Chapter 365: The Twins Have a New Business
The girl didn't pay attention to George's reaction and patiently asked again, "Fred, do you know if Dylan is free now? I'm hoping to chat with him for a bit."
George, having been called the wrong name, wasn't angry at all. Instead, he chuckled.
"Yes, of course, he is? I don't really know, you should ask him yourself." George was about to answer for Dylan but immediately shut his mouth when he saw the latter's gaze.
"I... I don't know if he's free right now." Fred slowly shook his head.
Dylan was clearly right there, so why did it seem like others couldn't see him?
"Alright." The girl left.
After Fred realized what happened, he immediately turned to Dylan, his tone full of suspicion: "Dylan, you didn't happen to use a Confundo, did you? Otherwise, why were so many people looking for you before, and now suddenly there are so few?"
"That's right, I did use a little magic." Dylan nodded frankly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Mainly because it's been too troublesome these past few days—even when I go to the library to research, people come up to chat with me or invite me to the Ball. Madam Pince has 'escorted' me out of the library three times already."
"You actually got kicked out by Madam Pince?" George couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "I can probably imagine how lively the scene must have been—Madam Pince values the quiet of the library so much, you must have disturbed other students reading."
It should be known that at Hogwarts, Madam Pince and Madam Pomfrey are very similar in some aspects.
They both hold absolute authority in their respective domains. While they might occasionally give students small favors, if anyone violates the rules, such as making loud noises in the library or causing trouble in the hospital wing, they will absolutely act according to the rules without the slightest compromise.
After lunch, as Dylan stepped out of the Great Hall, Harry, who had rushed over, stopped him.
"Dylan, you invited Ginny? How, how did you manage to invite her?" Harry irritably ran his hands through his hair, which was now messy, just like his current mood.
"There are just too many girls. Yesterday, I just wanted to say something to Hermione, and as soon as I took a step forward, several pairs of eyes were staring at me, making me afraid to move—even a Dragon only has so many eyes, and it's not this scary!"
He sighed, his voice full of helplessness: "Honestly, if I had to choose, I think dealing with a Dragon is simpler—at least a Dragon sometimes stares at Malfoy, not putting all its attention on me."
"I'm afraid I can't give you much advice on inviting a dance partner." Dylan cleared his throat, saying with a bit of embarrassment, "Because I spoke to Ginny alone; there was no one else around at the time, and I didn't encounter the situation you described."
"Then what should I do...? I can't really go to the Ball alone, can I?" Harry sighed again, looking utterly dejected.
Just then, a pleasant sound of instruments suddenly drifted over.
This was followed by the familiar voices of Fred and George: "Oh~ It looks like our champion has run into trouble? Why not consider us?"
"Consider what? Inviting you two as my dance partners?" Harry frowned, his tone full of confusion.
"If that is your wish, we are not entirely unwilling to agree." George deliberately tilted his head slightly, puffing out his cheeks to make them appear flushed, mimicking shyness, and said in a drawn-out tone, "I would..."
"I was just kidding!" Harry quickly interrupted George before he could finish, immediately changing the subject. "What exactly did you mean by 'consider us'? What good method do you have? Tell me quickly!"
Hearing Harry press for a method, George and Fred immediately shook the instruments they held—two small, four-stringed ukuleles, their bodies painted a bright orange-yellow, gleaming in the sunlight.
"Dylan, you must have seen this instrument before, right?" George asked with a raised eyebrow, a hint of pride in his voice, as if showcasing a treasure.
Dylan's gaze fell on the instrument, and he quickly recognized it: "Is this a ukulele?"
Fred and George nodded simultaneously, and Fred spoke first: "That's right, it's a ukulele! We specially had it custom-made at a music store in Diagon Alley. Its tone is particularly suitable for creating an ambiguous atmosphere, perfect for helping people invite dance partners."
As he spoke, George strummed the strings, and a light, cheerful melody immediately flowed out, breaking the tense atmosphere from before.
"Think about it, Harry." He explained as he played, "When you find the girl you want to invite, you won't have to be so nervous you can't speak alone anymore—at that time, we'll be right by your side, accompanying you with our ukuleles, using the music to set the mood. We definitely won't steal your thunder, we'll only make you seem more sincere."
Fred immediately took over, lightly plucking a string with his finger, creating a harmonious duet with George's melody: "Exactly! With the added boost of music, even if you can't say something eloquent right away, the atmosphere won't be awkward. And our brothers' playing skills will definitely impress the other person."
Just as Harry was starting to feel tempted, George suddenly stopped playing, raised his left hand, and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, making a 'money' gesture, his tone a bit sly: "But, for such excellent 'wingman service,' we definitely have to charge a fee—not much, just two Galleons. Consider it a friendship price."
"Can this method really work?" A skeptical voice suddenly broke in. Ron emerged from behind a nearby pillar, frowning as he eyed the ukulele in George's hand. "Why does it sound so unreliable? What if you make a mistake while playing, or the other person finds it strange? Wouldn't that be even more awkward?"
Hearing Ron's words, George immediately dropped his playful expression, deliberately put on a serious face, and said with a "heartbroken" tone: "Ronald! How can you say that? Are you not trusting your two brilliant older brothers? We've done countless experiments; this method is absolutely effective!"
"Since Ronald doesn't believe us, we'll show him right now!" Fred said, then suddenly turned to look at the Great Hall entrance, his eyes lighting up as he saw several girls chatting and laughing, preparing to enter the Great Hall, among them Angelina Johnson.
He immediately said to George: "George, I've decided to invite Angelina! Get ready!"
"Understood!" George immediately adjusted his posture, his fingers pressing on the ukulele strings. With a light strum, a melodious and lively tune flowed out, instantly attracting the attention of those around them.
Fred held his ukulele and quickly walked forward, stopping in front of Angelina, blocking her path.
