Chapter 189: The Twins and Snape's Gossip
Chapter 189: The Twins and Snape's Gossip
After the fifth-year Ancient Runes class ended, Felix kept the twins behind.
"Professor, are there really seven types of Scrying Mirrors?" Fred asked curiously.
In that class, Felix had followed the same schedule as the seventh-year class, explaining the entire year's study plan and briefly reviewing the content from the third and fourth years. At the end of the class, he mentioned that, besides Magical Automatons, they would also be introduced to a new Runic Script creation—the Scrying Mirror.
Felix nodded and said, "Indeed, you'll see them in the next class."
He had delayed showing them because one type of Scrying Mirror was still in the adjustment phase.
The Ancient Alchemy Exploration mentioned seven methods to create Scrying Mirrors, all following the Alchemy route. Felix had been working on replacing some of the alchemical circuits with runic circuits, maintaining their functions or even enhancing them.
He enjoyed this process and planned to spend most of his time this year converting alchemical creations into Runic Script creations.
With Nicolas Flamel, the master alchemist, he was confident in his endeavors.
...
George asked, "Why are there seven types of Scrying Mirrors?"
Fred replied without hesitation, "Maybe they are disguised in different shapes? For example, it could look like a doorknob that starts screaming loudly when touched."
George expanded on this idea, "It's a bit like our fake wands. Or it could be the opposite—usually shaped like a Scrying Mirror, but if you try to do something with it, it sprays fireworks from its end and runs around the room..."
Fred chuckled, "Great idea, George. What a brilliant little mind you have."
George bowed, "Thank you, Mr. Weasley."
"Cough, cough!" Felix cleared his throat, interrupting their praise, "Seeing how happy you are, I almost don't have the heart to tell you the next piece of news."
The twins turned to look at him simultaneously.
"Oh, come on, Felix, we're on the same team", Fred said casually.
Felix chuckled, "Lack of respect, are we?"
Fred raised his hands in a pleading gesture.
But neither of them took it seriously. Felix had long noticed that these two had personalities that made them great friends, provided you maintained a certain level of authority. Otherwise, their habitual pranks could be quite a headache.
Being an assistant was also out of the question. Felix had initially wanted someone to help him with his workload, but he couldn't imagine the twins seriously grading assignments. He even suspected they might curse some of the poor ones.
For example, casting a Knockback Jinx on a subpar assignment to make the young wizards feel the malice of the Runic Script Assistant...
Thinking about it, it was quite amusing, but it was better left to the imagination.
Felix's expression turned serious, "Alright, let's get back to the main topic. This year is your Owls year. How many exams do you think you can pass?"
"Ancient Runes should be fine. If they make the exam about repairing Magical Automatons, though", Fred said, catching his breath.
Felix's face remained stern, "This isn't a joke. I won't discourage your research during your free time, and I'll provide guidance, but your grades can't suffer too much."
The twins sighed, and Fred spoke candidly, "I can probably pass four or five Owls, maybe fewer. What about you, George?"
"We're about the same, but I think you might be a bit too optimistic. I believe three certificates is a more reasonable number", George said more fairly.
Fred's face lit up.
Felix shook his head, determined not to let them stray from the topic. He said directly, "To prevent you from getting too distracted, I've asked your brother, Percy Weasley, to keep an eye on you—"
"What!"
"No, Professor!"
Felix's lips curved into a smile, "Is there a problem with that? I've already spoken to him. He won't interfere with your research, at least not in the short term. From what I know, his grades are excellent, and he can offer you some advice."
Fred hunched his shoulders, his eyes slanted to one side, and he put on an air of arrogance as he mimicked Percy's tone: "Fred! Put away your prank candies! If I catch you giving them out again, I'll put you in detention, and I mean it!"
Felix: "... Honestly, your candies aren't poisonous, right?"
"Of course not, Professor. We've tested them. I was the first guinea pig", Fred said.
"I was the second", George added.
The twins pestered Felix for ten minutes, but with the next class approaching, they finally hurried off. Before leaving, they shouted loudly—
"Professor, we won't give up!"
"That's right, unless you change your mind!"
Felix watched their retreating figures with a headache. In a moment, an idea popped into his head: 'Did Professor Snape look at me this way back then?'
'But I was never that mischievous.' He returned to his office and spent some time completing the final improvements on the seventh Scrying Mirror.
Looking at the various Scrying Mirrors on his workbench, his mood inexplicably lifted.
"I now know more than a thousand Ancient Runes. When will that number reach ten thousand, twenty thousand?"
"At that point, how deep will my understanding of magic be?"
Felix imagined a battle where Runic Scripts swirled around him, automatically forming powerful Ancient Magic at his command. While others' spells were mere beams of light, he had long abandoned his wand, and with a wave of his hand, a relentless barrage of attacks would follow.
No escape, no evasion.
"I'm overthinking it. Few people can make me use my full strength now. I should focus on what to discuss with Nicolas Flamel next. His understanding of Alchemy is beyond my imagination."
"Through his perspective, I can view the creation of alchemical and runic artifacts from a higher vantage point."
"This will help me better understand the properties of Runic Scripts."
In the evening, as Felix left his office to head to the Great Hall for dinner, he heard two pieces of gossip.
The first was that Hagrid's first class had an incident, and a student was injured. After inquiring in detail, Felix breathed a sigh of relief. The situation wasn't serious; the student's wound had some unusual magic, but with Madam Pomfrey's skills, he would be back on his feet in three days at most.
He didn't dwell on it. The previous professor of that class had caused far worse trouble, and Hagrid would likely just receive a warning.
The second piece of gossip made him scratch his head. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, the new professor taught the third-year students how to resist a boggart—a magical creature that takes the form of one's deepest fear.
A boggart isn't inherently powerful, but its effect on wizards with fatal weaknesses or psychological vulnerabilities is astonishing, especially when they face it unprepared.
During the class, a student's deepest fear turned out to be Snape. Encouraged by Professor Lupin, this student overcame his fear and cast the boggart-banishing charm, "Riddikulus." The result was truly hilarious—Professor Snape, representing the student's inner fear, appeared in a dress.
Felix sat at the Hufflepuff long table. Two seats away, a young witch with two golden braids was vividly describing the scene—
"... Professor Snape stormed over, and although his target was Longbottom, I felt a chill. I thought he was sure to fail. But guess what happened?"
Hannah Abbott, her face flushed with excitement, said, "Longbottom shouted the spell, and it was like a whip striking Professor Snape. His clothes instantly turned into a green, embroidered grandmother's dress, with a triangular soft hat on his head and a large red handbag swinging in his hand..."
"To be honest, I never thought the Longbottom boy could be so cool!"
Felix listened in surprise. Knowing Snape, he must have been furious.
(End of Chapter)
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