Chapter 101
The new semester has begun.
Soren's classes in spellcasting, potion-making, and transfiguration have far exceeded the learning progress, and this semester he decided to focus on the improvement of the Shield Charm.
The Shield Charm (Protego) is a spell that can defend against various curses. It creates a magical barrier to deflect spells and physical entities, and skilled charmers can even cause incoming spells to bounce back toward the caster.
Less known is that there are actually many more advanced applications of the Shield Charm. For example, "Protego Totalum" is a variant of the Shield Charm that can summon a barrier to protect a specific area or building, blocking or repelling most spells and preventing enemies from attempting to invade the protected area.
In simple terms, it combines the functions of a protective barrier and an isolation barrier into a single spell.
In the original work, when Hermione cast this spell, Harry saw the surrounding air shimmering slightly, as if Hermione had conjured a rush of warm air above the clearing. That airflow was the invisible barrier.
Another mutation of the Shield Charm is "Protego Horribilis." It is an advanced version of "Protego Totalum," strong enough that even Voldemort had to expend considerable effort to break it, making it the strongest defensive spell.
The effect of this magic is similar to "Protego Totalum," but the protective range is larger and broader, and the barrier is harder to break. In the final battle of the original, when Flitwick cast it on the castle, Harry heard a strange whistling sound, as if Flitwick had released the power of the wind onto the playground; that wind was the invisible barrier.
It is evident that the difference in power between the two protective spells can be seen from the intensity of the airflow and the accompanying sound effects.
These two advanced protective spells can also be used in conjunction with "Salvio Hexia" to enhance the barrier's defense against dark curses; they can also be used with "Fianto Duri" to improve the barrier's strength and durability; they can also work with the Muggle-repelling charm and the enemy-repelling charm, allowing the barrier to repel unexpectedly approaching Muggles and to identify hostile enemies, preventing them from sneaking in.
What Soren wants to do is skillfully combine all defensive spells and flexibly apply them in different tactical situations.
In the first week of school, the lesson in Herbology was about Bubotuber. Bubotubers are very ugly plants that look like black, slimy, big slugs, rising straight out of the soil. They all wriggle slightly, and on their surfaces are many shiny big bumps that seem to contain liquid.
The young wizards had to squeeze those bumps to collect the pus inside. This process must be done carefully to avoid splashing the pus onto their skin. Undiluted Bubotuber pus can cause unusual harm to the skin.
The process of squeezing the tubers is disgusting but also strangely satisfying. Whenever a bump bursts, it sprays out a large amount of thick yellow-green liquid with a pungent gasoline smell.
Soren took this class very seriously; Bubotuber is one of the important ingredients for the beauty potion he wants to develop, so understanding its characteristics and medicinal properties is very important.
Unsurprisingly, under his leadership, even with one member absent, his group once again scored the highest.
Soren glanced at Draco's group and saw Crabbe explode an entire Bubotuber, covering himself and Goyle completely. They had large yellow blisters popping up on their faces and arms. Draco was fine, as he used his exceptional reflexes to cast a Shield Charm to block the pus, which immediately drew cheers from the other Slytherins.
Draco loudly complained about Goyle and Crabbe's incompetence while using a water-making spell to wash off the pus from the two of them. Although the pus was washed away from the two idiots, their exposed skin was already covered with thick, painful lumps and sores.
"Oh, Merlin's beard," Professor Sprout hurried over after seeing the scene, "I think you two better hurry to the hospital wing and let Madam Pomfrey take a look..."
"It's fine, Professor, don't worry," Draco said, pulling a bottle of potion from his pocket. "This is a topical potion I brewed myself; just apply it to the affected areas, and you'll be fine."
At this point, Goyle and Crabbe were in unbearable pain, eagerly taking the potion and applying it to themselves. The lumps and sores melted away at a visible speed, leaving no trace behind, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
Pansy gazed at Draco with a dreamy expression, while Audrey and Tracy also looked at him with fiery eyes. Draco was stealing the spotlight, a proud expression on his face.
Although Draco's actions didn't earn his group any points (in fact, the group's score was very low due to Goyle and Crabbe's blunders), he was undoubtedly the star of the class, the focus of everyone's discussions.
Daphne and Moray looked at the expressionless, silent Soren and simultaneously worriedly thought to themselves, could something have happened between those two brothers?
After the Herbology class, Moray approached Soren, saying she wanted to talk to him privately, while Daphne went ahead back to the Slytherin common room to rest.
Soren and Moray found a secluded corridor somewhere in the castle, where there were no classrooms or offices, and usually no one came here.
"Soren, are you okay?" Moray's eyes were filled with concern.
"I'm fine; what could be wrong with me?" Soren replied with his usual gentle smile. "How about you? After not seeing you for a summer, didn't you say you went to France with your family for a vacation? Was your trip enjoyable?"
Moray didn't answer but stared intently at Soren, as if trying to find something on his face.
"What's the matter? Do I have a flower growing on my face?" Soren laughed.
"Don't change the subject!" Moray said, breaking from her usual gentle demeanor, sounding a bit irritated, "You've always been like this, always wearing that insincere smile—"
Her voice suddenly caught in her throat, "In your heart, do I only deserve to play around by you?" As she spoke, her slightly reddened eyes misted over, "Could it be that, all along, you never considered me a trustworthy friend?"
