https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-455-Responsibility-Breeds-Courage/13461225/
Chapter 456: The Deal
Chapter 456: The Deal
Encouraging others… Neville thought dully, feeling a sudden weight in his heart—the weight of responsibility.
He liked this feeling.
...
On the other side, Professor Marchban and Old Vera were walking down the castle corridor.
"A very talented young man. I realized it when I was invigilating his exam. He will achieve great things!" Professor Marchban exclaimed loudly.
Old Vera didn't seem to agree.
"You shouldn't underestimate a great wizard", Professor Marchban pointed out.
"A great wizard… you mean him?" Old Vera widened his eyes. The diminutive Professor Marchban met his gaze unflinchingly. He opened his mouth a few times but wilted under her stern look.
"Don't tell me you haven't been following the news, Hedestrange!" Professor Marchban said loudly.
Old Vera was speechless. If there was anyone in the wizarding world who was most attentive to Felix's news, he would be high on the list. Only Merlin knew what expression he had when his granddaughter found that set of comic strips in his study.
He was still worried that the boy would one day break a few bricks of the Ancient Runes building!
"I just read his book 'Exploring Ancient Runes' a few days ago! That was his level three years ago", Professor Marchban said bluntly. "It's more impressive than your introductory Runic Script manual!"
Old Vera opened his mouth to protest, but she continued, "I even wrote to Babbling! She praised him highly in her reply!"
"That Halfblood—-" Old Vera frowned, but under Professor Marchban's stern gaze, he quickly shut his mouth and muttered, "Sorry, I didn't mean it."
"Looks like she had good reasons to refuse joining you!" she said disapprovingly.
A few students in the corridor glanced over, but neither of them spoke. They walked to the spiral staircase and went downstairs. "What day is it today?" Professor Marchban asked.
"What? Uh, I think it should be—ouch!" Old Vera was thinking of the answer when his foot got stuck in a step, trapping him.
Hogwarts had many such trick stairs. For students, navigating them had become second nature, but Old Vera hadn't been to the school in over half a century, and he clearly remembered that there was nothing unusual with the stairs this morning.
"It's Thursday", Professor Marchban said thoughtfully.
...
At noon, Felix stopped by the Great Hall for lunch and, on Professor Marchban's behalf, posted the Experimental Spell Committee's questionnaire on the notice board in the entrance hall, attaching a Bubble Charm to it.
He then waved his wand, and a piece of parchment flew out of his ring and stuck to the wall, glowing with luminous text.
After he left, the young wizards gathered around from a distance to read the new notice:
'Any student, group, or teacher who successfully combines Ancient Runes with a spell can receive a questionnaire from the Experimental Spell Committee. Fill it out in detail as required and attach an essay to be sent to the committee. Upon review, if the spell is deemed a valid new spell, the inventor will receive the "Spell Inventor" honor and may have the right to name the spell.
The content and length of the essay should follow the article "A New Spell Invention: The Water-Making Charm and Practical Ancient Runes 'Waterflow'" on the front page of the Daily Prophet on March 12. Essay templates can be obtained from any member of the Runic Script Club.
Each person is limited to one questionnaire. If more are needed, you can copy others'.
Note: This is the most convenient and safe way to get your name printed in a textbook.
Good luck!
Signed: Hogwarts Ancient Runes Professor, Felix Hep.'
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances.
Behind them, an excited voice called out, "Warren! Look! We just finished the related essay yesterday!" Seventh-year Peter Selton pulled a Ravenclaw boy forward, "Oh, Hermione, Harry, Ron, hello." Selton greeted them.
"Hello", Warren Pardis also said. They were both among the first members of the Runic Script Club.
Harry and the others chatted animatedly.
"Getting your name printed in a textbook… that sounds really appealing", Selton said, squinting. He reached into the sticky bubble on the notice board and slowly pulled out a piece of parchment. Hermione, with her keen eyes, noticed the Ministry of Magic's seal.
"Ew, how disgusting! Professor's bad taste!"
