Harry Potter: A Certain Ancient Rune Professor of Hogwarts (TL) Chapter 377

Two dozen students were gathered around the makeshift vacant ground, with two or three in a group as they sat on the grass in scattered clusters, totally they would barely reach thirty in No. counting the Professors.

They stared at the two silhouettes constantly moving across each other in the center, shooting spells at each other as they went back and forth.

“Cedric, co on!” Roger Davies shouted.

“Victor, co on!”

Cedric dodged a spell, “Protego!” He put up a magical barrier and took a breath as the spell flew over like a sword, thumping the barrier.

The boy with the na “Graves” had short, fine black hair and his spells were terribly powerful. He grinned, seemingly sure of his victory.

“Watch your step, Victor!”

Victor Graves flinched in alarm when he realized two thin streams of water slithering their way over the grass and mud in the direction of his feet.

He raised his wand and tried to do sothing about it. That’s when Cedric lunged forward, and a red light flew from the tip of his wand. Graves turned back in a hurry to defend himself, but the spell never reached him.

The water on the ground suddenly exploded, and the grass fud up a large boiling water mist, which swept Cedric and Graves into it, their figures beca hidden.

“Supersensory Charm(*Unknown Incantation*)!”

It seed like a long ti before the sound of Cedric reciting the incantation reached the ears of those around him.

In the mist, Cedric murmured and enchanted himself with a supersensory charm, heightening his five senses and trying his best to catch the hazy silhouette.

The people around held their breath, even the Draco group who had just approached had stopped seven or eight feet away, staring at the mist with unblinking eyes.

Fast!

It was too fast!

Everything happened in seven or eight seconds, many people failed to react.

Flitwick praised in a sharp voice: “Amazing, Cedric laid a trap well.”

Felix nodded: “He looked well-prepared.”

“That’s right, he asked a few spells … I already figured out what he would do next.” Flitwick said with anticipation.

The water mist beca thicker. Not just a water mist, large clouds of white smoke quickly filled the space, blocking off a 30 to a 40-foot radius, like a goblet turned upside down to conceal everything inside.

Then a spell arced like lightning, abruptly illuminating a cloud of fog, and the onlooking students backed away.

“It seems that Cedric intends to use the fog as a battlefield, he should be prepared it for so large-sized creatures, whether for fighting or withdrawing, it is very convenient … did not expect it to work well for wizards.”

Felix thought about it, “He actually needs to strengthen two additional features – cut off his opponents’ vision as much as possible and turn them blind. As well as increasing his ans of detection as much as possible, and it would be nice to be able to ignore the haze.”

” He has a good knack for using different spells constantly.” Moody said.

As he spoke, the clouds churned violently, and a layer of black colour spread out from one of the locations. It looked like unsightly mould growing on clean white fungus, which quickly spread out, accompanied by a pungent sll of petrol.

“Did Cedric do that?”

“No, that’s dark magic.”

Flitwick waved his wand in front of his eyes, and the fog automatically cleared in his vision.

Half a minute later, two figures rushed out in separate directions, coughing violently, tears flowing from the corners of their eyes, and their eyes were red from that smoke.

“Contra Fumos.” (*made up spell*)

Felix pointed to Cedric, and his expression imdiately soothed.

The student on the opposite side also quieted down, and the two went forward to shake hands, with red eyes.

Professor Wilkinson of Ilvermorny said in a loud voice, “Well done, boys, you’ve all done well … Wait, where did these students co from?”

Felix and Flitwick had long since spotted Harry and the group, but neither of them said a word. Moody, who had been standing nearby, said in a quiet voice, “I already ntioned them to you, Professor Wilkinson, they’re the ones who aren’t old enough …”

In the crowd, Byers glanced at Neville in surprise, there are quite a few people here who are the friends he made in Gryffindor, he asked about their grades, except for the twins, the rest are basically fourth-year students.

Wilkinson looked at Harry and the group with suspicion, and Harry did his best to straighten his body to make himself look taller. “What about that little girl?” He asked, pointing at Astoria, “She passed your selection as well?”

