A certain Hogwarts professor of runes.

After a sickeningly loud sound, the humanoid target was covered in wounds. The black wind and black feathers had vanished, leaving only haphazard, gaping wounds that resembled the open mouths of fish.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience, while more students in the distance stood on tiptoe and jumped up and down, trying to get a better look.

“If this hits a person…” Neville glanced timidly at the wound on the target and said, “I still think the Stunning Curse works best.”

Seamus patted him on the shoulder, “The others don’t think so…” Neville’s gaze swept across the ring and saw Draco and several Slytherin students clapping enthusiastically. He looked around and saw that there were quite a few excited people.

“This is the Black Feather Spell, which creates a whirlwind that quickly approaches the enemy. But the key is those black feathers; they are like tiny knives, incredibly fast, and also corrosive…” Poliaco explained the spell.

Felix and the others listened quietly. At that moment, the wound on the humanoid target began to turn black, seemingly confirming that what he said was true.

"How effective are the usual treatments?" Felix asked softly.

“Well, it’s best to use a counter-curse, otherwise the effect is less effective… but it’ll still work to some extent,” Poliaco said. “That’s why the professor suggested we use it when we’re surrounded by dangerous creatures in the wild, like a pack of wolves.”

"Moreover, when I practice this magic, I always imagine myself being surrounded by a group of ferocious creatures and having no choice but to fight back..." He began to describe his mindset when learning this dark magic.

Seeing the thoughtful and eager expressions on the young wizards' faces, Felix had to speak up and remind them, "This method might have some effect, but it's a product of Durmstrang's well-established operating mechanism and isn't suitable for Hogwarts. Perhaps I should pass on your ideas to Professor Moody; he'll definitely be very interested."

The young wizards awkwardly moved their heads away.

Felix understood their thinking; after all, he hadn't been well-behaved in school either. Who wouldn't want to master a powerful and eye-catching spell? But after he became a professor, his mindset changed somewhat. Did the students of Hogwarts really need dark magic?

He had thought deeply about this question and concluded that it was not. Hogwarts was not a military school; it was a place to train young wizards to use their magic effectively and to provide targeted guidance based on each person's strengths. As for self-protection, the Defense Against the Dark Arts course was sufficient to handle most common dangers, especially since the teaching quality in recent years had been quite good, and the number of people applying to become Aurors had increased significantly compared to previous years.

Felix had considered exposing older students to some dark magic, but he felt that intensive study of dark magic in a short period of time could easily breed darkness in people's hearts, so it was better not to do it.

“If we can avoid the side effects, why not try learning one or two?” Ron asked in a low voice.

“Because you don’t know if you’ve been affected, it could be a subtle change,” Hermione shrieked. “A skilled wizard has many ways to examine himself.”

“Maybe you’re right, but I don’t think ordinary black magic would be that effective,” Ron said, stating a very true statement.

The exchange continues.

Cedric demonstrated the application of ancient runes, and—Felix was surprised to find that he had chosen a path he had once abandoned—integrating rune symbols into modern magic.

Cedric smiled shyly. "Here's what I was thinking. During a practice session of the 'Water Flow' spell, its magical imagery resembled a spring. I immediately thought of the Clear Water Like a Spring spell and had a sudden inspiration to see if I could combine the two. It took me a long time to succeed."

Felix smiled. It seemed everyone had grown; he just wondered how far Cedric's research had progressed.

At that moment, Cedric gripped his wand in his right hand and quickly drew a spell in mid-air. The spell flashed twice and then transformed into a phantom resembling a waterfall or spring, casting a hazy glow upon it.

Cedric nervously extended his wand, the tip plunging into the imagery created by the magic.

"Clear water like a spring!" he shouted as he seized the opportunity. His wand flashed, and the spell seemed to absorb the phantom of the runes, transforming into three free-flowing streams of water that swirled around the tip of the wand.

“Next, we just throw them out—” Cedric said cautiously, then pointed his wand forcefully, and the water slammed into the humanoid targets with a dull thud, sending them flying far away and crashing into the wall.

The young wizards stared blankly at the target in the corner. If the person cursed were a living person, they could already imagine him clutching his stomach and groaning in pain on the ground.

“I feel like his spells can knock people unconscious… What kind of magic is this?” Ron asked in surprise.

“It should be a water-making spell. I saw it in the sixth-grade spells textbook when I was researching. Cedric is also in sixth grade, but…” Hermione’s expression was very conflicted. “The description of the spell doesn’t say it has this effect. Could it be, as he said, that it uses runes?”