He cleared his throat, and to the rhythm of George's accompaniment, asked sincerely: "Angelina, on the day of the Christmas Ball, would you be willing to attend with me?"
Hearing this, the girls accompanying Angelina couldn't help but laugh, all looking at the two of them.
Angelina herself also laughed, but her smile was full of delight, and she said without the slightest hesitation: "Alright, I'd love to."
"Ah?" Hearing Angelina agree, not only did Harry and Ron exclaim in surprise at the same time, but even the few students who had gathered to watch the fun widened their eyes, looking at Fred in disbelief. No one had expected that this seemingly unreliable 'musical invitation method' had actually succeeded!
"Oh! That's wonderful!" Fred immediately puffed out his chest, his face full of triumph. He raised his hand and strummed the strings of his own ukulele a few times, following George's melody. "Then we'll see you at the Christmas Ball!"
"See you then!" Angelina's cheeks were slightly flushed. She smiled at Fred, then chatted and laughed with her accompanying girlfriends as they walked into the Great Hall, leaving behind a group of still-astonished people.
Fred and George exchanged glances, then in perfect unison, began playing their ukuleles again.
This time the melody was shorter and more cheerful. As they played, they walked a circle around the boys who had gathered to watch, as if showing off their 'results'.
When they reached Ron, George stopped playing, patted his shoulder, and said teasingly: "Dear Ronald, do you see now? How does it feel? Want to hire our 'wingman service' too? We guarantee we'll help you find a dance partner."
Fred immediately took over, adding enthusiastically: "We can customize accompaniment music for you, cheer you on when you invite someone, and even provide all sorts of emotional support to help you ease your nerves!"
"Exactly!" George nodded vigorously, then suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to ask Fred, "Speaking of which, how many times have we succeeded with this method already?"
Fred frowned in thought for a moment and said, "If we only count situations where we personally made the invitation, it should only be this one.
However, others have succeeded using our method."
Ron immediately asked curiously: "What do you mean? Others have used your method?"
George explained: "Yesterday, an out-of-school lad, following our advice, took a ukulele and went to invite Fleur Delacour."
Ron's eyes widened, and he eagerly pressed: "Then he succeeded? Fleur accepted him?"
"No, he failed." Fred shrugged, then his tone shifted, and he smiled again. "But what's interesting is that another Beauxbatons girl, seeing his invitation, proactively approached and invited this lad to be her dance partner. You see, that's also a kind of success, isn't it?"
Ron raised an eyebrow, his face still full of suspicion: "There's even such a thing? You didn't invite your target with your method, but you got invited by someone else?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the boys gathered around to watch the fun erupted in discussion. Some found it incredible, while others began to feel tempted, wondering if they should also try this method.
Seeing this, George lightly strummed the strings a few more times to attract everyone's attention, and said dramatically: "My friends, this is the charm of music! It can break awkwardness and bring good luck!"
Harry, who had been standing silently by the side, finally couldn't hold back. Seeing Fred successfully invite Angelina, and hearing that others had even been proactively invited because of it, he was truly tempted.
He stepped forward and asked: "How exactly do you plan to charge for your 'wingman service'?"
Fred held up one finger and said in a "sincere" tone: "Not much, just a mere three Galleons!"
George, meanwhile, held up three fingers and added: "For just three Galleons, we will steadfastly support you for three invitation opportunities, providing full accompaniment and guidance each time!"
"We can also brainstorm ideas with you and help you analyze which girl is more likely to accept your invitation."
"Three? Didn't you just say two?"
"Hey, you're quite the bargainer! Alright, two Galleons then!" Fred patted Harry's shoulder, his tone a bit urging, "But you'd better seize the opportunity quickly!"
George also nodded in agreement: "That's right! There are only a few days left until the Christmas Ball. If you hesitate any longer, all the good girls will be taken! Then you'll just have to go to the Ball alone."
The "Ukulele Accompaniment Plan" launched by Fred and George stirred up quite a craze among the boys at Hogwarts, almost becoming a "lifeline" for many trying to find a dance partner.
Clearly, before launching this plan, the brothers had carefully studied the psychology of boys at the time. Nowadays, girls in the Castle always moved in groups, and when boys wanted to invite a specific girl alone, they had to endure the scrutinizing gazes of a whole group as soon as they approached. That pressure was enough to make many back down.
But with Fred and George's accompaniment, the situation was completely different. Their ukulele playing could easily defuse the awkward atmosphere of an invitation, making what would have been a tense conversation relaxed. Their presence by the side also implicitly shared the pressure boys felt when facing a group of girls. More importantly, with the music as a prelude, boys' tones when inviting would be much more natural, no longer stammering as before.
Even if an invitation failed, it didn't matter. Fred and George would immediately help analyze the reason, such as whether the timing was wrong or if the way of speaking needed adjustment, and would offer targeted suggestions for improvement, greatly increasing the success rate of the next invitation.
As the Christmas holiday drew nearer, thanks to the matchmaking of the "Ukulele Accompaniment Plan" and many students imitating it after seeing its effectiveness, more and more students in the Castle successfully formed dance partnerships.
However, a new problem quickly emerged: many people, though they had found dance partners, discovered that neither of them knew how to dance. After all, most students usually focused on studying magic and had little exposure to formal ballroom dancing, which became a rather tricky challenge.
Just as everyone was inquiring about ways to learn dancing, a notice, like a "timely rain," simultaneously appeared on the bulletin boards of all four house common rooms, stating...
Chapter 366 Okay, Ms. Ginny!
"Dance Instruction Notice"
"After classes this afternoon, all students who need dance instruction for the Christmas Ball can go to the empty classroom to the right of the Transfiguration Magic classroom to receive professional dance instruction. No prior registration is required, just show up."
During this time, Dylan had been focused on researching "Consensus magic."
