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Chapter 76: New Cards and a Scheduled Test
Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
[Creator of Dark Magic Snape (SR); Few sixth-year students can independently create a magic spell while still underage, let alone one as profoundly difficult as Dark Magic. Skill Insight: Tear this card, and for the next twenty-four hours, your inspiration will gush forth. —Felix Felicis? That thing relies on luck. I trust more in everything I've accumulated.]
[Master Occlumens Snape (SR); Magic that targets memory is the most terrifying form of wizardry, and Occlumency is the strongest shield against it. Skill Memorize (Automatic): This card is automatically destroyed when any memory-related magic takes effect, and for the next twenty-four hours, it will defend against all magic targeting memory. —The Imperius Curse? If you remember who you are, it's nothing more than someone else's muttering.]
The last was a duplicate of a previous card, a Death Eater card.
Without a doubt, the first card was discarded. If the second card didn't have an automatic activation option, William might have taken a bet on the effect of the first one. However, a defensive card that could activate automatically—and one that defended against memory spells, the most difficult to resist in Dark Magic—was simply too good to pass up.
Researching Dark Magic was one of the most dangerous things one could do. The books that recorded Dark Magic alone posed a host of dangers—most books on the subject had extremely malevolent effects.
Some books would make the reader unknowingly forget who they were. Some would lure the souls of the weak-willed. Others would drain the reader's blood, and still others could alter the reader's memories. Unless one was a top-tier master of Dark Magic, no one could guarantee they wouldn't meet with disaster while reading those books.
One could prepare for the other dangers, but when it came to those targeting memory, no amount of defense was ever enough. Otherwise, you were just waiting to go mad.
Since it was a rare opportunity, he went ahead and opened the other two trunks as well.
[Herbology Expert · Treatment Adams (SR): Herbs are the most miraculous products of the entire Wizarding World. While they may not be as swift as spells when it comes to inflicting harm, nothing is more reassuring than herbs when it comes to saving lives. Skill Survive: Tear this card, and for the next hour, you will gain a special perception, allowing you to sift through a sufficient quantity of herbs and select those effective at dispelling a series of negative conditions such as current injuries, curses, or toxins. —I reckon this one, this one, and... this one.]
[Fleeing Adams (R); Back when Adams was a student, whenever students from his House dueled in secret, he could always find a safe corner. Skill Evade: Tear this card, and for the next half hour, you will be able to find a hiding place in the shortest possible time. —If you can't win, run.]
[Herbology Professor Adams (R); There are many herbs in the world, and we might not be able to identify all of them in a lifetime, but extrapolating the unknown from the known is effective in most cases. Skill Erudition: Tear this card, and for the next hour, you will be able to deduce the efficacy of an unknown herb in the shortest possible time. —Although I've never seen it before, it should work like this.]
Without a doubt, he chose the first one. Although the "I reckon" part sounded unreliable, its effect was clearly the best among the cards.
[Alchemy Expert · Artificer Singeade (SR): Alchemy, a profession whose highest achievement is the Philosopher's Stone, has always been admired by people. And Singeade is one of the best in the field. Skill Creation: Prepare sufficient ingredients, a good working environment, then tear this card to construct an excellent alchemical experiment. —For alchemy, success is the most magnificent thing.]
[Poison Maker Singeade (R): Compared to simple herbs and brewed potions, poisons created through alchemical reactions are even more terrifying due to their unpredictability. Skill Chaos: Tear this card. The target potion brewing is guaranteed to succeed, but the potion's effect will be severely mutated.]
And then there was a Meal Coupon.
The second card seemed perfect for assassinations no matter how you looked at it—but its effects were too uncertain. With that kind of time, you'd be better off casting Avada Kedavra while under a Shield Charm.
Thus, he took the first card.
'Without even realizing it, I've accumulated so many cards, huh?'
William tapped on his inventory and found that his cards now took up more than one page. He even had a few Meal Coupons, which could allow him to reuse cards.
Since most of them were single-use cards, he couldn't even bear to use them—wasting something like a Meal Coupon on a low-level card would be too extravagant.
'The next one. The very next one. The next time I get a Meal Coupon, no matter how extravagant it is, I have to experiment with a card's effect. Otherwise, if something really happens and it's my first time trying it, the risk will be far too great.'
