Apparition

The office cubicle fell silent for a moment; in the empty room, only the loud sound of Loren occasionally sipping his juice could be heard.

Professor McGonagall patiently waited for the two to understand this change.

The gap in the Wizarding World is becoming increasingly apparent. Compared to the complexity of Ancient Magic, modern magic has become simpler, which has also led to an overall decline in the skill level of wizards.

Elective courses allow talented young wizards to go further, while compulsory courses ensure that ordinary students master the basics. Educational reform is an exploration of the future of the Wizarding World, and this attempt must be made.

Loren thought for a moment and then asked, "Professor, what is the purpose of calling us here today?"

Professor McGonagall put down her cup and smiled slightly. "I'd like to reopen the Transfiguration Club."

"The Transfiguration Club?" Hermione's eyes widened.

"I've only ever heard of the Charms Club."

There is also the Gobstones Club, but it should be different in nature from the club Professor McGonagall mentioned, and Loren didn't mention it.

"Clubs weren't just Filius's invention," Professor McGonagall nodded with a smile. "Every subject at Hogwarts has had its own club, like the Duel Club for Defense Against the Dark Arts and the Slug Club Potions Master. But in recent years, most of them have closed down for various reasons, both among professors and students."

"If the teaching reform goes smoothly, professors will have a lot of free time. At least the professors I've spoken with are willing to restart the club."

Professor McGonagall looked at the two with admiration. "I would like to gather a small group of suitable young wizards to regularly discuss issues related to Transfiguration. Therefore, I sincerely invite you to join my Transfiguration Club."

The normal procedure is to allow interested young wizards to submit applications after the club is reopened, and only those who pass the review can become club members. However, before the club's details were even announced, the professor invited the two to join, which was a blatant expression of his appreciation for them.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat, and she almost immediately wanted to agree.

Loren hesitated. He had to do Potions experiments with Snape and learn Alchemy after class, and he was worried that he wouldn't have enough time.

"Professor, I'd like to ask about the timing and frequency of club activities?" Loren hesitated for a moment before asking.

Professor McGonagall thought Loren was trying to slack off again, and remembering his lazy behavior during the last final exam, she laughed in exasperation, "Don't worry, the exchange activities twice a month won't take up too much of your free time."

Loren was relieved and, together with Hermione, accepted Professor McGonagall's invitation.

Professor McGonagall then tested them on some recent teaching content, and her fluent answers pleased the two Professor McGonagall greatly.

"Go back and rest first. I will inform you of the specific time of the activity in advance."

Looking at the time, it was almost lights out, Filch should be in the teachers' lounge getting ready to start his night patrol.

Loren and Hermione stood up and walked outside. Perhaps because they were too excited, they started chattering away before they even left the house.

Why is the Potions Master Club called the Slug Club?

"It's a professor's hobby, just like the Charms Club is also known as the Charm Club."

"What will the Transfiguration Club be named?"

"I don't know, maybe it's Cat Club..."

Professor McGonagall overheard what they thought was a quiet conversation and her forehead was covered in black lines. Was she being too gentle? These days, students are getting more and more rude. What do you mean by "cat"? That's Animagus...

Back in the Common Room, Ron's mouth was no longer oozing snot, but his face was still pale, and he occasionally made nauseous swallowing motions.

It looked like he had swallowed back a slug he was about to spit out; everyone looked disgusted and didn't want to get too close to Ron.

"If it weren't for that bracelet, I would have knocked Marcus down long ago!" Ron said angrily.

Upon hearing about the bracelet, Loren became very interested in this type of armor and that very night went into the Fantasy Book to discuss it with Flamel.

Flamel scoffed. "This bracelet merely reinforces the effects of the Shield Charm, and it can only protect against simple evil spells."

"A Solidified Shield Charm?" Loren was very interested. If the protection wasn't strong enough, it could be strengthened. The important thing was that this kind of Shield Charm, which was completely unguarded and could respond at any time, could prevent sneak attacks in case of emergencies and provide an extra layer of protection in serious duels. It was quite useful.

Flamel drew a few simple Rune in the air. "The method is very simple. Just like you crafted the space box, use Rune and magic circles to solidify the Shield Charm and bless the item."

"However, this level of protection is difficult to improve. It requires repeatedly stacking Rune and Shield Charm, from 1 to 10, from 10 to 100, and from 100 to 1000. If you calculate it this way, stacking them 100,000 times can defend against your full-power Sectumsempra."

