The Coolick emblem and the M·S·C logo were the proud result of four friends' collaboration. As the M·S·C sign hung proudly on the wall, Vizette and his companions felt a swell of pride.
After a moment of nostalgia gazing at the emblem, Vizette composed himself, curiosity piqued by the magical cookies Fred and the others had mentioned. "Fred, what's the deal with that cookie? Does it turn you into a bird?"
"Huh?" Fred's eyes went wide. "How'd you guess?"
George clutched his shoulders dramatically, feigning a shiver. "You haven't been spying on us, have you?"
Vizette chuckled, accustomed to the twins' antics. "When you lot emerged from the wine barrels last time, you were covered in feathers. It wasn't a stretch."
George dropped his arms and wiped his brow theatrically. "Phew, close call!"
"There's something I've been meaning to ask," Vizette pressed on, "but you all seem swamped with training lately."
At the word "training," Fred winced. "It's brutal! Wood's gone full tyrant."
George's face hardened. "If the Aurors caught wind of his sessions, they'd ship him straight to Azkaban."
Luna, overhearing the twins' theatrics, doubled over in giggles, clutching her sides.
"It can't be that bad," Vizette said, sliding his chair closer to steady her if she toppled. "Right?"
"Training in the pouring rain!" George yanked at his robe. "Look at these—er, they're dry now. Hang on, I'll fix that." He reached for his wand.
"At least our dorm clothes are soaked!" Fred swatted his hand away. "Wood's under the gun this year, what with us facing Slytherin..."
"The Nimbus 2001 is lightning-fast," George admitted with a sigh. "Like one of Dad's Muggle jet engines, zooming like mad."
Vizette massaged his temples—the conversation was veering off course. Time to steer it back. "You researched Animagi before, didn't you? Is that where the cookie idea came from?"
Both twins gawked. "How do you know all this?" they chorused.
"I pieced it together from hints about the Marauder's Map creators," Vizette replied. "Turns out they kept an Animagus notebook."
He kept his word to Hagrid, sharing only the basics. As he and Hagrid had explored that hidden chamber, Vizette had gradually unraveled James, Padfoot, and Wormtail's identities.
George snapped his fingers. "That's right! Weren't you collecting dew earlier?"
Fred jumped in. "Practicing Animagus yourself? How's it going?"
"Waiting for a thunderstorm," Vizette said. "You never tried?"
"Be right back!" George bolted from the common room. "The notebook's in the dorm—I'll fetch it!"
Fred lingered to elaborate. "Animagus takes forever, and the rules are a nightmare. No bandwidth for it with Quidditch."
Vizette's interest sharpened. If the twins hadn't pursued it, their notes must still hold valuable insights.
As expected, the notebook brimmed with observations on James, Padfoot, and Wormtail. It would bolster the essay Vizette was drafting, making his arguments airtight.
Even better, the final pages revealed something intriguing. "Thornfork and the others mentioned a place," Vizette said, tapping the page. "Deep in the Forbidden Forest—do you know it?"
George nodded. "Huge altar. The Marauders reckoned activating it could control the weather."
"But it's probably busted," Fred added. "Or we're short on materials—the magic just fizzles."
"Materials?" Vizette leaned in. "Herbs? Crystals?"
"Crystals like an alchemical array," Fred explained. "The whole thing looks like a massive one to us."
"So we miniaturized it into this," George said, producing a cookie. "Canary Cream! One bite, and poof—you're a canary."
"Impressive," Vizette said, eyeing it hungrily. "Can you shift at will?"
George shook his head. "Best we've managed is twenty seconds."
"And no flying," Fred chimed in. "Feathers molt after, and you're back to normal."
They unrolled a simplified array diagram, walking him through the essentials. Vizette absorbed it all, his fascination with the altar growing. The Forbidden Forest hid countless secrets, much like the one he'd stumbled on last year—ripe for discovery. Those altars bore symbols like swirling cyclones, tied to Ancient Magic.
Pity the Scottish Highlands were drenched lately; trekking in would be folly amid the risks. Vizette claimed a sketched route map from the twins, vowing to venture out when the skies cleared.
---
After bidding Fred and George farewell, Vizette and Luna wandered the corridor.
"Vizette, fancy a trip to the Forbidden Forest?" Luna asked airily.
He glanced at her profile, her eyes alight with wonder. "It's full of fascinating creatures—I know you'd adore them. Shall we go together?"
"Absolutely!" Her gaze sparkled like twin stars. "But I need to learn more first. I won't have you fretting over me."
Vizette nodded. "I've picked up some useful spells lately to help you tame that power."
"That power?" She lifted her pale wrist, lost in the mistletoe bracelet. "Ah... Professor Vizette's lessons resume!"
He smiled faintly. "Indeed."
…
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