"What kind of curse do you think could cause something like this?"
"The soul…"
Sean answered quietly.
"So stay sharp, my apprentice. Magic is vast and dangerous.
The more gifted you are, the easier it is to lose your way. The more you learn, the more you realize just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
If you ever want to touch soul transfiguration, you'd better reach expert level in human Transfiguration first. Not quite professor-tier, but still brutally hard. On top of that, mastering Animagus transformation will help you understand the mysteries of soul transfiguration on a whole different level."
Professor Tella stepped out of the private booth. She'd gone off to "negotiate" for some relevant books.
That left Sean alone, scribbling down every word she'd said in his notebook and turning it all over in his head.
Everything Professor Tella had explained cleared up a ton of questions he'd been carrying around.
Becoming an Animagus just shot straight to the top of his to-do list.
She'd said it herself: a wizard might be able to survive with more than one Horcrux…
As soon as he stepped out of the booth, Sean heard his professor arguing with the wizard from Ilvermorny—no, wait, from Wagadou.
"Master Tella! You know full well Wagadou's secrets are never shared with outsiders!"
The dark-skinned, Latina-looking wizard was practically spitting fire.
"What if I offered to trade some quota for it?"
Professor Tella sounded completely relaxed, like this was her favorite hobby, but you could tell she wasn't planning on leaving empty-handed.
The Wagadou wizard's breathing sped up.
Tella knew exactly what Fairy Tale Cookies meant to them—that was why she'd dangled something they could barely refuse.
Very few European wizards could keep their consciousness intact after that kind of ritual, but for Wagadou experts in soul transfiguration? Those cookies were basically a miracle.
"How many?" the woman blurted, then immediately shook her head.
"Tella, you left Wagadou years ago and never looked back. And now you're trying to trick me into handing over generations of research notes on soul transfiguration? That's the life's work of who-knows-how-many Wagadou masters!"
"Double the usual amount?"
Professor Tella whispered it like the devil offering a deal.
"You… no way. Absolutely not!"
In the end, the Wagadou witch held firm.
"Fine, deal's off then. I really thought you'd be happy to let Green take a peek…"
Tella had barely turned away when someone grabbed her sleeve.
"My dear upperclassman, you should've led with that!"
The furious expression on the dark-skinned witch's face melted into a warm smile.
For that Hermes kid?
She was half-tempted to kidnap the boy and drag him back to Wagadou herself right this second.
Forget the insanely perfect path he'd carved out—one that lined up almost too well with Wagadou traditions—just his identity alone made him trustworthy.
He was Wagadou's lifelong honorary professor, her own upperclassman's one and only apprentice.
"I do seem to recall this is the combined effort of countless generations of Wagadou wizards…" Tella said innocently.
"Tella—you're the worst!"
The witch practically stomped her foot.
And that was how Professor Tella "convinced" her to lend Sean some of Wagadou's most closely-guarded books.
"Abigail, don't forget to bring the books next time," Tella called out as the other witch headed for the door.
"I've got it, thanks. But let me remind you—soul transfiguration is insanely dangerous. I'm not sure a runaway like you is still up to your old standards."
Abigail's face was grim.
"Oh? And what exactly are you suggesting?"
"I'd be happy to teach him myself…"
"Ha!"
…
Compared to the shivering, silent Latina witch sulking outside the shop, the mood inside was electric.
Mrs. Weasley was clinging to Mr. Weasley's hand, beaming.
"Arthur, I still can't believe they invited me too—this has to be because of you, dear."
Molly was glowing. She'd been reading about this mysterious alchemical workshop in the Prophet just this morning, and now here she was, standing inside it.
"This wasn't me, love. Look—another hundred Galleons just appeared in the budget."
Mr. Weasley—Arthur—pulled out two fancy boxes of Whomping Willow Defender sets with a huge grin.
Two bulk orders in a row meant a full two hundred extra Galleons. No more stressing about Floo powder running out or Ginny's first-year shopping.
"The Ministry gave us an extra two hundred Galleons for supplies. We have that sweet Green kid to thank for it…"
As he spoke, Professor McGonagall stepped through the door of Fairy Tale Workshop.
She and the old alchemist who ran the place usually kept to themselves, but since he was right outside, it'd be rude not to pop in after saying hello.
Her eyes landed on the little wizard who seemed lost in thought, then drifted to the alchemical creations priced at over a thousand Galleons each. She suddenly remembered him in Diagon Alley, staring intently at price tags and counting every Knut.
"Hmm… child, it appears you've become quite the wealthy young man?"
She sounded genuinely pleased and even cracked a rare joke.
"Professor Mc… Professor, it's good to see you," the badge on Sean's chest answered for him.
"You're right, I guess I do have a lot of Galleons now, but that's not what makes someone rich.
Real treasure isn't in a vault—it's…"
Sean lightly tapped the badge and let the sentence hang. His green eyes held something deeper, like a calm ocean hiding a volcano ready to blow.
Minerva McGonagall hadn't expected that answer. She paused, feeling an unexpected sting in her nose.
Suddenly she thought it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the thunderstorm required for the next stage of his Animagus transformation took its sweet time arriving…
…
"The Ministry gave us an extra two hundred Galleons… all thanks to that good Green kid…"
The shop was still buzzing quietly. McGonagall caught Arthur Weasley's words and immediately put two and two together.
"The Weasleys are a fine wizarding family. Well done, lad."
She had always been good at encouragement.
"I… I just did something small," Sean said humbly, following her gaze to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's joyful smiles.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a soft, genuine grin.
Was that the honest truth?
McGonagall's gaze settled gently on the young wizard. Wizards could be born with incredible raw talent, but it was rare to find one who paired that gift with true greatness of character.
She didn't think she'd done anything special—just lucky enough to be the one fate sent to that place, to bring back a seed worth guarding for the rest of her life.
Barren soil always grows the most stubborn seeds… but they're often pointed in the wrong direction.
When hardship forges resilience in a person, it almost always throws in arrogance, pride, and bitterness as part of the test.
In the end, what it's really trying to create is compassion.