The next morning's classes went uneventfully.
In the Charms Professor Flitwick continued to guide everyone in reinforcing their Levitation Charm. Herman was already able to achieve a success rate of over 90%, and even the one or two imperfect attempts he made were still significantly better than most of the people around him.
Draco has also made a lot of progress. Although her feathers still wobble occasionally, at least she no longer spirals into the air like she did before, which can be considered a solid step forward in terms of technique.
Harry remained unhurried, casually waving her hand as she cast the spell, the feather hovering steadily in the air. Then she looked down at her book, as if completing the incantation was just a side effect.
Herman noticed that Harry had brought a different book today; the cover was black, with no title or signature, as if the label on the spine had been torn off.
She would occasionally stop and stare at a particular page for a while as she turned the pages, then close the book expressionlessly, as if she were processing some unpleasant content.
Herman didn't go over to ask what book it was; based on experience, he probably wouldn't get an answer anyway.
There are no classes in the afternoon.
Herman spread out his Transfiguration assignment in the common room. The paper on parchment was titled "A Brief Description of the Basic Principles and Taboos of Transfiguration." It was twelve inches long, not very long, but it would still take some effort to write it properly.
He looked up at Draco and Harry sitting on the opposite sofa. "I'm going to the library to do my homework, do you want to come?"
Harry stood up first, clutching the black book in her hand, as if she had been waiting for this suggestion.
Draco slowly pulled her feet off the coffee table, yawned, and muttered reluctantly, "The library is so boring... but it's better than just spacing out in the lounge."
The three of them sat down at a window seat in the library.
Herman unfolded the parchment and began to write, Draco flipped through two pages of her Transfiguration and then slumped onto the table, her chin resting on her arm, her eyes half-open and half-closed, like a sleepy cat.
After a while, she poked Herman's elbow with her quill and whispered, "How far have you gotten on your paper?"
Herman turned his half-written parchment to show her.
Draco glanced at it, muttered "so much," and then lay back down, occasionally looking up at Herman who was writing furiously, as if she was wondering whether "openly copying homework" would affect her authority as the eldest sister.
Harry sat in the seat closest to the window, her black book open on her lap, relaxed yet focused.
Herman glanced at it; the writing on the pages was somewhat blurry, like a handwritten copy, with a few lines of small annotations in red ink in the corners—it was clearly not a proper book.
He decided not to delve into it further and focused his attention back on his homework.
When Herman was writing the third paragraph of his paper on Transfiguration, he looked up and stretched his neck, his gaze sweeping across the other side of the library.
George and Fred were standing by the bookshelf at the back of the room, facing a man in a dark blue robe, his hair neatly pinned up, his posture as upright as if he were grading an important academic report.
It was Professor Marlene, the Alchemy professor I met at the opening banquet.
The twins looked very excited, gesturing wildly as if they were describing some newly conceived magical device.
Fred even took a handful of small silver parts out of his pocket and placed them on the table. Marlene looked down at them, nodded slightly, picked one up, flipped through it a couple of times, and then said something.
After listening, George and Fred nodded repeatedly, showing an expression that said, "We really need to consult an expert."
Herman withdrew his gaze, a thought flashing through his mind: wand making.
He had this idea before: to make his own wand, without Trace of the Ministry of Magic, so that it wouldn't leave any spellcasting records when used, and it would be convenient to do things he didn't want others to know about.
Moreover, he was never satisfied with the length of his wand. It was short and small, and while it was useful for casting spells from a distance, it was not as good as a stick for close combat.
If one could create a staff like Gandalf's, capable of both ranged magical bombardment and melee decapitation, combining offense and defense, then it would be a truly practical weapon.
There was also that Goblin alchemy book he got from Kramer. He had flipped through it a few times since he obtained it, but each time he would start to lose focus after reading two pages, completely unable to understand the ideas and terminology inside.
I still have it in my pocket today, thinking of going to the library to see if there are any books about the Goblin alchemy system, to see if they can help me understand the magical thought processes of Goblin.
The alchemy system of Goblin is completely different from that of wizards. The names of materials and the proportions used in the book do not match any of the textbooks he found. It is like a completely independent language system.
If I could find someone to teach me and thoroughly understand the contents of this book, I might not only be able to make my own wand, but also improve the Sword of Kramer and shield, and even create some magical armor. That would feel really cool.
Just then, George and Fred finished packing up the pile of small parts, thanked Marlene, and left.
Herman didn't hesitate any longer. He closed his homework, stood up, and walked towards Professor Marlene.
" Professor Marlene, hello." Herman stopped, his tone appropriately respectful. "I am Herman Horace, a first-year student. I was very impressed by the Alchemy you performed on the Hogwarts Express, which cleared away the entire mountain."
Professor Marlene looked up at him, her gaze calm but not cold. "Thank you. However, that was achieved with the help of pre-set alchemical nodes, not simply through magic."
She turned slightly to the side and asked, "Are you interested in Alchemy?"
"Yes," Herman said, "I'd like to ask some questions about wand making."
Marlene put down her book and didn't give a perfunctory answer, "Wand making is a branch of Alchemy; it can be complicated or simple."
Essentially, it's about achieving a certain resonance between the right wood and the right core material.
But to reach the level of Ollivander, one needs decades or even centuries of experience.
If you really want to try making them, I suggest starting with the most basic Alchemy Materials Science.
She reached out and pulled two books from the bookshelf next to her, handing them to Herman: " Basic Alchemical Material Identification " and " A Study of Magical Conductors and Carriers ".
"After reading these two books, you'll have a basic understanding." She paused, then added, "These were previously top-secret materials passed down orally between Alchemy and their apprentices. In recent years Dumbledore collected some of them and put them in the library for students to read; they are extremely valuable."
Herman thanked him, then took the Goblin alchemy book out of his bag. "Professor, I have a Goblin alchemy notebook, but I can't understand the contents at all. Could you please take a look?"
Marlene took the book, turned a couple of pages, and then suddenly stopped.