[Fir wood, wizard hair, eleven and two-thirds inches]
[Status: Perfect]
[Properties: Transformation +10 (50)% | Disguise: Animagus Transformation success rate +30%]
Robert stared at the result of his all-nighter, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
There were thousands of wands in Ollivander's shop, yet Robert had never seen one that could directly boost the success rate of Animagus transformation. This was the only one of its kind. Neither his grandfather nor his great-grandmother—who once experimented with Kelpie manes—had ever crafted a wand related to Animagus magic.
He wasn't sure if such wands had existed before, but among the 377 wands currently in the shop's inventory, not one carried this kind of effect. If one had, Robert would have remembered. As the pinnacle of live transformation magic, Animagus spells carried a massive reputation. A wand that could enhance its success rate would have definitely caught his attention.
A 30% success rate increase was astonishing. Most new wands offered a bonus of only around 5% to 10%. Even Professor McGonagall—whose reputation as a Transformation Master was legendary—only had a personal property bonus of 30%. And she had earned that through decades of excellence.
Moreover, Animagus transformation wasn't ordinary transformation magic. In all of England, there were roughly over 3,000 wizards, but only seven registered Animagi. Even counting the unregistered ones, the number likely didn't exceed twenty. To directly strengthen such a complex, high-level spell—was that the true value of a Transformation Master?
The more Robert looked at the wand, the more he liked it. With a casual flick, he transformed the quill on his desk into a gleaming silver needle.
He frowned.
There was a strange sense of unfamiliarity when casting with the wand—an awkwardness he had never felt before.
He guessed it was the drawback of using wizard hair as a core. Still, it was a small price for such a significant benefit.
Robert turned his attention to the other property:
Transformation +10 (50)%
It was the first time he'd seen a property like this, but it wasn't hard to interpret. For any user—including Robert himself—the basic transformation bonus was 10%. However, if Professor McGonagall were to use it, the bonus would rise to 50%.
That meant the wand would reach its full potential only in Professor McGonagall's hands.
After all, the hair used in the wand was hers.
Robert hesitated briefly, then decided to keep the wand—for now. Properties related to Animagus magic were just too rare. He had no idea if he'd ever see another like it.
Although he was only a first-year student and his knowledge of transformation was still rudimentary—making it impossible to attempt Animagus transformation even with the wand's help—he believed he could learn it eventually.
As a wandmaker with limited combat skills and physical strength, Animagus magic could be his trump card—a life-saving tool. It would be ideal if he could master it before Voldemort's return.
Until now, Robert hadn't had much confidence in that goal. After all, Animagus magic was the pinnacle of live transformation. But with this wand, the possibility no longer seemed like a fantasy.
If he worked hard at studying transformation magic, it was genuinely feasible to learn Animagus transformation before Voldemort's resurrection. Maybe even within the year...
"No, I'm getting ahead of myself. Way ahead," Robert muttered, slapping his cheeks to shake off the dream.
Animagus magic wasn't something you could learn just by chanting a spell. Mastery over fundamental transformation spells was a strict prerequisite.
It was like aiming to win the Quidditch World Cup before even learning how to ride a broom or knowing the rules. These were things far beyond a first-year's reach.
Not to mention, Robert had other responsibilities. He couldn't devote all his time and energy to transformation magic alone.
As for Professor McGonagall… he still had one strand of her hair left. If needed, he could always craft another wand. Besides, she was already an Animagus. She didn't need the wand's assistance.
Satisfied with his decision, Robert stood up, rubbed his forehead to clear his mind, and left the dormitory.
The common room was buzzing with energy.
Fred and George were, as usual, energetically marketing their prank products and a fresh batch of Skiving Snackboxes. To them, sleepy-looking students like Robert—who clearly hadn't had enough rest—were ideal customers.
"Try a Nosebleed Nougat," Fred offered cheerfully, holding up a box filled with a dozen glossy brown toffees.
"Instant effect! Skip any boring class instantly."
"Go back to the dorm."
"Catch up on sleep."
"Or just disappear for a bit," George added in perfect sync.
"Thanks, but no thanks," Robert replied with a sleepy smile, shaking his head. "Our first class is History of Magic."
"Oh, then you really don't need it," Fred said, sounding almost disappointed as he stashed the box away.
Professor Binns, who taught History of Magic, had died years ago. He'd simply fallen asleep in front of the staffroom fireplace and the next morning went straight to class—forgetting his body behind.
Despite being a ghost, he never stopped teaching. He remained Hogwarts' only spectral professor, reading from his notes in the same monotone he'd used in life.
Robert often joked in his mind that the Hogwarts school board had no conscience. They even made a ghost work—no rest, no food, and definitely no salary.
If there were a Hogwarts professor rating system, Professor Binns would rank first—by virtue of endurance alone.
But as a ghost, he was limited in many ways. His teaching quality had declined with his death. With no brain or senses left, all he did now was read from his notes, oblivious to what was happening around him.
That made his class one of the most relaxed at Hogwarts. Students could sleep, talk, or even play Wizard Chess as long as they didn't get too loud.
Because of this freedom, History of Magic had the lowest class-skipping rate. There was simply no point in skipping a class where you could do as you pleased.
Robert, who planned to take a nap, figured it was the best opportunity.
"I'm thinking of grabbing breakfast in the Great Hall. Still possible?" he asked.
"If you're not scared of being late," Fred replied. "But you really missed the best part this morning."
Robert glanced at the time. Ten minutes until class. If he left now, he'd be cutting it close. The staircases at Hogwarts had a nasty habit of playing tricks on first-years, so getting there on time wasn't guaranteed.
"Nimbus 2000!" George exclaimed, nearly bouncing with excitement. "Can you believe it? Someone gave Harry Potter the newest broom!"
"And Wood told us he's going to be the new Seeker for Gryffindor," Fred added.
"Professor McGonagall says he's the most talented Seeker she's ever seen!"
"This year's our best shot at the Quidditch Cup!"
Watching the twins burst into excitement, Robert instinctively took a small step back and made a quiet exit toward the classroom.
He really didn't get what made them so enthusiastic. Riding a piece of enchanted wood didn't appeal to him at all. Now, if they added a wand core to the broom and allowed spellcasting mid-air—that would be interesting
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