Chapter 49 "September's Classes"

During this time, Skyler's commitment to his studies and homework remained unwavering.

The current semester's Defense Against the Dark Arts was centered on the subject of spiritual magic, an area where Skyler excelled.

As he delved into the spells found within "Abatel Volume 1," those passed down through the Malfoy family, Skyler's command over spiritual magic was nothing short of remarkable.

With ease, he skillfully manipulated it, facing no significant challenges.

Within the Magic Club's activities, Skyler authored a groundbreaking research paper.

It detailed the utilization of the pleasure spell to augment the potency of the Patronus Charm.

The paper introduced a fresh perspective, earning praise, notably from Professor Flitwick.

Skyler, with his consent, collaborated with Professor Flitwick to have their work published in "The Charm Innovation."

Surprisingly, the paper resonated strongly within the academic community.

Eulalie Hicks penned a letter to Skyler expressing their interest in acquiring his research notes.

As part of the arrangement, they would generously compensate him in Golden Galleons, and Skyler would gain an honorary membership in the Dark Force Defence League.

Furthermore, Gulana Kropatra, Chairwoman of The Medieval Assembly of European Wizards, extended a similar offer.

Alongside a substantial sum of Gold Galleons, Skyler was honored with the "Wizard Scholar Contribution Award" medal.

This distinction granted him access to the Federation headquarters' library in Sardinia and secured him a place in the European Dueling Competition.

The European Dueling Competition was organized by a clandestine group known as the "Silver Spear."

Founded in the 18th century by a group of dueling enthusiasts, the organization initially mandated that members must possess aspen wood wands.

By the mid-20th century, Silver Spear eased these requirements, extending invitations to those who displayed remarkable dueling prowess in international competitions.

While the exact benefits of Silver Spear membership remained shrouded in secrecy, Skyler recognized the allure and esteem it held among accomplished wizards.

After careful contemplation, Skyler sought counsel from Professor Flitwick and Lucius before ultimately accepting the Medieval European Wizards Association's offer.

The draw of a place in the European Dueling Competition was particularly enticing, offering Skyler a route through the arduous selection process.

Professor Flitwick, having high hopes for Skyler's dueling abilities, gifted him a notebook filled with exclusive spells and dueling techniques he had developed during his youth.

These insights, originating from a former dueling champion, were undoubtedly invaluable.

The acquisition of Professor Flitwick's duel notes was a significant achievement.

This semester's Transfiguration class revolved around the transformation of inanimate objects into small animals.

Professor McGonagall's specific task involved changing a teapot into a tortoise.

Skyler had already mastered this skill during the previous semester's Merlin trial.

Consequently, Professor McGonagall exempted Skyler from most homework, instead encouraging his active participation in the Transfigurating Club's weekly activities.

Skyler had the honor of having two more papers selected for publication in the esteemed journal "Transfiguration Today."

The readership of this journal extended beyond the British wizarding world, affording Skyler recognition on the international stage.

Renowned figures in the field of metamorphology recognized his potential and generously offered guidance to this rising star, including the Chinese master of metamorphosis, Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu's ancestry is traced back to Zhang Guo, a distinguished figure from the Tang Dynasty who had left the legendary tale of "Old Zhang Guo" in the Muggle world.

Unbeknownst to many, Zhang Guo was a wizard who excelled at transforming paper fragments into live donkeys.

Skyler greatly benefited from his interactions with Zhang Yu and formed a lasting friendship with him. Zhang Yu thoughtfully presented Skyler with a Chinese wizarding world's transfiguration tome, "Bianbian: Thousand Magical Jue."

Despite being written in Chinese characters, Zhang Yu had included English annotations for Skyler's convenience, which Skyler deeply appreciated.

The accolades continued with Skyler's victorious entry, "Hundred Changes Thousands of Magic Techniques."

This semester's Potions class presented a considerable challenge. Aside from the early introduction of Shrinking Solution, the most intriguing potion Skyler encountered was the Confusing Concoction.

Comprised of sneezeweed, scurvy, and lovage, these herbs had a warming effect on the brain.

When consumed, the potion's effects closely mirrored those of the Confundus Charm, with the added dimension of influencing mood.

The Confusing Concoction had the potential to induce impulsiveness and recklessness when employed skillfully.

Understanding that his father, Lucius, shared a close rapport with Professor Snape, Skyler took the opportunity to consult Snape on advanced potion-related queries.

He sought insights into topics such as the potential applications of Neville's Shrinking Solution for age regression in humans and the distinctions between the essence of growing old while retaining sanity.

Snape, in a departure from his usual aloof demeanor, patiently elucidated these intricate topics for Skyler and did not express any reservations about his student's rapid progress.

Skyler's surprise reached its peak when Snape bestowed upon him the potion notes from his own school days.

These notes pertained to his preparations for the OWL proficiency examination. While not as illustrious as the famed "Mixed-Blood Prince's Potions Notes," they were nonetheless highly valuable to Skyler's current stage of learning.

Inside, Skyler identified numerous refinements to the potion preparation procedures outlined in the standard textbooks.

Should this knowledge become public, it could potentially revolutionize the world of potions.

Snape's recognition of Skyler's potential dates back to the previous semester when he was part of the Dueling Club.

Lucius, in correspondence with Snape, requested that he oversee the well-being of the Malfoy twins, particularly Draco.

Although Draco held Skyler in high regard and respected his abilities, Snape's demeanor remained typically reserved.

He struggled to proactively extend his guidance to Skyler, leading to concerns regarding the bond between Skyler and the two professors.

