Chapter 405: Machi Ban's Sharp Insights
Chapter 405: Machi Ban's Sharp Insights
Chemistry... a word that felt both unfamiliar and familiar, a memory from a past life, Harry thought.
Where had he first encountered this concept? He recalled the few years he spent in primary school, a time that wasn't particularly pleasant, especially after accounting for Dudley's pranks and humiliations. There wasn't much he was willing to remember from those days.
However, he did manage to remember some of the content from the science experiments. Chemistry must be the subject that deals with changing substances, right?
Feeling a bit restless, Harry picked up "Unreliable Alchemy" and looked at Hermione. "I've already read it, Harry", Hermione said, pointing at a stack of books and selecting "The Controversy of the Fifth Element" based on her interest.
"Hermione Granger, I suggest you start with Chapter Seven. The discussion on the magical influence on substances is quite fascinating, the most convincing I've read in recent years", Felix said.
"Oh, thank you, Professor", Hermione said, beaming.
"What about us?" Harry asked, desperate for some advice, as the book in his hands was no thinner than Hermione's.
He flipped to the middle, then a few more pages, and found a picture. The wizards in it looked very similar to the portraits hanging on the walls of the Black Family Manor, with their curly hair and courtly attire.
Felix looked up at Harry and Ron, giving them a kind smile. "Start with the preface. One of my reading tips is to never overlook the basics."
"Once you finish this, move on to 'The Nine Major Schools of Alchemy.' By then, you'll have a basic understanding of alchemy. Writing a comprehensive essay would be ideal, but a knowledge map would suffice. After that, when you read 'Comprehensive Alchemy Techniques,' 'Nicolas Flamel's Manuscript One,' or 'The Controversy of the Fifth Element,' you won't be lost."
Harry and Ron exchanged looks, both swallowing hard.
'Divination class homework?'
'Just keep making it up.'
They quickly understood each other's unspoken agreement, pulling out parchments from their bags and starting with the preface. After reading just two lines, Harry couldn't help but frown.
'I am a Wizard obsessed with alchemy. Remember this name, Crofts Alberd Adrian. It will forever shine in the field of alchemy, outshining even Nicolas Flamel, because I will be the first to conquer the Philosopher's Stone.'
'Some might say Nicolas Flamel was the first to uncover the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone, but I believe this is a misconception. The Philosopher's Stone can create an elixir of life with no side effects. If he truly had the Philosopher's Stone, we wouldn't be unaware of it... and I would have found him and made him my teacher. But the fact is, he has long disappeared.'
Harry heard Ron mutter, "It's because of people like you that he went into hiding." Harry grinned, finding it quite logical, and they continued reading.
'Throughout history, there have been no shortage of alchemists claiming to have created the Philosopher's Stone. Such claims are like those Wizards who once wielded legendary wands, boasting of invincibility before vanishing from sight. Adrian's take on this is: Honor is the reward for hard work. Who would willingly give it up? Similarly, we can infer that if those who claim to have extended their lives and conquered death were truly successful, why would they hide? Could it be because they developed incurable dragonpox?'
'Next, I will introduce my personal experiences. I, Crofts Alberd Adrian, a genius in alchemy, graduated from Hogwarts Ravenclaw House. After graduation, I spent a great deal of time traveling, visiting renowned alchemists to gather their ideas, correct their errors, and compile them into my first book. I dedicate it to my alma mater, the greatest magical school—Hogwarts. If future students come across this, they will understand my remarkable achievements from my other works...'
Harry thought that this 'Adrian' sounded a lot like Lockhart. He wanted to ask Ron's opinion, and Ron whispered, "I suddenly have a strong urge to find out if this person wrote a second book. I mean... accidents happen. Maybe our genius friend ran out of inspiration, or perhaps he encountered a Hungarian Tree Hornet while traveling."
...
Felix was examining his magic, the Shield Charm, pondering how to merge them. It had been over two months since he returned from Beauxbatons, and the Beauxbatons version of the Shield Charm had successfully reached level six.
It seemed to have undergone sublimation, shedding the surface rust and battle scars of Scabbers, becoming smooth and shiny. Its color transformed into a beautiful blood red, as if cut from a massive ruby.
At this moment, Felix held a highly metallic mask in each hand—part of a complete set of armor. The left was golden, and the right was blood red. He examined them carefully for a long time but still had no clue. Initially, Felix thought he could shield his memory of the Shield Charm and start learning from scratch, hoping the two Shield Charms would naturally merge.
But this hypothesis proved to be incorrect.
He brought his palms together, and the golden and blood-red armor masks collided, producing a clear metallic ring, yet there was no sign of fusion. He couldn't help but wonder if his magical theory was still lacking, unable to understand and accommodate such powerful magic?
Felix casually placed the blood-red mask over his face. His vision turned into a blurry blood red, as if covered by a red scarf. He lifted his head and looked around the Library, observing the students at the distant seats with this new perspective.
A faint sound came from nearby.
Felix glanced over and saw Hermione stifling a giggle. When he looked at her, she immediately straightened her face.
"Professor, what is this?" she whispered, catching sight of Madam Pince patrolling through the gaps in the bookshelves.
"An embodiment of the Shield Charm", Felix explained, "both of them." He handed her the golden mask, "Do you have any ideas on how to merge them?"
"A sixth-year spell?" Hermione took it with interest, examining it closely. She thought for a moment and asked, "Is it the one that protected the Beauxbatons champion from the fire?"
Felix nodded slightly, briefly explaining the origins of the two forms of the Shield Charm.
Hermione pondered, but the question was too profound for her, and she could only guess, "Is it related to one's understanding of magic?"
"That's a possibility", Felix nodded, "it's one of the directions I'm exploring, but—" He looked at Hermione, who had also put on the golden mask and was now looking at him.
"Is it that fun?"
Hermione made a silly face behind the mask, then took it off and said seriously, "Perhaps there's a new form of magic beyond sixth-year level, like the Runic Script Sphere. It should encompass both the golden and blood-red Shield Charms... I bet it's incredibly difficult!"
Felix sighed, "The problem is that I have no clear idea, even though I know I can do it. It's just a matter of time." But the glimpse of a higher realm left him itching.
"You could ask Headmaster Dumbledore", Hermione suggested.
" Haven't seen him around lately. Maybe our Headmaster is on a trip", Felix shook his head, not mentioning that he had tried to reach Dumbledore's office with a Patronus earlier, only to be blocked by the stone gargoyle at the entrance.
He suspected Dumbledore was still tracking the Horcruxes and might be chatting with the owner of Borgin and Burkes. At least he knew what to get him for Christmas: a Dark Magic Detector or a woolen cloak.
"Your suggestion is helpful, Granger", he said, waving his wand to dispel the magic.
Felix left quickly; he had a class in the afternoon. After he disappeared, Harry handed Hermione a newspaper.
"What's going on?"
"I borrowed it from the next table", Harry said succinctly, "check the fourth page."
Hermione quickly flipped through the newspaper, pausing briefly on a photo of Durmstrang's Headmaster Karkaroff, who looked sullen. The headline read, "Is a Cheater Fit to Be a Judge?" Unsurprisingly, Rita Skeeter's name appeared in the byline. Hermione was genuinely relieved that the woman hadn't turned her attention to them, finding it almost unbelievable that they had escaped her notice.
She quickly turned to the fourth page. It was a small article, an interview with a senior official from the Wizengamot, whom she recognized as Professor Griselda Marchbanks, whom Professor Heep had mentioned in class.
She skimmed through the article, finding the "sharp and insightful" content—
Reporter: What do you think of Hogwarts' performance in the first task?
Machi Ban: I am proud.
Reporter: Were you surprised that the two teams came in first and second place?
Machi Ban: No, I think it's quite normal. It shows that we have moved on from the shadow of the war.
Reporter: Some say that Hogwarts' educational success is a result of Minister Fudge's tenure. What do you think?
Machi Ban: Oh, that person is talking nonsense.
(End of Chapter)
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