Translated Chapter
337. Ancient Runes Class
Hagrid, having prepared thoroughly, earned widespread praise on his second lesson. Knowing that the students were already familiar with the Tree Guardian from their Maze game, he brought in a harmless little creature—Pufu Puff. This yellow, fluffy orb-like creature, though it fed exclusively on dried snot, was so undeniably adorable that it made even the most discerning girls forget its less-than-glamorous diet. Padma was particularly surprised, hugging the creature tightly and refusing to let go.
Many students were also eager to approach the Hippogriffs. Students from Badger and Eagle Houses, naturally inclined to follow rules, were especially cautious—especially after witnessing the injuries suffered by Harry and Malfoy. No one foolishly provoked these towering beasts, which stood taller than humans.
Following Hagrid’s careful instructions, everyone bowed, made eye contact, and fed the creatures. Once the Hippogriffs granted them a measure of trust, students were allowed to gently touch their beaks and backs. Hagrid remained alert and watchful the entire time.
The class ran with astonishing order. Everyone cooperated perfectly. Even when one student couldn’t resist sneaking away from the front of a Hippogriff, most still managed to earn the creature’s recognition. By the time the lesson reached its midpoint, Hagrid finally relaxed his guard and permitted students to ride the creatures for a single lap around the lake.
Wade was among them. Flying over the Black Lake didn’t feel nearly as magical as it did in the movies. The feathers of the Bird-like creatures were too smooth, almost slippery—like they might slide right off at any moment. It felt far less exhilarating than flying under his own power.
But for the others, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary—riding a giant, strange beast through the air, soaring higher than any broom could go, evoking a thrill akin to conquest or hunting. Even Liam, usually reserved and quiet, turned bright red with excitement when he leapt down from the creature’s neck.
“I want to be friends with Professor Hagrid!” Michael whispered to Wade afterward. “I had no idea he even had a Hippogriff! Wow, this is incredible! Wade, do you know what Professor Hagrid really loves?”
“Hmm…” Wade pondered. “Dangerous yet fascinating creatures?”
“Like…?”
“Like a Fire Dragon. Of course, if you could bring him a Hippocampus, he’d be willing to consider you his half-brother.”
Michael paused, then burst into laughter.
As they passed through the empty Great Hall, Wade slowed his pace slightly, letting Michael move ahead before subtly turning the Time-Turner around his neck. He still had an Ancient Runes class this morning.
The classroom for Ancient Runes was located on the side of Clock Square—nearest to the Forbidden Forest. At the end of a long gallery bridge stood the classroom door.
On his way, Wade happened to meet Hermione, hurrying past in the same direction. The brown-haired girl clearly had just finished a class, still carrying the faint scent of herbs. Seeing Wade, she visibly relaxed, her expression brightening with relief.
“Thank Merlin! I thought I’d taken a wrong turn! I’ve seen no one all the way here!”
Hermione spoke in rapid bursts. “And those stairs keep shifting! Griffiths was chasing me with his endless chatter, and I almost ran into Peeves—utter chaos!”
“If you’d left earlier,” Wade said calmly, “you could’ve come here at your own pace. None of this would’ve been a problem.”
Hermione shot back, flustered: “I couldn’t leave earlier! I’d just finished Herbology! And now I’ve only got one hour before class—time’s tight!”
She was clearly anxious, her words tumbling out in haste.
Wade tilted his head. “So why only turn back one hour? You could’ve turned it two—or even more. As long as it’s under five hours, it’s basically safe.”
Hermione stared at him, equally baffled. “But what would I do with the extra time? Just sit and wait?”
Wade sighed. “You could go back to the dorm and sleep. Hermione, you really need to look at your own eyes—those dark circles are impossible to ignore.”
Hermione’s mouth fell open in shock—she looked like she’d never considered such a thing.
“Strange… I always thought you made it look effortless… but we did promise not to use the Time-Turner for anything but studying…”
“Rest is part of learning,” Wade countered. “Pushing yourself into exhaustion doesn’t help your studies. It just makes you worse.”
Hermione fell silent.
At the end of the corridor, they found the other students—about a dozen or so—who had also chosen Ancient Runes—standing outside the classroom, puzzling over how to open the door.
Among them was Draco Malfoy, who had also signed up for the class. Seeing Wade approach, Malfoy’s expression flickered, and he instinctively stepped back.
But the other students lit up, cheering, “Wade’s here!” “Wade’ll know how to open it!”
They parted to make way. Wade stepped forward and immediately understood the mechanism.
The classroom door was a giant stone plaque with a long, narrow slit in the center. Inside the slit ran several copper columns—resembling bamboo segments, each capable of rotating independently. Etched along their surfaces were concentric rings of Ancient Runes. A note taped beside it simply read: Open it.
Clearly, this was how the classroom was locked.
Before Wade arrived, the students had already spent considerable time studying—consulting Runic Dictionaries and Magic Phonetics Charts, heads spinning, nearly forgetting how to speak English.
Ancient Runes were notoriously tricky. Many symbols looked nearly identical, and a single glyph could carry multiple meanings. Deciphering them was painfully slow.
But for Wade, it was effortless.
After a brief observation, he rotated the copper columns. The runes rearranged themselves into a sentence:
“I look down, and pick up the Runic Script.”
It was the very phrase printed on the inside cover of their textbooks.
The students erupted in cheers and rushed inside.
The classroom was spacious, with towering windows letting in abundant light. Long blue curtains hung down to the floor. The walls were covered in intricate Ancient Runes symbols. At the front, a lectern held ancient artifacts—weapons, jewelry, and even bones of some unknown creature, all etched with Runic Script.
But the professor was nowhere to be seen.
The students didn’t wait. They wandered freely, examining the displayed objects. Wade did the same, then settled into a quiet corner.
Soon, Hermione joined him, whispering:
“…Maybe you’re right. I should give myself some time to rest sometimes. But still… try not to use the Time-Turner too often.”
Wade raised an eyebrow. “Hermione, are you worried about the dangers of time reversal?”
She shook her head, lowering her voice. “Not exactly that… When we turn back time, only our time continues forward normally. But everyone else moves forward normally too. So if we keep rewinding… while they live one year, we live two, three… even more.”
The idea was unsettling: in the same span of time, their own lives could be speeding up, their years slipping away faster. It was a chilling thought.
But Wade replied, “I know. But if I can grow up faster… I don’t mind.”
Hermione froze, startled.
At that moment, the professor entered.
She appeared silently at the open doorway, her gaze cold and detached, sweeping over the dozen students like a shadow.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
