Chapter 213: The Temptation of Bamboo

"Yes, I must become an Animagus," Allen said firmly.

His joining the Transfiguration Club was no secret; he had told Harry and the others, and Hermione, feeling somewhat unbalanced, went to Professor McGonagall to request joining as well, but was sternly refused.

Allen didn't quite understand what Professor Lupin meant by bringing up this topic.

"I mean no other thing," Professor Lupin said gently, "I know several wizards became Animagi in their fourth year."

"Ah? None of the seven legal Animagi this century became Animagi before the age of twenty!" Allen said, somewhat surprised.

"You said 'legal' Animagi," Professor Lupin winked at Allen.

Allen instantly understood Professor Lupin's meaning; he was about to ask again when Professor Lupin cut him off directly.

"Seeing you prepare to become an Animagus in your third year fills me with emotion; I sought you out today simply to say 'keep it up'!" Professor Lupin seemed lost in memory.

Allen ended his conversation with Professor Lupin full of doubts; he still didn't quite understand why Professor Lupin had told him this.

Nevertheless, he sincerely accepted Professor Lupin's encouragement...

After waiting bitterly for a week, the Transfiguration Club's second session began.

This time, noticeably fewer students came to the staff lounge than last time; it seemed they had all quit the Transfiguration Club.

People quitting seemed to be within Professor McGonagall's expectations; she quite decisively began this club session.

"From today, we will begin practicing how to adapt to the animal body and the wild instincts within the animal body; this stage will last several months. Only when you can adapt to the animal body and the wild instincts can you enter the next stage," Professor McGonagall said.

"Of course, if anyone's progress far exceeds that of other students, I will allow them to enter the next stage early," Professor McGonagall continued to emphasize, not even glancing at Allen...

Then Professor McGonagall turned all the students present into animals.

A clock was placed before each animal, recording the duration of each endurance attempt.

The staff lounge instantly became a zoo; the zoo contained animals such as pandas, rabbits, owls, foxes, hounds, eagles...

They each stayed obediently on a table, movements stiff, like rows of animal specimens.

To intuitively discover who was about to lose control, their favorite food floated one inch above each animal's head: bamboo, owl pellets, sausages, nuts, and so on, emitting an enticing aroma.

If a wizard was controlled by wild instincts, their first choice would certainly be to pounce on their favorite food; at that moment, Professor McGonagall would revert the transformation and record the result.

Now, the creatures beneath the food occasionally lifted their heads to gaze with longing eyes, then quickly averted their gaze, fearing that looking a moment longer would make them lose control.

Gu Ye, Allen, watched the bamboo floating above his head somewhat boredly; these were tender bamboo shoots, covered with many green leaves, the leaves still bearing water droplets, looking very fresh; he didn't know where Professor McGonagall had found such fresh bamboo.

However, Allen had absolutely no interest in the thing; yet he now felt no wild impulses had arisen, and he had adapted much better to the panda body, no longer feeling as constrained as last time.

While the young wizards around him lasted at most seven minutes in the first round, Allen, after ten minutes, only felt his thinking speed slow slightly; he felt he could endure much longer.

Professor McGonagall, seeing Allen's state was still good, simply did not revert his transformation and instead gathered the young wizards together.

"The results of your first round are out.

What I must say is that the animals you chose to transform into now are not the most suitable for you; very few Animagi choose the right animal for themselves on the first try. If, after transforming into an animal, you always feel unaccustomed, constrained, without a sense of being a fish in water, then try changing to a different animal in the next round until you find the most suitable animal for you," Professor McGonagall scanned the room.

The young wizards showed expressions of sudden realization; they knew where the problem lay.

"I will distribute this form; after each round ends, you must fill out this form," Professor McGonagall picked up a stack of forms and distributed them one by one to the young wizards.

Allen also received a form; the form required filling in the first round's mental clarity, self-evaluation score, the transformation chosen this time, duration endured, feelings during this transformation, and the transformation chosen for next time...

Seeing everyone had received a form, Professor McGonagall continued sternly: "Everyone must fill out this form seriously and truthfully. Becoming an Animagus is a long process; temporary lagging or leading holds little significance, so do not falsify data for the sake of so-called face."

"I reiterate that human transformation is a very dangerous matter; your momentary vanity will only harm yourselves," Professor McGonagall said sternly.

At this moment, she looked at Allen in panda form; the panda met Professor McGonagall's gaze with innocent eyes, the human-like expression showing he was still quite clear-headed.

The young wizards all filled out the forms seriously; in the second round, many chose to change their transformed animals.

And Allen at this time began to feel his thinking speed slowing more and more; he gradually felt the bamboo above his head emitted a fresh and delicious scent...

He struggled to control himself from thinking about the bamboo above his head, instead recalling various delicacies from his past life; as for why he recalled delicacies from his past life, it was because he had long since had enough of British fish and chips.

This trick worked well at first, but soon the various delicacies in his memory began to lose their appeal to him; some things he even found nauseating, while the temptation of the bamboo above his head grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, Allen could no longer endure it; he supported his round body with his two hind legs, his forelimbs waving comically in the air, striving to reach the tasty bamboo above.

At this moment, the bamboo above his head suddenly rose higher; panic surged in his heart, and he lunged forward with fierce, milk-fierce aggression, viciously biting several bamboo branches; he felt a sweet taste fill his mouth...

Just as he was about to feast heartily, he suddenly felt the bamboo in his mouth was no longer fragrant—Professor McGonagall had already reverted his transformation.

He had now returned to human form, still holding the pose of biting bamboo...

He somewhat sheepishly spat out the bamboo from his mouth...

Professor McGonagall, you are a bit unkind...

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