Chapter 518: New Magic
Chapter 518: New Magic (Please subscribe, favorite, and vote!)
Over the next month, Liam focused on two main tasks: studying the four artifacts he had brought back from the Mummy Worlds and continuing to teach the Study Group about Magic. After a month of lessons, everyone in the group had learned four spells: Spikeweed, Fireball, Wind Dart, and Water Mist. The first three spells could be used in combination for attacks, while the last one could create a thick fog to obscure the enemy’s vision.
"Why don’t we teach them some defensive magic, like the Armor Charm?" Hermione couldn’t help but ask at the end of the last meeting before Christmas.
"Please, we can’t measure their abilities by our own Magic Level", Liam said with a helpless expression. "We have enough magic power and knowledge to create shields that can block the Killing Curse, just like Dumbledore did when he fought the Dark Lord in the Ministry of Magic’s entrance hall. But our classmates can’t do that. The spells I teach them might not be the most powerful or complex, but they are the most suitable for their current level."
"A set of spells?" Hermione asked curiously. "You’ve only taught them four spells. How can you say this is a set? Don’t tell me it’s just because you have earth, water, fire, and wind elements."
"There is that reason", Liam scratched the back of his head sheepishly, then noticed Hermione's teasing gaze and quickly regained his composure. "But that's a secondary reason. I wouldn't name them just because it sounds good. You see, the Fireball Spell explodes and burns, making it a great area attack. The Wind Dart is the smallest, fastest, and most stealthy, making it an excellent single-target attack. The Spikeweed Spell can alter the terrain and set up ambushes, effectively restricting the enemy. And the Water Mist Spell creates a large fog that obscures the enemy's vision and absorbs sound, making it useful for hiding or escaping."
"So, you do have a reason for calling them a set of spells", Hermione nodded. "These spells may be simple, but they cover most of the needs in a battle. That’s pretty impressive."
"Of course, I’ve been through countless battles", Liam said with pride. "So, I naturally choose the best path for everyone."
In the days leading up to Christmas, heavy snow fell for several days, blanketing the worlds outside the castle in a thick layer of white. Even the castle’s windowpanes were frosted over.
Hagrid, even though he was now a professor, still brought in the twelve Christmas Trees that were a yearly tradition in the Great Hall on his own. The stair railings were adorned with holly and tinsel, and everburning candles flickered in the helmets of the armors. The corridors were decorated with large bunches of mistletoe at regular intervals.
Due to the Ministry of Magic’s battle last year, which became widely known, girls often gathered under the mistletoe, waiting for Harry to pass by alone. Fortunately, Harry’s frequent night wanderings had made him familiar with the castle’s secret passages, allowing him to avoid the mistletoe-laden areas during breaks when he was alone.
Ginny felt a mix of love and hate about the current situation. She despised the girls who acted like hungry wolves when they saw Harry, but she was happy that Harry spent more time with her.
Ron, on the other hand, would always laugh heartily whenever he saw Harry’s predicament. In the past, as a single man, he might have felt a bit jealous, but now he was content to see Harry looking frustrated.
Liam also noticed that Lavender Brown, despite being occasionally neurotic, was actually a very intelligent girl. For example, in recent times, Liam observed that she wasn't as affectionate with Ron as described in the original story, where they seemed to stick together like eels. Instead, she appeared quite reserved. However, Hermione told Liam that her roommate was much more outgoing and proactive when she was alone with Ron.
"I think beneath her enthusiastic and bold exterior, she's sensitive and insecure. She's trying to adapt to her new role as Ron's girlfriend, so in public, she tries to control her behavior to avoid upsetting those of us who are close to Ron", Hermione explained as they walked to the Library to do their homework.
As they finished their homework, they discussed Slughorn's Christmas Party, to which they had both received invitations.
"Formal attire is required, which means I have to wear high heels. I don't understand why wizards have adopted this Muggle fashion trend. Every time I attend these formal gatherings, my feet end up hurting."
"Don't worry, I'll make you a potion today. After the dinner party, you can apply it to your feet, and the pain will be gone instantly", Liam reassured her.
Despite everything, Christmas arrived as everyone had anticipated. Especially in the current tense environment, the school made an effort to make the Christmas holiday celebrations more lavish to help everyone relax.
Naturally, the dinner party did not disappoint those who stayed at the school. Twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were adorned with gifts, and every student received one.
As the party began, Liam chatted with his classmates and learned that the number of students planning to stay for the holidays this year was second only to the year of the fourth-year ball. This was because while some parents chose to take their children away from Britain, others believed that Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain and wanted their children to stay.
After Professor Dumbledore's brief Christmas holiday blessing, which lasted less than three minutes, a few performances were staged. Liam saw the Hogwarts choir perform, a scene that had been cut from the movie.
They sang "Jingle Bells", with Professor Flitwick, dressed in a black-tailed suit and bow tie, conducting with wide, sweeping gestures. The only downside was that the song's upbeat tempo meant that each choir member only held a small brass bell to keep the rhythm, without any Toad's Chorus.
The sumptuous end-of-term feast delighted every young wizard, but it was a bit of a torture for those who were heading to Slughorn's dinner party. They had to be careful not to eat too much to avoid being impolite in front of the distinguished guests. This was especially true for the girls in their elaborate formal attire and makeup. Liam noticed that Ginny, due to her makeup, couldn't indulge in chicken legs like her brother Ron and had to stick to foods that could be cut into small pieces with a knife.
Unlike in his previous life, where makeup was strictly forbidden in school, in Britain, makeup was considered a form of etiquette. Not wearing makeup at important gatherings could even be seen as impolite. Of course, this didn't mean they had to wear heavy makeup; it just needed to be appropriate for the occasion.
As the clock approached eight, Liam and Hermione left the long tables to attend Slughorn's dinner party. At the same time, Harry, Ginny, and the other invited guests also rose to leave the Great Hall.
"Hey, have a good time", Ron mumbled, his mouth full of roast turkey.
"You too", Liam waved goodbye to Ron and then left the Great Hall.
(End of Chapter)
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