Chapter 35: Professor Moriarity and Alchemy
Chapter 35: Professor Moriarity and Alchemy
Alchemy was intimately linked to ancient runes, and ancient runes were incredibly difficult to learn. Aside from Magical History, most of the courses at Hogwarts placed a heavy emphasis on practical application, but Ancient Runes had to start with rote memorization.
From characters to shapes, sounds to meanings, Ancient Runic was vastly different from modern languages in every way. To grasp the basics of this subject, one had no choice but to resort to memorization. Even among those who chose to take Ancient Runes, only a select few would manage to commit everything to memory by the time they graduated.
Fortunately, Ravenclaws were never lacking in memory. Even if he couldn't compare to Hermione, Vid had specifically undergone training to enhance his memory, and his memorization speed wasn't much slower than hers. In the three months since he had come into contact with magic, he had relied on his formidable memory and passion for magical alchemy to commit several books to memory. Through repeated transcriptions, he had reinforced his recollection and was now unlikely to make any mistakes in this area.
After a moment of silence, Professor Moriarity began to ask questions about the content of those books. He then took out some parchment and a quill and randomly asked Vid to write down some ancient runic characters and short sentences.
More than an hour later, Professor Moriarity had no choice but to admit that the student before him, who he still considered a child, hadn't lied. He truly had mastered all the content he claimed to know.
Alchemy was one of the most challenging subjects at Hogwarts, and Professor Moriarity's requirements were exceedingly strict. Each year, fewer than ten students were allowed to take up alchemy, and they were always the cream of the crop. But Professor Moriarity dared say that even if he called over the handful of seventh-year students he was currently teaching, even the most outstanding among them would make one or two minor mistakes with these questions.
Alchemy demanded a genius-level sharp imagination and creativity, as well as an attitude that was more meticulous, rigorous, and scrupulous than the gears of a watch. And these two qualities rarely coexisted in a single person.
Moreover, the student before him was just a... a...
Professor Moriarity suddenly realized he knew nothing about the student sitting across from him.
"Now, young man, what year are you in?" The old professor asked in a gentle tone.
"First year, sir," Vid replied.
Professor Moriarity paused again. "As I recall, Ancient Runes is an elective for third-years, is it not?"
"Yes, sir," Vid said, trying to remain calm and not flaunt his tail like a peacock.
Professor Moriarity didn't mind that the student before him might not be mature enough. He simply began to reflect on his own eleventh birthday... and the level he had been at when he first started alchemy at sixteen... and the remarkable wizards he knew, such as Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort, and the standards they had set in their first year...
As he thought about these things, the way Professor Moriarity looked at Vid gradually changed, as if he were gazing upon an unmined treasure. His smile became increasingly kind, and he asked in a soft voice, "What is your name, and which house are you from?"
"Vid Gray, Ravenclaw," Vid replied, tilting his head up. He had already sensed something from the change in the professor's attitude.
Professor Moriarity asked again, "You have a great interest in alchemy, don't you, Vid?"
This time, his tone was entirely different from before—it was serious.
"Yes, Professor," Vid answered as always. "It's a fascinating field with world-changing power. Perhaps I will devote my life to studying it."
"Then, as a wizard, what is your opinion on Muggle technological inventions?" Professor Moriarity asked further.
This question was as easy as could be. The decorations in the office already indicated the kind of answer the professor wanted to hear. But Vid fell silent this time. After thinking carefully for a long while, he said, "Muggle technology is developing at a rapid pace. Their means of production are constantly being revolutionized, and their methods of communication and information exchange are becoming more and more efficient, bringing about significant changes to the world. Wizards need to take the initiative to learn, absorb, and integrate, or else one day, we will be left behind by the times."
This was his heartfelt thought.
As much as he admired the wonders of magic, he couldn't help but acknowledge the stark contrast between the two worlds:
Wizards communicated via owls, while Muggles had instant access to mobile phones and the internet.
There were only around 3,000 wizards in the UK and a mere few million worldwide, whereas there were over 57 million Muggles in the UK alone, and 5.4 billion worldwide, a number that was projected to grow to 7 billion in the next two decades and 8 billion in thirty years.
When it came to taking lives, wizards had the Unforgivable Killing Curse, but only a small number of Dark Wizards could cast it; Muggles, on the other hand, had an array of weapons at their disposal—from Maxim guns and incendiary bombs to nuclear warheads, self-propelled artillery, grenade launchers, and intercontinental missiles. Even a two-year-old Muggle child could pull a trigger.
The disparity between the two worlds was staggering. In the past, when Muggles were less advanced, wizards had to hide to ensure their survival. But with the rapid advancement of Muggle technology, wizards now had to adapt, learn, and integrate, or risk being left behind and devoured by the tides of time.
Vid had even more dangerous thoughts, but he dared not voice them. He feared that if he got too carried away, Professor Moriarity's good impression of him would vanish, and he might be branded as the next "Dark Lord" - an unfair accusation.
Professor Moriarity was already very pleased with Vid's general response. With a smile, he said, "I teach sixth and seventh-years every Monday and Thursday. If you have any questions, feel free to drop by my office during those times. As long as you maintain your passion for alchemy, I'd be happy to set aside two hours each week to guide your studies."
Professor Moriarity's words were measured, but his actions spoke louder as he immediately lent Vid a book titled 'Magic Item Crafting from Scratch' from his personal collection and scheduled their first tutoring session for Thursday. Only then did he let Vid leave.
As Vid walked out with the book, he glanced through the window at the lake by the Forbidden Forest and suddenly recalled the figure he had seen upon waking that morning.
That must have been Professor Moriarity, he thought, recognizing the silver-white hair.
Suddenly, Vid froze in his tracks, his scalp tingling and goosebumps spreading across his skin.
When had he seen that figure? There had been maybe ten minutes between then and his encounter with Professor Moriarity... Damn, the burn had muddled his memory of the exact timing.
Regardless, it couldn't have been long.
If that was indeed Professor Moriarity, how could he have arrived at Vid's location in such a short time? Apparition was forbidden at Hogwarts, and with his old bones, the professor wouldn't have climbed the stairs quickly. He also didn't strike Vid as the type to ride a broom like an eager young student.
But if it wasn't Professor Moriarity... and it wasn't Dumbledore... then who could it be? Another professor Vid didn't know, or...
Perhaps he was overthinking it, he told himself. Harry Potter's first year at school was supposed to be a peaceful one... at least for a regular student, it should be... Yet, a chill crept up his spine.
"Is something the matter, Vid?" Professor Moriarity asked from behind him.
There was an air of mystique in the professor's usually gentle voice that hadn't been there before.
"It's nothing," Vid replied, surprised at the calmness in his own voice, tinged with a hint of gratitude. "I was just thinking how fortunate I was that you happened to pass by this morning... Were you just returning from outside?"
"Of course not," Professor Moriarity said, not seeming suspicious. He smiled as he casually explained, "I don't usually reside at the school. I only come through the fireplace to teach when needed—oh, and the fireplace in my office is temporarily connected to the Floo Network, a privilege granted by the Ministry of Magic. This morning, I had just arrived at my office when I heard Griffiths shouting in the corridor, and that's when I found you."
(End of Chapter)
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