After Dumbledore finished dealing with Peeves's latest rampage, Aiden began to show up around the castle again.
He went to the Headmaster's office, held out a small hand, and said, "Headmaster, the Patronus Charm we agreed on before."
"Alright," Dumbledore said, handing an old notebook to Aiden. "Here are the materials. I believe with your ability, self-studying won't be difficult."
"Let's give it a try," Aiden said, snatching the notebook and tucking it into his pocket.
"You can leave if there's nothing else," Dumbledore said mysteriously. "Oh, and there will be a school board meeting in a while. Remember to attend."
"Alright, got it." Aiden, who already knew what Dumbledore was planning, didn't ask any further questions and turned to leave.
Having obtained the materials, Aiden went to the Forbidden Forest. The weather, nearing the end of the school year, was starting to get hot again, but the cool breeze within the woods dispelled the oppressive dryness. Aiden found a quiet place to sit down and began to look through the notes Dumbledore had given him.
'The Patronus Charm, usually in animal form, is used to ward off Dementors and other dark creatures. The Patronus Charm has been used by some in ancient times, but its specific inventor and original form are unknown. This spell has long been associated with wizards who fight for noble causes and is considered an extremely complex and difficult charm to cast.'
"Alright," Aiden said to himself. "Let's try it first." He closed the book, pulled out his wand, and tried to recall a happy memory. Happiness... Aiden then realized he didn't seem to have many very happy memories. "The days spent with my Aunty were quite relaxed and pleasant," he thought. "Let's just try that."
He pointed his wand toward the sky and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
A thick, white mist surged from the tip of his wand, quickly covering a small area of the Forbidden Forest. "This could be used as a Fog Charm," Aiden muttered, a black line appearing on his forehead. The forest, now covered in a dense, white mist, was a clear sign that his spell had failed. He opened the book again, wanting to check if he had missed anything.
Sunlight scattered onto the pages through the leaves, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh grass. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Aiden's mind. 'Wait, since the Patronus Charm requires happy memories, if I just simulate a happy emotion, wouldn't I be able to easily create a happy memory?'
He stood up and began to use his ability to make himself genuinely, deliriously happy. Strange laughter occasionally echoed from the Forbidden Forest, but since no one was there to hear it, the happy memories didn't become a part of his dark history. Such a tense, exciting, and pleasant memory was thus generated by Aiden.
He pulled out his wand again and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
This time, the mist condensed, and a graceful, magnificent dragon appeared before him. The silver-white dragon was breathtakingly beautiful, its body covered in layers of delicate, shimmering scales that seemed to hold the colors of the entire rainbow. Its wings were wide and transparent, and when it flapped them, it seemed to trace paths of light in the air. The only parts that weren't silver-white were its eyes, which were like two deep, precious gems—one the color of amber, the other a clear, brilliant blue.
Aiden's Patronus wandered freely around him, as agile as a fish in water.
Withdrawing his magical support, the Patronus quickly dissipated into the air. Next, he took out Dumbledore's notes again and opened them. According to Dumbledore's records, the key to using a Patronus for communication was, surprisingly, to incorporate Transfiguration.
Aiden: "..."
"This man is indeed a Transfiguration Professor," he thought. "No wonder Transfiguration is listed as a separate subject from Charms." He closed the book and began to attempt to transfigure his Patronus. "Expecto Patronum!" he called, summoning the silver-white dragon. He then focused his will, attempting to transfigure it.
Under the effect of his magic, the Patronus slowly decomposed, and then turned into... a butterfly?!
"Huh?" Aiden's delicate face was a mask of pure confusion.
Feeling that something was very wrong, he quickly ran back toward the Headmaster's Office.
Inside, Dumbledore, who was about to feast on a pile of Cockroach Clusters, was startled by the door suddenly being kicked open. The plate in his hand fell to the ground, and the enchanted cockroaches scattered and fled.
Dumbledore: "..." A trace of heartache flashed in his eyes as he looked at the frantic young wizard.
"So, what has caused you to lose your composure like this, Aiden?" Dumbledore's blue eyes held a hint of amusement.
"You knew already?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.
"Knew what?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled. "I've been in my office all this time and haven't gone anywhere, have I?"
Aiden didn't care if he was pretending or being serious. "Professor," he said, quickly telling him what had happened, "I injected Transfiguration into the Patronus according to your notes, and the Patronus changed."
"Did it turn into another animal?" Dumbledore's eyes crinkled, and he laughed.
"You really did know," Aiden said through gritted teeth. 'Was it really necessary?' he thought. 'All I did was not help him deal with the aftermath.'
"Ahem," Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Actually, the Patronuses of people like us can be influenced by our own bloodline, resulting in peculiar changes." He took out his wand and cast the Patronus Charm. A silver phoenix flew out. "And when casting on the Patronus a second time," he explained, "if we habitually follow normal casting methods, an overly strong mind will transform the Patronus beyond recognition." Pointing his wand at his phoenix, Dumbledore chanted a spell. Under the effect of his magic, the phoenix also turned into... a sheep?
"The Patronus Charm itself is a product of the mind," Dumbledore explained, waving his hand casually and dispelling the Patronus. "If you transfigure it again, the final result is likely to become an animal that aligns with our inner selves."
"So, what should I do, Professor?" Aiden asked.
"Of course, you should slow down the intensity of your transfiguration and control the desire to change within your heart," Dumbledore instructed. "And don't let young wizards who are just starting Transfiguration know about this method, or it will greatly increase the difficulty for them to learn."
"Expecto Patronum!" Aiden summoned his Patronus again. The silver dragon circled the office.
"It really is a dragon," Dumbledore exclaimed. "You Prewetts are truly favored by them."
'Transfigure, and also control the desire to transfigure,' Aiden thought. The light on his Patronus brightened for a moment, and then the silver dragon spoke, its voice Aiden's own. "Headmaster, can you hear me?"
"Hmm, not bad," Dumbledore praised. "You've mastered it so quickly."
Returning the book to Dumbledore, Aiden, who had learned enough, bid farewell and left the office.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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