Seldon pulled her hand away, her fingers clean. Pardis also took a copy, and the two of them left together.
"We should hurry too, or we'll have to borrow from others", Hermione said decisively. They each took a copy and stood a bit away from the crowd to read.
Harry read the questionnaire, where the first line was a string of small text: 'Please fill in the name of the spell inventor truthfully and ensure that all participants in the spell development process are credited to avoid any disputes:'
The first question was: Describe the principle of the spell in brief.
The second question was: Describe the function of the spell in brief.
The third question was: Confirm the type of spell: general utility charm/protecting charm/cursing charm/poison charm/curse/countercharm/Transfiguration/other.
...
"Uh oh!" Ron whispered.
"What is it?" Harry and Hermione asked in unison, their heads bent over the questions.
"Look at the first line!" Ron said, his eyes wide, reading it word by word: 'Ensure that all participants in the spell development process are credited,' it says 'all.' He looked at Harry meaningfully, "In the club, we combined Light Runic Script and the Fire Spell..."
"Malfoy!" Harry gasped, feeling a chill run down his spine.
At that moment, Draco Malfoy, hands in his pockets, sauntered over to the notice board with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "I heard someone say my name..." Draco said, narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing!" Harry and Ron said quickly.
Draco looked at them suspiciously. He scanned the content on the notice board and nodded to Crabbe, who followed his gaze and glared back.
"Go get a copy", Draco ordered slowly, and Crabbe immediately pushed his way through the crowd. Ron discreetly tugged on Harry's sleeve, and Harry stepped back in understanding.
"Wait, Potter!" Draco called. Harry turned around woodenly, his eyes cold, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
Draco said, "I heard Professor Hep is giving you private tutoring?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione tensed up. Occlumency! Professor had told them to keep it a secret, but Harry had been attending sessions for nearly three months, once a week at the Ancient Runes office, and he had been seen a few times.
"So what if I am? Are you jealous, Malfoy?" Ron stepped in, trying to shield Harry, his tone challenging.
Draco gave him a sidelong glance and lazily pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket, waving it. He grinned, "Sorry, I have one too."
"What for?" Harry asked impatiently, then paused. "You're going to be trained by Professor Hep?" He couldn't help but exclaim, and Ron and Hermione looked equally astonished.
"You can read it for yourself, Potter", Draco said gleefully. Harry snatched the paper and read it with Ron and Hermione.
"It's true", Hermione whispered, recognizing the familiar handwriting.
Just then, Crabbe emerged from the crowd and handed the questionnaire to Draco. Draco glanced over it quickly, his gaze lingering on the first line.
"Tsk tsk", he said.
Ron and Hermione looked up from the paper, their expressions a mix of frustration and confusion. Harry continued to read the small text, as if trying to find a loophole.
"No name", Harry said suddenly.
"What did you say—" Draco's smile froze.
"No name", Harry repeated, eyeing him suspiciously. "It doesn't mention the spell's name, just that you have to report to Professor Hep's office every Saturday."
Draco walked up to Harry, his voice low. "It's confidential, but I can tell you, Potter..." His pale eyes sparkled, "It's Apparition and the Disillusionment Charm."
He was satisfied to see Harry's shocked expression. "Yes, it's always been your privilege, hasn't it? Breaking school rules with impunity, having fans everywhere, even the professors—"
"So you're jealous?" Harry met his gaze head-on, repeating Ron's words.
"You can think that", Draco admitted, snatching the paper from Harry. He gestured to Crabbe and Goyle and headed toward the Great Hall.
Harry watched his retreating back, silent.
"Who knows what he did to win Professor Hep's favor!" Ron said worriedly, his tone sharp. "Maybe his dad bought two hundred magical gramophones!"
...
That evening, Felix was writing a letter in his office. He extended his index finger and lightly tapped the parchment, causing the words to gradually fade away—
"Lucius, thank you for the reminder. Your information is very useful. Remember: any future changes to the Dark Mark, no matter how minor, must be reported to me promptly. In return, I will train your son in life-saving magic, starting this Saturday..."
