Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 77 Opening and Closing

"How nostalgic..."

Ike squatted to the side, watching Professor Snape busily dismembering the Basilisk, when the Sorting Hat on his head suddenly let out a sigh of admiration.

"What are you missing?" Ike seemed a little bored and disappointed.

He had originally planned to secretly hide one of the basilisk's fangs, but under the watchful eyes of the four professors, he had no way to do so.

Given Snape's personality, he wouldn't leave Ike even a single scale from the Basilisk.

What's more, the Gryffindor sword disappeared right after Professor McGonagall slew the snake. Ike tried several times to pull the sword out of the Sorting Hat, only to be met with a good laugh from the Sorting Hat.

"I miss the sight of Minerva wielding the Gryffindor sword!" The Sorting Hat swayed excitedly. "God knows how long I've waited for this day! So many years have passed, and no one but Minerva has ever drawn that sword."

"Really not?"

"No," the Sorting Hat sighed. "It is an enchanted sword, and only a true Gryffindor can draw the Sword of Gryffindor when needed."

"It is clear that since Minerva, no young Gryffindor wizard has possessed the spirit of Gryffindor."

Ike didn't react much. He wanted to tell the chattering hat that if it weren't for him, a young wizard would have pulled out the Gryffindor sword this year, and there would be many more in the future.

His mind was now focused on how to get some Basilisk parts out of Snape's hands, at least a tooth. It was easy and quick to poke Horcruxes with something.

"Ike..." Professor Flitwick walked over, and Ike quickly stood up, putting on his Sorting Hat, and returned the greeting.

Professor Flitwick waved his hand, then pulled Ike a little further away, saying, "Don't be too nervous, I just want to talk to you..."

"Speaking of which, you should have found that gift by now..."

"Yes, Professor," Ike replied softly, "I found it, but it's too profound for me to understand more than a small part of it."

"That's already quite good. At least I didn't have your abilities at your age." Professor Flitwick smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Ancient magic, the magic of the era of the Four Great Masters, and the magic we use now are actually three different kinds of magic. You find it difficult simply because you haven't found the right method..."

"How's your ancient magic script? I often see you carrying that book, 'Ancient Magic Script Explained'."

"It should be alright..." Ike replied with a hint of dejection. This wasn't an act; even now, the Ancient Runes skill wasn't displayed on the Waste Notebook system, clearly indicating that, according to the system's standards, Ike's understanding of Ancient Runes wasn't deep enough.

However, based on his own comparison with that of older students, there was actually not much difference, and he was even slightly better in application.

Otherwise, Ike wouldn't have been able to create that combination of magic circle and ancient runes.

"I think I understand." Frivi looked at Ike, thought for a moment, and replied, "Ike, you need to know that ancient runes are actually a language, and the most crucial thing in learning a new language is..."

"Speak more, write more? But professor, ancient magical script can trigger magical reactions."

“Indeed,” Professor Flitwick said. “So I think what you should do now is not to continue learning new magic, but to try to forget magic.”

"Forgot magic?" Ike was a little confused. He felt like Professor Flitwick was playing a game of nesting dolls with him.

"That's right! I've noticed that even in normal times you're used to using magic to solve problems, which creates a problem: you can only release magic, but you can't retract it..."

"While frequent use of magic can indeed enhance a wizard's control over magic and magical power, it can also lead to dependence on magic..."

"Professor, I don't quite understand. Is this some kind of bad thing?" Ike was completely confused and quickly asked.

"Of course it's not a bad thing." Flitwick scratched his head, organized his thoughts, and then replied, "You can try to understand it this way..."

"A wizard is a container, and magic is the water inside. When we cast a spell, we're opening a small hole in this container so the water can flow out. Each spell is a small opening, and the more spells you master, the more openings you have."

"Your current situation is that you can open that specific little opening without thinking, but you can't actively close it to let the water out from another opening."

Professor Flitwick stepped back slightly and said to Ike, "You can try it now. Use the Illumination Charm, but I require you to use the Levitation Charm."

"These are your two best spells, aren't they?"

"Come on, give it a try!"

Ike gripped his wand and, as Flitwick had instructed, called out, "Yugadim Leviosa!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Professor Flitwick floated up into the air.

Professor Flitwick casually dispelled the minor spell and said with a smile, "You see the problem now, Ike?"

"Yes, Professor." Ike nodded slightly, his brow furrowing.

This result was beyond his expectations. Levitation and Illumination were the first spells Ike learned to reach level 6, and over the years, he had developed all sorts of creative uses for them.

I thought I could easily meet Professor Flitwick's requirements, but the moment I uttered the incantation, the flow of magic within my body suddenly changed!

"You can practice using this method, gradually increasing the difficulty. Besides improving your control over magic, it can also confuse your opponents in battle."

"Think about it, if you chant an explosion spell but actually unleash a fire spell, wouldn't that throw your opponent into a panic?"

I nodded subconsciously, though I felt something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Okay, Professor, I will practice." Ike decided to agree first, as this practice method was indeed useful.

After mastering the technique, when facing Comrade Xiao Fu again, he could recite the incantation for the Fiery Spell, but instead, he would unleash Avada Kedavra.

We'll definitely catch him off guard!

"This is not an easy thing, especially for you. You've made some spells instinctive, and it's quite troublesome to control them again."

"I will do it, Professor." Ike smiled brightly, and Professor Flitwick nodded in satisfaction.

The two chatted for a while longer, while Professor Snape on the other side finally finished dealing with the basilisk, cleaning up even the snake blood on the ground.

Ike even squatted down to search carefully, but found no trace of the basilisk except for rubble.

"Alright, we should go back now." Professor McGonagall took the Sorting Hat from Ike's head and held it in her hand. She glanced at her watch and realized it was quite late. She then told everyone to leave.

"It's time to go back," Snape casually remarked, prompting Ike to roll his eyes.

"Of course you need to hurry back so you can put the basilisk into your private collection room."

I'll empty it out sooner or later!

Let me explain the update issues from the past two days:

It started snowing heavily here yesterday, and I answered the call to shovel snow for two days straight. In fact, I wrote the chapter early yesterday morning while on duty at work.

I watched the EDG match until after 1 a.m. last night, and then got up again at 7 a.m. this morning to shovel snow.

I'm numb, please forgive me!

(End of this chapter)