Chapter 403

Chemistry … a strange and familiar term, like a memory from a distant past life, Harry thought.

Where on earth did he hear about this term? He thought back to his years in elementary school, it really wasn’t a pleasant memory, after removing the pranks and humiliations Dudley pulled on him, there wasn’t much he could possibly recall from that time.

Fortunately, though, he remembered some of his lab classes. Chemistry is supposed to be the subject of changing substances around, right?

He picked up Unreliable Alchemy somewhat distractedly and looked over at Hermione – ” I already read it, Harry.” Hermione said as she nudged her fingers over a stack of books, picking out the book “The Fifth Element Controversy” according to her interest.

“Miss Granger, I suggest you begin with chapter seven, which contains a fascinating elaboration on the effects of magic on the matter, it is the most plausible one I have read in recent years.” Felix said.

“Oh, thank you, Professor.” Hermione said with delight.

“What about us?” Harry asked, desperate for some advice since the book he is holding is no thinner than Hermione’s. As he flipped casually to the middle, and then flipped back again.

After that, he saw a picture of a wizard who resembled a portrait hanging on the wall of the old Black Mansion, with curly hair and clothes that looked like those worn by court nobles.

Felix looked up at Harry and Ron with a kind smile, “Start with the prologue. One of the lessons I’ve learned from reading books is that the basics should not be taken lightly.”

“After reading this, then read the Nine Major Schools of Alchemy, together you will be able to acquire the most basic knowledge of alchemy. That is when it would be advisable to write an overview dissertation, but of course, it is barely acceptable to write a knowledge map instead … After that, when you read The Complete Book of Common Alchemical Techniques, The Nicolas Flamel Manuscript I, or The Fifth Element Controversy, you will be able to read it without difficulties.”

Two gulps sounded, as Harry and Ron looked at each other.

‘Divination class Assignment?’

‘Let’s just keep making shit up.’

They quickly understood the meaning expressed in each other’s eyes, and they respectively pulled out a piece of parchment from their book bags as they started to read from the introduction, and after only two lines, Harry couldn’t help but frown-

‘I am a wizard who is madly obsessed with alchemy, remember this name, Crofts Albreld Adrian, it will shine eternally in the field of alchemy, more dazzling than Nicolas Flamel because I will be the first person to conquer the Philosopher’s Stone.’

‘Some people may say that Nicolas Flamel is the first alchemist who uncovered the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone, but I think this is a misconception because the Philosopher’s Stone can produce an Elixir of Life that has no negative effects, and if he really made the Philosopher’s Stone, we would not be unaware of it … and I would have sought him out immediately and worshipped him as my mentor. But the truth is, he has long since disappeared.’

Harry heard Ron mutter, “It’s because of people like you that he’s hiding.” Harry showed a toothy grin, feeling it made sense, as they continued to read on.

‘History has never lacked alchemists who claimed to have made the Philosopher’s Stone, such statements are similar to those wizards who once acquired a legendary wand, claiming to be invincible in battle, only to disappear from our sight forever. My evaluation of this is: Honour is the reward of hard work, and WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE IT UP? Similarly, we can infer that those who are said to be able to extend their lives and defeat death won’t have any reason to hide from people if they really succeed, right? Or could it be that they have incurable dragon pox sores on their faces by any chance?’

‘Next, I will present my own experience to you, I, Crofts-Albreld Adrian, Alchemical genius, graduated from Hogwarts Ravenclaw House, after graduation I spent a lot of time travelling, visiting those prestigious alchemists one-by-one, compiling their ideas, rectifying their mistakes, and ultimately compiled it into my first book. I will dedicate it to my alma mater, the greatest school of magic – Hogwarts. If any future students are reading this, you will probably be aware of my outstanding achievements from my other books …’

Harry felt that this ‘Adrian’ sounded too much like Lockhart, and he wanted to ask Ron’s opinion, who said quietly: ‘I’m suddenly keen on finding out if this man has published a second book, I mean … there’s always the possibility of an accident, maybe our genius friend ran out of inspiration or ran into a Hungarian Horntail that had come out to hunt when he was travelling on the road.”

…

Felix at the moment is examining his magic – Shield Charm, pondering how to merge them into one. More than two months had passed since his return from Beauxbatons, and the Beauxbatons version of the Shield Charm had successfully reached level six.

