✨ 300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
✨ 500 gems = another bonus chapter
***********
The infamous trio—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—having definitely learned their lesson (or at least, having been thoroughly scared) in the Forbidden Forest, actually settled down for a bit. Aiden, ever the opportunist, took advantage of this rare period of relative peace and quiet at Hogwarts to meticulously refine his groundbreaking academic paper.
"Speaking of which," Aiden murmured to himself, mostly, as he watched the school owl wing its way out of the Owlery, carrying his carefully sealed parchment, "is it really okay to write a paper like this without any formal references? Seems a bit… unorthodox."
[Ding! The host might want to consider who will be co-signing said paper, hmmm?] The system chimed in, its tone smug.
"Alright, alright, point taken," Aiden conceded with a sigh. Having Dumbledore, Flitwick, and McGonagall as co-signatories probably bypassed a few of the usual academic hoops.
Submitting the paper was, in the grand scheme of Aiden's increasingly complicated life, just a small episode. As the school year rapidly drew to a close, with exams looming and various other projects demanding his attention, Aiden even mostly forgot about its publication.
One day, Aiden came to the Great Hall for dinner as usual. He spotted Ron at the Gryffindor table, looking particularly incensed about something.
"I just can't believe she's already dragging us to start reviewing so early! It's barbaric!" Ron complained loudly to Harry. Then he noticed Aiden approaching. "Oh, hey, Aiden! What are you doing at the Gryffindor table again? Trying to defect permanently?"
"I happen to be well-connected, Ronny," Aiden replied, raising his chin with a mock-haughty air. "I can eat wherever I please—at any of the four house tables, should the fancy strike me." He winked.
"That's great and all, mate, but maybe don't hang out with the Slytherin lot too much, you know?" Ron said, his expression suddenly and surprisingly serious. "They can be… shifty."
"Duly noted. By the way," Aiden said, his curiosity piqued, "I just heard you mentioning reviewing. Is there some sort of problem? Exam anxieties kicking in already?"
"It's Hermione, of course!" Harry interjected, looking beleaguered. "She keeps reminding us that there are only ten weeks left until the end-of-year exams, and she's already stuffed an absolute mountain of books into Ron's and my bags, insisting we finish them all before then. It's inhuman!"
"Perhaps she just thinks it can add a little more essential knowledge to your somewhat… underutilised brains?" Aiden joked, a teasing smile on his face.
"A little?" Ron practically shrieked, his voice cracking. "It's a ruddy basketful! Enough of a pile of dusty old books to actually crush me flat! She's trying to kill us with learning, I swear!"
While the few of them were chatting casually, a familiar flurry of owls suddenly swooped in through the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, carrying the evening post and various newspapers.
"Ah, it's the newly published edition of The Daily Prophet," Harry said, spotting Hedwig. "Let me take a look." He carefully untied the rolled-up newspaper from Hedwig's claws, gave her an affectionate scratch, and began to read.
The headline on the front page of The Daily Prophet, splashed across in enormous, sensationalist lettering, read: "BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES OF MAGIC: UNFORGIVABLE CURSES CRACKED! A NEW GOD-MAKING MOVEMENT, OR HAS A TRUE GENIUS DESCENDED UPON US?"
Good heavens, what a ridiculously clickbait title, Aiden thought with an internal eye-roll, as he also picked up his own subscribed copy of The Daily Prophet and began to scan the article. He had a sinking feeling he knew what this was about.
"AIDEN!!!!!" The simultaneous, ear-splitting shout came from Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Aiden turned his head, startled, and found Ron staring at him with an expression usually reserved for someone who had just sprouted a second head or declared themselves the next Dark Lord. Hermione looked equally stunned, her jaw agape, and even Harry seemed momentarily speechless.
"It just doesn't make any sense!" Ron finally managed to stammer out, pointing a trembling finger at the newspaper and then at Aiden. "You're so ridiculously good-looking, and your brain works so unbelievably well… were those Muggle comic books you showed me last time—the ones about superheroes—actually fake? Are you one of them?!"
The other young wizards and witches nearby, those who had also finished reading the shocking front-page article in The Daily Prophet, began to exclaim loudly, their voices a cacophony of disbelief and awe.
"Merlin's beard and britches!" someone gasped.
"This is… this is completely impossible!" another declared.
"I just can't believe it… a counter to the Unforgivables?"
Immediately afterwards, before Aiden could even react, he was completely surrounded by a surging crowd of students from all four houses. Their excited, overlapping questions and exclamations overwhelmed him in a tidal wave of noise.
Helpless against the sudden onslaught, Aiden could only sigh and resort to magic. He discreetly cast the Sonorus charm on himself. "Okay, everyone, please be quiet for just a moment!" his amplified voice boomed through the Great Hall, effectively silencing the din.
