For Percy and Crabbe, this peculiar journey into the Muggle world was filled with a fantastical, almost whimsical charm.
It was equally delightful and, at times, quite vexing.
That's because Lockhart had assigned them a travelogue, claiming he wished to impart his writing wisdom to them, but first, he needed to gauge their potential.
Crabbe obediently complied. His prose, though rather dreadful—sounding less like a twelve-year-old wizard who frequently wrote essays and more like a nursery school child's babbling—possessed a uniquely genuine simplicity.
This sincerity was rare, lending exceptional value to his "One Day in the Muggle World" paper, a young wizard's observations of Muggle society.
Indeed, it was remarkably valuable.
When Lockhart presented Crabbe's childlike, nonsensical "Muggle World Day Trip" essay to Dumbledore, the old Headmaster read it over and over again, several times.
His expression was utterly peculiar, even tinged with a distinct astonishment, as he glanced from the paper to Lockhart.
"Well? What do you think?" Lockhart sipped his drink contentedly, looking rather smug.
"I wish to write a recommendation for him and submit it to Wizards in Warfare," Dumbledore stated with great solemnity.
Wizards in Warfare, a journal and newspaper focusing on Muggle Studies, has existed for several centuries, its origins even tracing back to the time of the Three Brothers Peverell.
It exhibited different biases throughout history. For instance, during the Muggle witch hunts, it was decidedly anti-Muggle. By the eras of Grindelwald and Dumbledore, its focus shifted dramatically, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between wizards and Muggles.
Dumbledore's intention in writing a recommendation wasn't to merely add his name to the article; his status and influence made such a thing unnecessary. On the contrary, he intended to endorse the student, drawing attention and potential criticism to himself.
—"I, too, concur with this student's perspective!"
Should anyone wish to attack the article, the focus of their ire would first fall upon him.
"I also wrote something," Lockhart indicated the final section of the travelogue.
Dumbledore nodded.
"However, you might have to wait a little longer. Percy Weasley is also writing, but the boy clearly overthinks things, which has slowed his progress," Lockhart said, smiling as he set his teacup on the table. "I intend to submit both of their works simultaneously."
"Crabbe and Weasley..." Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh, no, no, no..." Lockhart rolled his eyes. "Don't sully a child's purity with grubby political machinations. For these two boys, it's merely a travelogue!"
Dumbledore chuckled. "That's precisely our role as professors, isn't it? To shield young saplings from the storms, awaiting their robust growth."
"Yes, to give them a chance," Lockhart agreed, nodding.
---
Percy realized this was indeed an opportunity. Professor Lockhart had advised him that Dumbledore himself had actively participated in societal activities during his student days, which opened boundless possibilities for his eventual rise to the international stage.
But the greater his psychological burden, the more agonizing his writing became. He weighed every single word, continuously recalling every minute detail of that brief yet fantastical journey to the Muggle world, attempting to capture that elusive spark of intriguing inspiration.
"You always think too much, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I won't tell you not to overthink, though that would be redundant. But you must realize this is a behaviour driven by your inner self. So, if you overthink, then overthink..."
Professor Lockhart had once instructed him thus: "However, your thoughts cannot remain superficial. You must think more profoundly, think, think desperately! You must understand that under such intense desire, your spirit will erupt with immense energy, illuminating your perception of the world with brilliant insights. This is magic without magic, with the flow of magic participating within it."
From an Auror in the Ministry of Magic to a political figure...
From the academic realm to international organizations...
From magical power to a Master of Magic...
The three paths the professor had outlined for him didn't demand an immediate choice. While leaning more towards guiding him down the magical path, he still kept open the possibility of the other two routes. This travelogue was the first step.
But it was difficult. So incredibly difficult.
So, on the very next weekend, Professor Lockhart once again took them to the Muggle world, for two full days.
Sometimes, they would return to the house in Hogsmeade Village, where he would continue to instruct them in magic.
Percy continued to practice his Reparo charm, while Crabbe, under the professor's guidance, began to delve deeper into Warm Healing, a fire-based healing spell.
---
For this purpose, during their subsequent visit to the Muggle world, Lockhart specifically took the two young wizards to soak in a hot spring.
The trio comfortably immersed themselves in the warm spring water, feeling enveloped in a soothing warmth. The jumble of thoughts and the physical weariness accumulated from half a day of exploration completely vanished.
"Vincent, remember this feeling," Professor Lockhart instructed, gesturing for Percy to listen as well. "Healing spells actually have distinctions. There's the fierce kind that mends wounds instantly, like the Reparo charm, and then there's the gentle kind that soothes body and mind."
"They have applications in different scenarios, but never underestimate the power of gradual healing. It is far more potent because it can heal physical damage that your current abilities might not be able to mend immediately."
