Chapter 258: Black's Sudden Attack
Chapter 258: Black's Sudden Attack
When Hagrid mentioned the name, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
“Who is that?” Harry asked, bewildered. He looked at Ron, who had an innocent expression on his face. Then he turned to Hermione, who was desperately trying to recall the books she had read.
Finally, they all turned to Hagrid, who said uncomfortably, “You should have known, but I changed your textbooks—only for third year, as an experiment...” He said the last part in a particularly low voice.
Harry and the others still didn’t understand, so Hagrid had to continue explaining. His face turned visibly red, and even his thick beard couldn’t hide it. “Mr. Scamander wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It was always the textbook for Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts before I took over.”
With that, the three of them understood. No wonder they didn’t know, as Hagrid had changed the textbook this year, and only for third year.
Harry couldn’t help but think: maybe the animals in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them weren’t ‘interesting’ enough, which is why Hagrid decided to replace it with The Monster Book of Monsters.
They finished writing their letter in Hagrid’s hut and prepared to go to the owlery to send it with Hedwig. As they passed the Whomping Willow, Harry suddenly heard a menacing rush of air behind him. Instinctively, he ducked, turned, and drew his wand, glancing up just in time to see a large black dog leaping high into the air.
Harry’s eyes widened in terror. It was an omen of death! He could even see the dog’s pale eyes and its inch-long teeth. Before he could react, the dog had already flown over him, turned around, and pounced on Ron, dragging him toward the Forbidden Forest with its massive jaws.
“Expelliarmus!”
The summer training and recent dueling club sessions had paid off. Harry immediately cast his most proficient spell.
...
Ravenclaw Head of House Office
Felix picked up a peanut brittle and watched as Professor Flitwick struggled with the casting. Flitwick’s wand was tilted, and his left hand was assisting with the spell, blue magic continuously shaping and trying to form a spherical structure.
By the time Felix had finished his seventh piece of peanut brittle, the spell still hadn’t formed, and he had to stop, feeling choked.
“Still no luck—” Flitwick sighed, waving his wand to dispel the magic. “My understanding of the Size-Altering Charm is still based on modern magic.”
“Then how did you master the Ancient Magic?”
“Through years of practice. I spent three years to master a single defensive spell.” Flitwick shook his head. “Actually, I study it more out of interest rather than admiration for its power.”
“But I don’t think Simplified Magic is inferior to Ancient Magic, especially when I’ve mastered over a thousand spells.”
“A thousand?”
Felix was taken aback. He considered himself to have mastered many spells, but he couldn’t compare to the old professor. And that was from a certain period; it’s hard to say how many spells Flitwick knows now.
‘Are spells just Filius’s runic script?’ he tried to understand the professor’s perspective.
Flitwick waved his wand, and the floor rose to form steps. He climbed the small steps and sat in the chair opposite Felix. “Many of the spells I know are utility magic, but in essence, a spell is a spell. Each one reveals the secrets of magic, no matter how minor.”
Felix pondered this. “Filius, have I been lacking in this area, which is why my magical theory hasn’t progressed recently?”
"Progress?" Flitwick said in surprise. "Can you accurately judge whether you've made progress? I think most people improve without even realizing it... every casting, every bit of learning can contribute to your growth."
Felix blinked. "It's like a sudden enlightenment, as if all the knowledge I've accumulated suddenly converges and conducts."
Flitwick chuckled. "That state is rare and unpredictable. I remember when I was thirty, I was always frustrated by learning so many spells but not being able to use them. But I really loved spells. One morning, I woke up and my understanding of magic had suddenly advanced. From then on, I never doubted my choice."
Felix could only think of one phrase: it’s a natural progression.
After witnessing Ravenclaw’s Memory Magic, Slytherin’s bloodline research, and Dumbledore’s Transfiguration, Felix also came to understand Flitwick’s path with spells. He couldn’t help but think: perhaps every professor at Hogwarts is, to some extent, on their own magical path?
To him, a magical path was a way of viewing the world, a tool for understanding magic.
Flitwick observed and understood the structure of the magical world through spells, while Felix used Runic Script to achieve the same goal. In Felix’s mind, if possible, he would replace all spells with Runic Script casting.
Although that seemed like a distant dream for now.
Felix wanted to understand Flitwick’s perspective on spells, but at that moment, a silver cat suddenly appeared in the office. It spoke in Professor Mcgonagall’s anxious voice: "Filius, come to the Hospital Wing immediately. Sirius Black is suspected of attacking Harry Potter."
Felix and Flitwick exchanged a surprised glance and hurried to the Hospital Wing. On the way, Felix couldn’t help but wonder if it was a false alarm.
To ensure Harry’s safety, he had taken Harry’s Scrying Mirror and recast the spell. The Scrying Mirror would alert him if it detected Sirius Black’s presence. But so far, he had received no such warning.
At the Hospital Wing, Professor Mcgonagall was pacing back and forth at the door, her hands wringing together. "Oh, you’re here", she said as they approached. Inside, Dumbledore was speaking seriously with Madam Pomfrey.
Dumbledore insisted, "Pomona, I need five minutes. This is important." Madam Pomfrey relented.
He saw Flitwick and Felix and said in a grave tone, "Let’s go in together."
In the ward, Ron was lying in bed, one leg suspended and wrapped in bandages. Harry and Hermione were sitting beside him.
When the professors entered, the students started talking all at once.
"Headmaster, it was Black, he was the big black dog—"
"He can transform, no, into an animal!"
"Professor, he’s an Animagus!"
The room fell silent, and Dumbledore spoke softly. "An Animagus? You’re talking about Sirius Black, not someone else?"
"That’s him, I’m sure of it. Ron and Hermione saw him too, right?" Harry turned to seek support.
"That’s right!"
"It’s true."
(End of Chapter)
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