"I know you all have many questions," he continued, his voice returning to normal as the crowd reluctantly settled. "But regarding the actual development and proper use of the charm—the Silencing Charm and its variations—I have already published all the relevant details in the form of an academic paper in the latest issue of Spellcraft Innovations Quarterly. Those of you who are genuinely interested can order it yourselves and read all about it."
This clever wave of his hand not only managed to relieve Aiden from the immediate siege but also effectively boosted sales for Professor Flitwick's preferred academic journal. This, Aiden thought with a smirk, was what you called a win-win situation.
[Ding! The host's abacus is calculating profits so quickly, it's about to smack the System right in its digital face!]
"You just shut up," Aiden muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.
Aiden, having made his escape from the still-buzzing Great Hall, fully intended to go back to the Ravenclaw dormitory and hide from further interrogation. However, he was unceremoniously intercepted at the entrance hall by Professor Flitwick himself, who had clearly rushed over, looking flushed and excited.
"Aiden, my boy! Wonderful news!" Flitwick chirped. "Spellcraft Innovations Quarterly—the publishers, you know—they want to organise a special seminar to discuss your paper! And they want to extend a formal invitation to you, through me, to be the guest of honour and keynote speaker!"
Flitwick beamed. "The time is tentatively set for next Tuesday evening. It's going to be quite the event—many important people from the magical academic community will be attending, I assure you."
"Oh," Aiden said, genuinely surprised but also rather pleased. "Well, I'm deeply honoured to be invited, Professor."
"Excellent! Then you will attend with me. It will be a splendid opportunity for you. I'll go and ask Dumbledore for the necessary permissions immediately."
After saying this, Professor Flitwick, with another excited little wave, left as swiftly and decisively as he had arrived, presumably to hunt down the Headmaster.
On the following Tuesday, the publishing house of Spellcraft Innovations Quarterly rented a suitably distinguished-looking house in Hogsmeade village for the seminar. They sent a few of their staff members down to decorate it appropriately for such an auspicious occasion.
Professor Flitwick, being not only a senior peer reviewer for Spellcraft Innovations Quarterly but also a significant shareholder in its publishing house, naturally participated in the decoration efforts. And Aiden, much to his initial chagrin, was unceremoniously pulled in as "strong, capable, and magically gifted labour."
Aiden stood in the main room of the rented house, which was rather small and poky. He took out his wand and, with a graceful, complex wave, cast a powerful Undetectable Extension Charm. The space inside the house quickly, almost magically (well, it was magic), expanded to more than ten times its original size, creating a spacious and airy hall suitable for a large gathering.
"A beautiful and flawlessly executed Undetectable Extension Charm, Aiden! Truly masterful!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed, clearly impressed, as he led a few of the publishing house staff members in after completing some intricate runic carvings on the building's exterior for added protection and prestige.
"Looking at that move of his," one of the staff members, a wizard named Giggs, murmured to his colleague, "I now somewhat believe the rumours that he actually researched this new Unforgivable-countering charm all by himself."
"Alright, gentlemen, thank you all very much for your invaluable help today," Professor Flitwick clapped his hands together briskly, addressing everyone. "You can all go back now and prepare for this evening's event."
That night, darkness enveloped the charming, cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade. Carriages began to arrive one after another, depositing distinguished-looking witches and wizards. Aiden stood discreetly at the door with Professor Flitwick, watching the esteemed guests arrive.
Headmaster Dumbledore, naturally, walked in at the front of the most prominent group, wearing a spectacular set of deep purple robes embroidered with silver stars and moons, which was, frankly, rather dazzling and just a little bit blinding. Only Dumbledore could pull off such an outfit.
Next to arrive was Miranda Goshawk, the famed author of The Standard Book of Spells series. Aiden quickly gave the esteemed old witch a polite, respectful salute. This was no small matter—his primary Charms textbook, the one he'd studied from since his first year, was written by this very person. It was like meeting a rock star, if rock stars wrote textbooks.
However, what Aiden didn't quite expect was that, one by one, a veritable parade of famous witches and wizards—people whose names he had only ever seen on the covers of books or in historical magical journals—began to appear before his very eyes.
Adalbert Waffling, the renowned magical theoretician. Quentin Trimble, author of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. Bathilda Bagshot, the eminent magical historian (though she looked rather frail and a bit confused). Arsenius Jigger, author of Magical Drafts and Potions. Even Emery Switch, the expert on Vanishing Spells, was there. It was a veritable who's who of the magical academic world.
"Isn't that particular gentleman primarily focused on researching advanced Transfiguration?" Aiden asked Professor Flitwick in a low, slightly awed voice, indicating a particularly stern-looking wizard.
"Transfiguration is merely one part of what many of these brilliant minds research, Aiden," Professor Flitwick explained patiently. "True scholars rarely limit themselves to a single field."
