A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 460: The Disguise Charm

Chapter 460: The Disguise Charm

Felix had known for a long time that the Protego Charm was an incredibly useful spell. It held powerful restraints against specific creatures like Dementors and Inferi, capable of transmitting information over great distances and even passing through solid objects. He had developed various clever uses for it himself. Yet, one question lingered in his mind: what was the original purpose of this charm?

Few realized that the Protego Charm wasn't specifically developed to counter Inferi. In fact, its appearance predates that of Inferi by a significant margin. "Invincible Andros," a wizard who could summon giant-sized protective figures, was active in ancient Greece, while Inferi were first documented in the fifteenth century.

Felix once suspected that the charm served another purpose. Regrettably, he hadn't found evidence to support this theory. He had an idea, though: during the era of dark magic, releasing a Patronus might have been seen as an act of "noble character." Individuals possessing both strength and virtue naturally earned respect from others.

The Protego Charm likely acted as a sort of detector, granting a special status.

...

"Please, have a seat," Felix said.

They returned to the ancient runes office. Harry, Ron, and Draco hesitantly settled onto the same lengthy couch. Harry felt uneasy; he had never been this close to Malfoy before. He glanced around and quickly focused on the small square table in front of them.

There sat a contraption resembling a toaster, accompanied by a stack of brown "slices." In the groove of the device, a similar "slice" featuring the handsome Cedric Diggory stuck on it, smiling faintly at them.

"What's this, Professor?" Harry couldn't help but ask.

"It's a magical projector," Draco interjected suddenly. Harry and Ron shot him a strange look, but they quickly accepted the explanation. The wealthy Malfoy family was no stranger to such gadgets.

"That's right, a magical projector," Felix confirmed from his seat on the adjacent armchair. "A sample sent by the 'Future World' company. I'm referring to those films," he added.

Harry stared at Cedric's smiling image and felt a surreal sense wash over him. "So, these... all of these..."

"Are the champions' performances in the second task," Felix smiled, pointing at the stack of flat, brown boxes on the table. "All of them. But they certainly can't be sold like this. Currently, there are no regulations. However, the 'Future World' company hopes to establish some standards and self-regulation."

Harry grasped the concept. This was akin to Muggle movies, except this time, he might be the lead in the film, or one of the leads. He recalled the professor's words after the task: "You'll be famous for this tournament."

He finally understood what those words meant.

"So, our performances will be seen by more people?" Ron's eyes lit up eagerly.

"In theory, yes," Felix nodded, as plates of small snacks and butterbeer floated over, landing on the table. He gestured, saying, "However, there are some details to confirm, considering your personal preferences—"

"I agree," Ron immediately interjected.

Felix chuckled.

"In essence, by participating in the tournament, you tacitly agree to your performances being seen by the audience. 'Future World' merely extends your performance to a wider audience. Yet, some might not want their images broadcasted... We'll try to accommodate your wishes."

"So, we can refuse?" Harry asked.

"On inconsequential and independent scenes, yes," Felix explained. "But for crucial moments during the competition, it's not feasible. Of course, we're willing to offer compensation, not much, but as I mentioned, we aim to set some standards."

"That sounds good," Ron said. Fame and earning opportunities—what reason was there to refuse? The only concern was affordability; this might be expensive, and his family might not afford it.

Harry harbored some worry. What if these scenes were seen by Death Eaters and Voldemort? But then, he realized that if Death Eaters and Voldemort wanted to know his secrets, he couldn't stop them. There had been too many witnesses.

"I agree too," after much consideration, he finally said. Except for Occlumency, the magic he knew wasn't much of a secret. And Occlumency wasn't something visible; unless he spoke of it, others wouldn't notice.

Draco's eyes shimmered with an unknown thought.

"Very well," Felix said. "That wraps things up for both of you." He gave them their dismissal. "These clips will eventually be compiled, and before their release, you'll be invited to preview them. Payment will also be made then. If there are no issues, consider it settled."

Harry and Ron left with mixed feelings.

In the office, only Felix and Draco remained, along with Valen, nibbling on crispy finger biscuits, occupying a separate armchair, with "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mickey - Volume Two" resting on its legs.

"Do you have any knowledge about the Disillusionment Charm and the Disguise Charm?" Felix inquired.

Draco nodded. "I've looked into them. They're advanced magic, usually taught in higher years."

"Correct. The Disguise Charm can be learned in the advanced spell class in sixth year. The Disillusionment Charm, however, requires instruction from an instructor designated by the Ministry of Magic, and the students must be of age."

"But Potter knows that magic!" Draco blurted out, his face turning pale. "I mean—"

"I understand," Felix smiled. "He seems to have broken the rules once again. This was his third-year Dueling Club prize, which he chose himself. It's not such a big deal for underage students to learn Disillusionment, only public usage causes legal trouble... Luckily, Potter's first public use of Disillusionment was to earn honor for the entire British wizarding world."

"If there's no objection, shall we begin?"

"The Disguise Charm is used to disguise oneself magically. When using it, one must ensure that their body's color and texture match the environment around and behind them... Easy to learn but difficult to master."

"These two spells have different complexities, but both require control over the body's magical energy. You lack in this area, so I've prepared some targeted exercises..."

For the next two hours, Draco Malfoy practiced leaving undispelled traces in the air, solely using his hands and meeting specific criteria for speed and aesthetics.

The heat from the fireplace flushed Draco's face, despite the damp and cold weather of March. Professor Heap mentioned that some instructional materials weren't ready yet, so the actual practice would commence the following week. Nevertheless, when he left, he carried with him a detailed diagram explaining the Disguise Charm.

It was his assignment due before next week. He had to submit an analytical paper.

>

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