The slacker professor at Hogwarts

Chapter 366 The Mysterious Magic of Animagus

Lockhart Building, top floor, Lockhart stood there all night.

He gazed up at the boundless starry sky, and his heart seemed to be swimming there as well.

"You know what? Cintina, I came here because I longed for all things magical and romantic. It seems like I've become a part of this wonderful and romantic place."

The fairy who died unjustly stood quietly and shyly to the side, without saying a word. She knew that Gilderoy just wanted to find someone to confide in, to say things that he would never say to anyone else.

"Actually, I'm not alone. I know many people understand me."

"Magic is life, and life is magic. When I tell everyone my fairy tale magic theory, they are also intuitively experiencing my life, practicing my magic, and then expanding my life."

"Until—I became an indispensable part of their lives, a part of their fairytale magical adventures, and thus the 'world' of 'me in this world' gained a sense of depth."

Lockhart once described his observations to Sirius, saying that Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort had already completed the path of magical mastery, that he himself was walking on that path, and that Sirius had just stepped into it.

This is observation.

Now, after the magical upheaval has completely transformed him into a wizard (defined only by humans with the ability to cast spells), he has begun to truly understand what the path to becoming a master of magic really is.

As the saying goes, magic is life, and life is magic.

As the boundaries of magic continue to expand, the boundaries of life also gradually open up.

Therefore, the path of a magic master is actually a path to unfold one's own magical life, where countless wonderful and romantic possibilities suddenly appear before one's eyes.

Thinking of this, Lockhart grinned and looked back at the wronged fairy, "I thought these three big shots had reached the end, but now I realize they just stopped walking in the middle of their lives."

Of course, their lives continued to move forward, and Dumbledore began to demonstrate his excellent learning ability, easily absorbing the nourishment of his fairy tale theory. Thus, Tom broke free from the shackles of Horcruxes and began to move forward as well.

As for Grindelwald, this deep fellow rarely showed any of it, making it difficult for Lockhart to observe anything about him.

This is a very simple principle.

The principles behind all profound realms are actually quite simple.

Take Sirius Black, for example, who is still busy on the first floor of Lockhart Building. His magic has entered a completely new field, and his life has been broadened accordingly.

He began to heal people he had never cared about before, even those he despised, some of whom werewolves from Death Eater families.

He would never have done such a thing before. No matter how much he upheld justice, there was always a limit to what he could and was willing to do, but now that limit has disappeared.

He started doing things "for his own sense of justice," instead of dividing others into good and evil, and then fighting or protecting them.

His behavior pattern subtly changed, and this change, this ever-expanding change in life, is what is known as the path to becoming a master.

Gradually, he will also become someone of the same stature as Dumbledore and Merlin, a true master.

A master of magic is not just about magic, but also about life.

And that's the most wonderful thing about fairy tale adventures.

"Step into the romance of a fairytale adventure, where magic naturally unfolds, and life naturally unfolds as well."

"A lecture? What's that?"

Sirius, who had stopped to drink water, looked somewhat bewildered at Fudge, who had been chattering incessantly.

"Tell us about your great achievement in healing the werewolf. After the healing, the media will go crazy reporting on it, everyone will be talking about it like crazy, and at some delicate moment when the discussion is at its peak, we just need to hold a speech like this, and..."

Make your great achievements truly memorable and widely recognized.

"This is absolutely necessary!"

Fudge continued, "The Wizarding Weekly reported that Professor Sprout has developed a magical herb to heal the damage caused by dark forces. I discussed this with the director of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries, and he said it's a great achievement that could save countless lives."

slap~

He clapped his hands, then spread them out and asked, "So, you know about this? Do you truly believe that Professor Sprout is one of the greatest wizards in wizarding history?"

certainly----

?

Professor Sprout is certainly worthy of respect, but when discussed from a historical perspective, it seems—it appears—

Honestly, Sirius was starting to believe it.

He needed this, not for himself, but for the glory of the Black family; Fudge's arrangement was extremely useful to him.

Can----

A lecture?

