Faced with a student like Wyzett, Lockhart quickly realized he'd have to part with some true secrets if he wanted to keep the boy intrigued.
Luckily, Lockhart was well-versed in the Memory Charm. He meticulously broke down his own understanding, padded it with layers of redundant explanation, and handed it over to Wyzett—hoping this would buy him at least a little more time.
Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as planned. The more he tried to withhold, the more his core secrets seemed to slip out, one after another.
Wyzett's mind worked in leaps and bounds. He could distill the essence from even the most meandering lecture, linking magical principles together and firing off questions that cut straight to the heart of the matter.
After several rounds of this, Lockhart felt an all-too-familiar discomfort—a sensation that took him right back to his own school days, surrounded by classmates far more talented than himself, his insides twisting with unease and awkwardness.
Yet while Lockhart was left squirming in the memories of his past, Wyzett was in his element. He felt like a fish in water.
Lockhart's unique insights into the Memory Charm proved truly enlightening. The spell's theory ran deep, and Wyzett soon discovered it could be compared and even combined with Occlumency, revealing both their similarities and their differences.
Not only was he mastering the Memory Charm, but his understanding of Occlumency was growing as well.
As he glanced down at his overflowing notes, Wyzett began to sort and refine them, transforming the scribbles into true knowledge of his own.
After a quick review, he realized that the principles behind the Memory Charm could actually be explained using the concept of a lever.
Scanning his notes once more, Wyzett cleared his throat. "Professor Lockhart," he began, "I think I might have some insights. Would you mind checking if I'm on the right track?"
"Of course, no problem at all!" Lockhart let out a long sigh of relief.
As long as Wyzett wasn't about to launch into another barrage of questions, his precious secrets might just survive the hour.
"I dare say—no one understands the Memory Charm better than I do! Speak your mind. And if you need anything, just ask."
"Thank you." Wyzett glanced around. "Professor, could I trouble you for a piece of parchment?"
"I've got parchment to spare!" Lockhart flashed a dazzling smile, producing a pink sheet that all but radiated perfume.
In the upper left and lower right corners, elegant script declared: "Dearest ___ Miss / Your favorite Gilderoy Lockhart."
Clearly, this was his standard fan stationery.
"Thank you!" Wyzett tapped the letter with his wand, transforming the parchment into a tiny seesaw.
Lockhart's eyelid twitched. It was the first time he'd witnessed Wyzett's Transfiguration in action.
The object itself wasn't complicated, but the spellwork was so effortless, so casual, that it left him momentarily speechless.
He recalled his own days at Hogwarts—he hadn't managed such a feat until fourth year, and even then, never with such ease.
"Professor Lockhart," Wyzett continued, "I remember you wrote in Holidays with Hags about visiting an amusement park with a hag, didn't you?"
Lockhart nodded, a little hesitant. "Ah… yes… this… is a seesaw, right?"
"Exactly! There's so much fun in the Muggle world. That hag was so heavy, she nearly broke the seesaw!" Wyzett grinned.
"Professor, I think the principle behind the Memory Charm is actually a lot like this seesaw…" He pointed to the fulcrum at the base.
"This is the pivot. It's like the intent—or the purpose—a wizard brings to casting the Memory Charm."
A bead of sweat trickled down Lockhart's forehead. He instantly understood what Wyzett was getting at.
He had to admit, the seesaw was a brilliant analogy.
Wyzett pressed on, using the little seesaw to demonstrate. "The Memory Charm itself is like the board, and the act of casting is the game."
He tapped the seesaw's ends with his finger, making them rise and fall in turn.
"With the right intent, the caster can achieve precise, effective magic—ensuring the Memory Charm is both accurate and powerful."
"Ah… yes…" Lockhart managed a strained smile, unable to muster even his trademark toothy grin. "Precision… yes, that's exactly what I always say, heh…"
"Oh, and there's one last thing…" Wyzett frowned slightly. "When it comes to using a counter-charm to restore memories, I just can't quite grasp the technique."
"That's perfectly normal!" Lockhart quickly recovered, eager to reassure him. "Being able to cast the Memory Charm at your age is already remarkable!"
"As for the counter-charm, it's not really that important! Who would even target a wizard's memories, anyway? There's no need to worry so much. It's enough to use it on Muggles…"
He was hoping to brush off the question—but Wyzett pressed on.
"Professor, based on this seesaw principle, I've actually thought of a way to approach the counter-charm."
Lockhart could no longer keep up his smile. "Go on, then. Let's hear it."
Wyzett gently pulled one end of the miniature seesaw back. "Like this, Professor."
"You mentioned 'emotion' as a concept, and said my experience wasn't enough to fully understand it."
"But I can really feel it! When casting the counter-charm, emotion becomes the pivot."
"If we tailor the counter-charm to the emotional fulcrum, it should make breaking the Memory Charm much easier."
Having shared his thoughts, Wyzett felt he'd finally digested and mastered the spell's true essence.
At that moment, the Wizard's Practical Combat Guide stirred deep in his mind. Ancient magical power, accumulated over time, surged into its pages.
As the book's leaves fluttered in his mind's eye, a new entry revealed itself:
Ancient Magic: Animus Transferis — Guide ancient magical power to cast spells… grant the Memory Charm unique effects… by extracting complete memories, achieve the purpose of erasing or rewriting them…
Wyzett read through the entry for Animus Transferis and immediately sensed its potential.
By channeling ancient magic through the Memory Charm, he could greatly reduce its many side effects.
And the phrase "achieve the purpose of erasing or rewriting memories" was especially intriguing.
It meant that, with this ancient spell, he could not only erase but also alter memories at will.
Even the most experienced wizards would struggle to distinguish real memories from the false.
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