In the library, William, who was opening the trunks under the cover of his books, silently set a deadline for himself.
The incident at noon was more or less over. No matter how angry Professor Snape was, he couldn't possibly announce the matter in public. Besides, could you really give a student detention for the reason of "why are you wearing a hat"?
'Wait, detention?'
William suddenly realized something was wrong.
If he remembered correctly, at the Hog's Head Inn, he himself had announced that two students must serve detention—and on a weekend.
'Am I giving them detention, or myself?! I had plans for this weekend!'
If his schedule hadn't been conflicted, William had originally planned to find Hagrid on Saturday, and the two of them would go for a drink at The Leaky Cauldron. He could also take the opportunity to check in on Old Tom.
As for Sunday, he had planned to do some proper shopping. Although he had packed a fair bit of luggage already, after arriving at Hogwarts, he realized he was short of a few things no matter how he calculated. He had to restock—after all, he intended to stay in his position as a professor for the full term, which clearly wasn't something he could just make do with.
But now, all those plans had gone down the drain. He had to see through the detention he'd assigned outside the Hog's Head Inn, even if he had to cry his way through it. Speaking of which, this was his first time giving students detention. If he canceled it so easily, how could he manage the students in the future?
'I hope those two students don't cause any trouble. It's just copying History of Magic. Having to stay at school over the weekend is already mentally exhausting enough.'
William, who had been gaining quite a bit from his reading, now felt none of the joy of acquiring knowledge. He couldn't even bring himself to continue reading his book.
'Forget it. It's almost time for dinner. I'll head to the Great Hall. No more reading. I won't borrow any books today.'
---
However, just as William arrived at the dining table and sat down, Professor McGonagall appeared, as if by magic.
"Ah, good evening, Professor McGonagall."
"Good evening, Professor William."
Professor McGonagall wore a conflicted expression—speaking of which, this wasn't the first time William had seen such a look on the professor's face.
'Being the Deputy Headmistress in charge of day-to-day affairs must be truly exhausting.'
So, William proactively offered her an opening.
"Professor McGonagall, is there anything I can help with?"
A rare look of embarrassment appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. "I'm sorry, Professor William, but could we talk about the matter of the Weasley brothers' detention?"
(end of chapter)
Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
[Creator of Dark Magic Snape (SR); Few sixth-year students can independently create a magic spell while still underage, let alone one as profoundly difficult as Dark Magic. Skill Insight: Tear this card, and for the next twenty-four hours, your inspiration will gush forth. —Felix Felicis? That thing relies on luck. I trust more in everything I've accumulated.]
[Master Occlumens Snape (SR); Magic that targets memory is the most terrifying form of wizardry, and Occlumency is the strongest shield against it. Skill Memorize (Automatic): This card is automatically destroyed when any memory-related magic takes effect, and for the next twenty-four hours, it will defend against all magic targeting memory. —The Imperius Curse? If you remember who you are, it's nothing more than someone else's muttering.]
The last was a duplicate of a previous card, a Death Eater card.
Without a doubt, the first card was discarded. If the second card didn't have an automatic activation option, William might have taken a bet on the effect of the first one. However, a defensive card that could activate automatically—and one that defended against memory spells, the most difficult to resist in Dark Magic—was simply too good to pass up.
Researching Dark Magic was one of the most dangerous things one could do. The books that recorded Dark Magic alone posed a host of dangers—most books on the subject had extremely malevolent effects.
Some books would make the reader unknowingly forget who they were. Some would lure the souls of the weak-willed. Others would drain the reader's blood, and still others could alter the reader's memories. Unless one was a top-tier master of Dark Magic, no one could guarantee they wouldn't meet with disaster while reading those books.
One could prepare for the other dangers, but when it came to those targeting memory, no amount of defense was ever enough. Otherwise, you were just waiting to go mad.
Since it was a rare opportunity, he went ahead and opened the other two trunks as well.
[Herbology Expert · Treatment Adams (SR): Herbs are the most miraculous products of the entire Wizarding World. While they may not be as swift as spells when it comes to inflicting harm, nothing is more reassuring than herbs when it comes to saving lives. Skill Survive: Tear this card, and for the next hour, you will gain a special perception, allowing you to sift through a sufficient quantity of herbs and select those effective at dispelling a series of negative conditions such as current injuries, curses, or toxins. —I reckon this one, this one, and... this one.]
