Chapter 285: Ancient Runic Script and Professor Babbling
Chapter 285: Ancient Runic Script and Professor Babbling
Rita Skeeter's report generated a fair amount of buzz, but it didn't last long. From the second week onwards, Hogwarts was plagued by incessant rain. The gloomy weather and relentless downpour dampened everyone's spirits, and the cold, wet air permeated the castle, causing many young witches and wizards to catch colds.
Madam Pomfrey had to start brewing large batches of energizing potions early on. These potions had an immediate effect, but those who drank them would have smoke coming out of their ears for several hours afterward.
George was one of the victims, and he jokingly compared himself to an old steam train. Fred, who wasn't sick, found this amusing and asked Madam Pomfrey for a bottle of the energizing potion as well.
And so, the two of them started smoking...
Amidst all this, Kyle finally got to attend his first Ancient Runic Script class. The classroom for Ancient Runic Script was located on the third floor of the West Tower, and the professor in charge was Babsida Babbling, a witch in her forties with a peculiar voice that seemed to echo from a long tunnel.
There were rumors that she had been a professor at Hogwarts for over fifty years, but no one could confirm the truth.
As the most challenging subject at Hogwarts, the Ancient Runic Script classroom was sparsely populated, with only sixteen students. This was because very few students chose this subject, and these sixteen were already the total from all four houses.
When class started, Professor Babbling looked around at everyone with surprise. "Is there such a large number of students this year?" Her voice was strange, as if it had traveled through a long tunnel.
"This is a lot..."
Conna, who had also chosen this subject, whispered, "Is there such a small number of students choosing this subject?"
Even though her voice was very soft, Professor Babbling heard her.
"There were nine last year, and even fewer the year before... only seven." She said, "This classroom rarely has more than ten people in it."
Professor Babbling didn't seem as strict as she appeared. After answering Conna's question, she joked, "Sometimes I even wonder if I can combine five years of classes into one, so I only need to teach one class a week, and the rest of the time I can go on vacation to other countries.
Unfortunately, your headmaster, Dumbledore, never agrees."
Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
After everyone calmed down, Professor Babbling said, "Alright, now who can tell me what Ancient Runic Script is?"
Qiu, sitting next to Conna, was the first to raise her hand.
"Ancient Runic Script, also known as Ancient Magical Script Research or Runic Script, was used in many books before the Middle Ages.
Additionally, when different Runic Scripts are combined into specific symbols, they can produce unique magical effects, so they are also widely used in alchemy."
"Absolutely correct, two points to Ravenclaw."
Professor Babbling said, "The application of Runic Script in alchemy involves more complex knowledge. Therefore, in most cases, it is usually used to translate ancient texts.
But if you want to learn..."
She knocked on the table.
Several symbols on the classroom walls suddenly lit up, and a bright ball of light appeared in the center of the ceiling.
"I can teach you that too."
Everyone's eyes lit up instantly.
The ability to cast spells without a wand was a skill they had long dreamed of.
"I want to learn this!" exclaimed a Gryffindor student excitedly.
"Do you all want to learn it too?" Professor Babbling asked.
Everyone nodded together.
"Well then, I can teach you some basic content, but you need to be prepared," Professor Babbling said with a smile, looking at all the students.
"Let's start soon; I can't wait any longer..." The Gryffindor student confidently patted his chest.
But half an hour later, he regretted his decision.
It was too difficult!
The sheer number of magical scripts was overwhelming, and each script had at least five or more meanings, with some having over a dozen interpretations.
Just memorizing these scripts was enough to scramble his brain.
Furthermore, arranging them into the correct symbols was even more complex.
The same script, when written with different meanings, could vary significantly in its form.
By the end of the class, he felt like he hadn't retained anything, or that whatever he had learned had vanished from his mind within minutes.
Indeed, there was a reason why this class had so few students.
It was too complicated...
Finally, when the class ended, he lifted his head from the book, "Simple Introduction to Ancient Runes," and his face was a blank slate of confusion.
The others in the class shared a similar expression.
The correct version is available at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar.
"Regarding its application in alchemy, that's about it," Professor Babbling said with a smile from the podium. "However, normally in our class, you don't need to memorize the sequence or writing methods. You only need to understand the meaning represented by each magical script."
"That will make it much simpler for you," she added.
The classroom fell silent. It was clear that the students' understanding of "simple" differed from that of the professor.
As everyone quietly gathered their belongings to leave, Professor Babbling suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, there's one more thing," she said nonchalantly. "If you find this class unsuitable, you can also go to your respective Head of House to request a change of class... I'll approve it until October."
Some students' faces lit up with joy, and they began to contemplate the idea.
After leaving the classroom, Kyle turned to Conna and Qiu, asking, "What do you think? Do you want to change classes?"
"Of course not," Conna replied without hesitation.
"Exactly, why change classes?" Qiu smiled. "Although it's challenging, magical scripts are fascinating. No wonder Cedric recommended this class so strongly, and..."
She glanced at Kyle and Conna, raising her eyebrows. "I'm a Ravenclaw, after all. I can't lose to you Gryffindors."
"Hey, that's a house attack!" Kyle retorted, annoyed.
"Of course not," Qiu said with a playful smile. "What I mean is, Ravenclaws never shy away from knowledge. The more complex it is, the more interested we become."
"That's true..." Kyle shrugged.
Among the sixteen students, more than half were from Ravenclaw.
"But I feel like Professor Babbling is a bit off," Conna said thoughtfully. "In other classes, the first lesson is always the simplest. But she did the opposite."
"I've read 'Simple Introduction to Ancient Runes' before," Conna continued. "The section on writing magical scripts is supposed to be taught last, and even then, it's just briefly mentioned."
"That's right..." Qiu nodded. "Normal ancient runic scripts aren't this difficult. And Professor Babbling's last statement... I feel like she really wants students to change classes."
"But there are already so few students who chose this class."
"It only seems that way to us."
"Don't forget what she said before class started..." Kyle added, "About there rarely being more than ten people in that classroom."
"Maybe we can ask Cedric and Fred. Perhaps their first ancient runic script class was just as confusing for them."
...
Thanks to Black Cat Sheriff for the support through the Start Point Coin Reward.
(End of Chapter)
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