Saturday evening. The eighth-floor corridor was packed. A buzz of anticipation filled the air as over eighty students from all four houses milled outside the blank stretch of wall. The news of Zhang Ming's new club and the headmaster's apparent endorsement had spread like wildfire.
At precisely 7 PM, the wall shimmered, and a door materialized. Zhang Ming stepped through it, a calm smile on his face.
"Welcome, everyone. Please, come in."
The students streamed into the Room of Requirement, and gasps echoed through the cavernous space. It had transformed into a grand, circular lecture hall. Tiered seating rose around a central dais. Glowing orbs of light floated near the ceiling, and intricate, softly pulsating runes were etched into the walls, casting a warm, scholarly glow. The air itself hummed with a faint, energizing thrum.
"Merlin's beard…" someone whispered. "It's bigger than the Great Hall!"
"Look at those crystals! Are those for projecting things?"
Zhang Ming guided them to their seats. A quick scan with his spiritual sense confirmed the count.
[Attendance: 87 Students]
[House Distribution: Ravenclaw: 42, Gryffindor: 28, Hufflepuff: 15, Slytherin: 2]
[Notable Attendees: Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Madam Hooch]
Even two from Slytherin?Zhang Ming noted with interest, spotting the two third-years trying to look inconspicuous. Courageous.
As the clock struck seven, a hush fell over the room. All eyes were on the dais. Dumbledore gave Zhang Ming an encouraging nod from the front row.
"Friends," Zhang Ming began, his voice calm yet carrying perfectly to every corner of the hall, amplified by the subtle resonance array he'd woven into the room. "We are here today for a simple, yet profound purpose. Not merely to learn spells, but to understand the whybehind the magic. We are here to seek the truth."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the young, eager faces.
"My name is Zhang Ming. Where I come from, we do not merely 'do' magic. We cultivateit. We seek to understand its essence. This path is called 'Xiuzhen'—the Cultivation of Truth. Tonight, I propose a fusion: the marriage of this ancient pursuit of truth with the rigorous methodology of science. I call it… Science and Cultivation."
He waved a hand, and the floating crystals flared to life, projecting a complex, three-dimensional diagram of magical energy flowing through a wizard's body.
"The core tenets are simple," he declared, his voice gaining power. "First, all power operates on discernible principles. Understand the principle, and you master the power. Second, knowledge is not to be hoarded, but shared. Third, theory is useless without practical application."
He looked at the two nervous Slytherins. "This club knows no houses. It knows no blood status. The only requirement is a genuine desire to learn."
A wave of excited murmuring rippled through the crowd.
"What will we do?" Zhang Ming continued. "Three things. First, systematic education. I will teach the fundamental principles of magic—energy control, runic theory, alchemical basics. Second, practical research. We will work together to optimize spells, create new ones, and improve magical devices. Third, we will disseminate this knowledge. We will write texts. We will share our findings."
"But first," he said, the projection shifting to display a bold title: The Wave-Frequency Theory of Spell-Casting. "We must build a proper foundation. Why do we need incantations? Why do specific words produce specific effects?"
The room was silent, captivated.
"The answer is frequency," Zhang Ming stated. "An incantation is a sonic key. It vibrates at a specific frequency that resonates with your magical core, tuning your raw magical energy to a precise 'waveband' required for the spell. The wand acts as an amplifier and focus."
The crystal projection beautifully illustrated the process: the spoken word creating vibrational waves that shaped the wizard's magic, which the wand then launched as a coherent beam of energy.
"Therefore," Hermione Granger interjected, her eyes wide with revelation, "silent casting is simply the ability to generate that correct frequency internally, without the vocal crutch!"
"Precisely, Miss Granger! Ten points to Gryffindor for superb comprehension!" Zhang Ming praised. "Our goal is to bypass the intermediary. To learn direct frequency control control."
To demonstrate, he extended his hand. Five distinct beams of light—red, blue, green, yellow, and white—shot from his fingertips, swirled around each other, and then merged into a single, brilliant orb of shimmering energy. "Master this, and you can cast multiple spells at once. Or… create entirely new ones."
The hall erupted in gasps. Even Dumbledore leaned forward, his twinkling eyes wide with astonishment.
For the next hour, Zhang Ming held them spellbound. He explained magical theory with a clarity they had never experienced, using animated models and crystal-clear logic. He then activated the room's resonance array.
"Now, close your eyes. Feel the vibration within you. That is your magical core's native frequency."
A collective intake of breath was heard as dozens of students successfully achieved 'Internal Vision' for the first time, guided by the array's amplifying effect.
"Now, the frequency for Lumos," Zhang Ming announced, adjusting the array.
A soft humfilled the room. A moment later, the hall was illuminated by the light of over eighty wand tips glowing simultaneously, without a single incantation being spoken. Then he guided them through the frequencies for Wingardium Leviosa, and a shower of quills and parchment floated into the air. The demonstrations continued, each one more breathtaking than the last.
The look of pure, unadulterated joy on Neville Longbottom's face as he made his feather float perfectly said more than any speech ever could.
When the practical session ended, the applause was thunderous, lasting for a full two minutes. Tears streamed down the faces of students who had always struggled with magic.
Dumbledore rose to his feet, his expression one of profound respect. "Mr. Zhang," he he announced, his voice echoing in the sudden silence. "By the authority vested in me as Headmaster of Hogwarts, I hereby grant the Science and Cultivation Research Club my official recognition and full support!"
The cheers were deafening.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Zhang Ming said with a bow.
"Now," Zhang Ming said, raising his hands for quiet. "Let the enrollment begin! The only requirements are a love of learning, a commitment to using knowledge responsibly, and a spirit of collaboration. All in favor?"
A forest of hands shot up.
"Excellent. You are all now founding members! Furthermore, I will select a core group of ten members. They will receive personal tutelage, advanced materials, and…" he paused for effect, "...a custom-made personal flight talisman."
The hall exploded again. A real flying sword!
"Selection will be based on three criteria: theoretical understanding, practical control, and most importantly, character. The trials will be in one month."
He appointed his core team: Terry Boot as head assistant, Hermione Granger for research, Harry Potter for practical defense, and Ron Weasley for logistics and morale.
As the meeting adjourned, students left in a state of exhilarated chatter, their minds buzzing with new possibilities.
Dumbledore approached Zhang Ming. "A word, my boy?" he asked quietly. They moved to a corner. "Your goal… what is it, truly?"
Zhang Ming met the old wizard's gaze. "To make magic belong to everyone, Headmaster. To break down the walls that privilege builds. To replace superstition with understanding."
Dumbledore's eyes grew moist. "That… was my dream, once. A dream I failed. I see in you the purity of purpose I lost. You have my support, Zhang Ming. Unwaveringly."
"Thank you, Professor. That means a great deal."
Later, in his room, Zhang Ming reviewed the night's success.
[Science and Cultivation Research Club: Officially Founded!]
[Charter Members: 87]
[Dumbledore's Official Sanction: Obtained. Influence multiplier activated.]
[World Rule Analysis: 8.92%]
[New Achievement: 'The Reformer' Unlocked]
[New Feature: 'Group Cultivation Mode' Available]
A satisfying start. But as he checked his spiritual surveillance monitors, a cold smile touched his lips. The feed showed Lucius Malfoy in his study, face grim as he read Draco's frantic letter. He was already drafting a missive to the Ministry.
So the pawn moves,Zhang Ming thought. Let him come. Let the Ministry come. It's time to clear out the rot.