The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 109 The Animagus and the Path of the Legendary Wizard

Outside Hogwarts Castle.

Professor McGonagall stood on the shore of Black Lake and said with satisfaction:

"It went more smoothly than I expected, and it was a rare black swan event. You can move around now, the black lake or the sky, it's up to you, I'll be here waiting for you to turn back!"

Upon hearing this, Ino also tried to stand up. Although swans also walk on two legs, they always feel a bit awkward with an extra pair of wings.

But there's a saying that goes, if someone is pretty, even rudeness can be interpreted as frankness.

Ino is the same; although she walks unsteadily, the black swan's elegant posture and innate noble temperament turn all these flaws into cuteness.

Professor McGonagall couldn't resist reaching out to support the beautiful swan that was stumbling before her.

But at the last moment she held back, after all, this was Ino's first time adapting to the Animagus form, just like a child learning to walk, this step had to be taken by herself.

Meanwhile, after several attempts, Ino finally... "plop" fell into the black lake.

But unlike what he had imagined about falling into the water, after struggling for a while and finding that he couldn't sink no matter what he did, he began to try to glide in the water by moving his feet.

Thanks to the swan's physiological structure, both its feathers and feet allow it to swim freely on the lake.

Playing in the water seems to be addictive. Ino was having a lot of fun, but forgot about Professor McGonagall who was standing next to him.

About ten minutes have passed.

Professor McGonagall finally couldn't hold back any longer and said loudly:

"The first transformation is to familiarize you with your body. You're not a fish; how long do you plan to play in the Black Lake? Swans are meant to fly!"

Upon hearing this, Ino quickly put away his playful mood, but he also realized that in the Animagus state, one is easily influenced by animal instincts.

Just like when you become a swan, you love water.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Professor McGonagall beside him, and the tabby cat...

With a gentle sway of her elegant swan neck, Ino also shook off the rude thoughts that had been swollen in her mind.

Then he spread his wings, preparing to try flying.

On his first flight, he was unsure of the steps swans take off, but he did know some of the widely circulated "Nine Steps and Eighteen Beats".

This refers to the fact that swans tread on the water multiple times before taking off to adjust their body posture and accumulate strength, so that they can flap their wings and fly high.

……

Under the cover of night, Black Lake lies quietly in the caress of the moonlight, like a deep mirror.

A bright, clear moon hangs high in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow.

Suddenly, ripples spread across the lake.

A beautiful black swan stretched out its elegant neck, then flapped its wings vigorously, making a "slap slap" sound that broke the tranquility of the lake.

As the swan flapped its wings powerfully, its body gradually began to rise gracefully.

Like a black sprite dancing in the air, drawing beautiful arcs.

On the lakeside, Professor McGonagall nodded with satisfaction upon witnessing this scene.

In mid-air, the moment Ino took off, he instinctively learned to fly, just as he had learned to swim after falling into the water.

Flying and swimming are both innate abilities of swans, which they can master with just activation and a short period of adaptation.

Enjoy freedom and unrestraint.

At that moment, he truly experienced the wind and the eagle.

Hogwarts Castle appeared smaller and smaller to him, and he flew higher and higher.

The stratosphere, also known as the isothermal layer.

At an altitude of 10,000 meters, among known birds, only swans can reach this flight altitude, even bar-headed geese only fly up to 9,000 meters.

After a brief moment of excitement, Ino in the sky began to ponder her recent experience.

First and foremost is the severely underrated match, the last relic left by Old John's daughter in the freezing cold. It's not just a memento; it's more like a miracle.

"Perhaps it transcends magic..."

"In the Black Swan state," Ino thought to himself.

He quickly dismissed this absurd idea; how could someone who had never even entered a magic temple be expected to judge something as surpassing magic?

Regardless, the matches Old John gave him were the most powerful and mysterious items he had ever seen.

Even though the divination dice given by Professor Hans were very practical, they still couldn't compare to the vastness of a burning match.

If we had to find a comparison, only Dumbledore and the match have similarities.

It was a pure love, a boundless love.

The difference is that Dumbledore's love was for one person.

The burning match, with its gentle, small flame, seems to embody the love from countless fairy tales, folk customs, and stories over thousands of years.

As she thought of this, a figure gradually appeared in Ino's mind: Harry Potter, the protagonist of this world's story.

The story began with love and ended with love.

Voldemort cleverly broke Lily's protective magic, but ultimately lost to love.

Perhaps it was the effect of Frucrine.

Ino felt that she had figured out a lot, as if she had lifted a corner of the skirt of the magical world, but at the same time, more doubts arose.

Four colleges, four founders: shrewd, brave, wise, and loyal.

Hans's rejection of greed, Dumbledore's boundless love...

It seems that these legendary figures always manage to find their own path, or rather, forge their own way.

……

"And what about my quality...?"

Ino couldn't help but sigh in his heart that quality is not freedom. Although he longed for freedom, freedom is merely a way of life and attitude.

However, he was fairly certain of one thing: other people's qualities were definitely not suitable for him.

For thousands of years, no legendary wizard has ever been seen who has inherited the qualities of the four founders.

The most vivid example is Dumbledore. As a legendary wizard, he did not inherit Gryffindor's courage, or rather, after reaching the pinnacle of courage, he found the path that should have belonged to him.

Ino thought of Professor Flitwick's talk of magical emotions, and of Dumbledore's tumultuous life...

However, just as he was about to think about more questions, the feeling of being in control and having a flash of inspiration vanished.

A sense of loss.

But after a brief period of disappointment, he was mostly happy because he had found the correct way to use Felix Felicis.

This magical potion is not like the one in the original story, where drinking it makes you play Quidditch or become a goalkeeper, nor does it make you learn to solve cases and find clues like an Auror after drinking it.

That would be an absolute waste.

The true purpose of FREE may be for thinking and learning.

A sudden inspiration, as if guided by some unseen force. Like a road sign at a crossroads, it allows one to easily find the right route and conveniently reach their destination.

"My dear Professor Snape..."

At this moment, Ino thought of his own dean, whose powerful divine swordsmanship and superb potion-making skills were unparalleled.

If Animagus's first transformation hadn't ended, he would have flown back to the castle right now to get Snape's help and learn how to make Felix Felicis.

He might not have enough money or be able to use his face to make a payment before, but now he's really willing to give it a try.

After all, Draco used the upside-down bell not only to hang up a man named Potter, but also Potter's henchman.

Most importantly, everything was done honestly and openly.

There was no sneak attack, no taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; all actions were carried out in the dueling arena, under the watchful eyes of everyone.

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(End of this chapter)