The field of Magical Creature Breeding isn't something every young witch or wizard resists, not by a long shot. At least, the Weasley brothers, bless their hearts, were positively buzzing with excitement during their recent discussion, eager to hear Hagrid speak again about this fascinating branch of magic.
Yes, the Weasley brothers.
Percy, the third eldest, was, quite frankly, thinking of that dreadful demon Professor Lockhart conjured in Hogsmeade. He saw a chance for some practical gain, hoping to impress the professor. Ron, on the other hand, simply wanted a companion for his beloved rat, Scabbers. Their bond was truly special, and he yearned for a "continuation of life" for the pet that had been in his family for generations. Of course, young wizards are often too shy to speak of such things as "mating," so he just pretended to be utterly engrossed in the lesson.
Then there were the other two Weasleys, the twin brothers, Fred and George. They genuinely possess a unique gift for this field. They immediately began discussing the possibility of breeding new Pygmy Puff varieties. Pygmy Puffs, those adorable, fluffy creatures, are widely kept as pets in the wizarding world and are incredibly easy to care for, being scavengers that thrive on leftovers. Ginny once had a Pygmy Puff, until Fred, bless his experimental heart, used it for a magical mishap, and well, that was the end of that.
George and Fred, ever the entrepreneurs, dreamed of breeding even tinier Pygmy Puffs, convinced this would earn them a mountain of Galleons to fund their mischievous inventions. Living in these peaceful times, they hadn't yet tried creating combat-oriented magical items with Shield Charm capabilities, preferring to focus on amusing novelties. Yet, their immense talent was already clear to see.
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### Hermione's Daring Idea
But none of these students, not even the energetic Weasleys, pleased Professor Lockhart quite as much as Hermione. She proposed an idea that hadn't even crossed Lockhart's mind!
On the way back, she approached Professor Lockhart, whispering, "Professor, since we can plan and breed offspring based on a magical creature's magical properties to find compatible pairings, could we not directly alter a magical creature's magical properties, and go a step further to directly obtain the new species we desire?"
"!!!" Even Grindelwald, walking nearby, gasped in astonishment, turning to stare at the young witch in disbelief. Where was the kindness and compassion she displayed earlier? Her current line of thought doesn't sound like anything she would say! This sensation was utterly chilling for old Gellert.
A person's actions are guided by their will and thoughts. While seemingly unfathomable, in his eyes, there's always a clear trajectory, a visible path. By looking along this path, one can naturally foresee the future. But now, he saw someone completely off track!
Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, his heterochromatic gaze flickering. He felt the future of this young witch had become unpredictable. This is... He looked at Lockhart, a sudden realization dawning on him: This young man seems to have altered this young witch's destiny!
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### The Nature of Transformation
Lockhart, oblivious to old Gellert's inner turmoil, mused over the young witch's words. "Yes, that seems entirely plausible."
Snape, walking beside them, nodded. "Wizards infected with lycanthropy undergo a drastic change in their magical properties when they transform into werewolves during the full moon. Furthermore, my research into Animagi shows the same holds true when a wizard transforms into an animal using that particular Transfiguration."
Noticing Hermione and several other young witches and wizards listening intently, he felt a flicker of satisfaction and continued, "You should know that after a wizard becomes a werewolf, they lose all recognition of family and friends, knowing only slaughter and the spread of lycanthropy. In their werewolf form, they possess none of their original human consciousness, only recalling their actions once they revert to human form."
"Animagi are less extreme; wizards retain their self-will, but their minds are suppressed by animalistic instincts. They instinctively perform actions only animals would, sometimes even changing their dietary preferences." He looked at Harry and the others with a hint of malice, adding, "If you ever learn to become an Animagus, you'd best pray you don't turn into a dog, or you might instinctively try to eat... well, let's just say unsavoury things!"
"!!!" The young witches and wizards recoiled in unison, utterly horrified.
Lockhart chuckled. "In fact, the animal form an Animagus takes is often related to their Patronus, as both stem from the same reflection of one's inner self."
"Of course, if your Patronus is a magical creature, your Animagus form will deviate, but there will still be similarities."
This, indeed, was a subtle and fascinating point. As Lockhart spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the Matagots accompanying them. In the wizarding world, Matagots take the form of magical, leopard-like big cats, but in the Muggle world, they're ordinary, non-magical small animals, much like Animagi.
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### A Glimmer of Understanding
Hmm... Is there some hidden connection here? Lockhart suddenly had a faint, tantalizing feeling, as if he were on the verge of grasping something crucial! But no matter how hard he tried, the thought remained just out of reach.
"There's also a curious phenomenon in Potions," Snape added, looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He knew that after Gilderoy returned Advanced Potion-Making to the library, these three had secretly consulted it. "Polyjuice Potion, a potion for human transformation, allows a wizard to take on the appearance of another person."
"This potion has a little-known peculiarity: if you drink Polyjuice Potion and transform into someone else, if you die before reverting to your original form, your corpse will not change back; it will remain in the appearance of the other person."
"This is an instance where a wizard's magical properties change in a state they themselves are unaware of."
"When the appearance changes, so do the magical properties!"
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### The Dawn of a New Era
As the saying goes, "Among three people, there must be one who can be your teacher." Listening to Snape's explanation, Lockhart suddenly realized: as Voldemort's appearance increasingly transformed into a noseless, snake-like face, were his own magical properties, perhaps even his very soul, changing as well? Perhaps the relationship between the diary Horcrux, Tom Riddle, and Voldemort was far more complex than it seemed.
It wasn't just the two professors imparting their wisdom. The young witches and wizards of the Duelling Club, after a full year of their combined tutelage, had also begun to delve into the fundamental essence of magic. They were all exceptionally brilliant, each with their own unique ideas and lines of inquiry. As they discussed, they all benefited from one another, and Snape and Lockhart were no exception.
Grindelwald, who had been chattering incessantly moments before, had grown quiet, following behind them, his expression unreadable as he watched the group.
It's changed! The future has utterly transformed! Of course, the future is always uncertain, but it usually follows discernible patterns, and Grindelwald could always see the most probable outcomes. Yet, the discussions among these individuals seemed to conjure an infinite array of future possibilities. His expression was truly peculiar; he simply couldn't fathom how each and every one of these people seemed destined to profoundly influence the future.
Yes, each and every one. Even the most inconspicuous of the young students, quietly listening from the sidelines, seemed destined to stand on the international stage, leaving a deep and lasting impact.
How could this be? Grindelwald blinked, a rare moment of uncertainty clouding his prophetic abilities. Had he miscalculated? Or was he witnessing the very genesis of a monumental era?
As a Seer and a wizard deeply versed in magical history, Grindelwald knew full well that many witches and wizards who achieved great things throughout history weren't necessarily gifted with extraordinary talent. Sometimes, it was pure happenstance, the very tide of the era propelling them forward, granting them more opportunities to enhance their inner magical power and unleash even greater magical abilities. And this, it seemed, was precisely what Lockhart called "the romance of a fairy tale adventure."
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Truly extraordinary. Lockhart had clearly forged an astonishing magical path, and he was leading so many others to follow him. Grindelwald suddenly began to understand Dumbledore's thoughts. This young man might indeed usher in a new era—an era that wouldn't require the burden of their old generation, an era belonging to the new. He began to observe them with newfound interest.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting a corner of the sky with orange and red hues, the young witches and wizards and their two professors walked back to Hogwarts Castle, animatedly discussing their differing viewpoints, utterly delighted.