Hermione's arrival transformed Harry's summer vacation from a lonely endurance test into something approaching genuine enjoyment.
They could practice spells together here—even when Harry's mouth was filled with something, making it nearly impossible to pronounce the incantations correctly.
Time seemed to accelerate as Harry approached his goal, and suddenly it was July 23rd—the date he had been counting toward with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
The full moon he had been anxiously awaiting would rise that evening, marking exactly one month since he had first placed the mandrake leaf in his mouth.
As twilight turned the sky in shades of purple and gold, Harry stood in Adrian's shop with trembling hands, finally ready to complete the first phase of his Animagus transformation.
Under Adrian's careful supervision, he slowly removed the mandrake leaf that had been in his mouth for thirty days and nights.
The moment the leaf left his mouth, Harry let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief that seemed to release a month's worth of pent-up tension.
"Honestly," He said, flexing his jaw and running his tongue around his mouth to reacquaint himself with normal speech, "that taste was absolutely disgusting. I never want to experience anything like that again."
"But completely worth the suffering, I'm sure," Hermione said with unmistakable envy in her voice. "Perhaps I should attempt this magic as well. Have you given any thought to what animal form you might take?"
Adrian, who had been observing Harry's relief with a satisfied expression, answered before Harry could respond. "Most likely a stag. A wizard's Animagus form typically mirrors their Patronus, and Harry's Patronus takes the shape of a stag."
As he spoke, Adrian retrieved a small leather pouch from a nearby shelf and handed it to Harry. The pouch contained a mixture of ingredients that would have looked like random curiosities to Muggle eyes but represented the essential components for one of magic's most challenging transformations.
"Patronus!" Hermione's voice rose to a near-shriek as her attention snapped to Harry with focus. "When did you learn to cast a Patronus? That's extraordinarily advanced magic—most adult wizards struggle with that!"
Harry felt a familiar chill run down his spine under the intensity of Hermione's stare.
"Last year," He said quickly, hoping to deflect her interrogation before it could gain momentum. "Professor Lupin taught me during our private lessons. We can discuss the details later—right now I need to focus on preparing this potion."
Hermione looked as though she had a dozen follow-up questions burning on her tongue, but she restrained herself with visible effort, recognizing that Harry's current task required his complete attention.
The brewing process for the Animagus potion was simple in its instructions, though each component carried magical significance that went far beyond simple ingredient combination.
Into a crystal vial, one that had been carved from a single piece of quartz and blessed under thirteen full moons, Harry carefully placed the mandrake leaf that had absorbed exactly one month of pure moonlight.
To this he added dew collected from a location that had remained untouched by both sunlight and human presence for seven consecutive days, a death's-head hawkmoth chrysalis, a single hair from his own head to bind the magic to his essence, and finally a precise teaspoon of silver powder.
Harry's hands moved as he combined the ingredients, his earlier nervousness replaced by intense concentration. Each component dissolved into the mixture with a soft shimmer of magical energy.
When he finished, Harry held up the crystal vial to examine his work. The contents looked thoroughly unappetizing—a murky, greyish liquid that seemed to shift between different shades of unpleasant as he tilted the container.
"Is this... successful?" Hermione asked with worry, peering at the dubious-looking potion with skepticism. "It doesn't look particularly magical."
"Far from it," Adrian replied with a shake of his head. "This is merely the beginning. Harry, the next phase requires patience and absolute consistency. You must place the crystal vial in a quiet, dark location.
Every sunrise and sunset for the coming weeks, you must point your wand at your heart and recite the transformation incantation. This ritual continues until the next thunderstorm arrives, at which point the potion will turn blood-red and become ready for consumption."
Adrian's eyes were fixed on Harry with serious intensity. "Do you remember the incantation? There can be no mistakes—a single mispronunciation will contaminate the entire process."
"Amato Animo Animato Animagus," Harry recited with confident fluidity. He had practiced the Latin phrase hundreds of times during quiet moments, whispering it under his breath until the words felt as natural as his own name.
The stakes were too high to risk any errors—starting over would mean another month with that disgusting mandrake leaf in his mouth.
Adrian nodded approvingly.
Two weeks passed in a blur of dawn and dusk incantations, each day bringing Harry closer to his goal while building an almost unbearable sense of anticipation. The potion gradually darkened from its original murky grey to deeper shades of brown and finally to the promised blood-red that indicated magical readiness.
On a humid afternoon in early August, Adrian approached Harry and Hermione where they sat in the plantation clearing, watching Ray preen his feathers in the sunlight.
"It's about time, Harry. When do you plan to officially attempt the Animagus transformation?"
"Attempt?" Hermione immediately pointed out. "We still require a thunderstorm! Professor, you said that the Animagus transformation must be performed during a thunderstorm, or the potion will lose its effectiveness."
Harry nodded in agreement, tilting his head back to examine the clear cloudless sky.
"There will be a heavy thunderstorm shortly," Adrian explained. "I checked the weather forecast."
Yes, the wizarding world had weather forecasts too, provided by the Ministry of Magic's Meteorological Office. They were very accurate and usually published in newspapers.
