Chapter 62: Hogwarts Learning Panel Chapter 30

Learning magic always relies more on talent than on effort.

Wizards often explain the Levitation Charm as simply reciting the incantation with a flick and a swish of the wrist.

As for further explanations, they are as vague as the gurgling sound of a cauldron.

Even Professor Flitwick, when teaching the young wizards, emphasizes clear pronunciation followed by the same old refrain: a swish and a flick.

After memorizing "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1," Wizard Sean still found no more detailed explanation.

He had reason to suspect that spells were just like that, following ancient rules, a kind of knowledge based on experience.

Since it was experiential knowledge, it inevitably drifted somewhat from precision:

For instance, regarding the swish and flick, how far should the wand travel? How large should the flick's amplitude be?

These questions were difficult to answer, leaving young wizards to resolve them using "talent."

Of course, Wizard Sean also had reason to suspect that wizards with sufficient talent never faced such problems in the first place;

they likely succeeded immediately.

Thus, the problem arose:

Talented wizards had no such worries, while untalented wizards could not solve them—

they wasted vast amounts of time merely guessing and practicing spells by luck.

In the end, these issues, much like those Wizard Sean faced while brewing potions, remained unresolved.

Wizard Sean did not believe magic had much to do with science, yet the increase in his proficiency told him otherwise:

at the very least, there existed a method to cast spells more easily.

"Yes, the arm's arc during the swish should be wider,

and regarding the incantation's pronunciation, the stress falls on the 'g';

here is a small detail: the 'di' that follows is also stressed..."

Inside the classroom, a magical lantern illuminated a modest area.

Wizard Sean earnestly guided Jia Jia Siting's practice, applying every bit of his understanding of the Levitation Charm.

Consequently, when Jia Jia Siting strictly followed his standards to perform the Levitation Charm,

the feather, which had never floated for even five seconds, actually wobbled aloft for ten.

"Good heavens! Wizard Sean, we succeeded!"

Jia Jia Siting whispered excitedly, then stared fixedly as the feather slowly drifted down.

"Wizard Sean, this is all because of you; thank you for your help."

Jia Jia Siting offered his thanks with sincerity and fervor.

Wizard Sean nodded to acknowledge it.

"I think a wider swish would work even better... but... after the stressed 'di', is the 'le' also stressed?"

To the side, Hermione, holding a book that obscured her face, had actually been observing for quite some time; she suddenly spoke, her tone inevitably retaining a hint of arrogance,

yet both people present automatically ignored it.

"Hmm, I believe it should be stressed even more; as for the swish amplitude... we can try, though..."

Wizard Sean glanced at the feather; he was about to say his magic had not yet recovered,

but before he could finish, Jia Jia Siting had already cast the spell.

Are all Hufflepuffs this attentive?

Wizard Sean stood stunned for a few seconds.

All three inside the hidden room stared at the feather, watching it wobble in the air for fifteen seconds.

The moment it landed, Jia Jia Siting let out a low exclamation:

"Wow! Hermione, your hypothesis was completely correct!"

Hermione lifted her slightly flushed face, clearly pleased by such praise.

For the remaining time, the three enthusiastic individuals conducted numerous experiments,

continuing until Wizard Sean's magic recovered, allowing him to practice the Levitation Charm to a proficient level, only for his magic to be depleted once again.

Time slipped through their fingers like fine sand.

The magical lantern swayed as it accompanied the trio out of the hidden room.

Wizard Sean felt deeply satisfied; he had gained 45 proficiency points.

Hermione was also very satisfied; her whimsical ideas now had a like-minded, even "smarter" partner—Wizard Sean,

along with an experimenter so exhausted his face turned pale yet still eager to cast spells—Jia Jia Siting.

Jia Jia Siting was also very satisfied; it felt as though he had discovered a new continent.

By evening, Hogwarts Castle had already sunk into dreams.

At the end of the third-floor corridor,

a wall shifted slightly, revealing a yellowed and cracked oil painting.

The painting depicted a snowy owl wearing a velvet vest and a small pair of pince-nez glasses.

At that moment, it was behaving in an extremely human manner—even with a comically annoyed expression—struggling to straighten its teetering glasses with one fluffy claw.

"Little wizards! Wretched little wizards!"

After Jia Jia Siting and Hermione exited the room, it first shrieked noisily,

but when Wizard Sean passed by, it abruptly stopped its clamor,

muttering quietly:

"Little wizard, clever little wizard..."

While waiting for the staircase to align, Hermione's voice emerged amidst the rumbling sound of the rotating stairs:

"I think we will probably need to use this room continuously... so we must inform the professor;

Professor Flitwick will surely agree to let us practice spells here."

Jia Jia Siting exclaimed in admiration:

"So thoughtful; that's just like you, Hermione!"

Hermione's face flushed slightly; she looked at Wizard Sean, and after he nodded,

she hastily bid farewell to the two boys and vanished down the corridor, leaving only Wizard Sean and Jia Jia Siting to walk through the hallway bathed in warm firelight.

"Um, Wizard Sean, I wanted to say, you didn't even eat your Yorkshire pudding today...

Did the potion brewing not go smoothly?"

Jia Jia Siting suddenly spoke in a low voice, catching Wizard Sean off guard;

could these two things be linked so quickly?

Immediately after, he nodded slightly.

"Is it Professor Snape? I heard he never allows first-year students to brew potions on their own,

yet he is quite lenient toward some older Slytherins...

I don't believe you failed at brewing, so, do you need help?

Although Professor Snape is terrifying, I still have the courage to visit his office."

Jia Jia Siting's words made Wizard Sean increasingly silent; he raised his head,

seeing a firm yet gentle light shining in the little badger's eyes.

"Remember? We are friends; if you are in trouble and I do not lend a hand, then what kind of friends are we?"

Night fell; the pale blue curtains swayed gently, and the sound of wind blowing past the window always made Wizard Sean feel extremely comforted.

The fireplace crackled as it burned.

Wizard Sean recalled Jia Jia Siting's parting words:

"Even if I'm afraid, I can force myself to go ahead... The prefect said there is no school rule at Hogwarts forbidding young students from brewing potions."

Ravenclaw had only one Herbology class on Friday, giving Wizard Sean the entire day to wait for Professor Snape to leave the dungeons.

Gazing at the picturesque moonlight outside the window, his thoughts churned:

Hogwarts, this magical school established a thousand years ago,

Hufflepuff, this warm and wonderful house,

together they cultivate wizards who possess vitality.

They may not be outstanding, nor always easy to remember,

but just as Lady Helga Hufflepuff stated:

diligence, loyalty, and tolerance are equally great qualities.

A complex emotion lingered faintly in Wizard Sean's heart; "Advanced Potion-Making" lay scattered open on the windowsill.

The rustling sound of pages made Wizard Sean seem to see once again the notes Jia Jia Siting had spread out in the library:

[The prefect said that Hufflepuff is loyal and trustworthy; although we never quarrel with others, we are not easy to bully.

Like our house emblem, the badger, we will protect ourselves from anyone who means us harm, and help our friends and family; nothing can make us afraid.]