He didn't know why he thought of Gilderoy the peacock, dressed in extremely gorgeous clothes, standing on the stage, facing countless reporters and crazy fans below, showing the most perfect smile, talking eloquently, and his whole body seemed to be shining in the spotlight.

Uh ~

He became somewhat resistant again.

"Hey Sirius, I agree with what the minister said," Lupin advised from the side. He knew it was for his friend's good. "It's just a lecture, not something you're supposed to do all the time. You should overcome your mindset and treat it as an adventure."

Yes.

The theory of fairy tale adventure.

I know that I have also studied Gilderoy's theories.

Can----

Sirius Black rarely seemed nervous; this was clearly far beyond his comfort zone, and the thought of doing so made him restless and itchy.

He looked around nervously, trying to gauge how others perceived his actions.

Professor McGonagall was filled with pride, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were brimming with admiration, Lucius, that annoying fellow, looked on with envy from a distance, and Lockhart—

"Giddy!" Sirius looked at the guy smiling at him with surprise, hoping to get advice from a guy who was experienced in this kind of thing.

"I agree with Fudge's suggestion," Lockhart said with a smile. "But that's a matter for later. I think you'll have plenty of time to get used to giving lectures, perhaps even a masterclass for our young wizards?"

"Masterclass?" Sirius blinked, not particularly resistant to the idea. After all, he was now the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, and thanks to Gilderoy's previous reforms, he was now teaching masterclasses to four classes simultaneously.

But is he qualified?

Grandmaster?

“Yes, a masterclass,” Lockhart suggested. “As we progress on the path of magic, we gain a deeper understanding of many spells, a higher-dimensional perspective, and a broader set of ideas. Sharing these will help everyone keep up with us and progress faster.”

"For example, Animagus, that's something you're good at, right?"

"I've also been planning to study this kind of magic recently, and I was hoping to hear your opinion. Perhaps this is a good opportunity."

Animagus?

This puts you back in your comfort zone.

Sirius breathed a sigh of relief and finally nodded. "Okay, I'll give it a try!"

Let's give it a try. With the momentum still going strong, holding a masterclass now will definitely attract a large number of wizards to attend.

Therefore, the three headmasters of the Triwizard Tournament decided to postpone the second round of the Quidditch duel, which was originally scheduled to take place, by one day.

Sirius Black's masterclass was quite different from the many sessions held by Dumbledore and Snape before him—he actually prepared a thick set of course materials!

emmm**

This was clearly not something someone like him would do. Through Lupin's teasing words, Lockhart finally understood why Sirius had changed so much.

Sirius got married. His wife is a Muggle, a Muggle who longs to excel. She finds it hard to tolerate Sirius's careless attitude towards life, which is like a prodigal son going shopping. She has only seven years of formal education, so she takes him to the Muggle world to learn how to create courseware from many excellent Muggle teachers.

Anyway, Lockhart found it quite interesting.

Fudge and Lockhart were right; even more wizards attended this masterclass than at Dumbledore's second masterclass, which is the magic of hype.

As the saying goes, "the number of people exceeds ten thousand, without end," when he walked to the podium and looked up, all he could see were heads staring at him.

Sirius looked down at the slides, took a deep breath, and finally tossed the troublesome thing aside. He tried to relax and walked around the podium.

"Today's topic is: What exactly are Animagus?"

He waved his wand, and words rapidly appeared on the blackboard behind him.

"As all educated wizards know, it is a more profound form of transfiguration, specifically belonging to the discipline of human transfiguration."

"But actually, the courses that wizards studied in the early days were not the magic subjects that everyone sees now. Back then, the way they were distinguished was by school of witchcraft."

He quickly became immersed in the beauty of magic, feeling relaxed and natural. He leaned against the lectern, his posture elegant.

"There were actually different paths to practice Animagus in the earliest times, with two being the most mainstream ones recorded."

"These are 'Nature's Call' and 'Earth Animals'."

Sirius thought for a moment and added, "The 'earth animal' category doesn't just refer to animals that walk on the ground; it includes animals that fly in the sky, swim in the water, and burrow underground."

He waved his wand again, causing the two names to appear on the blackboard.

"Let's start with the 'Nature Summoning' school of witchcraft."

