The gentle rain began at noon and continued into the evening.
At first, it was just a light drizzle, pattering softly, but it gradually grew heavier, drumming against the windowsill like a melody.
The moisture in the atmosphere was limited, and after this rain, it was likely there wouldn't be another storm for weeks.
When they returned home, Lupin said to Wade, "I hope you're not too disappointed, Wade."
"James and the others started trying to learn Animagus transformation in their second year, and it wasn't until their fifth year that they succeeded. For most people, it's like that—it takes years, sometimes even a decade or more, of effort before they can take that step."
"Compared to them, you're already moving quickly. Maybe in just a few more weeks, the perfect opportunity will come."
"And by then, you'll be even better prepared than you are now."
Seeing the worry in Lupin's eyes, Wade smiled and said, "I understand. I've already prepared myself for the possibility of failing a few times... Besides, I haven't actually failed yet, have I? I just need to keep waiting, right?"
Lupin smiled with relief and said, "Of course… Just don't forget the incantation at sunset."
"I won't."
Wade spent some time in the study reading, but when he realized he hadn't turned a page in a long while, the alarm clock suddenly rang out with a piercing sound.
He reached out to turn it off, pointed his wand at his chest, and whispered, "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."
Thump!
A strong, powerful heartbeat resonated within his chest, as if some creature inside was eager to break free and burst out.
Wade turned his head and watched the raindrops on the glass, leaving long, thin streaks. The later droplets chased the earlier ones, weaving intersecting patterns that were quickly replaced by new ones.
He realized he wasn't as disappointed as he could have been. Just as he'd told Lupin, he had already prepared himself for the idea of needing two or three years of effort.
Failing the Mandrake step two or three times was considered minimal; even six or seven attempts wouldn't have been unusual... Yet he had succeeded on almost his first try.
The chanting process was long and demanding. Any mishap—fainting unexpectedly or oversleeping—could force him to start over from scratch.
But he had adhered strictly to the schedule he'd set for himself, never missing a single session.
However, the closer he got to success, the longer the wait seemed to stretch. He knew the storm would come eventually, but every minute and second before it felt endlessly drawn out.
Deciding to indulge himself, Wade poured a small glass of butterbeer—the alcoholic kind—and downed it in one gulp.
Generally speaking, such a low alcohol content would only be enough to intoxicate creatures like house-elves.
The bitterness of the beer intertwined with the creamy aroma in Wade's throat, followed by a faint spiciness and a more complex bouquet of flavors.
Wade felt like he finally understood why people enjoyed this golden drink.
He felt a little light-headed, as if everything around him had become weightless, and his mood was much lighter. Resisting the urge to pour himself "just one more glass," Wade lay down on his bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin.
"Sleep," he told himself.
"You have to wake up before sunrise tomorrow!"
…
Wade didn't realize he was dreaming.
He was flying in the sky, drifting past wispy white clouds. Hogwarts Castle grew smaller and smaller in the distance, while the moon and stars drew closer and closer.
A massive full moon hung overhead, bright as a lake, radiating a cold, pure light.
Countless stars surrounded him, and as he got closer, he realized they weren't stars but round, pockmarked rocks—some gleaming with a metallic sheen.
In the dream, Wade suddenly felt a flicker of doubt—weren't most stars supposed to be suns?
His brain quickly provided an answer: you are flying through the asteroid belt of the solar system.
A colossal, dark gray celestial body silently drifted past him, blocking out the moon entirely and filling his field of vision.
Its sheer size naturally inspired a sense of insignificance and fear. At the same time, a name immediately surfaced in Wade's mind—
Ceres.
The largest asteroid in the solar system.
Instinctively, Wade tried to distance himself from it, but he quickly realized that Ceres' gravity was pulling him closer.
Escaping became increasingly difficult, and as he struggled to fly away, the surrounding meteors began shooting toward him like bullets!
Wade dodged frantically but was still struck by several fist-sized rocks, making the entire world seem to shake violently!
He jolted awake to find Lupin gripping his shoulders and shaking him urgently.
"Wade, wake up! The storm is coming!!"
Before the words were even fully spoken, a bolt of lightning lit up the entire sky, flooding the dim room with blinding brightness.
The light vanished in an instant, and a few seconds later, a deafening roll of thunder rumbled across the sky from the distance.
Wade's groggy mind cleared instantly. He jumped out of bed, relieved he had forgotten to change clothes before sleeping. He grabbed his coat and threw it over his shoulders, and then followed Lupin downstairs.
With a loud bang, the window of Wade's bedroom suddenly flew open. Torrential rain poured in immediately, accompanied by a dark figure.
"Don't waste time!" Sirius shouted. "There's no telling how long this storm will last. We'll fly there!"
Though his voice was muffled by the thunder, both Wade and Lupin could clearly see the flying broom in Sirius' hand.
Wade grabbed a broomstick without hesitation, mounted it, and flew straight out of the window.
Within a second, he landed on the ground. As another flash of lightning illuminated the sky, he ducked into the cellar and retrieved the crystal vial he had hidden there earlier.
The transparent bottle held a blood-red potion, its vibrant glow refracted through the glass. It contained just a single mouthful.
"Great, everything's ready. Let's go!" Sirius yelled. "Wade, stick close to me!"
The three broomsticks shot into the air with a sharp whoosh, cutting through the storm like swallows battling the tempest.
Sirius led the way, with Wade following closely in the middle, and Lupin bringing up the rear. The trio formed a straight line, slicing through the rain curtain. When they reached the forest, they instinctively slowed their speed.
By the light of the lightning, Sirius spotted the entry and exit points he had marked earlier. The three of them dove through the openings like arrows and landed on the soaked grass.
Wade dismounted his broom in one swift motion. He glanced at the other two, then, without hesitation, pointed his wand at his heart and recited the incantation once again:
"Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus."
Then, pulling out the stopper, he drank the potion in one gulp.
An intense pain instantly engulfed his entire body. His muscles seemed to liquefy, every bone felt as though it were being broken and reshaped, and his skin prickled with excruciating pain, as if thousands of steel needles were about to pierce out from within.
His hands and feet began to twist and deform. His head shrank rapidly, and his body underwent strange transformations, as if it were merging with his clothes…
At the same time, an image of a creature appeared in his mind. Without hesitation, Wade leaped forward, letting his magic respond naturally to the call.
In an instant, the black-haired boy seemed to dissolve.
A bird of prey with shimmering blue-gray feathers flapped its wings and vanished from the spot in a flash!
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