The Cabin of Hope.
A new, concealed door had appeared on the left side of the wall here.
A gentle breeze brushed past, and the wall seemed to crack open a sliver.
Justin subconsciously looked toward the gap. He stared for a moment, then resumed practicing his spell.
Inside the gap was a large, circular room.
Elegant arched windows punctuated the walls, draped with blue and bronze silks, offering a view of the beautiful scenery outside.
The ceiling was a domed roof, adorned with stars, mirroring the deep blue carpet below which also sparkled with stars. The room was furnished with tables, chairs, and bookshelves. In a niche opposite the door stood a tall, white marble bust of Rowena Ravenclaw. A door beside the statue led back to the Cabin of Hope.
No matter how Sean looked at it, this place strongly resembled the Ravenclaw common room, right down to the statue of Lady Ravenclaw.
However, the statue of Ravenclaw here wore a diadem on its head, inscribed with the words:
"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
Sean had been surprised and confused for a moment, until he got close to the diadem and realized it was just an exquisite replica.
Now, he looked at the diadem again.
"How could a wizard's true wisdom exist within a diadem?"
Saying this, he walked toward his workbench.
The silvery-white workbench was cluttered with numerous trinkets—fragments of broken lenses, biscuits of various shapes—
There were Kneazle biscuits that snored, Dragon biscuits that breathed fire, Hippogriff biscuits that let out long screeches... all neatly arranged on the display rack beside the workbench.
Today, there was also an overly peculiar Wampus Cat biscuit.
When Sean locked eyes with the biscuit, the world before him began to warp in the blink of an eye, transforming into various places familiar to him:
The Transfiguration office with its crackling fireplace, the dungeons with bubbling cauldrons, the snow-covered McGonagall villa...
Sean raised his wand calmly. His [Beginner] level Occlumency pulled him back to reality in just a short moment.
He picked up the Wampus Cat biscuit and took a bite.
Instantly, the secluded room lost a young wizard.
When movement returned to the room, a Wampus Cat seemed to appear out of thin air.
It possessed a flowing coat of ink-black fur, patterned with cloud-like embroidery of silvery white. Even more striking were its green eyes, which shone with a captivating brilliance capable of seizing the mind.
As the Wampus Cat silently examined its own body, it discovered something unexpected yet logical.
That was, it was very small.
Literally small—only a bit larger than a Kneazle.
Like a juvenile Wampus Cat.
It guessed this was due to the [Apprentice] level of the Wampus Cat biscuit.
Just like the difference between the Small Dragon biscuit and the true Dragon biscuit—in the panel's rating, the Small Dragon biscuit transformed into the Dragon biscuit at the [Expert] level.
So, this should count as a [Juvenile Wampus Cat Biscuit]?
Hmm... the more important question was, had the Wampus Cat's unique Legilimency ability matured?
Verifying this wasn't simple. The Wampus Cat thought for a moment, then shook the pendant on its neck.
A book leapt down from the pendant out of thin air, growing layer by layer until it finally unfolded to form an exquisite oak door.
"As you will—please command Will—"
The Pukwudgie butler, Will, appeared with no small amount of imposing manner.
His upward gaze faltered, looking left and right, and finally, he froze in a daze.
"Look down."
A familiar voice came, and Butler Will jolted, hurriedly looking down.
This glance downward revealed something startling.
His respected master, the great wizard he had sworn loyalty to... how had he turned into a Wampus Cat?
"Please forgive me—it's too late—"
With a snap of his fingers, Sean found himself being hugged. Butler Will asked anxiously,
"Respected Mr. Green, where is the Hogwarts Hospital Wing?"
"I didn't fail the transformation."
A object resembling a brooch on the Wampus Cat's neck spoke.
"Of course, of course, for a great wizard like you, this is just a small exploration, an accidental exploration. Oh, Master William taught it this way..."
Butler Will's bushy eyebrows knotted together.
"This is my Animagus."
The Wampus Cat roughly understood.
Magical creature Animagus forms were still uncommon to Will.
It lifted its head, gazing at the elm wood clock; the time pointed to ten past eight.
Exactly three minutes since the transformation began.
Thus, right in front of Will's swaying body, a young wizard naturally stood in place.
"Master William bless us—"
Will dug his sharp nails into his own arm. The pain made him realize he hadn't been hit by a Confundus Charm.
"Master William—has the power of the Fairytale Biscuits reached such a level?
Oh, this is Will's small question, you don't have to answer.
Will knows, a great wizard like you always has many profound and mysterious secrets."
Will asked cautiously.
"It's nothing, Will.
When a wizard's Animagus form aligns with animal transfiguration, the wizard doesn't lose consciousness because their soul hasn't been twisted."
Sean explained.
"Oh, oh, soul... twisted..."
Will was dazed but kept nodding.
Seeing his state, Sean knew he didn't understand at all. So, he summoned his Transfiguration notes and briefly expounded on the knowledge of soul transformation and reversion.
When Sean returned the Transfiguration notes to the Book of Wizardry, Will had already buried his head. Sean could see his small body trembling slightly.
This made the young wizard frown slightly.
"This is..."
"Master William above—"
Will suddenly let out a cry. There was something glistening in his eyes.
"Ah, if only Mr. Green knew.
If only he knew what wizards are like to us humble Pukwudgies in the magical world.
Every day they want to transform us into creatures like house-elves.
House-elves! Wizards used to treat those house-elves like vermin, sir! Of course, they still treat house-elves that way now, sir.
This is why they will never own too many house-elves—no creature is born to be enslaved!
And Pukwudgies must hide, must fight, or greedy wizards won't give up their terrible desires..."
Sean listened silently. He had never learned history from the mouth of a goblin... outside of wizards before.
"Do you know what is most precious in all of this?
Knowledge! Sir, just as Lady Isolt Sayre said: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
Sean was instantly dumbfounded, wondering where Lady Isolt had learned Lady Ravenclaw's motto.