Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 180: Eyes in the Mirror
Marcus McGonagall is Professor McGonagall's brother, and his family warmly welcomes Sheehan's arrival.

But the farm animals were in big trouble.

Soon, Sheen had a private room in the best part of the entire villa.

Life here is leisurely and pleasant; the farm is particularly large, and Marcus McGonagall's family is quite well-off.

The dinners were always incredibly lavish, and Marcus McGonagall's enthusiasm never waned, as if in the blink of an eye, Minerva McGonagall would be all alone.

"Hey! My dear little one! Want to try riding a horse?"

Marcus McGonagall was a very outgoing person, and although he was forty years older than Sheehan, he had no airs at all.

Oh, by the way, he's a male wizard, but his grandchildren aren't.

When this was mentioned, the wizard's eyes became unusually deep and somewhat complicated.

Another thing is that several other middle-aged wizards (Sheen guessed they were around thirty years old) came to the villa today, and they were incredibly excited to see the professor. But Sheen didn't see their father, Robert McGonagall Jr., in the living room photograph.

At night.

A warm and bright room.

Sheen waved his wand, and a shelled salamander scurried out of the fireplace. It bit a twig and then turned it to ashes.

[You have practiced an advanced Transfiguration spell to expert standards. Proficiency +1000]

Sheen has never stopped practicing Transfiguration, and now his [Expert] level Transfiguration has reached:

[Title: Master of Transfiguration]

【Transfiguration: Expert Level (212000/300000)】

At this rate, by the end of the first year, he should at least be able to reach the threshold of becoming a master.

Outside the door, several heads were huddled together.
The little wheat fowl watched as the fire lizard ran out, and then all of them exclaimed "Wow!"

Is he a wizard?

The speaker was Sarah McGonagall, who was peering through the crack in the door. Below her were her brother and sister: Bud McGonagall and Zoe McGonagall.

"I guess so, his eyes are really beautiful."

Zoe McGonagall responded.

A loud meow came from afar, and a pure white cat darted in through the crack in the door, then landed on Sheen's desk and rubbed its head against Sheen's hand.

Sheen stroked the white cat, and it purred.

“He’s like a wizard in a fairy tale. I think he could turn you into a cat, Sarah.”

Bard seemed somewhat expectant.

"May we come in? We'd like to give you a Christmas present, Mr. Green."

He knocked on the door and said politely.

The door opened by itself.

The three of them rolled in, as they were still leaning against the door.

Several soft cushions held them up, and Sheen saw that even as they rolled around, they still held the beautifully wrapped gifts high.

And so the gift boxes floated up.

“Wow—oh, I mean, can you turn Sarah into a cat? She’s been looking forward to it.”

"I'm embarrassed," Bard asked.

Sheen nodded, took out the gifts he had prepared, and exchanged them.

Soon the group took the cookies and went outside to play, politely closing the door behind them before leaving.

Soon their voices could be heard in the corridor:
"My God! He really is a wizard, and one of those kind, helpful wizards from fairy tales! Just like the ones I've read about!"

"You've turned into a cat, Sarah! By the way, can you still talk? Don't run away, Sarah!" Then there was a thumping sound as several McGons ran downstairs, making a ruckus.

Night officially fell, and Sheen put down the gift box, noticing the night outside the window.

The stars always shine brighter in the countryside, where beech trees of varying heights create a profound and tranquil night scene.

Sheen tapped his wand above his head, and his figure blended into the darkness like a shadow. It was an Illusion Charm. He was preparing to go outside the villa to practice Transfiguration. Just then, he seemed to have overheard something.

“Minerva, are he... and you both at Hogwarts? You know what I mean—Hogwarts with Dumbledore there.”

It was Marcus McGonagall's voice; his enthusiastic voice suddenly turned low.

"Ah."

Professor McGonagall's voice was very soft.

"That's good. Will you come with me to visit Robert's grave tomorrow?"

"...According to you, Marcus."

“Minerva, the wizarding world is in turmoil. I have a house in Canary Wharf that has been enchanted with the Faithful Charm. If anything happens, bring him here. He’s a very good boy. Even Perseus, my cat Li, likes him.”

“Hogwarts is the safest place in the world, Marcus.”

"I only believe in myself, and I believe that the people organized by the Ministry of Magic are dead. You know, Robert has already paid the price for us."

I respect your choice, but please respect mine too. Don't go too far; the child still needs you.

“There are many children who need me.”

“I knew it would be like this, Minerva.”

Then came a long silence, and Sheen gradually remembered.

Professor McGonagall's two brothers, one of whom died in the terrorist attacks during Voldemort's reign.

Time slips away quietly.

Sheen stood on the tranquil lakeside, looking at the calm surface of the lake, when suddenly a water snake darted out.

[You have practiced an advanced Transfiguration spell to expert standards. Proficiency +1000]

He put away his wand. His gaze was as calm and deep as the surface of a lake.

Voldemort killed many people and committed many atrocities in the wizarding world.

These atrocities may seem distant, but for those who perished in terrorist attacks and their grieving relatives, they will remain a wound that will never heal.

Every grain of sand in the era, when it falls on a person's head, becomes a mountain.

The calm lake surface resembled the magical mirror inside Hogwarts Castle.

Professor Dumbledore naturally omitted the Hogwarts Castle scene, but only Sheehan knew that it was a distant wish.

Professor Snape, Headmaster Dumbledore...

They know what they are facing, yet they don't.

Waves surged up on the lake again, and flames suddenly ignited in the center of the lake, eventually transforming into the hard armor of a fire crab.

Sheen gazed at the crab, and the firelight then illuminated him.

[You have practiced an advanced Transfiguration spell to the standard of a master, proficiency +3000]

Sheen wearily put away his wand once again, but his gaze was not as calm as before.

He gazed at his reflection in the lake, just as he had gazed at himself in front of the magic mirror that day.

"Only one person knows the ending of the story, so even if only one person has to persevere to the end, it will only be me."

The night sky is filled with twinkling stars. Those who look up at the stars know their own insignificance, yet sometimes, even the insignificant can achieve greatness.

(End of this chapter)