Hermione was also very interested in this special magic and often sought him out to discuss related issues, even sharing similar theories she had read in various peculiar books.
According to Dylan's initial idea, he planned to use the principles of "Consensus magic" to improve the "Dancing Feet Spell" — the original Dancing Feet Spell was too fast and had fixed movements, which was not suitable for the atmosphere of the Christmas Ball.
He wanted the rhythm of the Dancing Feet Spell to slow down, allowing the movements to adjust according to the melody of the ball's music, so that those under the spell would dance steps appropriate for the scene.
Moreover, he planned to change the structure of the spell itself as little as possible, so that more people could use it directly without having to relearn the spell.
However, during his research, he discovered that the Dancing Feet Spell was an extremely basic spell, mastered by almost every Wizard during their studies. Everyone's "consensus" on this spell was already highly unified — when the Dancing Feet Spell was mentioned, everyone thought of fixed, fast-paced movements, making it impossible to adjust through "Consensus magic." This idea had to be temporarily shelved.
Later, Dylan thought of a new direction, combining Ritual magic with "Consensus magic" to make the Dancing Feet Spell produce exceptionally beautiful dance steps.
Now, the dance instruction notice on the bulletin board provided Dylan with a more direct alternative: no need to painstakingly improve magic, just learn proper dance steps.
So, as soon as afternoon classes ended, he called Ginny and headed towards the empty classroom mentioned in the announcement.
As they entered the empty classroom, both were a little surprised. Under the effect of magic, the originally small classroom had become unusually spacious, its size even comparable to the Great Hall. The layout of the classroom had also been meticulously arranged, somewhat similar to the Pentagonal Council Chamber of the Magical Congress of France. Rows of tiered seating were placed around the perimeter, leaving a sufficiently large open space in the middle as a dance practice area.
What surprised Dylan even more was that Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout were standing at the front of the classroom, responsible for dance instruction. No one had expected that the usually strict Transfiguration Class Professor and the gentle Herbology Class Professor would personally teach students to dance.
Next to Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout, there was an unusually large gramophone. Its body was nearly twice the size of a regular gramophone, with a shiny black wooden casing. A black record was already securely placed under the stylus, clearly prepared for the upcoming dance instruction.
As Dylan and Ginny walked into the empty classroom, Professor Sprout immediately noticed them, a bright smile appearing on her face. With a playful tone, she asked, "Dylan, Ginny, I really didn't expect you two to come learn to dance together. I thought you both danced very well."
"I don't think so," Professor McGonagall also chuckled, a gentle curve forming on her lips. "Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have come to dance instruction voluntarily today."
"Oh!" Professor Sprout immediately reacted dramatically, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. "Then it seems I spoke out of turn, I shouldn't have brought that up!"
Dylan smiled slightly, hearing the two Professors' teasing.
But he led Ginny up the steps and found a place to sit.
Dylan and Ginny were among the first students to arrive, but soon after, other students arrived in succession, some alone, some with dance partners. They chatted and laughed as they found seats.
Fortunately, the classroom had prepared enough seating, so even as more and more people arrived, it didn't feel crowded; instead, it was filled with a lively atmosphere.
About fifteen minutes later, most of the students in the classroom had arrived.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and gently clapped her hands. The previously noisy classroom quickly quieted down, and everyone's gaze focused on her.
"Given that the Christmas Ball is approaching, and I've found that many students are clearly clueless about formal ballroom dancing."
Professor McGonagall's voice clearly echoed throughout the classroom, her tone serious yet gentle. "I believe it's necessary to provide some basic dance instruction to avoid embarrassment at the Ball due to not knowing the dance steps."
She looked around and continued, "To make the instruction more comprehensive, I have specifically invited Professor Sprout to help — next, we will first demonstrate basic dance steps for everyone, and then provide group instruction, striving to ensure that everyone can master the most basic ballroom dance movements."
As soon as she finished speaking, Professor Sprout stepped forward and added with a smile, "Don't be nervous, everyone. We will start by teaching the simplest steps and just practice slowly. Now, let's first listen to the music and find the rhythm of the dance." Saying this, she reached out and gently flicked the switch on the gramophone.
No sooner had Professor McGonagall finished her opening remarks than several more pairs of students successively entered the classroom.
The previously spacious corner immediately seemed a bit crowded. Students who arrived later had to squeeze into the corner to find empty seats. Dylan clearly felt the space around him shrinking.
Fortunately, he had the foresight to let Ginny sit in the innermost corner, while he sat on the outside.
This way, no matter how crowded it got on the outside, with him blocking in the middle, Ginny wouldn't be touched and could still sit steadily.
Watching the students in the classroom, eyes wide and backs straight, looking even more focused than during regular classes, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but shake her head, both amused and exasperated. Usually in Transfiguration Class, a few students would secretly zone out, but she hadn't expected them to be so exceptionally serious about learning to dance.
She drew her wand and gently waved it towards the gramophone.
A pale blue magic light fell upon the gramophone, which trembled slightly, then emitted a soothing and melodious music. The rhythm was clear, very suitable for beginners to get a feel for it.
"Please don't be so nervous, everyone." Professor McGonagall's tone was even gentler than during her opening remarks as her gaze swept over the tense students below. "The most basic part of dance is feeling the rhythm; being overly nervous will interfere with this feeling and make your body stiff."
She paused, gesturing for everyone to look at her feet: "Look down, everyone, and watch my steps first — these are the most basic waltz steps. Just follow the beat of the music. We'll start by counting the beats: one, two, three, four..."
Saying this, Professor McGonagall gently lifted the hem of her robes to prevent her skirt from interfering with her steps.
She slowly began to move her feet to the rhythm of the music, her movements fluid and graceful: "There's no need to be afraid of making mistakes; beginners will always have moments when they can't keep up with the rhythm. The key is to find the music's cadence, let the music guide your movements, rather than forcefully controlling your body. Pay attention to the beat! One, two, three, four..."
