The shorthand quill scratched Sean's notes with conjectures about the Bowtruckle ritual as he walked the castle's perimeter in the night.
Capitalizing on fresh practice, he needed to capture those flashes of intuition before they faded.
For a moment, a pair of calm, deep green eyes slid past above the dungeons.
Sean's notebook brimmed with schedules for Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense practice. The mirror's image of Hogwarts was the scene he'd recalled most lately.
In that reflection, Dumbledore remained kindly, and Snape remained austere.
…
Saturday.
Hogwarts slipped back into its weekend cheer.
In the Hope Nook:
Sean stroked Tila's twig-like arm and sank into developing a brand-new alchemical ritual.
Tila no longer hid in his pocket: in under an hour, Sean had built her a little dwelling.
A wooden house etched with Engorgement and Shrinking Charms, easy to carry—when not in use it rested in his pocket; when needed it expanded into a tiny home.
Tila was exploring it with bright curiosity. Unsure which woods Bowtruckles prefer, Sean had simply taken samples of many trees from the Forest. He'd even been chased by one Bowtruckle—he'd accidentally pried off its front door.
The arcane segments of potion ritual proved hugely useful in alchemy. Borrowing from potion ceremony, Sean finally found the path to success.
[You practiced crafting a Bowtruckle Cookie at Apprentice standard. Proficiency +1]
Success!
After nearly a month, he'd completed the next transformation cookie.
With Justin standing watch, Sean took a small bite.
In less than a second, Tila sprang from the wooden house, latched onto the elm-paneled wall, and cautiously tapped at the "companion" beside her with an arm.
It was still early—only Sean and Justin were in the Hope Nook.
About a minute later, Justin handed Sean the slip recording the exact duration. Another creature joined the Magical Animal Cookie line, and Sean was one step closer to a master-level alchemy title.
Yes, Master. Six expert-tier Intermediate alchemical constructs and twelve Journeyman-tier alchemical constructs would unlock the alchemy Expert title.
And a Master title would very likely require advanced alchemical constructs.
To this day, Sean still didn't know what a Master title would grant him.
He hadn't yet reached Master in any magical branch; even Transfiguration still had a long way to go.
A Master, unlike an Expert, is a wizard at the pinnacle of a field—roughly on par with a Hogwarts professor.
Over the next few days,
Sean studied Justin in Bowtruckle form—no matter how many times, he remained exhilarated by magic's wonder.
Look at that slim form of bark and twigs—no one would guess it was Justin; he looked exactly like a piece of branch. In danger, this alone could save a wizard's life.
And though Justin retained no conscious will, some habits still bled through.
He didn't mind clinging to Sean's hand; and he was very easily drawn by the scent of food.
Sean wondered if he could use that—leverage habit to achieve other effects.
Transformation cookies weren't limited to magical creatures; other animals could serve as vessels too.
Which meant, if Sean could crack a Fire-Dragon Cookie, he could, for a short time, field a small, draconic force.
They might not obey orders, of course.
"You alright?" Sean asked, watching Justin after the change.
"Amazing! Sean, I actually became a Bowtruckle—"
Justin was thrilled; he fully grasped the implications.
It wasn't an exaggeration: unbriefed, even Dumbledore might overlook a Bowtruckle—who would suspect a twig?
"Sean, I think… this shouldn't be publicized."
Morning snow was melting; Justin's voice mingled with the patter of drips.
Sean nodded. As they discussed "A Hundred Uses for a Bowtruckle," a paper airplane sliced straight through the wall.
"See you tonight."
Once Sean read the note, he hurried to the alchemy office.
…
Professor Tayra lifted an arm as Sean arrived; the wave-like floor carried him to her desk.
"The International Alchemy Congress convenes in two and a half months. In magical-creature transfiguration, I know no more than those middling alchemists.
My disciple—this is a road you opened, you'll tread it, and you'll be crowned for it.
All I can tell you is: you need at least three magical-creature transformation cookies to announce to the world that alchemy's waning age is over."
Pride glinted in Tayra's eyes.
From today on, no one would dare claim Hogwarts students weren't what they used to be.
"I know it's difficult—genius flashes are fleeting.
Even those ancient, nearly dying alchemists won't promise anything. A self-created magical ritual… how intoxicating."
She sighed with feeling.
"How far are you?"
"It's done, Professor."
"You must be pa…—you mean—"
Her fingers curled; a cookie sprouting tiny branches leapt into her hand.
Turmoil surged beneath her composed features.
It settled into a deep, aching regret.
"You will surpass Master Nicolas Flamel. When he meets you, you'll both understand… the greatness of magic is that it welcomes every wizard equally."
Tayra spoke each word with a look Sean had never seen in her before.
Before he left, she asked:
"Have you named it?"
Sean fell silent.
He had… in fact, forgotten.
"Learn to claim your honors, my disciple. Those sorts would kill to name their baubles 'the strongest object in the magical world.' And you—"
Tayra almost laughed.
Some strain themselves to stir a ripple and fail; others make one sideways leap and overturn the alchemical order.
As Sean headed for the Forest, he pondered deeply.
He glanced at his hovering copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Monster Book of Monsters. Several ideas bubbled up.
Alchemists name things aptly: the Vanishing Cabinet vanishes; a Portkey is a door that keys you through; even the twins' Headless Hat truly hides your head.
So, something wondrous that lets you become an animal… best call it—
Fairy-Tale Cookies.
~~~
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