The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 108 Felix Felicis and Old John's Matches (Fourth Update)

Back in Slytherin's dormitory.

Ino opened the sealed wooden box, took out the Animagus potion, then picked up the Felix Felicis next to her, uncorked it, and drank it down without thinking.

When Felix Felicis enters the mouth, it slides down the throat with a slight coolness, just like drinking an ice-cold mint soda on a hot summer day.

The coolness and fragrance instantly dispel the summer's gloom, leaving only a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere.

"It feels so good..."

Ino murmured, feeling incredibly clear-headed and comfortable at that moment.

Perhaps this is the fundamental meaning of FREE: when one is blessed with good fortune, one can do anything with ease.

After a brief delay, he quickly opened the briefcase and took out a box of old, scorched matches from a hidden compartment in Muggle mode.

This is the box of matches that old John gave me when we parted.

After receiving the matches, Ino kept them in the box as a souvenir.

But at this moment, with the help of Felix Felicis, he had a feeling, as if a voice was telling him that carrying this box of matches would be very useful.

……

Outside the castle.

The clouds in the western sky churned and changed shape constantly.

Deep within those clouds, flashes of lightning occasionally streak across the sky. These flashes weave through the clouds, appearing and disappearing like ghosts, a harbinger of thunderstorms.

East of the Willow Tree, next to the dock at Black Lake.

Ino handed the Animagus potion to Professor McGonagall.

moment.

Professor McGonagall checked it repeatedly and said, "The potion is fine. Drink it when I tell you to. Also, make sure you pronounce the incantation clearly; that's very important! Do you understand?"

In response to Professor McGonagall's instructions, Ino nodded seriously.

"Thank you! I will definitely be careful."

Regarding Animagus Transfiguration, it has been almost a year since the preparation began. During this time, he has read a lot of materials, all of which talk about the dangers of magic and various real-life cases of injury.

In the original story, the success of Old Potter and his friends was truly due to the favor of Lady Luck.

……

Time passed by, second by second.

At some point, the wind around us gradually stopped, replaced by a dull silence.

"Get ready. Once the first clap of thunder sounds and the potion turns a deep, vibrant red, drink it quickly," Professor McGonagall instructed, drawing her wand and standing to the side. A hint of anxiety and unease lingered in her voice.

After hearing Professor McGonagall's instructions, Ino didn't say anything, but just nodded seriously, because she couldn't be distracted at this time.

Then, he took the box of matches out of his pocket, gently opened the box, and estimated that there were only about a third of matches left. He carefully pulled out a match and struck it against the phosphorus side of the box to ignite it.

"Sizzle!"

With a soft click, the match was lit.

It's amazing! Like a spark of hope in the darkness, like the faintest yet most tenacious starlight in the night sky.

A lit match, unlike a blazing flame, burns quietly in the darkness in a restrained and profound way.

The faint firelight, warm and gentle, flickered softly, each pulse seemingly telling a forgotten story, a legend about love, redemption, and hope.

In the firelight, the surrounding darkness seemed to be gently dispelled, bringing a touch of warmth. The small flame, as if possessing a magical power, offered a sense of comfort on the cold night.

This flame of hope, though faint, is full of power.

Like the tenacity and resilience of life, it is a source of comfort for those struggling in adversity.

In this faint light, people seemed to see the possibility of redemption and being redeemed.

The match burned very slowly, like a small candle, taking more than ten seconds to burn one-tenth of its weight.

As Ino was within the area illuminated by the match, he felt more relaxed than ever before.

All the worries, anxieties, and doubts I had before because of Animagus have vanished, leaving only hope and peace in my heart.

"Boom!"

The first clap of thunder sounded in the sky.

Ino quickly drank the bright red potion, then pulled out his wand from his pocket, pointing the tip at his heart.

"Amado, Animo, Animado, Animagus!"

After a brief delay, his breathing became heavy, and as his chest rose and fell, it was as if another heart was beating, like the birth of a new life!

But this was only his outward appearance. In reality, after drinking the potion, he felt as if he were being torn in two, and a piercing pain arose spontaneously.

However, just as he gritted his teeth, trying to resist the indescribable pain with his willpower, the match in his hand quickly burned out.

Then a flame the size of a thumb floated in mid-air and burned quietly.

In a second, or even less, the tiny flame seemed to come alive, leaping and merging into his body; everything was completed in the blink of an eye.

……

The pain subsided quickly like a receding tide, replaced by a warm and comforting embrace, like that of a mother.

Ino let out a long sigh of relief, and just as he was about to close his eyes and rest for a moment, he heard Professor McGonagall's voice in his ear.

"Merlin! It's so beautiful!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

"Ino, you've succeeded! You've completed the Animagus transformation. Now you can't speak, so just listen quietly! Don't be afraid or panic, I'm here!"

Professor McGonagall tried to make her tone as gentle and soothing as possible, because she knew better than anyone the pain of the magic during its initial transformation.

"Listen to me! You don't need to worry about anything right now. Just familiarize yourself with your Animagus form as much as possible. It will automatically revert to its original form in about an hour or two. Next time, you will be able to control this magic actively."

At this point, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and pointed it at the ground, instantly creating a beautiful full-length mirror.

"Look at your Animagus, it's so beautiful, elegant and gorgeous."

Meanwhile, upon hearing Professor McGonagall's voice, Ino realized that she had succeeded.

However, hearing the words "beautiful," "elegant," and "beautiful" made him nervous.

The Animagus wants stealth and mobility, but the words Professor McGonagall used sound like they were describing a peacock.

If it really was a peacock, he would rather give up the magic. After all, a peacock of medium size that can't run fast or fly high is good for nothing except attracting attention.

However, all these worries vanished after Professor McGonagall conjured up a full-length mirror.

In the exquisite full-length dressing mirror, Ino saw a black swan with glossy black color and an elegant posture.

He was no stranger to swans, as they had appeared in many classic stories.

It is a large bird with a body length of 1.2 to 1.6 meters and a wingspan of about 2.5 meters.

Of course, people often only see the swan's elegant figure, but overlook its abilities.

As the highest-flying bird in the world, the swan is the only bird besides the bar-headed goose that can easily fly over Mount Everest.

Flying at altitudes above 9000 meters is as easy for them as taking a stroll, not to mention their average flight speed is between 75 and 95 kilometers per hour.

If you add the swan's swimming ability to the equation, it can truly be described as incredibly versatile.

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(End of this chapter)