Stopping Umbridge from escalating the situation further, Fudge bowed slightly, his posture almost deferential.
"I hope you can understand, Professor Kahn. Dolores didn't mean to question you, she just wants to resolve the matter of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's disappearance as quickly as possible."
"The Hogwarts Board of Governors is very concerned about this, and the Ministry of Magic also takes this matter very seriously."
After speaking, Fudge seemed to suddenly remember something. He rummaged in his briefcase for a moment and pulled out a piece of paper. "This is the Undetectable Extension Charm permit that Headmaster Dumbledore applied for a few days ago. You are now permitted to create one item with an Undetectable Extension Charm for your own use."
Taking the paper and putting it in his pocket, Evans's eyes flickered for a moment as he looked at the Minister who was willing to adopt such a humble posture.
Compared to that Undersecretary who had clearly bluffed her way up, this Minister Fudge was a very smooth operator.
And such people were generally very difficult to deal with. They knew how to assess situations, which also meant they could backstab anyone at any time.
Ugh, he really disliked dealing with these political types.
Shaking his head, Evans spoke softly.
"It's alright, Minister Fudge. I also understand your difficulties."
"But, I think, some people are naturally unsuited for positions of great importance."
With that, Evans didn't look again at the woman behind Fudge, who was about to explode with anger. Instead, he turned his gaze to Dumbledore, his eyes carrying some displeasure.
This old wizard had just been standing on the side with a look of amusement, showing no intention of helping at all.
You should know, Quirrell's arm is still with you. Even if the Ministry of Magic were to arrest someone, they would arrest you first!
What are you watching for fun!
Sooner or later, I'll report you!
Although Umbridge was still fuming, she could understand Fudge's hint.
This matter passed like an insignificant interlude, overlooked by everyone. Evans continued his lesson, while the Ministry officials began to make inquiries around the school, trying to find clues.
But as expected, Professor Quirrell's disappearance had left no clues whatsoever. His office was as usual, and he hadn't spoken to anyone before leaving.
He seemed to have just left the school on an ordinary morning and never returned.
Having found no clues, the Ministry officials could only return disappointed. But back in her own home, the more Umbridge thought about it, the angrier she became.
Ever since becoming Senior Undersecretary, everyone had been very polite to her. When had she ever been treated with such disrespect?
Finally, growing angrier the more she thought, Umbridge put her wand aside, sat down at her desk, spread out a piece of parchment, and picked up the quill from the desk.
She was going to teach that young professor a profound lesson.
My dear Rita Skeeter...
After writing on the paper for a long time, Umbridge finally stood up, sealed the letter, and tied it with some disgust to the leg of an owl she had summoned earlier.
Then, watching the owl take off and slowly disappear from sight, a very twisted smile appeared on her toad-like face.
Two days later, in an abandoned classroom, the diminutive Professor Flitwick stood on a chair, looking somewhat helplessly at Evans beside him.
"Even if you have a permit, you can't just use the Undetectable Extension Charm so arrogantly, can you?"
"I remember the Ministry's extension charm permit is usually only given once?"
This young man had already used the Undetectable Extension Charm nearly ten times in front of him. Although the finished product was destroyed each time, this attitude of ignoring the law was not advisable.
"Professor, you have some misunderstanding of the law."
Without stopping his movements, Evans explained with a straight face.
"The permit for the Undetectable Extension Charm allows me to legally possess one charmed item. Can something that has been destroyed be considered 'possessed'?"
"...It can't?"
"Of course not! Only when I create an item with an Undetectable Extension Charm and keep it can it be considered something I possess."
As he spoke, Evans waved his wand again, destroying a small wooden box he had just created with an Undetectable Extension Charm. Watching the wooden box shrink and disappear in mid-air, a strange light flashed in his eyes.
Hearing Evans's words, Professor Flitwick shrugged helplessly.
Forget it. Since it was for researching the magical flow of a new spell, it probably didn't count as abusing magic.
No longer dwelling on Evans's interpretation of the law, Professor Flitwick took two steps forward and looked at the manuscript beside Evans.
"How is it? Have you had any inspiration?"
These past few days, Evans had been researching his topic of flash magic. Since the Portkey's circuit was always just a little off, he had turned his attention to the Undetectable Extension Charm.
However, Flitwick could see that Evans's spell was only a little bit away from completion, just lacking a bit of inspiration.
His playing with the Undetectable Extension Charm like a bomb here was just to make up for this last bit of inspiration.
Without answering, Evans unconsciously waved his wand in the air, leaving trails of sparkling light where it passed.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and his wand drew an expanding spiral in the air.
The next second, Evans's body gradually distorted, and streaks of silver light converged toward the center. After about two seconds, his entire person disappeared from the spot and slowly reappeared beside the desk five meters away.
"Success?" Professor Flitwick's face was filled with surprise.
Witnessing the birth of a new spell was a very fortunate event.
But Evans smacked his lips, looking very dissatisfied.
"The pre-cast and post-cast times are too long. Even adding an incantation won't speed it up much."
"At this level, it can't be considered a success."
What he wanted was flash magic like the Swooping Evil's talent, capable of dodging attacks with instant teleportation in battle, not a spatial teleportation with a two-second pre-cast charge, a two-second post-cast pause, and a range of less than ten meters.
This effect was even worse than Apparition!
"It's already very impressive!" Unlike Evans, Flitwick did not underestimate this spell.
"It can ignore the restrictions of the Anti-Disapparition Jinx, can pass through many basic magical protections, and there's no need to worry about splinching when passing through magical barriers."
"In many places where Apparition cannot be used, it can be effective!"
"And it has only just been created. Many of its magical circuits have room for simplification."
"After optimization and adding an incantation, it might not be impossible to achieve the effect you want."
After speaking, Flitwick's expression became slightly more serious.
"We need to test how to counter this magic, and you can't teach it to others casually. It will cause trouble."
"I know, Professor." Evans nodded.
He also knew how dangerous a spell that could bypass many basic protections was.
Apparition through basic magical wards could lead to splinching, but this spell wouldn't.
Most wizarding families wouldn't set up a large number of counter-spells to protect their homes like the Gringotts vaults and other forbidden places.
Such families would be completely defenseless against this spell.
Even after optimizing this spell, he would only teach it to people he approved of.
Or students who joined his magical creatures club? Provided their character passed the test.
Shaking his head slightly, Evans wrote down his recent feelings on the parchment and handed it to Flitwick beside him.
"Come on, Professor Flitwick, let's test what kind of magic can block it."
[Chapter Complete]
***
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