Chapter 660 Magic In Books
"Impossible, Ron! First, you cannot learn to operate an Aqua-Lung within the confines of an hour. It is quite intricate, and you must undergo professional training to use it," Hermione said, categorically dismissing the suggestion. "Secondly, you would surely be disqualified for breaking the International Code of Wizard Secrecy... it's wishful thinking to expect no Muggle to notice an Aqua-Lung gliding across the field towards Hogwarts."
"So, what should I do then?" Ron asked, disheartened.
"Of course, the ideal solution would be for you to Transfigure yourself into a submarine or something similar," Hermione suggested. "I've seen Evan dive into the water, and I've consulted books on the subject. If only we had already mastered Human Transfiguration! But I believe that doesn't start until sixth year, and it can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing..."
"Yes, I don't fancy walking around with a periscope sticking out of my head."
"The Bubble-Head Charm is also a good option, but it's a sixth-year course. Let's see. Perhaps there's another way... no, not really... let's wait for Evan to return and ask him," Hermione said.
In truth, she also wanted to find a way to venture underwater with Evan instead of staying on the shore. This made Hermione feel helpless. She could only wait behind Evan and worry, a feeling she disliked.
So the three of them went to the library and once again delved into the dusty volumes, searching for any spell that could allow a human to survive without oxygen, but to no avail.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent a whole day in the library and still found nothing.
They even sought help from the librarian, Mrs. Pince, but received no valuable answers.
"I don't think it can be done," Ron's voice sounded flat from the other side of the table. "I've skimmed through fifty books. There's nothing. Nothing. The closest was that spell to dry puddles and ponds, that Drought Charm, but it wasn't nearly powerful enough to drain the lake."
Harry, too, sighed, with piles of books in front of him, unable to see Ron and Hermione.
He and Ron read as fast as they could, quickly scanning the contents of the books.
Harry's heart would leap every time he saw the word "water" on a page, but most of the time, it was just "Take two pints of water, half a pound of chopped mandrake leaves, and a newt..."
With a snap, Harry closed his book, Spicy Tricks for Deceptive Spells, firmly.
"You should have learned to be an Animagus like Evan and Sirius," Harry said.
He thought that Evan's research note on Animagus transformation in his bag could help Ron.
"Yes, I could have turned into a goldfish whenever I wanted!" Ron exclaimed.
"Or a frog," Harry yawned.
"Stop dreaming. It takes years of continuous learning to become an Animagus," Hermione said seriously. "Even if we help Ron master the necessary knowledge for transformation, there's no way to solve the magical problem. Besides, no one can guarantee he'd turn into a frog or a goldfish. The transformation process is random... Evan turned into a black cat."
"Hermione, we were just kidding," Harry said wearily.
"While you have this time, you should look through some more books."
"I think we should give up!" Harry exclaimed, resting his head on the table. "We'll wait for Evan to return and ask him directly; he can already breathe underwater!"
"His approach doesn't necessarily apply to Ron. I already asked Evan before. None of us have the ability to use the spells he mentioned. Our magical power is not enough..." Hermione murmured, carefully reading Old and Forgotten Enchantments and Spells she had at hand. The print was so small and dense that she had to immerse herself in it with her nose about an inch from the page.
"Magical power again?!" Ron repeated with an eccentric look, pondering.
"Magical power is the foundation of all magic, and nature is the key. Unfortunately, aside from natural growth, it's challenging to enhance it," Hermione explained. "Don't be disheartened, Ron! But I believe there must be a way; they would never have set an impossible task."
In this manner, more than two hours passed.
The number of magic books stacked around the three kept growing, and even Hermione was starting to feel a touch impatient. It seemed she perceived the lack of useful information on the subject in the library as a personal insult; it had never failed her before.
"It can't work!" exclaimed Ron in despair, setting aside his hefty tome of magic. "I'm fed up with this place. I never want to return here for the rest of my life. What is Evan up to? Why hasn't he returned yet?"
"He must have something to tell Professor Moody," Hermione remarked, closing the magic book she had been perusing.
"But when we had lunch and dinner, we didn't see them in Professor Moody's office, and no one was there," noted Harry. "That's odd. Where could they have gone?"
At that moment, Caresius had already left Hogwarts.
Upon his return, he was now Barty Crouch Jr., masquerading as Moody.
As for Evan, like the three, he was poring over a magic book he had stumbled upon in the Room of Requirement. To be precise, it was a manuscript.
More than six centuries have passed since it was written, containing many very intriguing ideas.
The whole book revolved around a powerful dark magic called Apocalypse, which Evan had never seen before.
This magic was somewhat like an enhanced version of the Corrosion Curse, which created a large pool of toxic black water at the enemy's feet.
The entire casting process was silent until it was too late for those ensnared in it, for the black water not only contained a virulent poison, immobilizing those caught in it, but also exploded and ignited under the summoner's control, forming a tremendous impact force.
Despite the last pages of the book being torn out, the magical knowledge recorded earlier continued to captivate Evan.
Seven hours earlier, Evan had left Professor Moody's office.
He then went to see Dumbledore to maintain an amiable communication with the headmaster.
Despite the conflict between the two parties in the Legilimency and Occlumency process, the communication process remained harmonious.