The aim was to change the world?
Sean didn't yet have such grand ambitions, but he had indeed begun planning to make some special biscuits.
[Project: Animal Biscuit Series].
That's what Sean wrote on the first page of his notebook. Alchemy combined with Transfiguration was undoubtedly fun, and the Animal Biscuit Series was the full plan Sean intended to carry out.
Its directions for deepening were predictably twofold. First, improve quality—create biscuits that let a wizard retain clear will; second, improve variety—produce other animal biscuits.
As his Transfiguration study progressed, it would naturally improve the quality of his biscuits. So what Sean needed to consider was: which animal comes next?
[Unlock the Alchemy—Adept title by crafting the Animal Biscuit series].
Sean wrote the second step of the plan.
The Apprentice and Beginner titles did very little for a Gold aptitude, but once the title reached Adept, a special aptitude bonus would kick in.
For example: the nonverbal-casting bonus in the Charms domain;
the advanced Transfiguration bonus for "object → magic" in the Transfiguration domain;
and the burst-speed bonus in the Flight domain.
Without exception, these extra aptitude bonuses had benefited Sean enormously.
Then he checked the advancement requirements:
[Advance: Three Beginner alchemical items and six Apprentice alchemical items to unlock the Alchemy—Beginner domain title]
The Howler, the Floating Quill, and the Owl Biscuit were the three alchemical items Sean had currently mastered.
Next, he needed to decide which animal to pick.
They needed to exist in Hogwarts Castle for easy observation; and they had to be useful—
The Biting Vine swayed left and right in its seedling tray, squeaking softly, not unpleasantly. Time passed in those little sounds.
Noon.
Great Hall.
Snow could be seen on the enchanted ceiling. Between the enormous holly trees, wings rustled everywhere—brown, grey, and snow-white feathers mixed with flurries—the owl post had arrived.
Sean sat at his usual spot, Hermione beside him, Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century spread across a milk jug.
She frowned, as if puzzled by something.
Neville, who had arrived a little earlier, greeted Sean cheerfully.
"The post will be here any moment—I think Gran's sending the things I forgot," Neville said.
Sean had just begun his porridge when the din erupted overhead. Hundreds of owls swept in, circling the hall and dropping letters and parcels into the chattering crowd.
A bulging parcel plopped onto Neville's head, and a moment later a great grey shape skimmed past Hermione, wobbling her silver jug so that milk splashed out.
With Christmas so close, students heading home always had things to say—and of course their families did too.
Like Hermione: she'd been writing letters constantly, and when she read certain lines, she would sneak a careful glance at Sean, then continue writing.
Since the troll incident, Sean and Hermione talked much more—mainly Sean sharing techniques for combining spells.
Not just pairing different kinds of spells, but also Professor Flitwick's theory on casting two magics at once.
Sean's Christmas gift for Hermione was just such a notebook.
Next was Justin: Sean organized the Chinese recipes from his memory and had Ira (a kitchen house-elf) try them out—results were good.
So he compiled them into a booklet.
He'd kept busy before the meal and in truth hadn't progressed much on his own tasks.
Sometimes Sean marvelled at when exactly he started having so many Christmas gifts to prepare.
He even needed to ask older students for help—some things simply couldn't be prepared at Hogwarts and had to be gathered in Hogsmeade…
He wondered how Senior Bruce was doing. The last time they visited the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey had chased them out in a fury:
"I've never seen such foolish wizards! Testing a Snargaluff's power with your head!
"And you idiots—not stopping him!"
After lunch, Sean headed to the hospital wing.
The hospital wing is on the second floor, run by Madam Pomfrey—where Hogwarts provides basic medical care.
During term, if a student or staff member is injured or falls ill, they're taken there for treatment.
Sean thought the hospital wing was second to none at Hogwarts—it was a legendary place.
Its track record included, but wasn't limited to: curing Colin Creevey after petrification; mending Harry after fighting Voldemort; healing Malfoy after a Sectumsempra attack.
The more he thought, the more curious he was about so-called healing magic.
At the doors of the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey's face was still stern, but this time she didn't throw Sean out; she allowed the visit.
"Stupid enough to merit a plaque on our wall—" came a voice before they'd even reached the beds—Senior Leon's.
"You poked a Snargaluff and then tried Devil's Snare—did you expect them to fight each other? What happened? They both attacked you, didn't they? Idiot."
Leon was exasperated yet again.
"Mmff—mmff—"
Bruce looked injured again—badly enough he could hardly speak.
"He says 'practice makes truth,' Leon."
"Mmff!"
"He says Pister was right."
"You don't—need—to translate for him!"
The three seniors were, as ever, noisy.
"Green?" a voice called suddenly from the wall. Sean turned and noticed the large portrait of a witch with long silver curls.
Beneath it: Healer Dilys Derwent, St Mungo's (1722–1741).
Sean had seen another line in the Headmaster's office: Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1741–1768).
"So glad to see you, child," Healer Dilys Derwent said with a wink, curiosity and mischief glinting in her eyes.
"I hear, child, that something special has happened today."
Something special?
Sean looked at her, curious. She smiled and shook her head:
"It's a story with a happy ending—how moving—fate surges like a flood; without islands and hidden reefs it cannot throw up beautiful waves."
Her gaze drifted, through the whirling snow, across derelict streets and shabby houses, through London's unending smog, to the place where greatness once began:
"A soul that does not waver will always carve a road for itself."
~~~
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