landbeastnovel Chapter 273 One-on-One Tutoring
Chapter 273 One-on-One Tutoring
Chapter 273 One-on-One Tutoring (5.3K) (1/2)
The key materials required for the ceremony must be collected and processed by the person holding the ceremony personally, without any carelessness. This requires time and meticulous planning.
He temporarily suppressed his thoughts about Dementors and the dark ritual, as if closing a dangerous book of dark magic and locking it away in the deepest drawer of his mind.
Right now, he has more "routine" matters to attend to—today is the deadline for Hogwarts students to submit their "Preliminary Observation Forms on Magical Item Affinity."
Emerging from the stone house, with the morning mist still lingering in the depths of the Forbidden Forest, Lynch embarked on the stone path leading to Hogwarts Castle.
Dew dampened his shiny leather shoes and trouser legs. The surrounding area was quiet with ancient trees reaching for the sky, with only the occasional chirping of early birds and the soft sound of his footsteps on the stone bricks.
He deliberately slowed down, his sharp gaze sweeping slowly across the dimly lit forest clearing like a comb.
The shadows of tangled bushes and those sun-deprived hollows.
He is sensing, he is searching.
Search for traces of a Dementor, a cold, pleasure-giving anomaly that doesn't belong to this ancient forest.
However, today, apart from the slight magical fluctuations and biological aura inherent in the forest itself, he gained nothing.
This did not relax him; instead, it made his gaze even more serious.
Are they hiding, or are they carrying out some other command?
He put aside his thoughts about those dark creations and quickened his pace.
As he stepped through the oak gates into the castle, he was still enveloped in the chill of the Forbidden Forest.
He went straight to the auditorium, had breakfast, and returned to his office. Just as he sat down at his desk, a knock sounded on the door right on time.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and the first to enter was Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff prefect, carrying a neat stack of parchment. "Good morning, Professor Lynch. This is a preliminary self-assessment record of Hufflepuff's magical resonance."
"Thank you, Mr. Diggory."
Following that, representatives from other colleges arrived one after another.
It is worth noting that Gryffindor entered—Percy Weasley, the president of the boys' council, stood up straight, placed the forms meticulously on the table, and said in a businesslike tone, "Professor Lynch, the record sheets for Gryffindor grades two through seven have all been collected."
"Very good, Chairman Weasley."
The Ravenclaw and Slytherin prefects also submitted their forms one after another.
Soon, four small stacks of parchment were piled up on the desk.
Lynch's gaze swept over the records.
He distributed these forms after the first class of the school year.
To fill out the form, students need to recall their experiences in the "Transformation Corridor," focusing on their inner feelings and outward manifestations when casting different types of spells, and then convert these feelings into quantifiable numbers and record them on the form.
These records largely revolve around several core areas of magical practice:
One of them focuses on manipulation and control, involving spells like the Levitation Spell that require precise guidance of magic.
The focus of the recording is on the smoothness of the object's movement, the stability and controllability of its trajectory, and whether the mind feels relaxed and at ease when casting the spell, or feels sluggish and confused.
Another area concerns the release and form of energy, such as powerful and impactful spells. Students need to describe the actual intensity of the spell, the stability of its energy structure, and whether there is a sense of cathartic release accompanying the outpouring of magic.
Another part of the practice focuses on the resonance and influence of mental imagery and emotions, such as trying spells that evoke positive emotions or some basic protective spells. The focus here is on the clarity of the spell's sphere of influence, the stability of its duration, and whether the caster can engage with and maintain that specific emotional tone.
Finally, there are transformations of form and the summoning of matter, encompassing basic polymorphism and summoning spells like "Water Like a Spring." The records focus on the speed of form transformation or elemental condensation, the accuracy of the result, and whether, after completing the spell, one feels a smooth and harmonious flow of magic or is subtly repelled by some attribute.
Students were also asked to use concise, descriptive vocabulary to capture their unique experiences in different fields and the objective effects of spells.
In the following lessons, he will guide them to use these self-reflection records to comprehensively position themselves in each area on a specially made "Resonance Star Chart" that divides different magical quadrants.
Ultimately, they will sketch out a unique initial map that reveals its inherent magical biases.
Lynch's fingertips gently brushed the edge of the top parchment.
Analyzing these preliminary diagrams will not only help him glimpse the hidden edges of these young wizards and provide direction for his subsequent guidance, but it may also be an interesting exploration of the nature of magic itself.
He picked up the nearest stack, ready to begin his work for the day.
Soon, a notice appeared on the bulletin board of the four college lounges, requiring students from each college to go to Professor Lynch's office within three days for one-on-one tutoring.
The notice, which appeared on the bulletin boards of various colleges, quickly caused quite a stir among the students.
This is not just a simple teaching arrangement, but more like an introspective exercise that subtly touches the strings of "self" and "belonging" in the hearts of young wizards.
After all, who hasn't secretly wondered which realm in that vast and wondrous magical world truly belongs to them? Just as a wand chooses a wizard, isn't a wizard also searching for magic that resonates with their own soul?
