Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 283: Cerberus and the Great Fire Dragon (3k)

The trees in the forbidden forest were dark and swayed slightly in the wind.

Hagrid led a herd of strange horses, which had no flesh on their bodies; their black fur clung tightly to their skeletons, and every bone was clearly visible.

They are the Thestrals of Hogwarts.

"Ah—Sheen, you've come to help."

Hagrid was leading a large herd of Thestrals, who were staring at Sheen with their empty white eyes.

Just then, Buckbeak flew out from the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Sheen patted its head and followed Hagrid into the Forbidden Forest.

“At this time of year, we have to make sure the Thestrals are well-fed, because they have a lot of work to do.”

Hagrid's large feet trod on fallen beech leaves, and along the edges of his thick leather boots were some mushrooms that would faintly glow at night.

"Is it for pulling a horse-drawn carriage?"

Sheen asked.

"You know that too—"

Hagrid's face was full of doubt, but he understood after meeting Sheen's eyes.

This child is smarter and more reliable than anyone else, just like Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Yes, wizards above the first year will see them at Hogsmeade Station. Every year, they are the ones who transport students above the first year to the castle."

As they spoke, Sheen and Hagrid arrived at a place with dense foliage.

Lying there was a monstrous dog, so large it filled all the space under the tree trunk. It had three heads, three pairs of menacing eyes that darted around, three noses that twitched and trembled toward them, and three drooling mouths from which sticky saliva dripped from its yellowed teeth.

Sheen saw that the three-headed dog's rope was tied to a slender tree, but he didn't know what the significance of this step was.

Perhaps it's for psychological comfort: pet dogs must be leashed when they go out.

"Lu Wei".

Hagrid buried his head in Fulvi's fur, and Fulvi whimpered and nudged Hagrid with his head. Or perhaps it wasn't nudging; Sheen thought it was just him being affectionate.

Sheen watched quietly, then silently fed the three-headed dog, while the interface kept beeping:

[You've gained the affection of Froakie (Furville) using your expert skills; proficiency +10]

It's a bit too funny that Lou Williams likes you just because you give him food.

Louie's affinity level was only halfway to mastery, and Sheen's ritual preparations were nearly complete. His bag contained many works by Greek alchemists, who offered unique interpretations of Cerberus, the three-headed dog.

It is said that Hagrid bought Lucy from a group of Greek wizards.

In contrast to the ancient runes of the Germanic peoples, the ancient Greek papyrus records of black magic are very complete, containing many descriptions of ancient Egyptian recipes, experiments, rituals, and spells.

Most of them are written in Greek, which is a poor transliteration of Egyptian words. They read as a string of meaningless syllables, like a magic spell, and are incomprehensible (in fact they are magic spells).

This tradition was later inherited by alchemists, who deliberately scrambled meaningless words and pronunciations, and even invented a complex and mysterious superstitious system around words and pronunciations to deceive people and keep them in the dark.

This excellent tradition allowed Sheen to easily construct most of the rituals, and the inspiration drawn from ancient Greece was put to good use in ancient runes.

"Thank you so much for coming to help. Look at this, I've been wanting to give it to you for a while now..."

Hagrid grinned at Sheehan, took a fluffy book out of his bag, and accidentally dropped it on the ground, then began to viciously clench his teeth at his ankle.

It barked and howled wildly, running madly through the forbidden forest.

"Ya Ya!"

Hagrid then went after Tooth.

Hagrid always forgot he was a wizard, so when Sheen used a barrier charm and a summoning charm to retrieve the strange book, Hagrid kept thanking him.

"I don't know what I would do without you... Now—listen to me, don't be afraid of the books in your hands..."

Hagrid rubbed his hands together, looking at Sheen with a hint of anticipation.

Sheen knew what kind of book it was at a glance—"The Book of Monsters." It described in detail fantastical creatures such as the Sphinx and the Hippogriff.

It comes with a leash, and the pages that open to it are about the habits of the Cerberus.

"People put a strap on it to restrain it because of its monstrous appearance. But actually, Sheen, you only need to gently stroke its spine and it will obey... Many things are like that, I've always known that."

Hagrid said.

The green cover of the book in Sheen's hand bore the golden title "The Monster Book of Monsters." He gently stroked its spine. The book, which had just been flapping and biting, had quieted down and opened its cover on its own.

After passing through the deep Forbidden Forest and emerging from among the enormous trees, Hagrid's stone hut came into view.