Loren clicked his tongue. "One hundred thousand times!"

It would take him 100,000 stacks to defend against his Sectumsempra; against Voldemort's Killing Curse, even stacking it until death might not be enough. Loren abandoned his idea of crafting armor and decided that practicing spells and improving his dueling skills was the right path for him.

The next day, Loren was intercepted by Snape as soon as he came out of the Great Hall after breakfast, and the two went to Snape's office together.

The parchment manuscript bearing the headmaster's seal and Dumbledore's signature lay quietly on the table, its edges adorned with delicate relief printing.

Although he didn't know why Dumbledore would agree to Snape's experiment, Loren looked up and glanced at Snape discreetly, mentally dismissing the possibility that the Potions Master had forged the headmaster's documents.

"Professor, how do we develop Resurrection Potion?"

Snape sat behind his desk, his spine ramrod straight, his body seemingly supported by an inflexible frame. Dark circles surrounded his eyes; if he weren't Potions Master, one would surely suspect he was poisoned. His face was deathly pale, like a corpse, and his hair was greasy and matted.

But his demeanor didn't seem as gloomy as before. The Resurrection Potion brought a glimmer of hope, giving him the thought of struggling in the abyss.

"The Sorcerer's Stone are finite and cannot be used indiscriminately." Snape's voice was a little hoarse from staying up all night, but his tone was light and he was in good spirits. "I will first come up with several plans, determine the other materials, and determine the steps of the ritual. Finally, we will conduct experiments."

"You'll work with me on the experiments. Once the materials and rituals are confirmed, your knowledge of Potions Master will be sufficient to make you a Potions."

Loren was not optimistic. He asked softly, "Professor, will the ingredients and ritual for the Potions be finalized before I graduate?"

Snape's eyes flickered for a moment. "After my investigation over the past few days, I've confirmed that the materials and ritual were only used to utilize the Sorcerer's Stone, replacing death as a property."

"Materials and rituals are not the problem; the real challenge is understanding the concept of death. Leave that to me." His tone was not troubled, as if he had a way to explore death.

Loren didn't ask for further details. Professor Snape needed the Resurrection Potion as a belief, a hope. Even if the hope was slim, it would allow him to live a better life.

"Professor, are you aware of the curriculum reform for second and fourth year students?" Loren changed the subject.

Perhaps because he had a chance to repent for the mistakes he had made, Snape's inner repression eased a little. He also paid more attention to other things. Speaking of this, he chuckled, "When we were discussing the curriculum, I was the only one who supported the distinction between electives and compulsory courses from the beginning. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick always wanted to cram knowledge into the brains of every young wizard, but they didn't realize that this would overload the limited capacity of some people's brains."

Snape had his reasons, and Professor McGonagall's care for her students was not wrong either. Loren couldn't judge which was better or worse. He wanted to ask something else, "Does the Potions Master run a club?"

Snape nodded. "The Resurrection Potion is a huge project, and I need some students to help me with the materials and experiments. Of course, they will receive additional Potions knowledge as compensation."

Got it, lab laborers, research workers.

Snape was busy setting up the club and finalizing the Potions experiment plan. Professor McGonagall was also busy setting up the club and handling some of her duties as headmistress.

The only one available was Ravenclaw's Head of House, Professor Filius Flitwick, specializing in Charms. Loren could only practice Apparition with him, and since Apparition under the umbrella of Charms, it was a perfect fit for his expertise.

The Ravenclaw Head of House's office is located in the thirteenth window on the right side of the West Tower.

When Loren explained his purpose, Professor Flitwick's beard bristled with shock. He exclaimed, "Apparition! Did you know that in the last 50 years alone, there have been 27 cases of Splinching dying as a result of practicing Apparition?"

"If you ask me, Mr. Morgan. Loren Morgan, you should wait until you're a few years older before you encounter this spell."

A second-year wizard proposed to practice Apparition, which was not a wise choice. However, although Professor Flitwick was surprised, he did not think that Loren was being unrealistic or having unrealistic ambitions.

From recognizing Wormtail Peter at the beginning of the school year and defeating the trolls to driving out Voldemort, Flitwick had a good impression of this Gryffindor student. He almost got sorted into Gryffindor back then, and his personality also had a part that admired courage.

