Closing the final page of the parchment, Dawn didn't feel too disappointed by the lack of useful information. It was just a diary, after all—there was only so much one could expect.
He leaned back in the soft chair, eyes fixed on the flickering candle in the center of the table, his tongue slowly pressing the mandrake leaf against the roof of his mouth.
There was hesitation in his eyes—but soon, that hesitation was replaced by resolve.
No matter what, he had to find a way to tap into natural magic and attempt the Animagus transformation.
He couldn't bring himself to give up without trying.
Thinking back on Celeste's manuscript, as long as he didn't test it on himself recklessly, the danger should be within acceptable limits.
"I'll bring Dumbledore into this," he muttered silently.
Originally, when the headmaster told him to notify him before conducting any experiments, Dawn had intended to feign compliance.
But now, it seemed dragging the old headmaster into this to bear the brunt really was the wisest choice.
He stayed in the Room of Requirement a little longer.
Then, deciding he still had time, Dawn stood and made his way to the fifth floor, hoping to find the room once used by the diary's author.
Perhaps there would be more clues left behind.
However---
Just as he opened the door—
A spherical object suddenly flew at his face!
Dawn narrowed his eyes, swiftly pulling out his wand and using a Levitation Charm to redirect it across the room.
*Bang!*
A muffled thud echoed.
A burst of yellow-green gas exploded outward, carrying with it a faint but revolting stench drifting from afar.
A dung bomb?
Dawn frowned, already quite certain of who was behind it.
Sure enough—
Before he could say anything, two identical faces popped up from either side, each throwing an arm over his shoulders.
"Nice reflexes, junior! We've been waiting forever in ambush, and you still managed to dodge that?" Fred chuckled.
"Oh, Fred! Look at this mess you've made! Hurry and apologize to our dear junior, or do you want to spend another afternoon dancing tap in detention?" George gasped with exaggerated horror, making wild faces.
"Impossible! Our junior loves us!"
Fred raised his voice in protest. "He's the one who told us about this room full of prank tools—saved us a fortune! How could he possibly be heartless enough to make us keep dancing?"
Dawn quickly understood. What the twins had wanted was clearly a version of the Room of Requirement filled with prank items.
He'd once found the room occupied—it must've been them. That said, the Room of Requirement's abilities were quite vague and inconsistent.
Dawn had once asked it for a room filled with gold coins and got nothing. Yet prank tools? No problem.
Hmm… maybe because Hogwarts already had plenty of those?
He was just about to speak, but as he looked at the twins, another thought suddenly struck him—and he kept quiet.
Because, at that moment, Dawn realized something—
If there were any two people in Hogwarts likely to willingly try becoming Animagi, it would be the Weasley twins!
They were bold. They thrived on risk.
Did Dawn want to see an Animagus transformation firsthand?
Yes. Absolutely.
But he didn't want to drink that potion recklessly himself, nor could he find another volunteer.
The early steps of the Animagus process required full consent. Otherwise, simply failing the month-long leaf ritual would be far too easy.
However—
If it were the Weasley twins…
"Hey, junior, why so quiet? Did we scare you?" Fred and George took turns chattering. Seeing Dawn remain silent, Fred bent down, tilting his head to get a better look.
"Wow, finally realizing how amazing the Weasleys are? Ready to surrender?" George grinned, reaching out to poke Dawn's cheek.
But before his finger could make contact, Dawn grabbed his hand and twisted it upward—hard!
"Arghhh!" George yelped in pain.
Fred, meanwhile, burst out laughing.
Dawn smirked, voice low. "Idiots. I've just got something in my mouth and can't be bothered to deal with you two."
He shrugged off their arms and stepped aside.
"Something in your mouth? Fizzing Whizzbees? I don't smell anything," Fred sniffed curiously.
"Mandrake leaf."
Dawn opened his mouth and pointed to the leaf stuck to his upper palate while straightening the wrinkles in his robes.
"Animagus transformation. Ever heard of it…? Never mind, why am I even explaining it to you."
He shook his head and, ignoring the twins, walked down the corridor away from the lingering stink of the dung bomb.
Fred rubbed his chin as he watched him go. "George, I think we've been underestimated."
"Oh, that's normal," George said, nursing his twisted fingers. "He didn't make you keep dancing—consider yourself lucky. By the way, do *you* know what an Animagus is?"
"Nope."
Fred shook his head. "But that's fine. One trip to the library tonight and we'll know everything."
"Why tonight? Why not now?" George frowned.
"Uh…"
Fred paused, then shrugged. "Right. I forgot the library isn't only open during night walks."
He clicked his tongue. "Speaking of night walks… I really want to know what that Marauder's Map feels like in action."
"Maybe he'll lend it to you if you ask nicely," George muttered, pacing across the corridor and reaching for a handle that had just appeared on the wall.
"Alright, enough of that—quick, get inside before Peeves shows up!"
.....
The sky was dull and gray.
It had been raining all week, making it nearly impossible to tell the time by the light. But judging by the clock, there was still a while until dinner.
Dawn stepped down from the eighth floor and arrived at the fifth.
To be honest, he was quite familiar with this level—after all, the library was here. He had walked these halls countless times.
However---
Since seeing magical energy required focus, and he couldn't keep his ability active constantly, he wasn't sure if there were any hidden rooms on this floor.
Even if he did focus to sense magic, finding a concealed room in Hogwarts wasn't easy.
The castle was simply too full of wonders—magical currents flowed through every inch.
His first search ended with nothing to show for it.
Still, Dawn wasn't in a rush.
...
The next day.
Saturday.
The Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw was about to begin.
The Great Hall buzzed with excitement, though it lacked the fierce tension of the previous week's match.
Especially with Hufflepuff Seeker Cedric harboring feelings for Ravenclaw's Seeker Cho Chang.
After breakfast, students from all four houses headed off in waves toward the Quidditch pitch, professors mingling among them.
Dawn, as usual, stayed out of the crowd. After reading a few books on runes in the library, he used the break to continue his search on the fifth floor.
....
What he didn't know, however…
On the fourth floor—just one level below the library— A hooded figure, their face obscured by shadow…
Silently pushed open the door to the chamber holding the Philosopher's Stone.
________________
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