“Surprising, yes, but ….” Felix said with a shrug, “She’s only a second year, too young to be part of the training, while the rest of them received the sa treatnt at Hogwarts as the sixth and seventh year Preparatory Champions.”

“Okay, as long as they don’t scream at the top of their lungs.” Wilkinson reluctantly accepted and had no further objections. The group breathed a sigh of relief.

“The luckiest thing is Professor McGonagall isn’t here, she left halfway through.” Fred said, squeezing his eyes.

George gave a thumbs up.

For the next few minutes, a group of professors critiqued the battle that had just taken place, especially the dark magic part. When it is Felix’s turn, he reminds the Hogwarts students, “Don’t forget that so of you know illumination which can break through magical mists …”

Collins stared at him, she did not choose the ancient runes class, so naturally, she is not a mber of the Magic Rune Club. In this subject, she is not as good as Astoria, because, in order to appease the little girl, Dumbledore agreed to her request of entering the Magic Rune Club very generously.

Next, the students took turns, and each duel ended quickly.

Not the kind of fast as the one Harry encountered in the dueling class, he thought for a while before coming up with a reliable word.

Rhythm.

The rhythm from both sides of the offence was very fluid, a fluidity that he had not previously experienced in dueling classes, nor had he ever had a similar experience with Sirius, or in classroom seven.

As for the second year sumr special training, and the several sparring sessions with Professor Hap, he was beaten throughout and did not have a pleasant experience at all.

After an hour, every upperclassman had their turn.

Felix looked at Harry and the group as they stared daggers at him, smiled slightly, and said to Wilkinson, “Professor Wilkinson, why don’t you let these underclassn try out on the stage?”

“No problem.”

Wilkinson nodded in agreent, he did not find it a problem, while the professors at Hogwarts were not stingy in their accolades for these students, he thought it was an exaggeration. They were several years younger than the real champion candidates, and the age gap isn’t that easy to break.

Besides, he specifically asked, the majority of the group here didn’t pass the OWLs.

Ilvermorny also has similar exams, and he naturally knows what kind of tamorphosis happens to students who have gone through such exam years.

“You guys go forward and have so fun! Don’t use dark magic.” Professor Wilkinson said to the Ilvermorny students, and then he lazily sat down on the grass, pulled a flask of alcohol out of his cloak, and took a sip.

Jura and Bethany looked at each other helplessly, and Jura said, “Byers, you go ahead.”

Byers nodded his head in agreent.

He stood in the center and bead a stupid grin that made Harry and the group giggle.

“Neville, let’s have a go.” Byers initiated the invitation.

Neville froze, walked to the center of the field, and whispered, “I’m not that good.”

“It’s okay.” Byers said with a smile, it is just a friendly match anyway, just the right way to change the mood.

However, the fact took him by surprise. Neville is skilled in various basic spells, especially in Stunning Spell and Shield Charm, he cast both quickly without uttering a word.

Nonverbal spell!

Neville’s pace was sowhat sluggish, with just a relatively few moves back and forth. Byers adapted after a while and then found a pattern, but this dull pace seed to be tried and tested a thousand tis, and he felt like he was up against a reef.

Neville did not take much initiative to attack, usually, he will let Byers attack first, while Neville will cast a Shield Charm, and then a few steps aside, always staying face to face with Byers, in between Byers chanting spells, Neville took the ti to shoot a few Stunning spells, sotis Shield Charm, and Disarming Charm.

His face was strained and taut, looking very similar to his dueling style.

Flitwick murmured, “This kind of pace is not in the scope of what is taught in school dueling classes, it looks simple but requires a lot of practice, and every tiny movent has a unique intent.”

Moody gripped his cane and said in a deep voice, “This style I seem to have seen it sowhere, I have an impression.”

“I think it was taught by Frank Longbottom.” Felix said.

“So that’s how it is …” Flitwick said admiringly, “His father was an outstanding Auror, and he should have tailored this pace for Neville, to match his own nature. ”

“Well, a very resilient pace.” Felix comnted.

On the field, Byers beca a little impatient. Although they might be friends, he also is a champion candidate, so he increased the output of magic power, and the spell lit up a bright arc of light.

