NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Abundant Gains, Countless Insights
"May this letter find you well, Charlie."
"Please forgive me. These past few days have been rather unusual, so I am unable to meet with you for the time being."
"I will send the books to you. Study them diligently. Once things settle down, I will come to see you."
"Severus Snape."
Charlie stared at the letter in silence.
"These past few days have been unusual?"
"Need to lay low?"
What happened?
As far as he remembered, nothing major was supposed to occur at this point in time.
Apart from teaching and research, Snape shouldn't have any particularly urgent matters to attend to.
Charlie shook his head.
He couldn't make sense of it.
Eventually, he drifted off to sleep.
Two days later.
The books Snape had gathered for Charlie finally arrived.
A nun from the orphanage, along with a few children, helped carry the books over to Charlie.
"Thank you."
Charlie casually handed his little helpers some pocket change.
They were delighted.
In this orphanage, Charlie was arguably the wealthiest kid.
He always had clever ways to make money.
Whenever Charlie needed help with something, the other kids were eager to lend a hand, at the very least, they'd get some snacks out of it.
"Dear Charlie, what kind of books have you been reading lately?"
The nun looked at the stack of books, piled up to half the height of the table, and was surprised.
"Oh, just learning a bit of magic."
"Magic? Charlie, you really do have the most unpredictable ideas."
The nun chuckled and then left.
Now alone in his room, Charlie scanned the titles of his new books.
"The Compatibility of Wands and Wizards."
"The Feasibility and Practicality of Wandless Magic."
"The Magical Energy of Fantastic Beasts and Its Similarities to Human Magic."
"…"
This collection of magical books...
All of these books were chosen by Charlie based on his own needs, he had compiled a general list.
Of course, this list only served as a guideline. He had asked Snape to help him find suitable books but did not specify exact titles.
Fortunately, the Hogwarts library held an unfathomable depth of rare and valuable texts.
Almost all the books Charlie needed were available, many of which were copies of manuscripts containing the lifelong research of esteemed wizards.
These books were extremely precious and profoundly complex.
As per his usual routine, Charlie took a sip of water, entered a meditative state, and quickly immersed himself in his studies.
[You have gained extensive knowledge about wizard wands and have comprehended the Optimized Theory of Wand Crafting.]
[You have read The Feasibility and Practicality of Wandless Magic and have grasped Wandless Casting: Basic Level.]
[You have delved into the magical properties of fantastic beasts and have mastered the technique of Magical Soul Parasite.]
As time passed, Charlie felt an explosion of information and knowledge flood his mind.
Countless fragments of insight swirled through his consciousness like a violent storm
Breaking apart.
Reassembling.
Optimizing.
Evolving.
After an entire day and night of study, Charlie finally allowed himself to rest.
When he awoke the next day, he felt a rare sense of ease.
Thanks to his prior accumulation of knowledge and the various magical texts Snape had provided, his gains this time were immense, covering multiple areas of magic.
For instance, he now had a clear outline of wand-making principles.
Charlie even found that simply holding a wand allowed him to perceive its flaws instinctively.
However, the most thrilling discovery was his newfound understanding of wandless magic.
Ordinarily, wizards relied heavily on wands to channel their magic.
Wands helped them manipulate their internal magical energy more efficiently, ensuring a stronger connection to spells and amplifying their effectiveness.
The benefits were undeniable, making wand use the most common and practical method of casting magic.
However, wands also had their drawbacks.
Some spells had long casting times, requiring significant preparation.
Others could take several minutes to complete.
Moreover, a wizard who depended solely on their wand would be nearly powerless without it, indistinguishable from a Muggle.
Of course, some exceptional wizards possessed the ability to perform wandless magic to a limited extent, Snape, for example.
Charlie remembered that during Harry's first Quidditch match, Snape had cast a silent counter-curse to protect him from interference, though he had been misunderstood for it.
However, Snape's wandless magic was restricted to a few specific spells.
Most spells still required a wand.
Charlie's newfound ability was entirely different.
In theory, he could cast almost any spell without the need for a wand.
This newfound skill was a game-changer.
For Charlie, who still didn't have a wand, it made life infinitely more convenient.
The most extraordinary revelation, however, was the Magical Soul Parasite technique.
This spell was something he had grasped after extensive research on the magical properties of fantastic beasts.
Its effects were nothing short of astonishing.
With it, Charlie could temporarily project his consciousness into an animal or magical creature.
For example, if he looked at a raven or an owl, he could cast the spell
And suddenly, the owl's vision would become his own.
Even more impressive, he could use the owl to speak for him.
It was somewhat reminiscent of Voldemort's Horcrux technique.
However, it lacked the dark magic elements and the immortality-securing aspects.
Moreover, if the host creature died, Charlie himself would remain unharmed.
Overall, he was very pleased with this new ability.
It would make moving unnoticed in the non-magical world significantly easier.
For instance, his dear little brother, whom he hadn't seen in over nine years...
Perhaps he could use an owl to check in on Harry.
That wouldn't be too difficult.
Judging by the timeline, Harry was probably suffering at his aunt's house right about now.
As Charlie stepped outside, the nun stopped him.
Another letter.
From Snape.
Charlie gave a slight nod of thanks before opening it.
"Charlie,"
"Meet me at the Old Street Café. I'll find you there."
"…"
"Severus Snape."
Finally, after such a long wait, Snape, his ever-reliable elder, had sent a message.
If Snape had delayed any longer, Charlie might have thought he had disappeared altogether.