As she moved, her steps perfectly aligned with the music's melody; every turn, every step landed precisely on the beat.
Seeing this, the students below spontaneously burst into applause, full of admiration. No one had expected that the usually strict Professor McGonagall would dance so gracefully!
Dylan sat in the corner, watching very attentively.
He could clearly feel that Professor McGonagall's rigorous attitude towards magic was fully integrated into her dance instruction. Her explanations were clear and organized, omitting no details, and her demonstrations were precise and standard, without any casualness. She maintained the rigor of teaching while not appearing rigid, every dance step exuding elegance and accuracy.
Ginny was equally focused, but the corner position revealed a drawback; her view was partially blocked by the students in the front row. To clearly see Professor McGonagall's feet, she had to slightly turn her body and lean forward.
During this process, she felt waves of warmth emanating from Dylan's body, as comfortable as sitting by a fireplace.
So she subconsciously moved closer to Dylan, almost leaning against him. This way, she could see the demonstration more clearly and also feel that warmth.
The music continued, and Professor McGonagall stopped dancing, gently calling out, "Professor Sprout, please come over for a moment."
Only after Professor Sprout walked over from the other side of the classroom and stood beside her did Professor McGonagall continue, "Next, the two of us will demonstrate a complete couples' dance for everyone. Please pay attention to the coordination of our movements and the seamless connection of our steps..."
"Now we will practice the essentials of the gentleman's dance steps."
Professor McGonagall said, gesturing for Professor Sprout to cooperate, "When the gentleman and lady stand face to face, they need to be offset by about one-third of a position, to avoid physical contact and maintain an elegant distance, just like this."
As she explained, Professor Sprout tacitly adjusted her stance, precisely moving into the corresponding position. Their postures immediately appeared harmonious.
"Please note, everyone, posture in dance is extremely important!" Professor McGonagall slowly raised her right hand, her head slightly tilted up, her back perfectly straight. "Your body must be straight enough; you cannot slouch."
Her gaze swept over the boys below, her tone serious: "Young men should display confidence, heads up and chests out, while young ladies should maintain graceful postures, shoulders relaxed, and elegant demeanor."
Sitting in the corner, Dylan clearly felt Ginny lean closer to him. Her hair fell down, gently resting on the back of his hand, bringing a soft touch.
Their shoulders and arms were almost touching. Dylan could smell Ginny's faint scent of grass and wood with every normal breath, a fragrance she picked up while tending to herbs, fresh and pleasant.
Ginny watched with exceptional focus, occasionally shaking her head gently, causing her long hair to tremble slightly and tickle the back of Dylan's hand.
At this moment, the rhythm of the music from the gramophone became a bit livelier.
Professor McGonagall took the first step, her movements elegant and precise, each step exuding a fluidity similar to her spellcasting, and a hint of undeniable decisiveness, as if the dance steps had long been etched into her bones.
Professor Sprout, on the other hand, smiled, her expression much more cheerful than Professor McGonagall's. Her dance steps were light and agile, like the vibrant magical plants in the Greenhouse, every turn exuding vitality.
"Dance is not just an accumulation of techniques."
Professor McGonagall continued to explain as she demonstrated, her voice rising and falling slightly with the rhythm of the dance, "More importantly, it's about maintaining harmony with the music, letting your movements follow the rhythm."
"And you have to find joy in it."
Professor Sprout chimed in with a smile, her dance steps not pausing in the slightest, "Only by truly enjoying the dance can you pour emotion into it and make your movements more expressive."
"Professor Sprout is right!" Professor McGonagall added, as they completed an elegant turn together. "Everyone must learn to enjoy the music and feel the unspoken understanding with their dance partner — this understanding is very similar to the coordination needed when practicing magic with a partner; it requires mutual trust."
"That's right, just relax," Professor Sprout chuckled, her voice full of warmth. "It's like watering a plant; there's no need to rush for results. As long as you treat it with care, one day you'll see it bloom beautifully. Dancing is the same; take your time, and you'll always get better."
As the music ended, Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout gently released each other's hands and elegantly bowed to the students below.
As Professor McGonagall straightened up, she didn't forget to add, "Everyone must remember this part — at the end of the Ball, bowing to your dance partner is basic etiquette, and it reflects the upbringing of Hogwarts students."
"Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout dance so well!" Ginny turned to Dylan, her voice full of admiration.
But after saying this, she suddenly realized she was too close and instinctively held her breath, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Dylan had the same feeling. He could clearly see the fine lines on Ginny's lips and even the almost transparent, tiny fuzz around her mouth.
It seemed that if he simply breathed, those tiny hairs would tremble. So he, too, instinctively held his breath.
As Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout finished their bows, the students below immediately erupted into enthusiastic cheers, applause instantly filling the entire classroom, so loud it almost lifted the roof.
This thunderous applause finally brought Dylan and Ginny back to their senses.
Dylan subconsciously straightened his body, head held high, chest out, back perfectly straight, as if ready to dance at any moment, to cover his recent embarrassment.
"They dance so well." Ginny also quickly sat up straight, but the warmth from Dylan's body still lingered on her shoulders and arms. It was a warmth more comforting and reassuring than a fireplace, making her heart still beat a little rapidly.
"Mm," Dylan nodded.
Ginny turned to Dylan again, their gazes meeting in the air.
A beautiful curve unconsciously formed on her lips, and she softly asked, "Dylan, did you learn the dance steps just now?"
"Hmm..." Dylan met Ginny's bright eyes, his gaze a little evasive. After a light cough, he admitted, "Actually... I haven't completely learned it yet. I was so busy watching their coordination that I didn't quite remember the specific steps."
Although it felt like only a few minutes had passed, the music from the gramophone had already ended, and Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout's dance demonstration had stopped.
