Hogwarts: This fairy tale is too eerie

Saul's words were like a clear spring flowing into a blazing fire.

The white swan visibly paused, and Harry's body, which had been hanging limply, suddenly trembled.

I am... a member of the magic world...?

Thump! Thump!

Harry could hear his own heartbeat quickening, like a small, slender flower slowly straightening up in the sunlight.

He recalled the "strange things" he had done time and time again, which his aunt and uncle tried to suppress but could not eliminate; instead, they only grew more rampant.

Like-minded people, true friends...

Harry's eyelids twitched violently, as if he were fighting a nightmare!

The swan's struggles, however, became visibly weaker.

【Gaaah——】

Then, then you...

Harry's hoarse and cautious voice came from his orange beak, which was covered with serrated fangs.

Can you be my friend too...?

Thor paused, his gray eyes widening slightly.

Through the swan's blood-red eyes, one can see a tiny, curled-up soul peering out with eager anticipation.

"Wow~" the fire demon exclaimed in a moment of remark, "What a good child, completely the opposite of you—Gurgle!"

Thor withdrew the black threads binding Calcifer, raised the corners of his mouth, slightly lifted the brim of his hat, and smiled:

"It is an honor to be your friend, Mr. Savior."

What a pure soul! Just like him!

Upon hearing this, Harry seemed to have been injected with a Dragon Invigorating Potion, and his previously weak body began to struggle!

Strands of magic surged from his body, his will intensified, causing the white swan's movements to weaken rapidly!

"Now!"

The fire demon was no longer unruly; its crimson flames surged like waves, firmly trapping the white swan and burning away its magic and strength!

"Subdue it, Thor—!!"

In an instant, Professor McGonagall held her breath in tension, gripping her wand tightly in her hand!

This was the first time she had ever witnessed so-called "fantasy entities" in person, and she had no idea how the Green family intended to "subdue" them.

Was it some kind of profound secret technique? Or... like the mysterious man, did he undergo a dark magic transformation?

While worried, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but feel a strong desire to investigate!

This is the moment to unravel the secrets of the Green family... It might just set off a storm in the academic world!

The Ravenclaw spirit, rooted in the spirit of Gryffindor, has begun to emerge.

Professor McGonagall stared intently at Saul, holding her breath—

next second!

Thor moved with lightning speed, passing through the cage made of blazing flames, and then with perfect precision, grabbed the white swan by the neck!

【Gurgle!】

The swan was gripped so tightly it choked, its eyes rolled back, and it made a sound like a chicken being choked.

Professor McGonagall: ?

Ok?

and many more?

In the still, deathly silence, Thor pressed close to the swan's panicked face.

He raised the corners of his mouth, forming an incredibly gentle smile, and gazed at his reflection in the white swan's eyes, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

"Come with me, little cutie."

"Otherwise... hehe~"

The threat was self-evident.

Swan: 【...Caw, caw...】

Professor McGonagall: (⊙口⊙)?!

So, so subjugation was done through intimidation?

"Snap!"

The filter is broken.

All the secret techniques of the Grimm family and the storms in the academic world were reduced to ashes under Thor's extraordinary skill.

Professor McGonagall was left standing there, stunned, questioning the meaning of life amidst the raging wind and rain blowing in from outside.

But what she didn't notice was that a dark stain was seeping from the hand that Thor was holding the white swan.

It not only bound the body, but also, like ink staining white paper, it permeated the pure white feathers of the swan, gradually forming the shape of a quill pen.

【Gah, gah...!】

The swan's eyes bulged out, and it flapped its wings wildly, unwilling to give up even when its feathers were broken.

A beautiful appearance is unique; ugliness and weakness are not allowed in this world... So when it becomes the dominant force, why shouldn't it be allowed to act recklessly?!

Even if it meant breaking its neck under this oppressive force, the proud swan would never bow its head.

However, when the swan met those grey eyes so close to its eyes, it suddenly paused.

Within those misty, hazy eyes, a glimmer of light burst forth from their depths.

That was an incredibly sincere love.

So intense, yet so pure.

It's as if I feel a deep, heartfelt appreciation for its beauty and elegance.

Whether it is the current form or the small, ugly, curled-up form of the past.

"Come on, Ugly Duckling."

Saul said softly, loosening his grip on the swan's neck and gazing tenderly at it.

【......ga.】

After a long pause, the Ugly Duckling finally responded softly.

Its bristling feathers tucked in, and it obediently lowered its neck.

Its sharp teeth and mouth, both for attacking others and for protecting itself, all closed and disappeared.

"Thump."

Harry fell to the ground, his clothes torn at the back, but he was unharmed.

then.

Professor McGonagall was astonished to see a thin, brown-haired girl appear amidst the falling feathers!

The girl's skin was covered with unsightly scabs, and she was emaciated.

Grayish-brown feathers protruded haphazardly from the flesh, and hair obscured almost the entire face, making the features impossible to discern.

The fire demon was subdued at Thor's command.

The thin, ugly girl opened her arms, leaned forward, passed through the flames, and gently wrapped her arms around Thor's shoulders.

A dark, gaping wound, filled with sharp teeth, split open on his face, and he whispered in Thor's ear:

When you need me, I will transform myself again for you...

The words fell.

The quill pen pattern made of ink marks was fully formed on the back of the girl's neck!

[Congratulations! You have successfully acquired a Tier 1 Blue Rare Fantasy Form: "The Ugly Duckling"!]

The Ugly Duckling has been purified; its form has changed.

[Obtained book pages: Frenzied Bite, My Metamorphosis]

"Whoosh!"

A burst of light shone brightly, followed by a deep and majestic booming sound, like a great bell, that resounded throughout the room!

"Boom!"

Under the astonished gazes of Professor McGonagall, Hagrid the Huntsman, the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic, and the Dursleys.

A heavy double door slowly opened behind Thor, revealing rows of magnificent bookshelves inside!

"This, this is...!"

Uncle Dursley's eyes widened as he gazed greedily at the glittering library hall.

Finally, unwillingly, he realized that this strange little devil in front of him might, probably really be very rich.

And now.

This wealthy brat seems to have become good friends with his eccentric nephew.

"Damn it!"

Dursley was so jealous he felt like he was about to explode. The thought that Harry might be doing better than his family made him feel like Dumbledore was crawling all over him.

the other side.

Thor patted the Ugly Duckling's rugged back, watching her figure transform into a book in the light.

On the exquisite cover, a broken eggshell is depicted.

However, the creature inside the eggshell could not be seen; there was only a writhing darkness.

Above, written in gold lettering—

"The Ugly Duckling"

【The Fantasy Version of "The Ugly Duckling"】

[Tier: Tier 1 Blue Rare]

[Book Pages—]

【Frenzied Bite: Summons multiple beaks to tear apart opponents】

[My Transformation: Consumes a large amount of magic power to transform into a swan, but will cause the user to fall into a deep sleep lasting from three days to a week after each use.]

[Description: A tiny, curled-up creature, yearning for your love more than a magnificent transformation]

"Thank you for your hard work, welcome home."

Saul smiled and opened the book.

See how the book with "The Ugly Duckling" written on it flies into the library, lands quietly on the bookshelf, and falls into slumber.

A smear of pitch-black ink drifted into Thor's fingertips.

This made the mark even deeper.

[Fairytale erosion increased: 0.6%]

Current erosion level: 3.3%