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What could be used as a trap? Here's where the problem comes in. The traps from the grimoire are purely lethal, and I don't need random victims, but they can be because I don't have a sample of the flesh of a particular wizard ... Oh, I'm a fool! There are traps not only for a specific wizard but also for the type of magic! Even in the castle's quite ordinary library, I've encountered a spell for identifying an animagus - it's absolutely universal. It works on absolutely any animagus, which indicates some unification of this ability among wizards, regardless of individual characteristics and parameters. And in the grimoire's spells, there is an outline of the enchantment premises for the forced conversion of the animagus to human form, painful and paralyzing conversion. Still, what a gift Malfoy gave me by "inviting" me to that Frenchman back then. Even though for most of this knowledge, I can be sent to Azkaban until the end of the world. Well, according to today's laws.

Suddenly a funny thought occurred to me. In the Harry Potter story, there was an incredible "Deus ex machina" for two alternatively gifted teenagers - Hermione Granger. No, seriously! Some shit happens, no one knows what to do or how to act, and here's Hermione: "Boys, I saw a spell in a light-reading book here that's perfect for solving our problem."

After waiting for Potter's return, I made sure that he went to bed and conjured Somnus on everyone. Only after that did I begin to imagine the necessary magical construction of lines at the tip of the wand, visualizing its feeding with magic. In such a calm atmosphere, I could even feel the movement of magic. So I'm not training in vain.

"Freemfa Nieter."

A glowing blue blob swelled at the tip of my wand and fell off, crashing to the floor, spreading like a wave over the water. This wave traveled across the floor, objects, and walls, converging back on the ceiling, fading away. Now, if the animagus decided to visit this room, he would surely regret such a rash action. However, it is also necessary to put a warning spell about a stranger's penetration into the room. I formed another construct on the tip of my wand, channeled the magic, and said:

"Utlan Angheti."

Another drop, only glowing yellow, repeated the circles' visual effect on the water, but unlike the last spell, you have to specify the people ignored by the spell. Apart from me, of course - I was automatically included in this list.

Holding the activated outline of the spell in my mind, I walked up to each of the guys in turn, pointing my wand at them and muttering:

"Heygenum," marking with the second part of the spell "friends."

Only after that, with a clear conscience, I went to bed.

***

The days leading up to Christmas flew by at a breakneck pace. I kept checking for the statuette of Peter in my bag: in the morning, before jogging, after I jogging, before I showered, after I showered, in class, and during breaks. Slight anxiety did not subside, and the lack of action on the part of Sirius Black gradually led to the idea that he would wait for a meeting in the hut and not rush his chest onto the barricades.

I decided to stay for the holidays. Hermione was eager to go to her parents for the holidays, but at the same time, she wanted to stay. However, my parting words for a good pastime and the Dementors looming on the horizon above the forest helped the girl to make the right decision.

The semiannual exams flew by in the blink of an eye as if they had never happened. A festive feast, and the next morning the students who wished to go home for the vacations were boarding the train, and there were more of them than usual, just like last year because of the basilisk.

The twenty-fifth of December. A Christmas feast in a friendly, even family atmosphere among the teachers and only a few students, among whom were the twins, Ron, Harry, and me. Even those who normally stay for various reasons left to visit friends for a break from the Dementors. A few people from various Houses except Slytherin stayed, though.

The vacations came. I spent absolutely all my time on training, self-studying, and visiting the Hogwarts kitchen, eating everything to the delight of the house-elves.

Already preparing to go to sleep on the twenty-ninth, I again paid attention to the slight feeling of anxiety that never let go. Soon. Soon everything will be decided. Looking around the room, I noticed that Harry and Ron weren't there yet. It could very well be that they are practicing Patronus. Potter recently bragged that Lupine had shown him this spell and told him how to cast it. Well, Potter is definitely training - if something hits him in the head, then he just won't give up. As for Ron, he's rather just watching, sitting on the couch next to him.