"It seems I can be your teacher this time?" Ginny blinked her bright eyes, a hint of playfulness in her tone. "I think I learned all of the Professors' demonstrations."
"Alright, Teacher Ginny." Dylan let out a soft breath, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips. "This time learning to dance, I'll have to rely solely on you!"
"Mm! Since you said so, then consider it handled!" Ginny nodded, pleased, her eyes full of seriousness, as if she had taken on an important mission.
Chapter 367 More Difficult Special Magic
Due to the large number of students attending the dance instruction, the practice area in the middle of the classroom was simply not big enough for everyone to try at the same time.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout could only call out names, selecting a few pairs of students sitting in the front row, closer to them, to come to the stage. They would try a few basic dance steps, and then the Professors would specifically correct their movements, such as the angle of their feet, their body posture, and the rhythm of their coordination with their partners.
Those students who were called out were initially very nervous, frequently stepping on each other's feet and failing to keep up with the rhythm.
But under the patient guidance of the two Professors, they gradually relaxed, and their movements became smoother and smoother. By the end, most of them could complete a simple dance sequence.
As the sky outside the window gradually darkened, another piece of music on the gramophone came to an end.
Professor McGonagall stopped, nodded slightly to the students below the stage, and said with clear approval in her tone: "That concludes today's dance instruction! Everyone has made significant progress and performed very well."
Professor Sprout also nodded, her eyes sparkling with encouragement: "I hope to see even more splendid performances from everyone at the Christmas Ball — don't forget to showcase the dance steps you learned today."
In a few days, Hogwarts' Christmas holiday would officially begin.
Unlike Halloween, which often brought accidents, in the students' memory, the Christmas holiday seemed to have never caused any trouble. Both the Christmas Ball on Christmas night and the two-week long vacation afterward were full of exciting elements.
Most students had already filled out their forms to stay at Hogwarts, choosing to spend the Christmasholiday in the Castle.
Ever since they decided to stay, everyone's minds had gradually drifted, and they often found themselves distracted during class.
Just like the fourth-year Gryffindor students, their minds were entirely on the upcoming Christmas Balland their plans for fun during the holiday, so much so that they didn't pay much attention to what Professor Snape was saying during Potion Class.
Professor Snape was like a fisherman who had already set his trap and was waiting to cast his net.
When the bell rang for the end of class, Harry and Ron were busy tidying up the Potion materials on their desks, preparing to leave the classroom, when he suddenly spoke, announcing something in a tone students rarely heard, with a hint of lightness: "Don't forget the antidote making we mentioned earlier — during the holiday, I will randomly select a 'lucky one' and give them a unique Christmas gift, guaranteed to give this lucky one an unforgettable Christmas holiday."
Upon hearing Snape's words, especially the phrase "Christmas gift," many Gryffindor students' hearts sank, and a thought popped into their minds: Can we still re-fill out the form to stay at Hogwarts? They didn't want to receive Snape's so-called "gift" at all.
In stark contrast to the oppressive Potion Class was Professor Sprout's Herbology Class.
That day, Professor Sprout didn't teach anything from the textbook but instead led the students in making Christmas sachets.
The main ingredient for the sachets was sweet marjoram, complemented by some dried lavender, rosemary, and other auxiliary dried flowers. When mixed, they emitted a faint, fresh scent.
Many students quickly mastered the method of making sachets. As they worked, they planned that once the Christmas holiday began, they would definitely buy different kinds of dried flowers and spices from the shops in Hogsmeade to enrich the fragrance of their sachets, which they could then give as Christmas gifts to their friends.
Professor Moody, who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, with his special magical eye, always possessed a vision incomparable to ordinary people. No matter which Corner of the classroom a student sat in, even if they just secretly touched a snack in their pocket or their gaze drifted out the window, it couldn't escape his magical eye.
And those students he caught slacking off would become Moody's 重點 "priority" during the practical training session of the class, often receiving stricter training than others.
Just like Michael Corner from Ravenclaw, who, a few days ago, had finally managed to invite a Beauxbatons girl to be his dance partner before the Christmas holiday.
During class, he was secretly showing off this matter to his classmate next to him, his face full of smugness, completely unaware that Moody's gaze from the podium had already locked onto him.
"Michael Corner!" Moody's voice suddenly rang out, with an undeniable authority, "Since you're so idle, come up here and practice combat techniques with me!"
Michael froze instantly, the smile on his face falling, and he reluctantly walked forward.
For the next fifteen minutes, Michael completely understood what "joy turns to sorrow" meant — Moody made him practice dodging Charmss, while he himself cast the Multi-Blast Charms.
Countless magical "bullets" glowing with cold light flew from Moody's wand tip, chasing Michael around the training ground, scaring him so much that he almost mispronounced his Charms. Moodyonly stopped the Charms when Michael was out of breath and drenched in sweat.
Of course, not just the Ravenclaw students, but everyone from all Houses had their minds wandering.
And it wasn't just Moody; Professor McGonagall also kept the students busy.
Perhaps worried that students staying at Hogwarts would play too wildly during the holiday and neglect their studies, she assigned a large amount of holiday homework before the Christmas holiday. This included not only theoretical essays for Transfiguration Class but also completing practice records for more than a dozen basic Transfiguration Charmss, with each Charms needing to be successfully cast at least twenty times and a reflection written.
As soon as the news was announced, many students couldn't help but complain, and their initial excitement for the holiday was instantly diluted.
However, the Professors of elective courses were relatively much more lenient. Professor Septima Vector, who was in charge of Arithmancy Class, was a typical example.
She saw that the students had diligently attended classes and completed their homework excellently this semester. Not only did she not assign any holiday homework, but she also specifically taught everyone a special Divination method. This method could calculate the people, events, or objects that the subject of the Divination needed to avoid in the near future, making it very practical.
Later, Ginny shared a fun story about Care of Magical Creatures Class with Dylan.
Hagrid, in order to let the students get up close with magical creatures, specifically herded a flock of Fwoopers to an open space at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, then called the students over to help care for these birds.
He also personally demonstrated a gentle feather-plucking technique. By first building a good relationship with the Fwoopers through feeding and soft comforting, this technique allowed them to pluck beautiful feathers without making the Fwoopers uncomfortable.
Fwooper feathers were exceptionally vibrant, with four colors: bright yellow, warm orange-yellow, soft pink, and fresh lime green, each feather looking as if it had been meticulously dyed.
Ginny said that quills made from Fwooper feathers wrote smoothly and beautifully, and were usually the first choice when people selected Christmas gifts. Many students planned to collect more to make gifts for their friends.
Professor Flitwick, who was in charge of Charms Class, soon noticed that the students were a bit distracted. Many had their eyes drifting out the window, and their fingers were secretly caressing the quills in their pockets, clearly still thinking about their Christmas holiday plans.
Seeing this, Flitwick simply stopped his original lesson content and, smiling, announced that he would lead everyone in a small game, instantly piquing everyone's interest.
He had the students tear blank pages from their textbooks and fold them into paper airplanes.
Once everyone had folded their own paper airplanes, Flitwick waved his wand and cast a gentle Charms.
Immediately, the paper airplanes in the classroom took to the air, circling and dancing in mid-air like a flock of light birds.
Then, Flitwick announced the game rules: "Everyone will remain in their seats and can only use the Summoning Charm to retrieve their paper airplanes; you cannot get up to catch them. The game will continue until the end-of-class bell rings, and the ten students who retrieve the most paper airplanes will receive imported candies I've prepared as a reward."
As soon as the instruction was given, the classroom immediately became lively.
Students eagerly raised their wands, chanting "Accio! Accio!", trying to control the direction of the Charms to summon more paper airplanes to themselves.
Some paper airplanes flew too high, and the Summoning Charm had no effect for a long time; others collided in mid-air and fell to the ground, eliciting bursts of laughter from everyone.
While the students were having a great time, Flitwick waved to Dylan, signaling him to come to the podium.
Dylan walked to the front of the podium and saw Flitwick sitting on a stack of thick Charms Classtextbooks, piled higher than Dylan himself, just enough for Flitwick's upper body to be visible.
"Dylan, it seems you have completely mastered this magic?" Flitwick's voice was smiling, his eyes full of approval.
"I should say I can use it quite proficiently now," Dylan assessed himself seriously. "Whether it's controlling the weather, such as switching from creating a drizzle to summoning a breeze, or adjusting the magical effect based on environmental conditions, I can handle it skillfully, with basically no errors."
"That's excellent!" Flitwick nodded in satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face. "Always maintaining a ninety-nine percent state means there's always room for improvement. This attitude is very valuable."
He paused, then changed the subject, saying mysteriously: "Since you can already skillfully use this magic, the time is ripe for learning new magic — I know a more difficult, special magic that I think you'll be very interested in."
"More difficult magic?" Dylan immediately became interested and asked curiously, "Professor Flitwick, what exactly is this magic like? What is its purpose?"
"To learn it, there's a prerequisite," Flitwick's gaze fell on Dylan's pocket, his tone hinting, "You also need to have a certain foundation in the Undetectable Extension Charm, otherwise it will be difficult to grasp its core principles."
Dylan understood. Many Wizards could always pull out notebooks, pens, and even occasionally small experimental tools from their pockets, all thanks to the Undetectable Extension Charm.
Flitwick then asked: "So, what do you think, if we had to categorize the Undetectable Extension Charm, which type of magic would it belong to?"
"I believe it should be considered a type of Transfiguration Magic," Dylan replied after a moment of thought. "To make an item's internal space transition in size while its external appearance remains unchanged requires strong willpower and the use of magical power to alter the item's internal structure. This is very similar to the core principle of Transfiguration Magic."
"Exactly, your judgment is very accurate," Flitwick agreed, nodding. "The Undetectable Extension Charm indeed falls within the scope of Transfiguration Magic. Minerva is very skilled in this area; her control over Transfiguration Magic is among the best at Hogwarts."
Dylan also understood this point.
The empty classroom previously used for dance instruction, which was originally not large, could become incredibly spacious in a short time, even comparable to the Great Hall, thanks to the Undetectable Extension Charm cast by Professor McGonagall. He had specifically observed it at the time; when the magic took effect, a faint glow would appear along the edges of the walls, which was the unique energy fluctuation of Transfiguration Magic.
"And this new magic I'm going to tell you about, unlike the Undetectable Extension Charm, should be considered a Charms," Flitwick continued to explain. "When using it, you don't need to mobilize a lot of willpower like with Transfiguration Magic. Instead, it requires the user to invest full emotions; the more sincere the emotion, the more stable the magical effect. Additionally, because the source of this magic is quite special, using it to decorate a pocket will be safer than using the Undetectable Extension Charm, without the risk of violating regulations."
Upon hearing the word "safe," Dylan immediately thought of the regulation issues surrounding the Undetectable Extension Charm.
In fact, the Undetectable Extension Charm was one of the Charmss strictly controlled by the Ministry of Magic. Only vendors who sold tents, suitcases, and other items requiring expanded internal space could use the Undetectable Extension Charm on their goods after obtaining a special permit issued by the Ministry of Magic.
And his private use of the Undetectable Extension Charm on his pocket, if the Ministry of Magic were to strictly pursue it, indeed carried the risk of violating magical regulations, though few people usually noticed such a small detail.
"A special source?" Dylan couldn't help but repeat the phrase, his curiosity growing. It was the first time he had heard the idea that "the source of magic affects safety."