"Moray..." Since his crossing over, Soren had long been accustomed to disguising himself, even to those closest to him. He never realized how hurtful this was to others, and a wave of guilt and pity washed over him. He bit his lip and softly said, "I'm sorry..."
"I don't want your apology!" Moray rushed forward and hugged Soren tightly. "I've heard about Meredith… I don't even consider her a close friend, but it has made me feel uncomfortable and anxious all summer... I kept thinking, I kept worrying about what you would do; this must have hit you hard… And what happened? Now that we finally meet, you act like nothing's wrong, asking me how my summer was!"
Moray lifted her head, her tear-streaked face resembling a rain-drenched pear flower. She reached out, pressing her hands firmly against Soren's brow and tremblingly said, "Please don't be like this anymore, okay? You're not alone; you have me. Whatever you're unhappy about, whatever pain you have, I'm willing to share it with you..."
A wave of bitterness swept through Soren's heart. Did he want it to be this way?
Last semester, he faced Gemma's betrayal, was forced to fall out with Hermione, and got entangled with a mysterious student organization called the "Ghost Society." Could he even speak about these things?
After the summer break, Meredith's disappearance, the huge trouble behind the shadow of the dragon, Draco's changes, Mad-Eye Moody's abnormalities, the collapse of the plot... everything came one after another, almost all exceeding his control. He was burdened with too many worries and pressures, and he didn't even have time to feel sadness.
"Actually, I've always known, I just didn't say anything..." Moray's voice trembled even more as she finally mustered the courage to speak her mind, "The occlumency technique, right? You understand the technique, and you are highly skilled at it, aren't you? You don't need to hide it from me anymore, your gaze... I know... that's the gaze of someone trained in Occlumency technique... hollow, devoid of emotion..."
"Moray, I..." Soren hesitated for a long time, a thousand words ultimately transforming into a long sigh, "I'm sorry. I do understand the occlumency technique, and I have been using it to hide my true feelings, but I absolutely do not distrust you."
"I am a selfish person," Soren bitterly mocked himself, "I've always known that. I have my own goals, my own purposes, yet I lack the courage to let anyone know. Because I am afraid, I am afraid that when you learn my true self, you will leave me."
Moray reached out to caress Soren's handsome face, "Do you know that every magic has its corresponding cost? This cost can be magical power, physical strength, or even life itself. The Occlumency technique, which requires neither a wand nor magical power, do you know what its cost is?"
"I don't know..."
Moray's expression was filled with heartache and pity, "Emptying all emotions is just the most basic principle of the Occlumency technique. To master it deeply requires forcibly suppressing emotions, even to the extent of completely shutting down the brain's functions associated with those emotions. When you deny all your feelings, deny the pain and sorrow, deny the cracks in your heart, suppress the inner conflicts of your personality... your character, your soul will be distorted, damaged, and even torn apart..."
Soren suddenly realized that this was the reason for the recent rapid progress in his mental and soul magic—he had suppressed all his longing and sorrow for Meredith, he had suppressed all his anxiety and fear of Draco, he had suppressed all the pain within him...
The more he suppressed, the more damaged his soul became, and the more powerful its force grew?
So, was that why Dumbledore and Voldemort enjoyed playing with mysteries so much?
"Do you know? Even if your eyes are devoid of emotion, the distance between your brows is showing more and more creases; your heart is already overwhelmed, it is crying out for help—" Moray's voice was so heartbreaking, "I beg you, Soren, please pay attention to your own emotions, don't try to bear all the pain alone anymore..."
From her gentle and soft words, Soren felt a deep, pure concern. This warmed his heart, reminding him of Narcissa, and even of the nagging parents from his past life. It seemed he was really lucky, never lacking "love" around him.
Soren smiled, genuinely smiled. To hell with Voldemort, Dumbledore, the Shadow of the Dragon!
No matter how many thorns or troubles lie ahead, if he cannot grasp the happiness of this moment, wouldn't that mean he wasted his life getting a second chance?
Soren unlocked the Occlumency technique.
Images of Meredith and Draco appeared in his mind, a wave of intense grief surged within him, intertwined with fear, anxiety, helplessness, bitterness, and a variety of negative emotions. His heart seemed unable to bear so much emotion and spasmed, causing Soren's body to tremble involuntarily.
Moray's eyes finally sparkled; she gently pulled Soren's head into her embrace and softly said, "If you feel like crying, then cry it out, sometimes it's quite attractive when a man cries."
The fragrance from Moray enveloped him, and Soren felt the warmth of the person in front of him. His eyes became hot, and tears finally flowed uncontrollably. He choked out, "Moray, I'm so scared, I'm afraid I can never save her again! I'm afraid Draco will really become my enemy! I'm afraid the path I must take is the wrong one! I'm afraid I will lead everyone around me into an irretrievable abyss! I'm so scared..."
Moray gently smoothed Soren's back with her soft hand, softly comforting him, a look of relief finally appearing on her face.
The two were lost in each other's time, yet no one noticed that the strange dark energy originally accompanying Soren's magical power was slowly dissipating from his body, as the energy separating from the dark aura flowed like the purest stream, joyfully swirling rapidly within his body, manifesting vibrant and colorful hues.
*****
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