Adrian could have asked Ray to summon a storm but he believed that artificially manipulated atmospheric conditions would compromise the success rate of Animagus transformation. The Animagus process required harmony between wizard and nature, not dominance over it.
Around one o'clock in the afternoon, the first signs of change began to manifest. Clouds started gathering on the horizon. In the distance, barely audible over the normal sounds of the forest, the first rumbles of thunder began to echo.
Harry stood alone in the center of a wide clearing. The crystal vial felt warm in his palm, and when he held it up to the light, he could see that the potion had achieved the perfect blood-red color that indicated readiness.
Adrian and Hermione positioned themselves at a respectful distance—close enough to observe and assist if something went wrong, but far enough away to avoid interfering with the delicate magical process. The Animagus transformation was intensely personal magic that could not tolerate external influence during the crucial moments of change.
"There shouldn't be any complications, should there?" Hermione asked with anxiety.
"The Animagus transformation requires firm determination and exceptional strength of will," Adrian replied with calm assurance. "Fortunately, Harry possesses both qualities in abundance."
Adrian felt no real concern about the outcome—after all, Harry was the protagonist.
The sky gradually darkened, and wind began to howl, sweeping up fallen leaves from the ground. In the distance, lightning split the sky, followed by deafening thunder.
Harry's heart pounded violently—this was the moment!
He pointed his wand tip at his heart and decisively recited the incantation: "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."
Without allowing himself time for second thoughts or hesitation, Harry uncorked the crystal vial and drank the blood-red potion in a single, decisive gulp.
In an instant, Harry felt intense pain, as if a second heart was beating within his body. At the same time, the image of a stag appeared in his mind. He knew this was the animal form he was about to become.
Another bolt of lightning struck nearby with a crack that seemed to split the world in half, and in the blinding white afterimage that burned across Harry's vision, his transformation began.
His limbs twisted and elongated, his spine curved backward at a different angle, and his glasses and clothes gradually merged with his skin, which quickly sprouted dark brown fur.
In a moment, a young stag stood proudly in the rain.
"You did it, Harry!" Hermione's voice rang out across the clearing.
The newly transformed Harry looked down at his hooves with a mixture of bewilderment and wonder. The ground looked different from this height and angle, and his vision had changed in subtle ways.
Tentatively, he took a single step forward, marveling at the alien sensation of walking on four legs.
The adjustment period was remarkably brief. Within moments, Harry's new body felt natural rather than strange, as if some dormant part of his mind had always known how to be a stag. He began to move with increasing confidence, testing his balance and coordination before breaking into a graceful leap that carried him effortlessly across the clearing to where Adrian and Hermione waited.
In his excitement, Harry completely forgot about his fallen wand, which lay abandoned in the grass where his human form had stood.
Adrian watched the transformation's aftermath with deep satisfaction, recognizing the signs of a completely successful Animagus conversion.
"Perfect transformation, Harry," He called out approvingly. "The transition was flawless and the form is stable. Now, attempt to change back—it's not particularly difficult, but it requires clear mental focus. Visualize your human form as precisely as possible and will yourself back to that shape."
The stag—Harry—closed his large, dark eyes and concentrated with the same intensity he had applied to the transformation itself.
In his mind, he pictured himself as a human.
The reverse transformation was gentler than the initial change, like sliding from one state of being into another rather than being violently reshaped.
Within seconds, a thoroughly soaked but triumphant Harry Potter stood in the clearing, rainwater streaming from his hair and clothes, his face glowing with excitement and wonder.
"That was absolutely incredible," Harry said breathlessly, pushing wet hair from his eyes and blinking away raindrops. "I felt completely different—not just physically, but mentally as well. It was as if I wasn't human at all, but something else."
Hermione retrieved his wand from where it had fallen and pressed it into his hand, her own excitement making her practically vibrate with energy.
"Was the transformation process very difficult?" She asked eagerly, clearly already planning her own attempt at the magic. "Did it hurt as much as it appeared? How did you maintain your human consciousness while in animal form?"
"Actually, it was easier than I had imagined," Harry replied honestly, accepting his wand gratefully and tucking it back into his robes. "The pain during the change was intense, but not unbearable. And maintaining my human thoughts seemed to happen naturally."
Hermione nodded seriously, storing every detail for future reference. "That's very helpful information."
Adrian's expression grew more serious.
"There's one more thing you must remember, Never reveal your Animagus form to anyone unless you trust them completely. I assume you have no intention of registering this ability with the Ministry of Magic?"
"Absolutely not," Harry replied immediately, the excitement still not completely faded from his face.
Soon, Harry became proficient at Animagus transformation.
Over the following days, Adrian could see a deer running around the plantation almost daily.
Harry's talent was indeed exceptional, which reminded Adrian of himself—he had encountered no problems at all when practicing and mastering the Animagus transformation years ago.
Meanwhile, Hermione also became envious of Harry's Animagus ability and began attempting it herself.
Unfortunately, after swallowing the mandrake leaf nearly twenty times, she temporarily gave up on the idea.
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