In the Gryffindor common room, Ron slumped in an armchair near the fireplace, his head resting on the back of the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, his face showing undisguised daydreaming and a hint of barely perceptible longing.
Overshadowed by his six brothers and surrounded by Harry's "savior" aura, he desperately needed to find something truly his own, something unique.
"One-on-one tutoring!"
He sat up, patted Harry beside him, and said excitedly, "Tell me, what exactly is the unique talent Professor Lynch discovered in me? Like Charlie's control of the Ashbringer? Or does he have some secret technique that greatly increases the power of my spells!"
He brandished his fist, seemingly already envisioning himself shattering the advanced training dummy with a single Stun Spell: "If he could give me a pointer, I wouldn't be afraid of Malfoy's underhanded tricks at the dueling club next time!"
Hermione sat at a table not far away, with several thick books spread out in front of her.
She looked at the announcement, her eyes gleaming with intense anticipation and an almost devout thirst for knowledge. For her, knowledge was belonging, and understanding was peace of mind. Professor Lynch's theory opened up a completely new and systematic perspective for her, allowing her to try to understand her sometimes perplexing inner power as if she were interpreting a textbook.
"This is so important," she said earnestly to Harry and Ron, though the latter seemed not to be listening. "Self-awareness is the first step to effective learning." She hoped that through this tutoring, she could pinpoint her magical coordinates as accurately as finding the right shelf in a library by following an index, and organize the seemingly complex magical world into a clear map that she could understand, master, and ultimately control.
For her, finding the "most suitable" means finding the most effective learning path, which in itself brings a great sense of satisfaction and security.
Ron asked excitedly, "Hey Harry, when are we going? How about this afternoon? If we get it done early, maybe we can try out our new ideas in the common room before dinner—"
Before Harry could answer, a figure strode over—it was Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
His purpose was clear. He placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and said urgently, "Harry! This afternoon won't do, remember? We've arranged intensive training on Ravenclaw's Seeker tactics. Remember to get to the training ground early! If you want to see Professor Lynch, that's fine, it'll be good for you. But it's best to find another time today, during break or lunch break, and finish quickly. Stay in shape, our focus is Quidditch! Understand?" He patted Harry's shoulder forcefully, then turned and left in a hurry, as if lingering for even a second would be a waste of training time.
After Wood left, Harry rubbed his shoulders and looked at Ron with some difficulty: "This afternoon won't work. Looks like we'll have to find another time."
"What should we do then? We can't just drag it out until the last day, can we?" Ron scratched his head.
At that moment, Hermione deftly pulled her timetable out of her bag and quickly ran her fingertips across it.
"Let me see—" She pondered for a moment, then looked up, her eyes sparkling with a bright light: "I've got it!"
This morning, we had about twenty minutes of free time between Charms and History of Magic. To get from Professor Flitwick's classroom to Professor Binns's classroom, we only needed to take a short detour, passing right by the hallway leading to Professor Lynch's office.
She analyzed the situation clearly: "We can go and take a look then. If there aren't many people in line, we might be able to squeeze in and finish; if there are a lot of people, then we won't waste time queuing and can figure something out tomorrow afternoon. Anyway, we still have two days. What do you think?"
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and both thought it was a good idea.
"Let's do it this way." Harry nodded in agreement.
"Okay, whatever you say, Hermione." Ron shrugged.
Meanwhile, in his office, Lynch was facing his first student—Cedric Diggory.
The Hufflepuff prefect sat upright across the desk, his posture proper, his expression focused yet gentle as always.
"Mr. Diggory," Lynch's voice was steady, his expression gentle. Before him lay Cedric's "Preliminary Self-Assessment Record of Magical Resonance," which read, "Reflecting on your experiences in the Hall of Transformation, especially when facing challenges requiring unwavering will and the dispelling of negative influences, your perception of spells like 'Joyful Charm' and 'Peaceful Guardian' seems rather unique."
Cedric nodded seriously. "Yes, Professor. I've noticed that when I need to cast these kinds of spells, the process seems—exceptionally smooth. It's not just the flow of magic, but more of an inner feeling." He organized his thoughts slightly. "When I concentrate and recall memories that truly make me feel warm, peaceful, or hopeful, the power of the spell seems to be naturally enhanced, and after casting it, I rarely feel mentally exhausted; instead, I have a kind of—um—sense of peace."
Lynch listened quietly, his fingertip lightly tapping the description of the "mental imagery and emotional resonance" section on the record.
He noticed the vocabulary Cedric used—"warm," "peaceful," "hopeful," and "stable."
These words themselves point to a positive and stable mental state.
"What you're describing isn't just the increased effectiveness brought about by proficiency." Lynch raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the surface and see directly into the essence of Cedric's magical flow. "It's more like—an inner harmony. There's a natural affinity between the characteristics of your magic and the spells you mentioned, which are based on positive emotions and aim to protect, soothe, and strengthen the mind."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a guiding emphasis: "This means that not all wizards can so naturally transform their inner positive emotions into tangible protective power as you. For you, it's not merely a skill, but more like an extension of instinct. Your integrity, your gentleness, and the positive forces that naturally arise within you are not separate from magic; on the contrary, they are the source of your energy, the most powerful catalyst for casting these kinds of spells."