"Yes, its origin is related to a very famous book," Flitwick nodded, hinting, "You must have noticed a frequently appearing phrase in the book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' — 'taking something out of the case,' right?"
Dylan nodded when he heard this.
Not only had he seen it in the book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," but in his previous life, he had also personally seen Newt Scamander's magical suitcase in the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" film series.
The internal space of that suitcase was enormous; Newt could not only raise various large and dangerous magical creatures inside but also set up a temporary laboratory for magical experiments. At the time, he felt that the magical principle of that suitcase was very wondrous.
And now, his own suitcase was almost a world in itself.
Chapter 368 I hope you can go further, until you surpass me.
"Of course I've heard of it," Dylan replied, nodding, with clear interest in his tone. "Mr. Scamander's suitcase is indeed very interesting. It must have incorporated a lot of magic similar to the Undetectable Extension Charm to have such a vast internal space."
He paused, recalling the details of the case carefully, and added, "Moreover, it can not only store a large number of magical creatures, but also create exclusive habitats suitable for each animal's habits—this indicates that it also uses magical techniques similar to weather manipulation to adjust the internal environment and climate to meet the needs of different animals."
"Oh? It seems you have a very thorough understanding of this case!" Professor Flitwick's eyes flashed with obvious surprise, then he said with a smile, "But that's even better; it saves me time explaining the background, and we can get straight to the point."
He adjusted his sitting posture to make himself more comfortable on the thick stack of textbooks. "The magic I'm going to teach you is inspired by Mr. Scamander's suitcase, so it will involve both the weather Charms you've already mastered and the basic principles of the Undetectable Extension Charm."
Professor Flitwick's gaze fell on Dylan, and he said with certainty, "I can see that your application of these two types of magic has reached a considerable level of proficiency, so next, I can go into more depth without staying at the basic level."
He blinked, tapping his knee lightly with his fingers, thought for a few seconds, and said, "Well, let's start with music—this is key to understanding this magic."
Speaking of music, one cannot help but mention an old story from Hogwarts.
According to school rules, first-year students can bring pets into the Castle, with choices including owls, toads, or cats.
For current first-year students, owls are undoubtedly the first choice—they can deliver letters and look very majestic. A considerable number of students also choose cats as pets; they are agile and cute.
Students like Neville, who still insist on keeping toads as pets, are now few and far between.
But in earlier times, the situation was completely different—toads were then the students' most favored pets, with almost everyone having one.
And during that period, Professor Flitwick, in addition to his role as Charms Professor at Hogwarts, had a special title—conductor of the Toad Choir.
He would train students' toads to make rhythmic calls together, forming a unique "chorus" to perform at some school celebrations.
However, as time went on, fewer and fewer students chose toads as pets, the members of the Toad Choir dwindled, and eventually, it had to quietly disband.
Although the Toad Choir had long become history, Professor Flitwick's love for music did not diminish in the slightest.
Music still occupied an important place in his life, and even subtly influenced his understanding and creation of magic.
Next, Professor Flitwick began to elaborate on the principles of this new magic, while Dylan listened attentively, quickly processing and understanding its core logic by combining it with his long-standing research on soul magic.
This magic, named "Place of Joy" by Professor Flitwick, is essentially closely related to the fusion of soul, music, and magic.
In Dylan's view, truly understanding "Place of Joy" is not difficult—provided one has some research into soul magic.
The core of this magic is to build a communication bridge between the soul and magic through specific music, using the melody and rhythm of the music to stir emotions deep within the caster's "soul." The stirred emotions will further trigger related memories, and these memories, empowered by magic, will automatically create a corresponding space based on the characteristics of the music.
This space can not only expand capacity but also replicate environmental details from memories, just like Scamander's suitcase, achieving multi-functional scene construction.
"So, this magic also has traces of Ritual Magic," Dylan murmured after listening to Professor Flitwick's explanation. Ritual Magic often requires specific mediums and the mobilization of emotions, intentions, and other elements, which has a similar effect to the principle of this magic.
"Oh, oh, oh, haha, you are very perceptive," Professor Flitwick admitted without hesitation, then changed the subject and asked, "Recently, a very interesting research article on vocal music and magicappeared at school."
Dylan paused, then quickly reacted and tentatively asked, "You're talking about that paper from Beauxbatons, the research on the fusion of Ritual Magic and elemental magic, right?"
"Exactly, that's the one," Professor Flitwick said with a smile and a confident tone. "Given your dedication to magic research, you certainly wouldn't miss such valuable content."
Dylan suddenly thought of something and looked at Professor Flitwick, saying, "Professor Flitwick, if we consider that Beauxbatons paper, taking the Fire-Making Charm as an example, it can even extend to the most primitive ritual of drilling wood to make fire—do you think that all magic or actions related to 'fire' are essentially achieving the core effect of 'producing flames'?"
He paused, then thought of a basic magic that all first-year students learn, and added, "Only by looking at the Fire-Making Charm from this perspective can we understand why it is classified as basic magic. In terms of principle, it requires mobilizing magical energy to convert into heat, and then generating flames, so the process shouldn't be that simple."
"Exactly! Exactly! That's so right! Your understanding is very accurate!" Professor Flitwick nodded with satisfaction, his eyes full of approval. "Many times, as long as the desired magical effect can be achieved, the process is actually not that important—the core of magic is 'achieving the goal,' rather than being confined to a fixed form."
Dylan understood this very well.
This was also why he always liked to draw inferences from one instance to another.
When one has encountered enough types of magic and mastered enough skills, the solutions one can think of when encountering problems will naturally become diverse.
This concept was actually already reflected in magic textbooks, the most typical being the equally basic General Counter-Spell, and if extended to a more advanced direction, there was also the Scarpin's Revelaspell that he often used when studying Potion.
