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Chapter 924: Apparation Accident
Chapter 924: Apparation Accident
As February arrived, the temperature around Hogwarts rose slightly, causing the snow that had accumulated all winter to show signs of melting. The castle became damp and chilly.
To avoid interfering with the regular curriculum, the school scheduled Apparition classes for Saturday mornings.
Driven by curiosity and anticipation, the students rose early on Saturday, a rare occurrence.
However, having heard that practicing Apparition was not a comfortable experience, they dared not eat breakfast for fear of vomiting during the lesson.
Of course, there was always an exception.
When they arrived at the field outside the castle, they were surprised to see Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout, along with a short wizard who was presumably the Apparition instructor from the Ministry of Magic.
As nine o'clock approached, Professor McGonagall called out the roll, indicating for everyone to remain quiet, and then nodded to the wizard, signaling that they could begin.
"My name is Wickey Tackross," the wizard from the Ministry introduced himself. "For the next twelve weeks, I will be your Apparition instructor, helping you prepare for the upcoming Apparition exam. I believe that by then, many of you will be ready to take the test."
"In the next hour, I will teach you the fundamentals of Apparition." With a wave of his wand, Tackross conjured an old-fashioned wooden hoop in front of each student. "But first, there is something I need to emphasize. You should only Apparate within your own hoop; it is unwise to go elsewhere. During the exam, you will need to precisely control your landing point and perform a flawless Apparition. Even the slightest mistake can lead to failure."
The students murmured among themselves, discussing this new information, and it took the intervention of the professors to restore order.
Tackross proceeded to explain the three critical Ds of Apparition, and the students listened intently, eager to attempt their first Apparition.
Their wish was soon granted. On the count of three by Tackross, they began their first Apparition attempt.
For Albert, who had already mastered Apparition, it was effortless to Apparate into the five-foot wooden hoop.
However, for those attempting Apparition for the first time, success was unlikely, and several amusing incidents occurred.
Several students stumbled and fell as they rotated their bodies, and one even jumped into the hoop, eliciting laughter from their peers.
However, the most surprising moment was not Albert's effortless success but the minor hiccup experienced by Fred.
He had split.
Yes, Fred had split, losing an arm in the process.
"Look, Mr. Anderson has succeeded."
Wickey Tackross was astonished that Albert could perform Apparition so elegantly on his first attempt, almost as if he had been doing it in his sleep. He wondered if Albert had secretly practiced Apparition long ago, because it was hard to believe that someone could be so naturally talented that they succeeded on their first try.
Then, Tackross turned his attention to the red-haired student who was the subject of everyone's whispers. Fred had left his left hand behind, but the situation could have been worse.
"Splinching," Tackross said calmly. "It happens when your resolve is not strong enough, so you must always focus on your target."
As Tackross spoke, the four heads of house gathered around Fred. A loud bang was heard, and after a puff of purple smoke, Fred's arm was reattached.
Wickey Tackross realized that the Hogwarts students this year seemed to have more innate Apparition talent than he had expected. Before the hour was up, apart from the renowned Albert, three other students displayed a natural aptitude for Apparition. Although there had been cases of Splinching, the situations were not too severe, especially for the two red-haired boys. He believed that with dedicated practice, they would be able to pass the Apparition exam with flying colors.
“See you all next Saturday, and don't forget: destination, determination, and deliberation.” With a wave of his wand, Tackross dismissed the wooden hoops and strode alone towards the school gates.
After the Apparition class, Albert found himself surrounded by a crowd of curious students, all inquiring about how he managed to succeed on his first try. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan also attracted attention as the only ones who had managed to Splinch more than once, indicating that they were close to mastering Apparition.
"You need to focus all your thoughts on your destination and visualize it clearly in your mind," Albert advised the group. "Close your eyes, and if you feel an intense squeezing sensation, then you've basically succeeded."
"That's different from the three D's that the professor mentioned," someone commented.
"Well, everyone has their own experience. As long as you can successfully Apparate, it doesn't matter how you get there," Albert shrugged, walking towards the castle.
"You're not wrong about that."
During lunch, Fred spoke with a mouthful of food, "I feel like I'm almost getting the hang of it, but it's still a bit uncomfortable."
"How does it feel to Splinch?"
"Not great," Fred replied. "You lose control over the other part of your body. I reckon if my head flew off and my body stayed put, I might just die." George joked, having made the most progress among the three, despite losing some hair and nails in the process.
"How did you guys manage it?"
Shan'na sat down across from them with her tray, eager to learn the secret to their Apparition success.
It was understandable that Albert had achieved it, as they had all witnessed his extraordinary abilities before. However, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan's faster progress raised some suspicions.
Lowering his voice, George explained, "It's quite simple, really. All you need to do is experience the sensation of Apparition a few more times and be a bit more daring when you try. That's how you'll quickly get the hang of it."
A realization dawned on Shan'na as she looked at Albert.
He had guided them through the Apparition experience beforehand.
"You guys are so bold!" Shan'na whispered.
Albert had apparently taken the three through the Apparition process several times, allowing them to get a feel for it. With this prior experience and a bold attitude, it was no wonder they were progressing faster than their peers.
"When will you teach me? I feel like Apparition is really difficult," Shan'na asked, a little worried about her lack of progress despite her efforts.
"Next time we go to Hogsmeade," Albert offered without hesitation.
"That's fantastic!" Shan'na exclaimed, excited.
"Did Professor Bade teach you like this?" Lee Jordan asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Albert nodded. "We've been corresponding through letters, and he taught me Apparition this way."
"Can you teach us, too, then?" Fred suggested. "We can practice in the forest."
"I can't put your body parts back together if you Splinch yourself to pieces," Albert replied, raising an eyebrow as a subtle warning for them not to do anything reckless. "I'll find time to learn the spell to fix Splinching from Professor McGonagall. If you still want to try, I don't mind, but just so you know, it's your wallet that'll take the hit if the Ministry decides to fine us."
"Never mind then," the trio shook their heads in unison, quickly abandoning the idea.
While they were eager to master Apparition, they certainly didn't want to risk their wallets or their lives. Getting fined by the Ministry would likely result in howler letters from their families.
"Did Professor Bade teach you Apparition?" Shan'na asked, surprised.
"Yes, we've been corresponding regularly," Albert confirmed.
Shan'na breathed a sigh of relief, having thought that Albert might have started learning Apparition in his first year.
(End of Chapter)
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