LRAB Chapter 77 In Search of Sinclair
Chapter 77 In Search of Sinclair
Chapter 77 In Search of Sinclair
The next morning, Karen was awakened by the sound of raindrops hitting the window. He opened his eyes and the first thing he did was check the weather forecaster. The metal plate inside pointed straight down, marking the "heavy rain" sign, and it was simulating a heavy downpour.
"It's really raining!" Karen sat up excitedly, causing Fabian, who was putting on his socks, to turn around.
"It seems your prediction about alchemical artifacts was correct." Ernesto peeked out from behind the bed curtains, his gray eyes filled with curiosity.
Karen nodded, got out of bed, and walked to the window. A torrential downpour was falling outside, the surface of the Black Lake rippling with countless drops of rain. The Quidditch pitch in the distance was shrouded in the rain, indistinct and unclear.
"Looks like today's flight lesson is canceled," Wesley said disappointedly. He had recently learned a new Quidditch feint and was looking forward to more practice.
At breakfast, Professor McGonagall announced that due to heavy rain, all outdoor classes would be moved indoors, and the flight class would be canceled.
Raindrops tapped against the Eagle's Nest's glass windows, making a crisp sound. Karen sat at the long table, absentmindedly observing his weather forecaster.
"Karen, have you finished your Transfiguration thesis?" Fabian's voice came from the other end, interrupting Karen's thoughts.
"Ah, it's finished." Karen snapped out of her daze and pulled a roll of parchment from her bag. The parchment was covered with neat handwriting and several detailed transmutation diagrams.
Wesley peeked over from the side, his hair disheveled, clearly having just taken a nap on the table. "Merlin's beard!"
"Your paper is way too detailed!" He widened his eyes dramatically. "Professor McGonagall will definitely give you a '0'."
Ernesto scoffed, "You think everyone's like you, using Karen's method and still writing papers like squeezing toothpaste?"
"Hey! I call that being concise, cough!" Wesley retorted, unconvinced, but quickly deflated. "Okay, I admit writing papers is really painful for me—"
Karen watched their banter with a smile, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. His thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Professor Victor the previous night. Why did that mysterious Lucian Sinclair call himself "Nicholas Flamel II"?
Why did he write "Ravenclaw" in his journal? These questions swirled in his mind like a tangled mess.
"Karen?" Fabian noticed his absent-mindedness keenly. "You look preoccupied."
Karen hesitated for a moment, then looked around to make sure no one else was there before lowering her voice and saying, "Do you remember the experimental log we found in the secret room?"
The three of them immediately became focused. Ernesto even sat up straight instinctively, his gray eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Of course I remember," Fabian adjusted his glasses, "It was signed 'Nicholas Flamel II,' right?"
“That’s right.” Karen nodded. “Professor Victor told me last night that it was actually a pseudonym. The journal’s owner’s real name was Lucian Sinclair, a former Slytherin student who later taught Charms at Hogwarts.”
Wesley's mouth dropped open in surprise: "Wait, Slytherin? But the journal clearly says Ravenclaw!"
"That's the strangest part." Karen tapped her fingers lightly on the glass casing of the weather forecaster. "Professor Victor said they searched through all the records and couldn't find any connection between Lucian and Ravenclaw."
Ernesto frowned thoughtfully. "Could it be some kind of metaphor? Or a code?" His long fingers unconsciously drew circles on the table. "After all, the contents of that journal look very mysterious."
Then Ernesto seemed to suddenly realize something: "Do you think it could be related to Ravenclaw's tiara?"
"A crown?" Wesley blinked. "The one that supposedly makes people smarter?"
Fabian's eyes lit up: "That's possible! It's said that the Ravenclaw crown can grant the wearer extraordinary wisdom, but it has been lost for hundreds of years."
Karen thought it was unlikely, because the crown was found by Voldemort later, though it was possible that Lucian knew something.
“Anyway,” Cullen stood up and carefully put the weather forecaster into her dragon-skin bag, “since he’s a professor at Hogwarts, the library must have information about him. Shall we go check it out?”
In the library, Mrs. Pince was arranging books on the high shelves on a ladder. Hearing footsteps, her sharp eyes immediately swept over: "Keep quiet, don't bring the rain in."
Karen nodded and led her roommates straight to the faculty archives area. The bookshelves there exuded a faint scent of parchment and ink, which was strangely comforting.
Several people began searching through the school history archives.
