Chapter 381 begins with practice!
Harry reacted first, saying excitedly, "You mean, the Patronus Charm will become the 'lifeline' we subconsciously grab onto when our bodies comply with the 'survival instinct'?"
"Exactly!" Dylan nodded heavily, confirming his guess. "In dangerous underwater environments, the 'survival instinct' will make us subconsciously hold fast to the power that protects us
and the Patronus Charm is exactly that power. It will not only help us maintain the spell's effect, but before we are completely out of danger, it will 'clutch' this protection tightly, like grabbing a lifeline, and absolutely refuse to let go easily. Even if we are distracted during a fight, as long as the will to survive remains, the spell's protection will not vanish."
He paused and added, "The reason I thought of using the Patronus Charm this way is actually thanks to the 'Theory of Harmonious Herbs.' This theory taught me to think and explore the essence of magicfrom a more diverse perspective, rather than being limited to traditional casting methods. It was because of these additional perspectives that I realized I could use the 'survival instinct' to aid the casting, which both ensures the spell's effectiveness and frees up more energy to deal with other dangers underwater. It's truly killing two birds with one stone."
After hearing the explanation, Harry immediately gripped his wand tightly, his eyes full of eagerness: "Since the theory is so reliable, why don't we go try it out in the Black Lake right now? Practicing in a real underwater environment beforehand will allow us to adapt faster, and we'll be more composed during the competition."
"Practice the Patronus Charm in the Black Lake?" Draco immediately frowned and voiced his objection without hesitation, his tone carrying a hint of wariness. "Have you considered the risk of exposure? Although the champions from the other magic schools might not understand what we are doing, don't forget that the Principals are still staying at Hogwarts. They are all experienced Wizards. If they noticed that we are adapting to the underwater environment in advance, or even figured out the secret of the golden egg, wouldn't that cause us trouble?"
"It shouldn't be that serious, right?" Harry blinked, subconsciously thinking of Durmstrang's PrincipalKarkaroff, his tone carrying a bit of hope. "Look at Karkaroff. He's been recovering in the hospital wing recently because he was injured by magic fireworks, only appearing yesterday or the day before. Although he seems mostly fine, his chin is now completely bald, and he no longer has to bother grooming that goatee. He's probably still worried about his appearance and doesn't have time to pay attention to us."
Draco clearly guessed Harry's thoughts and couldn't help but let out a sneer: "Igor Karkaroff is an exception. Not all Principals can be as careless as him, can they? Madam Maxime of Beauxbatons, and Headmaster Dumbledore of our school
which one of them isn't meticulous?"
"Have you forgotten what Professor Moody repeatedly emphasized? 'Constant vigilance! Don't give your opponents any opportunity.' Furthermore, this is the Triwizard Tournament. Every detail could affect the final outcome. We must firmly maintain our advantage and cannot take unnecessary risks just because we are impatient."
"Draco makes sense; the risk of exposure definitely needs to be considered." Seeing this, Cedric quickly mediated, wanting neither the two to argue over disagreements nor the practice to be delayed. "But practicing beforehand is also very necessary. After all, casting the Patronus Charm underwater is a brand new attempt. Only by practicing more can we master it proficiently, which will allow us to maintain our advantage in the competition."
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of a compromise, his eyes lighting up: "How about we go practice in the Prefects' Bathroom? The Prefects' Bathroom has a very large tub, the water is deep enough, and the temperature can be adjusted. It should be perfectly adequate for simulating the Black Lake environment and practicing the Patronus Charm. Plus, only Prefects can enter there, so it's very private. We don't have to worry about being seen by others. It's safe and convenient."
"I've been to the Prefects' Bathroom a few times." Draco raised an eyebrow upon hearing Cedric's suggestion, his tone carrying a somewhat critical assessment. "Just talking about the bathing experience, it's acceptable. The water temperature is stable, and the space is large enough."
"It's just that the variety of bubble bath soaps is too limited
only mint and lavender. It completely fails to meet the standards for a quality bath."
"We are discussing the location for practicing the Patronus Charm, what does that have to do with bubble bath soap?" Harry couldn't help but interrupt him, his tone tinged with helplessness. "We are going there to simulate the underwater environment and practice magic, not to enjoy a bubble bath. Obsessing over the soap varieties is ridiculous."
"Don't rush, I haven't finished speaking." Draco looked at Harry and slowly continued, "The bathing experience was just a side note. What I really want to emphasize is the environmental issue there. Isn't the core of Dylan's proposed Patronus Charm usage relying on our instinct to maintain the spell's effect? And what kind of place is the Prefects' Bathroom? It's a luxurious bathroom decorated like a noble estate, the water temperature is always maintained at the most comfortable level, and the air even carries a faint fragrance. It's a place designed entirely for relaxation."
He paused, his gaze becoming serious: "In such a comfortable environment, can we truly feel danger and thus trigger our instinct? Is this kind of atmosphere really suitable for practicing the underwater Patronus Charm, which requires dealing with a crisis? I think it's very difficult
a comfortable environment only makes people drop their guard, which is detrimental to simulating the true conditions at the bottom of the Black Lake."
"You have a point." Cedric nodded in agreement after hearing this, his tone carrying a hint of apology. "I only considered the privacy and depth of the Prefects' Bathroom, but overlooked the issue of water temperature. The temperature there is fixed and cannot be adjusted to the icy level of the Black Lakebottom. It also can't simulate the urgency brought by the cold, which indeed hinders the triggering of self-instinct. The practice effect would be greatly reduced."
Harry didn't speak, he just shrugged silently, clearly tacitly agreeing with Draco's assessment. Although he wanted to practice as soon as possible, he understood the importance of simulating a realistic environment. He couldn't risk failing at a critical moment just for convenience.
"If you don't mind, perhaps we can practice right here." Just as the three fell silent, considering other options, Dylan suddenly spoke, pointing to the abandoned classroom they were in.
"Practice right here?" Cedric, Draco, and Harry exclaimed in surprise simultaneously, their faces full of shock. Although the abandoned classroom was spacious, it was cluttered with old desks, chairs, and teaching tools, making it look nothing like a place that could simulate an underwater environment.
Yet, they felt a faint sense of anticipation, wanting to know what method Dylan had.
"I can't construct a space as large as the Black Lake here, as the environment is limited," Dylan said, drawing his wand from his pocket. "But simply simulating the cold, water pressure, and dim environment of the Black Lake bottom should be perfectly sufficient for practicing the underwater Patronus Charm."
Dylan's gaze swept across the corner of the classroom, finally settling on a drawer.
It was an old oak desk with an open drawer.
"We'll use this one. The size is suitable, and entry and exit are convenient. It won't be as cluttered as the other teaching aids." He walked up to the desk, pointed the tip of his wand at the drawer, and chanted the spell.
Cedric, Draco, and Harry quickly gathered around. Before they could wonder how Dylan intended to transform this ordinary drawer, the effect of the spell had already manifested.
First, a strange sound came from inside the drawer, like rushing water, carrying the muffled quality unique to underwater sounds. Next, an indescribable odor permeated the air: the mixed smell of freshwater fishiness, the mustiness of decaying leaves, and the earthy smell of silt, almost exactly the same as the scent they had encountered near the shore of the Black Lake.
The three looked curiously inside the drawer, and the sight before them completely stunned them. The formerly empty drawer was now filled with murky lake water. The water was slowly churning, and they could clearly see tiny grains of sand floating and sinking. Looking down through the cloudy surface, they could also see a layer of dark silt accumulated at the bottom of the drawer, exactly mirroring the scene at the bottom of the Black Lake.
Even more magical, although the lake water in the drawer was full to the point of almost overflowing, it was blocked by an invisible barrier, and not a single drop leaked onto the floor outside the drawer, as if the inside and outside of the drawer were two completely separate spaces.
At that moment, the three felt as if they were in a dream. Their feet were firmly planted on the dry floor, yet through the window of the drawer, they could see the churning water and accumulated silt at the lake bottom from a parallel perspective. The visual shock and sensory realism made them speechless for a moment.
"magic... that is truly incredible!" Harry was the first to recover, unable to suppress his exclamation, his eyes fixed on the underwater world inside the drawer, his tone full of awe.
Draco pursed his lips, a flicker of amazement crossing his eyes. He had actually felt the impulse to exclaim just now, but remembering his usual demeanor, he forcibly held back. He merely stared silently at the drawer, carefully observing the details inside, trying to find a flaw in this spatial magic.
"Yes, magic is that incredible." Dylan nodded in agreement, said nothing more, and was the first to step toward the drawer.
When his body touched the "water surface" inside the drawer, there was no resistance. He merged into the water instantly, entering the underwater world constructed by the drawer in the blink of an eye.
Harry and the others widened their eyes, clearly seeing that after Dylan entered the space, his orientation changed. His head faced the outside of the drawer, and his feet pointed toward the silt at the bottom of the drawer. He seemed to be standing upside down at the bottom of the lake, yet he was completely unaffected by gravity and could still move freely.
Only then, using Dylan's body as a reference, did they realize with surprise that the underwater space constructed inside this seemingly small drawer was much larger than they had imagined. When Dylan moved inside, his body was completely unrestrained, and he looked as comfortable as if he were at the bottom of a real lake.
"This space..." Cedric carefully surveyed the water area before him, his tone carrying a note of certainty, "It's more than twice as wide as the tub in the Prefects' Bathroom!"
Dylan stepped into the water first. The icy lake water flowed over his ankles and spread up his calves. The soft mud at the bottom clung to his skin, carrying a natural damp texture.
He moved slowly in the water, his fingertips slicing through the surrounding currents, sensing every detail of the water temperature, pressure, and the underwater environment. Only after confirming that this had accurately replicated the true conditions at the bottom of the Black Lake did he turn around and wade step by step back toward the classroom area on the shore.
Returning to the dry floor, he raised his wand. A gentle white light flashed from the tip, and he quietly chanted the spell: "Clean as New!"
As the spell finished, the remaining lake water on him instantly evaporated, the mud stains vanished completely, and his clothes returned to being dry and neat.
"I have restored the environment at the bottom of the Black Lake as accurately as possible," he said, lowering his wand and glancing at the others present. "Including the water temperature, the current speed, and the subtle terrain fluctuations at the bottom
they are all identical to the real situation."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Dylan seemed to remember something important. He turned slightly and walked toward the drawer by the wall.
Gripping his wand, he lightly tapped the edge of the drawer. Three thick, sturdy ropes immediately extended from the edge. One end was firmly fixed inside the drawer, and the other hung down into the water below, at a length that someone submerged could easily reach.
"If you need to return while underwater, just grab these ropes and climb up to get back here." He reached out and tugged on the ropes, confirming their stability before explaining their purpose to the others.
Before Dylan had finished his instructions, Harry could no longer contain his impatience. He immediately took off, sprinting toward the drawer.
Without pausing, he bent down and dove headfirst into the water area that replicated the Black Lakeenvironment. His movements were so fast that no one had time to stop him.
On the other side, Draco, seeing that Harry had already acted, naturally did not want to be left behind.
He had just lifted his foot, about to follow Harry's path and rush toward the drawer, intending to enter the water in the same way, when his wrist was suddenly gently held back by Cedric's outstretched hand.
"Draco, don't rush," Cedric's voice was gentle but carried an undeniable warning. "You haven't cast the Bubble-Head Charm yet."
Draco's movement paused, a trace of imperceptible embarrassment flashed across his face. He immediately adjusted his posture, stretching the muscles in his arms and legs, pretending to be completely composed.
"I wasn't planning on going down right now," he coughed lightly, his tone feigning ease. "I was just warming up my muscles first. I certainly wouldn't rush into the water recklessly without even doing the most basic preparation, unlike some people."
However, just a few seconds later, the rope dangling into the water was suddenly pulled upwards.
Chapter 382 The effect of magic depends on the wizard's mood and intentions.
The next second, Harry's figure emerged from the water. Grabbing the rope, he struggled to climb back onto the classroom floor.
The moment he landed, he bent over, hands braced on the cold floor, his shoulders heaving violently. A series of coughs burst from his mouth; clearly, he had swallowed several mouthfuls of lake water while submerged. His face was pale from choking, and his body was trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Dylan stepped forward, raised his wand again, and cast a spell on Harry, completely clearing away the water droplets and residual dampness clinging to him.
Cedric also hurried forward, reaching out to gently pat Harry's back to help him regulate his breathing, asking with an expression of both helplessness and amusement, "Harry, why did you go into the water without any preparation? You should have at least prepared your defenses before diving in."
"That certainly fits the Gryffindor style," Draco, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "I suppose you saw Dylan moving around underwater without needing the Bubble-Head Charm and just forgot about it yourself. But seriously, can those two situations be compared? Dylan's circumstances are completely different from ours."
Harry used the back of his hand to wipe the residual water from his mouth, took a few deep breaths, and slightly calmed his coughing. He then looked up at Draco and retorted with a hint of indignation, "I just wanted to personally feel the underwater temperature and get used to the environment beforehand. I didn't forget to cast the spell."
"Oh, I see," Draco nodded, feigning sudden realization, clapping slowly as he spoke. "Is this what they call hands-on preparatory experience? That courage truly deserves praise; I can't help but applaud you."
Cedric held Harry's arm and gently helped him stand up, earnestly advising him, "Harry, there is still plenty of time before the second task. We don't need to rush things. It's better to be cautious at first, so you don't put yourself in absolute danger."
Harry had intended to say more, but hearing Cedric's advice and realizing they indeed had ample preparation time, he stopped arguing with Draco.
He pulled his wand from his pocket, gripped the shaft tightly, focused his attention, and recited the incantation for the Bubble-Head Charm, pointing it at his head.
Dylan explained the application methods of the Patronus Charm, and then they integrated into the real underwater environment for practice.
Only by mastering the spell under natural disturbances like low temperatures and water currents could they handle themselves freely at the bottom of the true Black Lake.
Harry deeply appreciated this practice methodology.
When Professor Lupin taught him to master the Patronus Charm previously, he used a similar immersive training method, allowing him to quickly find the key to casting the spell in simulated dangerous environments.
Once all preparations were complete, Dylan secured a sturdy hemp rope to the edge of the enormous drawer beforehand, making it easier for the three of them to enter and exit.
Cedric, Draco, and Harry successively grasped the hemp rope and cautiously squeezed into the underwater space created by the drawer.
The moment he entered the water, Draco was enveloped by a bone-chilling coldness and couldn't help but shiver. He had never imagined the water temperature at the bottom of the lake would be this low; no wonder Harry started trembling immediately upon entering.
This biting coldness was not directed only at him; Cedric and Harry instantly felt the invasion of the icy water as well. All three involuntarily clenched their jaws tightly, attempting to resist the cold.
But the cold was too intense. They were completely unable to control their bodies, arching their backs like boiled prawns, trembling violently all over like a sieve, their teeth uncontrollably clattering against each other, making a "clack-clack" sound.
"Ex... Expecto... Patronum!" Harry was the first to attempt the incantation, but the chattering of his teeth made his pronunciation intermittent, preventing him from reciting the complete spell smoothly.
Draco and Cedric made the same attempt, with the exact same result. The icy lake water seemed to freeze their vocal cords, and combined with the trembling of their bodies, the spells became fragmented the moment they left their mouths.
Just as they managed to adapt slightly to the water temperature and could barely recite the spell coherently, they encountered a new problem.
The surging water currents inside the drawer continuously buffeted their bodies, interfering with the steady aiming of their wands and the concentration of their magic energy.
The three persisted underwater for a long time, repeatedly trying to adjust their breathing and casting rhythm.
Finally, a faint silver light first appeared on Harry's chest, followed shortly by the same light appearing on Cedric's and Draco's chests. It was a sign that the Patronus Charm was beginning to form, and the faint warmth temporarily dispelled some of the coldness.
Seizing this brief window, the three quickly pulled the hemp rope and clumsily climbed out of the drawer.
Having stayed in the icy lake water for too long, when they returned to the classroom and their bodies pressed against the equally cold floor, they surprisingly felt a rare warmth, and couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"See... See that!" Harry's teeth were still chattering from the residual cold, and his speech was fragmented, yet he still carried a hint of triumph. "This... This is why I went into the water first! I... I was the first one to successfully conjure the silver light!"
Draco opened his mouth, intending to retort, but found that his own teeth were chattering uncontrollably, and the sounds he made were equally disjointed.
He simply turned his head away, ignoring Harry's boasting, and silently rubbed his frozen, stiff arms, trying to warm his body up faster.
After resting for a while, the three of them repeatedly climbed back into the drawer to practice several more times.
They only stopped practicing when their stomachs were rumbling with hunger and they could no longer concentrate.
After these rounds of immersive training, they had gradually adapted to the low-temperature underwater environment. The speed of their spellcasting and the stability of their incantations were much better than the first time. Their progress was visible: from initially being unable to complete the spell, they could now quickly conjure the silver light of the Patronus despite the water current interference.
Meanwhile, Dylan had not left the classroom the entire time.
He used Transfiguration to conjure a set of comfortable tables and chairs. During the intervals when the three were practicing, he was already working on writing a magic thesis, systematically organizing and optimizing the usage methods, practice techniques, and his own magical insights regarding this underwater Patronus Charm, forming a complete theoretical system.
Seeing Harry and the others close the drawer, dry the water from their bodies, and prepare to leave, Dylan looked up and reminded them, "When you go back, you can drink some warm Kwikspell to warm yourselves up, or go to the Hospital Wing and ask Madam Pomfrey for some invigorating draughts. They can both dispel the cold and alleviate fatigue after practice."
The three quickly nodded and thanked Dylan.
Their eyes inadvertently fell upon the parchment spread out before Dylan. Several pages were already covered in dense writing. They were surprised by the speed at which Dylan wrote the thesis and curious about its specific content.
"Dylan, is this thesis your next piece intended for submission to The Hogwarts Voice?" Harry couldn't help but ask curiously, his gaze fixed on the parchment.
"Yes," Dylan nodded in confirmation, saying calmly, "The content is about the underwater Patronus Charm you just practiced. It organizes the key points of casting, environmental adaptation techniques, and includes some additional thoughts on combining magic energy with survival instincts. I hope it can offer some reference to other Wizards."
"Can we take a look now?" Harry's curiosity intensified, and he couldn't resist leaning closer. Cedric and Draco also showed expressions of interest.
"Of course," Dylan didn't hesitate at all, pushing the written parchment directly toward Harry and motioning for them to read through it freely.
Hearing Dylan agree to let them read the thesis, Harry was not the only one curious; Draco and Cedricimmediately gathered around as well. The three heads huddled together, eyes fixed on the parchment covered in writing, carefully reading the theoretical analysis and practical techniques regarding the underwater Patronus Charm.
Harry was always a hands-on learner. After reading just a few pages concerning emotional regulation during spellcasting, he gained some new inspiration.
He impatiently pulled out his wand, cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself, turned around, opened the drawer, and once again squeezed into the simulated underwater environment, practicing the Patronus Charm according to the new methods mentioned in the thesis. For him, only by verifying theory through practice could he truly grasp the essence of magic.
Draco, however, was different from Harry; his attention was entirely focused on the latter half of the thesis, which discussed the essence of magic.
The analysis concerning the connection between magic and Wizard emotions plunged him into deep thought.
After quite some time, he finally looked up and faced Dylan, asking with some hesitation, "Dylan, according to the viewpoint in your thesis, can it be understood that... Dark Wizards become cruel and ruthless because they practice the Dark Arts long-term, are gradually influenced by the negative energy contained within the Dark Arts, and slowly lose the ability to perceive positive emotions?"
"Draco, you can try thinking from a different angle," Dylan did not give a direct answer but guided him toward deeper analysis. "Recall the Dark Arts spells you know, and try to find some spells that have similar effects to ordinary magic but different natures, and compare them. For example, Stupefy and the Head-Blasting Hex. Both spells can restrict an opponent's movement, but they are fundamentally very different. You should be quite clear on this, right?"
Draco frowned, thinking carefully, and slowly said, "The effect of Stupefy is clear: it puts the opponent into a temporary state of unconsciousness, causes no permanent harm, and the casting difficulty isn't high. But the Head-Blasting Hex is different. Its casting difficulty is indeed slightly lower than Stupefy, but the resulting effect is much worse. If the caster's malice is strong enough, the person hit will not only lose consciousness but also suffer severe brain damage, genuinely becoming mentally unsound, as if their brain has turned into mush."
Upon saying this, his expression turned grim. "Although the Ministry of Magic has corresponding counter-curses, even if consciousness is restored by casting the counter-curse, the pain and dizziness of having one's brain scrambled will last for a long time; it's terrible no matter what. More importantly, to completely eliminate the after-effects of the Head-Blasting Hex, the counter-curse is far more difficult to cast than the original spell, and not something an ordinary Wizard can master."
"You are absolutely right," Dylan nodded and added, "The most notable characteristic of the Dark Artsis that they require the caster to mobilize extreme negative emotions—such as anger, hatred, and malice—to unleash their maximum power. These negative emotions do not disappear after casting; instead, they continuously accumulate and settle in the Wizard's heart. Over time, the Wizard's mind is affected by these emotions, becoming increasingly extreme and ruthless."
He paused, then explained further, "Emotions themselves are a form of energy that can be perceived and transmitted. When a Wizard's malice is strong enough, he doesn't need to deliberately cast a spell; this negative energy will unconsciously influence the surrounding environment, making those nearby feel oppressed and fearful, much like the coldness brought by an approaching Dementor, only differing in degree."
"In that case, I think I understand a little," Cedric, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a sense of realization. "Those naturally Dark Arts creatures, like Dementors and Acromantulas, seem to carry this intense negative aura. Even if they do nothing, we can easily sense their hostility and malice. Is this also related to the nature of the magic energy they possess?"
After hearing Cedric's words, Draco subconsciously nodded, his expression growing even more severe. He thought of some Dark Arts artifacts collected by his family. Every time he went near those objects, he felt a wave of inexplicable irritation. It turned out that this was the Dark Arts energy subtly influencing him.
Noticing the change in Draco's expression, Dylan gently tapped the table, changing the subject, and said in a gentle tone, "Actually, it's not just the Dark Arts; other types of magic also affect the Wizard. The Patronus Charm is a very typical example."
"The Patronus Charm?" Draco murmured in surprise, his eyes full of doubt. In his understanding, the Patronus Charm had always been purely defensive magic, so how could it affect the Wizard?
"Yes, the Patronus Charm," Dylan confirmed. He explained, "I discussed this with Harry and the others before. The essence of the Patronus Charm is a reflection of the Wizard's inner self. It requires positive, happy emotions as its energy source—such as joy, hope, and pride. When you frequently cast the Patronus Charm, not only does it help you ward off the Dark Arts, but these positive emotions are also constantly reinforced within your heart."
He continued, "Over time, when you encounter difficulties or fall into a slump, the positive energy represented by the Patronus Charm will quietly protect your mind, making it harder for you to be overwhelmed by negative emotions. Furthermore, this long-term connection with positive energy will subconsciously cause you to reject the Dark Arts, as you will instinctively sense that the negative energy within the Dark Arts conflicts with the positive energy in your heart, thereby generating resistance."
"So... regardless of whether we cast the Dark Arts or ordinary magic, these spells will ultimately have some degree of influence on the Wizard himself?" Draco quickly grasped the point, asking with a degree of uncertainty.
"More accurately, it should be that the Wizard and magic mutually influence and shape each other," Dylan corrected. "The effect of the magic depends on the Wizard's emotions and intentions, and the magic energy, in turn, reinforces the Wizard's corresponding emotions. Therefore, every Wizard needs to fully understand their own personality and emotional characteristics, finding the type of magic that aligns with their inner energy. Only then can they better control magic, rather than being controlled by it."
Chapter 383 You're out brewing medicine every day, I think you're a smoker.
"Hearing you say that, I suddenly thought of Headmaster Dumbledore's original intention when founding The Hogwarts Voice."
Cedric, who was standing nearby, chimed in thoughtfully, "Didn't the Principal always encourage us not to blindly follow traditional magic theories, but to form our own understanding of magic through practice and reflection? Isn't this the same principle as what you call 'finding the magic that suits you'?"
"That's exactly it," Dylan replied with a smile and a hint of agreement in his eyes. "Headmaster Dumbledore's original intention was to encourage us to break free from rigid thinking, explore the essence of magic in our own way, develop our own understanding of magic, find the magic that truly suits us, and then continuously practice and study it. Only then can we cast magic 'effortlessly' and let magic become a tool to help us, not a burden."
"But... what if the magic that suits someone is inherently weak?" Draco hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern. "For example, those basic spells that almost every Wizard learns in the lower grades—even if you master them, how useful can they really be?"
Dylan immediately sensed Draco's underlying meaning. Coming from a noble Wizard family, he had been exposed to advanced magic since childhood, and perhaps secretly looked down upon basic spells.
Instead of directly refuting him, Dylan smiled and asked, "Draco, do you know the Dancing Feet Spell?"
"The Dancing Feet Spell?" Draco paused, then nodded, his tone slightly confused. "Of course I know it. It's a basic spell we learned in first year. You just wave your wand and say the incantation, and the target starts dancing uncontrollably. There's nothing special about it."
"What if I told you that, in the History of Magic, the Dancing Feet Spell once triggered a volcanic eruption?" Dylan continued to ask, a mysterious smile in his eyes.
"A volcanic eruption?" Draco's eyes widened instantly, his voice full of disbelief, and he even raised his volume. "Are you saying that the kind of volcanic eruption that can destroy an entire village, spewing out lava and ash, was caused by the Dancing Feet Spell? How is that possible? How could a basic spell have such immense power?"
"My apologies, what I said just now wasn't entirely accurate," Dylan added with a smile, easing Draco's shock. "It was the result of two spells being used in combination: the Dancing Feet Spell and the Reviving Spell. I previously missed mentioning one magic, which led to your misunderstanding."
He paused, then continued, "Regarding this matter, there are scattered records in the documents of History of Magic. If you're interested, you can look for them in the Restricted Section or the Ancient Documents section of the library. You might find more detailed records. This is the most fascinating thing about magic: it has no absolute division of strength or weakness. The key lies in how the Wizardunderstands it, how he uses it, and how he innovatively combines different spells."
"A seemingly weak basic magic, as long as you can control it 'effortlessly,' continuously study its potential possibilities, and explore how it can be combined with other spells, it can unleash power far beyond your imagination. From this perspective, any magic can make a Wizard incredibly powerful; the key is whether you are willing to invest the time and energy to unlock its potential."
After listening to Dylan, Draco's tense expression clearly softened, his furrowed brow relaxed, and his eyes shifted from initial doubt to contemplation. He leaned against the table, his fingers unconsciously stroking his wand handle, clearly still pondering the relationship between the strength of magic and its suitability for him. Perhaps his mind was replaying the connection between the Dancing Feet Spell and the volcanic eruption mentioned earlier.
"It's getting late," Dylan said in a relaxed tone, looking up at the window where the sun had moved to the center of the sky. "It must be lunchtime now. If we don't head to the Great Hall soon, the delicious roast potatoes might be all gone."
He paused, then added, "It's rare for the weather to be this nice today—no wind and no clouds. If you're still interested after lunch, you could go outside the Castle and soak up some sun. Sunlight can clarify one's thoughts. Perhaps while sunbathing, you might figure out those questions about magic we were just discussing."
"The sun?" Draco followed Dylan's gaze towards the window, squinting slightly at the sky. The midday sun was dazzling, and the warm feeling it cast on him dispelled the oppressive atmosphere from their discussion of the Dark Arts.
He stood by the window watching for a long time, until Harry climbed out of the drawer and closed the cabinet door. Only then did he lower his head, thoughtfully raising the wand in his hand, gently twirling it with his fingertips, as if simulating a spell-casting motion or perhaps sorting out his jumbled thoughts.
Meanwhile, the Christmas holidays in Hogwarts Castle were drawing to a close, and many students only then suddenly remembered that they still had a large pile of holiday homework left unfinished.
Gryffindor students, in particular, were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Taking advantage of the fact that Professor McGonagall had not yet gone to patrol the Great Hall, they darted back and forth inside, quietly asking students from other Houses if they could borrow homework for "reference," trying to complete their assignments at the last minute.
To cope with Professor McGonagall's sudden inspections, several quick-witted Gryffindor students even volunteered to stand guard at the entrance of the Great Hall.
They all had Pepper Imps tucked in their pockets. As soon as they spotted Professor McGonagall's figure in the distance, or saw her signature tabby cat appear around a corridor corner, they would immediately eat one and shoot a small jet of flame from their nose as a warning. Those in the Great Hall would see the flame, quickly hide their homework, and pretend to be chatting casually, the entire process executed with perfect understanding.
The last glow of the Christmas holidays faded away atop the towers of Hogwarts. As students returned to the Castle from various places, the corridors and the Great Hall, which had been slightly empty due to the break, instantly returned to their usual bustle.
Students walking together carried bags full of textbooks, excitedly sharing their holiday adventures. Some had gone to Diagon Alley to buy new wands, others had traveled with family to magical resorts, and some had invented new prank spells at home. The entire Castle was enveloped in this vibrant, lively atmosphere.
And on the first day of the second semester, this excitement was brought to a new climax by Fred and George Weasley.
That morning, instead of waiting for the moving staircase to slowly rotate to their platform as usual, the two of them, under the gaze of many students, cast an invisible Impediment Jinx, making unseen steps seemingly appear out of thin air beneath their feet.
They moved as lightly as two agile squirrels, descending step by step from the third-floor platform directly to the first-floor main hall with a cheerful, hopscotch-like rhythm, without using any physical stairs the entire way, drawing gasps of astonishment from the surrounding students.
This unique way of descending, unrestricted by the moving staircases, instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the Gryffindor students. After all, who wouldn't want to avoid the hassle of waiting for the stairs to rotate and descend quickly in a cool manner?
However, most Gryffindor students who had already mastered the Impediment Jinx soon discovered that attempting to imitate Fred and George's maneuver was far more difficult than they imagined.
Standing at the edge of the platform and looking down, the height of just a few stories was enough to make them dizzy, not to mention the need for precise control over the range and hardness of the Impediment Jinx to ensure that every 'invisible step' they landed on could stably support their body weight.
A few brave students tried jumping from the second floor. The result was either that the 'step' beneath their feet suddenly vanished due to improper spell control, sending them crashing down head over heels, or they lost their balance and slammed into the nearby staircase railing. Not only did they end up bruised and battered, but they also nearly collided with passing younger students, who screamed and scrambled out of the way.
Fortunately, the healing magic at Hogwarts was advanced enough. Whether it was a broken leg, cracked ribs, or bizarre injuries like the occasional 'bones being extracted,' as long as they promptly drank a vial of Skele-Gro brewed by Madam Pomfrey, they could recover completely within half a day.
Nevertheless, going to the Hospital Wing to treat wounds and wait for bones to regrow still consumed a significant amount of time.
This led to many Gryffindor students who attempted the imitation being late for classes due to injuries.
Being late already meant losing points at Hogwarts, and worse, the one responsible for supervising the Gryffindor students was Professor Snape.
This Potion Class Professor, who had never shown much affection for Gryffindor, never showed the slightest mercy when dealing with late students. He would deduct five points for minor offenses or ten for severe ones, listing countless reasons ranging from "sloppy attitude" to "disrespecting the class."
By the end of the first day of the second semester, the hourglass in the Gryffindor common room, which symbolized the House Cup points, was visibly much emptier than it had been that morning. The previously ample ruby granules were now reduced to a thin layer, swaying precariously within the glass.
One student roughly calculated that if the current frequency of tardiness continued, coupled with Professor Snape's merciless point deductions, Gryffindor's score would likely be completely depleted in three days at most, setting a new low record for the House Cup in recent years.
As the Dean of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall naturally quickly discovered this serious problem.
However, on the first day of school, as the Vice Principal, she had too many things to deal with: coordinating curriculum schedules for all Houses, greeting returning Professors, and handling various administrative tasks accumulated during the holiday. She simply couldn't spare the time to discipline Fred and George for the 'jumping craze' they had started.
It wasn't until the afternoon of the second day that Professor McGonagall finally found time to personally 'stake out' near the moving staircases.
Her efforts yielded 'delightful' results; in just one hour, she caught Fred, George, and their 'loyal follower' Lee Jordan, along with a host of other Gryffindor students.
Professor McGonagall knew these energetic Gryffindors too well. Punishing them with patrols in the Forbidden Forest would be like sending them on an adventure to an amusement park, having no disciplinary effect. Making them clean classrooms seemed like too light a punishment, and they would soon revert to their old ways.
After a brief thought, Professor McGonagall finally decided to make these students copy books in the library. And it wasn't just a simple copying; after finishing, they would have to take a test on the book's content. Only by passing the test could they leave. If they failed, they would be given a thicker, more obscure magic tome to copy until they passed.
This punishment proved effective. Spending several hours continuously copying books from thick ancient texts and memorizing tedious magic theories was too much even for the most energetic Gryffindors.
Before long, no one in the Castle was seen attempting to 'jump stairs' with the Impediment Jinx. As for those who still wouldn't settle down and secretly planned new pranks, they were quickly caught red-handed by Professor McGonagall and dutifully joined the 'book-copying army' in the library.
The moving staircases of Hogwarts finally returned to their usual order.
The end of the Christmas holiday not only brought back the hustle and bustle to Hogwarts Castle but also revitalized Hogsmeade.
The shops along the street had long taken down their Christmas decorations but quickly displayed new merchandise. Honeydukes' windows were piled high with freshly baked shortbread and new Chocolate Frogs, their wrappers featuring the latest Wizard cards. Zonko's Joke Shop had screaming rubber chickens and fireworks that produced colorful smoke hanging at its entrance, attracting passing students to stop and gaze. Even the usually quiet apothecary had placed its newly concocted invigorating Potion in the most prominent position, with a label that read 'Specifically for combating back-to-school drowsiness.'
Students strolled in twos and threes along the streets, holding newly bought snacks or toys, their laughter and conversations rising and falling.
Dylan slowly avoided the noisy crowd and turned into a relatively quiet alley.
At the end of the alley, a slightly old wooden building stood silently, with a faded wooden sign hanging at its entrance, on which the four large characters 'Hog's Head Pub' were carved. This was precisely his destination for this trip.
During the day, Hog's Head Pub was not as lively as at night, with only a few scattered old regulars sitting at tables in the corners, slowly sipping butterbeer.
Behind the bar, Aberforth Dumbledore was passing the time as usual. He held a somewhat dirty rag and repeatedly wiped equally stained glass cups, his movements slow and unhurried, as if enjoying this rare leisure.
Dylan opened the private room.
Soon after, another group of people entered.
First were Fred and George.
They actually came often, and the reason they came often...
was based on the principle of 'save where you can, spend where you must.'
They found that the Potion ingredients here were much cheaper than at the apothecaries in Diagon Alley.
And occasionally, they could even find some interesting second-hand props, perfect for developing their prank products.
Their striking red hair was too conspicuous, and coupled with chatting with Aberforth every time they visited, over time, they became familiar with the bar owner, even getting some 'old customer exclusive discounts.'
Dylan walked to the bar and began introducing the people with him to Aberforth.
"This is Neville Longbottom, and that is Hannah Abbott. They are both core members of the team responsible for Potion development."
"Longbottom? Abbott?" Aberforth's eyes lit up slightly when he heard Neville's surname. He reached out to stroke his beard, looked at Neville, and asked, "Longbottom boy, how is your grandmother MollyLongbottom doing? I even attended a Wizard gathering with her back in the day."
"Ah? Hello!" Neville was surprised that Aberforth knew his grandmother, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and quickly nodded, saying, "My grandmother is very well, thank you for your concern, Mr. Aberforth!"
"Just call me Aberforth, no need for 'Mr.', it sounds awkward," Aberforth waved his hand, correcting him, "Your grandmother and I are old acquaintances. Calling me that makes it seem distant."
"Okay! Mr... Aberforth!" Neville quickly corrected himself, but he was so nervous he almost made the mistake again, his cheeks flushed.
"Neville, don't be so nervous. Aberforth is very easy to get along with, he just looks a bit serious."
Fred saw Neville's embarrassment and quickly laughed, trying to smooth things over, and even winked at Aberforth.
"Exactly, exactly!" George also put an arm around Neville's shoulder and echoed, "Aberforth has helped us a lot! The batch of Unicorn feathers we found last time, he specifically saved them for us."
"Hehe! You two boys, you still remember my kindness," Aberforth laughed, amused by Fred and George, his tone a bit teasing, "You know I've helped you a lot, and now your prank shop is doing better and better, you're getting rich, so you don't frequent my shabby bar anymore, is that right?"
"You're right, that's indeed not right!" Fred immediately chimed in, his attitude very 'sincere'.
George looked around the bar hall, then turned to Aberforth, blinked, and said, "How about this, we'll treat everyone to drinks today? Consider it a thank you for your past care."
"You two boys, still so calculating!" Aberforth burst out laughing, pointing at the people in the hall, "Right now there are only six people in the whole place, and with you two, that's only eight. How much can they drink? You're trying to take advantage of me with such a small thing!"
After laughing, he waved his hand, pointing to the stairs leading to the second floor, his tone becoming serious: "Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore, hurry upstairs. I've already checked the Floo Network in the upstairs guest rooms, it's fine."
"See, I told you Aberforth is easy to get along with!" Fred and George gave Neville a thumbs-up, patted his shoulder, and led the boisterous group towards the second floor.
Soon after everyone had settled in the guest room, a crackling sound came from the fireplace.
The quietly burning flames suddenly became agitated, and the ashes rose with them, falling onto the carpet around the fireplace.
In the blink of an eye, the orange-red flames in the fireplace suddenly turned a bright emerald green, as if enchanted.
The emerald green flames constantly churned, gradually outlining two figures. Immediately after, Lupinand Sirius walked out of the flames one after another, carrying a faint scent of smoke.
"I really miss this place..." As soon as Sirius stepped out of the fireplace, he spread his arms and took a deep breath, seemingly wanting to savor the long-lost scent. But halfway through, he couldn't help but cough violently, "How long has it been since we were in... *cough cough cough*!"
It turned out he had inhaled too quickly, accidentally sucking some of the lingering fireplace ashes into his throat, which made him cough so hard that tears almost came to his eyes. His intended words were interrupted, and he could only cough and rub his throat, looking a bit disheveled.
Lupin stood by, watching Sirius, and shook his head helplessly. He also handed him a handkerchief, his tone a bit teasing: "You're still so rash at this age, you haven't changed at all."
"Hmph, you're out brewing Potions every day, I think you've inhaled too much smoke."
Chapter 384 The mistress is always so great and so wise.
Just as Sirius was coughing non-stop, his face flushed red from the fireplace ashes, the emerald green fireplace flames surged again, and a small figure stepped out from the flames.
It was the House-elf Kreacher.
He was wearing his faded old clothes, moving with a nimbleness uncharacteristic of an elderly elf.
Kreacher raised his hand and waved his finger, and a clear glass of water appeared out of thin air in his hand.
He quickly walked to Sirius, handed him the water glass, his high-pitched voice carrying a mix of complaint and triumph: "Oh! Good thing Kreacher followed, anticipating that Young Master would make a fool of himself; otherwise, Young Master would have been rude coughing non-stop in front of so many guests, bringing shame to the House of Black."
Sirius took the water glass, gulped down a large mouthful, and the discomfort in his throat finally eased, no longer coughing violently.
He shoved the empty glass roughly into Kreacher's arms, his eyes showing impatience, and said fiercely: "Thanks, but shut up! Nobody wants to hear you preach."
"Young Master at least knows to say 'thanks,' still retaining half his manners, not completely corrupted by Muggle habits." Kreacher paid no attention to Sirius's attitude, continuing to wave his finger, and glasses of water appeared out of thin air, precisely handed to Dylan, Neville, and the others, with everyone receiving a glass.
After distributing the water, Kreacher's gaze fell on Dylan, his eyes instantly lighting up. He quickly walked to Dylan, bowed deeply, and his tone became respectful and fawning: "Oh! Dear Young Master Dylan, you look truly radiant, even more energetic than when Kreacher last saw you! Would you like some snacks? Kreacher will prepare them for you right away, whether it's honey cake or strawberry pudding, Kreacher can make it perfectly."
"Kreacher, long time no see." Dylan looked at the respectful House-elf in front of him, greeted him with a smile, then turned to the people around him and suggested, "Why don't we prepare some cake? Everyone can taste it together, and we'll be more energetic for the meeting."
"What a generous and considerate Young Master Dylan, your kindness shines like starlight!" Kreacherbowed deeply again, his waist almost touching the ground, "Kreacher will go prepare the most exquisite fruit cake right away, guaranteed to satisfy everyone!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kreacher did not return through the fireplace via the Floo Network as he had arrived, but instead spun in a circle and, accompanied by a slight ripple in the air, Apparated directly out of the room, leaving only a faint magical trace.
"Finally, some peace and quiet!" Sirius let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He waved his hand, beckoning everyone to sit on the chairs in the room, "Don't mind him, he's just like that, never-ending when he gets started."
Everyone took their seats, and the atmosphere in the room gradually relaxed.
Lupin took advantage of the break while everyone was organizing their materials to chat with them about recent developments.
Besides brewing Potions daily in the Potion factory of that unknown great philanthropist, he was also deeply researching the Muggle World through various channels.
Whether it was Muggle technological advancements or social culture, he was full of curiosity, and all of this was to achieve the long-term goal of "bringing magic to the whole world."
As Lupin's close friend for many years, Sirius was naturally influenced by him and began to actively learn about new things in the Muggle World.
In fact, even before he was imprisoned in Azkaban, Sirius was full of exploratory desire for the MuggleWorld, never rejecting Muggles like other pure-blood family members.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to tinker with a flying motorcycle that combined magic and Muggle technology back then, making it his proudest creation of that period.
So, outside of work, Sirius and Lupin, who had recently returned to England, often left the old house at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place to personally venture into Muggle cities, wandering through streets and alleys.
They would stop to observe Muggle vehicles, curiously look at novel goods in department stores, and even secretly slip into Muggle cafes to listen to people discussing current events, experiencing the changes in the Muggle World up close.
Among many Muggle inventions, Sirius showed particular interest in "live television broadcasting."
He simply couldn't believe that Muggles could come up with such an ingenious method, where a small television set could allow people thousands of miles away to watch games, news, and performances in real-time. This visual transmission across distances left him in awe.
The Quidditch World Cup had just ended, and Sirius still regretted not being able to attend the match in person.
Combining the inspiration from live television, he suddenly had a bold idea: he wanted to use the power of magic to create a "Quidditch broadcast" for the Wizarding World!
Through specially made magical tools and spells, real-time footage of Quidditch matches could be transmitted to various places, allowing Wizards who couldn't attend in person due to distance, status, or other reasons to clearly experience the fierce competition and exciting moments of the game.
And there was also a personal reason why he was so eager to realize this idea: when Harry participated in Quidditch matches, he could use his self-developed magic broadcast to see Harry soaring on the field and catching the Golden Snitch from anywhere, no longer having to miss important moments because he couldn't appear in public.
However, the development of this "Magical Quidditch Broadcast" was kept quite secret by Sirius and Lupin.
They worried that this idea might attract the attention of the Ministry of Magic, or even be exploited by some ill-intentioned individuals. Therefore, they only discussed it in a small circle with trusted people, and all development work was carried out in a secret room at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, trying to prevent any leaks.
It was precisely because of this that only recently, when the development of the "Magical QuidditchBroadcast" encountered an insurmountable bottleneck, did Sirius finally decide to initiate this meeting, formally bringing the matter to the table to discuss with Dylan and the others.
Actually, before this, he and Lupin had not told Dylan about it, mainly considering that Dylan still had to prepare for the Triwizard Tournament, and the pressure of the competition was already great. They didn't want to distract his energy with research matters, wishing only for him to focus on the various challenges in the competition.
Besides that, there was another important reason: both Sirius and Lupin felt that they should do more practical things to demonstrate their own value.
As Sirius stood up from his chair and cleared his throat, this meeting about the Magical QuidditchBroadcast officially began.
"I think everyone must have heard of the magical radio, right? That magical device that can receive sounds from afar. Since it can achieve long-distance sound transmission, it's not entirely impossible for us to achieve real-time image transmission."
He paused, then continued: "However, magical radios can only transmit sound, while Muggle 'live TV broadcasts' allow viewers to receive both sound and images simultaneously, which is the biggest difference between the two. Honestly, I really didn't expect Muggles to be so clever nowadays. When I was researching the flying motorcycle before, I found that while it looked complex, its actual principle was quite simple; it was just combining Muggle mechanical structures with magical power."
"But this Muggle 'live TV broadcast,' and the television set used to receive signals, are not so simple." Sirius's tone carried a hint of emotion, "According to the information I found, Muggles combined a large number of their own scientific research achievements to achieve long-distance real-time image transmission, such as the conversion of electrical energy, signal processing on electronic boards, and various complex circuit designs. These things are like hieroglyphs to us Wizards."
Next, Sirius began to elaborate on the various obstacles he encountered during his research on "live TV broadcasting," from not understanding Muggle circuit diagrams to being unable to grasp the logic of electronic signal transmission, every step of the process gave him a headache.
"Until one day, I pulled another all-nighter studying those Muggle materials, my head was groggy, and I accidentally pulled open the curtained cabinet in the old Grimmauld Place house, and I heard my mother's shouts again." Sirius smiled helplessly, "I can almost recite her insults by heart; it's always about how I'm a disgrace, a scumbag of the House of Black, unworthy of using magic, and so on."
"But it was that phrase, 'unworthy of using magic,' that suddenly enlightened me." His eyes brightened, "I'm a Wizard, and what I'm best at is using magic. Why should I stubbornly stick to Muggle technology, spending so many days researching things like electricity and electronic boards? I should solve problems the Wizarding way!"
"Mistress is always so great, so wise!" Just then, Kreacher suddenly appeared at the doorway pushing a small cart with a huge fruit cake on it. His high-pitched voice broke the focused atmosphere in the room, "Even though Young Master broke her heart back then, she still held no grudges and, in the unseen, guided Young Master's path forward, helping Young Master find the right direction."
"Kreacher!" Sirius couldn't help but snarl when he heard this, his brows tightly furrowed, "Shut up at once! From now on, don't say another word!"
Although Kreacher looked wronged, he obediently followed Sirius's command and stopped talking, merely pushing the small cart silently to the front of everyone and beginning to distribute the cake.
He gave Dylan a particularly large slice, probably thinking Dylan was the most respected person there.
Seeing this, Dylan, before Kreacher could turn away, cut off a large portion of his own cake and offered it to Kreacher.
Kreacher took the cake, his eyes instantly welling up, tears brimming. He bowed deeply to Dylan several times, softly muttering "kind Young Master Dylan," before clutching the cake and Apparating out of the guest room, leaving only faint magical ripples.
It wasn't until Kreacher had completely left and the room returned to silence that Sirius spoke again, his tone much calmer than before: "Where were we... Oh right, I realized I shouldn't stubbornly stick to Muggle principles; I should think about how to achieve the effect I want through magic."
He turned to Fred and George, who were sitting nearby, and continued, "So I brought these two lads in, wanting to use the marauder's map as a prototype. As you know, the marauder's map can show everyone's real-time location and movement in the Castle. We want to draw on this magical logic to make the match footage appear in real-time on paper or a special screen, just like the figures on the map."
"Everyone can take a look at this instruction manual first. With the illustrations, it will be easier to understand what we're going to talk about next." Sirius said, pulling out a stack of pre-printed instruction manuals from his backpack and distributing them to everyone present.
"You borrowed the marauder's map?" Dylan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Sirius nodded.
As he distributed the manuals, Fred and George also stood up from their chairs and walked to the center of the room.
The two of them worked in perfect sync with Sirius: one pointed to the illustrations in the manual to explain the steps, while the other explained the magical principles behind it, detailing the framework and specifics of the entire plan. From how to set up magical signal collection points, to how to process signals through Alchemy, and then how to achieve stable image output, every step was explained clearly and precisely.
Listening to Sirius, Fred, and George's explanation, Dylan quickly understood the principles of the entire plan.
He found the trio's design Ideas quite ingenious, and it could even be understood by combining theories they had studied before. Just as different herbs need to be blended in specific proportions to achieve maximum efficacy, the various magic in this plan also needed precise coordination to achieve real-time image transmission.
Although the plan involved a lot of Alchemy principles, such as how to convert magical energy into visual image signals, when it came down to practical implementation, it concluded with a mirage, which presented the final broadcast effect.
And the so-called mirage was actually the magic used for the ceiling of the Hogwarts Great Hall. When the Great Hall was built, Wizards used this spell to display the scene of the outside sky in real-time on the Great Hall's ceiling, allowing people inside the Great Hall to see the weather changes outside at any time.
Now, what Sirius and his team wanted to do was to improve the principle of this spell to make it capable of transmitting real-time footage of Quidditch matches.
Clearly explaining their thought-out design and ensuring everyone present understood it was no easy task.
Sirius stood in the center of the room, explaining complex magical principles while gesturing with his hands to illustrate the signal transmission path. Fred and George cooperated alongside him, sometimes pointing to illustrations in the manual to add details, and other times picking up a pen to draw simple sketches on paper to aid understanding.
The three of them talked and gestured, fine beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads, and with great effort, they finally finished explaining the core content of the plan.
Once they confirmed that Dylan, Neville, and the others present had no questions, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Almost in unison, they turned and picked up the water glasses on the table, drinking the water in one go. The long explanation had left them parched, and drinking the water finally soothed their dry throats.
At this point, Lupin suggested that everyone take a short break, as continuous concentration during the explanation could easily lead to fatigue.
Everyone adopted this suggestion and began to taste the fruit cake left by Kreacher.
The cake had a soft texture, and the fruit's sweetness was refreshing, pairing well with the water to dispel the fatigue from earlier.
Once everyone had finished their cake and rested sufficiently, the meeting resumed.
This meeting was still chaired by Sirius.
He cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious: "Although we have figured out how to present live broadcast images through magic, there is still a key problem unresolved: how can we obtain real-time footage from the match venue? Especially for matches in special scenarios, this point needs to be considered in advance."