As the night deepened, Professor McGonagall gradually brought the lesson to a close.
She glanced at the time, surprised at how quickly it had passed. A trace of regret flickered in her eyes before she turned to Dylan with a gentle smile.
"Let's stop here for today. It's getting late, and you have classes tomorrow. Go back and rest," she advised.
Dylan nodded, though he still felt a lingering enthusiasm for the lesson.
As expected of Professor McGonagall, the renowned author of Advanced Transfiguration Guide. She had an unparalleled ability to grasp the essence of magic and explain even the most complex spells with clarity.
Just then, a system message flashed before Dylan's eyes.
[Message]: Your Transfiguration spell proficiency has increased! Current progress: 50%!
He glanced at his skill proficiency, eyes lighting up.
Another jump! Straight to Level 5!
"Comfortable~" he murmured, feeling deeply satisfied.
His tireless efforts over the past few days had paid off. Whenever he had free time, he would seek out Professor McGonagall for extra lessons. He had practically begged the deputy headmistress to tutor him daily, sometimes for hours on end. If possible, he would have kept her up all night with his relentless questioning.
However, even with his newfound mastery over transfiguring inanimate objects, living transformations were an entirely different challenge.
"Although you have a solid foundation, there's still a lot to learn about living transfiguration," Professor McGonagall reminded him.
Transfiguration was a highly intricate and demanding branch of magic. As proficiency increased, so did the difficulty of progressing further. However, Dylan understood that if he could find the right key, he might achieve another breakthrough.
"Luckily, I have so many spells already at full proficiency. Even though spells differ, magic follows certain universal principles. If I understand the core mechanics of one spell, I can apply that knowledge to others," he mused.
Recently, he had been studying spells that could tear or crush objects. Even though they weren't classified as Dark Arts, their structure shared similarities with offensive spells from that domain.
With just a quick glance at their theories, he had quickly mastered them, and his proficiency had skyrocketed.
Although he hadn't yet reached full mastery, his level of control over those spells was already comparable to that of an adult wizard.
"It's time to sleep," Dylan decided.
After packing his things, he bid Professor McGonagall farewell and left her office, heading toward his dormitory.
Upon stepping into the Gryffindor common room and entering the boys' dormitory, he found Harry and Ron sitting on a bed, whispering to each other.
Noticing his arrival, Ron greeted him, and Dylan nodded in response.
Just as he was about to put his things down, a dark shadow darted across his bed.
"Good evening, Coal Ball~" Dylan greeted with a soft smile.
Since obtaining his license to keep the Wuying, he had brought the little creature to the dormitory during lunchtime, ensuring it stayed hidden most of the time. Even among Gryffindor students, few knew of his unusual pet.
Harry and Neville were aware, but they were trustworthy. Ron, however, had nearly let the secret slip in a moment of excitement earlier that day, only to be stopped by Hermione and the others.
After all, Wuying was not a pet traditionally allowed at Hogwarts.
Besides, the species was naturally aggressive and highly capable in combat. Even though Coal Ball was still young, it could easily pose a threat to inexperienced students.
Thus, Dylan preferred to keep its presence discreet to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Moo~"
Coal Ball approached gracefully but suddenly stopped just short of reaching Dylan.
The little creature tilted its chin up, swished its tail, and narrowed its eyes as if to say, I didn't come here just to greet you!
Dylan, however, simply walked toward his desk.
Seeing that he wasn't offering any attention, Coal Ball let out an indignant huff before quickly following him, circling his feet and rubbing against his legs at intervals.
Setting his schoolbag aside, Dylan chuckled and finally scooped up the little creature.
"Moo~!"
Coal Ball let out a small, triumphant cry as it nestled into his arms.
Too tired to bother with washing up, Dylan used magic to freshen himself up before changing into his pajamas.
He placed his shoes neatly beside the bed, lifted the quilt, and climbed in while keeping Coal Ball close.
As he settled under the blankets, he let out a long sigh of contentment. His body relaxed, his eyes closed slightly, and a smile crept onto his lips.
"So comfortable~"
Dylan curled up under the covers, letting the warmth envelop him.
He could feel Coal Ball shifting in his arms, seeking a comfortable position. The little creature nudged here and there, sniffing at the fabric before finally settling into a tight ball against his chest.
Before long, its breathing grew slow and steady.
Across the room, Ron and Harry exchanged glances.
"No way… He's already asleep?" Ron muttered in disbelief.
"It looks like he really doesn't plan on joining us for the duel," Harry said, scratching his head.
"Should we ask again later?"
"Wouldn't that be too late?"
"It's just a question."
The two whispered among themselves before finally deciding to go to bed as well, still fully clothed.
Hours passed, and the castle gradually fell into silence.
As midnight approached, Ron and Harry stirred once more.
Stealthily, they got out of bed.
Before leaving the dormitory, Ron suddenly pulled Harry toward Dylan's bed.
For a moment, it was a silent battle of glances, each trying to push the other forward.
In the end, Harry sighed in resignation.
Reluctantly, he stepped closer, hesitated, then reached out and gently poked Dylan's cheek.
Shua!
Dylan's eyes snapped open instantly, glowing eerily in the darkness.
Harry yanked his hand back in alarm.
"Uh… Heh heh…" Harry let out a dry laugh, momentarily at a loss for words.
Ron, however, wasted no time and quickly whispered their reason for waking him.
"Listen, Dylan… We're heading out for the duel. Are you really not coming?"
Both boys stared at him expectantly.
However, under Dylan's piercing gaze, their hopeful expressions wavered.
His eyes gleamed in the dim light—two dark green flames flickering like eerie will-o'-the-wisps.
Their smiles stiffened instantly.
End of Chapter
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