Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 138 The Porcupine and the Retiring Professor
"Metamorphosis?" Mrs. Pince looked at the note Siren handed her, then gave Siren a suspicious look. "Is this really the book Minerva sent you to borrow?"

“Of course it’s Professor McGonagall; it even has her signature on it,” Celen said.

“Strange, why would Minerva sign a note for indefinite borrowing?” Mrs. Pince held up the parchment to the light, as if checking if it was a forgery.

However, her words also made Xilun understand what the horizontal line meant... it turned out that there was no borrowing time, meaning that you could return the book whenever you wanted.

The note eventually passed Mrs. Pince's inspection. She told Celen to wait there while she walked over from between the tall bookshelves. About ten minutes later, she brought Celen what he needed.

Seven old, thick books were placed on the table in three rows by Mrs. Pince. Siren noticed that one of the books had two rusty iron chains wrapped around its cover.

Xilun was very curious about what was written in this book that could have led to someone chaining him up.

However, it's easy to imagine that it's different from the content in the textbook, which explains why Professor McGonagall specifically reminded him not to let others see it.

Siren put the book into the shapeshifting lizard skin bag and left the library.

However, the iron chain gave Xilun a good idea; perhaps he could add a similar protective shell to his Horcrux.

After all, that thing is quite different from a traditional wand; it might even be used as a special weapon.

However, using iron chains is definitely not an option; they're too heavy, and flying would just waste even more of my magic power...

As Xilun pondered this, he walked out of the library.

With the exam date fast approaching, it's almost impossible to find an empty table in the library; they're all occupied by fifth and seventh graders.

Back in the common room, Siron saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together suspiciously, but this time they left in a hurry before Siron could get close.

Siren took out the Marauder's Map and glanced at it, only to find that they had run to Lockhart's office door again.

A few minutes later, Harry walked into the office. Ron and Hermione waited at the corner of the corridor before slowly walking to the door and stopping.

The three of them really have a problem with Lockhart.

However, this time Xilun showed neither curiosity nor concern. He casually put away the Marauder's Map and went back to his dormitory to read.

First and foremost was the book with the iron chain. Since Professor McGonagall was willing to let him borrow it, it was enough to show that the book itself was not dangerous, so Siron took it out without worry.

What puzzled Xiren was that the chains on it seemed to be built-in, and there were no unlocked locks or openings.

Siren tried to pull the chain out from the side, but it was no use, and the book began to shake violently as soon as his palm touched the cover.

Xilun subconsciously let go of the book, watching it fall to the ground, then transform into a porcupine in front of him, straining to run out the window.

Xiren was genuinely startled by the scene, and by the time he came to his senses, the porcupine had already run past him.

Seemingly finding the door closed, it then turned its attention to the window on the other side.

"Bang!" The chair was knocked to the ground by it. The porcupine stepped on it and jumped onto the table. It ran straight to the windowsill at an extremely fast speed and then leaped out.

But at that moment, Xiren had already taken out his wand and swung it forcefully.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Another book floated up and blocked its way.

The porcupine crashed into it and fell heavily to the ground. It tried to get up and keep running, but Siron once again pointed his wand at it.

"Collapsed."

The spell struck the porcupine, but only made it pause for a moment. Siren then used the petrification spell, which also had no effect.

This thing seems completely immune to magic.

The next second, Xiren seemed to suddenly think of something and immediately changed the binding spell that was about to be spoken into a transformation spell.

This time it worked. The porcupine froze and stood there motionless. Then, Xilun tried to turn it into a snail, but it turned back into the book with chains in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, the chain had already broken in the middle by this time, and it could be opened at any time to examine it.

Xilun picked up the book, placed it on the table, and began to read it with curiosity.

He thought the book would be horrifying, but it wasn't. It was just a normal explanation of Transfiguration, and even more comprehensive than the "Advanced Transfiguration Guide".

No matter how you look at it, this doesn't look like a banned book at all...

Oh no.

Xiren suddenly remembered that the first time he tried to turn the porcupine into a slipper, it stopped moving. The second time, he used a more difficult animal transformation, and the porcupine finally returned to its book-like form.

