Chapter 83: Dragon Claw Spellcasting

The classroom fell silent; the young wizards stared dumbfounded at the hoof Allen had raised. Even though Allen had brought them all sorts of "surprises" every day this school year, today's "surprise" still shattered the limits of their imagination—they had never expected Allen's Transfiguration talent could be played out so flamboyantly...

Professor Flitwick also sank into shock; despite his wide experience, he had never witnessed such a precedent in the Wizarding World, let alone that this left claw and right hoof clearly did not belong to an ordinary animal but unmistakably to a magical creature.

The atmosphere in the classroom instantly turned eerie; unable to bear it, Hermione buried her head behind her book, revealing only her fluffy crown...

"Professor, I truly didn't mean it; I can only wield my wand with my left hand," Allen said, carefully observing Professor Flitwick's expression as he was the first to break the awkward silence.

Professor Flitwick's anger had vanished into thin air; he understood his student was not at fault—the fault lay with the world itself. With so many people in the classroom, how could Allen's spell have struck him so coincidentally? He could only count himself unlucky.

"If I'm not mistaken, your left claw belongs to some kind of dragon, and your right hoof to a unicorn; I have never before witnessed such a miraculous magical effect!" Professor Flitwick walked up to Allen and examined his left claw and right hoof.

The young wizards in the classroom immediately began buzzing with discussion; they had never expected the things Allen Transfigured today to have such grand origins, which stirred their curiosity—were they not in class, they would likely have swarmed around to get a close-up look.

Malfoy, however, gazed thoughtfully at Allen's claw; when Allen's eyes met his in midair, Malfoy flashed a mocking and disdainful smile.

Though the young wizards were all captivated by the appearance of Allen's hands, Professor Flitwick perceived something far deeper.

"Allen, you know I have taught at Hogwarts for many years and instructed many cohorts of young wizards; in fact, every cohort has had young wizards cause explosions while practicing the Levitation Charm," he said, casting a glance at Seamus Finnigan in the crowd, who shrank back at Professor Flitwick's gaze.

"Therefore, I am quite familiar with the destructive power of explosions caused by failed Levitation Charm casting, but the explosion you triggered today seems far more powerful than those caused by other young wizards," Professor Flitwick organized his words and voiced his thoughts.

"Do you mean that casting spells with this dragon claw can amplify a spell's power?" Allen, having grasped Professor Flitwick's meaning, said with some surprise.

"This is merely my personal conjecture; the Wizarding World has never had such an outlandish precedent as yours, and dragons do not cast spells like wizards. Today's incident has recalled to me the days when I devoted myself to magical research—that was a difficult yet fascinating time!" As Flitwick spoke these final words, he suddenly grew sentimental, taking out a handkerchief to dab the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Allen was completely stunned by Professor Flitwick's conjecture; he had never expected this dragon claw, which was neither good-looking nor practical, could possess such an ability, and he couldn't help but begin pondering once more the very essence of this world's magic.

"However, we can test it: cast a Lumos, and imagine the orb of light as larger and brighter than usual!" Professor Flitwick, too, wished to verify his conjecture.

After Allen complied, he indeed summoned an orb of light larger and brighter than usual; the young wizards all cast looks brimming with envy and jealousy toward Allen.

"It seems I can write a paper on this!" Professor Flitwick said excitedly.

Only then did he notice that the emotions of the young wizards in the classroom had turned somewhat off-kilter.

"Students, while the power of a spell is certainly important," Professor Flitwick said, scanning the young wizards in the class, "what ultimately decides victory is always how one leverages one's strengths and avoids one's weaknesses; therefore, do not focus solely on spell power—the wisdom and strategy of casting a spell are equally vital."

"Now, let us resume reviewing spells! That is, if you do not wish to fail your final exams!" Professor Flitwick reminded the young wizards.

Only then did the young wizards pull themselves out of their feelings of envy and jealousy and begin practicing spells again, though this time everyone kept well away from Allen, after all, having just witnessed Professor Flitwick's cautionary tale.

Allen was only too pleased with this; he hid with Harry and the other two in a corner of the classroom and simply abandoned practice, merely speaking up to point out deficiencies in Harry's and Ron's spell-casting techniques.

The afternoon classes passed quickly; as Allen stepped out of the classroom, he discovered Professor Flitwick waiting for him at the doorway.

"I know you will surely go to see Professor McGonagall after class; I am aware of your agreement with her, and as it happens, we are heading the same way!" Professor Flitwick said to Allen with a smile.

Allen inwardly groaned in bitterness; he did not wish to visit Professor McGonagall today, for today's reason for Transfiguration was somewhat difficult to explain, yet since his post-Transfiguration appearance had already spread, even if he did not go, Professor McGonagall would likely storm to his door anyway.

Thus, he said to Professor Flitwick, "With pleasure!"

Along the way, Professor Flitwick expressed to Allen his excitement over the power of Allen's dragon-claw spellcasting; Allen responded half-heartedly, and the two soon parted at a fork in the road.

At the end of this fork lay Professor McGonagall's office.

Allen walked step by step toward Professor McGonagall's office, the inconsistent weight of his two hands making his gait somewhat awkward.

The door to Professor McGonagall's office remained ajar; he saw that Professor McGonagall was still busy at work.

Steeling himself, he knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door with his right hoof.

Professor McGonagall lifted her head toward the doorway, and then she could not tear her eyes away.

"Mr. Finis! How did you accomplish this?" Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot up.

Allen said with a wry smile, "This is not even all of it," and then displayed his left claw as well.

Professor McGonagall looked at Allen with the expression of someone who had just discovered a new continent; Allen had never seen Professor McGonagall so out of composure.

As Allen had anticipated, Professor McGonagall indeed began asking him whether there had been any abnormalities before his Transfiguration.

What could Allen say? He could say nothing; he could only offer vague, equivocal lies to stall Professor McGonagall.

After speaking, Allen couldn't shake the feeling that someday he would randomly end up with an exceptionally long nose.

After hearing Allen's account, Professor McGonagall was likewise not entirely satisfied, yet she did not wish to press him; instead, she spoke to Allen with earnest gravity: "In magical research, the most crucial element is direction; once the direction is correct, producing results is merely a matter of time. Each of your random Transfiguration outcomes represents a correct direction; although they may seem unusable for now, they hold immense guiding significance for future researchers. I hope you can recognize your own value to magical research."

Allen felt a pang of shame in his heart at Professor McGonagall's words, but with Hagrid at stake, he could not show anything on his face.

Then came the routine sampling.

After that, he took his leave and departed from Professor McGonagall's office.

The moment Allen stepped out of the office, he noticed Professor Quirrell walking toward him, staring fixedly at his right hoof.

Only then did Allen realize he had forgotten to conceal his right hoof...