Besides Spell Class and Transfiguration Class, Vid spent the most time on Alchemy. While studying Alchemy, he also continuously deepened his understanding of several other courses.
The "Learning Magic Item Creation from Scratch" book that Professor Morry lent him was completely different from other Alchemy texts. It hardly contained any tedious history or theory, nor did it spend pages discussing the interrelationship of the four elements. Instead, from the very first line, it began describing how to create various magical items.
From the common Automatic Ink Quill, Moving Photo, Flying Broomstick, and Howler, to rarely owned items like the Pensieve, Magic Mirror, Invisibility Cloak, and Guardian Armor, almost every magical item Vid had seen or heard of could be found in the book. It even mentioned the Sorting Hat and Time Turner, though the latter only had some conjectures without specific creation processes.
However, the earlier magical items weren't something one could create just by reading a book — much like someone who doesn't understand electricity and programming couldn't build a computer even with a complete set of manufacturing processes at hand. The complexity and danger level of magical items far exceeded those of computers. Without the corresponding basic knowledge, even the simplest steps would be incomprehensible.
Vid studied with Professor Morry for several weeks, listening as he critiqued the homework and projects of sixth and seventh-year students each time, and even helped Professor Morry as an assistant to make a teaching aid he needed for class. After a period of training, Professor Morry suggested he try to make the simplest magical items himself — with just three to five spells properly combined, one could produce some wondrous effects, like Automatic Ink Quills and Howlers.
Ideas popped into Vid's mind, like having the Quill automatically change ink color while writing, or adding a distance measuring function to glasses, or creating a dancing puppet — almost as soon as he had the idea, the spells and specific steps for creation formed in his mind.
The spells and Magic Text needed were very basic, which he had completely mastered, and with a few practice attempts, he was confident of success — but should he really do it?
If he did, how would his work differ from those student projects that Professor Morry called "trash"? It would be just like copying from others, perfunctorily completing the assignment, with little value in the work itself.
This was Vid's first Alchemy project, and he didn't want to be casual, nor did he want the final destination of his homework to be the garbage heap.
That night, Vid's mind was racing, and he never fell into a dream. Between waking and sleeping, he suddenly heard rustling sounds.
Vid sat up from his bed, waved his Magic Wand, and the oil lamps in the dormitory were lit, quietly emitting an orange-yellow glow.
The dormitory was extremely quiet both inside and out, with faint sounds coming from outside the window.
Vid put on his clothes and got out of bed. Walking to the window, he discovered that it was snowing outside.
Large flakes of snow fell silently, cloaking the entire castle in pure white. The thick snow covered all the chaotic things, creating an especially serene and open feeling.
A flash of inspiration struck Vid's mind, and he suddenly realized what he wanted to do. When this idea came forth, all other ideas seemed gaudy and superficial.
He happily returned to bed and had a sound sleep until dawn.
...
Vid originally thought that throwing Quirrell to the ground with a face full of blood was already quite outrageous, but he didn't expect it to be nothing, because the Weasley Twins soon pulled a more heart-racing stunt — they enchanted some snowballs to chase Quirrell around, finally smashing at the back of his head.
Professor McGonagall was furious, storming out of the hall and deducting a full thirty points from the Twins' house — her own house! She also gave them a month's detention — half a month before the Christmas holiday began and another half month after they returned from holiday.
The Weasley Twins pretended to sincerely apologize, but the moment they were out of the professor's sight, they were smug and proud.
"Why did you target Quirrell?" Vid asked curiously as he stood in the corridor. To someone like him who knew the truth, the twins' earlier actions were akin to pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
Moreover, although the Weasley Brothers enjoyed pranks, they weren't known for provoking professors. After all, all of Gryffindor highly valued house cup points (since being behind in points would surely invite ridicule from Slytherin); even if Professor Quirrell had deducted them two hundred points, others wouldn't have much to say.
Vid was quite puzzled — when did they become so reckless?
The Weasleys stared at him for a while, showing a look of realization, "Ah, you're — "
"The one from the library — "
"What's your name again?" the brothers asked in unison.
"Vid Gray, from Ravenclaw College." Vid said.
The twins suddenly realized — they had heard this name countless times from their youngest brother Ron. Every time Ron finished class with Ravenclaw, he'd talk enviously and jealously about how a young wizard named Vid was appreciated by the professors and was surely the next Percy or something.
But from what they saw, Vid Gray was completely different from their brother Percy, and like them, he was an Alchemy enthusiast, which made him likable in their eyes.
The Weasleys exchanged glances and leaned over, "Aren't you curious?"
"Quirrell always wears that big scarf — "
"No matter how the weather changes, he never takes it off — "
"We even inquired with the House-Elves in the kitchen; he hasn't even asked them to help wash that scarf — "
"So there's definitely a secret hidden under his scarf that can't be revealed!" Fred Weasley asserted, "Maybe it's some Dark Magic weapon that's messed up his head."
"Or perhaps it's a ridiculously ugly bald head — " George Weasley couldn't help but laugh, "Imagine the scene; it must be hilarious."
"Don't bully Professor Quirrell just because he's nice!" Vid advised in a "Hermione-style" tone, "Would you dare to mess with Professor McGonagall's bun?"
"Don't say such scary things, alright?" Fred casually put an arm around Vid's shoulder, "And I've noticed something strange; do you know what it is?"
"What?" George asked in a supportive tone.
"I noticed — " Fred looked at Vid, saying in a drawn-out voice, "We've talked about the oddity of Quirrell's scarf, but you don't seem curious at all!"
Vid's heart skipped a beat, suddenly realizing that the seemingly carefree brothers had remarkably keen intuition beneath their playful demeanor.
His expression changed slightly, and George immediately noticed.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, asking, "So you know?"
Vid crossed his arms, leaned back against the wall, and squinted at the Weasleys, "So... is this an interrogation?"
George and Fred exchanged a glance, then both laughed, "Of course not!"
"You found the problem's solution before us, so we've lost in that regard," Fred stated seriously.
"But as for any interrogation, that's impossible. We'll find out the answer ourselves!" George flashed a bright smile.