Chương 73: Chapter 73: Apparition Tutelage

From the moment he first arrived in this new magical world, Sherlock Forester had been restless in his pursuit of self-improvement. Even now his insatiable thirst for knowledge bled into his hours beyond his teaching responsibilities as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Regardless of whether he could predict the plot progression, he could feel the undercurrent of danger that perpetually laced his life. He knew that honing his magical abilities was tantamount to equipping himself with the most basic protection against the unexpected.

Using the vast collection of the Hogwarts Library—the unparalleled bastion of all magical knowledge in Britain—as his primary educational base, coupled with the occasional exchange of ideas with revered Hogwarts professors like McGonagall and Flitwick, masters in their respective subjects, Transfiguration and Charms, Sherlock had assimilated an extensive plane of knowledge. It was a knowledge only enhanced by the experience amassed by the original owner. Subsequently, he found his pace of mastering magic accelerating far beyond what would normally be possible.

Before his arrival at Hogwarts, his magical prowess had hovered just above that of an average seventh-year Hogwarts student. However, in less than half a year, he made significant strides, uplifting himself to the standard of a slightly more accomplished adult wizard. Most magical techniques could be learned independently or by subtly probing the minds of the aforementioned professors. Sherlock mastered them with relative ease, well, all except one - Apparition. It remained an enigma, tantalizingly out of reach.

Due to safety measures, Hogwarts was shielded with spells preventing Apparation. This ability held significant importance in the wizarding community. Dumbledore himself was the only individual with the authority to lift such spells temporarily—and he rarely did, opting instead to teleport within the castle using his faithful phoenix, Fawkes. This arrangement had unfortunately left Sherlock in quite a predicament as he needed to practice Apparation without causing a stir.

Apparition posed several complex inherent risks; from accidental mishaps to catastrophic occurrences without immediate solutions. In the most severe cases, the result could be fatal. Even so, the necessity of mastering this skill was paramount for Sherlock. The original owner held an Apparation license issued by the Ministry of Magic. Displaying an unfamiliarity or an outright lack of fluency with such a rudimentary spell could spark uncomfortable questions.

Faced with this confounding situation, the clue to Sherlock's potential salvation appeared during an unexpected interaction with Argus Filch. He had gone to retrieve confiscations taken from the Weasley twins, Fred and George. On Filch's disorganized desk, amidst the usual chaos of confiscated items, a flyer stood out to Sherlock; information about an Apparation crash course. Through that unexpected encounter, Sherlock was imbued with a new idea; enroll in a crash course outside Hogwarts to grasp Apparation without anyone in the castle being the wiser.

Similar to the Muggle process of obtaining a driver's license, Apparation lessons at Hogwarts were granted only to students of seventeen years and above. As required, Hogwarts Headmaster, in this case, Dumbledore, would then dispel the protective anti-disapparation spell in a certain area. The Ministry then sent representatives to supervise and provide guidance. Upon satisfying the examiners in an assessment, the students would receive their licenses.

The acquisition of a license to Apparate, like a driver's license, came with a cost. It required individuals to pay the Ministry, a sum which some found hard to part with. However, the Ministry had privately sanctioned several independent institutions—much akin to driving schools in the Muggle world—to offer Apparation training courses.

After a careful consideration, Sherlock settled for the "Wizarding World Apparation Crash Course." These private classes cost him a significant thirty-six Galleons—three times the regular fare at Hogwarts which was twelve Galleons, and private courses offered for twenty-four Galleons.

A substantial sum for just learning a single spell. As prudent as Sherlock was with his spending, he had no choice but to splurge on this occasion. He couldn't risk his anonymity, given his high profile as a Hogwarts professor. Being the youngest professor at Hogwarts in nearly a century, Sherlock's image was undoubtedly known by a significant portion of the wizarding population in Britain.

Sherlock wasn't especially fond of any of the wizarding world's typical modes of travel; whether it was the nauseating swirl of green fire courtesy of Floo Powder, the dizzying jarring pull of Portkeys, or the intimidating prospect of Apparition itself. As he stepped onto the solid wooden floor from the fireplace, he straightened his robes, slightly disoriented from the journey.

"John Watson?" queried a gruff voice—a voice that had clearly seen years of life—as Sherlock's alias.

The cabin, a quaint little home, was owned by a man who seemed to be in his sixties or seventies. His hair was an outright snowy white. His face bore the marks of age, the deep-set wrinkles telling tales of a long-lived life. Yet, his body held a robust stature that clearly suggested he was still in his prime.

Sherlock was in a situation where he felt he could let down some of his impenetrable guard. He surveyed his surroundings, glancing at the decor with slight interest. He then shrugged and confirmed his faux identity. "Yes, and you would be Mr. Cavell, I assume?"

"From this point forward, you address me as instructor," responded Mr. Cavell, getting up from his spot on the worn sofa. His back straightened showing his height, one not too dissimilar to Sherlock's own impressive 1.87 meters. "You've paid your fees, which means I will ensure that you receive training of the highest standard until you pass the Apparation test as demanded by the Ministry."

Andrew Cavell was an instructor who Sherlock had chosen after much scrutiny. He had once been a probationary Auror Instructor in the Ministry. While he might have been a bit short-tempered, his advantage lay in being thorough and precise, and his experience dealing with irregular situations was beyond reproach.

Sherlock nodded his understanding. "Understood, Instructor Cavell. Where do we start?"

Cavell fetched his robe, swung open the cabin door, and led Sherlock outside. The expanse of outdoor practice space was roughly thrice the size of what muggles would call football fields.

"First, we have to test your current level of proficiency," Cavell stated.

As Sherlock stepped outside, the harsh chill was like a physical blow against his skin. Cavell, ever the tough figure, merely let his robe hang loose, not even bothering to button it up, evidently undeterred by the biting cold. He retrieved a letter Sherlock had written him a few days prior from his inner pocket.

"As I recall you've attempted Apparation during your time at Hogwarts, but you stopped due to an incident of splinching. Is that correct? And you haven't practiced Apparition since then?"