Besides Charms Class and Transfiguration Class, Alchemy was where Wade spent most of his time. As he studied Alchemy, his understanding of his other subjects also deepened.
The book Professor Murray lent him, From Zero to Hero: Learning Magical Item Creation, was completely different from other Alchemy texts. It contained almost no dry history or theory, nor did it spend much effort detailing the interrelations of the four elements. Instead, from the very first line, it focused on how to create various magical items.
From common self-inking Quills, moving photographs, Flying Broomsticks, and Howlers, to rarely-owned items like Pensieves, Magic Mirrors, Invisibility Cloaks, and Guardian Armor, Wade found almost every magical item he had ever seen or heard of in the book. It even mentioned the Sorting Hat and Time-Turners, though for the latter, it only offered some conjectures without concrete manufacturing processes.
And even for the items described, simply reading the book wasn't enough to create them. It was like someone who understood neither electricity nor programming trying to build a computer, even with a complete set of instructions. Magical items were far more complex and dangerous than computers; without the foundational knowledge, even the simplest steps would be incomprehensible.
Wade studied with Professor Murray for several weeks, listening each time as he critiqued the assignments and works of sixth and seventh-year students. He also assisted Professor Murray in creating a teaching aid for his class. After a period of training, Professor Murray suggested he could try creating the simplest magical items himself. With just three to five spells appropriately combined, wondrous effects could be produced, like the self-inking Quill and the Howler.
Ideas sparked in Wade's mind. For instance, he could make a Quill automatically change ink colors while writing, or add a distance-measuring function to glasses, or even create a dancing puppet. Almost as soon as he conceived of these ideas, the manufacturing spells and specific steps formed in his mind.
The spells and magical runes required were very basic, and he had completely mastered them. He was confident that he could succeed after just a few practice attempts. But should he really do it that way?
If he did, how would his work differ from the student projects Professor Murray called "trash"? It would be just another uninspired, perfunctory assignment with little inherent value.
This was Wade's first Alchemy project, and he didn't want it to be so casual, nor did he want it to end up in the trash after submission.
That night, Wade's mind was abuzz with thoughts, keeping him from truly falling asleep. Between waking and dreaming, he suddenly heard a rustling sound.
Wade sat up in bed, pulled out his Wand, and with a flick, the oil lamp in the dormitory lit up, casting a soft orange glow.
It was utterly silent both inside and outside the dormitory. A faint sound came from outside the window.
Wade put on his clothes and got out of bed, walking to the window. Only then did he realize it was snowing outside.
Large snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the entire castle in pure white. The thick snow covered all the clutter, creating an exceptionally serene and expansive feeling.
A flash of inspiration struck Wade. He suddenly knew what he wanted to do. When this idea surfaced, all other concepts seemed gaudy and superficial by comparison.
Feeling pleased, he returned to bed and slept soundly until morning.
...
Wade had initially thought that knocking Quirrell down with a bloody face was quite outlandish, but it turned out to be nothing. The Weasley Twins soon pulled an even more heart-stopping stunt—they enchanted several snowballs to chase Quirrell around, finally hitting him on the back of the head.
Professor McGonagall was furious. She stormed out of the Great Hall and deducted a full thirty points from the Twins' house—her own house! She also gave them a month of detention—half a month before the Christmas holiday and another half a month after they returned.
The Weasley Twins pretended to be remorseful and apologized earnestly, but as soon as they were out of the professor's sight, they became smug.
"Why were you targeting Quirrell?" Wade asked curiously from the hallway. To someone like him, who knew the truth, what they had just done was practically pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
Moreover, while the Weasley brothers enjoyed pranks, they wouldn't normally provoke a professor. After all, Gryffindors valued the House Cup points greatly (because falling behind in points would surely invite ridicule from Slytherin). Even if Professor Quirrell had deducted two hundred points just now, no one would have had much to say.
Wade found it very strange—when had they become so reckless?
The Weasleys stared at him for a moment, an expression of recognition dawning on their faces. "Ah, you're—"
"From the library—"
"What was your name again?" the brothers asked in unison.
"Wade Grey, from Ravenclaw," Wade said.
The Twins immediately understood. They had heard that name countless times from their youngest brother, Ron. Every time Ron finished a class with Ravenclaw, he would speak enviously and jealously about how much the professors admired a young Wizard named Wade from his year, claiming he was surely the next Percy.
But from what they saw, Wade Grey was completely different from their brother Percy, and like them, he was an Alchemy enthusiast, which earned him instant favor.
The Weasleys exchanged glances, then leaned in and said, "Aren't you curious?"
"Quirrell always wears that big scarf—"
"No matter how the weather changes, he never takes it off—"
"We went to the kitchen and asked the House-elf, he hasn't even had them wash that scarf—"
"So there must be a secret hidden under his scarf! Something he doesn't want anyone to know!" Fred Weasley declared. "Maybe it's some dark magic weapon that messed with his brain."
"Or maybe it's a hideously ugly bald head—" George Weasley couldn't help but chuckle. "Imagine that, it must be hilarious."
"Don't bully Professor Quirrell just because he's easygoing!" Wade advised gently, in a "Hermione-esque" tone. "Would you dare mess up Professor McGonagall's bun?"
"Don't say such scary things, okay?" Fred casually slung an arm around Wade's shoulder. "And I've also discovered something strange, do you know what it is?"
"What?" George asked, playing along.
"I've noticed—" Fred looked at Wade, drawing out his words, "We've told you all our suspicions about Quirrell's scarf, but you don't seem curious at all!"
Wade's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly realized that beneath the brothers' jovial attitude lay incredibly sharp instincts.
His gaze shifted slightly, and George immediately noticed it.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "So you know?"
Wade crossed his arms, took a step back, and leaned against the wall, narrowing his eyes at the Weasleys. "So... this is an interrogation?"
George and Fred exchanged glances, then laughed simultaneously. "Of course not!"
"You found the answer to the problem before us, so we lost," Fred said gravely.
"But as for an interrogation, that's impossible. We'll find the answer ourselves!" George flashed a brilliant smile.
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