At the end of November, the weather has become very cold, the castle windows covered with thick frost, after a snowfall, the mountains around Hogwarts wearing a snow cap.
In a small classroom that is warm as spring, in the fireplace firewood burns modestly.
Felix relaxed on one of the couches and smiled at the young wizards from different years and houses sitting in a circle of a dozen couches, with a mixture of curiosity and eagerness in their eyes.
“Today is the first gathering of the Magic Rune Club, it’s good that all of you are here.”
“I am rather busy lately, but now I finally managed to find the time to properly consider the club’s affairs.” Felix played with a dark green coin with a distinctive rich sheen in his hand as the young wizards looked at it curiously.
The coin did not belong to any of the known coins, not a Copper Knut, a Silver Sickle, or a Golden Galleon.
Felix bent his fingers and flicked the coin up.
As the young wizards watched, the coin got tossed into midair and suddenly changed into a small, slender serpent covered with scales, which then expanded wildly. The serpent curled its body and twisted its dark green tail, and then, in an instant, it swallowed its own tail in one gulp, forming a standard loop.
The young wizards stared in awe at the strange serpent that kept swimming in circles in midair – in a pattern that many had not been exposed to before.
But Geoffrey, the Slytherin Head Boy, and the seventh-year student said in a low, frenzied voice, “The Ouroboros Serpent.”
“That’s right, the Ouroboros serpent. If you have ever dabbled in some ancient symbols, you will naturally not miss this ancient symbol. It represents many things and is widely utilized in alchemy, ancient runes, ancient seals, and even in non-magical circles, the Ouroboros serpent is quite well known, though people tend to call it an occult symbol.”
“Many people see the Ouroboros as a symbol of cycle, infinity, and rebirth …”
Felix told the history of the Ouroboros serpent symbol, and when he stopped, sixth-year Peter Shelton asked a question.
“Professor, so how do you consider it?”
Peter Shelton wore a long braid, and Felix remembered her from last year when she blindly purchased an amulet that smelled like onions before her OWLs exam.
Felix explained: “I used to think of it as a symbol used in alchemy, then I thought it represented the archetype of all things and the theory of cycles, the reciprocation of construction and destruction … in a way, which expressed the alchemist’s pursuit of perfect alchemy.
Later, I delved into the study of Magic theory and believed that it contains dynamic activity, symbolizing the alternation of death and rebirth. In the ancient epochs, many ancient wizards would engrave it on their tombs.
When I came into contact with ancient runes, it served as my ruler for measuring magic, and I thought it represented infinity and self-growth.”
Felix said leisurely: “Miss Shelton, do you understand what I mean? People’s minds are always changing, and they see things differently at different stages.”
He looked at the serpent and said with emotion, “Everyone’s view will not be the same. I hope that one day you will also have your own view, not a common view, but a careful reflection after learning a lot.”
The young wizards listened with puzzled understanding, there are students from third to the seventh year in the Magic Rune Club, not everyone could understand the words and the state of mind Felix was talking about.
After waiting quietly for some time, with the firewood still burning in the fireplace, Felix curled his lips: “Well, little wizards. I did not bring you together for idle chatter. There are many things for me to do, let’s be frank, that do not include discussing trivial matters.”
“The Sorting Hat assigned you to different houses according to your most prominent traits, like Ravenclaw-” his eyes swept to Cho Chang, Penelope, Warren Pardez, Eddie Camilche, Marietta Edgecombe, Michael Corner, Padma Patil …
“Slytherin -” he looked again at Geoffrey, Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson …
“Hufflepuff-” he glanced to Cedric, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Susan Bones, Peter Shelton…
“And Gryffindor.” His eyes traced over the trio, the Weasley twins, Percy, and Alicia Spinnet …
Felix smiled and said, “Together, your traits make up the different ethos of the four houses. But in fact, the ethos of the four Houses influences you all in turn, reinforcing that trait – sometimes I can probably tell which House someone comes from just by talking to them for a few minutes.”
Felix laughed, “On a side note, at some point, I would consciously try to play this game with a high success rate.”
“There are good and bad things about this practice; the good thing is that each House has its own good qualities that it values, and once a common ground is formed, it is easy to be driven forward; and the bad thing is that some people do not learn from the good points, but instead they get tainted with all kinds of flaws without realizing it.”
Penelope said thoughtfully: “Professor, like Ravenclaw, adores knowledge and individuality, students are smart, wise, visionary and curious … but sometimes they are too self-centred and do not fit with the outside world, and even hurt some people? ”
Felix nodded approvingly, “Very insightful and courageous, Miss Clearwater.”
“The Hogwarts Headmasters realized this very early on, and some of you may have once wondered why many of your classes are held together with other houses, and not just with their own, for example – Miss Granger?”
Hermione looked up and said in a somewhat nervous whisper, “Our Herbology class is with Hufflepuff, our Potions class is with Slytherin, and our Astronomy class is with Ravenclaw.”
“What about after the fifth year?” Felix looked at Geoffrey.
Geoffrey replied, “Most of the classes are with all four houses together.”
The other young wizards couldn’t help but brainstorm about it.
Felix said, ” This practice is meant to allow you to see a different type of people from another group and learn about each other’s good qualities as you get to know each other.”
“And the club amplifies that beauty, which is one of the things I like. So in the future, where collaboration is involved, I’ll let you choose students from different houses as your partners.”
Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw’s Cho Chang almost immediately, but to his heartbreak, her gaze directed at another person. He turned his head to see a tall, handsome Cedric.
He instantly filled with a feeling of frustration and dismay internally, his long-held sense of anticipation burst like a soap bubble.
Malfoy glanced at Harry, then at the rest, and wondered what they are thinking.
Percy and Penelope looked at each other and smiled.
“Next I’ll talk about the Magic Rune Club itself-” Felix tapped the couch armrest to silence the somewhat restless young wizards.
“Foremost, the club’s main focus of teaching is practical runes, and you will learn a lot of practical knowledge about runes;”
“Secondly, you will be involved in some of my research, responsible for providing some data or forming a study group to complete some experimental topics;”
“Sometimes, we may simply sit down and chat, discussing some topics that have nothing to do with runes, but interesting enough topics like – why are we able to unconsciously use magic when we were kids, but not after school…?”
Harry suddenly remembered some of his own strange experiences before he started school, such as his hair kept growing like crazy, within a few minutes after coming out of the barber store to home, his hair turned back to its original shape as if it had never been cut.
Or when Aunt Petunia tried to put an ugly jumper with little orange circles on him, he resisted and struggled so much that the jumper shrank smaller and smaller and finally had to be given to a wooden toy.
Also, when he went to Muggle school, his cousin Dudley and his little gang chased him, and he tried to jump over a dumpster, only to find himself inexplicably sitting on a chimney.
He also made the protective glass disappear at the zoo and let the python go …
———-
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