Faced with the ritual site spraying a steady stream of clear water, Will began to understand why the charm was called "Aguamenti."
After all, it really did look like a spring.
"Finally, we're done." Both Will and Professor Flitwick were tired. Once they had set up the ancient ritual, they had still needed to perform a long, elaborate recitation.
Night had fallen, and the Forbidden Forest was pitch-black. Several orbs of light floated around them, though, illuminating the area as brightly as day.
At first, Professor Flitwick had also kept asking whether Will was cold.
It was November, after all. There had even been freezing rain recently. It was hardly warm out.
But Will soon "caught fire"—he had cast a False Fire Charm on himself.
It was the same charm Ron and the others had used when they had "set fire" to the classroom.
The False Fire Charm gave off some heat, making it excellent for keeping warm in cold weather. It was perfect for the occasion, even if it looked rather alarming.
Once he was sure Will could take care of himself, Professor Flitwick stretched. "Now we've truly experienced how wizards worked in ancient times. What a tedious business.
"Will, how are your notes coming along?"
"I'm working on them."
Will's eyes glimmered faintly silver as he recorded the magical structure of this version of the Water-Conjuring Ritual, bit by bit, in the notebook he had prepared.
Being able to see magic really was wonderful. Will had noticed that this version already had a Core Rune within its magical structure, though it was vague and indistinct.
He was recording it for later study and reference.
They had set up the oldest version of the ritual. They planned to work through each successive version, carefully studying how the Water-Conjuring Ritual's