A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 292: The Nameless Tome

Memory is a truly wondrous thing. If the owner themselves have forgotten, then what Felix could do was rather limited.

This was different from the situation with the Lumbatons – he wasn't seeking a specific treasure, but was piecing together as many memories as possible, not constrained by a single day or event. To him, every memory was a brick to construct the mansion of thought.

With the addition of Lupin, Felix's deciphering of the live-point map took a positive turn. In just a few days, he could add the alarm charm to it.

...

Gryffindor Common Room.

In a secluded corner, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat around a small round table.

"Give it a try, Harry," Ron urged, "let us witness the Phantom Book."

"It's the Nameless Tome," Hermione habitually corrected, her gaze fixed on the table where a transparent book emitted a blue-white glow.

"Don't you think 'Phantom Book' is a more fitting name?" Harry asked, looking at both of them. A sudden unease gripped him for no apparent reason. He reached out and opened the Nameless Tome. Professor Harp's silhouette appeared amidst a pale blue mist. He took a deep breath and pressed his palm onto the page.

Ron and Hermione noticed that Harry suddenly froze, his expression becoming rigid. Ron extended his hand tentatively, "Don't move!" Hermione cautioned, thinking of the purpose of the Pensieve, "Harry's consciousness might have entered the book."

Ron stared at Hermione in astonishment, then back at the book on the table. "Harry's consciousness is in there?" He held his breath, leaning down to examine the page, and indeed, he saw a small, blurry Harry.

"Merlin's socks!"

Ron looked slightly terrified, glancing around before Hermione refocused her gaze on the page. "Don't be so jumpy, Harry is fine."

"What if someone just nudged Harry, moved his hand, and he got trapped in the book?" Ron earnestly suggested, "Shouldn't we press his hand to help?"

Hermione hesitated for a moment. "I think it's unlikely to be that dangerous..." Half a minute later, she was convinced. She and Ron reached out, each placing a hand on Harry's.

The next second, everything spun —

"Ahhhhh!" Ron shouted as if he had fallen into a long tunnel, helplessly tumbling. Involuntarily, he recalled the scene from last year when he jumped into the Chamber of Secrets tunnel.

"Alright, alright, stop yelling, Ron."

Hermione's voice came from beside him. Ron opened his eyes and slowly got up from the ground. "Where are we?"

The sky along with the ground beneath his feet carried an unreal, ethereal quality, as if composed of light blue smoke. He stomped his foot, and the ground erupted into a cloud of mist along with his stumbling.

"I think this is the world inside the book, look over there!"

Hermione pointed in the opposite direction of Ron. He turned around and indeed saw the figures of Harry and Professor Harp.

Not far away, Harry was staring at them in astonishment. He jogged over, "How did you get here? No, wait, you can enter as well?"

"We saw you suddenly freeze, thought we'd help… well, maybe we overthought it." Ron surveyed his surroundings excitedly, "Looks like the professor didn't refuse others from coming in here. It's really quite vast..."

"I asked the same question," Harry said, "the professor's response was that space doesn't hold meaning in the world of thought."

"Follow me!"

Ron and Hermione followed Harry to their previous spot, Professor Harp seemingly unaware of the events from before, continuing his lecture nonchalantly.

"...We've covered the objectives and determination. Now comes composure. When casting the Phantom Transfiguration, never get nervous or fearful. In other words, don't let your mind wander. Distraction is the primary reason for translocation failure or even splitting. It affects your concentration on the objective and the steadfastness of your determination..."

Harry paused for a moment, "I missed the second point... but that's okay, I can review it."

Ron marveled, "Really cool! Is all of this fictional?" He cautiously stretched his arm out, passing it through the professor's ethereal form. "Yet it feels so real..."

Snap!

"Ouch!"

A pale blue mist coalesced in mid-air, forming a lightning bolt that knocked Ron onto his back, his hair standing on end.

"I think," Harry suppressed a laugh as he helped Ron up, "the professor doesn't like people getting too close."

Ron glanced guiltily at Felix Harp, who had come to a halt. Muttering to himself, he said, "Ron Weasley, no further incidents."

