As the group approached the grand entrance, they were greeted by Professor McGonagall, who stood at the door with her usual stern and dignified demeanor. Devon's eyes widened in astonishment upon seeing her. He had longed to acquire entries from this esteemed professor, especially since he struggled with Transfiguration.
Despite being a magical genius, Devon found Transfiguration particularly challenging. When he inquired about this discrepancy, the system bluntly informed him that his innate talent for Transfiguration was lacking. While his magical genius status facilitated learning spell-like magic, it couldn't compensate for his deficiency in Transfiguration. The system's advice was straightforward: seek out more entries to enhance his abilities.
Devon felt disheartened. Compared to Harry, who seemed to possess golden entries effortlessly, Devon's own background felt inadequate—perhaps even comparable to Ron's. Sharing a table with Neville only amplified his feelings of inferiority. Thus, he yearned for high-quality entries to bolster his skills.
Finally, standing before him was Professor McGonagall, the very embodiment of his aspirations.
"First-year students, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid announced, showing a hint of apprehension toward the respected professor.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here," she replied, her gaze silencing the previously noisy group of freshmen.
She turned and opened the massive doors, revealing stone walls illuminated by blazing torches and a ceiling so high it seemed to vanish into the shadows. A luxurious marble staircase led straight ahead.
Devon, positioned some distance from Professor McGonagall, couldn't access her entries due to the crowd. Frustrated, he resisted the urge to use his wand to clear a path. Instead, he followed the group along the stone-paved floor.
Suddenly, a familiar notification sounded:
Ding!
Discovered Wizarding Secret Realm, triggered exploration function!
Current Wizarding Secret Realm: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Exploration Progress: 0.01%
As Devon had anticipated, Hogwarts was indeed a wizarding secret realm. However, he hadn't expected its vastness. A mere 0.01% exploration progress indicated that the journey so far was just a fraction of the entire castle. The enormity of Hogwarts was staggering.
Recalling the Weasley twins' tales of unexplored areas, Devon realized that even a full school year wouldn't suffice to uncover all its secrets. Fortunately, he had the foresight to befriend Fred and George before arriving, using a silent spell as bait. Their guidance would be invaluable. Yet, he understood that relying solely on them wouldn't be enough; he needed to take initiative.
As a first-year student, Devon faced numerous restrictions. Places like the Forbidden Forest and the Restricted Section were off-limits. He envied Harry's invisibility cloak, a Deathly Hallow that granted unparalleled access. However, borrowing it was out of the question, especially under Dumbledore's watchful eye.
Devon contemplated alternative methods. The Disillusionment Charm came to mind, but he lacked the means to learn it. That left Animagus transformation as a viable option. To pursue this path, he needed Professor McGonagall's entry.
After walking for a while, the group was led into a narrow stone room. Though cramped, Devon saw an opportunity. He was finally within three meters of Professor McGonagall and could access her profile:
Name: Minerva McGonagall
Age: 55
Spell Library: Animagus (Proficient), Various Transfiguration Charms (Proficient), ...
Entries:
Transfiguration Prodigy (Gold): Exceptional talent in Transfiguration, characterized by rigor and seriousness.
Magical Talent (Purple): Superior magical aptitude, facilitating rapid learning and creativity.
Good Teacher (Purple): Skilled in imparting knowledge and fostering student growth.
Devon's eyes lit up. These entries were on par with, if not superior to, Snape's. They were precisely what he needed. However, he had recently loaded entries from Harry, which were still in cooldown. Unable to load McGonagall's entries immediately, Devon felt a deep sense of frustration.
"Devon, what's wrong?" Neville inquired, noticing his distress.
"Have you ever been interrupted during something important?" Devon responded, his face contorted in anguish.
Neville shook his head, puzzled.
"That's how I feel right now," Devon sighed.
Their whispered exchange drew a sharp glance from Professor McGonagall, prompting Neville to stand upright immediately. Devon, however, remained despondent.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began once the room quieted. "The start-of-year banquet is about to commence, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your respective houses."
As she delved into the significance of the sorting ceremony, Devon's thoughts drifted. He was preoccupied with the cooldown timer, eager for it to expire so he could load the coveted entries.