Bright, magical runes flickered on her fingertips, spinning rapidly.

Many older students were discussing it amongst themselves. They knew what the spell "Clear Water Like a Spring" was, and that its effect wasn't actually that strong, but after Cedric's improvements, its power seemed comparable to some offensive spells.

Next, several more warriors stepped forward to demonstrate their abilities. It's hard to say what these young wizards who were watching actually learned; many were probably just there for the spectacle, but at least they broadened their horizons.

Felix clearly sensed a change in the Warriors' mentality. They might still be opponents, but they didn't mind being more honest with each other. Or rather, they were more like rivals and friends, with mutual respect between them.

Felix pondered whether he should bring out the exchange meeting again—there hadn't been any similar events since the last failed exchange with the Ilhamoni Magic School.

After the exchange meeting, the young wizards were very curious about the skills displayed by the different schools, but they could only find Cedric, so he had to give a public demonstration several times.

“Timing is important. I haven’t figured out this part of the principle yet, and I’m going to ask Professor Heip for advice,” Cedric said.

At a gathering at the Spellbook Club, Felix revealed the secrets of this knowledge.

“I have indeed observed this phenomenon, just as Mr. Diggory mentioned. However, I first had an assumption—” Felix sat by the warm fireplace and glanced around at everyone.

Is it possible for ancient magic and modern magic to merge?

The club members were stunned for a moment. Most of them were unfamiliar with this history, only knowing that ancient wizards used ancient magic while they used modern magic. As for how the transition occurred, not many people knew.

"Of course, there's a lot to think about here. A detailed explanation would probably take up more than a paper. So, to put it simply, after much thought and experimentation, I turned my attention to whether ancient magic script and modern magic could be integrated."

Chapter 447 The Club Scene

"Although I eventually abandoned this approach because my spell power was improving so quickly that it would soon be unsuitable to be amplified by runes, and it also had many drawbacks, such as requiring me to multitask... But I found that it might be more suitable for you at this stage."

Felix said softly, “Judging from Mr. Diggory’s performance, it is quite remarkable that he was able to think of combining ‘water flow’ with the water-making spell. I suggest that you continue to try when you have time, for example—” He paused, giving everyone time to think.

“The ‘Fire’ rune and the Fire Charm,” Hermione replied excitedly, “and the ‘Radiance’ rune and the Light Charm.”

Felix smiled at her. "It seems Miss Granger has tried it. We might as well divide into groups to study those runes and spells that can be combined and amplified... It just so happens that your magic control has improved quite a bit recently."

The members of the Magic Rune Club grinned, recalling their terrifying experience facing the Billywig Bug.

Felix straightened up from the soft sofa cushions, waved his wand lightly, and a shallow stone basin flew over from the shelf. The students looked at each other, still a little traumatized by the way they had entered, even though it wasn't the first time.

“We’ll go first!” Fred and George said in unison. They simultaneously dipped their fingers into the silvery substance in the stone basin, and the next second, they were sucked in.

"Wow~ Hohoho~" The two's excited shouts became low and deep, as if they were coming from a well.

A row of young wizards gathered around to watch, and after waiting quietly for a few seconds, they heard two very clear "snap!" "snap!" sounds.

"I landed safely," Ron said with a grin.

"Yes! We've been waiting for you!" Fred shouted in the space inside the stone basin, creating a series of mixed sounds that sounded like echoes.

“So that’s what they were planning…” Ron muttered. “The first one in won’t have seen their faces hit the ground.” He plunged his entire face into the silver substance, and his body disappeared.

One by one, the young wizards crawled into the stone basin, but this time, unlike when they were learning illumination magic, there wouldn't be a fixed professor waiting for them. Felix simply found them a spacious place suitable for casting spells.

Felix's voice came from above the stone basin, booming like thunder, "You will continue with the same groupings as last time."

Inside the stone basin, Harry couldn't help but gasp, and Ron also grimaced. They both looked at Draco Malfoy, who was standing to the side, his expression quite uncomfortable.

At the last Magician's Club meeting, Professor Hyp suggested that they control the Billywig bugs' activity space in a cooperative manner, in groups of three. As a result, Hermione was pulled away to instruct Luna and Ginny. By the time they realized what was happening, Draco Malfoy was already standing in front of them with ill intent.

“I applied some potion before I came, and the Billywig bugs hate the smell…” Draco said slowly, his eyes gleaming.

"You learned all this during the Christmas holidays?" Harry said angrily.

“Oh, of course not. Didn’t you experience my paralyzing spell?” Draco said with a satisfied look. Seeing his expression, Harry couldn’t help but recall the scene of him fighting Malfoy in Professor Moody’s dueling class.

“My full-body binding spell isn’t comfortable either, is it?” Harry said with a laugh.

Draco's pale face flushed, and he stammered, "It was my carelessness, you broke the rules..."

“Is that so? Professor Moody doesn’t think so. He’s very unhappy with your act of disobeying orders and acting first, Malfoy,” Ron said, looking at him with interest. “You almost achieved something, turning into a little animal in the hands of two Professors Moody…” He said with a look of reminiscence, ignoring Draco’s increasingly dangerous gaze. “If Professor Flitwick hadn’t been there, we might have witnessed that scene.”

That gathering was the worst Ron ever got stung, and Harry was also caught in the crossfire.

……

The three stood facing each other, forming a small circle. When they regrouped, they appeared very cautious. Harry's eyes darted around, glancing left at Ron and right at Draco, as did the other two.

“Weasley, Potter, my mother is planning to have a record made, not by the weird sisters… they don’t fit the aesthetic of people of high status at all…”

“What are you trying to say?” Ron said irritably, wanting to curse Malfoy.

“Oh,” Draco paused, a slight smile appearing on his pale face, “What did I say, a magical phonograph? This is it, Weasley, you certainly don’t have one at home, do you?”

“My family doesn’t need that kind of thing!” Ron said, his face flushed.

“Really…” Draco looked up with satisfaction. “Recently, .a Publishing also released a classic edition of the comic book, and I collected a set as well.”

Ron was trembling with rage, unable to even draw the magic runes, and sparks kept flying from the tip of his staff.

“That’s nothing,” Harry said.

"What did you say?" Draco stared intently at Harry.

“Those…expensive things you mentioned, comic books and stuff, you can buy them as long as you have money,” Harry said. “I don’t see your role in it. It’s all your family’s money, it has nothing to do with you personally, right?”

Draco looked at him with a gloomy face and slowly said, "The Malfoys have always been like this."

“Really?” Harry grinned. “That sounds exciting, but we value what money can’t buy. Even though you bought the collector’s edition of the comic book, the content is the same, and Ron has read it at least five times—”

“This is the sixth time,” Ron said calmly. “I know some of the lines in the book by heart. That’s why I did so well in the second project… Didn’t the professor put those books on a separate shelf in the library?”

“We can have a contest to see who has more,” he said, looking at Draco provocatively.

Draco scoffed. "I'm not interested. Maybe you're hoping to take over your father's job? Go report to the Department for the Prohibition of Muggle Substances after graduation?"

“You’re talking nonsense,” Ron said through gritted teeth, panting heavily. Harry pointed to a spot not far away, where Ginny and Hermione were looking over, and Luna seemed to be planning to come closer to watch the spectacle.

After a long while, none of the three spoke.

“You know what we should do,” Harry said.

“That’s right,” Ron agreed.

“Excuse me, I still have some questions…” Draco said, drawing out his words.

"Really? Guess what?" Ron finally couldn't contain his anger and threatened in a low voice, "Either behave yourself, or we'll tickle you with our hands pressed against your nose!"

Draco: "...You wouldn't dare do that."

“The professor didn’t come down; maybe he’s sleeping on the sofa upstairs,” Ron guessed irresponsibly, but his words clearly made Draco’s expression darken.

Everything went smoothly for the rest of the time, except for occasional background noise.

"Weasley, tsk tsk! How did you come up with the idea of ​​combining 'water flow' and the fire spell? Hoping to obtain a cloud of steam? How do you plan to control it?"

“Potter! Let me handle this. I’m more skilled with the Shattering Charm. I suggest incorporating it with Light Runes…”

"Shut up, Malfoy!" x2

Chapter 448 Chess Match

In the Potions professor's office, Felix and Snape were playing a game of wizard chess.

Felix opened with the King and Pawns as White, while Snape opened with the Sicilian Defense as Black. As the game progressed into the middlegame, the pieces were exchanged and fought back and forth, but neither player's mind was entirely on the board.

How effective is the mucus from the larvae of the blasting snail?

“Not bad, it seems that some unknown change has occurred, which I personally think is benign…” Snape commanded his black pawns to step forward, and said softly, “This may be an idea, to use magic with different properties to treat materials in order to ‘kill’ certain unnecessary but stubborn material properties.”

“Isn’t there also a situation where the ingredients neutralize each other in potions? Oh… I see.” Felix said, while directing his queen to move forward two squares, sweeping the black pawn off the board.