Chapter 169

“You should have written that down…”

Snape suddenly had more to say.

“Severus. Wizard Sean Green is enough. He is no one’s appendage—he should not be Wizard Sean McGonagall.”

Minerva McGonagall looked annoyed; they were leaving the fifth floor corridor.

“Then that’s fine. Tomorrow, he will be Wizard Sean Snape.”

Snape’s lips curled into a cold arc.

“You—don’t even think about it.”

Minerva McGonagall gave him a blank look, clutching a finely wrapped cookie, and hurried away.

In the staircase.

Wizard Sean felt his transformation from “self” to “living creature” growing increasingly refined.

Since using the transformation cookie, his understanding of cats and the belief required for transformation had both surged.

This made him even more eager for the Animagus transformation, to be taught personally by Headmaster Dumbledore over Christmas weekend.

If all goes well, the Animagus transformation could be completed in months—or even just over a month.

But he still didn’t understand what the Headmaster meant by “luck, just a bit of luck.”

Wizard Sean reverted his cat paws back to human hands; he could now apply partial transformation to himself, but only as a cat.

【You practiced Advanced Transfiguration at a skilled standard. Skill +30】

Looking at the pitifully small skill gain, he wondered how much skill the Animagus transformation would grant.

Before long, it was Christmas Eve dinner.

All rumors were false—no eight hundred barrels of spiced honeywine, no Weird Sisters performing—only more, richer food.

This time, even Wizard Sean felt slightly overwhelmed.

On the way out of the Great Hall, Harry seemed to want to say something but held back; Wizard Sean paid no attention to such details and continued grinding the last bits of skill on the transformation cookie.

Meanwhile, he attempted crafting a Mrs. Norris cookie and instantly reached the 【Skilled】 practice standard.

Snow fell softly outside the Gothic stained-glass windows of the corridor; what had been light rain in the afternoon became gentle snow by night.

The corridor was silent; Wizard Sean, the only one present, could hardly be called a young wizard at all.

The 【Skilled】 cookie extended his transformation time to ten minutes; he could deepen his understanding through the insights gained during transformation. The more he understood, the higher his skill became; the higher his skill, the deeper his understanding… a closed loop.

Wizard Sean harbored a quiet suspicion: though his cookie was called Mrs. Norris Cookie, the prefix he had always wanted to add was “Magical Creature”—its full name should be Magical Creature Mrs. Norris Cookie.

Mrs. Norris carried the bloodline of a cat-fox, but Wizard Sean had merely replicated its outward appearance; he had none of the cat-fox’s extraordinary innate talent.

The cat-fox possessed an incredible ability: it could detect morally corrupt individuals. If someone became lost, it could Making Guide them safely home.

Almost equivalent to a discernment spell and an automatic homing ability—either one alone would be meaningful enough.

To achieve this, Wizard Sean’s Alchemy and Transfiguration levels both needed further advancement.

He guessed he’d need to reach at least the 【Expert】 level. He was certain of one other thing: expanding the transformation cookie’s potential into Magical Creatures was the second essential path toward quality.

As he thought this, Wizard Sean reached the third-floor corridor, where bright candles had been lit and a crowd of young wizards had gathered.

The black cat curiously climbed onto the helmet of a suit of armor, listening to the whispers of the young wizards.

“The Lucky Statue has been remade—they say it’s to celebrate this special Christmas change.”

Hannah Abbott whispered to her companion.

“Look, Hannah—doesn’t this statue look just like the cat on the armor?”

Sallyanne Prowse whispered in reply.

Both turned to look at the black cat sitting atop the armor. It was small, entirely jet-black, its bright green eyes fixed on the statue that mirrored it exactly.

Wizard Sean froze. He was still alive—how had he been carved into a statue?

He suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to scratch the statue, but he suppressed it and fled quickly.

“Did I imagine that, Sallyanne?”

Hannah murmured.

“We’re lucky, Hannah. The black cat of fortune has passed by.”

Sallyanne Prowse exclaimed excitedly.

In the shadowed corner of the corridor, Wizard Sean hadn’t yet reverted when a pair of hands picked him up.

“Wizard Sean?”

He saw a pair of curious, amused pale blue eyes.

Though he didn’t know how Professor McGonagall had recognized him, Wizard Sean leapt away, transforming into a small wizard with his head bowed.

“P…Professor, good evening.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Remarkable Alchemy, clever fusion… you retain self-awareness… child, you know your Animagus form, don’t you?”

Professor McGonagall pulled out the finely wrapped cookie; her voice was calm, but her whole body trembled with excitement.

“So… do you want to learn?”

She restrained her voice as best she could, maintaining her composure.

“Professor, I’m sorry—Headmaster Dumbledore has asked me to study under him this Christmas.”

Wizard Sean explained.

“Child—you needn’t worry about that.”

Professor McGonagall smiled.

As she turned, her face was expressionless.

She recalled the black cat statue, and Albus’s cryptic gaze; her pace toward the Headmaster’s office quickened considerably.

…

In the dungeons.

The cold had been partly driven back by the steam from the cauldron.

Snape stared at the stag-shaped cookie, waved his wand, and the dungeon door sealed itself automatically.

Then he reluctantly ate a bite.

He had barely finished when the dungeon door opened.

“Oh, Severus, I’ve come to you to avoid…”

The old wizard, with long, white whiskers, pushed the door open—only he could do so silently, despite the magical seals.

“This is—”

Soon after, a thunderous roar echoed through the dungeon:

“Our relationship has not reached the point where you may enter without knocking—Dumbledore—!”

…

Unaware of the chaos his transformation cookie had caused, Wizard Sean pushed for one final effort—just six more skill points, and he’d unlock a new Alchemy title.

You practiced Rooster Cookie at an introductory standard. Skill +3

You practiced Rooster Cookie at an introductory standard. Skill +3

【Title: Advanced Alchemist】

【Significantly increases perception of Alchemical magic; slightly enhances Alchemical talent】

His perception improved slightly; he now sensed the complex magical signatures of cookies with even greater clarity.

He immediately checked the advancement requirements:

Three Skilled-level Intermediate Alchemical creations, six introductory-level Alchemical creations, unlock Skilled-level Alchemy title

What did “Intermediate Alchemical creation” mean?

Deer adjusts its state for one day; resumes five chapters at 10:30 PM tomorrow