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chapter 156 part 2
Adams offered his friendly advice, and William decided to follow it.
He couldn't exactly hang a sign around his neck that read, 'The Diadem is with Dumbledore, don't come looking for me.' That would be a direct slap in the face.
According to Adams, those professors would probably try their best to create "accidental" encounters to probe him, or just ask bluntly. William hadn't had much contact with these professors, but just hearing Adams' description gave him a headache.
Explaining to each of them one by one would take forever, and he'd have to be careful not to speak too hastily and damage relationships.
'It's all on you, Adams. I haven't even used this Diadem, and it's already causing me so much trouble...'
William shook his head with a smile and walked towards his office. He might as well spend the afternoon researching Transfiguration in his office.
---
'Transfiguration can even briefly create life, but that is merely the influence of magic...'
William read the information with a look of utter confusion...
The concept of creating life was far too grand. He didn't know if it was due to a lack of talent or some other reason, but his research into Transfiguration was nowhere near as intuitive as his grasp of the course now known as Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was having difficulty just understanding the textbook.
'And this is just the Fourth Year textbook!'
William couldn't help but scratch his head. The two strongest cards he had drawn were from Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, and the card descriptions had clearly stated that both possessed formidable skill in Transfiguration. Just looking at Dumbledore's ability to animate any object to block magic—a skill he never showed in front of students or teachers—was enough to know how helpful Transfiguration was in combat.
'Many forms of Dark Magic are significantly weakened when passing through a living creature, rather than exploding violently as they do upon hitting a solid object. So, creating life temporarily is the right approach?'
'In that case, would wearing a suit of insect armor be able to block most Dark Magic spells?'
'Turn insects into part of the clothing, fashioning armor that way, and then have them rapidly transfigure when hit by a spell?'
'Or, what if I wear one of those outfits covered in shiny sequins—what are they called? Whatever. The point is, wear that kind of clothing and then temporarily transform the shiny decorations into insects or something similar to block magic. Is that feasible?'
...
'What kind of nonsense are you thinking!' William shook his head, clearing the ideas that had popped into his mind. He briefly jotted the thought down in his notebook before casting it aside. He hadn't even learned to walk yet, and he was already thinking about running...
'If I really had that kind of strength, I might as well do as Dumbledore does in secret—block spells with a casual wave of my hand. Animated objects are in every way more reliable than turning things into a swarm of creatures.'
'Wait, in that case, what if I carried a few white mice or beetles with me? Would that—'
'Stop it, William! You're studying Transfiguration. And if raising white mice was really that reliable, you'd be better off not bathing and raising fleas instead. At least they're numerous and take up less space...'
His research into Transfiguration wasn't going smoothly. Feeling a bit frustrated, William finally used a peppermint candy to suppress his chaotic thoughts.
He jotted down his recent train of thought in his notebook again and then began to delve deeper into the textbook.
---
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock came at his office door, causing William's already furrowed brow to tighten further.
'Don't tell me it's about the Diadem again. Go find Dumbledore, will you!'
"Come in."
After venting his frustration with a silent complaint, William called out politely to the doorway.
The door opened, and the person who entered was someone he had not expected at all—Hermione Granger, the very student who had taught him a good lesson at the start of school.
'This is my office, right?'
William glanced around, not entirely sure, before finally concluding that yes, this was his office.
"Uh, excuse me, if I recall correctly, you are Miss Granger?"
"Yes, Professor..."
The little girl who had dared to jump off the train at the start of school was surprisingly demure today.
"I'm not in charge of the second-year curriculum. That's Professor Lockhart's business. His office is on another floor. You've come to the wrong place, young lady."
William spoke quickly. He was annoyed enough as it was. If the visitor had been one of his own students, that would be one thing, but in this situation, it was best to just pass the buck.
"Um, sorry, Professor. Professor McGonagall recommended I come see you. My performance in Transfiguration class today was terrible, and Professor McGonagall suggested I come talk with you..."
The little girl's voice grew quieter and quieter, but William knew better.
'Poor performance in Transfiguration class? I think I know what you're insinuating!'
"I remember everyone saying you were unanimously recognized as the top of your year?" William asked, then began rummaging through his pouch. 'She's here to "talk," but does she mean she wants the second-year exam questions?'
Speaking of which, he had created the exam questions for the First Year Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor McGonagall had even asked him for a copy later, saying she wanted to use it as a reference, but he hadn't heard anything back since.
'Could it be that this child was getting too full of herself in class, and Professor McGonagall thought she needed to be taken down a peg?'
Otherwise, why would she come to him for poor performance in Transfiguration? He didn't even teach the subject...
"Have a seat, young lady. You've finished pre-studying your second-year courses, haven't you?"
William asked the question to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"Of course, Professor. I finished most of my pre-study during the summer holiday."
Hermione nodded repeatedly. After her conversation with Professor McGonagall, she had built up some resistance to the wildly rumored Diadem, but Professor McGonagall had still recommended she come here.
'Is this a test to see if I'm worthy of approaching the Diadem?'
'You can do it, Hermione! Show those gossipers that your hard work can't be nullified by a single Diadem!'
Before she even saw what was written on the parchment, Hermione began to psych herself up. It was embarrassing enough to be called in for a talk due to poor performance because of that Diadem. Now that an exam—her forte—was here, she couldn't afford to slack off.