[Fleeing Adams (R); Back when Adams was a student, whenever students from his House dueled in secret, he could always find a safe corner. Skill Evade: Tear this card, and for the next half hour, you will be able to find a hiding place in the shortest possible time. —If you can't win, run.]
[Herbology Professor Adams (R); There are many herbs in the world, and we might not be able to identify all of them in a lifetime, but extrapolating the unknown from the known is effective in most cases. Skill Erudition: Tear this card, and for the next hour, you will be able to deduce the efficacy of an unknown herb in the shortest possible time. —Although I've never seen it before, it should work like this.]
Without a doubt, he chose the first one. Although the "I reckon" part sounded unreliable, its effect was clearly the best among the cards.
[Alchemy Expert · Artificer Singeade (SR): Alchemy, a profession whose highest achievement is the Philosopher's Stone, has always been admired by people. And Singeade is one of the best in the field. Skill Creation: Prepare sufficient ingredients, a good working environment, then tear this card to construct an excellent alchemical experiment. —For alchemy, success is the most magnificent thing.]
[Poison Maker Singeade (R): Compared to simple herbs and brewed potions, poisons created through alchemical reactions are even more terrifying due to their unpredictability. Skill Chaos: Tear this card. The target potion brewing is guaranteed to succeed, but the potion's effect will be severely mutated.]
And then there was a Meal Coupon.
The second card seemed perfect for assassinations no matter how you looked at it—but its effects were too uncertain. With that kind of time, you'd be better off casting Avada Kedavra while under a Shield Charm.
Thus, he took the first card.
'Without even realizing it, I've accumulated so many cards, huh?'
William tapped on his inventory and found that his cards now took up more than one page. He even had a few Meal Coupons, which could allow him to reuse cards.
Since most of them were single-use cards, he couldn't even bear to use them—wasting something like a Meal Coupon on a low-level card would be too extravagant.
'The next one. The very next one. The next time I get a Meal Coupon, no matter how extravagant it is, I have to experiment with a card's effect. Otherwise, if something really happens and it's my first time trying it, the risk will be far too great.'
In the library, William, who was opening the trunks under the cover of his books, silently set a deadline for himself.
The incident at noon was more or less over. No matter how angry Professor Snape was, he couldn't possibly announce the matter in public. Besides, could you really give a student detention for the reason of "why are you wearing a hat"?
'Wait, detention?'
William suddenly realized something was wrong.
If he remembered correctly, at the Hog's Head Inn, he himself had announced that two students must serve detention—and on a weekend.
'Am I giving them detention, or myself?! I had plans for this weekend!'
If his schedule hadn't been conflicted, William had originally planned to find Hagrid on Saturday, and the two of them would go for a drink at The Leaky Cauldron. He could also take the opportunity to check in on Old Tom.
As for Sunday, he had planned to do some proper shopping. Although he had packed a fair bit of luggage already, after arriving at Hogwarts, he realized he was short of a few things no matter how he calculated. He had to restock—after all, he intended to stay in his position as a professor for the full term, which clearly wasn't something he could just make do with.
But now, all those plans had gone down the drain. He had to see through the detention he'd assigned outside the Hog's Head Inn, even if he had to cry his way through it. Speaking of which, this was his first time giving students detention. If he canceled it so easily, how could he manage the students in the future?
'I hope those two students don't cause any trouble. It's just copying History of Magic. Having to stay at school over the weekend is already mentally exhausting enough.'
William, who had been gaining quite a bit from his reading, now felt none of the joy of acquiring knowledge. He couldn't even bring himself to continue reading his book.
'Forget it. It's almost time for dinner. I'll head to the Great Hall. No more reading. I won't borrow any books today.'
---
However, just as William arrived at the dining table and sat down, Professor McGonagall appeared, as if by magic.
"Ah, good evening, Professor McGonagall."
"Good evening, Professor William."
Professor McGonagall wore a conflicted expression—speaking of which, this wasn't the first time William had seen such a look on the professor's face.
'Being the Deputy Headmistress in charge of day-to-day affairs must be truly exhausting.'
So, William proactively offered her an opening.
"Professor McGonagall, is there anything I can help with?"
A rare look of embarrassment appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. "I'm sorry, Professor William, but could we talk about the matter of the Weasley brothers' detention?"
(end of chapter)
