Simultaneously traversing: the pinnacle of all realms

Xavier drew an arrow in his notebook pointing to this entry.

"One of my holiday goals—to try some simple staff-less spellcasting. I'll start with the Levitation Charm."

"As for the venue..."

Xavier tapped his head in annoyance.

He had absolutely no idea where to find a suitable place to practice magic.

I can't just leave the UK directly.

Moreover, even if they leave Britain and go to other countries, the local magic authorities will still take over the detection and management of the trail.

To evade detection, it's best to have a gathering of adult wizards, a relatively safe place, and a stable environment...

"I can't exactly stay at the Leaky Cauldron... Ah? Well, it doesn't seem like a bad idea."

Xavier seems to have an idea.

-

After the train had been traveling for several hours, the atmosphere in the carriage gradually became lively.

A witch pushed a cart piled high with magical snacks through the corridor.

Xavier got up and bought a box of chocolate frogs and a bottle of pumpkin juice.

After thinking about it, I bought a bunch of snacks and packed them in my suitcase—gifts for Darren Beth and the others.

Although he usually asks Bobo to bring back some strange and unusual food, Xavier still wants to buy some himself.

Leaning against the window, he looked at the pumpkin juice in the bottle on the table, felt the chocolate frog legs thrashing in his mouth, and thought of something.

—What exactly is potion, or potion studies?

Some medicine in a bottle?

Or something more complicated?

The process of brewing potions is often so precise—the heat, the direction of stirring, the order in which ingredients are added—if any one of these steps goes wrong, the potion's effectiveness will be greatly reduced or it may even turn into poison.

But in reality, even if Muggles strictly follow the procedures, they still can't make the potion.

Only wizards can make potions.

Potions require special materials, and some even require special environments, which means that the cultivation, harvesting, and storage of potion materials are themselves part of magic.

Some potions require incantations to be used in their creation, which means that every action during the brewing process is channeling magic.

Willpower, focus, and even emotions all affect the efficacy of medication.

Does this mean that potion-making is essentially a form of ritual magic?

Could such a powerful wizard cast spells to unleash the desired potion effects?

For example, forgetting potions and forgetting spells, compound potions and transfiguration?

Even highly complex potions like Felix Felicis, Polyjuice Potion, and Werewolf Potion may have corresponding enchantments.

Xavier then thought of the Animagus, which required the use of a potion.

Xavier's thoughts on Animagus are more complex.

Animagus transformation is a form of magic that transforms oneself into other creatures. It requires the use of potions for several months and must be performed under a full moon.

The entire process is extremely dangerous; a slight mistake can lead to a failed transformation—at best, a part of the body will permanently retain animal characteristics; at worst, the individual will lose their mind and become a real animal.

A long preparation process, the use of spells at specific times, and a potion that can only "mature" under special circumstances...

Although it's a transfiguration spell, it's similar to the potion-making process in Potions class, only it takes longer and the process is more rigorous.

Moreover, he was also very interested in the principles behind Animagus.

Why do almost no people become magical creatures?

He had read an interesting account in the book—Merlin himself was an Animagus, and he could transform into many different animals.

But Merlin is said to be Campion (half-man, half-demon).

Therefore, his shapeshifting ability may not be entirely Animagus in the current sense, but rather includes a part of his bloodline.

Half-human, half-demon—

Or rather, magical creatures—

"And what about me?"

Ms. Pomfrey once claimed to have magical animal lineage.

He looked down at his hands.

With a thought, antlers sprouted from the top of his head, his ears became pointed, his hair turned slightly white, and his pupils were tinged with a pale gold.

This feeling is very subtle.

It's not that it "became" something, but rather that it "revealed" something.

These characteristics have always been there; they're just usually hidden.

"Can I transform into a complete magical creature?"

But if one day he were to master Animagus transformation, what animal would he become?

"It's probably related to deer."

He smiled and put the antlers back.

There's also the Patronus Charm taught in Defense Against the Dark Arts class...

-

"And then there's..."

Xavier scribbled and drew, turning another page in his notebook.

This page only has the names of Darren and Beth.

Xavier remained silent for a long while.

He drew a line under his name, closed his notebook, leaned back in his chair, and watched the scenery outside the window rush past.

The fields were lush and green, with the occasional owl flying overhead; it was unclear whether they were messengers or wild owls.

Xavier laughed. "Well, enjoying the vacation is the most important thing."

Bobo cooed in the cage, as if in agreement.

He stuffed the notebook into his bag, then took out the illustrated book of The Hobbit and turned to the first page.

"A hobbit lived in an underground cave."

He uttered the first sentence softly, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards.

He has read this book many times, but he still finds it very interesting every time he reads it.

Bilbo Baggins—a hobbit who prefers comfort, good food, and no adventure—is drawn into a journey he never imagined.

Xavier also enjoys comfort, good food, and dislikes adventure.

But sometimes fate doesn't give people a choice.

Bilbo came out of his cave, and he also came out of his stairwell.

The magical world is like that misty mountain range, fraught with danger, but also full of miracles.

"I just hope we don't run into a dragon."

Xavier muttered something under his breath and turned to the next page.

-

The train rumbled forward, taking him away from the magical world and back to the home where Beth and Darren lived.

In the afternoon, the train slowly pulled into King's Cross Station.

Xavier carried the birdcage and dragged his suitcase out of the carriage.

The platform was packed with students and parents, and the sounds of hugs and farewells filled the air.

He walked through the crowd toward the brick wall leading to the Muggle world.

The moment he passed through the brick wall, he felt something gently "nudge" him—like passing through an invisible film of water, or like stepping from one world into another.

Platform 9¾ disappeared behind us, replaced by the busy, ordinary platforms of King's Cross Station.

Darren and Beth were already waiting there.

Beth spotted him immediately and ran over to hug him: "Ethan! You've lost weight!"

"You always say I've lost weight."

Xavier laughed as he let his mother ruffle his hair.

Darren walked over, took the suitcase, and patted him on the shoulder: "Let's go home. Your mother made barbecue."

"Barbecue again?" Xavier asked.

"She's been making it while you were gone," Darren said in a low voice. "It tastes much better now than before."

Xavier smiled and followed his parents out of the station.

The streets of London remain the same, bustling with traffic and people.

Shop windows were filled with promotional items, roadside cafes were packed with people, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and bread.

"I feel like I just came from the Middle Ages."

Xavier thought.

Carriages are rarely seen in the magical world; horse-drawn carriages are more common. Shops are also rare, especially modern ones like this one.

Moreover, except for a few special individuals, most wizards wear long, plain-colored robes.

Beth turned and glanced at him: "What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing."

Xavier laughed and said, "I'm thinking about what the first thing I'll do when I get home."

"Let's eat first!"

Beth said firmly, "Then get a good night's sleep. We'll talk about other things tomorrow."

"Okay," Xavier said.

He got into the back seat of the car, placed Bobo's cage next to him, and stuffed the suitcase into the trunk.

The car started, drove out of the station, and merged into the traffic flow of London.

Xavier leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep.