Bang!
Room of Requirement.
"Harry, this thing is even better than a wand!"
"No need to cast spells, just press it lightly. It's a pity the effect is a bit limited."
Ron held something shaped like a hairdryer, excitedly explaining its effects to Harry.
When the training dummy glided over, Ron aimed the "hairdryer" at it and pressed a button.
Runes flickered, and a transparent blast of compressed air shot out, sending the dummy flying.
Hearing the commotion, the others practicing Defence Against the Dark Arts and duelling all turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Holding the "hairdryer," Ron jogged over to Lucien.
"Lucien, how did I do?"
Lucien took it and began examining its structure.
This had originally been his rough idea, with some guidance along the way, but Ron had completed the rest of this simple alchemical tool himself. It had been casually named the Air Gun.
It used basic Suffocation Charms, Compression Charms, and Acceleration Charms to condense and release air. Its power was decent, capable of knocking back a training dummy or even a person.
The Air Gun couldn't cause lasting harm, but its rapid-fire capability made it faster than an unskilled wizard casting spells.
This term, Lucien had officially begun teaching Harry and the others Defence Against the Dark Arts, incorporating one-on-one, two-on-two, and even one-against-many practice. Only through real combat could they truly master what they learned.
Everyone had made good progress. Some were talented, while others had solid foundations.
Except for Ron, who was held back by his wand. After all, it had once belonged to his brother, and the compatibility wasn't ideal, which affected his spellcasting.
However, thanks to Lucien's earlier reinforcement of the flying car, Ron's wand hadn't broken, so at least his spells wouldn't backfire.
Ron had been troubled by this issue for a while. Lucien thought he might be able to get a new wand sooner, since his twin brothers were now earning money.
Lucien could tell that although the twins often teased Ron, they still cared deeply for him. He guessed that around the winter holidays, they would take Ron to buy a wand that truly suited him.
So for now, he let Ron practice with these easily adjustable alchemical tools, planning to focus on proper spellcasting and duelling after he got a new wand.
"Hmm, you've done quite well. It's just that the magical patterns here and here…"
With Lucien's explanation, Ron quickly understood the issue and eagerly went to make adjustments.
After finishing, he set his wand aside and fired the Air Gun at the dummy, making "bang bang" sounds.
He even muttered about how convenient it was, saying that Muggles had something similar called a metal wand.
The session soon came to an end.
After everyone else left, Malfoy approached Lucien and asked,
"Lucien, I remember you're quite skilled at flying. How are you at Quidditch? As a Seeker, for example?"
Looking at Malfoy's awkward attempt at a smile, Lucien thought to himself that this Slytherin couldn't possibly be like that Ravenclaw senior who kept trying to recruit him into the House team.
Ah, right. Malfoy seemed to be sponsoring the Slytherin team this year, with his father Lucius buying a set of Nimbus 2001s for them, which would naturally secure him a place on the team as Seeker.
"What, are you planning to compete with Harry on the pitch this year?"
At this, Malfoy's expression finally relaxed.
"Haha, Lucien, you really are perceptive! Gryffindor won't have a chance to touch the Quidditch Cup this year!"
"I've already been approved by Flint, the Slytherin captain. I'm about to become the House Seeker. Since your flying skills are so good, I was wondering if you could give me some guidance and practice with me?"
As he spoke, Malfoy seemed to recall something and added,
"Of course, of course, the 'tutoring fee' will be separate."
He took out a magical book and tried to slip it into Lucien's pocket.
Lucien naturally opened his pocket, thinking to himself that the idea that kids didn't understand favors was clearly a misconception.
"If you want to train, doesn't the House team already have regular practice?"
At this, Malfoy pursed his lips, looking both embarrassed and slightly dejected.
"Lucien, do you still remember Slytherin's playing style? I… can't quite adapt to it yet, so…"
Slytherin's playing style?
Lucien quickly recalled the Quidditch matches he had watched last year. Slytherin could be described as the most aggressive of all.
Rather than just playing the game, it was more like playing while targeting people.
And Quidditch even allowed it. Beaters could deliberately hit Bludgers toward opposing players, making it a very direct form of attack.
Only in the wizarding world could a sport like this exist. After all, broken bones and concussions were considered minor injuries.
Lucien also remembered Flint. He was burly and rough-looking, and as captain, he naturally set the tone for the entire team.
Looking at Malfoy's thin frame, it really didn't quite match Slytherin's usual style.
However, for a Seeker, agility was the key. It required sharp reflexes and excellent flying skills.
Lucien was confident he could guide Malfoy in Quidditch. Flying ability was only one aspect. The enhanced vision granted by the Eye of Peering Magic was extremely advantageous in high-speed situations.
Moreover, he had recently been working on designing and developing flying brooms, and had even purchased several popular models on the market for reference.
This was also a good opportunity to gather data and test new designs.
Flying brooms represented a vast market.
First, there was demand. Quidditch could be considered the national sport of the wizarding world, and the enthusiasm for it was undeniable.
Beyond professional teams, many wizarding families played Quidditch regularly. For instance, when Lucien had visited the Burrow, he had played several matches with Ron and the twins.
Second, there was competition. The strongest brooms currently available were from the Firebolt series. Comet and Cleansweep lagged behind, and even the more advanced Firebolt models had yet to be released.
Lucien was confident that he could develop a flying broom that surpassed the Firebolt in both speed and performance.
This was the confidence of being Nicolas Flamel's student, and confidence in his SS+ Alchemy talent.
"Alright, no problem."
With Lucien's agreement, Malfoy was about to rejoice.
"Oh, right. Here's the custom map you wanted. Want to take a look?"
Seeing the map in Lucien's hand, its understated yet refined design made Malfoy's grey eyes light up. He immediately felt that the money had been well spent.
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