Chapter 47: Breaking Through the Fog - Causes and Effects

Magic, emotions, inner self…

Ino pondered Professor Flitwick's words carefully.

To be honest, he had never considered these issues before. He knew that in the HP world, there was no concrete concept of magic power; rather, it was roughly divided by age.

As young wizards grow older, their magic power also increases, and once they reach adulthood, their magic power tends to saturate, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Only a very few can break through this limit, allowing their magic power to continue increasing.

But now, with Professor Flitwick bringing up this topic, Ino couldn't help but think about the role magic power plays.

There was one thing he was 100% sure of: magic power and spells were two separate things.

If he had to compare, magic power was more like an honorary title; different levels of magic power corresponded to different titles.

A wizard with such an honorary title would cast stronger spells. A wizard without this title could still cast spells, but the effects would be much weaker.

However, a title is just a title; it is not a consumable.

So, no one has ever heard of a wizard running out of magic power—that's nonsense.

...

After a while.

Ino slowly raised his head.

"Professor, I don't quite understand. Although I've read in books that some spells require the wizard's emotions to cast, this doesn't seem to indicate that magic power has emotions."

"Yes, emotions. I'm very pleased that you have the habit of reading in the library as a first-year," Professor Flitwick said with a smile.

"Do you know why from the moment young wizards enter Hogwarts, we emphasize the qualities of the four houses? Ravenclaw's wisdom, Gryffindor's bravery, Slytherin's shrewdness, Hufflepuff's loyalty."

Ino opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then he heard Professor Flitwick's voice again.

"Haha, yes! I used shrewdness." Professor Flitwick had a look of triumph, as if he had just pulled off a prank.

"Did you expect me to say ambition? That's a fool's notion. Although the vast majority of young wizards sorted into Slytherin deeply desire to achieve something great and have clear desires for fame, wealth, and even... more."

At this point, Professor Flitwick paused for a moment, as if giving Ino some time to think.

"But there is another type of person sorted into Slytherin, though they are exceedingly rare—so rare that you might not see one for years. However, these people do exist. In their hearts, they have clear things they do not want, which is why I used shrewdness."

"Wanting wealth and not wanting poverty are essentially the same. These shrewd young wizards, with their strong sense of 'not wanting,' are sorted into Slytherin because the Sorting Hat only discerns emotions."

Here, Professor Flitwick adopted a reminiscing tone and continued slowly:

"Some people want immortality; some don't want to die. How ironic! Ambition and shrewdness, expressed differently, but resulting in the same effect."

With Professor Flitwick's words echoing, Ino felt as if he had broken through a fog and finally saw the truth.

He understood why he was sorted into Slytherin—it was due to his strong inner desires and his strong sense of 'not wanting.'

His subconscious emotions were filled with not wanting to enter the plot, not wanting to get close to Harry, not wanting to join the future great battle, and not wanting to be collateral damage...

Among a group of young, naive wizards, a wizard with such strong subjective emotions would stand out, and in the sorting hat's emotional discernment, it might translate to something like 'wanting to influence the plot, wanting to control Harry, wanting to control fate, and wanting to dictate the future…'

Someone like this would undoubtedly be sorted into Slytherin.

...

After a long while.

"Thank you, Professor! I think I understand now," Ino said sincerely.

"No need to thank me; it's a professor's duty." Professor Flitwick waved dismissively.

"But that's not the main point. What I want to tell you is that the emotions of magic power are related to the qualities of the houses."

Sighing, Professor Flitwick continued, "In the past, young wizards often struggled to find their qualities, which often led them astray. Until the four founders established Hogwarts, where we use seven years to subtly shape students' qualities and the emotions of their magic power."

"This is supposed to be a process, one that doesn't need much explanation. But your magic power growth is quite unexpected. I'm worried that the shaping process won't keep up... That's the main reason I called you today."

...

Ino left the Charms office.

The conversation with Professor Flitwick made him re-evaluate magic, or rather, re-evaluate the wizarding community.

Emotional sensitivity can indeed be nurtured from a young age.

The four Hogwarts houses are somewhat akin to the formation of correct values in Muggle education.

Professor Flitwick's concern was valid: the automatic educational process couldn't keep up with his magic power growth, requiring manual intervention now.

"If I could do it all over again, I'd definitely join Ravenclaw…"

Walking on the castle lawn, Ino couldn't help but sigh.

Although Professor Flitwick's worries seemed excessive, he was still grateful. It wasn't just a matter of solving a problem; it was genuine concern.

The so-called dark wizards are essentially the result of twisted magic power emotions, and young wizards, around ten years old, are at the most vulnerable age for such distortion.

But for someone with previous life experiences, what they lack the least is a solid mindset and a well-formed value system.

...

Outside the castle, Ino walked along the gravel path.

Unknowingly, a dense forest blocked his way.

"Haha! The freshmen's checkpoint…"

Ino had no interest in the Forbidden Forest, just as he didn't understand why many people preferred night excursions over daytime castle tours.

But he had to admit, standing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and looking at the mysterious and deep woods, gave him a kind of Alice in Wonderland feeling—if he ignored the werewolves, trolls, and dark wizards in the forest.

Suddenly, Ino's expression stiffened.

What you think about comes true—one moment he was leisurely walking by the forest, and now he found himself in a jungle adventure.

Right in front of him was Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who also seemed surprised to see someone playing a waiting game at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

The air became silent.

For a brief moment, the two of them were caught off guard, leading to an awkward stalemate.

Quirrell felt his mind go blank. The recent battle with an adult unicorn had already left him exhausted, and combined with the curse from the unicorn's blood, facing a sudden appearance of a student made him instinctively reach for his wand.

'Fool! What are you doing in broad daylight? Greet him and then leave.'

The voice in his head brought Quirrell back to his senses, making him realize how reckless his actions had been.

If he openly attacked a Hogwarts student now, he would skip the trial and go straight to Azkaban, receiving a Dementor's Kiss.

...

"Good morning, Professor Quirrell!"

Breaking the brief shock, Ino was the first to speak, while his right hand was already gripping his wand.

As for his left hand, it had quietly slipped into his inner pocket.

For a moment, he truly felt that Quirrell intended to attack.

"G-good morning! Student, d-don't go near the Forbidden Forest. I have other... things to do. Goodbye!"

Quirrell quickly responded, albeit nervously, and left in a hurry.