After dinner, Kyle continued to bury himself in the library, reading voraciously.
The thousand-year legacy of Hogwarts was indeed unfathomable.
Countless volumes of knowledge awaited Kyle’s discovery within the vast library.
Flight had been humanity’s dream since ancient times, and that was exactly where Kyle began.
He would first study the Flying Charm, then use his output to secure funding, and finally reinvest that money to fuel his own research.
Only by entering a virtuous cycle could he avoid going bankrupt.
In addition to the Flying Charm he had discussed with Professor Flitwick, Kyle was also researching the Levitation Charm, the Accio Charm, the runes used on broomsticks, and various other flight-related spells he had found in the library.
By comparing them, Kyle had already basically figured out the foundational runes for flight as well as the control units.
Now what he needed to do was find a way to link them together into a magical array—and ensure that the combined effect was 1+1 greater than 2, not 1+1 less than 1.
That was the hardest part.
Within a magical array, besides the primary runes that achieved the array’s purpose, all sorts of basic runes were used: ones that transmitted magic, ones that amplified effects, ones that shielded interference, and so on.
A magical array could be thought of as an essay written in runes, with the sentences arranged according to the array’s pattern.
So mastering runes was only the beginning.
Next came writing sentences.
The sentences had to be smooth, concise, and free of ambiguity.
After that, the sentences had to be composed into a coherent essay—that was the hardest part.
You couldn’t have a situation where the runes clearly said one thing but the resulting sentence meant something entirely different—like writing “I ate fruit” and ending up with “I got diarrhea.” Kyle was convinced that using runes that way could only lead to explosions.
At eight o’clock in the evening, just as Kyle was being tortured to near-death by a massive tome of magical theory and was about to head back to the dormitory to continue thinking, a first-year Slytherin walked up to him and whispered, “Sh… Shafiq, Professor Snape requests that you go to his office.” Having said that, the boy lowered his head without daring to see Kyle’s reaction, then turned and ran off.
Kyle’s sharp eyes caught the redness at the corners of the little Slytherin’s eyes.
Well, another little kid taken in by the rumors.
After all, Kyle had always been warm and hospitable, broad in making friends—he certainly wouldn’t bully a child.
What was that kid so afraid of?
Probably just wind in his eyes.
Putting the little Slytherin out of his mind, Kyle unhurriedly strolled to the door of Snape’s office, adjusted his robes slightly, and knocked.
*Thump, thump-thump.* The office door swung open at the sound.
Unexpectedly, besides the professor, the new student Malfoy was also in the room.
Kyle glanced at Malfoy, then gave a slight bow.
“Professor, you wanted to see me?” Snape looked at Kyle, merely nodded, then gestured for him to wait off to the side.
Then the low voice slowly began: “Mr.
Malfoy, I trust your shrewd father has already told you how to live at Hogwarts.
I also trust that, as a proper Malfoy, you can ensure you obtain a comfortable living environment wherever you go.” Having said that, he no longer looked at Malfoy.
“Of course, Professor.” Malfoy gave an aristocratic bow, politely inclined his head toward Kyle, then turned and left, gently closing the door behind him.
“What, has your simple brain finally remembered to cultivate noble connections?” the Serpent King of Slytherin venomously spat, seeing Kyle’s thoughtful expression.
“Of course not, Professor.
I just suddenly realized that Mr.
Malfoy’s behavior isn’t as bad as the rumors make it out to be.” “Naturally,” the professor said dismissively.
“As the most prominent noble family these days, how could the Malfoys be brainless fools?” — except when facing Potter.
Of course, Kyle only dared to think that last part, not say it out loud.
Since the start of term, Malfoy’s performance when dealing with Potter could only be described as pitiful.
“Then Professor, have you finally made up your mind to teach me how to win fame, brew glory, and even stopper death?” Kyle joked.
As a source of endless trouble for the professor, one who had endured the Serpent King’s death glare for three years, Kyle had obviously developed a certain immunity to him.
This line was a jab at the professor’s opening speech in Potter’s first Potions lesson.
“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making.
Since there is no foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic.
I don’t expect you will truly understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes and delicate scents, nor will you truly comprehend the liquid that courses through a man’s veins, seducing his mind into bewitchment… I can teach you how to win fame, brew glory, and even stopper death — but only if you are not the kind of dunderheads I usually have to teach.” Back then, with his greasy hair, sallow, grim face, a tone as monotonous as a gramophone, and his billowing black robes as he strode, that intimidating opening left the whole class dead silent.
It had to be said — as the head of Slytherin, both his demeanor in every gesture and his cadence of speech exuded overwhelming presence.
The mixture of sharpness, gloom, and world-weary experience made the professor impossible to ignore no matter where he stood.
“It seems I must remind you, Mr.
Kyle, not to imagine the greatness of Potions with your impoverished mind.
What, the Professor of Runes and Alchemy is no longer enough for you?
Have you finally remembered your poor Head of House?” The slow pace of speech, combined with the professor’s icy tone and the direct stare of his terrifying eyes, made even Kyle’s mental fortitude tighten with nervousness inside.
He involuntarily looked away.
He knew the professor was expressing displeasure at Kyle’s neglect of Potions.
“Don’t tease me, Professor.
You know that in my heart, Potions and other subjects are all fields worth a lifetime of exploration.
But you understand me — I just want to move toward the goal in my heart.” The professor listened and gave a cold, scornful snort, but didn’t keep pressing.
Instead, he shifted topics: “I hear you’ve been paying a lot of attention to the great Savior lately.
You already have enough trouble.
I hope you know what you should and shouldn’t do.” “Of course, Professor,” Kyle replied.
“I’m merely curious what makes the Savior so different.” The professor was clearly not satisfied with this somewhat perfunctory answer, but he didn’t say much else.
Just as Kyle could vaguely figure out the professor’s thoughts, the professor could probably guess something of Kyle’s as well.
For that very reason, the professor believed the reason was definitely not that simple.
However, he apparently only wanted to remind Kyle not to cross the line.
He went on: “Remember your words, Mr.
Kyle.” As he spoke, he took out a roll of parchment and handed it to Kyle.
“Alright, you may go now.
I trust you wouldn’t enjoy the punishment for being caught after curfew.” Kyle didn’t take the professor’s sarcasm to heart.
Instead, he turned a slightly eager gaze to the parchment.
These were some questions he’d asked the professor during the holidays.
Now, the answers had finally arrived.