Still, Neville kept resisting his attacks like a stubborn stone. His mouth continued to chant sothing silently, “Steady as a tenacious stone, light as a fluttering feather, still as a pool of water, moving like spring lightning …” He suddenly jumped out boldly, shook out a red light, and then re-hid himself.

The magic barrier in front of him shattered half a dozen tis, but each ti he pulled himself back up.

Jura went into deep thought, and Wilkinson’s liquor seed to lose its appeal. Bethany anxiously watched her brother fall into a bitter battle while asking in disbelief, “What’s going on? Why can’t Byers break through the boy’s defense?”

“Byers didn’t use any lethal spell, that’s one reason. There is also …” Wilkinson said hesitantly, “That kid has a good pace, very impressive. And then there’s the fact that shield charm was used really well, and all his tactics were based around that one spell. I could also see at least thirteen or fourteen tricks, each one focused on a specific issue.” He took a sip of his liquor, as he laughed “haha” twice, and then watched with rapt attention.

“It’s a test for Byers, too. He should learn to use his head.”

After ten minutes of stalemate, Byers finally found the key to break the ga, from the tip of his wand flew out a cluster of bright flas, condensed into a large fuzzy bird, which rushed towards Neville.

As the crowd stared in amazent, Neville urgently laid a second layer of shield charm over himself, blocking the flas firmly.

“Wow!” Ron looked at Neville in surprise, his impression of Neville seed to have been reshaped.

The big flaming bird broke through the first barrier and then crashed solidly into the second shield charm, nearly breaking it apart. But Byers waved his wand repeatedly, and the big flaming bird regathered, this ti bypassing the front and flying in a roundabout way from the side.

Neville dryly conceded defeat.

“You can still hold on for a while.” Byers ca over and shook hands with him solemnly.

Neville shook his head, “You’ve found a breakthrough,” he said, rubbing his head nervously, “Actually, Dad has developed this Tactic for , I just can’t use it well right now.”

“Well, it looks like you have a good father.” Byers said breathlessly.

Next, the Ilvermorny students got serious. They suddenly realized that these students, who were on average two or three years younger than them, were not that easy to deal with. They took turns on the field and took the initiative to pick their opponents. All the while following Professor Wilkinson’s orders and Byers’ approach of not using dark magic or powerful spells. But with a cut above the magic power and spell casting skills, they soon made Susan Bones, Carmichael, and Zabini lose one after another, which made the students of Ilvermorny breathe a sigh of relief that it seed these people were not all masters like Neville.

Draco also perford quite well, fighting back and forth with one of Ilvermorny’s witches, and the powerful spell he had used in the third-year dueling tournant ca close to success, but the serious Ilvermorny students lived up to their reputation as carefully selected preparatory champions, as any one of them can stand a chance against a novice Auror.

Even if they change positions and let these Hogwarts students attack actively, the Ilvermorny students can still wear their magic out until they run out of steam.

…

As the surrounding companions were picked off one by one, Harry got a little anxious. Why did no one pick him?

Just because he is shorter? Did he look weak?

He stared at Astoria, the little girl also puffed up – no one even looked at her, obviously she had worked very hard to stand in the front.

Harry suddenly felt so sadness.

Even Hermione went on the field. Her opponent is the male wizard surnad “Graves”, Graves said with a smile: “Heard your na quite a few tis these days, Miss Know-it-all?”

Hermione furrowed her brow, his tone of voice was anything but kind.

“May we begin?”

“Of course.” Graves grinned.

“Whoosh!”

A silent disarming charm flew out swiftly, Graves hurriedly jumped aside and looked at her in surprise, “Is that your best spell?”

Hermione said with a scowl, “You’ll see.” She waved her wand continuously, and several spells flew out, surprisingly suppressing the opposite side in a short ti, forcing Graves to hold up a magic barrier in the shape of a circle, completely wrapping himself up.

Flitwick asked in surprise: “When did Granger master Nonverbal casting? Moreover, she can actually apply it over multiple spells, it’s not as if she just mastered it.”

Moody’s that magic eye turned frantically, as he stared at her movents silently while calculating sothing in his heart.

Felix explained, “Her control of magic has always been outstanding, and when I asked her to write a paper on the dueling system, she put the Nonverbal spell at the top of her list.”

“Why?”

“Her spell …” Felix thought for a mont and said, choosing his words carefully, “is more moderate, often can surprise people in so details which reflect her control ability, but the power of her spell is not as good as it should be. ”

Flitwick imdiately understood what he ant, “This is actually nothing, Granger’s spell casting is very stable, this is her greatest advantage. When she reaches adulthood, she will be able to fully exploit her advantages and can choose compound spells … Oh, my!”

In the vacant field, Graves broke the previous stalemate.

Black flas expanded wide and spread into a dozen clusters, which hovered in the air, and as his wand slashed down like a sharp sword, those flas dropped violently from high above.

Hermione put up a magic barrier, then felt the blazing temperature, her hair slled a little burnt, she rushed away, panicked to see the magic barrier being burned by the black flas as a large hole produced.

“What is this?”

“Fiendfyre, I told you guys – no dark magic,” Wilkinson said in a deep voice: “Graves is a little out of control, he cares too much about the honour … we need to be prepared to separate them at any ti. ”

Professors approached in unison, and Flitwick said pointedly, “We should stop this bout, it’s beyond a sparring match.”

Felix said calmly, “My feelings are the sa as yours Filius, but I trust Miss Granger.”

A dozen black flas slamd into the ground, scorching the grass away, looking like a devil’s footprint falling from the sky. Hermione’s eyes went wide, dodging in a wretched manner while wielding a shield charm to resist.

Harry and Ron, worried, could not wait to rush up, but with Professor present, they barely restrained themselves and watched as the black flas smashed into the ground and transford into long, twisted snakes, curled their bodies, and then rushed towards her.

“What are the professors waiting for?” Harry asked in disbelief, drawing his wand, its tip glinting. What spell should I use at this point? Disarming charm, Stunning spell, Shield charm, or Patronus?

None of them seed to work … he simply pointed his wand at the “Graves” and wondered whether to hex him.

Hermione didn’t panic anymore, she still has her last card. She glanced at Felix, and Felix nodded at her. So she stopped in her tracks and let the black flas envelop her, her fingertips flickering with golden light.

Wilkinson had raised his wand, and Bethany handed her own to Jura, “Quick!” Imdiately after, they heard an unfamiliar incantation, coming from the girl’s mouth.

Golden flas poured down from Hermione’s palm. Compared to the small fire shown in the ancient runes’ office more than a month ago, it has now grown into a behemoth. Golden flas like a flood of water gushed around, and the black flas that lunged towards her collided, with the black flas collapsing at the touch and being churned into pieces.

Graves’ expression froze on his face.

The golden flas kept shrinking and finally turned into a huge burning bird, like a phoenix, much more exquisite than the magic Byers had outlined before. It let out a long, high-pitched cry, and in just a split second, the golden firebird appeared in front of the dumbfounded Graves, a foot away from him, his hair frizzled into ashes, his pupils mirrored a lengthy, golden beak.

“That’s what I want to see.” Amidst the silence, Felix nodded, with contentnt.

…

Graves got pulled away, his expression sowhat dazed, a lingering fear remained in his eyes as he left.

Professor Wilkinson ca over with a slight silence and apologized to the Hogwarts professors: “Graves he … took this Tournant of Champions too seriously, he carried the hopes of many people and wanted to bring his family back to glory… …”

“Graves?” Flitwick repeated, “That family na sounds familiar.”

“A descendant of the Original Twelve Aurors, like , which made empathize with him and loosen my grip on him.” Wilkinson said, “More than seventy years ago, there was a scandal in the Arican magical community. The Head of Law Enforcent of the Magical Congress – Percival Graves – was impersonated,” he explained sullenly, “causing a huge ss and nearly exposing the entire Arican magical community.”

“Impersonated?” Professors looked over.

“The matter is very secretive,” Wilkinson whispered, “and relatively few people in the outside world know about it.”

“Who impersonated him?” Felix asked with interest.

“Grindelwald.” Wilkinson only said the family na, but everyone present knew who he was referring to.

“I can’t believe it’s related to Grindelwald!” Flitwick said in surprise, “T