"Lucian Sinclair—" Ernesto murmured, his long fingers tracing rows of yellowed files, "Based on the timeline, he should have started teaching in the late 1940s?"
"Found it!" Fabian suddenly exclaimed softly, pulling a thick record book from the shelf. The gold lettering on the cover, "Hogwarts Staff Directory (1940-1960)," was still clearly visible in the dim light.
The four of them sat around a secluded table, and Fabian carefully turned the pages of the book. The parchment rustled softly, as if telling a story from long ago.
"Here!" Karen's fingertip stopped on a page where it was written:
Lucian Sinclair's tenure: 1946-1949
Position: Professor of Charms. Note: Specialized in ancient runes and alchemy; published the paper "The Theory of Magical Resonance in Active Runes". Resigned in 1950, reason not specified.
"That's all the information?" Wesley muttered disappointedly. "Not even a photo."
Karen noticed a line of almost erased small print at the bottom of the page: "Wait, here it says 'See the winter issue of the Alchemy Quarterly, 1949'."
Fabian immediately sprang into action and quickly found the issue of "Alchemy Quarterly" in the periodicals section. When he opened the title page, a black and white photograph came into view—a gaunt male wizard with his black hair neatly combed back and his eyes so sharp they seemed to pierce through the paper.
"This is him. I saw a picture of him from his student days at Professor Victor's place," Karen said softly. What on earth had he done?
Ernesto leaned closer to observe: "Look into his eyes—it's as if he can read a person's mind."
The paper was obscure and difficult to understand, filled with complex rune diagrams and technical jargon. But Karen still managed to glean a few key words: "wisdom bestowal" and "magical resonance."
Fabian pursed his lips: "Although we found some relevant information, it still doesn't explain why he wrote 'Ravenclaw' in his journal."
The clock struck midnight, signaling that it was time for dinner.
The four of them closed the documents and put the books back in their places. When they left the library, the rain had stopped, but the corridor was still filled with a damp smell.
“You tell me,” Wesley suddenly spoke, his voice echoing in the empty corridor, “what happened to Lucian Sinclair? Where did he go after he resigned?”
Karen recalled Professor Victor's words and carefully replied, "I heard he went to Egypt to study ancient magic, but I don't know anything about him after that."
Fabian stroked his chin thoughtfully: "How mysterious—a brilliant professor, suddenly resigned, and then disappeared in Egypt."
Ernesto suddenly stopped, his gray eyes fixed on Karen: "I have a feeling this isn't as simple as it seems. There must be some connection behind that log, those studies, that we haven't discovered yet."
Dusk had already enveloped Hogwarts outside the window. Cullen stood in front of Professor Flitwick's office. Although he was about to practice his spells, his mind was still filled with questions about Lucian Sinclair.
"Come in!" Professor Flitwick's high-pitched voice came from inside the door.
Pushing open the door, Karen saw Professor Flitwick standing beneath a floating candlestick, lightly tapping his wand on a thick tome floating in mid-air. The candlelight cast dancing shadows on his wrinkled face, elongating his short figure.
"Ah, Karen!" Professor Flitwick turned around, his eyes gleaming with pleasure behind his half-moon spectacles. "Just in time for our Friday Charms class. I was just studying an interesting variant of a protective spell."
Karen closed the door gently, her dragon-skin boots making a soft sound on the carpet. "Professor, regarding the autonomous defense system research we mentioned last time—" she chose her words carefully, "I'd like to put this project on hold for now."
Professor Flitwick raised his gray eyebrows, waved his wand, and the heavy tome slowly fell back onto the shelf. "Oh?"
Have you encountered any difficulties?
"It's not difficult, Professor." Karen walked to the center of the office, wand already in her hand. "I just feel that my basic knowledge isn't solid enough. Rather than rushing to tackle advanced topics, I should first improve my mastery of basic defensive magic."
Professor Flitwick's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands lightly, his small frame almost leaping off his padded chair. "A wise decision, my dear child! Too many young wizards are too eager for quick success, neglecting the importance of a solid foundation."
Karen smiled slightly, her grey-blue eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the candlelight. "Could you please continue to guide me with the Ironclad Charm and the Guardian Charm? I'd like to further improve my practical application and also hope to gain a deeper understanding and mastery of these two spells."
"Of course!" Professor Flitwick waved his wand, and the office furniture immediately slid aside, clearing a wide practice area. "Let's begin with the Armor Charm. Protego!"
