Chapter 201: Conflict in the Headmaster's Office
"Albus—"
Professor McGonagall strode briskly to the door of the Headmaster's Office, only to find an uninvited guest already there.
Professor Terra's silver hair contrasted sharply with Headmaster Dumbledore's white beard against the ancient stone walls.
"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore. It has been a long time. So long, I can hardly remember..."
Professor Terra took a sip of black tea. As she lifted her fingers, the steam obscuring her vision transfigured into a thin mist that drifted out the window.
"Back then, they called me the youngest alchemist scholar of Uagadou. I took pride in the reputation, but in doing so, I missed the chance to meet many brilliant master alchemists. Not exchanging ideas with those masters remains a lifelong regret. As you know, some lives are destined to be brilliant but brief. So, my apprentice... he must not miss this."
Headmaster Dumbledore squinted, listening as if to an old friend's ramblings.
In fact, their acquaintance dated back to the last International Alchemical Symposium.
That was seventy years ago. Dumbledore had attended as a close friend of Master Nicolas Flamel, while Terra was just a wide-eyed young girl.
Since Terra began teaching at Hogwarts, she had mostly expressed disappointment and rarely spoke so much.
This piqued Dumbledore's interest—especially since someone was eavesdropping at the door.
"Olivia, the last time we met, you were complaining that students these days weren't what they used to be..." Dumbledore laced his fingers together, a teasing look on his face.
"An alchemist will always encounter a few exceptional young wizards eventually... Headmaster Dumbledore, when I met him, I realized that seventy years of waiting were worth it. Just as Master Nicolas Flamel dreamed of an angel holding a book, I have read the Book of Abraham the Jew of this era."
Professor Terra ignored the teasing and spoke solemnly.
"Please continue, Olivia. I am very interested in this rising master." Dumbledore raised a hand slightly, his blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles twinkling with deep thought and... mischief.
"Albus—"
By this time, Professor McGonagall had entered the office, her face expressionless.
"Professor Terra."
"Professor McGonagall."
Professor Terra greeted her amicably.
"I offer my sincere thanks. It is precisely Professor Minerva McGonagall's contributions to the field of Transfiguration that have made today's breakthrough in the alchemical world possible."
Professor Terra's voice was flat, yet it carried an undeniable undercurrent.
Minerva McGonagall's expression darkened.
Was this Professor Terra... subtly "provoking" her?
"I will take him to this International Alchemical Symposium... He should converse with the greatest alchemists—the Egyptian masters who create Floo Powder; the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, who holds the secrets of two-way mirrors and vanishing cabinets; the families of Uagadou who master the craft of Remembralls and magical portraits... And then, he will announce the arrival of a new era!"
Professor Terra seemed to be declaring something monumental.
Minerva McGonagall's lips pressed into a thin, angry line. She sensed the provocation clearly now.
Using some mumbo-jumbo alchemy, a group of charlatans dreaming of turning stone into gold were trying to steal a Transfiguration genius seen only once in centuries.
"With all due respect, Professor Terra, I believe he should delve deeper into the theory of Magical Creature Transfiguration," Minerva McGonagall challenged as soon as Professor Terra finished speaking.
Professor Terra seemed to sense something. The two witches exchanged a look, causing Dumbledore's beard to twitch with amusement.
The conversation started quickly and ended just as fast.
Professor Terra's claim of "apprentice" proved feeble against the title of "guardian" revealed by Headmaster Dumbledore.
She walked out of the Headmaster's office, suppressing her fury. The ritual—that damned ritual—had been performed right under her nose, and she hadn't known a thing!
Inside the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore looked with interest at the purring biscuit and said, "Minerva, you must understand this is a result of Alchemy. He should continue his studies until he truly comprehends those mysterious rituals and can apply them to Transfiguration."
His words sobered the agitated Professor McGonagall. She pressed her lips together, realizing she had momentarily lost her usual composure and elegance.
"Love and reason cannot coexist, can they?" Dumbledore squinted, tapping his index finger lightly on the desk. "Olivia won't mind... but I hope you know, Minerva, what does it matter if one is a little clumsy?"
His profound gaze turned toward the window. When reason prevails, love often weeps.
Edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Sean walked beside the pumpkin patch. Since the creation of the Magical Creature Transfiguration Biscuit, he had been deeply researching how the Transfiguration within it functioned.
However, two difficult problems lay before him.
First, Alchemy utilized Ancient Runes, and it was hard to link alchemical runes with modern Transfiguration. Sean hypothesized that long ago, ancient wizards used incantations and pronunciations for Transfiguration—like Piertotum Locomotor, which had a complete incantation. To truly master self-transfiguration into magical creatures, Sean would need to learn the Ancient Rune version of Transfiguration.
Second, the power of magical rituals far exceeded that of a wizard casting a spell alone. For example, Skele-Gro, a product of potion ritual magic, could regrow bones, something healing magic struggled to do. Similarly, Sean had never heard of a spell that could alter luck like Felix Felicis.
This was destined to be a long journey of exploration.
Fortunately, Sean had plenty of patience and time.
"Come in quick, Sean—I said we need to be careful. If Professor Minerva McGonagall finds out..."
Since being spotted by Harry and the others, Hagrid had become much more cautious.
Tila the Bowtruckle immediately popped out of Sean's pocket. The castle was too noisy for it, so it had been hiding.
Sean waved his wand. In three seconds, he transfigured his book into a small nest made of tree trunks and dumped some beetles inside.
Tila followed Sean's finger and climbed into its nest.
[You have gained the affection of the Magical Beast Bowtruckle (Tila) to the Adept standard. Proficiency +10]
[Bowtruckle Tila: Friendly (Adept) (9/900)]
Seeing the affinity reach the Adept level, Sean knew the Bowtruckle Biscuit should be put on the agenda.
But now, he needed to unlock the Novice title in the Magical Creature domain.
"Let's go, Sean—"
And so, the boisterous Hagrid and the quiet Sean walked into the Forbidden Forest together.
(End of Chapter)
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