บท 94: Lockhart
Alex leaned in slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "No joke. But Muggles have weapons that powerful. That's why keeping the 'Statute of Secrecy' intact is so important—it's the best way to keep everyone safe. But..." He paused, his expression darkening.
"But what?" Hagrid pressed.
"If wizards keep staying ignorant about Muggles, thinking of them only through outdated stories, it creates this… arrogant sense of superiority. That kind of ignorance is dangerous. It's what gave rise to groups like the Death Eaters."
Hagrid's face fell, his expression serious. "So you're saying even if we defeat the Death Eaters now, something like this could happen again? Another group could just pop up?"
Alex nodded. "Exactly. It's happened before. Grindelwald almost swept through the magical world with similar ideas. And even now, groups like the 'Scavenger' in Northern Europe or the 'Pure Land Society' are still causing trouble. Wizards who don't understand Muggles can easily fall into believing they're superior. Once they start thinking like that, they're easy targets for manipulation."
Hagrid's jaw dropped, as though his entire worldview had been flipped upside down. "Merlin's beard... I never knew it was so complicated."
Alex offered a reassuring smile. "That's why we've got to stay strong, Hagrid. It's the only way we can shape our own future. But," he added, closing the book he'd been reading, "those problems are a long way off. For now, let's just enjoy Christmas dinner."
Reaching into his bag, Alex pulled out a small, silver-white coin and slid it across the table. "Oh, and here—Merry Christmas."
Hagrid picked up the coin, examining it curiously under the dim light. "What's this? Doesn't look like a Sickle."
Alex smiled. "It's a communication coin. Not fully functional yet, but it does a few things. The side with the sword is the front; the ouroboros is the back. It's an alchemy tool I made recently."
Hagrid turned it over in his massive hands, studying it with interest. "A communication coin? You're telling me this little thing can send messages?"
"Exactly. If you're ever in danger, channel your magic into the sword side. It'll alert me, and I'll be able to find your location. The ouroboros side works for regular messages—activate it, and I'll know to meet you at the hut."
Over the next two days, Alex carefully etched runes onto the boots, using the Innocent Hammer to strengthen their durability and enhance their magical properties. By the time he finished, it was noon, and students were returning to Hogwarts for the start of term the next day. Admiring his work, Alex decided to name the boots Phase Shoes.
He slipped them on, clicking his heels to activate the enchantments. The runes lit up faintly, glowing in sequence. Leaning forward, he tested the boots, and with a sudden rush of wind, he shot forward almost instantly, covering twenty meters in just over a second.
He assessed the speed, nodding in satisfaction. "That's about six seconds for a hundred meters—faster than an Olympic sprinter. Good enough. Let's see how they handle climbing."
Picking up speed, Alex sprinted down a path toward a stone pillar. With a powerful leap, he jumped over two meters high, kicked off the stone, and ran up the side of the pillar, scaling over ten meters. With a final push, he flipped off the top, landing smoothly and raising his arms like a gymnast finishing a routine.
"The shock absorption is solid," he noted, "and they're nearly silent. But they use about three times the energy of normal running. It's exhausting." He frowned thoughtfully. "These boots aren't practical for everyday use, but in a fight, they're perfect. Short bursts will save energy and keep things under control," he concluded, pleased with the results.
Later that day, Alex headed to the library. He couldn't stop thinking about the tragedy of the Longbottoms, and although it seemed unlikely, he felt compelled to research memory magic in hopes of finding a way to help them.
"Mrs. Pince, where can I find books on memory magic?" he asked the stern librarian, who was familiar with his frequent visits.
"Memory magic?" she repeated thoughtfully. "Try shelf twenty, seventh row. You should find something useful there."
"Thank you," Alex said, heading to the spot she'd mentioned. He scanned the titles and pulled out Introduction to the Forgetfulness Charm, flipping through its pages. Unfortunately, it mostly focused on techniques for erasing memories, not restoring them. He frowned, feeling a little discouraged.
"Looking into memory magic, are we?" A light, mocking voice interrupted his thoughts.
Alex turned to see an older boy wearing a flashy blue robe that smelled overwhelmingly of perfume. "Yes, senior?" Alex replied politely, not recognizing him. Alex rarely interacted with other students and didn't know many of them.
"You're in luck!" the boy announced with a grin. "I'm not only skilled in countless spells, but also quite popular with the ladies. If you need help, I'm your man." He flashed a dazzling smile, clearly fishing for admiration.
Alex felt awkward but didn't want to be rude. He forced a polite smile. "If you're offering advice, I'd be grateful, senior."
"Of course!" the boy said dramatically. "Consider it my way of giving back to the magical community. As someone admired across all grades, I take pride in helping young wizards thrive." He strutted to a nearby shelf, pulled out an excessively thick book, and handed it to Alex with a flourish.
"This gem, The Brain and Memory Arts, is just what you need," he declared. "I only read a few chapters, and my Memory Charm became flawless." He winked theatrically.
Alex hesitated, taking the book. Before he could respond, a familiar voice cut in. "Lockhart, are you bothering students again?"
Alex turned to see Senior Vanessa approaching with a stern look.
"Vanessa!" Lockhart exclaimed with exaggerated delight. "About that love letter you sent me—I've been meaning to reply, but you know, with so many admirers, it's hard to keep up. Surely, you understand."
Vanessa's expression turned cold as she drew her wand. Startled, Lockhart shrank back and quickly disappeared.
Alex let out a sigh of relief. "He runs fast. Thanks, Senior Vanessa." He paused, then teased, "Wait, did I hear that right? A love letter?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Not a chance. That's Gilderoy Lockhart—a fraud and an insufferable show-off. A few years ago, he faked hundreds of love letters to himself on Valentine's Day to seem popular. He even forged one from Professor McGonagall."
Alex laughed. "Wow, he's bold, I'll give him that."
"Nobody likes him," Vanessa muttered. "He just shows off to younger students who don't know him yet. I can't wait for him to graduate. One less headache."
"Looking forward to it too," Alex said, amused.
Vanessa's expression softened. "Anyway, stay sharp. Not everyone here is your friend."
"Thanks for the warning, Senior Vanessa," Alex said with a nod.
After she left, Alex glanced down at the hefty book. Flipping through its pages, he found himself intrigued. It covered memory magic, thought runes, and the intricate structure of the Obliviate spell. "Well, maybe Lockhart isn't completely useless," Alex muttered, smiling as he checked the book out.
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