Anyone who's ever attended Hogwarts knows one thing for certain: Apparition is strictly forbidden—and heavily restricted—within the castle grounds.
That's why, in his recent sessions with Professor Snape, Qin Yu hadn't been practicing the actual spell itself. Instead, he was learning the essential theoretical groundwork and the intricate techniques that came before ever attempting it.
Because Apparition isn't just a spell—it's an entire system of magic. Disappearing from one place and reappearing in another involves a series of complex, demanding steps. It's so challenging that Hogwarts devotes a whole upper-year course to it, complete with rigorous exams.
Of course, for Qin Yu, who enjoyed the rare privilege of one-on-one tutoring from a master, the process was much less daunting. Where things could be simplified, they were. The goal was to master the essentials.
"…You must remember, the more precise your Apparition target, the higher your chance of success. That's why beginners should always choose a familiar location—somewhere you can recall in vivid detail. That's been the focus of your recent training, and your performance has been… barely passable," Snape intoned, his voice measured and his praise stingy as ever.
Qin Yu listened with rapt attention.
Spatial transportation magic—now that was something truly useful!
Once he mastered Apparition, he'd never have to worry about catching a train home for Christmas or Easter break again.
Well, maybe that wasn't such a big deal in tiny Britain, but still—there were endless uses for this spell.
Of course, there was also the matter of risk. Apparition could go horribly wrong—failed attempts might leave you Splinched. That alone was reason enough for Qin Yu to pay close attention.
"Professor, I've always wondered—how does Apparition actually move someone from one place to another? What exactly happens during the process? And why is there a risk of, well, losing a limb?"
Qin Yu voiced his curiosity.
Snape didn't answer right away. Instead, he gave a stern warning: "Don't try to unravel the principles of magic. That's more dangerous than any spell itself."
"…That almost sounds like a Merlin quote. Did he really say that?" Qin Yu blurted out.
"Yes," Snape snapped, then added irritably, "But is it really the speaker you should be paying attention to? Or the warning itself?"
"Right, Professor. My mistake! Please—could you explain what that actually means?" Qin Yu grinned sheepishly, quickly dropping the banter and adopting a sincere tone.
Snape gave a disdainful snort but let the slip slide. He grew serious. "Delving into the foundations of magic is a dangerous business. It's all too easy to tumble into mysteries that defy understanding—madness, mental collapse, even inexplicable death. Before you've built a solid base of magical knowledge, treat such matters with caution."
"Uh…" Qin Yu was briefly lost for words.
"Thinking of your little summer incident, are you? That's what happens when you experiment recklessly," Snape said, seeing right through him.
"It was… a very memorable lesson," Qin Yu sighed.
How could it not be? I even tried wiping drool on Hermione. She'll probably never let me live that down, he thought, but kept it to himself.
"But you didn't touch anything truly dangerous. You just suffered a bit of mental instability—and, fortunately, you contacted Dumbledore in time. Otherwise, you'd have been in serious trouble," Snape said, his voice softer.
"Thank the great Dumbledore!" Qin Yu turned and gave a small, respectful bow in the direction of the Headmaster's office.
"Indeed, you should thank him," Snape agreed. "And in the future, you'd do well to consult him more often. After all, he is Dumbledore."
There was no doubt—Dumbledore was a living treasure trove of magical wisdom.
Snape's meaning was clear: don't waste the opportunity.
Qin Yu caught on instantly, a bright grin spreading across his face. "I'll make sure to ask Professor Dumbledore for advice as often as I can!"
With that, Snape steered the conversation back to the original topic.
"There are many theories about how Apparition works, but they generally fall into three categories."
"What are they?" Qin Yu prompted, playing the eager student.
"The first is the 'Magical Passage Theory,'" Snape began. "According to this idea, a wizard enters a magical passage during Apparition and emerges at the destination. There's debate about whether these passages are fixed or temporary, whether they've always existed or are created on the spot."
"Magical passages? Is that like the Floo Network?" Qin Yu asked, thinking of traveling by Floo Powder.
Snape nodded. "Exactly. The inventor of the Floo Network was a proponent of this theory. He built the network to test it, but after it was done, he concluded that Apparition's principles were likely much more complex. He moved on to other ideas."
"What other ideas?"
"After the 'Magical Passage Theory' had its heyday, a second theory emerged—the 'Body Magicalization Theory.' This one suggests that Apparition temporarily transforms the wizard's body into a magical, almost intangible state, allowing for rapid movement, before returning to normal at the destination."
"That… actually makes some sense."
"But that theory can't explain everything, either. So, people combined the two into a third theory—the 'Magical Passage and Body Magicalization Integration Theory.' That's currently the most popular."
"I see…"
"You only need a general understanding of these theories. Don't try to dig too deep—any of them could be wrong. Just remember the three keys to Apparition: Destination, Determination, Deliberation. And practice. That's what matters," Snape cautioned.
"Yes, Professor. I'll remember. Thank you for your guidance!" Qin Yu bowed, his gratitude genuine.
Today's lesson ended in rare harmony between teacher and student.
Of course, as long as it wasn't a dueling lesson, Qin Yu rarely found himself on the receiving end of a hex.
…
By the time he left Snape's office, it was late—curfew was fast approaching.
"Guess we got a bit too caught up in the lesson," Qin Yu muttered, quickening his pace.
Just as he rounded a corner and stepped onto the staircase leading to Gryffindor Tower, a chorus of furious roars echoed from the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
It sounded like the enraged howls of a wounded beast.
A thunderous crash followed, reverberating through the night.
Qin Yu couldn't help but remember—more than a year ago, he'd caused quite a ruckus in the Forbidden Forest himself.
Who could be behind it this time?
He had a hunch, but nothing certain. The only way to know was to check it out for himself.
Without hesitation, he turned and headed toward the Forbidden Forest.
All across the castle, students and staff alike were roused by the commotion, the quiet of the night shattered by chaos and alarm.
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