บท 46: 46
Chapter 46: Notice Prohibiting the Use of Magic
The house-elf regarded him with childlike, clear eyes.
"Is Wade Grey feeling down?"
"Uh—" Wade hesitated, sighed, and turned the magic bean in his hand. "Not down, exactly. Just that I've realized my thoughts were a bit..."
Dark.
He swallowed the word and continued, "...Maybe bordering on paranoia? I've been entertaining uncharitable thoughts about a professor who has shown nothing but kindness to me..."
"Wade Grey is not wrong!" Zoe interjected suddenly.
"—Zoe?"
"Professor Murray is a good man, but Wade Grey is right to be cautious," Zoe nodded emphatically. "Zoe knows of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who tried to harm a third-year girl and was sent to Azkaban. There was another who used dark magic on students and met the same fate. And yet another who exploited students' trust, luring them into danger with dark wizards for ransom."
Wade chuckled, "Also ended up in Azkaban?"
Zoe shook her head, "His wand exploded due to a misfired spell, and he perished."
"All Defense Against the Dark Arts professors... It's quite a track record," Wade lamented.
"The Defense Against the Dark Arts position changes rapidly, and some unsavory characters fill it. Quirrell was no exception. Wade Grey must remain vigilant," Zoe advised gravely.
"I will," Wade sighed.
---
Upon waking the next morning, Wade waved his wand to check the time.
Golden letters materialized: **[07:00 AM]**.
It was Friday, with no morning classes scheduled, and most students opted to sleep in. As Wade strolled through the common room, only two fifth-year students sat by the fireplace, engrossed in books.
—Poor upperclassmen.
Wade felt a pang of sympathy.
Using his wand, he conjured a ball of blue flame and captured it in a bottle. With this, he could brave the chill when venturing outside.
Tomorrow, Wade would board the train home. He resolved to visit the library after breakfast, borrowing as many books as possible to make good use of his time over the break.
After a productive morning at the library, Wade returned to the Great Hall. There, he found Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick arranging Christmas decorations. He hurried over to lend a hand.
"Ah, Wade, thank you," Professor Flitwick beamed. "We're hanging these ribbons along the walls."
Several individuals, wands in hand, set about adorning the hall. Twelve majestic Christmas trees flanked each side, their boughs adorned with hundreds of candles that, under Professor Flitwick's guidance, glowed softly. His wand conjured golden bubbles that floated and clung to the tree branches.
Professor McGonagall tapped the ice crystals adorning the trees with her wand, transfiguring some into shimmering creatures or tiny bells, leaving the students in awe of her effortless Transfiguration skills.
More students arrived to assist, showcasing their creativity. Some crafted golden stars, others fashioned proud deer, and a few even made miniature sleighs glide through the hall, earning Gryffindor house additional points.
Of course, not every magical endeavor succeeded. A Slytherin boy attempted to conjure candles, only for his spell to backfire spectacularly. The tip of his wand exploded, leaving his face blackened and his peers amused.
Soon, the hall looked entirely transformed. Michael, joining them for breakfast, spoke wistfully, "You know, Wade, I miss my family terribly. But—"
He toyed with the tree branches, causing the ice hamster hanging there to squeak.
"Christmas at Hogwarts seems quite delightful..."
It was clear he wished to linger.
"Wade, Michael, there you are." West, the sixth-year prefect, approached, handing them both sheets of parchment. "Come, sign these."
Michael took one. "Notice Prohibiting the Use of Magic During the Holidays? Why should I sign this? I'm a wizard!"
"Yes, but you're underage," West nodded, urging them on. "Hurry, I still need to find Anthony and the others."
Wade read over the notice—
**[Under the "Reasonable Restraint of Underage Wizards Act," underage wizards must observe the following restrictions during holidays:]**
**Firstly, wizards under the age of seventeen are minors and are prohibited from using magic outside of school grounds.**
**Secondly, underage wizards must uphold the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and refrain from performing magic in a manner that could expose the wizarding world to Muggles.**
**Thirdly, any deliberate use of magic in front of Muggles is a criminal offense, punishable by Ministry warning. Severe cases may lead to expulsion...**
Several more prohibitions followed, all emphasizing the prohibition against magic and the need to keep magical activities hidden from Muggles.
Wade recalled from his studies in magical history that Muggles had hunted wizards aggressively since the 15th century. Despite wizards' individual power, their social structure was vulnerable. Apart from travel, wizards relied on the Muggle world for sustenance, which often exposed their identities.
For over two centuries, wizards faced persecution. Texts, like "A History of Magic," glossed over this tense period, focusing instead on eccentric witches like Wendelin, who enjoyed being bound and "burned" but survived by changing appearances forty-seven times.
While "A History of Magic" cited such examples to debunk witch-burning, the reality was many witches faced execution.
In truth, countless ordinary women were mistaken for witches and met the same fate.
Staring at the notice—a seemingly mundane piece of parchment now etched with a complex magical circuit—Wade signed his name quickly under West's watchful gaze.
As he signed, Wade felt an invisible contract binding him.
"Don't think you can practice magic covertly at home," West warned finally. "Underage wizards leave traces. If you're caught using magic, the Ministry will detect it immediately. Every year, a few fools receive warning letters. I hope you won't be among them."
---
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