Chapter 46. Professor Flitwick's Guidance
The bell rang, and Professor Flitwick, who had been counting down at the front of the classroom, immediately raised his hand and said, "Little wizards, class is over.
Go back and practise.
If you have any questions, you can ask me next lesson!"
With that, Professor Flitwick walked toward the door with a spring in his step, looking like an office worker finally clocking off.
"Professor, please wait."
Duncan packed up his things, strode forward, and caught up with Professor Flitwick.
"What is it?"
Professor Flitwick looked enviously at Duncan's long legs and sighed inwardly.
Duncan smiled and said, "Do you have any books that record the earliest magic?
I'd like to borrow a few to read."
"Oh?"
Professor Flitwick stepped back so he could tilt his head up to see Duncan's face.
He said, "Don't let my lecture mislead you.
Although the earliest magic sounds very powerful, it's ultimately just a concept that exists only in books.
Whether it really existed is hard to say!"
"Besides, the present system of magic has developed over hundreds or thousands of years.
Its common flaws have been patched.
It may already be stronger than that earliest magic.
Old things aren't necessarily better than what we have now.
They may only seem better because time drapes them in a veil of mystery and tricks you into thinking they are."
Professor Flitwick advised earnestly, urging Duncan not to go down the wrong path.
"I might already have learned it..."
Duncan muttered in his heart.
Of course, he couldn't say that aloud.
If certain power-hungry, deranged wizards heard, they might kidnap him for dissection and research.
So Duncan straightened his expression and said sincerely, "Professor, you're overthinking it.
I'm only interested in that period of history and want to learn more.
I wouldn't overestimate myself and try to practise so-called earliest magic."
"That's good."
Professor Flitwick nodded, satisfied.
"I'm not trying to block you on purpose.
It's a road long since proven to go nowhere.
Many great wizards once tried to recreate the earliest magic, and without exception, they all failed."
Duncan hadn't expected this piece of history and asked with curiosity, "How did they try to recreate it?"
Professor Flitwick squinted at Duncan suspiciously, his expression saying, And you claim you're not planning to study the earliest magic?
Duncan pulled a wry smile.
"Heh-heh, Professor, I'm just asking.
Just asking..."
"I don't know the specifics very well either.
The official records are vague," Professor Flitwick said.
"They only say those wizards kept a great many magical creatures and, following ancient books' accounts about Merlin, tried to learn from the creatures.
But until the Ministry of Magic intervened and issued a strict ban on privately keeping magical creatures—shutting down those people's bases—they never learned a thing."
"So..."
Professor Flitwick looked at Duncan seriously.
"Don't overthink it for now.
First master what's taught in class.
When you have a clear understanding of magic, if you're still interested in the earliest magic, it won't be too late to research it then."
"Understood, Professor.
Thank you for your guidance!"
Duncan said from the heart.
"That will do."
Professor Flitwick's stern look vanished at once, replaced by an easy smile.
"I'll bring the books next lesson.
But the language in them isn't quite the same as ours now.
You'll need to work hard to read them."
"Mm-hmm."
Duncan nodded, thanked him, and walked out of the classroom together with Professor Flitwick.
Neville, waiting at the door, immediately leaned over.
Looking at Professor Flitwick in the distance, he whispered, "How did it go?"
"The professor agreed.
He'll bring the books next lesson.
But..."
Duncan looked Neville up and down and said, not too kindly, "I only went to borrow two books, Neville.
Why does your face look like I was about to blow up the castle?"
"Your face looked so urgent just now that I got nervous along with you..."
Neville protested.
"All right."
Duncan pushed Neville toward the other end of the corridor.
"Come on.
If we're any later, the House-Elves might put the lunch away."
"Ah?
Then let's hurry!"
Neville cried out.
Without Duncan urging him, his quick walk turned into a jog.
By the time they reached the Great Hall, the House tables of every House were almost packed with students flocking in from all directions.
They followed the delicious smell about the hall and circled once.
Thankfully, there were still two empty seats in a corner of the Ravenclaw table.
Duncan hurriedly hauled Neville over to sit down.
They wolfed down their food and sped through the meal before leaving.
A young lady from Ravenclaw, chewing delicately beside them, looked utterly baffled, yet somehow felt the food in her hands tasted a little better.
Back at the dormitory, Neville sprawled comfortably on his bed to rest.
It was his first day of lessons, and he wasn't used to it.
He felt completely exhausted.
Duncan fed Pro a little food, picked up his suitcase, and walked to the door.
"Neville, have a nap in the dormitory.
I'll head out first."
"Where are you going?"
Neville strained to lift his head, half-opening his eyes.
"To find Professor Kettleburn.
Go straight to the greenhouses for your afternoon class.
No need to wait for me to come back," Duncan said in reminder.
He opened the door, left the dormitory, and couldn't help sighing that his life was really busy.
He must be the most fulfilled first-year in the history of Hogwarts, right?
When he reached Professor Kettleburn's office, Duncan knocked lightly a few times, pushed the door open a crack, and poked his head in.
Professor Kettleburn was lying on a rocking recliner, head tilted, snoring away in sweet sleep.
By his side, the Cornish pixies were still brawling away in their iron cage, as if they never got tired.
"Professor Kettleburn..."
After entering the office, Duncan closed the door and called in a voice neither too loud nor too soft.
"Don't call him yet, don't call him..."
The pixies in the cage suddenly stopped fighting, and one of them pressed up against the bars and shouted.
Duncan stopped beside the iron cage and asked in puzzlement, "Do you lot have business with me?"
He remembered that the pixie speaking was the same one that had told him where Professor Kettleburn had gone earlier.
Its ears were a bit larger than the others'.
"Ha, he really can understand us."
"He can, he can!"
The pixies cavorted in delight inside the cage, flipping about recklessly.
It seemed being able to communicate with Duncan was something worth celebrating.
Only the pixie by the bars was a bit calmer, but even it stared wide-eyed, clutching the bars, its face full of excitement and joy.
"Could you help us and let us out?"
"Yeah, help us.
I've had enough of being here!"
....
Once the first pixie spoke, the rest started chirping noisily, a racket that set one's teeth on edge.
"But..."
Duncan frowned.
Cornish pixies were naughty troublemakers.
Letting them out would be like adding a dozen Peeveses.
How could the students at Hogwarts endure that torment!
It would be fine to shut them in his case, but the one who could make that decision was also Professor Kettleburn!
Seeing the hesitation on Duncan's face, the pixie by the bars thumped its chest in guarantee.
"If you can let us out, we promise to listen to you and absolutely won't cause trouble!"
[Optional Quest: Rescue the imprisoned Cornish pixies.
If they aren't let out soon, they're going to go mad!]
[Quest Rewards: Cornish pixies' favourability ×80, virtual coins ×100, random potion ingredients ×5]
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