After it had undergone sublimation, the rusty battlefield scars on its surface had faded away and become smooth and shiny, and its colour had turned into a beautiful blood-red like it had been cut out of a huge ruby.

At this time, Felix is holding an extremely metallic mask in one hand – it is part of the complete armour, with a golden one in the left hand and a blood-red one in the right hand, he carefully examined it for more than a couple of days, and still could not find any clue. Felix’s initial idea was to block out his memories about the Shield Charm and learn it from scratch, and eventually, the two Shield Charm would naturally fuse.

But this speculation was proven wrong.

He put his two palms together, and the gold and blood-red armour masks clashed together with a crisp metallic clink, but there was no sign of fusion at all. He couldn’t help but wonder if his own magic theory wasn’t enough to understand and accommodate magic of that magnitude?

Felix casually placed the blood-red mask over his face, and his vision became a blurry shade of blood-red, as if he had a red scarf over his eyes. He raised his head to look around the library, observing the students in the distant seats with this newfound perspective.

There was a subtle clatter from the side.

Felix glanced over his head and saw Hermione giggling. When he looked over, she immediately tried to keep a straight face.

“Professor, what is it?” She whispered as she spotted Mrs. Pince roaming through the space between the bookshelves in her afterglow.

“A tangible representation of the Shield Charm,” Felix explained, “both of them.” He handed her the golden mask, “How do you think they should be fused together?”

“A sixth-level spell?” Hermione took it with interest, holding it in her hand and examining it carefully. She thought for a moment and asked, ” Is that one the same as the spell that helped the Beauxbatons champion fend off the flames?”

Felix nodded slightly as he briefly described the origins of the two forms of the Shield Charm.

Hermione mulled it over, but the question is too deep for her, so she could only guess without basis, “Something to do with the perception of magic?”

“That’s a possibility,” Felix nodded, “that’s one of the directions I’m heading with my speculations, but-” he watched somewhat breathlessly as Hermione also put the golden mask on her own face and looked right at him; Eye to Eye.

“Is it fun?”

Hermione pouted behind the mask, as she took off the golden mask and said seriously, “Could there be a new form of magic above the level six magic, like that Runic Orb? It should encompass both golden and blood-red shield charms… I guess it must be difficult!”

Felix sighed, “The problem is there’s no clue, although I know I can do it, and it’s only a matter of time.” But he was somewhat charmed by the vague glimpse of a higher realm of magic.

“You could always ask Headmaster Dumbledore.” Hermione suggested.

“I can’t find him recently, maybe our headmaster is out on a trip.” Felix shook his head and said, he did not elaborate, that he used the Patronus to go to the Headmaster’s office in the morning and was stopped by the Gargoyle at the door.

He guessed that Dumbledore is still on the hunt for the Horcruxes, and perhaps he’s talking to the owner of the Borgin and Burkes right now? At least he knew what to get him for Christmas, dark magic- Sneakoscope or a wool cloak.

“Your advice is useful, Granger.” He said, waving his hand to disperse the magic.

Felix left soon after, he had class in the afternoon. When he disappeared, Harry handed Hermione a newspaper.

“What’s wrong?”

“Borrowed it from the next table,” Harry said succinctly, “Check out page four.”

Hermione quickly flipped through the newspaper of that day, her eyes pausing briefly at the picture of Durmstrang’s Headmaster Karkaroff’s grim face, with the headline “Are cheaters still qualified to be judges?” Not surprised to see Rita Skeeter’s name in the journalist’s column, she felt genuinely grateful that this woman hadn’t focused on them and even incredulous that they had got away scot-free.

She quickly flipped to page four. It consisted of a small article, an interview with the official in charge of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, and she knew that this would be the opinion of Professor Griselda Marchbanks that Professor Hap had mentioned in class.

She glanced through the article and found the “sharp and enlightening” part –

Reporter: What do you think of Hogwarts’ performance on the first trial?

Marchbanks: I’m proud.

Reporter: Did you find it strange that two teams came in first and second place, respectively?

Marchbanks: No, I think it’s normal. It shows that we have come out of the shadow of the war.

Reporter: There are views that the achievements of Hogwarts’ education are the result of Minister Fudge being in power, what do you think?

Marchbanks: Oh, that man is talking nonsense.

————-

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