Chapter 46: The Ban on Using Magic to Notify Books
The house-elf stared at him with eyes as clear and innocent as a child’s.
"Wade Gray is sad?"
"Uh—" Wade blinked, then exhaled softly, rolling the Magic Bean between his fingers. "Not exactly sad... I just realized my thoughts have been a bit too—
dark."
He swallowed the word. "—Maybe I’ve been paranoid? I’ve been judging someone who’s been nothing but kind to me..."
"Wade Gray did nothing wrong!" Zoe suddenly burst out.
"—Zoe?"
"Professor Mor is a good man. But Wade Gray staying cautious? That’s right." Zoe nodded firmly. "Zoe knows a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who tried to—do bad things—with a third-year girl. He went to Azkaban. Zoe knows another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who used Dark Magic on students. He went to Azkaban too. And another—one who tricked students into a party under false trust, then called Dark Wizards to kidnap them and demand ransom."
Wade chuckled. "He’s in Azkaban too?"
Zoe shook her head. "Wrong spell. His wand exploded. He died."
"All of them were Defense Against the Dark Arts professors… This job really is cursed." Wade muttered.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts professors change so often. So many bad ones. Quirrell was bad too. Wade Gray must stay alert." Zoe said seriously.
Wade sighed. "I will."
...
Morning came. Wade woke up and waved his wand, checking the time.
Golden letters shimmered into view: 【07:00 am】.
Today was Friday. No classes in the morning. Most students wouldn’t rise so early. As he passed through the Common Room, only two fifth-years sat by the fireplace, reading Books.
—Poor sixth-years.
Wade felt a pang of sympathy.
He conjured a small blue flame with his wand and sealed it inside a glass bottle. That way, he could carry warmth with him, even outdoors.
Tomorrow, he’d be taking the train home. He’d decided to go to the Library after breakfast, borrowing as many Books as possible—so he wouldn’t waste time at home.
Spending the morning in the Library, he returned to the Great Hall to find Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick already hard at work, decorating for Christmas. He immediately stepped in to help.
"Oh, Wade, thank you!" Professor Flitwick beamed. "We need to hang these Tapestry Ribbons on the walls."
They worked together with wands, draping vibrant Garland Ribbons across the walls. Twelve towering Christmas trees stood on either side. Hundreds of candles lined up neatly, guided by Flitwick’s precise spells, spiraling upward along the trees and burning steadily. At his wand’s tip, golden bubbles floated gently among the branches.
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall tapped the hanging Ice Crystals on the tree branches with her wand, transforming some into sparkling little animals and tiny bells. Her effortless Transfiguration drew murmurs of awe from the surrounding students.
More students arrived to lend a hand, each bringing their own creativity. Some conjured golden stars. Others shaped proud, noble deer. One even made a sleigh race through the air above the Hall—impressive magic that earned their House several bonus points.
Of course, not everyone succeeded. A Slytherin boy, aiming only to summon a few candles, misfired his spell. His wand erupted in a sudden blast, blackening his entire face. The resulting laughter echoed through the Hall.
Before long, the Great Hall was transformed.
Downstairs, Michael sighed, twisting a branch. The ice squirrel hanging from it squeaked in protest.
"You know, Wade… I miss my family. But—this Hogwarts Christmas is kind of nice…" He looked longingly around.
"Wade, Michael, perfect timing." West Mor, a sixth-year Prefect, strode over, pulling two sheets of parchment from his pocket. "Here—sign these."
Michael took one. "Holiday Magic Use Prohibition Notice? Why do we need to sign this? I’m a wizard!"
"Exactly—a minor wizard," West Mor said dryly, already turning away. "Hurry up. I’ve got to find Anthony and the others."
Wade glanced down at the notice—
【Pursuant to the Act on Reasonable Regulation of Minor Wizards, minor wizards during the holiday must observe the following restrictions:
1. Wizards under the age of seventeen are considered minors and are prohibited from using Magic outside school grounds.
2. Minor wizards must voluntarily abide by and uphold the International Wizarding Federation Secrecy Law. Any Magic activity that might attract the attention of non-Magical individuals (Muggles) is a serious violation.
3. Intentionally using Magic in front of Muggles is a criminal act. Offenders will receive a warning from the Ministry of Magic; repeat or severe violations may result in expulsion...】
More than a dozen rules followed, all boiling down to one thing: No Magic. No talking about the Wizarding World to Muggles.
Wade had read about this in History of Magic textbooks. Since the 15th century, Muggles had systematically hunted wizards. Though individual wizards were often more powerful, their society remained fragmented. Their food, clothing, and housing—all depended on the Muggle world, except for travel. This made exposure inevitable.
For over two centuries, countless wizards were persecuted and killed. Children, unable to control their magic, were especially vulnerable—often noticed, captured, imprisoned, or even burned alive.
To protect the Wizarding community, the Statute of Secrecy was enacted in 1692 and remains strictly enforced to this day—a cornerstone of the Wizarding World.
Yet, the wizarding books only recorded Muggle persecution of wizards—never the reasons behind the growing tension, nor the retaliatory actions wizards took against Muggles.
Now, perhaps to ease the rift between the two worlds, the History of Magic textbooks glossed over this dark chapter. Instead, they highlighted the tale of the eccentric witch Wendelin the Weird—said to have enjoyed being tied to a stake and burned, deliberately changing forms so she was captured 47 times.
The book used her story to argue that burning witches was absurd.
But in truth, countless witches had been burned.
And the vast majority of those executed weren’t witches at all—just ordinary women wrongly accused.
Wade stared at the parchment.
It looked ordinary—just plain Parchment. But as he held it, he noticed intricate Magical Script Circuits glowing faintly beneath the surface. With West Mor urging him forward, he didn’t have time to analyze it. He signed his name.
As he did, a strange sensation crept over him—like an invisible, binding Covenant wrapping around his soul.
"Don’t think you can sneak Magic at home," West Mor warned. "Every minor wizard has a Trace. Use Magic, and the Ministry of Magic will know instantly. Every year, a couple of fools get Ministry warning letters. I hope you two aren’t the next ones."
(End of Chapter)
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