Ron's eyes widened. "Him, him, him…"

Hermione scrutinized for a while before hesitatingly saying, "It seems to be a programmed routine, like the magical puppets the professor has. There's a certain level of autonomy. But whether the professor will know when Harry returns the book, that's hard to say."

Ron's face was sullen as he said, "I was genuinely just curious."

Meanwhile, Professor Harp finished his explanation.

"...We've covered the basic knowledge. The first assessment is for you to recap what I've just taught. It's quite straightforward, even if you have a basic understanding, you shouldn't make mistakes."

Harry hesitated for a moment, he had indeed read some materials beforehand.

"Uh, let me think… Learning Phantom Transfiguration involves following the 3D principles: Objective, Determination, and Composure. Firstly, we need to concentrate our awareness on the destination, that's the objective. We must have a good understanding of it, it could be a place you've been to or within your line of sight..."

Harry ruffled his hair. "Then comes determination — I didn't hear it clearly earlier, but... from what I read in the book, when using Phantom Transfiguration, you need a strong desire. This desire should fill your whole body and smoothly channel your magical power."

"Lastly, composure. The book mentioned spinning in place, but you clearly didn't..." Harry said, and then somewhat nervously added, "Maybe I read it wrong, maybe you don't need to spin... ahem! Anyway, visualize your body becoming insubstantial, and don't be distracted."

Harry finished, looking expectantly at Professor Harp.

Professor Harp smiled approvingly at him. "Well done, Harry."

Harry still couldn't help but be amazed. Was this professor in front of him truly just a memory? He could even counter Ron's behavior, even though Hermione said it was pre-set, he still had doubts.

"Now, moving on—"

"Wait, Professor, can they learn too?"

"They?" Professor Harp looked at Ron and Hermione. "Do you want to give it a try?"

"Can we, Professor?" Hermione asked with delight.

"When I left these memories, I considered the possibility that Harry might let you both learn as well. However, it should follow Harry's pace, you can't get ahead of him or help him through the challenges."

Ron hesitated. "How about letting Hermione try first? I'm still not proficient with the spells we learned in Dueling class."josei

"It's fine, Ron. We have plenty of opportunities." Harry encouraged him.

After about fifteen minutes, they completed this step. Ron had to hear it twice to recite it accurately, and when Professor Harp nodded at him, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was even more attentive than in class, really!" Ron said. He didn't want to lag behind and hinder Harry's progress.

"Next, is the second task." Professor Harp continued according to his predetermined memories. "You'll probably like this one – Familiar Transfiguration."

"Familiar Transfiguration?" Harry heard a new term.

"Phantom Transfiguration can be performed with companions, the one being taken along is the familiar. This mode of movement is known as Familiar Transfiguration. During the wartime, the Ministry of Magic advised every child to learn Familiar Transfiguration. It's actually quite simple, as long as you don't yell or suddenly burst into magical conflict, success is almost guaranteed."

Harry nodded and asked, "Do I need to recap this content? Is this the second task?"

"No, Harry." Professor Harp flashed a bright smile, "That was just background. The actual assessment is adapting to the discomfort of Familiar Transfiguration."

"I think that once you adapt, you'll have a more authentic experience with this magical art."

He looked at the three. "Since all of you want to learn... um... let's do it randomly."

His figure abruptly disappeared and reappeared in front of Ron. Ron slowly opened his mouth, eyes bulging. Professor Harp's palm rapidly enlarged in front of his eyes...

The next second, their bodies twisted and vanished.

"Profe... Professor?" Harry whispered, looking around, surrounded by a faint blue mist.

Hermione said, "Professor probably took Ron to experience the sensation of Familiar Transfiguration."

"Experience?"

"After all, all this is artificial, a world constructed by thoughts. You can't access magic, form facts, or habits." Hermione explained with experience.

After two or three minutes, "Ahhh—" Professor Harp appeared in the air with Ron.

Ron was panting, fear still lingering in his eyes. After a while, he came to his senses, "I felt like I was desperately squeezing out from a rubber pipe, always on the verge of being compressed into a walnut..."

But after a short while, he was encouraging Harry and Hermione to try, "That feeling is unforgettable, you definitely don't want to miss it."

Professor Harp stepped forward at the right moment, smiling, "Who's next?"

Harry and Hermione simultaneously stepped back, the professor's smile was just too unsettling.

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