A semi-transparent barrier, gleaming with a mother-of-pearl-like luster, immediately unfolded before Professor Flitwick. Karen carefully observed the trajectory of the magical flow; in the vision of the Eye of Truth, the spell presented a complex, net-like structure.
Karen took a deep breath, her wand tracing a smooth arc: "Protego!"
An invisible barrier formed before him. Professor Flitwick tapped it lightly with his wand as he commented, "Good basic casting, but watch how your wrist rotation is smoother. Watch my demonstration."
In the time that followed, Karen practiced the Armor Charm repeatedly. He also learned many variations of the Armor Charm from Professor Flitwick, from the basic protective shield to enhanced versions that could deflect spells. Professor Flitwick patiently corrected every detail of his gestures and pronunciation.
"Now try this," Professor Flitwick said, tracing a complex spiral with his wand. "ProtegoHorribilis"
(Super strong armor protecting you!)
A barrier shimmering with golden patterns suddenly unfolded, accompanied by a faint humming sound. Karen's eyes widened in surprise—in the vision of the Eye of Truth, the magical structure of this spell was several times more complex than that of a regular Ironclad Charm.
"This is·-?"
"A modified version of the Protection Charm," Professor Flitwick winked smugly. "Some of the defenses of Hogwarts Castle are based on this spell. But it might be too difficult for you right now."
Karen, however, had already raised his wand, his grey-blue eyes gleaming with focused concentration. He recalled the flow of magic he had just witnessed, and his wrist slowly and resolutely traced a spiral—"Protego...Horr ibilis!"
A pale golden barrier unfolded before him. Though not as sturdy as Professor Flitwick's, it was indeed a rudimentary form of this advanced protective spell. Professor Flitwick gasped in surprise, his crescent-shaped glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose.
"Merlin's Beard!" he shrieked. "To achieve this on your first attempt! Karen, your magical talent is simply incredible!"
Karen gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Thanks to your guidance, Professor."
"Alright, let's try the Patronus Charm." Professor Flitwick composed himself. "EpectoPatronum"
(Protector of God!)
A silver hummingbird flew from the tip of his wand, circling merrily in the office. Karen gazed at the spell, brimming with positive energy, which, in his Eye of Truth, appeared as a warm, silver flame.
Karen closed her eyes, recalling her happiest memories, and then read aloud:
"EpectoPatronum!"
A cloud of silver mist erupted from the tip of his wand, gradually coalescing into the shape of a snow raven with outstretched wings. The guardian spirit gracefully soared within the room, scattering dappled silver light.
"Perfect!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed with delight. "You've mastered the Patronus Charm. But remember, this spell is highly dependent on your emotional state; in a truly critical moment—"
"It requires absolute focus and unwavering positive emotions," Karen replied. "I understand, Professor."
In the following time, Professor Flitwick explained many applications of the Patronus Charm to Karen. Karen wanted to learn how to use it for teleportation, but Professor Flitwick said that Karen's current abilities were not sufficient to perform this. He would prepare props for Karen to facilitate her practice of the Patronus Charm next time.
The clock struck nine, and Professor Flitwick glanced at the time. "That's enough for today. You've made a lot of progress."
""
Karen put away her wand, then suddenly remembered something. "Professor, I'd like to ask you something. Have you ever heard of a professor named Lucian Sinclair? He taught Charms here from 1946 to 1949."
Professor Flitwick frowned, twirling his beard in thought. "Sinclair—Sinclair—" He shook his head. "I'm sorry, child, I'm not very familiar with that name. I hadn't started teaching at Hogwarts yet. But I can look him up for you later."
Unable to glean any new information from Professor Flitwick, Karen could not hide her disappointment, but she still nodded politely. "It's alright, Professor. Thank you for your guidance."
Stepping out of Professor Flitwick's office, torches had already been lit in the castle corridors. The flickering firelight cast swaying shadows on the ancient stone walls, and Karen's footsteps echoed in the empty corridors.
Suddenly, a soft meow came from behind the armor at the end of the corridor. Lady Loris emerged from the shadows, her yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Karen let out a long sigh, shook his head, and continued walking towards the Ravenclaw Tower. Perhaps he was too tired, or perhaps he was being overly sensitive. In any case, Nicolas Flamel's upcoming visit next month might provide some answers. But for some reason, a vague premonition rose in Karen's heart—unraveling this mystery might lead him into a more complex affair.