"Simply put, people have long summoned various animals to help them fight and even live with them. Gradually, they have become aware of a resonance between natural creatures, which led to the creation of the Transfiguration school of nature summoning."

"The only legends you can still hear about this are the stories of the legendary wizard Merlin. He liked to live deep in the forest with wild beasts, and often transformed into animals to talk to them."

"Then there's the 'Earth Animals' school of witchcraft."

"Many modern wizards categorize it as Transfiguration because it seems to have started with illusion spells and body-enlarging/shrinking spells, but this is incorrect. It is actually a mystical art, where magical power originates from the primitive worship of unknown and powerful forces."

"Just like what Professor Lockhart recently told me about modern mysticism, which originated from wizards' awe of the powerful effects of various Muggle technological artifacts —"

"The shamans of ancient tribes, facing the threat of wild beasts, felt the danger of those beasts, and also sensed their power."

"So I also wanted to become a beast, and I wanted to have their power."

"The speed of a cheetah, the strength of a black bear, the venom of a snake—"

"Today, wild beasts are no longer a threat to wizards; instead, magical creatures have taken their place."

"As we all know, the Ministry of Magic classifies magical creatures not by animal species or magic, but by the degree of threat they pose to wizards."

"Even today at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries, we still see many wizards who attempted to become magical creatures. Some are unlucky enough to die despite attempts to save them, while others are lucky enough to stay there for life."

Sirius paused for a moment after saying this.

He hesitated for a moment, but in the end he waved his wand and tapped the blackboard, and a word appeared again.

"Of course, there is another major school of thought, which is also the most classic school of witchcraft among ancient wizards, and that is curses."

"The extensive records of curses that turn others into beasts roughly begin around the time when ancient and modern times intersected."

""

"The only ones still documented to this day are the Blood Curse Orcs. Of course, some modern disciplines also include the Wolf Poison Werewolf."

Sirius walked back to the podium and tapped three words on the blackboard.

"The greatest benefit of exploring the origins of magic and understanding these schools of witchcraft is that we will clearly understand what the magic we wield truly is."

"Because the scholars who built the modern magic system didn't pay enough attention to this spell, they lumped all Animagus transmutations together, which often leads to confusing and sometimes even conflicting information when we consult materials."

Sirius Black held up three fingers.

He swung it forcefully.

"Actually, there are three types of contemporary Animagus transformations!"

Three kinds!

Please remember, there are three types!

"Their core elements are completely different: natural, mysterious, and dark—there are three in total!"

He hoped that the powerful wizards and scholars present would take this issue seriously and repeat it over and over.

"The Animagus, which is centered on nature, is gradually fading from the historical stage because human society is developing and concentrating in high-density communities, and humans are moving away from nature."

"But it's not without development. In Africa, at the Vagado Magic School, Animagus has been incorporated into the third-year core curriculum, and all students are required to master this magic."

Sirius described the awe-inspiring scenes he had witnessed.

"Can you imagine a scene like this? The school gates are wide open, and all the professors and students transform into various animals, swarming out of the school gates and merging into the nature outside the school."

Many people were amazed.

"The three major magic schools in Europe and the American magic schools, which are heavily influenced by European culture, have developed Animagus based on 'mysticism.'"

"From initially mastering the Animagus through mystical rituals and witchcraft, to attempting to broaden the application of this magic from a mystical perspective."

Sirius analyzed the differences between the two, "We will find that Animagus centered on 'nature' tends to become ferocious beasts, while Animagus centered on 'mystery' tends to become small animals—the kind of small animals commonly found in villages, towns, and big cities."

"Inspired by Professor Lockhart's theory of fairy tales —"

"I believe this is not just a magical issue related to the Animagus transformation effect, but also a difference in the wizarding lifestyle."

"With the progress of urbanization, the establishment of pure wizard villages, and the profound impact of the Secret Law on the social structure, every wizard has actually developed a state unique to the times without realizing it."

He placed his hands on the podium, gazed at the audience, and spoke with an air of mystery, "What I'm going to share with you today is the Animagus, which is centered on mystery."

