Just reviewing the four preparatory steps took Professor McGonagall a fair bit of time.
As Wyzett glanced at the lines filling his notebook—step after meticulous step, plus a growing list of key points and warnings—he couldn't help but marvel. Mastering the art of becoming an Animagus was, without a doubt, no simple feat.
He considered himself only somewhat versed in ritual magic, but it was through those studies that he'd learned the Water-Making Charm. Looking at the Animagus procedure, he quickly realized: this was, in essence, a complete ritual.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Let's take a short break, shall we?"
Unlike most lessons, which involved lively back-and-forth, the Animagus transformation required her to explain every detail and nuance with painstaking clarity. The complexity of the ritual, she explained, was precisely what made the process safer and more achievable.
After working through all those steps in one go, even she felt her throat going a bit dry.
She glanced at Wyzett's notebook, now brimming with notes, and nodded in quiet approval. To explain so much at once, and have her student keep up—not to mention take such diligent notes—was its own kind of satisfaction.
With a flick of her wand, a tea set materialized on the desk. Steam curled from cups of black tea, filling the air with warmth.
She stood, retrieved a round tin from her drawer, and opened it to reveal an assortment of biscuits—most shaped like tiny fish.
Tea and biscuits: her favorite way to spend a quiet afternoon. On weekends, she'd often invite Professor Sprout to join her for these rare moments of leisure.
"Relax a little, Wyzett." McGonagall set the biscuit tin beside the tea. Her tone softened. "It's the weekend. Have some tea and a bite to eat."
"Thank you." Wyzett picked up his cup, blew gently on the surface, and took a careful sip, his focus never straying far from his notes.
He'd already sorted the preparatory steps and listed out all the necessary materials.
"Any questions about the ingredients?" McGonagall asked, glancing at his notebook. "Pomona mentioned you've dabbled in ritual magic."
"I think you're right, Professor," Wyzett replied. "The entire Animagus process is really a form of ritual magic."
He nodded. "My understanding is still pretty basic, but I find the materials fascinating."
"I've noticed most ritual magic I've studied is meant to affect the outside world. This one… feels different."
"Oh?" McGonagall sipped her tea, eyebrows raised. "What do you think sets this ritual apart?"
Wyzett turned his notebook so she could see. "For example—dew that hasn't touched sunlight or any living creature for seven days."
He recalled the books Ollivander had recommended, which explained the intent behind various potion ingredients in ritual magic. Drawing on that knowledge, he re-examined the Animagus materials.
"Dew is often used for protection and purification, and seven is a magically significant number. But it's rare to see such strict requirements for purity in ritual magic."
"Dew untouched by living creatures symbolizes an unbroken, pure connection with nature. Seven days is a full natural cycle, which amplifies that purity."
"Combined, they represent inner cleansing and rebirth, as well as protection—making it possible to transform both body and soul safely…"
"You've grasped that much?" McGonagall adjusted her glasses, genuine surprise in her voice.
She herself had only unraveled these meanings after learning the Animagus transformation and then studying the ritual in depth. Wyzett's insights matched her own almost exactly.
He nodded. "I've read a few books on ritual magic."
"Let me add something," McGonagall said. "Only dew that's pure and powerful enough can clearly convey a wizard's innermost intent, helping to define the specific animal form of the Animagus."
"So there's an even deeper meaning to it… That's incredible!" Wyzett exclaimed, scribbling down the new point.
McGonagall smiled, a note of anticipation in her voice. "I think you're saving us a great deal of time. Please, go on."
"Next is the death's-head hawkmoth chrysalis," Wyzett continued, thoughts flowing freely. "It's the stage between caterpillar and moth—symbolizing transformation and rebirth."
"And it specifically has to be the death's-head hawkmoth, which isn't native to Europe. Its adult form has that distinctive skull marking—a warning, perhaps. I think… as a wizard transforms into an animal, they'll naturally feel fear and resistance."
"Using the unique properties of the death's-head hawkmoth can help dampen that fear. The chrysalis itself protects, and the skull motif on the adult moth strengthens that sense of warning and safeguarding."
"I have nothing to add—your explanation is spot on!" McGonagall said, her tone tinged with something complicated. Such an exceptional student… Perhaps only in Ravenclaw could that brilliance truly shine.
She let out a breath, picked up a small fish-shaped biscuit, and chewed slowly, as if she could grind away her stray thoughts along with it.
"There's also the matter of timing," Wyzett continued. "Ritual magic often uses the phases of the moon to create opposite effects."
"For instance, early curse rituals were performed after the full moon, with the new moon being ideal. Early protective rituals, on the other hand, worked best on or just before the full moon."
"So the Animagus ritual uses two full moons—for protection, and for completeness. Which leads me to think…"
He frowned slightly, scanning his notes as his answer took shape.
"Professor, is it fair to say… Animagus transformation isn't just about outward change, but even more about exploring within—understanding the soul?"
"With all these protective measures, it's a way to safely and directly perceive the soul itself… Whoever devised this method was truly extraordinary!"
"And so are you!" McGonagall replied, beaming at him. "Honestly, I thought we'd need far more lessons to cover all of this."
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