Loren smiled helplessly, "Just call me Loren. Professor, you've been talking about cases that happened when you tried Apparition in private. I'm fully aware of the dangers of this spell, which is why I brought Gillyweed essence to ask you for help."

As he spoke, he waved the medicine in his hand, indicating that he was well prepared.

The Gillyweed essence was obtained from Snape. After hearing that Loren was going to practice Apparition, Snape readily provided a sufficient amount of Gillyweed essence, only reminding him not to forget to bring both hands to the Potions Office next week, even if they were severed.

Professor Flitwick paced back and forth in his office with short, quick steps. "Has Professor McGonagall agreed?"

"She's busy working on new teaching materials and handling some school affairs, so I came to see Professor Flitwick," Loren said sincerely.

This statement doesn't answer whether Professor McGonagall knew about it, but it sounds like Professor McGonagall was too busy, so she sent Loren to find Flitwick.

"Alright," Professor Flitwick thumped his fist against the palm of his other hand, making his decision, "But I must confirm that you have mastered all the theoretical knowledge of Apparition."

In the following time, Professor Flitwick examined Loren's theoretical level from multiple angles and in all aspects, from the origin of spells to the tone of the spell, the casting action, and the coordination of Magic Power and the body.

Half an hour later.

"... The most important thing to remember are three things: goals, determination, and composure."

Professor Flitwick's expression was complicated, but his eyes held admiration as he looked at Loren: "Didn't the Sorting Hat say that you would be a good fit for Ravenclaw?"

In his youth, he was often ridiculed for his unusual physique, so he persevered and became a dueling champion. But even he wouldn't dare to covet the Apparition in his second year.

Loren didn't reply, but just grinned and showed a bright smile.

"As you may know, Apparition generally not possible inside Hogwarts, so we have to go outside."

Flitwick lightly tapped Loren's arm with his wand... well, he had to stand on tiptoe to do it.

Loren felt a strange force enveloping his entire body, as if he had broken free from the constraints of gravity and become light and airy.

"Stand firm!" Professor Flitwick looked up, smiled, and waved his wand.

The office window suddenly opened, and Loren felt a force pulling him out of the window, plummeting down the tower.

The sun was shining warmly, the wind was whistling in his ears, and as he watched the window grow smaller and smaller and felt his body getting closer and closer to the ground, Loren knew that the professor would never put his student in danger, so he remained calm.

He spread his arms, enjoying the pull of gravity as he plummeted, feeling the wind from the air resistance, his robes fluttering wildly, and he couldn't help but cry out, "Ah—!"

Just as he was about to hit the ground, his body was suddenly pulled upwards again, flying towards the Forbidden Forest. The pressure of gravity and resistance on his blood vessels brought a sense of urgency and exhilaration. All the ascents were for a rapid descent; Loren didn't know how far he had flown.

In the sunlight, he saw green leaves with dew on them, smelled the earthy, grassy aroma of the damp soil, and saw owls basking in the sun on the Greenhouse roof.

It flew over meadows and Greenhouse, finally landing on the Edge of the Forbidden Forest, still some distance from Hagrid's Hut.

Professor Flitwick's beard was blown into a mess, and it took him quite a while to tidy it up. But he enjoyed the process and the flight. "The wilderness and natural scenery always bring a good mood."

"Professor! What kind of spell is this?" Loren's eyes sparkled, his desire to learn practically written all over his face.

"A slightly modified version of the Levitation Charm; this is extracurricular material. If you're interested, you're welcome to join my Charms Club," Professor Flitwick invited.

"Is the Charms Club also expanding its membership?" Loren asked.

Before the curriculum reform, professors had limited time to manage the clubs, and the Charms Club were not large. Only students who achieved good results in the OWLs exams and entered the Charms Advanced Class had the opportunity to join the clubs.

Now that professors have more free time, other teachers are starting clubs, Professor Flitwick plans to expand his club. "If all goes well, the Charms Club will be recruiting new members from across the university at the end of this month."

Is it still based on performance evaluation?

The original Charms Club required OWL players to have good grades and take the Advanced Class to have a chance to enter.

Professor Flitwick shook his head. "There are no assessment criteria. As long as you are willing to participate in club activities, I welcome every young wizard to join."

The club uses a more relaxed and gentle approach to allow young wizards to learn elective content as a supplement to the formal curriculum, providing a channel for those who want to learn. This can also be considered part of the reform.