Its ceiling beams hung with dried wild birds, ham and other ingredients. Hagrid went into the kitchen to work, while Sheen began to read "The Monster Book of Monsters".

In terms of monster habits and gaining monster trust, it is even more detailed and in-depth than "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which even includes a solution to the problem of being poisoned by Cerberus's venom.

Sheen predicts he'll be able to unlock the Cerberus cookie in less than a week.

For the past few days, he has been thinking about one problem—how to deal with the basilisk's gaze.

Close your eyes?

It could be a last resort, but Sheen prefers another option.

In the original story, Mrs. Lorris survived because she observed the basilisk through reflections.

This means that reflection can at least weaken the basilisk's gaze... If Sheen creates an alchemical artifact that reflects light multiple times, will the basilisk's gaze lose even its petrifying effect?

If Sheen creates the Cerberus biscuit, will Cerberus have three chances to stare at the Basilisk?

In general, for an alchemist, there are always more solutions than problems.

Of course, Sheen still had a last resort: summoning magical creatures with cookies to transform into things like Charmander, Cerberus, or Thestrals to hold off the basilisk while he quickly dealt with it.

By the time we left Hagrid's hut, it was already dark.

Hagrid led Sheen to the lawn on the hillside, held the lamp high, and led them along a gradually thickening stone path leading to Hogwarts Castle.

"...Diagon Alley has been quite lively lately. A new shop has opened there, supposedly run by a 'little Dumbledore.' I wonder how anyone could be more capable than Headmaster Dumbledore?"

But when I heard they sell cookies that can transform into magical creatures, I knew he might be even more powerful than Merlin…”

Hagrid chatted enthusiastically with Sheen. He could have managed on his own in the Forbidden Forest, but after Sheen arrived, he found he had so much to say.

"I don't think so."

Sheen said.

"That's what I used to think too..."

Hagrid stroked Tooth's head while taking out several boxes of civet biscuits from his bag.

"I heard he's a student at Hogwarts, Sheehan, I bet you know him... Great wizards always come in droves. You must have helped him a lot; you were the first alchemist to achieve the transformation of a wizard into an animal."

If you happen to see that 'Hormones,' could you please let him know? I'd really like an invitation. Just one, Merlin—I never dreamed I'd one day transform into a fire-breathing dragon.

Is one enough?

Sheen recalls Hagrid's failed transformation attempt last time.

"You know him?!"

Hagrid's beard twitched.

Sheen nodded.

"Merlin's beard—you, you can..."

Hagrid was too excited to speak.

"We're out of stock."

Sheen replied.

"Of course I know, it's only once a month... I can wait..."

Hagrid watched as the last rays of the setting sun shone on the tips of the beech trees, and the outline of the moon appeared and disappeared. His joy grew wildly like weeds.

"I still have some here."

Sheen added.

"Is it an invitation? That can't be transferred, honey. But aren't invitations one per person...?"

Hagrid mumbled in a daze, not quite understanding what was happening, when he saw Sheen wave his wand and a black dot flash out from a castle window, piercing the golden sunset.

After receiving the box, Hagrid's face turned as red as the setting sun.

There was nothing special in the box, just some dragon-shaped cookies that hadn't even been numbered yet, burning with not-so-hot flames and snorting.

In the shop, their value has exceeded thousands of Galleons.

"Are there some of these...?"

Hagrid muttered to himself, but his voice was still as loud as thunder.

……

At Hagrid's hut, Sheen had been invited back by the giant, and Hagrid was now singing a Christmas carol.

After downing glass after glass of eggnog, his voice grew louder and louder.

"I'm transforming!"

Hagrid suddenly roared, startling Sheen.

"Oh, sorry, I startled you."

Hagrid covered his mouth with his hand, embarrassed.

At this moment, Sheen is holding a magic camera, which Hagrid found in an old box. He will help Sheen record the appearance of Hagrid after he transforms.

At the same time, Sheen was also very curious because Hagrid's transformations were always more unique than those of other wizards; for example, his transformed cat was as big as a dog.

Is this from eating too many fairytale cookies, or is it the effect of having a giant's physique?
As a qualified alchemist, Sheen would not miss any opportunity to observe carefully.

"Thanks to you."

As Hagrid spoke, he looked up at Sheehan, his eyes sparkling.
"I can't believe it... What an amazing person! This has always been my dream... This is exactly what I've always wanted..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he ate seven cookies in one go, and then sat down in a chair like a good boy, only to be quickly pulled out of the hut by Sheen.

Outside the cabin, Sheen bumped into someone unexpected.

(End of this chapter)