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Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Animagus

Chapter 74: Animagus

Whispering the incantation,

"Amato, Animo, Animado, Animagus!"

As Phineas finished reciting the spell, a searing pain stabbed through his chest. He could distinctly feel two heartbeats pounding inside him, and his mind went blank from the shock.

His entire body began to shift and contort. Around him, the world seemed to stretch and swell—not because it grew larger, but because he was shrinking. A coat of fur sprouted across his skin, his hands morphed into paws, and his wand clattered to the floor as his fingers fused into clawed limbs.

When the pain finally subsided, the transformation was complete. Phineas found himself on all fours, surrounded by towering furniture. He studied his paws, noticed their plum blossom shape, and flicked the long tail behind him.

He had an idea of what he might have become, but he needed to confirm it.

Padding across the room, he reached the mirror he had prepared in advance. A sleek black cat stared back at him—its coat glossy, its eyes sharp. It looked remarkably like a Chocolate-patterned Linqing lion cat.

Phineas blinked, both startled and slightly amused. This was unexpected. As a member of the Black family, Animagus forms traditionally leaned toward the canine: large dogs, powerful wolves. According to the family records, not a single feline had ever appeared—until now.

He could only imagine what the ancient, pure-blood fanatics in his family would say if they saw him like this. They would probably scoff for a week.

The first Animagus transformation demanded tremendous magical power. Most adult wizards could not revert immediately after their initial change. Phineas, though more powerful than most first-years, was no exception.

His magic capacity, now at 350 points after a semester of growth, still fell short of the 500 typical of fully trained wizards. The transformation had drained him entirely.

Thank Merlin he had chosen the Room of Requirement as his transformation site. Here, at least, he was safe. Had he attempted this in Grimmauld Place, it would have been far riskier.

Curling into a tight ball, he closed his eyes. A soft purring snore soon filled the quiet room.

The next morning…

Phineas awoke still in his Animagus form, stretching lazily. The twitch of his tail reminded him of what he was—still a cat.

He paused to assess his magic reserves. Most of his energy had returned. Drawing a clear image of his human self in his mind, he began the reversal.

The pain returned, worse than before. It was as though his body were being torn apart and reassembled all at once. Slowly, he expanded, his limbs elongated, and the towering furniture shrank back to normal size.

Moments later, he lay on the floor, back in human form—but utterly exhausted. The transformation had left him drained, and though he'd just woken up, he couldn't keep his eyes open.

Then, the system's long-awaited reward triggered. A surge of experience rushed into him, directly upgrading his Animagus magic to the level of mastery.

With this, Phineas gained an ability even Professor McGonagall did not possess: he no longer needed to visualize his Animagus form. The transformation now required only a thought—and much less magic.

At mastery level, Animagus magic became instinctual. He could shift forms silently, wandlessly, and nearly effortlessly.

Rejuvenated by the system's boost and a bit of rest, Phineas turned to his next pursuit—studying the notes he had found in the Ravenclaw Chamber of Secrets.

These notes, rich in ancient magical knowledge, were now his most prized possession. They offered him a gateway to arcane disciplines—particularly alchemy, a subject barely touched upon at Hogwarts.

For now, things were calm. Summer holidays were just around the corner, and none of the students wanted to cause any trouble before then.

Two days later, the exam results arrived.

To Phineas' surprise, he ranked second in his year. First place didn't go to a Ravenclaw, but to a Hufflepuff: Cedric Diggory.

Even more shocking, the Weasley twins had also ranked near the top. Professor McGonagall, who had long been exasperated with their antics, was just as stunned. The twins, though brilliant in class, were notorious for treating studying like a joke.

Who would have expected pranksters to become star pupils?

But when Phineas thought about it, it made sense. The Weasley family was brimming with magical talent.

Bill Weasley had excelled in Charms and Potions and had even self-studied the family's alchemy techniques. He now worked as a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts—a dangerous profession involving the exploration of ancient, enchanted ruins.

Charlie Weasley, with a gift for magical creatures and Transfiguration, was now tending dragons in Romania—a job requiring immense skill and bravery.

Percy Weasley, still at Hogwarts, was both a Transfiguration and Charms Club member. With his academic drive, he was already a candidate to become Gryffindor Prefect by fifth year.

As for the twins—George and Fred—despite their mischief, they had already begun inventing joke products, some involving real alchemical processes.

Their talents, though unconventional, were undeniable. And now, so were their results.

Phineas simply shook his head, amused and intrigued. Hogwarts, it seemed, was full of surprises.

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