(end of chapter)
Adams offered his friendly advice, and William decided to follow it.
He couldn't exactly hang a sign around his neck that read, 'The Diadem is with Dumbledore, don't come looking for me.' That would be a direct slap in the face.
According to Adams, those professors would probably try their best to create "accidental" encounters to probe him, or just ask bluntly. William hadn't had much contact with these professors, but just hearing Adams' description gave him a headache.
Explaining to each of them one by one would take forever, and he'd have to be careful not to speak too hastily and damage relationships.
'It's all on you, Adams. I haven't even used this Diadem, and it's already causing me so much trouble...'
William shook his head with a smile and walked towards his office. He might as well spend the afternoon researching Transfiguration in his office.
---
'Transfiguration can even briefly create life, but that is merely the influence of magic...'
William read the information with a look of utter confusion...
The concept of creating life was far too grand. He didn't know if it was due to a lack of talent or some other reason, but his research into Transfiguration was nowhere near as intuitive as his grasp of the course now known as Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was having difficulty just understanding the textbook.
'And this is just the Fourth Year textbook!'
William couldn't help but scratch his head. The two strongest cards he had drawn were from Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, and the card descriptions had clearly stated that both possessed formidable skill in Transfiguration. Just looking at Dumbledore's ability to animate any object to block magic—a skill he never showed in front of students or teachers—was enough to know how helpful Transfiguration was in combat.
'Many forms of Dark Magic are significantly weakened when passing through a living creature, rather than exploding violently as they do upon hitting a solid object. So, creating life temporarily is the right approach?'
'In that case, would wearing a suit of insect armor be able to block most Dark Magic spells?'
'Turn insects into part of the clothing, fashioning armor that way, and then have them rapidly transfigure when hit by a spell?'
'Or, what if I wear one of those outfits covered in shiny sequins—what are they called? Whatever. The point is, wear that kind of clothing and then temporarily transform the shiny decorations into insects or something similar to block magic. Is that feasible?'
...
'What kind of nonsense are you thinking!' William shook his head, clearing the ideas that had popped into his mind. He briefly jotted the thought down in his notebook before casting it aside. He hadn't even learned to walk yet, and he was already thinking about running...
'If I really had that kind of strength, I might as well do as Dumbledore does in secret—block spells with a casual wave of my hand. Animated objects are in every way more reliable than turning things into a swarm of creatures.'
'Wait, in that case, what if I carried a few white mice or beetles with me? Would that—'
'Stop it, William! You're studying Transfiguration. And if raising white mice was really that reliable, you'd be better off not bathing and raising fleas instead. At least they're numerous and take up less space...'
His research into Transfiguration wasn't going smoothly. Feeling a bit frustrated, William finally used a peppermint candy to suppress his chaotic thoughts.
He jotted down his recent train of thought in his notebook again and then began to delve deeper into the textbook.
---
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knock came at his office door, causing William's already furrowed brow to tighten further.
'Don't tell me it's about the Diadem again. Go find Dumbledore, will you!'
"Come in."
After venting his frustration with a silent complaint, William called out politely to the doorway.
The door opened, and the person who entered was someone he had not expected at all—Hermione Granger, the very student who had taught him a good lesson at the start of school.
'This is my office, right?'
William glanced around, not entirely sure, before finally concluding that yes, this was his office.
"Uh, excuse me, if I recall correctly, you are Miss Granger?"
"Yes, Professor..."
The little girl who had dared to jump off the train at the start of school was surprisingly demure today.
"I'm not in charge of the second-year curriculum. That's Professor Lockhart's business. His office is on another floor. You've come to the wrong place, young lady."
William spoke quickly. He was annoyed enough as it was. If the visitor had been one of his own students, that would be one thing, but in this situation, it was best to just pass the buck.
"Um, sorry, Professor. Professor McGonagall recommended I come see you. My performance in Transfiguration class today was terrible, and Professor McGonagall suggested I come talk with you..."
The little girl's voice grew quieter and quieter, but William knew better.
'Poor performance in Transfiguration class? I think I know what you're insinuating!'
"I remember everyone saying you were unanimously recognized as the top of your year?" William asked, then began rummaging through his pouch. 'She's here to "talk," but does she mean she wants the second-year exam questions?'
Speaking of which, he had created the exam questions for the First Year Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor McGonagall had even asked him for a copy later, saying she wanted to use it as a reference, but he hadn't heard anything back since.
'Could it be that this child was getting too full of herself in class, and Professor McGonagall thought she needed to be taken down a peg?'
Otherwise, why would she come to him for poor performance in Transfiguration? He didn't even teach the subject...
"Have a seat, young lady. You've finished pre-studying your second-year courses, haven't you?"
William asked the question to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"Of course, Professor. I finished most of my pre-study during the summer holiday."
Hermione nodded repeatedly. After her conversation with Professor McGonagall, she had built up some resistance to the wildly rumored Diadem, but Professor McGonagall had still recommended she come here.
'Is this a test to see if I'm worthy of approaching the Diadem?'
'You can do it, Hermione! Show those gossipers that your hard work can't be nullified by a single Diadem!'
Before she even saw what was written on the parchment, Hermione began to psych herself up. It was embarrassing enough to be called in for a talk due to poor performance because of that Diadem. Now that an exam—her forte—was here, she couldn't afford to slack off.
(end of chapter)