Celen felt that if his animal transformation didn't meet the standard, the porcupine might remain frozen in place instead of transforming back.

In other words, this is a book written by a Transfiguration master who, on a whim, added some fun little touches... Only wizards skilled in Transfiguration can see its contents. If that's the case, then this book should indeed be placed in the restricted section; if just anyone could borrow it, Hogwarts Castle would probably turn into a porcupine playground very soon.

Siren glanced at the name on the cover—Corgrid Gray.

He had no recollection of it at all; it must have been a wizard from a long time ago.

Xilun didn't close the book until just before class started, at which point the chains were reconnected.

It looks like I'll have to pass the test with Transfiguration again if I want to read it again next time. I should have known better than to close the book.

Xilun walked out of the common room and jogged to the foyer, preparing to go to the greenhouse outside for herbal medicine class.

While passing by the Black Lake, Sirius unexpectedly saw Dumbledore there, talking to an old wizard who only had half an arm and one leg.

"Please have mercy, Albus, I really should retire," the old wizard said. "I hope you've already found someone to take my place."

“Of course, Sylvanas, I am very grateful for your contributions to Hogwarts.” His gaze fell on the brace on the other man’s right knee. “But I hope you can finish teaching this school year, is that alright?”

“Of course,” the old wizard agreed without much hesitation. “It’s no problem for just one academic year.”

The professor, covered in injuries, retires...

Siren knew who he was: Silvanus Kettleburn, the professor of the Conservation of Magical Creatures class.

In the book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Newt Scamander calls him "the bravest fool of our time" (in a good way, I guess).

He was passionate about magical creatures, but lost sixty bones as a result.

While studying the Hungarian thorn bee, he lost one and a half arms, and while studying the Peruvian venomous fang dragon, he lost a leg.

The Zouwu "embraced" but its five ribs were replaced with replicas.

……

These stories appear every few pages.

Oh, by the way, he also received the "Basic Protective Spell Guide" jointly presented by all the therapists at St. Mungo's Hospital for 12 consecutive years.

From this perspective, Professor Kettleburn can be considered a legendary wizard.

Is he retiring?
That's right, this professor's condition is indeed not suitable for teaching students every day anymore.

So who will replace him? Will it still be Hagrid?
Xilun was starting to feel uncertain.

After all, Hagrid was accused of murdering his classmate fifty years ago... Although everyone knew he wasn't the real killer, he was still expelled and his wand was broken.

Until the real culprit is caught, Hagrid cannot even openly use his wand, let alone serve as a professor at Hogwarts.

But... because of his involvement, the Riddle diary that could prove Hagrid's innocence has completely disappeared, and even the culprit Tom Riddle is now only a quarter of what he originally was.

In this situation, can the truth about what happened fifty years ago still be revealed?
Siren slowed down and eventually stopped. He wanted to tell Dumbledore about it, but since the two were still talking, it was clearly not the right time.

Xilun decided to wait a while.

"Speaking of which, Albus, have you found someone to replace me yet?" Professor Kettleburn asked at this point. "I suggest you find a new professor who is physically strong. Those little creatures in the Forbidden Forest are not so easy to deal with. If you are not strong enough, you may be torn apart by them the next day."

“The Forbidden Forest isn’t that terrible. Sylvanas, the Bowtruckle wouldn’t bite off half of someone’s ear on its own.” Dumbledore glanced at his half-eaten right ear and continued, “If your words get out, it will cause me a lot of trouble.”

"What, haven't you found a suitable professor yet?"

“No, quite the opposite, I have found it,” Dumbledore said with a smile, “and it perfectly meets your requirements.”

"That's good. I hope this new professor will still be in good health when he retires."

"I think it should be fine."

……

As they talked, they walked further away, seemingly heading towards Hogsmeade Village.

This made Xilun hesitate, unsure whether to interrupt them.

And just then, the school bell rang from the direction of the castle.

"Never mind, I'll talk about it next time," Xilun said, turning and running towards the greenhouse.

Anyway, Professor Kettleburn won't retire until next academic year, so there's no point in saying anything now.

(End of this chapter)