Chapter 281: Back to School
Chapter 281: Back to School
Dobby was waiting in the Safehouse, where a sumptuous dinner had already been laid out on the round table. However, it had been left out for so long that it had grown cold.
Ivan and Sirius Black didn’t mind, and they sat down to enjoy their dinner as usual, chatting about some amusing stories in the drafty old house.
"By the way, Mr. Black, can the Apparition spell be used in battle?" Ivan suddenly asked, curiosity piqued.
He had always thought that Apparition was a highly practical spell. If used in battle, it could provide a significant advantage, whether for offense or defense.
"No, I strongly advise you not to try it!" Sirius shook his head and continued with a serious expression.
"I assume you already understand the dangers involved when practicing Apparition! Even wizards who have mastered this spell must remain completely focused when casting it, with no room for distraction!
Using this spell in the heat of battle can easily lead to bodily dismemberment. The enemies won’t be kind enough to put your body back together for you!"
"Among the wizards I know, no one can do this", Sirius added.
"What about Dumbledore?" Ivan asked.
No, not even him!
Sirius had intended to say this, but he hesitated, as he was uncertain. The hundred-year-old, most powerful white wizard in the magical world often accomplished feats that ordinary wizards wouldn’t dare imagine.
Ivan fell into deep thought. He was well aware that both Dumbledore and Voldemort could achieve this.
In the original timeline, during their battle at the Ministry of Magic, they had vanished and reappeared at will, though it wasn’t clear if they used Apparition. Nevertheless, it proved that using a teleportation spell in battle was feasible.
He wondered how advanced one’s Apparition skills needed to be to achieve this.
Level six? Level seven? Or even higher?
Ivan pondered.
After so many battles, Ivan had a good grasp of the general strength levels of most wizards.
According to the system’s standards, a fourth-level spell was the typical casting ability of an adult wizard.
Fifth-level spells represented professional proficiency.
Most Aurors, the highly trained enforcers in the wizarding market, and dangerous Dark Wizards were adept at offensive spells of this level.
Sixth-level spells were mastered by only a select few, marking them as authorities in their fields!
Ivan guessed that Professor Mcgonagall’s Transfiguration and Professor Flitwick’s combat magic were at this level.
As for Dumbledore and Voldemort, their magical prowess might be at level seven or even higher!
Of course, the outcome of a battle between two wizards wasn’t solely determined by the number and level of spells they knew.
Battle experience, current state, and other factors could also influence the final result.
Ivan estimated that, without using bloodline magic, his own strength was slightly above fifth-level. If he went all out, he could reach sixth-level combat power.
Sirius was unaware of the many thoughts racing through Ivan’s mind during those few minutes and continued to earnestly advise him against attempting such a dangerous maneuver in battle.
Ivan reluctantly agreed, deciding he wouldn’t use such an unstable spell in battle unless he was absolutely certain of his safety.
After dinner, Ivan continued his potion modification experiments, while Sirius watched him work late into the night.
When the third failed potion modification caused the cauldron to explode, Sirius finally spoke up.
"Hals, you should get some rest! Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to Apparate to places you’ve been before from a distance. You need to be in good shape to avoid splinching, which is a terrible experience."
Ivan paused, turned to look at Sirius, and hesitantly nodded.
The week passed quickly, alternating between practicing Apparition and modifying potions.
Before they knew it, it was September 1st, the first day of school.
Dobby had already bought back all the required textbooks for over a dozen courses, along with a large number of books on potion-making, many of which were expensive and out of print. Sirius had retrieved them from the Black family home for Ivan.
Ivan packed all these books into a trunk enchanted with a Solidification and Extension charm, then cast the Apparition spell he had learned recently.
Focusing on an alley near King’s Cross Station, Ivan swiftly waved his Wand and spoke the incantation.
A swirl of light and shadow, and Ivan found himself at his destination.
"About one-ninth of my magic was consumed. The spell is quite draining", Ivan checked his status bar and noticed a small decrease in his magic level.
He had never attempted such a long-distance Apparition before, but he knew from Sirius that the farther the distance, the more magic it consumed, and the more vague the memory of the destination, the harder the spell was to cast.
Ivan looked around to ensure no Muggles had seen him, then picked up his trunk and headed towards King’s Cross Station.
Walking through a bustling corridor, Ivan was about to enter the station when he noticed a large Black Dog hiding in a dark corner.
"Why are you following me? And in such a crowded place? Aren’t you afraid of being caught by the Ministry’s Aurors?" Ivan walked over, glanced around, and whispered.
"They don’t know I’m an Animagus!" Sirius replied with disdain. He had never taken the pursuing Aurors seriously. As long as he didn’t reveal himself, those fools would never find him.
His reason for following was naturally to ensure Ivan’s first long-distance Apparition went smoothly. If Ivan accidentally splinched himself, no one would be there to put him back together.
Despite this, Sirius raised an eyebrow and said, "I came to see Harry off. I haven’t seen him in a long time."
"Suit yourself, just don’t get too close. If Peter sees you, it’ll be trouble", Ivan shook his head and walked into the station.
Passing through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the scarlet and black Hogwarts Express was already parked on the platform, with thick white steam billowing from its chimney.
(End of Chapter)
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