As Bill had mentioned, obtaining legendary magical artifacts was never a simple task, regardless of the country. Evan had mentally prepared himself for this challenge before coming to Egypt, but he didn't expect it to be this challenging. While he believed that Dumbledore and Flamel's recommendation letters should carry some weight, Bill's comments hinted at a lengthy and complex approval process.
Evan was well aware of the ancient Egyptian wizards' eternal quest for conquering death and achieving true immortality. Countless magical research efforts and diverse branches of magic had been launched in pursuit of this goal. Out of these efforts, three ancient magical books had spread throughout the world.
The first of these was the "Book of the Living," renowned for its incredible power. It granted the living eternal life, allowed the deceased to rest, contained knowledge of all curses, and harnessed the power of the sun. Unfortunately, this magical book had faded into the annals of history, with only countless legends remaining.
The "Book of the Dead" had the ability to resurrect the deceased and create armies of souls. It also contained knowledge of curses, plagues, and other dark magics. Like the "Book of the Living," it had been lost, but fragments were found inscribed in the tombs and burial chambers of pharaohs and sacrificial offerings. Later generations had managed to reassemble these fragments into a somewhat less potent version, but it still held legendary status.
As for the "Emerald Tablet," it was considered the cornerstone of alchemy and held immense significance. Many wizards believed that its true secrets had yet to be fully uncovered, and the pursuit of its knowledge remained uninterrupted.
Given the circumstances, Evan knew that gaining access to the "Emerald Tablet" would be a significant challenge.
"Don't worry too much," Bill reassured him. "With Dumbledore and Flamel's assistance, you're only here for a visit, so I think we should be able to work something out."
Evan inquired about the time required for the process.
"I believe we can resolve this matter before you return to school," Bill replied confidently.
Evan accepted this and realized that he might need to extend his stay in Egypt for a few more days.
Back in the inn, Evan found the explorer's inn to be quite spacious and luxurious compared to the Leaky Cauldron's small and cramped rooms. Their room was divided into two separate areas, each containing a bed. Thick, plush Egyptian wool blankets covered the floor, making it incredibly comfortable. The walls were adorned with Egyptian-style pottery, featuring magnificent scarab designs. A massive window in their room offered a view of the Pyramids, and a spacious balcony extended from the room. Outside, they could see the palm trees swaying in the warm night breeze.
After dinner, Evan lay down in a hammock on the balcony, gently swinging and fiddling with the key stone. He contemplated the matter of the "Emerald Tablet" and the Sun vestige connected to Ramesses II, as well as the legend of the "Book of the Living." However, the clues in his possession were scarce, and his thoughts began to wander.
Bill had retired for the night, and Hermione was in her own room, seemingly not giving Evan the opportunity to "follow up with a victory."
"It's quite relaxing here!" Evan stretched and stood up. He decided not to linger on the balcony and instead headed to Hermione's room. It was time to help her complete her Animagus transformation, which they had planned for the night.
As Evan opened the door to Hermione's room, she walked in from the opposite direction. She appeared to have gathered the courage to initiate a conversation, looking at Evan with determination.
When she had returned to her room earlier, Hermione had been mulling over her concerns. She realized that it was time to address them openly. Now that they were officially a couple and had experienced so much together, there was no need to keep anything from each other. This was not her usual style, but she remembered the advice of her older sisters, who had told her to be courageous and assertive in her relationship.
Evan, on the other hand, didn't notice anything unusual about Hermione's demeanor. He joyfully spoke to her, unaware of her internal conflict.
"Evan, I..." Hermione began, gazing into his eyes with determination.
Evan, however, was already prepared to discuss something else.
"I was just about to ask you to come!" he exclaimed. "We agreed on the airplane earlier that I would help you with your Animagus transformation tonight."
"Animagus transformation?" Hermione was taken aback, as she hadn't expected this topic.
Despite coming here to take the initiative in their relationship, Hermione was open to other possibilities. And Animagus transformation seemed like an interesting avenue to explore.
"Animagus transformation is a complex form of human transfiguration," Hermione explained. "Even though I've studied the notes you gave me, I'm not sure if my current abilities are up to the task."
"Don't worry, your knowledge of transfiguration is more than sufficient," Evan reassured her. "And as for magical power, I've prepared. I've learned about the process from Sirius and the others. I've also made a plan. Peter Pettigrew managed it in his fifth year, and you're at least as capable as he was back then."
"But..." Hermione hesitated.
"You have me to guide you. There won't be any issues," Evan said confidently.
Hermione nodded, trusting Evan completely. She then asked about the process.
"You need to recall the transformation process carefully," Evan began. "I've prepared some magical runes, using alchemical methods, which can utilize the Philosopher's Stone's power to a certain extent. Later, I'll control the Philosopher's Stone's magical output to assist you. Combined with a potion for magical power and your own strength, it should work smoothly."
Hermione nodded in understanding but then posed a question that had been on her mind.
"By the way, what animal do you think I'll transform into?"
In general, Animagus and Patronus are the same animal, representing an external manifestation of the mind. However, Hermione's Patronus is an otter, so her Animagus must also be an otter, which seems a bit odd. It can only be used in places with water, and there doesn't seem to be much distinction.
"Animagus transformation is uncertain, and the animal one changes into is related to the wizard's body weight and disposition," Evan remarked. He found Hermione's question about such a basic matter a bit strange but patiently answered, "Most transformations result in ordinary non-magical creatures. For example, Professor McGonagall transforms into a tabby cat, Sirius into a big black dog, Rita Skeeter into a beetle. I even witnessed Ravenclaw's memory where she transformed into a raven."
