Chapter 88

Deep into the hallowed halls of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the air was tinged with ancient magic and secrets whispered through the stone corridors. A group of young wizards and witches gathered in the Gryffindor common room. The flickering light of the fireplace danced upon their eager faces as they engaged in one of their most daunting tasks yet: homework.

"Come on, guys, help me," Fred said as he looked through a stack of messy notes. 

"Please help me. You guys have done your homework. Let me copy some of it. How about the first couple of questions? Does Mars have any satellites?"

"You should have done it when we did it together with the others," Lee Jordan said as he flicked through 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection'.

"Mars has three satellites," Albert said as he looked up from his parchment.

"I thought it had two: Phobos and Deimos. Where did the third come from?" Angelina asked with a confused look.

"What was the question, Fred? Repeat it to me word for word," Albert said, as he put his quill down.

"How many celestial satellites does Mars have, and what are they?" 

"Sorry. My mistake. Fred didn't say celestial when he asked," Albert said as he picked up his quill and started writing again.

"Where did number three come from?" Lee asked.

"Mars has three satellites. Two celestials and one man-made Mariner 9," Albert said.

"What is Mariner 9, and what do you mean, man-made?" George asked.

"As you know, muggles don't have magic. Instead, we study science. Science, in simple English is trying to find out how everything works. In November 1971, NASA launched the Mariner 9, and it's still orbiting Mars. So for Fred's original question, there are three satellites," Albert said.

"What is NASA? What is Mariner 9? And how did they get it into space?" Fred asked.

"Well, NASA stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It's an organisation from my world, the Muggle world, dedicated to space exploration and aeronautics research. Mariner 9 was one of NASA's spacecraft sent to explore Mars. They launched it aboard an Atlas-Centaur rocket, a powerful vehicle designed to carry payloads into space. The Mariner 9 mission aimed to orbit Mars and capture detailed images and data about the planet. We achieved this through careful calculations, engineering, and the collaborative efforts of scientists and engineers at NASA," Albert explained.

"How come I've never heard about it? My parents both studied Muggle Studies, and our dad works with Muggles at the Ministry," George asked.

"The last time Muggle Studies' textbooks were updated was over 150 years ago, and the wizard who teaches Muggle Studies has never been in contact with muggles. So I wonder, how would you find out?" Albert said it sarcastically.

"What else has NASA done? Has anyone else left this planet? Has anyone left this solar system?" Fred asked.

"We put a man on the moon in 1969, but nobody has left this solar system. And stop asking questions. Do your work first, and then I'll answer questions you have. Okay?" Albert said as he closed his copy of 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection' and brought out a thick book.

"Works for me," said the twins, while Lee nodded.

They all got back to work while Albert started reading the book. Lee took curious glances due to how thick the book was and the Latin title.

"Are you going to sit here and not question what that monstrosity is?" Lee said as he pointed at the book. "Come on, Angelina. Are you not going to ask?"

"He said he'd answer any question once we finished. So, we are waiting till he's done," Angelina said.

"Can you answer my question now, as I've almost finished my work?" Lee asked.

"This is 'Ars Alchemiae: Fundamenta et Initiationes' by Aurelius Alchemicus. It is a comprehensive guide for beginners who want to learn about alchemy. It teaches through relatively simple practicals. As for the author, Aurelius was a renowned alchemist from the mediaeval era. He dedicated his life to simplifying the complexities of alchemy for novices. He has written other books and research papers, but 'Ars Alchemiae: Fundamenta et Initiationes' is considered his magnum opus."

"That's cool and all, but why are you reading it? We don't do alchemy until our third year," Lee said.

"Because I feel like it. And Fred, hurry. Astronomy starts in under 15 minutes," Albert said, as he turned the page and read the title aloud. "How to repel vampires"

<When reading your paragraph and chapter comments, I read some of you don't like information dumps. So, I will still write it but summarise it and leave the summary in the chapter. Those that want to read the information dump, it will be at the end of the chapter from now on.> 

"So, how do you repel vampires?" Angelina asked after a few minutes.

"It's done with Luminara garlic solution. The Luminara Garlic Solution is a concoction infused with lunar energy, Silverthorn essence, moonlit dewdrops, and sunstone essence to create a potent ward against vampires. To carry out the procedure, fresh Luminara garlic bulbs are gathered, crushed, and infused with Silverthorn essence, before adding moonlit dewdrops and strengthening the ward with sunstone essence. The solution is then stored in a moonstone vial, and when used, it can apply to objects like jewellery or clothing."

