Anton was extremely busy.
Besides the old wizard's dual-track study of spells and potions, he was responsible for the entire family.
Nagini, the giant snake, needed to be fed daily, and sometimes the door needed to be unenchanted to let her out and about; being cooped up in her room all day was no small feat.
Pedro the goblin was in a coma, and he had no choice but to call a doctor to keep him on a glucose drip, and of course, a Confusion Charm was indispensable.
The old wizard would sometimes accidentally wander into a neighbor's house, scaring them, and Anton would have to knock on their door and cast the Oblivion Charm, which he wasn't very good at. And then there was Lupin, whose performance was improving, his charisma growing, and he looked particularly energetic.
But Anton still had to drink Polyjuice Potion from time to time, wrangle with the old foxes at headquarters and the French branch, and personally visit some very important clients to help them secure their most important business.
And the full moon night every month—it was impossible without Anton.
Anna also needed his guidance. This quiet and proud girl spent her days hiding in her trunk, playing with the giant magical machine, now ten meters tall.
He needed to bring her out for some sunshine from time to time, though of course, at a different time from Nagini's.
Besides that, he needed to teach the restaurant delivery boy a lesson and stop being so late. He also needed to give the dry cleaner's owner a nice birthday present to thank her for her meticulous care.
He was a ten-year-old, worrying about such a large family.
It was truly difficult.
But it was all worth it.
Confidence and motivation filled Lupin's face. Anna had grown considerably taller in a few months, Nagini's injuries had fully healed, and Pedro had survived.
And Anton, after all this time of study, had finally achieved his first success.
That night, he gathered the family with a smile.
He drew the curtains on the hall window, lit a candle, and looked at the old wizard, Lupin, and Anna with a smile.
He placed a box on the small round table and gently opened it. Inside was a plump little bird.
"Scientific name: Onlagoque Spore Cluster, potion name: Color-Changing Wind Bird."
"Its characteristic is..." Anton picked up the bird, and it quickly took on the color of his finger. Its translucent body even deceived the naked eye, making it seem as if it wasn't there.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the plump bird fluttered its wings and took flight across the hall, changing colors as the background shifted, blending in with its surroundings.
Anna's eyes were filled with admiration. "What a cute little bird!"
The plump bird looked very similar to Angry Birds, a favorite of children.
Lupin was also amazed. "I've never seen a bird like this before," the old wizard chuckled beside him. "Because this potion is extremely expensive and extremely difficult to capture, most people haven't even seen one, let alone Lupin, who's so poor he barely has enough to eat."
The old wizard was as snarky as ever.
Anton took a black cloth and covered a purple crystal on the table. Instantly, the bird vanished from sight.
"Wow, it's gone!" Anna looked around curiously.
Lupin extended his wand. "Reveal!"
But nothing happened.
Anton, smiling, explained, "This creature, which looks like a bird but is actually a mass of spores, is invisible to the naked eye, except in the invisible light of the Moropigo crystal. The Revelation Charm only reveals its true form, which is inherently invisible."
He pulled the cloth from the crystal, and the bird in mid-air appeared perched on the chandelier. Though still a chameleon, it was now somewhat faintly visible.
"Next..."
"This is the moment to witness a miracle!"
Anton closed his eyes, waved his wand with complex gestures, muttered something, and finally, vanished into thin air.
"Wow!" Anna exclaimed.
A plump little bird fluttered in mid-air, circling the chandelier before landing on it, staring at the original bird in bewilderment.
Then, the plump bird flew down, landed on Anna's hand, and playfully pecked her.
Anna giggled.
The bird fluttered again, rapidly transforming in mid-air, finally transforming into a red-haired boy.
"This is my new magic."
Lupin stared at him in disbelief. "Animagus?"
Anton chuckled, raising a finger and shaking it. "It's not Transfiguration. It's the magic within me mimicking the magical image of this magical herb, transforming it into its likeness. I call it a bionic charm."
"Haha," the old wizard chuckled proudly. "This is Anton's own invention. Let's applaud him."
"Of course, this couldn't be done without my guidance. He was able to build on Fiennes's potion scholarship and create his own brilliant creations."
Anna and Lupin applauded.
Anton, however, looked serious.
"I'm showing you today, not to show you how amazing I am."
"Did you notice anything about the spell I just cast?"
Anna and Lupin looked at each other, and the old wizard was also bewildered.
Anton waved his wand, and the bird was pulled into his hand. He pointed his wand at himself, then at the bird.
"I became the potion, and then the potion became myself,"
He said, looking at everyone expectantly.
Still seeing a group of children with question marks.
Anton sighed, "Didn't you notice? This change is reversible!"
"It ignores bloodline, race, even biological characteristics, and has nothing to do with any spell."
Anna still looked confused, but Lupin's breathing became rapid, and he looked at Anton nervously, "You mean..."
"Haha, Lupin, you finally reacted!" Anton snapped his fingers.
"This is a beginning. Although I can simulate it successfully because the spores are relatively simple, I will continue my research in the future and will involve more complex areas."
Anton looked at Anna and Lupin steadily.
"Even blood-cursed orcs and werewolves."
Speaking of blood-cursed orcs, Anna looked confused, obviously not knowing what they were, but she looked proud of Anton.
Lupin walked over quickly, grabbed Anton's arm, swallowed, "You mean?"
"Yes!"
Anton's voice boomed, "If I continue along this path, I can transform werewolves into humans again, and blood-cursed orcs into humans."
He exhaled deeply, "But it will take time, and I don't know when it will be done."
Lupin trembled, his eyes welling with tears. He pursed his lips, his entire mouth trembling.
"I..." his voice cracked.
His voice choked with sobs. "I can wait! Even if I grow old and my hair turns completely white, even if I can't even walk, even if I only have one day left to live, I still want to be a complete human being, buried in the earth."
He was on the verge of tears.
Finally, the reserved old man roared loudly, as if venting decades of accumulated pain, and rushed back to his room.
He closed the door, and only the faint sound of suppressed sobbing could be heard.
Everyone was silent.
The old wizard sighed, glanced at Anna and Nagini's room, and said quietly, "You little bastard, you gave everyone hope, so why don't you let their hope be dashed? That would be too cruel."
Anton looked at him seriously and said, "I will do it!"
With a resounding voice.