As more magic is mastered and more experience is accumulated, the role these basic spells can play will become increasingly widespread.
For example, in previous combat training, when facing aggressive magic attacks, he would wave his wand to deflect or directly nullify those magical energies, which was actually an extended use of the General Counter-Spell, simply adjusting the output strength and direction of the spell according to different magical attacks.
Dylan quickly realized that now was not the time to discuss other magic, and hurriedly brought the topic back to the main point: "In fact, for a long time, sound has had the effect of influencing emotions."
He gave examples, "For instance, when hearing unknown, eerie sounds, people instinctively feel fear; when hearing a gentle breeze and rolling waves, they feel happy. A more typical example is the Merperson—their voices carry all sorts of magical power, and some can even make people rally from despair."
"What you said is very true; the source of these influences was initially purely sound," Professor Flitwick added. "However, music's influence on emotions is more direct, more directional, and easier to guide people into specific emotional states than scattered sounds—this is also the core reason why 'Place of Joy' chooses music as its medium."
Dylan nodded slightly in earnest: "Moreover, for a person to create infectious music, it inherently requires the cooperation of emotion and memory—only by truly experiencing and feeling can music carry the corresponding emotions."
He stopped writing, looked up at Professor Flitwick, and continued to analyze, "In this way, music can also more precisely touch the caster's memories, thereby constructing a space that fits the needs. This also includes an understanding of the 'material and energy transformation' in Alchemy, and this understanding is flexibly applied to magical construction."
"In addition to this, music also possesses a special quality," Dylan thought of the things he had studied. "Most people, after listening to the same piece of music, will have a relatively similar understanding of the emotions conveyed and the atmosphere created by the piece—this collective consensus should also play a promoting role when casting 'Place of Joy'."
Using this universal common understanding to stabilize the constructed space, the effect would probably be similar to how the creatures in the Black Lake space maintain their form stability by relying on their own light and shadows.
After saying this, Dylan organized his thoughts and continued, "A space created by drawing out emotions and memories from the depths of the soul through music, and then with the help of magical power... If my speculation is correct, the space created by 'Place of Joy' should be much more stable than a space constructed by simply relying on personal will to cast the Undetectable Extension Charm—after all, it has common understanding and emotional memories as dual support."
"Oh?" Professor Flitwick raised an eyebrow in surprise, a flicker of unexpectedness in his eyes. "Dylan, I hadn't even realized this point you mentioned before. Moreover, I hadn't had a chance to tell you about the advantages of 'Place of Joy' over the Undetectable Extension Charm, and you've already deduced it yourself, which is truly a pleasant surprise."
Dylan smiled slightly.
Before leaving, Dylan and Professor Flitwick discussed "Place of Joy" for a moment longer, such as how to choose suitable music and how to control the intensity of emotions.
The bell rang, and Professor Flitwick jumped down from the thick stack of textbooks, stretched, and said with a hint of emotion, "I never thought that time would pass so quickly when talking about magic. You are still so smart and always bring me new insights."
"Dylan, although you are not a student of Ravenclaw, I think that whether it's me, Minerva, or even Snape, we all already consider you our student. This is regardless of house. I hope you can go further, until you surpass me, surpass Snape, and even surpass the Principal."
Dylan paused, nodded, and said, "I also hope I can have that day. Thank you, Professor Flitwick."
He looked at Dylan, "But don't be too eager to research new magic. Take the opportunity of the Christmas Ball to fully experience the music at the ball. Perhaps it can help you find inspiration for casting 'Place of Joy'."
On the morning of the day before Christmas, a heavy snow fell without warning.
Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, fine and soft. Before long, every window of the Castle was covered with a thin layer of mist, becoming hazy.
To see the scene outside the window, one had to wipe away the moisture on the glass with a hand, and as fingertips traced the cold glass, the moment the mist dispersed, a vast white expanse came into view. The entire world was covered in heavy snow, pure without a trace of impurity.
This heavy snow was like a huge white velvet blanket, gently spread over the roofs, towers, and the grounds and forests outside Hogwarts Castle. Even the normally distinct architectural outlines softened.
But in Ginny's eyes, the scene outside the Castle had a different interpretation. She had come to discuss some details and preparations for the ball with Dylan.
And seeing the heavy snow outside the window, she couldn't help but excitedly pull Dylan, pointing to Hagrid's Hut in the distance and saying, "Look, Hagrid's Hut is like a gingerbread house with a thick layer of icing sugar, and 'powdered sugar' clinging to its edges!"
Following her finger, Hagrid's Hut's roof and walls were covered in snow, indeed looking very much like a carefully crafted gingerbread house.
Ginny then pointed to the Beauxbatons carriage not far away, her eyes sparkling: "And that blue carriage looks like a cake covered in blue fondant, with the snow on top like a layer of white sprinkles!"
Before she finished, she turned to look at the Black Lake shore, "Look at that magical ship, the snow on its gunwales is frozen and glistening, like it's drenched in transparent syrup, and the thick snow on the rigging is like spun sugar coated in powdered sugar!"
So much sugar, isn't it too sweet?
Listening to Ginny's imaginative descriptions, Dylan couldn't help but laugh and said, "If Hogwartsreally turned into a candy world, Headmaster Dumbledore would certainly be very happy—he loves sweets so much, he might not be able to resist wanting to 'taste' the Castle."
To better showcase the appearance of Hogwarts during the Christmas Ball and leave a deep impression on visiting guests, the entire Castle had undergone careful redecoration in the past few days.
Even those students who were about to graduate, having lived in the Castle for seven years, couldn't help but exclaim at the decorations, saying they had never seen Hogwarts look so magnificent before!
Upon exiting the common room, as one walked along the corridor and passed the armored suits standing on either side, those suits of armor would immediately stir. They would slowly raise their arms, adjust their posture, and sing classic Christmas carols in deep, solemn voices.