Seeking Guidance

The little lions and little snakes kept waving their wands and chanting spells, trying to petrify the Acromantulas before them.

However, most of these little lions and little snakes were encountering this kind of magic for the first time. Very few of them could successfully cast it, not to mention that Acromantulas themselves possessed a certain degree of magical resistance. A Full Body Bind that was too weak simply could not petrify them.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom echoed continuously with incantations, but the grayish-white light that signified Petrificus Totalus was few and far between. Even when those grayish-white beams struck the Acromantulas, they vanished without any effect.

Linley was also attempting to cast the spell. Back when he had still been at Roer Castle, he had practiced Full Body Bind. Though he had become somewhat rusty after more than two months, with a few more attempts, he could still rediscover the feeling of casting it.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Linley swung his wand again. This time, a thicker grayish-white beam shot forth and bound the Acromantula before him in place.

Although Linley was not much stronger than his peers when casting spells other than Incendio, his long-term practice with Incendio had made his magic increasingly active. This caused the magic within him to grow faster than that of his peers, and naturally, the Full Body Bind cast with stronger magic was more powerful as well.

"Very good, a perfect Full Body Bind! Mr. Rowle, since you were the first to successfully cast the spell, Slytherin receives 10 points!"

Professor Green saw the young Acromantula lying motionless before Linley and nodded in satisfaction.

In his expectations, it would have been enough for these young wizards to cast Full Body Bind within three lessons. Linley managing it before the first lesson was even halfway through came as a very pleasant surprise.

As this Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson was about to end, Irvin Fleury also successfully cast Full Body Bind. Though it was less powerful than Linley's, it still successfully restrained the young Acromantula.

This earned Slytherin another two points.

After class, Linley did not rush to leave.

"Mr. Rowle, do you have any other questions?"

Professor Green noticed that Linley was still seated and asked.

Linley hesitantly scratched his head before making his request. "Professor, I saw you on a Chocolate Frog card. I know you are an alchemist. This may be presumptuous, but... could I study alchemy with you?"

Professor Green's accomplishments in alchemy were beyond question. If Linley truly wished to learn alchemy, Professor Green would be an excellent choice.

Professor Green froze for a moment upon hearing this, then asked, "You want to study alchemy? But doesn't Hogwarts itself offer alchemy courses?"

Professor Green was French. He had only joined Hogwarts this year at Dumbledore's invitation to serve as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, so he was unfamiliar with the school's other course arrangements.

Linley explained, "Professor, alchemy at Hogwarts is an elective that can only be chosen in sixth year. Even Ancient Runes is only available as an elective from third year onward. This is not France's Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Hogwarts does not place much importance on alchemy."

"I see," Professor Green said in realization. "Have you ever studied alchemy on your own? Or Ancient Runes?"

"To be honest, I only encountered Ancient Runes yesterday," Linley said. "I studied them for a while on the Hogwarts Express, and at present, I can remember more than a dozen simple rune words."

A flash of admiration crossed Professor Green's eyes. Runes were not easy to learn, and remembering more than a dozen rune words in less than a day was already quite impressive.

Professor Green hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you are willing, come to my office at noon on Saturday. I will provide you with a reading list of books useful for studying alchemy and give you some guidance."

Linley was overjoyed and quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Professor Green!"

Professor Green waved his hand and added, "Oh, and if you wish to study more advanced alchemy in the future, I suggest you put more effort into fire-controlling spells such as Incendio. Some alchemical processes have rather strict requirements for environmental temperature."

Linley's expression shifted slightly at those words.

He lightly waved his wand. With a beautiful Silent Spellcasting, a ball of flame formed out of thin air and danced merrily in the air, constantly changing into all kinds of shapes according to Linley's will.

At this sight, even Professor Green, who had seen much of the world, could not remain composed.

"Silent Spellcasting?! Are you sure you are only a first-year student?!"

Professor Green spoke in disbelief.

After all, even Professor Green himself had only mastered Silent Spellcasting in his thirties. Moreover, Linley's control over fire was so powerful that it was already comparable to Professor Green's own when he invented the Mana Stone!

With a faint smile, Linley said, "Professor, controlling fire is a special talent of mine. If this ability can help me study alchemy, that would be even better!"

Professor Green nodded slightly. He fixed a burning gaze on Linley and said, "Before you see me on Saturday, memorize every word in A Beginner's Guide to Ancient Runes. Can you do that?"

Linley thought for a moment, then agreed.

Although A Beginner's Guide to Ancient Runes was a full textbook, it contained only around a hundred rune words. If Linley worked hard over the next few days, he could manage to memorize them.

"Alright, then that's settled. You should head back first!"

Professor Green waved his hand.

Linley thanked Professor Green once more before leaving the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

After Linley left the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Professor Green remained standing where he was. His expression shifted unpredictably, while the gloom in his eyes grew heavier and heavier.

He looked in the direction Linley had left and murmured to himself, "A student with such talent... perhaps this is fate's compensation to me. If he can grow strong enough, perhaps he can complete that matter for me..."

Meanwhile, Linley returned to his dormitory. Having the entire room to himself meant he would not be disturbed by roommates. He took out A Beginner's Guide to Ancient Runes, which he had borrowed earlier from the Weasley twins, and quickly immersed himself in study.

Linley's interest in alchemy was not a passing whim. Alchemy was a profession that required long-term investment but offered high returns. Even if Linley did not pursue it as a career in the future, alchemy itself, as a manifestation of ability, was enough for him to resolve to learn it.

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