A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 96: Three Brooms

The light of the spells glowed like crimson dawn, casting a rosy hue on the faces of every young wizard.

As if tangible curses were pronounced, crackling sounds echoed, refracting from the castle walls into a dozen twisting serpentine arcs of deep-red electricity.

These "serpents" extended onto several nearby suits of armor, causing the wielded longswords to be relinquished one by one.

"Whizzing sounds!"

The blades of the longswords traced arcs through the air, striking the makeshift golden-plated stage Felix Harp stood upon, leaving behind several deep craters.

The wizard frowned with bewilderment, his expression lost as if wandering through a dream.

Who am I? Where am I? What have I done?

Why am I seeing this?

Felix lowered his wand and addressed the now-silent students below, his tone casual, "The same spell cast by different wizards can have entirely different effects — I was planning to tell you this when you've gained a certain understanding of dueling and at a more appropriate time."

"However, it seems that time isn't quite now," he added.

The young wizards felt as though they had swallowed a dozen ice mice candies, a chilly sensation running down their spines.

Is this professor really not just discouraging students? Look at that wizard, he looks utterly befuddled...

"Pr-Professor, how did you manage that?" asked Albert Burke, his confidence slightly shaken. Influenced by his family, he had always aspired to become an Auror, honing his skills in dueling spells from a young age.

Even his Auror uncle had praised his talent, but now he found himself plagued by self-doubt.

Was his decision too hasty? The outside world might be even more dangerous than he'd imagined. He and Professor Harp were only three or four years apart, but he didn't believe he could reach this level of Disarming Charm proficiency in three or four years.

It's a lost cause!

What right does he have to be confident about becoming an Auror, about battling dark wizards? Won't he just get blasted by a dark wizard in the end?

Various thoughts swirled in his mind, but Professor Harp provided timely reassurance, saying, "Mr. Burke, you need to shift your perspective—"

"For ordinary spells, like everyday magic, mere proficiency is quite sufficient; but for protective spells, the ones that will keep you safe, you need to invest a lot of time and effort. It's never too much to emphasize that."

"As far as I know, aspiring Aurors undergo rigorous training. For instance, the Shield Charm might require them to practice it a thousand times or more," Felix looked at him, "But that's something for after you become an Auror. At your age, your spellwork is already quite impressive."

Burke fell into contemplation, recalling his sparring sessions with his uncle. He had always been just a little short, always feeling like he could defeat his uncle with just a bit more effort.

Yet for the past two years, he had always fallen just "a bit short." It dawned on him suddenly that becoming an Auror wasn't as easy as he had thought.

"Thank you, Professor Harp," Burke said to Felix.

On the other side, Cedric Diggory raised his arm in inquiry, "Professor, can we achieve mastery through repeated practice like you?"

Hope glinted in the eyes of many young wizards. Professor, if you say it's possible, we'll definitely work to enhance its power.

Snape scoffed at the question, but he was equally curious about how Felix would respond.

"Well... it's not an easy question to answer. The power of spells involves many factors. Once you go back and carefully study the learning materials in your hands, you'll begin to understand what I mean."

"I've noticed that most people don't set high demands on themselves, content as long as they can use the spell with some success."

"But beyond just 'being able to use' it, there's also skillful application, wandless and silent casting, adjusting based on personal habits..." Felix Harp shook his head. "There are too many techniques to delve into."

Felix clapped his hands. "Alright, I'll delve into this topic in more detail in the next class. Today's lesson comes to an end."

The young wizards left the hall as if in a daze. The impact of Professor Harp's magic tonight was enormous; they could never have imagined that the same spell could yield such vastly different results when cast by different individuals.

Professor Snape approached, somewhat surprised and reserved. "Felix, I didn't expect you to be so selfless."

Felix remained silent.

Was he truly selfless? No, the contents on parchment were merely a guarantee of the minimum requirement for them to learn the spell, and it didn't affect him at all.

Even though he might select some exceptional students in the future to impart more advanced knowledge, how many would truly succeed?

Felix didn't fear the emergence of prodigies. On the contrary, he looked forward to more brilliant young wizards appearing.

His strength did not solely lie in a single spell.

So, Felix quipped, "Professor, maybe I'm cultivating my own influence to win their favor!"

Snape's expression suddenly froze. He carefully observed Felix, trying to determine the truth behind these words.

"Cough, don't get nervous. I was just making a joke."

...

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked along the way back. Ron held the Disarming Charm material and said, "Is this thing really useful?"

"Of course, I learned the Levitation Charm the same way," Hermione with her knitted hat remarked.

Harry asked her, "Do we need to fill out various forms like you did back then?"

Hermione had to explain, "That was to help us pinpoint our weaknesses and practice more purposefully. Harry, I think you're close to mastering it."

"Just sparks though," Harry said somewhat dejectedly.

"Oh, Harry, that's a sign that the Disarming Charm is about to work. It's mentioned in the material. Maybe you'll succeed next time," Hermione assured him.

Hermione's words lifted Harry's spirits. Perhaps he should put in a bit more effort once he gets back?

The influence of the second Dueling class on Friday morning was still rippling.

However, many young wizards were already spreading the word that "Professor Harp blasted a section of the hall wall with the Disarming Charm." This led Felix to notice, during lunchtime, that some students who hadn't attended class were looking at him strangely.

Fortunately, the weekend arrived quickly.

Felix accepted Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall's invitation to a gathering at the Three Broomsticks.

Upon entering the pub, he was surprised to find Snape there.

"Felix, come over here." Professor Flitwick stood on a chair, warmly welcoming him. "We were just discussing Damocles Belby."

Felix took a seat and curiously asked, "Has the news been announced? I mean, about the Wolfsbane Potion."

"You know about it too?" Upon receiving confirmation, Professor Flitwick said with a hint of nostalgia, "Belby was exceptional when he was in school. I actually recommended that he pursue the path of spells, although he ultimately chose the field of potions. At that time, he was a favorite of Professor Slughorn."

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