Many days passed without incident, as if that whole string of troubles right after Christmas had simply vanished.
But everyone at Utopia, including the professors, knew these things were merely buried under Hogwarts' snow. Someday they'd accumulate until they could no longer be suppressed and would explode.
Of course, the first to explode was Snape's emotions. Spending so much on potions daily yet still unable to bring back that soul-stirring shade of green, Snape's classroom had now become what all Hogwarts students acknowledged as the "most terrifying place".
Though it seemed about the same as before...
"Miss Abbott, I wonder if your already not-too-prosperous little brain has been filled with cream and biscuits from Hogwarts' kitchen? So much that you can't understand a simple step. Crushing lizard nails before adding to the cauldron? Please open your eyes and look!"
Snape slammed his hand on the small pile of "crushed nails" before Hannah, shocking her tears back into her eyes.
"Do you see if this is what 'crushed' should look like? Its only difference from a troll's intact nails is smelling slightly better. If I see you crushing things like this again, you can try processing troll toenails!"
The black bat departed with rolling black clouds, leaving only a broken little girl.
"Professor Snape's really... getting more and more irritable... even you've started fearing him?" Terry turned to look at Sterling, who was obediently stirring clockwise in his cauldron with a glass rod.
How rare. In the past, Sterling would've already stirred anticlockwise until the cauldron became a blur.
For a while, Harry and Ron thought cauldron-spinning was the source of Sterling's terrifying physical strength, until they couldn't manage to blur their cauldrons no matter what, finally admitting Sterling was just born with divine strength.
"Not really fear. Professor Snape's been so anxious lately he's lost quite a bit of hair. I'll reluctantly follow rules for now, afraid he'll really get sick from anger. You know how his nose practically points skyward every time we brew potions..."
"Ravenclaw loses fifteen points! No talking!"
Sterling and Terry exchanged helpless glances and honestly continued brewing potions.
After class, Snape pinched his nose and gave Sterling's potion a "0". To encourage him to continue being "rule-abiding".
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students flew out like caged birds, all rushing to the corridor in a blink without even chatting, single-mindedly wanting to escape the shadow of Potions class.
"Need me to pack you something at dinner?" Terry unhurriedly packed, while Sterling had already finished, pushing his bag to Terry to take back to the common room.
"Probably not. Professor McGonagall's just warning me again about Animagus study restrictions. Shouldn't take long. Besides, if I really miss dinner, I believe Professor McGonagall won't be stingy about giving me a legal night-roaming pass to eat in the kitchen."
"Alright then. If you go to the kitchen, bring me back an egg tart. Don't know why, but there haven't been any egg tarts on the table these past few days."
"Sure. If Hermione and Padma want anything, have them contact me with badges. I'm going to Professor McGonagall's."
"Go on. Damn it, next time you ask me to carry your bag, don't put so many books in it! Your one bag equals two of mine!"
Sterling, already far away, didn't hear Terry's complaints. Poor Terry could only hang Sterling's bag on his chest and walk to the common room like a kangaroo.
As for Sterling, ever since learning today was a full moon, his heart had been entirely focused on Professor McGonagall's office.
Now, only Animagus transformation capable of becoming a true dragon through Draconic transformation could inspire such urgent scholarly enthusiasm in him.
"Professor McGonagall! I'm here."
The office door wasn't closed at all. Professor McGonagall sat inside with a gratified smile, a box of Mandrake leaves before her.
"I never imagined that in my classroom, a young wizard would reach Animagus learning standards in merely one year. Human transformation, biological transformation, Switching Spells... all mastered... Sterling, I'm sincerely proud of you..."
Professor McGonagall emotionally dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, then pushed the box toward Sterling.
"I must reiterate Animagus taboos once more. You might find it tiresome, but since the Transfiguration Association included this section in their guidebook, worldwide Animagus numbers have increased by twenty percent."
"Not at all, Professor. I believe caution's the most indispensable quality in Transfiguration study."
"Perhaps that's why you've made such progress. Ravenclaw's so reassuring." Professor McGonagall nodded satisfactorily.
"Then, Sterling, I'll repeat the preparation process steps."
"First, you must keep a Mandrake leaf in your mouth from one full moon to the next, ensuring it remains intact without magical influence. Not spat out, swallowed, or broken. If accidents occur, you must start over at the next full moon. Many people get stuck here, but I believe after your previous practice, you won't stumble too long on this problem."
"Then at the full moon, remove the leaf and soak it in saliva in a crystal vial, adding one of your own hairs, a Death's-head Hawkmoth chrysalis, and a teaspoon of dew collected from a place without sunlight or human contact for seven full days. Don't worry about this; I'll prepare it when the time comes."
"Sterling, what role does the Death's-head Hawkmoth chrysalis play?" Professor McGonagall suddenly questioned. Sterling, who'd been listening carefully, quickly recalled the answer.
"The Death's-head Hawkmoth chrysalis helps us glimpse our hearts. We need to awaken our Animagus form from within."
"Very good." Professor McGonagall smiled satisfactorily.
"Next, you must store this potion in a quiet, dark place, not examining it until the next thunderstorm arrives. This thunderstorm must be completely natural without any magical involvement. Neither Weather Charms nor changes brought by Thunderbirds count and will affect the potion, forcing you to restart from the Mandrake leaf."
"And during this period..."
"At each sunrise and sunset, point your wand at your heart and recite the incantation, from burying the potion to retrieving it, never missing once. Also, daily transformation of some body part for over an hour is recommended to adjust your body to the most suitable state for transformation."
"Very good. I have nothing more to caution you about."
Professor McGonagall escorted Sterling from her office. Watching his retreating figure, she suddenly remembered that auburn-haired silhouette.
The Transfiguration brilliance that had blazed from young Dumbledore was even more dazzling than Sterling's.
That was truly an existence born for Transfiguration. His teaching had opened Transfiguration's doors to McGonagall, and she'd been deeply immersed ever since, unable to extricate herself.
"Among countless magics, only Transfiguration's closest to the divine..."
McGonagall murmured the words Dumbledore had spoken during her first Transfiguration lesson.