Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 201: Conflict in the Principal's Office

"Albus—"

Inside the principal's office, Professor McGonagall strode to the door, only to find an uninvited guest already there.

Professor Terra's silver hair contrasted sharply with Principal Dumbledore's white beard, adding a striking touch to the ancient stone walls.

"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore, it's been so long, so long that I can hardly remember..."

Professor Terra took a sip of black tea, raised her finger, and the moisture that was obscuring her view transformed into a thin wisp of smoke that drifted out of the window.

"At that time they called me the youngest alchemist in Vagado, and I was proud of that reputation, having missed out on many great alchemy masters."

It is a lifelong regret that I was unable to communicate with those masters. You know, some lives are destined to be brilliant but short-lived.

Therefore, my disciple must not miss this opportunity.

Headmaster Dumbledore squinted, as if listening to an old friend rambling on.

In fact, their friendship can be traced back to the previous International Alchemy Congress.

That was seventy years ago. Dumbledore was there as a friend of Nicolas Flamel, while Terra was just a naive little girl.

Since Terra became a professor at Hogwarts, she has been more disappointed than anything else, and she usually doesn't have this much to say.

This particularly interested Dumbledore.

In particular, there were people eavesdropping on their conversation at the door.

"Olivia, the last time we met you were complaining that the students these days are not as good as they used to be..."

Dumbledore crossed his fingers, his face full of mockery.

"An alchemist will always encounter a few excellent junior wizards..."

When I met Principal Dumbledore, I realized how worthwhile those seventy years had been.

Like Nicolas Flamel's dream of an angel holding a book, I have read the "Book of Abraham for the Jews" that belongs to this era.

Professor Terra ignored the teasing and spoke solemnly.

"Please continue, Olivia. I am very interested in this rising master."

Dumbledore gently raised his hand, his blue eyes behind his crescent-shaped spectacles revealing a thoughtful and... cunning look.

"Albus—"

Professor McGonagall had already entered the principal's office with a blank expression.

"Professor Terra."

"Professor McGonagall."

Professor Terra greeted her warmly.

"I am sincerely grateful that it is thanks to Professor Minerva McGonagall's contributions to the field of transformation that we have achieved the breakthroughs in the world of alchemy today."

Professor Terra's voice was calm, yet it did carry a hint of emotion.

Minerva McGonagall, however, did not look too good.

This Professor Terra seems to be subtly... "provoking" her?

"I will bring him to this year's International Alchemy Congress..."

He should consult with the greatest alchemists—

The Egyptian master who makes Floo Powder; the headmaster of Beauxbatons Magical School who preserves the techniques for making two-way mirrors and vanishing cabinets; the Vagado family who manages the production of memory balls and magical portraits...

Then, he will announce the arrival of a new era!

Professor Terra seems to be announcing something incredible.

Minerva McGonagall's lips tightened into an angry line, because she had a vague feeling that someone was constantly provoking her.

Using a mystical alchemy technique and a group of charlatans who dream of turning lead into gold, they attempted to steal away a genius that is one in several centuries in the field of transformation.

"With all due respect, Professor Terra, I think he should perhaps delve deeper into the theory of magical creature transformations."

Minerva McGonagall raised a question immediately after Professor Terra finished speaking.

Professor Terra seemed to sense something, and the two exchanged a glance, causing Dumbledore's beard to twitch with a smile.

……

The conversation started quickly and ended quickly.

The title of Professor Terra's disciple seems so powerless compared to the guardianship revealed by Headmaster Dumbledore.

She walked out of the principal's office, suppressing her anger. Right under her nose, that damned ceremony had taken place, and she hadn't known a thing!

Inside the principal's office.

Dumbledore looked with great interest at the snoring biscuit and said:

"Minerva, you should understand that this is the result of alchemy. He should continue to study until he truly understands those mysterious rituals and applies them to transfiguration."

His words jolted Professor McGonagall out of her composure. Now, with her lips pursed, she felt for a moment that she had lost her usual calm and elegance.

"Love and reason cannot coexist, right?"

Dumbledore squinted, tapping his index finger lightly on the table.

"Olivia won't mind... but I hope you know, Minerva, what's wrong with being a little clumsy?"

His deep gaze was fixed on the window. When reason prevails, that's when love cries out.

……

On the edge of the forbidden forest.

Sheehan walked to the side of the pumpkin patch and, when the magical beast transforming cookies appeared, studied in depth how the transformation magic worked.

But he faced two difficult problems.

First, alchemy uses ancient runes, but the ancient runes used in alchemy have no connection to modern transmutation.

Sheen speculated that perhaps long ago, ancient wizards had incantations and pronunciations for transfiguration—for example, "Stonestones Move" had a complete incantation and pronunciation.

For wizards to truly transform into magical creatures on their own, Sheen must learn the ancient magical script version of Transfiguration.

Secondly, the power of magical rituals far surpasses that of a wizard casting magic alone.

For example, the potion of bone growth, as a product of potion ritual magic, can help wizards grow bones, which is obviously difficult to achieve with healing magic.

For example, Felix Felicis; Sheen had never heard of a spell that could change one's luck.

This is destined to be a long exploration process.

Fortunately, Sheen has plenty of patience and time.

"Come in quickly, Sheehan—I told you we need to be careful, what if Professor Minerva McGonagall finds out…"

Since being discovered by Harry and the others last time, Hagrid has become much more cautious.

The Bowtruckle Tira emerged from Sheen's pocket immediately, seemingly too afraid to show its face due to the noise of the castle.

Sheen waved his wand and in three seconds transformed his book into a small nest made of tree trunk, while also dumping some small beetles inside.

Tira then crawled into her nest along Sheen's fingers.

[You have gained the favor of the magical creature Bowtruckle (Tira) with your proficiency, skill level +10]

【Tree Protector Bowtruckle: Approachable (Expert Level) (9/900)】

Seeing that they had reached a level of familiarity, Sheen knew that the Bowtruckle Cookies should be put on the agenda.

But now, he needs to unlock the entry-level title in the realm of magical creatures.

"Let's go, Sheen—"

So the carefree Hagrid and the quiet Sheen walked into the Forbidden Forest together.

(End of this chapter)