"Please remember, it's not nature, it's mystery; it's not just about transforming into animals, but about possessing mystical powers!"

"Therefore, I ask you not to always focus on the perspective of polymorph when you are exploring the magical power of Animagus."

"If you look at it from a mystical perspective, you will discover its wonders."

"In mysticism, deer represent vitality, black dogs represent misfortune, rats represent concealment, and there are too many examples to list."

"Therefore, my definition of the Animagus, which is centered on 'mystery,' is—"

He pulled out his wand and tapped the blackboard, and another line of text appeared on it.

—"We use natural animal images as mystical symbols to wield mystical magical power."

"remember!"

"It's not about transformation, it's about casting spells! It's about unleashing mystical power!"

"So don't think that turning into a rat is weak, so weak that you can't cast spells, so weak that a wizard can just lift a foot and stomp on you to death."

"That would be a huge mistake!"

"Turning into a rat is merely a facade; the key lies in employing mystical powers for concealment and achieving a powerful stealth effect!"

"If you think that Animagus is just an animal that can turn a wizard into someone who can't cast spells and whose human thinking is suppressed to a certain extent, then there's really no need for anyone to learn this complicated magic."

That's the beauty of masterclasses!

The experts examined magic from a higher perspective and shared their insights, instantly igniting a desire in many people to master this magic.

They knew the magic's allure!

"Please remember that whether it is Animagus or the Guardian Charm, it is essentially the power of the self, the power of the self in this world."

"Many people enjoy a great deal of fun before learning this magic —"

Sirius complained, "Oh, I wish I could turn into a fire dragon."

"No!"

He wanted to warn everyone, "Never even think about turning into any magical creature, or you'll be in big trouble, without a doubt!"

"The underlying logic is very complex, so I won't go into a long explanation of Professor Lockhart's fairy tale theory in this lesson. You can learn it on your own through the content shared in the Duel Club Newspaper."

"Oh, but I think after listening to my lecture, most people with normal intelligence will try their best to avoid this, and instead start to look forward to the mystical magical powers corresponding to their transformed animals."

"Then I'll enjoy it, oh, I need to become invisible!"

"No!"

Sirius shook his head at everyone, "Don't expect any power, because Animagus is actually yourself, a certain dimension of your spirituality."

"It's not any power that can be programmed; it is you!"

"You yourself!"

"Your life, your heartfelt desires, the stirring thoughts deep within your soul, whether light or darkness—"

"So keep your expectations for the Animagus and don't make any pre-determined plans. You'll only lead yourself astray and cause conflict and misalignment between your ego and spirituality, resulting in frequent accidents."

"After completing your Animagus training, you should analyze your own image within the framework of mystical knowledge and then compare it with your life—"

Sirius grinned and gave a mysterious smile.

"It's like a mirror, reflecting your true self—your past self, your present self, and your future self!"

"As you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, you will begin to feel the wondrous power that the Animagus wields in the realm of mysticism!"

"Then you will discover that the power of the Animagus in mysticism is precisely the magical path you yourself are walking."

"Put them together, and you'll find that magic becomes completely different in your eyes."

"Remember this, it's really important: Animagus is both another means for you and a mirror reflecting your true self, your life, and your magical path!"

Sirius thought for a moment and then added to the list.

"Oh, don't always think that only great people like Dumbledore walk the path of magic. Every wizard has their own magical life path."

"You're a public bus driver? Yes!"

"You're a housewife? Yes!"

"You're a bar owner? Yes!"

"It's not just powerful wizards who have it; everyone has their own path in magic!"

It can be said that Sirius Black is using the story of Animagus magic to illustrate the path he has taken to become a master.

They were extremely generous in dissecting every single detail.

Look, that's how I did it, and you can do it too!

He really tried his best to live up to the title of "Master Class".

Grindelwald listened with interest and turned to Dumbledore and Lockhart, saying with emotion, "I never expected him to be able to articulate such a profound truth. I always thought he was just a reckless charging man."

Lockhart smiled slightly, "Because he is telling his story. Regardless of his identity or personality, he has his own life."

Magic is life, and life is magic.

The magic in your hands is your life.

Nothing more than that.

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