Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

”Heart of Steel... Red of Sunset... and Full Moon, right?”

Antoine’s fingers brushed his chin, ”What do these images actually represent? Some kind of alchemy creation? This is your specialty!”

”I have some ideas, I’m just not quite sure yet.” Vid leaned back in the carved wooden chair, the warm light of the setting sun casting dappled shadows on his face through the window panes.

After leaving the Room of Requirement, Vid received a message from Antoine, and the two agreed to meet in an empty classroom on the third floor.

”Ha, then think well on it, we still have three months left!”

Antoine laughed, ”Though the clues to the location of the items are quite clear... um, aside from the first line’s darkness, you should have a lead on the other two lines, right?”

Vid nodded slightly and said, ”The Giant Squid in the Black Lake is an obvious clue. Although no one knows exactly where its lair is, with its massive size...”

His gaze shifted to the lake outside the window, where the waters were dark and deep, and Durmstrang’s ”Ghost Ship” rested at the shore.

”Once it starts to move, it should be easy to spot.”

”The ancient stone gate should be related to Merpeople. I’ve heard Michael say that some Slytherin students could occasionally see the shadows of Merpeople swimming swiftly past outside their dorm windows.”

Antoine nodded in satisfaction, ”Then it’s only the Heart of Steel left.”

”Heart of Steel... it might be hidden near those two.” Vid speculated, ”The squid can spray ink, and is there anything darker than that in the Black Lake? Merpeople usually live in the deepest parts of the water, where light is scarce.”

”Makes sense!” Antoine agreed, ”The vague wording in the lyrics might be hinting to connect this line with the next two for thought... It fits that way.”

Vid nodded, though he had other thoughts, those fragmented inspirations hadn’t yet formed clearly, so he didn’t mention them.

”Speaking of which, since you’ve already passed the first event, and did an impressive sweep, I can start implementing some of my plans.” Antoine’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Vid was somewhat surprised, ”Plans?”

”Yes.” Antoine said with a sly smile, ”You should remember, the Chocolate Frog Card of Dumbledore states a line—discovering the twelve uses of Dragon Blood?”

”Of course...” Vid frowned slightly, hesitating, ”Does that have anything to do with your plans?”

”You see, Vid, even a wizard as great as Dumbledore needs to have his contributions turned into words and spread out to gain widespread recognition.”

Antoine leaned forward, a hint of guile in his voice,

”Ivan Dilonsby always claimed that when Dumbledore ’borrowed’ his thesis, he had already discovered eight uses of Dragon Blood! But who would believe that? Everyone thought he was a shameless thief trying to steal Dumbledore’s glory.”

”Why?”

”Because before that, he had nothing noteworthy, nor had he published many valuable papers.”

”If he had published two or three research papers on Fire Dragons in magazines before, wouldn’t his lie be much more believable?”

”Now think about our leader—sorry, Mr. Grindelwald, no offense—but he almost ruled Europe’s Magic World, and what about now?”

”If he hadn’t broken out of prison again, children your age might not even know who Gellert Grindelwald is.”

Vid said speechlessly, ”You’d better not let Mr. Grindelwald know you talk about him like this behind his back.”

After a pause, he asked, ”So? What exactly are you trying to say?”

”Don’t you understand yet?”

Antoine waved his Magic Wand, forming the shape of a crown mid-air, glowing with brilliant gold.

He said, ”The whole world is watching the Magic School Championship, the champion will be known worldwide.”

”But what about the second, third... twenty to thirty years later? Who will remember the names of the champions from this competition?”

The crown burst suddenly in the air, turning into countless tiny sparkling stars that dissipated into the air before reaching the ground.

”Just like the old Triwizard Tournament, the champion will surely be forgotten, but knowledge will not.”

”Similarly, years later, the great and omnipotent Dark Wizard will be regarded as a villain in stories, just a name to memorize in exams, truly unnoticed;”

”But Bashida Basha will always be respected because she is the author of Magic History—even though Mr. Grindelwald could defeat that woman with just one finger!”

Vid: ”...”

Antoine, this guy, really gets bolder and bolder...

But does he know that Bashida Basha is actually Grindelwald’s great-aunt?

Vid mocked in his heart, but he also understood Antoine’s intention.

Sure enough, Antoine said next:

”I inquired from many people about your teaching at that Magic Spell Study Group, I originally thought you were just acting as a second Spell Class professor in your spare time, but later I discovered you had actually summarized a highly effective method of learning Magic Spells!”

”You broke those tough spells into basic elements, each part simple and easy to understand, even the dullest student could master them by following the steps!”

He was almost trembling with excitement:

”So I’m planning to compile these refined techniques into a book under the name of some Hogwarts students, list you as the primary author, then casually add a few students who helped publish it.”

”You might still not understand the significance of your method...”

Antoine spread his arms wide, loudly proclaiming:

”Vid, if it’s spread out, this manner of teaching would quickly replace the arbitrary teaching methods in various Magic Schools, which rely on students’ intelligence and talent to learn Magic Spells!”

”But you made Magic Spell learning more standardized, more specific, more straightforward! This isn’t just Magic Spell teaching; it’s a system methodology applicable to learning in every subject!”

”Of course, it might sacrifice some artistry and creativity, but as long as you study this method earnestly, students often failing in certain spells could pass, and those with good grades could more easily reach ’outstanding’—Do you know how crazy this would drive people?”

Antoine’s eyes sparkled brightly:

”Think about it, riding on the momentum of the Magic School Championship, when this book hits the shelves, everyone will talk about these revolutionary casting techniques, and the Vid Gray who discovered and selflessly published them!”

”Respect, admiration, trust, fame, status... everything will come pouring to you! This is not just a book, Vid, it’s a testament to your existence.”

”It’s different from something you invent with Alchemy—people eat an egg without asking which hen laid it—sorry, I know that metaphor is a bit rough.”

”But this book will enter every school, becoming the textbook for children. Fifty years later, five hundred years later... when new students enter schools, they will still be touched by your thoughts transcending time and space!”

”Vid, you will leave an indelible ripple in the long river of Magic History.”