Ethan Adrien had just received his Hogwarts acceptance letter, and with it, an unexpected bonus: two new spells—Petrification Charm and Mana Drain. The Petrification Charm was familiar, having appeared multiple times in the original works, and its effects were well-documented. Mana Drain, on the other hand, was intriguing. It detonated the enemy, causing explosive damage, while simultaneously absorbing their magic to create a protective shield and enhancing the next spell cast. It seemed like a skill from a three-handed character, but magically modified.
However, both spells were at their most basic level—Level One—unlike the three Unforgivable Curses in the newbie gift pack, which were maxed out at Level Ten. Without a wand, Ethan couldn't cast them, regardless of his knowledge of incantations and gestures. But that was about to change; he was scheduled to receive his wand today.
According to the owl's reply received yesterday, a Hogwarts professor would visit today to guide the new students. The speed of the owl's delivery was impressive.
Simultaneously, Ethan's panel had updated:Name: Ethan AdrienAge: 11Bloodline: WizardTalents: Overwhelming Soul: A denser soul, leading to higher learning efficiency and faster casting speed.
Robust Physique: Enhanced physical fitness and adaptability to magic through exercise.
Heart of Darkness: Amplifies dark magic talent; using dark magic requires no emotional assistance.
Spells: Killing Curse (Level 10)
Cruciatus Curse (Level 10)
Imperius Curse (Level 10)
Mana Drain (Level 1)
Petrification Charm (Level 1)
"If it were me, I'd be too excited to sleep!" Philemon Adrien commented, setting down his newspaper.
Children naturally yearned for the magical world. Even though Ethan appeared more mature than his age, his excitement was understandable.
"It's not excitement keeping me up; it's exhaustion from studying magic," Ethan replied weakly, lying on the sofa.
"What have you figured out?" Philemon inquired.
"Without a wand, I can't use magic. So, I need to buy a wand first," Ethan explained.
Philemon's mouth twitched. This kid was playing him.
"Alright, you two, it's time for breakfast," Nydia, Ethan's mother, called from the kitchen.
Nydia typically didn't cook; the nanny handled that. She wasn't a full-time housewife. At the Adrien family's ocean shipping company, Nydia managed operations. When things got busy, she and Philemon often traveled for extended periods.
Today, however, they had returned home from America specifically because a Hogwarts professor was visiting. They took Ethan's admission seriously. Although they hadn't encountered wizards before, they believed in the authenticity of the situation. After all, training such a proficient owl wasn't common.
In their shipping business, they had encountered strange occurrences at sea. Outsiders might dismiss these as drunken sailor tales, but those in the industry knew better. Such incidents were reported and handled by specialists. Additionally, the family had connections with the British Navy, and some knowledge of the wizarding world had been passed down from previous generations.
At exactly nine o'clock, the doorbell rang. The Adrien family sat upright on the sofa.
"Coming!" Philemon took a deep breath and went to open the door. He hadn't felt this nervous in years.
Due to his father's advice that wizard-related matters shouldn't be widely known, the household staff had been given the day off. They had to open the door themselves.
Standing there was a woman in a dark green robe and a wizard's hat, her sixty-year-old face framed by square glasses and a slightly serious expression.
"Mr. Adrien, I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonagall," she introduced herself promptly.
As Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall was responsible for visiting Muggle families of new students each summer. Over the years, she had encountered various reactions—from disbelief to hostility—and had developed strategies to handle them.
"Welcome, Professor McGonagall. Please come in and have a seat," Philemon greeted her respectfully.
"Professor McGonagall, while we believe no one would joke about such matters, could you please provide some proof?" Nydia requested.
"Of course. One of my purposes today is to demonstrate the existence of magic and confirm Ethan's admission to Hogwarts. Afterwards, we'll proceed to purchase his school supplies," Professor McGonagall replied with a smile.
