Chapter 255: At Last, a Master

For practical reasons, before returning to McGonagall’s small cottage, Seamus went to the Trickery Shop and took some materials with him.

Shopkeeper Gert was overjoyed, preparing to stuff half the materials into Seamus’s suitcase, only to find it already full—her hand holding the supplies froze midair, and she stood there like a cooled plaster statue.

“Felix Felicis?! Where did you buy this? I haven’t seen any Potion Master sell this in ages.”

“The professor gave it to me.”

Seamus said.

Shopkeeper Gert imagined Professor Snape storming in like a hurricane, then quickly shook her head, banishing that terrifying image from her mind.

“You mean… you’re also highly skilled in potions?”

Otherwise, it was impossible to imagine why Professor Snape would do such a thing.

“I only know a little.”

Seamus finished speaking and left the shop.

“Only a little…”

Shopkeeper Gert helplessly repeated it again.

Maybe that’s what a genius is?

Obviously, she didn’t understand.

…

A farm not far from London.

The sun shone brightly here, the wheat fields lush and green; only the pasture occasionally echoed with the cries of animals.

The young McGonagalls stared longingly at the dusty path, while their parents chatted happily beside them.

Marcus gave Seamus a bear hug the moment he stepped down from the carriage.

“Tell me about your days at Hogwarts…”

Marcus said enthusiastically.

Amid the noise, night fell quietly.

At the calm edge of the Black Lake, Seamus raised his wand; a fire dragon over two meters tall spat fireballs that dissolved into steam above the water’s surface. Upon closer inspection, the dragon’s scales bore the patterns of a salamander.

Seamus frowned—his Advanced Transfiguration still had flaws: the casting time was too long, and the summoned fire dragon lasted only three seconds before vanishing.

This was undoubtedly bad news for his future plans.

The central plot of second year was the Chamber of Secrets.

If the original timeline remained unchanged, the Chamber would ultimately be resolved by Harry.

But what if it deviated?

Without light reflection, direct eye contact with the Basilisk would result in death.

Seamus had devised many plans, but the one that most captivated him—and was also the most dangerous—was still the Basilisk Cookie.

If he could subdue the Basilisk, he would obtain a cookie of absolute utility and extraordinary effect; under conditions of information asymmetry, anyone who ate it would suffer a major disadvantage.

The ripples on the Black Lake gradually faded, and Seamus heard the panel’s pleasant chime:

【You practiced Advanced Transfiguration to a Master’s standard. Proficiency +3000】

【A new domain has been entered】

Seamus stared intently—it was the first time he’d received such a prompt.

At that moment, the panel underwent a massive transformation, absorbing all of Seamus’s attention, turning completely black.

One second, two seconds, three seconds… a wand appeared in the darkness. It was entirely ink-black, yet when light shifted across it, faint traces of deep purple and dark red patterns emerged beneath.

Seamus felt a faint tension—he knew, of course, that this was his own wand, made of elderwood and a phoenix feather.

Between the wand’s phantom form, countless images flashed past—

The first time he transfigured a matchstick into a needle, the first time he summoned a salamander, the first time he infused fire-crabs with salamander magic…

A line of heavy, mystically inscribed characters appeared:

【Through this arduous path, you shall become a Master】

【The door to Transfiguration Magic has opened—the hall forged in glory awaits the arrival of legend—】

【Begin the Master-level ascent】

【Ascent has begun—Master is no longer the limit】

【Panel has been upgraded】

Seamus stood frozen, his heart pounding as he looked downward.

【Title: Master of Transfiguration】

【Greatly enhances unique perception across all Transfiguration domains】

All of them?!

Seamus was thrilled.

【Transfiguration Categories:】

【Material Transfiguration: Beginner (0/300);】

【Magical Transfiguration: Beginner (0/300);】

【Soul Transfiguration: Locked】

【Evaluation: A wizard newly entered into the Transfiguration Master domain—with combat strength below five among Masters】

【Advancement: One Legendary Transfiguration, two Master-level Transfigurations, unlock the Legendary title in Transfiguration】

Legendary title…

Combat strength below five…

After the excitement faded, Seamus quietly closed the panel.

The Master-level Transfiguration had brought massive changes to the panel.

Seamus guessed Material Transfiguration referred to transformations between “living” and “non-living” matter;

Magical Transfiguration was easy to understand—he had just transformed flame into magic;

But what about Soul?

What did that mean?

Seamus inexplicably felt this might be the answer he had long sought.

In distant Africa, Wagadu, wizards there could transform into leopards or elephants while retaining full awareness of their own will.

But Seamus’s Transfiguration Cookies couldn’t achieve this—he suspected “Soul” might be the key.

If Seamus could learn its secrets, he would be able to retain his rationality even while transformed into magical creatures.

The moment this thought arose, it seized his mind, igniting his curiosity fully.

Professor Professor Tela was from Wagadu—perhaps she could Making Guide him in this area…

But now, Seamus needed to test what the upgraded panel could do.

He waved his wand, and the fire dragon rose again.

【You practiced Magical Transfiguration to an Apprentice’s standard within the Master domain. Master proficiency +1】

Seamus saw Magical Transfiguration’s proficiency increase by one point. Simultaneously, his Transfiguration seemed to undergo a transformation—he could now perceive the magical forces behind the spell with far greater clarity.

Guided by some arcane intuition, the fire dragon remained for five full seconds.

And this was still after casting multiple Transfigurations.

Now, no upper-year wizard should be his match.

Seamus thought,

Most adult wizards would be the same.

As for Professor-level… his inherently weak physical constitution had always been his greatest weakness in magical power.

With preparation and no regard for exhaustion, Seamus might manage a few rounds against Professors.

Even if only a few rounds, it was enough to be exhilarating.

Stars still shone brightly over the countryside; beech trees rose and fell, forming a profound and silent night scene.

Seamus tapped his wand above his head, and his figure melted into the darkness like a shadow.

He returned silently to McGonagall’s cottage.

The panel’s upgrade had made his direction and progress on the path of Transfiguration far clearer.

This summer, both Alchemy and Transfiguration had advanced by leaps and bounds.

With this pace, by second year, the Basilisk would likely not be his match—then, he could properly study the Basilisk Cookie.

Thus, the night grew even deeper.