[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-177":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250415,4210,"Chapter 177: The Second Trip to Diagon Alley","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-177",177,"\u003Cp>Compared to other standardized wizard chess sets, Wizard Sean’s wizard chess was far more interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this set, Ron couldn’t even beat Harry—because his knight and queen had fallen in love, the king angrily sent the knight to hunt them down, and Harry won without losing a single piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merlin—damn knight, must you really fall in love with the queen?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron was furious, his face flushed bright red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shouting drew the attention of several young wizards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone crowded around curiously, and the Great Hall filled with a chorus of frustrated exclamations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You fell in love with the opponent’s queen?! You voluntarily lost the game? Damn it! That was my match!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t like using force? Then why be a knight at all? Go be a decoration for the Great Hall!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merlin—opponent’s pieces are advancing, you say you ate too much and can’t move… Fine, you’re done for, and so am I.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, this game—relying ninety percent on luck and ten percent on skill—quickly swept through the entire Great Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even upperclassmen came to see what these pieces were about, and ended up staying up all night in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t understand why their own pieces would leap off the board, shouting “Freedom!” before smashing themselves to pieces beneath the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, they had an auto-repair function.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could just go annoy the next wizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wizard Sean, want to try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron pushed through the crowd, and the young wizards naturally parted to make way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean nodded, ready to test the wizard chess’s effects—he’d always wondered: if the pieces were this disobedient, was it because his proficiency was too low?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly, could the creator fully control magical constructs endowed with their own will?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’ll give it my all, Wizard Sean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron across from him was already rubbing his hands together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game had barely begun when Ron froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knight, don’t be afraid—take two steps forward…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “bishop” poked the neighboring “knight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I’m not afraid—I’m a noble knight, brave and fearless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “knight” turned around and took two steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “knight” shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then Ron lost the game, because the pieces completely ignored his commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wizard Sean ordered the black knight to move forward one step, his own white knight obeyed too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his theory had been confirmed, Wizard Sean quickly left the Great Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope’s Cottage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean looked at the top of his schedule: [Craft Magical Creature Mole Cookie], and wrote beside it: [Reach Proficient Level in Wizard Chess], [Find Next Mid-Level Alchemical Construct].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endowing magical objects with will certainly increases the difficulty of alchemical constructs, yet Wizard Sean always seemed guided by divine inspiration when crafting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suspected this was the hidden magical intuition within wizards—the so-called talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could certainly create a few alchemical constructs with their own will, but what should he choose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding these options rose to the top of Wizard Sean’s schedule; though he hadn’t abandoned making magical creature cookies, progress must be made step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he needed to unlock the Proficient title—perhaps it would bring him unexpected rewards?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, new special talents often emerged at the Proficient level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy winter snow fell over the castle and grounds; statues outside were draped in thick white robes, and the sugared gingerbread house in the lawn was Hagrid’s cabin; the frost-covered grass shimmered like sugar, and the distant trees, dusted with snow, stood silent, ready for the arrival of various winter treats and festive decorations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean enjoyed his meal—no matter how busy he was, he never missed a single meal in the Great Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather was bright, and Wizard Sean received a special letter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dear Wizard Sean Green,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beloved child of the McGonagall family. Know that here, some exceptionally joyful people await you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all my love, Marcus McGonagall]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus McGonagall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean didn’t know who that was, but it wasn’t hard to guess he was the professor’s relative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wizard Sean saw the professor give him a gentle nod from the head table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Great Hall, Wizard Sean found Professor McGonagall waiting for him at the third-floor spiral staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They all want to meet you. And they’ve prepared a Christmas gift for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The professor said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean began packing his belongings, researching gifts from the magical world, and finally turned to the Weasleys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Weasley, I may need you to go to Diagon Alley—I’ll pay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean said in the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Green—what are you talking about? George, this is the funniest joke I’ve ever heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fred stared in disbelief, then circled Wizard Sean once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange—you’re not feverish, so why are you talking nonsense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the biggest fool! You’re our VIP!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>George blinked, his teasing tone delivered with such sincerity it sounded like he truly meant it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, take this! And—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll fulfill any request you have—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twins spoke in unison, then vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean took the note—it was the Ministry of Magic’s approval for a new shop:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Approval for Weasley & Green Magical Prank Shop has been granted]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean tucked the approval away, his steps noticeably lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow fell for hours; Hogwarts had slipped into a quiet afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath a large Christmas tree, Professor McGonagall carried a suitcase, her formal robes replaced by a simple, light-colored wizarding cloak; after Wizard Sean arrived, the two set off quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparition was forbidden around Hogwarts, but beyond the castle grounds, the restriction lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—that’s more like it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the entrance hall, several portraits clustered together; Sir Cadogan, his face distorted by the dwarf horse, grinned crookedly as he watched the two wizards step onto the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two ladies watched silently, their vision blurred by the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First-time Apparition can be unpleasant…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… Severus sent something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The professor handed Wizard Sean a vial of potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold my hand, child—we’re going first to Diagon Alley, to buy you some…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After drinking the potion, Apparition caused Wizard Sean no discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, in an instant, the sound of bustling activity filled his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizards moved along the cobblestone path; toads, owls, rabbits—various creatures darted among them. Every shop, every display, every shopper seemed brimming with holiday cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, Wizard Sean had counted knuts while shopping; now, it felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, Wizard Sean had to count his Knuts when shopping, but now it seemed different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Hogwarts became a distant symbol; Severus Snape still stood in the dark dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if this were his true home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sir Cadogan muttered on the wall outside the dungeon door:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coward, Severus, coward… Always wrapping yourself in black, hiding your other side deep, marching alone in loneliness. You should’ve been a knight…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coward, Severus, coward… always wrapping yourself in black, burying your other side deep, marching alone in loneliness and sorrow. You were meant to be a knight…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But oh, King… how can a knight who has never known love ever have the confidence to bring happiness to others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dear readers, please stay warm—the deer has been asleep for a day; updates will resume tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dear readers, please stay warm—Lu has been unconscious for a day; updates will resume tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>",1198,"2026-06-19T10:00:40.768Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4db87269c05942abf1120cd6436153d143be95f964ca6a41db3f56778d7df393","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-178","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-176",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]