Cedric's eyes widened slightly, clearly trying to process what he had just said.
He may have vaguely sensed in the past that he was good at this kind of spell, but he had never understood it from such a fundamental perspective.
"So, Professor, you mean—I might be particularly suited to learning and deepening my understanding of magic that requires a positive emotional drive and leans towards protection and blessing?"
"You can understand it that way," Lynch affirmed. "It's not a limitation, but a guide. It points to a path that best aligns with your nature, and therefore is likely to take you the furthest and allow you to reach your full potential. In subsequent practice, you can more actively experience this inner harmony," trying to integrate your personal qualities with the magic you're wielding on a deeper level. For example, not just recalling happiness, but making yourself an anchor of stability and hope."
Cedric fell into deep thought, and a look of sudden enlightenment and great encouragement gradually appeared on his face.
He found, or at least made initial contact with, the key that could truly unleash his unique magic.
For him, who has always been down-to-earth and hardworking, but not necessarily as outspoken as some students in other colleges, this was undoubtedly an extremely important affirmation and guidance.
"I understand, Professor." Cedric stood up and thanked Lynch sincerely. "Thank you very much for your guidance."
Lynch nodded slightly, watching Cedric's departing figure.
The stable and bright qualities that this young man possesses are perhaps more precious than he realizes in today's turbulent times.
After seeing Cedric off, Lynch had just written a few notes in his journal when the knocking on the door sounded again.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and the figure that walked in made Lin Qi raise his eyebrows slightly, almost imperceptibly.
It's Draco Malfoy.
Given the overall hostility Slytherin had toward him, he had assumed the little snakes would tacitly drag out the tutoring until the very last minute before the deadline.
Malfoy's appearance at this moment was indeed somewhat unexpected for him.
The Slytherin lad stood in the doorway, his expression unusually awkward.
He seemed to be trying hard to put on his usual arrogant demeanor, his chin slightly raised, but his eyes were somewhat unfocused, and he didn't dare to look Lin Qi in the eye directly. His hand holding the doorknob also seemed a little stiff.
He quickly glanced around the office, as if assessing the environment, or perhaps regretting stepping inside.
Draco Malfoy stood in front of the wooden door, feeling like a complete fool.
Why did he come here?
So early?
Lin Qi's scrutinizing gaze made him feel uncomfortable all over.
The unequivocal words of his father's letter echoed in his mind: "—Maintaining necessary and proper relationships with the Hogwarts faculty, especially Professor Jim Lynch of the Magic Studies Department, is a fundamental quality of a Malfoy heir. I do not wish to hear any rumors of your blatant rudeness, Draco."
A proper relationship?
And this Lin Qi, whose origins are unknown and who lives in the Forbidden Forest?
Malfoy felt utterly frustrated upon receiving the letter.
He had clearly demonstrated Slytherin's, and especially Malfoy's, attitude toward the new professor through his perfectly timed indifference and occasional, subtle sarcasm.
But now, just because of his father's words, he has to come forward on his own.
His mind raced, and he finally came up with a "clever" way to satisfy his father's demands without losing too much face. He actively cooperated with this foolish "affinity" survey and became one of the first students to complete the counseling.
This would make him appear "sensible" and "cooperative with the teaching," without having to be like those silly Hufflepuffs who actually have expectations about some kind of "inner self."
This should be considered a "proper relationship," right?
But when he actually stood there, and the wooden door closed behind him, a strong sense of regret gripped him.
This felt awful. He felt like he was offering himself up—he didn't dare think of that word.
What would Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle think if they found out? They would definitely think he's crazy, or—weak.
But turning away now would be worse.
He took a deep breath, trying to raise his chin to his usual arrogant angle, and surveyed the office's layout.
The office was dimmer than the corridor, and the air was filled with a peculiar smell of old parchment mixed with some kind of wood ash.
Lin Qi sat behind that huge desk, as if he had expected everything.
His beam of light swept over him, calm and still, yet it made Draco feel as if layers of disguise had been peeled away, a feeling that made him extremely uncomfortable.
He walked stiffly to the chair in front of the desk.
He dared not look Lynch in the eye, and could only stare at the damned, motionless crow on the other's shoulder.
He felt like a prisoner awaiting trial, and he had brought it all upon himself.
Why should he listen to his father?
Why would he come up with such a stupid idea?
All he wanted to do now was turn around and leave immediately, even if his destination was Lupin's office, which smelled strange.
"Mr. Malfoy," the calm voice interrupted his inner turmoil, "please sit down."
Draco sat down almost reflexively, his body ramrod straight, like an overly tense soldier.
His mind was a mess, and he couldn't utter a single word of the opening remarks he had prepared, which were somewhat distant yet barely polite.
He just wanted it all to end quickly.
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