45. It's Morphin time!

As they settled around the dining table, lunch was a pleasant, casual affair. Ryan had ordered plenty of food in anticipation of Harry's visit, and the group enjoyed a comfortable meal together. It was clear Harry was still adjusting to the idea of Ryan's unique living situation, but the atmosphere was warm, and soon enough, he seemed at ease.

Midway through the meal, Ryan leaned back in his chair, casually asking, "So, Harry, why aren't you living with Sirius yet? I figured you'd be out of your aunt's place the moment he got freed."

Harry sighed, setting down his fork. "I wish I could, but Dumbledore explained that I still have protections around my aunt's house because of my mum's sacrifice. As long as I spend some time there each year, the wards stay active, keeping me safe from… you know who."

Ryan nodded, understanding but still not liking the idea. "And Sirius? What's he up to?"

Harry hesitated before responding. "He's still recovering. Azkaban… it messed him up pretty badly. He wasn't there as long as he could've been, but it was still enough to take a toll on him. St. Mungo's has been helping, but he doesn't have a stable place to live yet. He wants to be fully back on his feet before taking me in properly."

Yue frowned slightly. "That makes sense, but it must be frustrating for you."

Harry sighed again. "Yeah, it is. But Sirius doesn't want me living in some rundown place while he's still trying to get settled. He promised that when he's ready, I can move in with him."

Ryan thought for a moment before shrugging. "Well, until then, you can always crash here if you need a break from your relatives."

Harry smiled, clearly appreciating the offer. "Thanks, Ryan. I might just take you up on that."

With that, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and lunch continued with easy laughter and shared stories.

Harry hung out for a bit longer before catching the knights bus back home.

~~~

The morning sun had yet to rise when Ryan and the girls gathered in the living room, preparing for the first step of their Animagus training. Before anything else, they needed to place a mandrake leaf in their mouths and keep it there for an entire month, only removing it during the final ritual on the night of a thunderstorm.

Ryan held up a small pouch containing several dried mandrake leaves. "Alright, this is going to be the annoying part. Once we put this in, it stays in our mouths until the end of the ritual. No taking it out—not even to eat or drink."

Yue picked up a leaf and examined it with a slight frown. "And if we accidentally swallow it?"

"You start all over," Rachel answered, already casting the Fixare Folium spell on her own leaf before pressing it against the roof of her mouth. "The spell keeps it in place, so we won't have to worry about that."

Ryan and the others followed suit, muttering the spell as they affixed the leaves in place. The bitter taste was immediate, but after a few seconds, it settled into a dull, unpleasant sensation. Yue scrunched her nose in mild discomfort, while Serenity remained as composed as ever, though Ryan noticed her subtly flexing her fingers—one of the few tells she had when adjusting to something unfamiliar.

"Alright," Ryan said, voice slightly muffled by the leaf, "Step one complete. Now, every morning before sunrise, we have to chant the incantation and collect dew from untouched places."

The group made their way outside, the air cool and crisp in the early morning darkness. The world was silent save for the occasional rustling of leaves as they positioned themselves on the grass, barefoot, to begin the next step.

With wands held over their hearts, they whispered the ancient incantation, letting the magic settle within them. The words were unfamiliar but carried a weight that resonated through the still air, binding them further to the transformation process.

Once the chanting was complete, they split up, carefully gathering dewdrops into small vials. The potion they would eventually brew required these untouched droplets, meaning they had to be meticulous in finding places where no human had walked before.

By the time they finished, the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon.

"That's it for today," Ryan said, sealing his vial. "Now we just have to do this every morning for a month."

---

Later that day, Ryan was lounging in the living room with Yue and Rachel, skimming through one of the books on Animagus transformations. Serenity, as usual, sat quietly in the corner, lost in her own thoughts while occasionally glancing at the book in Ryan's hands.

A sudden tapping at the window made them look up. A barn owl perched outside, a letter tied to its leg.

Ryan got up, let the owl in, and untied the letter. It hooted softly before taking off again.

"It's from Hermione," Ryan said, recognizing the neat handwriting. He broke the seal and unfolded the parchment while the girls leaned in curiously.

---

Dear Ryan, Yue, and Rachel,

Bonjour from France!

I hope you're all doing well. My parents and I have been traveling around the country, mostly exploring magical communities. We visited Beauxbatons a few days ago—it's absolutely stunning! The palace is enchanted to shimmer in the sunlight, and the gardens are filled with magical creatures. It feels different from Hogwarts, more elegant and refined.

I also stopped by a well-known French apothecary that specializes in rare potion ingredients. Some of the things they sell here would be considered restricted in Britain! I was tempted to pick up a few things for our potion studies, but I wasn't sure I could get them past customs. Maybe next time.

I assume you've started Animagus training? I read ahead before leaving, and it sounds incredibly complex. I know you'll manage, but please be careful—improper transformations can be dangerous.

Also, I expect a full explanation about the third girlfriend when I get back. You barely mentioned her in your last letter!

Let me know how things are going. I miss our study sessions already.

Best,

Hermione

---

Ryan chuckled as he folded the letter. "Typical Hermione. She goes on vacation and still finds time to study and investigate rare potion ingredients."

Rachel smirked. "I bet she's taken more notes on Beauxbatons than most of their students."

"The apothecary sounds interesting," Yue mused. "We should check out foreign shops ourselves. Britain has decent supplies, but there's probably a lot we're missing out on."

Ryan shrugged. "We could take a trip to France sometime—maybe after we finish the Animagus training."

Serenity, who had been silent so far, spoke up in a soft, measured tone. "She doesn't know about me yet, does she?"

Ryan blinked, then realized Hermione's letter confirmed that. "No, I guess she doesn't. She knows I have three girlfriends, but I never actually introduced you in my letters."

Rachel smirked. "That should be fun. I wonder how she'll react."

Yue giggled. "She'll probably ask a thousand questions."

Serenity tilted her head slightly. "Would she… disapprove?"

Ryan shook his head. "Nah, she might be surprised, but as long as I'm happy, she won't make a big deal out of it."

That seemed to satisfy Serenity, and she returned to her book.

As the day wound down, the group continued reading through their Animagus guides, preparing for the long process ahead. They had a month of dedication ahead of them, but with each other's support, Ryan was confident they'd succeed.