Chapter 237: Rune Club Gathering
Chapter 237: Rune Club Gathering
By late November, the weather had become extremely cold, with thick frost covering the castle’s windows and several snowfalls blanketing the mountains surrounding Hogwarts in snowy caps.
However, a small classroom was warm and cozy, the wood in the fireplace crackling merrily.
Felix sat relaxed on a sofa, smiling as he looked at the young wizards from different grades and houses gathered around a dozen sofas, their eyes filled with curiosity and eagerness.
"Today is the first gathering of the Rune Club. It’s great to see everyone here."
"I’ve been quite busy lately, but I’ve finally managed to find some time to focus on the club’s affairs", Felix said, idly playing with a dark green coin that shimmered with a unique, heavy luster. The young wizards watched curiously.
The coin was unlike any known currency, not a Warmnut, sickle, or Galleon.
Felix flicked his finger, sending the coin airborne.
Under the watchful eyes of the young wizards, the coin rose into the air, suddenly transforming into a slender, scaly Slytherin. It then expanded rapidly, the Slytherin twisting and writhing its dark green body. In an instant, it swallowed its own tail, forming a perfect circle.
The young wizards stared wide-eyed at the strange Slytherin circling in the air—many had never seen this symbol before.
But Jeffrey, the seventh-year Slytherin prefect, spoke with a low, fervent voice: "Ouroboros."
"That’s right, the ouroboros. If you’ve delved into magical symbols, you wouldn’t miss this ancient emblem. It represents many things and is widely used in Alchemy, Ancient Runes, and ancient seal studies. Even in the non-magical world, the ouroboros is well-known, though it’s often referred to as a mystical symbol."
"Many people see the ouroboros as a symbol of cycles, infinity, and rebirth…"
Felix elaborated on the history of the ouroboros emblem. When he paused, Pet Selton, a sixth-year, asked, "Professor, what’s your take on it?"
Pet Selton had a long braid, and Felix remembered her from the previous year’s Owls Exam, when she had blindly purchased a talisman that smelled like onions.
Felix explained, "I once saw it as an Alchemical symbol, believing it represented the primal form and cyclic nature of all things, the perpetual cycle of creation and destruction. In a sense, it expressed the alchemist’s pursuit of perfect Alchemy.
Later, as I delved deeper into magical theory, I saw it as a symbol of vibrant life, representing the alternating cycles of death and rebirth. In ancient times, many wizards would engrave it on their tombstones.
When I began studying Ancient Runes and used Runic Script as my measure of magic, I saw it as a symbol of infinity and self-growth."
Felix spoke calmly, "Miss Selton, can you understand what I mean? People’s perspectives change over time, and the way we view things can differ at different stages of our lives."
He looked up at the circular Slytherin and said reflectively, "No two people will see things exactly the same way. I hope that one day, you will have your own perspectives, not just repeating what others say, but thoughtful insights after extensive learning."
The young wizards listened, some understanding more than others. In the Rune Club, students from third year to seventh year were present, and not everyone could fully grasp his words or the sentiments behind them.
After a moment of quiet, with the wood in the fireplace still crackling, Felix smiled. "Alright, young wizards. I didn’t gather you here for idle chatter. To be frank, I have many things to do, and discussing trivial matters isn’t one of them."
"The Sorting Hat placed you in different houses based on your most prominent traits, such as Ravenclaw—" His gaze swept over Cho Chang, Penelope, Warrington Palladis, Eddie Carmichael, Marietta Edgecombe, Michael Corner, Padma Patil, and others.
"And Slytherin—" He then looked at Jeffrey, Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson, and others.
"Hufflepuff—" He gestured to Cedric, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Susan Bones, Pet Selton, and others with his eyes.
"And Gryffindor." His gaze swept over Harry and his two friends, the Weasley Twins, Percy, Alicia Spinnet, and others.
Felix smiled and said, "Your traits collectively form the distinct atmospheres of the four houses. However, the house atmospheres also influence you, reinforcing these traits—sometimes, I can guess a person's house just by chatting with them for a few minutes."
Felix chuckled, "On a side note, for a while, I consciously played this game, and I had a high success rate."
"Getting back to the main point. This has its pros and cons. The good part is that each house values certain admirable qualities, and once these qualities become part of the atmosphere, they can help you progress. The downside is that some people might not learn the good traits but instead pick up various flaws without realizing it."
Penelope reflected and said, "Professor, it's like how Ravenclaw values knowledge and individuality. The students are intelligent, insightful, and curious, but sometimes they can become too self-centered, leading to conflicts with others, and even causing harm?"
Felix nodded approvingly, "Very insightful, and courageous, Miss Clearwater."
"The Headmasters of Hogwarts realized this early on. Some of you might have wondered why you often have classes with students from other houses, and not always the same ones. For example, Hermione Granger?"
Hermione looked up and nervously replied, "Our Herbology is with Hufflepuff, Potions with Slytherin, and Astronomy with Ravenclaw."
"What about after fifth year?" Felix turned to Jeffrey.
Jeffrey answered, "Most classes are with all four houses together."
The other young wizards also began to think about this.
Felix said, "This approach is designed to expose you to different types of people, allowing you to learn from their strengths."
"Clubs amplify these strengths, which is one of the reasons I like them. So, in the future, when it comes to teamwork, I will encourage you to choose partners from different houses."
Harry almost immediately looked at Cho Chang from Ravenclaw, but his heart sank when he saw her gaze fixed on someone else. He turned his head and saw the tall and handsome Cedric.
A wave of disappointment and frustration washed over him, shattering the long-held hope that had been building up like a soap bubble being popped.
Malfoy glanced at Harry, then at the others, his thoughts unknown.
Percy and Penelope exchanged a smile.
"Next, I'll talk about the Rune Club itself—" Felix tapped the armrest of the sofa to quiet the restless young wizards.
"First, the club's teaching will focus on practical runes. You will learn a lot about practical runes."
"Second, you will participate in some of my research, providing data or forming research groups to complete various experimental projects."
"Sometimes, we might just sit down and chat, discussing topics unrelated to Runic Script but still interesting, such as—why we could cast spells unconsciously as children, but not after we started school, or why it's much harder?"
Harry suddenly remembered some of his magical experiences before starting Hogwarts, like how his hair would grow back to its original length within minutes after a haircut, as if he had never been to the barber shop;
Or when Aunt Petunia tried to make him wear an ugly, orange-balled sweater, he resisted so much that the sweater shrank until it could only fit a doll;
Or when he was chased by his cousin Dudley and his gang at Muggle school, he tried to jump over a trash bin and found himself sitting on a chimney;
Or when he made the protective glass disappear at the zoo, freeing a large python...
(End of Chapter)
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