After all the illustrious, big-shot magical academics were seated comfortably in the newly expanded hall, Professor Flitwick took to the small, specially erected stage to preside over the evening's proceedings.
"Welcome, esteemed colleagues and honoured guests, who have travelled from afar!" he began, his voice amplified by a subtle Sonorus. "The theme of tonight's rather special seminar is concerning the remarkable new charm—or rather, suite of charms—developed by my exceptionally gifted student, Aiden Prewett: the Silencing Charm, also known as the Interdictory Charm, and its derivative, the Guarding Charm!"
"Alright, alright, Filius, do stop showing off your prodigy and let your student come up on stage quickly now," Adalbert Waffling called out good-naturedly from the front row, his voice impatient but clearly intrigued. He didn't want to listen to Flitwick's lengthy greetings; he, like many others, turned his keen, analytical gaze directly onto Aiden.
It had to be admitted, Aiden's appearance, even amongst such distinguished company, was still extremely good—striking, even. After all, that delicate, almost ethereal little face, combined with his unique heterochromatic eyes…
Hey, that's quite enough of that internal commentary, thank you very much, Aiden thought, rolling his eyes mentally. He really needed to have a word with his own narrative voice.
Aiden walked gracefully onto the stage and bowed respectfully to the assembled crowd. "Distinguished Masters, honoured colleagues," he began, his voice calm and clear, betraying none of his inner nervousness, "I am deeply honoured to be here this evening to introduce and discuss my recently developed charm…"
Soon, Aiden was fluently and articulately explaining the core principles of the Silencing Charm, his own innovative development ideas, the runic theory underpinning it, and even the few historical references and obscure magical texts that had sparked his initial lines of inquiry during the complex development process. He spoke with a confidence and depth of knowledge that belied his young age.
Then, his presentation concluded, he walked off the stage, leaving the open floor for the assembled magical experts to discuss, debate, and, inevitably, demonstrate.
"The theory presented is remarkably detailed and internally consistent," Adalbert Waffling, the master of magical theory, expressed his considered opinion first. "The operational process can indeed be logically deduced from the principles outlined, and it certainly appears to be demonstrable."
"Why not try some practical operations then, eh?" Emery Switch, ever the pragmatist, suggested with a challenging grin. He waved his wand, and the very ground beneath Aiden's feet began to twist and churn, threatening to swallow him whole.
Aiden, expecting something of the sort, also raised his wand instantly. A silvery-white halo of the Silencing Charm spread outwards from him, and as it passed over the magically disturbed ground, everything immediately returned to calm, the transfiguration undone.
"Indeed, as hypothesised, there is a clear participation of focused mind power in this charm's matrix," Quentin Trimble observed keenly, stroking his beard. "No wonder it can be so effective against the insidious mental intrusions of the Unforgivable Curses."
"Why not try something a little more… multifaceted?" another voice suggested.
Miranda Goshawk, without even rising from her seat, waved her hand casually. Four or five different, complex charms—a disarming spell, a binding jinx, a minor stinging hex, and something that looked suspiciously like a tickling charm—flew towards Aiden simultaneously from different angles. The old lady, Aiden realised with a newfound respect, was also an incredibly capable and powerful witch. No wonder she wrote the definitive textbooks.
Coach, I really want to learn how to do that multi-casting trick! Aiden mentally projected towards Professor Flitwick, who was watching from the side with a proud, almost paternal smile. He received no immediate response, just a knowing wink.
Aiden calmly repeated his previous operation—the spreading halo of the Silencing Charm. All the incoming spells were simultaneously and effortlessly dispelled, fizzling out harmlessly before they could reach him.
"Good job, young man," the old witch said approvingly, taking out a battered iron hip flask—presumably filled with something stronger than pumpkin juice—and taking a satisfied sip.
Next, what felt like an entire group of enthusiastic magical academics surrounded Aiden, each eager to try out various obscure, complex, and occasionally rather nasty charms on him, all in the name of rigorous scientific inquiry, of course. All of them were neatly and efficiently dispelled by Aiden, one by one, with either the area-effect Silencing Charm or a precisely aimed Guarding Charm.
"So, the overall effectiveness of Mr. Prewett's charms has now been thoroughly confirmed by all of you esteemed colleagues, then?" Professor Flitwick finally said, stepping forward when it seemed Aiden might actually start to look tired.
The surrounding group of magical bigwigs nodded in unison, their expressions a mixture of awe, excitement, and perhaps just a touch of professional envy.
"Well then," Dumbledore spoke up at last, his voice carrying easily over the lingering buzz of conversation, his eyes twinkling brightly, "let us begin tonight's main agenda." He gestured towards a previously unnoticed, velvet-draped table at the side of the stage, upon which rested a single, rather ornate-looking award.
***********
Get access to advanced chapters at my P@treon.
[email protected]/meowthtl