She took out her wand and waved it at the fruit plate on the coffee table. Instantly, the plate and the seven apples transformed into eight British Shorthair cats—one large and seven small. The cats became restless, jumping off the table and exploring the room.
Philemon and Nydia were astonished. Witnessing such magic firsthand left no room for doubt.
"Professor McGonagall, is this Transfiguration?" Ethan asked, picking up a milky yellow kitten to examine it.
The kitten's fur was soft and elastic, its body warm and muscular. It struggled in his grasp, meowing in protest. It was indistinguishable from a real cat.
No wonder Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration stated that food couldn't be conjured. Transfigured items were so realistic that they were virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
"That's correct. This is Transfiguration. If you have a talent for it, you can join my club in the future," Professor McGonagall said, pleased with Ethan's curiosity.
"Professor McGonagall, are these cats under your control?" Ethan inquired further. "I mean, this one in my hand and those two scratching the sofa—they seem to be acting like real cats."
Professor McGonagall was impressed by Ethan's perceptiveness. "No, although I can control their actions, I am not doing so at the moment. Their behavior is instinctual."
"So, after being transfigured into cats, they exhibit natural feline behaviors? Until you reverse the transfiguration, they are essentially cats?" Ethan confirmed.
"Exactly," Professor McGonagall affirmed, satisfied with his understanding.
Ethan's keen interest in Transfiguration was evident. Professor McGonagall was pleased; Gryffindor could use more students like him.
"Professor McGonagall, do these reactions come from the transfiguration process itself, or are they added by you?" Ethan probed.
"They are not added by me. Successful transfiguration requires clear thinking and a deep understanding of the subject," she explained.
With Ethan's questions addressed, Professor McGonagall turned her attention to Philemon and Nydia. Demonstrating magic was only the first step; she needed to answer their questions about Hogwarts, including the learning environment, vacation policies, and communication methods.
Ethan, meanwhile, remained absorbed in thoughts about Transfiguration. He realized that, unlike dark magic, which required negative emotions, or the Patronus Charm, which required positive emotions, Transfiguration relied on consciousness and magical power. The transformed object would take on the characteristics and shape envisioned by the caster.
This meant that, with sufficient magical power and understanding, one could transfigure objects into even mythical creatures, as long as the form was clear in the caster's mind. The potential of Transfiguration was immense.
After concluding her discussion with Ethan's parents, Professor McGonagall addressed Ethan again.
"It's normal not to fully grasp Transfiguration without systematic study. Once you begin your studies at Hogwarts, you'll have the opportunity to delve deeper. If you have further questions, feel free to ask me," she encouraged.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall!" Ethan responded with a smile, setting down the kitten.
"It's my duty as a professor," she replied.
With a wave of her wand, the cats floated back into the air, transforming back into the fruit plate and apples, which settled onto the coffee table. The sofa, scratched by the cats, was also restored to its original state.
"Mr. and Mrs. Adrien, it's time to head to Diagon Alley to purchase school supplies," Professor McGonagall announced.
Philemon readily produced a stack of pounds, and he and Nydia escorted Professor McGonagall and Ethan to the door.
After their conversation, they were confident in Professor McGonagall's intentions. If she had any ill motives, she wouldn't have taken the time to explain everything.
Regarding Diagon Alley, Professor McGonagall advised that it was best for Muggles to avoid contact with the wizarding world, as it offered them no benefits.
"Now, hold my hand and don't let go. We'll use magic to travel to Diagon Alley. The process might be a bit uncomfortable," she instructed.
Ethan took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready, Professor McGonagall!"
He knew what was coming next: Apparition. For beginners or those unaccustomed to it, the sensation could be disorienting.
"Pop!"
With the distinctive sound of Apparition, Ethan and Professor McGonagall suddenly appeared in front of a dingy, broken-down pub in a London neighborhood.
Ethan, struggling to breathe, quickly took a deep breath to steady himself. The process had indeed been uncomfortable.
"Are you alright, Mr. Adrien?" Professor McGonagall inquired.