"Raven!" Hermione sighed, "Ms. Ravenclaw was indeed remarkable!"
"Turning into birds is very convenient. Hermione, the raven is considered the most intelligent wizard's incarnation, and you're the most intelligent wizard I've seen," Evan replied. "So, I hope your Animagus is a raven."
"Thank you," Hermione said, feeling deeply inspired. "Evan, you know what I actually wanted to ask. What animal would you like me to turn into? What animal would be helpful to you?"
"I hope you turn into a cat," Evan replied directly.
"Why?" Hermione asked, looking surprised.
"Because my Animagus is a cat. If you turn into a cat, we'll make a perfect pair," Evan said with a smile as he affectionately ruffled Hermione's hair. "You must become adorable, but not like Professor McGonagall."
Hermione blushed and nodded in agreement. She knew she was supposed to be focused on the task at hand, but with Evan's movements, she couldn't help feeling anxious and shy.
As Evan began to draw magic runes on the ground using various magical materials, Hermione realized that her role for now was to observe. After several minutes of work, a complex and intricate magic rune appeared before them.
"Is this the magic rune you were talking about?" Hermione asked, looking at the rune in amazement.
"Yes, I used the Book of Abraham and notes from Nicolas Flamel to find remnants of ancient magic that could be harnessed with this rune. It enables us to tap into the incredible power of the Philosopher's Stone, a practical application of alchemy," Evan explained, wiping sweat from his forehead. He had used his magical abilities to craft this rune, a skill he had honed during his time in the giant territory.
However, while he could create the rune to channel the Philosopher's Stone's power, sustaining it for an extended period was challenging. It was not suitable for helping Hermione complete her first Animagus transformation. That's why he had worked hard to obtain the citrine crystals from deep within the mountains. These mysterious ores had a strong affinity for magic and contained pure energy. Evan had collected them to reduce the risks involved in Hermione's transformation.
"Alright, these vials contain magic-restoring potions to help replenish your magical energy," Evan said as he handed Hermione several bottles of pale blue liquid. "It's a shame we couldn't find more magic medicine, but with the Philosopher's Stone, you shouldn't need them."
Evan instructed Hermione to sit within the rune, and he took out the Slytherin's locket, placing the Philosopher's Stone at a key position.
"Are you ready?" Hermione asked, her excitement mingled with nervousness.
Hermione had read extensively about Animagus transformations in books and had spoken with Professor McGonagall numerous times. She was well aware of the immense difficulty of transforming one's body into that of an animal. Only seven registered Animagi had successfully achieved this feat in the entire 20th century.
"Remember, this will be quite painful," Evan warned. "You may scream if you need to, but don't stop the magic or all our efforts will be wasted, and there could even be accidents."
"I understand," Hermione nodded, clenching her fists in determination.
"When transforming into an animal, certain bones, usually in key areas, are the most challenging to change. The specific locations vary depending on the species you're transforming into. That's why I suggest you take off..." Evan's voice trailed off, becoming quieter. "At least your outer clothing. That should suffice."
There was a moment of silence, and Evan worried that Hermione might be offended by his request. He knew it was somewhat unreasonable.
"You understand that this is necessary for the magic to work, right?" he added quickly. "You only need to remove your outer robe."
In the past, when Pettigrew had transformed, he had difficulty changing the bone structure of his back's shoulder blades. James, Sirius, and Lupin had taken turns assisting him with his transformation, emphasizing the necessity of not wearing any clothes to find the exact bone that needed changing.
"And pass me my outer robe," Hermione said, blushing and avoiding eye contact with Evan.
"Of course," Evan remembered that Hermione's clothing was nearby and hurriedly searched for it. However, he accidentally picked up her underwear, which was pure white and adorned with a cute little butterfly bow.
Finally, just as Hermione was about to scold Evan for his fumbling, he found her outer robe and handed it to her.
It wasn't the pink school robe Hermione usually wore; this one was made of a light gauzy material. As Hermione went into the other room to change, Evan could vaguely see her alluring silhouette. For Evan, Hermione's allure was more enticing than anything else.
For Hermione, the recent events had left her feeling exceptionally shy, and she was experiencing a rush of unfamiliar emotions. Tonight, both of them had motives that weren't entirely pure; the Animagus transformation was just an excuse.
The atmosphere in the room was undeniably charged with tension. Evan and Hermione's breaths grew ragged, and the impending transformation loomed.
"Hermione, focus your attention and follow the Animagus transformation process," Evan said breathlessly. "I'll assist you."
No sooner had he uttered those words than the Philosopher's Stone in his hand emitted a red glow, and the magic runes lit up instantly. If someone were to enter the room at that moment, they would be astounded by the scene before them.
Within the dimly lit and mysterious magic runes, Hermione's body underwent a rapid transformation, changing into the form of an animal. Evan watched in amazement as her muscles, skin, and even her hair wriggled and quivered. She resembled a lump of shifting clay, her body rapidly diminishing in size.
Despite the pain, Hermione gritted her teeth and persevered. She knew she had to endure the discomfort, and the disappearing magic was swiftly replenished. Her body continued to change rapidly.
"It's happening..." Evan whispered in awe as he watched Hermione's body transform before his eyes. It seemed she was indeed becoming a cat!