If you're enjoying these stories, visit my Pat** on at: ilham20
only 3$
The Chamber of Wishes had undergone dramatic changes.
According to Mr. Owl, they could have the chamber change at any time—whatever they needed, the chamber could provide.[1]
So Justin got a kitchen and a small garden, Hermione got rows of bookshelves.
And Sean noticed something on the left side of the chamber—a hidden door.
Sean didn't go in right away. He sat at his wooden bookcase and began his daily studies.
First, in Transfiguration, he'd achieved mastery but was still at the "strength of five" stage.
He opened his progress panel:
[Magical Transfiguration: Novice Level (50/900)]
[Material Transfiguration: Competent Level (10/3000)]
[Soul Transfiguration: Competent Level (50/3000)]
Magical Transfiguration, which had once been far ahead, was now gradually falling behind. Sean wasn't used to that.
After all, legendary-level Transfiguration required two masters and one legendary skill.
He couldn't afford to fall behind in any area.
Fortunately, Soul Transfiguration had reached [Competent]. Sean instinctively sensed that his Soul Transfiguration must have undergone some major changes, but since he wasn't in the soul-baring boundary realm, he hadn't been able to feel it deeply.
Second, in alchemy, he'd found two types of advanced alchemical creations: the Grimoire and the Fairy Tale Cookies.
Progress on both was slow but steady, but for the last category, Sean was back to exploring.
He opened the panel:
[Advanced: Grimoire: Apprentice Level (100/300)]
[Advanced: Fairy Tale Cookies: Expert Level (6700/9000) (Collapse)]
[Advancement: Three types of master-level advanced alchemical creations can unlock the master title in the alchemy field]
After looking away, Sean checked the progress of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Dark Arts, and so on.
Thanks to regular study, they were advancing steadily.
But most were still at [Competent].
The only branch of magic lagging behind was Divination.
It was too profound. Even though Sean had studied with his centaur teacher for quite some time, it still hadn't unlocked—always three skill points short.
The centaur teacher wasn't worried at all, and naturally comforted Sean:
"We call the infinite operations of countless changing causes and effects 'fate.' When studying such things, surprises are the least surprising thing."
So Sean's proficiency remained stuck at those final three points, unable to budge.
Busy days flowed by like water.
Harry and Ron had been amazed both by the changes to the Chamber of Wishes and the changes in Justin and Hermione.
In the past, they'd had little entertainment and always studied in the chamber.
Now, they could barely see them relax at all. For long periods, they seemed to be holding their breath, trying to fully realize every bit of their magical potential.
Late at night, near curfew, Sean sometimes walked back to the dormitory with them.
Mr. Filch always turned a blind eye to their movements. As the castle's caretaker, he was well aware of the surprising and puzzling changes in these young wizards.
But that didn't stop him from thinking this was an excellent thing brought about by Mr. Green.
One morning, when the corridors were covered in thick frost, Justin rarely interrupted Sean:
"Sean, when we went home for Christmas break, we already investigated Lockhart's activities, but..."
Hermione picked up: "He's like Vol—Voldemort—good at manipulating people. It's really hard to find enough witnesses and testimony."
Hermione hesitated when she said that terrible name, then said it firmly.[2]
"What are you planning to do?" Sean asked, putting down the Book of Ghosts and tucking away the two-way mirror and cookies on his desk.
"We're going to get the truth from his own mouth!" Hermione said seriously.
"Hermione wants to make Veritaserum. Once she makes it, we'll subdue Lockhart and expose everything," Justin explained the plan.
If Ron had heard it, he definitely would've said:
"Have you ever heard of a plan with so many things that could go wrong?"
But it was Sean who heard the plan, and he just nodded:
"No problem."
"Excellent!" Justin and Hermione were overjoyed.
"What do you need me to do?" Sean asked.
As if subduing a Hogwarts professor was the simplest thing in the world.
And the two in front of him didn't doubt the young wizard's abilities for a second.
If Sean ever said he was going to duel Voldemort, they'd instinctively think about how to stop Voldemort from escaping.[2]
"You need to do the most difficult thing," Justin said in a low voice.
"Stay at Hogwarts. Let us know you're there."
The fourth week of Christmas break arrived.
Besides studying, Justin and Hermione were executing their secret plan.
Justin had to subdue Lockhart, while Hermione needed to brew Veritaserum.
Sean was curious whether Hermione could actually make Veritaserum, and how Justin would subdue Lockhart.
After all, though Lockhart was a fraud, his skill with Memory Charms was pretty high.
This made him work even faster on modifying an object—the two-way mirror.
Compared to the Marauder's Map, the two-way mirror was far more convenient and practical.
That way, even if something unexpected happened, he could quickly know and get there.
Meanwhile, Efa's affinity had risen to [Close] in recent days. Sean's panther cookies would be ready within the week.
Beyond working on alchemical creations, Transfiguration, and Charms proficiency, Sean was quietly waiting for another moment.
The recovery of the Soul Relic.
For over a week, Sean hadn't entered the boundary realm.
His Soul Transfiguration had reached [Competent], and theoretically should have changed, but until he entered the boundary realm, it was just a hidden perception.
That evening, the cold wind cut against hands and cheeks.
The sky and the Great Hall ceiling turned pale blue-gray. The mountains around Hogwarts wore snow caps, and the temperature inside the castle dropped considerably. During breaks in the corridors between classes, many students wore thick gloves.
Sean passed through the corridor. Against his chest, the Soul Relic flickered with faint light.
The young wizard's calm eyes widened slightly, and his steps quickened.
So that night arrived as expected.
In Ravenclaw Tower, lights twinkled as young wizards still discussed things quietly but passionately.
Sean walked through the common room, his gaze passing over the statue in Ravenclaw Tower—Rowena Ravenclaw's white curls topped with a stone diadem...
At the same moment he returned to his dormitory, mist slowly began to rise.