Chapter 225: The Brand-New Hogwarts Acceptance Letter

Half an hour later, Hermione had exhausted her magic.

William handed her a fatigue-relief potion and then pulled out a restorative magic potion to quickly replenish her magic.

For most young witches and wizards, training ended with a long wait for their magic to naturally recover. Few could afford such extravagance as William.

But for a Potions Master, this was hardly a concern—expensive potions were there for the taking.

Drink as much as you need!

After another twenty minutes of rest, Hermione insisted on continuing the training.

The earlier exercises were basic practice. Now came the real combat drills.

William pulled out a special Quibbler Summer Edition gifted to him by Luna. He held it in his left hand and casually drew his wand with his right.

Kakashi style.

"Come on, hit me with a spell, and you win."

William stood lazily in place, eyes focused on the magazine. His posture seemed riddled with openings, yet every opening was an intentional trap.

Hermione flicked her wand, sending a beam of light forward. William shifted half a step to the right and effortlessly dodged the spell.

Hermione gritted her teeth and launched another spell.

William's right hand turned a page of the magazine, his eyes never leaving the print. With a flick of his wrist, his wand shot back the same spell.

Not only did it deflect Hermione's spell with ease, but it also skimmed past her hair, so close it was nearly a direct hit.

Hermione, nearly struck, held on fiercely, unwilling to give up her years of well-earned pride.

The basement soon filled with shouts of spells like Expelliarmus, while magic bolts flew wildly. Stray spells hit alchemical items on the shelves or exploded against the ceiling, sending sparks everywhere.

After half an hour, William vanished from view, reappearing behind Hermione with Apparition. He pointed his wand at her waist.

"A wizard should never ignore their back," William instructed firmly.

Panting heavily, Hermione nodded and wiped the sweat from her brow.

William exhaled sharply. Just now, he had nearly performed the Thousand Years of Death technique by reflex.

That would've been social suicide!

Once the training ended, Hermione returned to her room to rest, while William headed to the third floor to look at his Alchemy books.

When he pushed the door open, he noticed a letter on his desk.

It was from Nicolas Flamel.

After reading it, William paused for a moment before heading to the second floor and knocking on Hermione's door.

"The door's not locked. Come in."

Hermione had just finished her bath. Wearing a thin, strappy nightgown, she was drying her wet hair with a towel.

Strands of damp hair clung to her flushed cheeks. She let her hair fall naturally and shook it slightly. "William, what is it?"

"I need to go out for a bit," William said, transforming a long brown hair on the floor into a chair. He sat down and added, "It's about that thing I mentioned earlier."

Hermione blinked. "Animagus training?"

William nodded and waved his wand. Ventus Maxima.

A gust of warm wind blew from the tip of his wand, functioning like a hair dryer.

Hermione set the towel down and sat naturally by the bed, letting the warm breeze dry her long hair. Through the curtain of hair, she stared intently at William.

"Is there a storm coming?"

William nodded again and increased the wind's strength.

The first Animagus transformation was a complex process. Before transforming, one needed to brew a specific Transfiguration potion. Once consumed, the final transformation could take place.

The key to the potion's success was waiting for a lightning storm, which could take weeks, months, or even years.

William had been waiting for this moment.

Thankfully, Nicolas could predict the weather, greatly reducing the waiting time.

When her hair was dry, Hermione blushed and handed William a delicate comb.

Sitting in the chair, William let Hermione rest her head on his lap as he gently combed through her tangled curls with great care.

Hermione closed her eyes as though she were asleep, only to whisper softly a moment later, "Can I… If something happens?"

"It's fine. The Animagus transformation requires someone close to you in case you lose control after turning into an animal."

"What do I need to do?"

"If I lose my mind after transforming, you'll need to keep calling my name."

Hermione absentmindedly tapped her fingers against his knee before opening her eyes. Her lashes trembled as she murmured, "William, thank you… for trusting me so much."

William smiled gently, continuing to patiently smooth out her unruly hair.

He thought about creating a potion specifically for her hair. Store-bought conditioners clearly weren't enough for Hermione's wild curls.

At that moment, the door—left slightly ajar—was suddenly pushed open.

Annie burst in holding a letter. When she saw her brother combing Hermione's hair, her smile froze, and she asked suspiciously, "What are you two doing?"

"Combing her hair. Didn't I do the same for you this morning?" William replied naturally. "What else would I be doing?"

Hermione shot up from his lap, her face turning even redder.

Annie narrowed her eyes at the two of them with suspicion. "I'm young, but don't try to fool me! I'll write to Mum if you're up to something!"

William rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here? Weren't you playing at Luna's house?"

"I was, but then the owl came with my Hogwarts acceptance letter!" Annie said excitedly.

William took the letter from her hands and smiled mysteriously.

The address read:

Miss Annie Stark,

Inside the Lovegood's Chimney,

Weasel Hill, St. Capol Village.

Wait… Forget the oddities of the address—what was "Inside the Chimney" about?

"I was playing hide-and-seek with Ginny and Luna, so I climbed into their chimney," Annie explained.

"…."

Under Annie's urging, William opened the letter and read it aloud.

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (titles omitted).

Dear Miss Stark,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

At Hogwarts, we offer courses in Flying, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Astronomy, and other practical magical skills. With thousands of acres of teaching grounds, nearly ten thousand state-of-the-art training facilities, specialized laboratories, and a spacious, luxurious dining hall, our school also boasts a world-class Quidditch pitch.

The campus features convenient logistics, with express deliveries right to your door and advanced security systems ensuring student safety at all times. The school is ideally located, just a wall away from the heart of London.

Which magical school reigns supreme? Hogwarts is the king of kings!

Founded in the ninth century, Hogwarts has nurtured countless talents across various magical industries. Here, you can experience magical creatures up close in the Forbidden Forest and engage in professional exchanges with top wizards from around the globe.

In today's society, being a wizard is one of the most sought-after professions among young people. Come to Hogwarts, where we teach you the most authentic magic knowledge.

A full-time boarding school with four distinctive Houses and a highly experienced teaching team! Let us help you stand at the forefront of the magical world.

No matter if you're Muggle-born or from a pureblood family, respond quickly and join us!

Learn Magic—Choose Hogwarts!

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

Hermione and Annie stared at the letter in shock.

William grinned. Dumbledore had clearly taken his suggestions to heart and updated the letter.

Perfect. Simply perfect.