Chapter 109
Chapter 109
Outside the common room, rumours swirled as thickly as the ever-deepening snow.
Suer remained in the warm dormitory, silently absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
“That’s wrong. When you reach this point, turn your wrist slightly outwards.” Cedric patiently corrected Suer’s wand movements.
“And the incantation. Your pitch needs to rise a little in the middle, something like…” To demonstrate more clearly, Cedric tapped the table twice, once heavily and once lightly.
“I understand, I understand.” Suer nodded obediently.
He had to admit that Cedric was ideally suited to teaching. His explanations were extremely thorough.
Just as Cedric had said, the spell itself was actually simple. If the movement and incantation were correct, it could be cast successfully, but it placed great demands on the amount of magic within a wizard.
Unfortunately, the wizarding world did not seem to possess meditation techniques or similar methods that could accelerate the growth of one’s magical power.
Cedric had lived in the magical world all his life, and his father was an official at the Ministry of Magic. With that constant exposure, his knowledge was far broader than Suer’s.
When Suer asked whether he had ever heard of cultivation techniques or anything similar, Cedric said he had not. He did, however, mention a number of potions that could increase a wizard’s magic. Most came with side effects or merely produced a temporary increase rather than permanent growth.
After waving his wand for an entire afternoon, Suer could only make his arm invisible. No, calling it camouflaged would be more accurate.
The sensation was wonderfully strange, as though his arm had been wrapped in a layer of cool silk that could change with the surrounding environment.
When he held perfectly still, it came close to true invisibility.
Suer gently moved his fingers and studied them carefully. Traces were indeed visible–the space around his fingers warped slightly.
This spell truly had little practical value in combat…
Was it only useful for hiding or spying on petty thieves?
Suer felt the spell had enormous potential.
Breathing could be dealt with easily. A Bubble-Head Charm would muffle it. And if a wizard could float, there would be no footsteps, would there? Or perhaps there was a spell that could silence every sound made by the caster’s body?
“In theory, it would work.” Cedric seriously considered Suer’s ideas. “But only in theory. Combining spells is one of Professor Flitwick’s areas of research.”
“It’s fascinating. There is a repulsive force between spells. When two different spells collide, they are very likely to explode…”
“At least, that is true for most spells.”
“Then what if we put a separating layer between the spells?” Suer’s thoughts raced as he followed up with another question. “If the two spells never touch, would that work?”
“Oh…” Cedric’s eyes lit up. “That would be much more feasible.”
“I’ll ask Professor Flitwick during our small-group lesson this week.”
If it could be done, just imagine an Expelliarmus concealing a Killing Curse. Goodness…
It was already dark outside. Suer and Cedric remained huddled in discussion, completely absorbed, until their stomachs growled in protest.
“It’s already seven.” Cedric stared at his pocket watch in surprise and rubbed his stomach. “There certainly won’t be any food left in the Great Hall now.”
“How about fetching something from the kitchens?” Suer suggested.
“Let’s do that.” Cedric nodded.
After dealing with dinner simply, Suer practised the wand movements for the Disillusionment Charm a while longer. Efficient, decisive casting could save a little magic.
As the saying went, there was no special trick to it. Practice made perfect.
Of course, he had not forgotten the Animagus potion in the Forbidden Forest. He already knew by heart the incantation he had to recite twice each day.
At dawn and sunset, he had to point his wand at his heart and pronounce every word without error–“Amato Animo Animato Animagus.”
This was the most important matter in the near future.
After all, forcing a young Hufflepuff to spend another month unable to take great bites of meat would be unbearably cruel.
At sunset, Suer had made an excuse to go to the bathroom and recited the incantation. Nothing unusual happened, however. He did not feel the heartbeat described in the book at all.
When he returned to the dormitory, he was surprised to find Justin’s bed completely empty. His quilt, pillow and other bedding had all disappeared. Morn sat quietly against the headboard, earnestly reading Champions Teach You Wizard Chess.
“Where’s Justin?” Suer asked.
“Our dormitory isn’t safe any more.” Morn lowered the book. “Ernie told Justin to stay in his dormitory for a while.”
Bang…
A tall, broad boy burst into the room, terror in his eyes. “Morn, have you seen Justin?”
“No, Ernie.” Morn shook his head, stunned. “Didn’t he temporarily move into your dormitory?”
“Have you seen him, Suer?” Ernie turned towards him.
“I’ve been in the common room all afternoon.” Suer shook his head.
“Damn it. I only went to the kitchens for some food. Justin was gone when I came back. I’ve asked several people, and no one saw him.” Ernie spoke remorsefully. “He’s in terrible danger lately. I warned him.”
“Could it be…” Ernie abruptly lowered his voice and swallowed. “Do you think Potter might have made him disappear…?”
“Let’s look for him.” Morn stood, threw the book onto his bed, and hurriedly pulled on his robes.
Ernie looked troubled. “What if we run into Potter?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m a pure-blood. The monster in the Chamber of Secrets won’t purge a pure-blood wizard,” Morn said. “You won’t be harmed either.”
“Suer, are you coming?”
“All right.”
Ernie still hesitated, but finally clenched his teeth.
“Fine, I’ll come too, but I think we should find more people,” he said. “I’m friendly with several older students.”
“The castle is huge. The three of us may not be enough.”
A group of more than ten filed out, then split into several smaller teams to search the castle. Suer, Morn and Ernie formed one group.
As they passed along a corridor, Suer encountered Hagrid carrying a dead rooster. A balaclava covered him almost completely.
“Hello, Suer,” Hagrid greeted him.
“Good evening, Hagrid,” Suer replied. “What’s that?”
Hagrid lifted the limp rooster in his hand and gave it a shake.
“Second one killed this term,” he explained. “Either foxes or a Blood-Sucking Bugbear. I’m here ter ask the Headmaster for permission ter put a spell round the henhouse.”
“Hurry up, Suer,” Ernie called from the other end of the corridor.
“Good luck. I have something to do, so we’ll talk next time, Hagrid.”