturbance in the Great Hall that morning.
"This is something the school governors demanded," McGonagall said, following his gaze. Her tone carried both fatigue and irritation. "They're always like this. They insist the school report every single incident, as if only then can they feel like they have some influence."
"…"
"Oh, forgive me. I shouldn't be complaining to a young wizard about such things."
Realizing she wasn't talking to a fellow professor, McGonagall quickly changed the subject. "Mr. Richter, open your mouth for me, would you?"
Huh?
Hermione, who had been quietly lowering her head and preparing to apologize for the chaos caused partly by her, froze at the sudden turn in conversation.
But Dawn opened his mouth knowingly.
"Just as I thought."
Professor McGonagall sighed, seeing the green leaf stuck to the roof of his mouth.
"Good thing Professor Sprout noticed something was wrong and told me… Mr. Richter, where exactly did you learn about the Animagus transformation?"
"It was in the library," Dawn answered honestly.
"Is that so?"
McGonagall frowned, her expression turning grave.
"Then I suppose I need to speak with Madam Pince about revising which books are accessible to regular students. A major revision."
Dawn scratched his head, feigning innocence.
"Um, Professor, sorry to interrupt… but what exactly is an Animagus?" Hermione asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a bit of confusion.
"Oh! Miss Granger!"
Professor McGonagall slapped her forehead. She had been so busy she'd completely forgotten Hermione was still there.
Normally, she wouldn't have explained, but faced with the inquisitive gaze of such a curious young lion, she feared Hermione would go searching the library on her own. With a sigh, she began,
"An Animagus is a wizard capable of transforming into an animal, like how I turn into a tabby cat. It's an advanced branch of Transfiguration."
Transforming into an animal… Hermione's eyes lit up instantly.
"Put away that dangerous idea, Miss Granger!"
McGonagall's voice turned stern.
"Becoming an Animagus is extremely dangerous and not nearly as easy as you imagine. For every ten who try, at least four fail."
"If one's transformation skills aren't advanced, or if their mental resilience is lacking, they risk becoming trapped in a malformed, half-human, half-beast state."
"Worse still, some become permanently stuck in animal form, losing their human consciousness."
She stood up and pulled two copies of 'Transfiguration Mishaps and Catastrophes' from her office shelf, handing them to Dawn and Hermione.
"Take a look at the opening chapter. In the Middle Ages, a witch named Cleona transformed into a bird, but was driven entirely by instinct—and choked to death when her own feathers got lodged in her throat."
Hermione flipped through the book and turned pale.
Especially disturbing were the photos of failed transformations—horrifying hybrids of human and beast. She shuddered.
If that could really happen… she decided perhaps it was best not to pursue the magic for now.
"A wise decision."
Professor McGonagall nodded, clearly reading Hermione's change of heart just from her expression. She then turned to Dawn, who remained unfazed.
"Furthermore, even if a wizard successfully transforms, they cannot use magic while in animal form."
"If you turn into something like a fish, you wouldn't just lose your abilities—you might get yourself killed."
She said seriously, "Dawn, do you remember what I told you before? Don't do dangerous things."
"But Professor…"
Dawn spoke calmly, expressing his thoughts. "Don't you think the Animagus transformation has great potential?"
"Think about it. Transforming into an animal isn't unique—many exceptional wizards can do it!"
He paused, recalling how even Barty Crouch Jr., imprisoned since his teens, managed to transform Malfoy into a ferret.
"But the permanence of the Animagus transformation is one of a kind! If we could understand why, we might be able to revolutionize Transfiguration itself!"
Hearing this, McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So, you're studying Animagus magic to uncover the secret of permanent transformation?"
Dawn nodded and looked at her with sincere eyes, mimicking Dumbledore's gentle tone. "Yes, Professor. I'm truly fascinated by it."
"....Dawn." She sighed.
"I don't deny your talent. In fact, I genuinely believe you'll achieve extraordinary things one day. But… give yourself time, will you?"
"You're only in your first year. Your understanding of magic is still shallow, and your study has only just begun."
"Instead of chasing the unknown, I think it's better you first lay a solid foundation."
These were her heartfelt words. From her perspective, everything Dawn was doing seemed far too premature.
He was only eleven. A first-year student.
And as someone who placed student safety above all else, McGonagall couldn't bear the thought of a child diving into such perilous magic so early.
"But Professor, this is magic! This is what it means to be a wizard!"
Dawn met her eyes and smiled faintly.
"We are not Muggles. Magic is not like science. Magic doesn't have absolute answers, nor does it obey unchanging laws."
"Our task is to search within ourselves. So, I believe the true sign of a wizard's maturity isn't age or physique."
"It's when they find their own theory and path for understanding and practicing magic."
Dawn and Professor McGonagall stared at each other.
He realized that after speaking with Dumbledore twice, he had become more skilled at convincing people through long, thoughtful reasoning.
Beside him, Hermione seemed lost in thought. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him one moment, then she frowned and looked down the next.
…....
"Very well then."
After a long pause, McGonagall sighed. Looking into Dawn's determined eyes, she gave in a little.
"Perhaps you don't know this, but I've founded a private Transfiguration Club within the school."
"Every Sunday afternoon, I gather with the members to discuss cutting-edge topics in Transfiguration."
She opened a drawer and pulled out a club registration form.
"Normally, the club only accepts students from sixth year and above, and only if they've earned 'Outstanding' in Transfiguration on their O.W.Ls."
"But, Dawn…"
"If you can pass my personal test, I'm willing to make an exception and invite you to join."
"And in tomorrow's afternoon session, I'll dedicate part of our time to a discussion on Animagus magic with you."
McGonagall paused for a moment before adding, "But let me be clear—I will not be lowering the difficulty of the exam because of your age."
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