He placed the letter in an envelope, sealed it, and stared at the blank envelope for a moment before setting it aside. Then, he picked up a stack of manuscripts from the drawer.
This was the booklet he planned to complete, introducing Runic Script and promoting its use. It included the origins and development of Ancient Runes, as well as a detailed analysis of the Luminos spell.
Learning an Ancient Magic was never an easy task, even for the simplest spell like Luminos. Especially since Felix intended to use a correspondence course method, which usually only tricked Squibs who had never learned magic.
But he was determined to give it a try.
The key lay in his extensive familiarity with Luminos and the widespread promotion of Runic Script Cards. According to Remus's data, a thousand sets of Runic Script Cards had been sold in Britain, covering about 40% of the potential buyer base—families with young wizards who had not yet started school.
This was largely due to the extensive advertising and low prices.
For wizards lacking entertainment options, both adults and children found Runic Script Cards to be a good pastime. Of course, most parents considered them an intellectual development toy—a concept proposed by the young employees of 'Future World' to come up with a slogan that would satisfy their boss, who had put in a lot of effort.
Time passed, and the night grew deeper. Niffler Warren yawned, his bright black eyes moving away from the comic book, blinking drowsily.
"Chirp! (Not yet!)"
"Just a bit longer... Warren, you don't need to worry about me." Felix smiled, picking up another page of the manuscript and continuing to revise it.
"Chirp! Chirp chirp? (Waiting for that magic fool?)"
Felix laughed.
"Don't call him a fool. Andis shouldn't have performed the Galleon trick in front of you. Not only did you take the Galleon, but you also mocked him..." He tapped Warren's pink beak. "It's Dobby", he explained.
"Chirp!" Warren got excited, sipping lemonade through a straw, his black fur bristling, making him instantly more alert. "Chirp chirp? (Is it that rich guy?)"
"Um, Dobby has indeed been collecting golden buttons recently, if that's what you mean."
Finally, the golden clock on the desk struck midnight. At the same moment, a Warmnut in Felix's hand became scorching hot, signaling Dobby's inquiry. Felix waved his hand to dispel the protective charms in the room. About half a minute later—
"Pop!"
House-elf Dobby appeared suddenly in the office.
Warren's eyes widened, "Chirp chirp chirp chirp!"
"Mr. Hep, good evening!" Dobby bowed deeply, then looked up and greeted Warren happily, "Hello, Miss Warren!"
Warren was delighted, watching Dobby with eager eyes. "Chirp?"
Dobby carefully took a polished metal button from his small suit pocket and said in a high-pitched voice, "This is Dobby's collection, for Miss Warren!"
Warren extended her small hand to receive it, examining it for a long time before rummaging in her pocket for a golden vial and handing it to Dobby.
"Oh, Miss Warren is so generous!" Dobby exclaimed, looking at Felix, who smiled from the side, before examining the vial closely.
"It's transparent! Look, it's so beautiful! Dobby has received another gift!" Dobby brought his tennis-ball-sized eyes close to the bottle, looking around.
After a while, Felix had to remind him, "Dobby, Lucius Malfoy is waiting..."
"Oh..." Dobby sighed, his bat ears drooping. It was clear he had been trying to avoid mentioning this.
"Don't worry, he won't dare to touch you." Felix said.
"Dobby knows. Dobby has the great Mr. Hep's support! But Dobby feels conflicted..." The house-elf said, picking up the envelope that had been on the desk for a while, "Do I have to speak to him?"
"No, you don't." Felix assured him. "If you want, you can drop the letter at his feet."
"Oh~" It was clear Dobby was tempted, but he still declined, "Dobby represents Mr. Hep now. Dobby has no reason to fear him..." He puffed out his chest and spoke with determination.
"Chirp! (Your legs are shaking!)" Warren pointed with one finger.
Felix was grateful Dobby couldn't understand what Warren was saying.
...
(End of Chapter)
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