"Its healing power penetrates matter, reaching directly into the spirit. By altering the state of the spirit, it subtly encourages the spirit itself to release magical energy, resonating with your healing spell to jointly transform the physical body."
"By influencing the superficial body from the deepest levels of the spirit, a complete healing of both body and mind is achieved. Such magic is filled with immense power."
Crabbe listened, somewhat bewildered, yet he diligently committed these words to memory.
Percy pondered a great deal, realizing that the concepts Professor Lockhart was describing could also be applied to the realm of the Reparo charm.
As the saying goes, understand one, understand all. The truths of the world aren't so numerous or complex, which is precisely why those with high comprehension often excel in various fields simultaneously.
Percy was just such a highly perceptive child.
He might not have been able to grasp the profound difference between 'spirit' and 'physical brain thought' as deeply as Professor Lockhart, but he keenly seized upon that subtle sensation.
---
With a touch of excitement and impatience, he drew his wand. Under the curious gaze of his professor and Crabbe, he pointed it at the hot spring they were soaking in. "Scourgify!"
A peculiar, invisible flash of light flickered.
The hot spring water seemed to change, yet simultaneously, it seemed to remain unchanged.
"That's it! That's it! Hahahaha..." Lockhart burst into laughter. "Precisely! The spring water is still spring water; it hasn't turned into pure water because of the Scouring Charm. On the contrary, it has become even more vibrant!"
"That's exactly it!"
"The beauty of magic blossoms right here!"
"Percy, welcome officially into the world of magic!"
Percy stood still, wand in hand, silent, seemingly still immersed in the unique revelation of his recent spell-casting.
It was a magical experience unlike any he had ever known.
So utterly wondrous.
"Professor, I can do it too!" Crabbe raised his hand, his simple, eager face beaming with a desire to show off, like a kindergarten child vying for a gold star.
"Oh, really? Come on, you try it too," Lockhart encouraged, quite curious to see what Crabbe would conjure.
"Soul Campfire!"
Crabbe waved his wand. Within the rippling surface of the hot spring water, a faint, interweaving bi-colour glow of orange-red and ethereal blue began to emerge.
Lockhart and Percy could both feel the increasing warmth of the spring water, yet this warmth remained within a comfortable range for the body; it wasn't scalding.
Crabbe's movements didn't cease; he continued to wave his wand.
"Warm Healing!"
In an instant, the pool water seemed to glow.
Or perhaps it was reflecting the faint, shimmering light of the evening sky, overflowing with iridescent colours.
Yes, Crabbe had done it!
The vitality radiating from the pool water instantly multiplied, reaching an extraordinarily impressive threshold.
This didn't mean Crabbe's magical power surpassed Percy's, but rather demonstrated the unique effect of "Collaborative Spell-Casting."
Sometimes, the effect of one plus one is indeed greater than two.
From individual spell-casting to collective spell-casting, this technique is common in departments like the Aurors. It can unleash a power far exceeding the combined strength of two individuals casting spells separately.
Lockhart had actually mentioned this during his promotion of the fairy-tale adventures at school. Cedric had mastered this aspect particularly well, often leading the Hufflepuff students to exceptionally strong performances in the inter-House tournaments.
Of course, the scene before them was even more fascinating.
Percy had performed a "subtraction" on the hot spring, while Crabbe had performed an "addition," yet both had curiously produced beneficial effects.
Even more wonderfully, the Warm Healing spell, at its core, was a fire-based power that stimulated the Earth's life-giving energy to embrace and nurture all. Now, Crabbe had expanded its scope.
From the power of the Earth to the power of nature itself.
This expansion was precisely the mark of breaking through barriers.
Crabbe, too, had stepped onto this wonderful path of magic!
"Niiiice~"
Lockhart gave a thumbs-up, comfortably sinking his entire body into the hot spring, lazily losing all desire to speak. He felt the spring's healing touch on his mind and body. The subtle weariness accumulated from his bustling life since arriving here, a weariness he himself hadn't even truly noticed, was slowly dissipating.
He had to admit, for the current effect, he couldn't actually do better than Percy and Crabbe combined. But that was precisely the joy of teaching.
Tailoring his instruction to each individual, guiding them toward excellence based on their inherent talents.
If their excellence couldn't surpass his own, a professor not particularly adept in these specific areas, then the teaching results would indeed be somewhat diminished.
The disciple does not necessarily have to be inferior to the master, nor the master superior to the disciple.
How splendid.
At least Lockhart was now enjoying the finest hot spring in the world.
The setting sun painted the sky, and the three of them, comfortably languid, fell silent, soaking in the spring, some clearing their minds, others delving into the deepest thoughts. Only the faint, distant hum of the world's clamour remained.
---