Warmth and light—both the natural enemies of Devil's Snare.
Wyzett felt the magical plant coiled around his hand begin to wither. Instantly, he opened his eyes.
Just as he expected, the Devil's Snare that had become his fingers shrank back, curling up like clusters of dried vines. The heightened senses it had granted him faded away as well.
The firelight vanished. Suddenly, the Hospital Wing was filled with bright, welcoming light.
Dumbledore spoke softly, "A truly perfect Transfiguration. To reach this level is a rare feat indeed!"
He was dressed in a loose, moss-green cloak adorned with gold buttons, each one bearing the Hogwarts crest.
Wyzett blinked, a stray thought crossing his mind—he'd never seen Dumbledore wear the same outfit twice. It was a sharp contrast to Professor McGonagall's fondness for deep green robes and Professor Snape's unwavering devotion to black.
"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore!" Wyzett said, a little self-conscious, quickly returning his hands to normal.
"Are you feeling better?" Dumbledore asked, genuine concern in his voice. "I imagine Professor Snape's potion, for all its dreadful taste, is quite effective."
"Actually, it wasn't that bad—almost like drinking porridge," Wyzett replied honestly after a moment's thought. "But it worked wonders. I'm fully recovered!"
"Hmm…" Dumbledore mused, as if talking to himself. "Not so bad, you say? Maybe next time I'll ask him to add a bit of sugar for me…"
He let the thought drift away and continued, "Professor McGonagall tells me you have a remarkable gift for Transfiguration—advanced same-species transformations, no less."
"But from what I've just seen, you've gone far beyond that. You've managed human transfiguration… To be honest, 'talented' hardly does you justice."
Wyzett felt his ears grow warm. He waved his hands, embarrassed. "Headmaster Dumbledore, there's still so much I need to learn."
"This time, it was mostly a stroke of inspiration—and that book, The Theory of Transubstantial Transfiguration. That's how I ended up turning a Christmas cactus into Devil's Snare."
"The Theory of Transubstantial Transfiguration?" Dumbledore stroked his beard, eyes twinkling. "Is that the copy you borrowed from the library?"
"Yes, the one with your notes in the margins." Wyzett couldn't help but smile at the memory. "Are those notes… really yours?"
"They are indeed." Dumbledore smiled, too. "Madam Pince is rather passionate when it comes to the care of her precious books."
They shared a quiet laugh, and Wyzett felt much more at ease.
Dumbledore glanced at him, adopting a conversational tone. "Half the school year's nearly gone. Which subject have you found the most interesting?"
"They're all fascinating…" Wyzett blurted out. "Maybe because everything in the wizarding world is new to me?"
"To treat all knowledge equally is a fine trait," Dumbledore said kindly. "And you're not wrong—this is where British wizards first encounter magic."
"Every subject here has its own importance. We hope students can discover joy in learning and eventually find the branch of magic that truly calls to them…"
"Our wish is that, during their seven years at Hogwarts, students will follow their souls, develop their own understanding of magic, and find the path that suits them best."
"Soul? Understanding of magic?" Wyzett frowned, sensing the weight of those words.
"You're as perceptive as ever." Dumbledore smiled, clearly pleased. "It's true—learning everyday spells is enough to get by in our world…"
"But to have your own magical philosophy, to know which direction your soul wants to go—that's the real beginning of a wizard's journey. Most don't reach that point until well after forty."
He paused, then winked, noticing Wyzett reaching for his notebook. "What I'm about to share goes well beyond the curriculum… but these are just my thoughts on the soul. No need to write it down—let's just talk."
"All right." Wyzett nodded, a little disappointed, and set his notebook aside.
"Tell me, Wyzett—what do you think truly sets one wizard apart from another?" Dumbledore asked with a gentle smile. "And give me a magical answer, if you can."
Wyzett considered his time with the Lovegoods, his months at Hogwarts, and finally answered, "Soul."
"Exactly!" Dumbledore beamed, as if the Hospital Wing had become his classroom. "Every wizard's soul is unique… and since I've mentioned it so many times, I won't award Ravenclaw any more points for that."
"It's because our souls differ that our magical talents differ, too. Take Professor Flitwick, for example—did you know he was once a dueling champion?"
"A dueling champion? I had no idea…" Wyzett's eyes widened. He wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but it sounded impressive.
"In duels, most competitors rely on all sorts of dark magic… but Professor Flitwick never did. He won with sheer mastery of Charms."
"The sooner you develop your own magical understanding, the sooner you'll know what your soul truly needs—like Professor Flitwick, or Professor Sprout, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape…"
"They each have their own magical philosophy, which lets them make the most of their gifts. Some wizards are naturally skilled at the Disarming Charm, Memory Charms, or even wandless magic."
"The soul is a marvelous thing. There are as many kinds of souls as there are wizards, as many talents as there are souls—rather like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Each one brings its own surprise."
"It's a process that can't be put into words. As professors, all we can do is guide you—to help you sense your soul and build your own magical path."
Wyzett ventured, "Headmaster Dumbledore, do you think… my soul leans toward Transfiguration?"
"I do." Dumbledore nodded gently. "Not just because of your recent progress—your connection to the Obscurus is another important clue."
"The Obscurus?" Wyzett placed a hand to his chest. "Shouldn't that mean I'm more gifted in Dark Magic?"
"Shouldn't it?" Dumbledore replied with a twinkle. "But who says a soul can only have one inclination? Souls are complex, ever-changing things."
"Some wizards may excel at the Disarming Charm, while also mastering the notoriously difficult Patronus Charm. Anything is possible! Remember, Wyzett—wizards are capable of miracles."
"The Obscurus is a form of Dark Magic, yes, but it's not limited to that…" As he spoke, he drew his wand and gave it a gentle wave.
A wisp of black mist drifted from the tip, sometimes swirling into a storm cloud, sometimes sharpening into a jet-black spike…
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
��patreon.com/GoldenLong