"That sounds easy and hard," George said.

"And expensive," Fred added.

"And time-consuming," Angelina said.

"Speaking of this book, you two would like this," Albert said as he offered the book to George. He pushed it back to Albert, not wanting to touch it.

"We might, but we don't have the capacity for it," George said.

"Not now, but you will. Just skim the first few chapters. You'll like it," Albert said as he offered the book to them again.

George skimmed the title of a few chapters and went over it a few times before giving it to Fred. George was speechless. A few moments later, Fred handed the book back and was in the same situation as his twin brother.

"I read that correctly, didn't I?" Fred asked.

"If you read about the Whimsical Wobble Wand, the Tickling Teacup, and the Giggling Goblet, then yes, we read the same thing," George said.

"Aren't these items sold at Zonko's?" Lee said.

"Yes, they are. Zonko borrowed this book when he was in school. If you two want to open a joke shop in the future, this would be a great start," Albert said.

"That's if we have enough money to actually start it.," George said.

"I would mind lending some money. My family is rich enough to give you some change," Albert said.

"And when I become a Lord, I would mind lending some money," Lee said.

"If you are actually serious, I wouldn't mind as well once I become the Head of my family," Angelina said. "But we should talk about the future when we're going to be late to astronomy. Alicia, Shannon, and Katrina said they'd meet us there."

"Where are they? They left us like forty-five minutes ago," Lee asked. 

"They went to the Black Lake and had a picnic while talking about stuff," Angelina said. "But where did you get that book from?"

"I stayed behind to talk to Professor Brődt, and he recommended this book. We can talk about this later, but we need to be quick if we don't want to be late."

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Chapter VIII: Repelling Vampires: A Luminara Garlic Solution

In this section, we delve into one of the most vital aspects of defensive alchemy: repelling creatures of the night, specifically vampires. The key ingredient in this endeavour is the Luminara garlic, a potent variation of the common garlic imbued with enhanced magical properties. To harness its power, one must craft the Luminara Garlic Solution, a concoction designed to repel vampires effectively.

Introduction: The Power of Luminara Garlic

Luminara garlic, known for its luminescent aura and intensified magical essence, has been known throughout magical history as a formidable ward against a large number of creatures of darkness. Harnessing this power requires not only a keen understanding of alchemical principles but also a deep respect for the magical forces at play.

Ingredients:

- Fresh Luminara Garlic Bulbs: Harvested under the light of a full moon, these bulbs are infused with lunar energy, enhancing their magical potency.

- Essence of Silverthorn - Extracted from the Silverthorn plant, this essence amplifies the protective properties of the Luminara Garlic.

- Moonlit Dewdrops - Collected at dawn under the light of the moon, these dewdrops imbue the solution with purity and clarity.

- Essence of Sunstone - A few drops of this precious gemstone essence add resilience to the ward, ensuring its longevity.

Preparation:

Gather Fresh Luminara Garlic Bulbs: Carefully select plump, unblemished bulbs, ensuring they are at the peak of their magical potency.

Crush and Infuse: Crush the bulbs with a silver mortar and pestle, infusing them with Essence of Silverthorn. Let the mixture sit in a crystal vial for a lunar cycle, absorbing the moon's energy.

Add Moonlit Dewdrops: At the peak of a full moon, add Moonlit Dewdrops to the infused garlic mixture. Allow it to rest overnight, absorbing the moon's cleansing energy.

Strengthen with Sunstone: With the first light of dawn, infuse the solution with Essence of Sunstone, strengthening the ward against malevolent forces.

Filter and Store: Strain the solution through a fine mesh, removing solid particles. Store the purified Luminara Garlic Solution in a moonstone vial, tightly sealed to preserve its potency.

Application:

Soaking Objects: Immerse the desired object (such as jewellery, clothing, or charms) in the Luminara Garlic Solution for a duration corresponding to the object's size and intended potency of the ward. Larger items may require longer soaking periods to ensure proper imbuing.

Cautionary Notes:

- Avoid Ingestion: The Luminara Garlic Solution is potent and should never be ingested. It is strictly for external and object-based applications.

- Wear Protective Gloves: When handling the solution, wear dragonhide gloves to prevent direct contact with the skin.

Remember, the effectiveness of this ward depends not only on the quality of your ingredients but also on your intent and focus during the creation process. Experimentation is encouraged, as it allows for a deeper connection with the magical properties of the Luminara garlic, leading to the creation of powerful and personalised protective wards against the supernatural.