However, Snape was relieved when Skyler took the initiative to seek his counsel, bridging the gap between them.

Skyler's deepening teacher-student relationship with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick was met with mixed emotions, but the fact that Skyler turned to Snape for advice was indeed a reassuring sign.

Skyler's collection expanded further with the acquisition of Snape's primary potion notes.

Professor Snape's Potions Notes obtained!

Protecting magical animals lessons were universally unloved.

The initial enthusiasm of the first class quickly dwindled, leaving a sense of drudgery.

Hagrid himself seemed less enthusiastic as they delved into the care of Flobber caterpillars.

The Flobberworm was a nondescript brown worm, measuring a mere 10 inches with a complete absence of teeth.

It had a peculiar penchant for lettuce, although it was rather indiscriminate in its diet, happily munching on most plants.

The subject matter of this class felt utterly pointless; these creatures were solitary, slothful beings requiring minimal attention.

Overfeeding them, as Hagrid pointed out, would spell their untimely demise.

It wasn't just Slytherin's students who found themselves in the throes of melancholy.

Even Ron, who typically had a close rapport with Hagrid, was known to vocalize his discontent.

The current semester's Herbology course emphasized the care of Puffapods. Puffapods were a peculiar magical plant characterized by plump, pink pods adorning their branches.

The task at hand for budding witches and wizards was to deftly peel these pink pods, retrieve the gleaming beans within, and deposit them into wooden barrels.

The beans were sensitive and would promptly sprout upon contact with any solid surface.

In this endeavor, Skyler came to realize that his superior strength and agility offered a limited advantage.

Maintaining a stable, unwavering hand for an extended period proved to be the key to success.

Morag, who had a penchant for embroidery, knitting, and painting, shared her expertise.

Her steady wrist allowed her to work without inadvertently triggering the beans' growth.

Skyler, along with Daphne and Meredith, began to grasp the critical nuances under Morag's patient tutelage.

For the burlier students like Goyle and Crabbe, the experience was considerably less fortunate.

On numerous occasions, they fumbled and spilled beans onto the greenhouse floor, causing them to burst into blooms instantly.

Although the blooming flowers were aesthetically pleasing, the anger etched on Professor Sprout's face led to Slytherin's house losing points and Goyle and Crabbe earning themselves detentions.

Skyler's outstanding performance extended into Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin, wary of a student who had successfully confronted two Dementors, trod carefully.

Skyler met the professor's expectations, showcasing his remarkable prowess in class.

The first lesson featured a Bogart, easily transfigured into a benign visage by Skyler.

The second, on Red Caps, found Skyler's unmatched familiarity with the Forbidden Forest as he recounted the numerous encounters he'd had.

In the third lesson, delving into the topic of Japanese Kappas, which were reptilian water-dwellers resembling scaly monkeys with webbed hands, Skyler displayed a keen understanding.

Kappas posed a threat primarily when a wizard was unprepared, but Skyler adeptly cast Revelio to detect their presence before entering the water.

A simple drying charm on the water-filled cavity of a Kappa's skull would quickly deter the creature, as their strength was intrinsically tied to the water on their heads, and its removal rendered them powerless.

Skyler's most cherished course was alchemy. Professor Borgin, a retired alchemist from the esteemed Borgin family, was the instructor.

With profound and extensive knowledge in alchemy, he possessed the temperament of a dedicated scientist, delivering lessons with utmost seriousness.

His presence at Hogwarts for this particular subject was due to Lucius's favor, and he agreed to teach only Skyler's grade, sparing himself the responsibility of instructing all seven.

Given the relatively small class size, alchemy was a collaborative effort among four houses.

Likely influenced by Professor Borgin's association with Lucius, Slytherin comprised most of the students.

Responding to Skyler's encouragement, nearly all second-year Slytherins opted for this elective.

Ernie McMillan and Susan Burns were the only Hufflepuffs present.

Ravenclaw was represented by Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Morag McDougal, and Lisa Dupin, while Gryffindor saw no interest due to rumors connecting the alchemy class with the Malfoy family.

The course's content didn't quite match the initial excitement. Students weren't afforded the opportunity to practice alchemy or gain access to legendary alchemical items.

Instead, Professor Borgin imparted fundamental theory, commencing with ancient Egyptian alchemy, necessitating a profound understanding of celestial and geological phenomena, memorization of various magical materials, and the characteristics of magical metals.

The class then progressed to the theory of matter transformation and magic put forward by European medieval alchemists, which posited that certain words held magical properties and could enhance the potency of alchemical objects when inscribed with Guruni charms.

This knowledge, seemingly mundane and impractical, perfectly aligned with Skyler's needs.

His alchemical knowledge was primarily inherited from Nicolas Flamel, a truly extraordinary alchemist but an ineffective teacher.

His vast wealth of information rendered even his simplest truths inscrutable, requiring extensive time to decipher their underlying principles.

Moreover, Nicolas' legacy to Skyler consisted of his unorganized, chaotic notes, reflecting his daily musings and research.

The disjointed and extensive contents frequently left Skyler bewildered, necessitating multiple clarifications from Nicolas to comprehend.

Hogwarts' alchemy course served as a valuable foundation for Skyler, systematically reintroducing the basics of alchemy and resolving many of the mysteries that had previously eluded him.

Skyler remained committed to Daphne, devoting his free time to aiding Astoria with her homework and offering academic guidance.

His assistance transformed Astoria into a star student in the first year, further deepening the bond between Skyler and Astoria.