Chapitre 95: Daphne's Bizarre Adventure Part 2
"Good day, children!" said Professor Burbage happily. "Today, we'll be learning about how Muggles move around. Can anyone name a Muggle mode of transportation?"
There were three types of students who took Muggle Studies. The first type: extremely sheltered Pure-Bloods who actually wanted to learn about their less magical brethren; they were the rarest. The second type: those whose hearts were filled with ambition. Taking Muggle Studies guaranteed certain positions at the Ministry, from where they could springboard into their political careers. And the last type: lazy Half-Blood students, who could take the class while sleeping and still pass with flying colours.
Actually, there was one final, extremely rare type of student who took this class. Those who collected class credits like they were Pokémon cards, and who didn't even need to take the class in the first place!
Daphne didn't bother answering the teacher in this class. She just reclined in her seat, drinking in the sunlight filtering through the window, and listening to the stupid answers others came up with, such as Pegasi-drawn carriages, kite-flying or subway surfing.
Near the end of the class, Professor Burbage placed a small toy car on the ground.
"Engorgio!" she chanted, before rapidly backing away.
The toy car had actually been a real car under the effects of the Shrinking Charm. It soon regained its former size and appearance, as the Engorgement Charm was the Shrinking Charm's Counter-Charm.
"There you have it," Professor Burbage said proudly. "The Citron Toosseevee!"
The bright yellow Citroën 2CV gleamed proudly in the morning sun in the middle of the classroom; a veritable dinosaur of a car, even for 1993.
"Citron is French for lemon," Professor Burbage explained. "As you can see, it sort of looks like a lemon, doesn't it? And that's where the name comes from."
Daphne seriously doubted that explanation could stand up to any sort of critical examination, but she was too lazy to care.
"This is an example of a car," Professor Burbage continued. "As Muggles cannot use magic, they developed these to move long distances! I'm told they run on petrol, which is liquified dragon bones! Amazing, isn't it?"
At this point, Hermione could no longer control herself and she raised her hand, wanting to correct the teacher, but fortunately for everyone in class, the bell rung.
"Come on, Hermione," said Daphne. "Arithmancy awaits."
As they exited the class, they ran into Ginny Weasley, who had been peering into the classroom curiously. After a quick greeting, Daphne and Hermione found a secluded corner, where they once again returned an hour into the past, after which they hurried to their next class, making it just in time.
"Let us start, shall we?" said Professor Vector once Daphne and Hermione had made it to their seats. "Last week, we learned the basics about Numerology; numbers have meaning. The number seven is especially meaningful, and sevens of sevens doubly so."
"Before we get started on our charts and matrices and predicting probabilities, there is one more thing you should learn. Names also have meaning. Why is that? Because we give them meaning. At the intersection of names and numbers lies the future, which is why we use charts."
Professor Vector paused a moment, before going off on a tangent.
"As with many types of magic, such as western Alchemy, the magic of names was born in Ancient Egypt. According to ancient Egyptian wizards, the name was a part of the soul, known as Ren. Now, who can give me an example of this branch of magic?"
Hermione instantly raised her hand.
"The Book and Quill of Acceptance," she recited. "They know the names of every child in the British Isles; when magic is detected in one of them, the Quill writes their name in the Book, so that Hogwarts sends them an acceptance letter when they turn eleven."
"A very good example," noted Professor Vector. "Five points to Gryffindor. Someone else?"
"Titles," said Daphne, raising her hand. "Albus Dumbledore, the Greatest Wizard of His Day. The Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Solomon the Wise. Emeric the Evil. Herpo the Foul. Lord V…Voldemort."
"V-very good, five points to Slytherin," said Professor Vector, losing her cool for a moment. "Titles are a mark of a Wizard's strength. Their powers grow their fame, or infamy, which in turn feeds them back ever greater strength. During the First Wizarding War, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named even cursed his own name, so that those brave enough to utter it would have their locations revealed to his followers."
"Leaving that aside, names are the proof of anything's existence in the astral world, which is something we'll make use of. Now, turn to page eleven of Numerology and Grammatica…"
After an arduous, but fascinating class, Hermione went up to Professor Vector to ask some questions, while Daphne hung around, waiting for her to finish. Unconsciously, she began playing around with the object in her pocket while she waited.
"That's right, Oleandra's precious music box," Daphne thought to herself. "Hold on, what was it that Professor Dumbledore had said in her first year? Music, magic beyond all we do here."
"Excuse me, Professor Vector?" Daphne said out loud. "I was wondering, if there's magic in numbers and names, could there be magic in music? See, my sister found this music box…"
"It's not my area of expertise," said Professor Vector, "But I'd say there's magic in pretty much anything. Merpeople's songs, for instance, but that's a question for your Care of Magical Creatures professor. Now, you were saying your sister found this? Revelio."
Professor Vector held up her wand to the music box Daphne was holding out.
"It doesn't seem to contain any Dark Magic," Professor Vector noted. "Why don't you try opening it, if you haven't already?"
Daphne gently opened the box. A crystalline figurine of a ballerina dancer emerged from within, standing on the tip of its toes. Just as she thought nothing else would happen, its handle started turning by itself. A peal of bells sounded, and the ballerina started jumping and dancing while a sad air started playing.
As soon as they heard the music playing, Hermione started solo ballroom dancing, while Professor Vector started dancing the metelytsia.
"Are you quite all right?" asked Daphne, amused at this strange sight.
"Close the box!" shouted Hermione and Professor Vector. It appeared that they weren't dancing of their own volition. Obviously.
"Fine, no need to shout," sniffed Daphne, closing the music box with a snap.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Azure_Abyss
Azure_Abyss Daphne's little adventure concludes in the next chapter!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone