Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 28 Silent Spellcasting and Revealing Potion

It was a new week, and the morning sunlight streamed through the blue stained-glass windows of the Ravenclaw Tower. Karen sat by the window, his grey-blue eyes fixed on the shimmering light at the tip of his wand. Today was Charms class, and they were going to learn the Illumination Charm, which he had already mastered.

"Karen! You're going to be late if you don't hurry!" Wesley's voice came from behind him. He was using Transfiguration to turn a handkerchief into the shape of a soccer ball, his reddish-brown curly hair bouncing with his movements.

Fabian had already packed his bag and pushed up his glasses: "Professor Flitwick said he'll be teaching some variations of the Illumination Charm today."

Ernesto elegantly adjusted his tie, his grey eyes scanning the view out the window: "The weather's nice; we should be able to see Aquila tonight."

Four boys walked through the castle corridors, sunlight filtering through the high windows and casting dappled shadows on the floor. When they arrived at the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick was standing on a stack of thick books, using his wand to direct a quill to write today's topic on the blackboard: the Illumination Charm and its applications.

"Ah, Ravenclaw students!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed. "Today we will learn the Illumination Charm."

The Illumination Charm is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most practical spells invented by wizards; even someone as powerful as Gandalf would use it frequently.

Karen found a seat near the front. In her field of vision, the flow of magic at the tip of Professor Flitwick's wand resembled a silver ribbon, still so graceful and precise. The more Karen observed, the more she felt that the flow of magic from these masters was far smoother than that of ordinary wizards, both in quality and quantity—an undeniable and overwhelming superiority.

"First, the Standard Illumination Charm." The professor waved his wand. "Flash!" A bright light burst forth from the tip of the wand.

"Now, everyone, don't use your wands yet. Just repeat after me, 'Flash!'" Professor Flitwick began by teaching the students to chant the spell with him.

Everyone recited along, even though Karen had already mastered it, she still recited it along with everyone else.

"Very good. Next, while chanting the spell, just raise your wand a little. Now, please try it yourselves." Professor Flitwick demonstrated it again.

The classroom was immediately filled with the sound of "flickering lights." This time, Karen didn't specifically observe her classmates' spellcasting; instead, she pretended to practice the illumination spell.

However, after practicing a few times, Karen got a little bored and suddenly wanted to try silent spellcasting.

Without thinking, Karen raised his wand again, but he didn't chant any spells, and nothing happened with the wand. In his field of vision, without the guidance of spells, the flow of magic seemed to become abnormally blocked, and the flow of magic stopped before it was completed.

The Charms lesson ended with a series of "flickering" incantations and some faint flashes of light.

"Karen, could you stay for a moment?" Professor Flitwick suddenly called out as Karen passed the podium to leave.

"Professor, is there something you need?" Karen looked at Professor Flitwick with a puzzled expression.

"Karen, were you trying to cast a silent spell in class just now?" Professor Flitwick's question was phrased as a question, but his tone was unmistakably certain.

"Your magical talent is impressive. You told me before that you had already mastered the magic required for a first year, so the Illumination Charm should be no problem for you. I observed you in class just now and you didn't chant any spells, so I made this assumption." Before Karen could respond, Professor Flitwick added.

"I did just try to cast a silent spell. The Illumination Charm was the first spell I learned, and I wanted to see if I could cast it silently, but obviously I failed." Karen affirmed Professor Flitwick's words and expressed her confusion about silent casting.

"Silent casting is not just about omitting the incantation; it's a high-level magical technique." Professor Flitwick drew a complex symbol in the air with his wand.

"It requires the wizard to perfectly construct a magical image in their mind and establish a deeper connection with magic." He paused, then added, "I won a dueling championship with this technique when I was young, or rather, it's essential to become a champion."

The professor then demonstrated several silent spells, which Karen's "Eye of Truth" could see how magic flowed according to the professor's will, without the need for spells as a medium.

"The key to silent spellcasting is that when a wizard has a sufficiently high level of control over magic, they can bypass the medium of language and directly manipulate magic power simply through strong willpower and intense concentration. This requires the wizard to have an extremely high level of understanding and proficiency with the target spell."

"You should practice gradually. I suggest you start with the Illumination Charm." Professor Flitwick handed him two booklets, "Introduction to Silent Spells" and "Detailed Explanation and Application of the Illumination Charm." "If you still don't succeed, you can study the various derivative uses of the Illumination Charm."

"Thank you, Professor." Karen carefully put the booklet away, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, do you know where I can buy developing solution? I want to develop some of my magical photos."

"The Devis-Bans from Hogsmeade should be available," the professor mused. "Ah, sometimes when we talk, I think you're a fifth-year student. Although first-year students can't go to Hogsmeade, you can order it by mail from an owl."

After saying goodbye to Professor Flitwick, Karen went straight to the Owl Hut, where Phoebus often stayed and played with his friends. The owls chirped happily when they saw Karen come in.

"I'm sorry to trouble you again, little guy." Karen scratched Phobos's ear and put the order letter and two Galleons in a bag, tying it to its leg. "Devis-Bans, developer, two bottles."

Phobos proudly puffed out his chest and spread his wings to fly into the distance.

In the afternoon, Phobos returned with a small package. Karen eagerly opened it; inside were two bottles of developing solution, shimmering with a silvery sheen. The bottles were labeled "Devis-Bans, Quality Guaranteed," and included an invoice showing the solution cost 5 psico per bottle, along with change.

Back in her dorm room, Karen carefully dripped the potion onto the magical photos she had taken. The images in the photos gradually emerged, each one vivid and lifelike, as if those little moments had been preserved forever.

"What's this?" Wesley suddenly leaned closer, his reddish-brown curly hair almost touching the photo. "Wow! Does this make the photo move?"

"A magic photo," Karen explained, "that comes to life after being treated with developing chemicals."

Fabian also took a closer look with interest.

Ernesto pretended not to care, but his gray eyes kept glancing this way: "...Not bad."

Karen packed the developed photos and the letter she had written to her parents together and handed them to Phobos: "Thank you for making this trip again." Phobos bowed his head, picked up the package, and flew into the night sky.