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Back at school, after hiding his Transfiguration book, Hofa headed straight for the student organization classroom.
Indor was right. Hogwarts had many student organizations. In the future, Harry Potter would create the D.A.—Dumbledore's Army. A Defense club meeting in the Room of Requirement.
They'd used the Room of Requirement out of necessity. Hogwarts was under Ministry oppression then. Had to hide from Umbridge's spies.
But this era's Hogwarts didn't have that problem. Clubs flourished. Hofa asked a random upperclassman. Got directions to the club registry.
Western education focused on interests and hobbies. Talent-based.
Starting elementary school, schools had clubs. Developing students' talents.
Of course, Hofa's previous life had no club experience. High school had none—everyone feared hurting their studies.
In university, most clubs were shams. Places for upperclassmen to hit on underclasswomen. Didn't really cultivate interests.
So clubs were new to Hofa.
Hogwarts' registry was behind a massive portrait on the second floor. Ancient Greek philosophers arguing endlessly.
Entering required no password. Students constantly went in and out.
Through the gray corridor, Hofa reached a hall surrounded by arched galleries. Carved patterns occasionally became magical symbols, flickering on walls. The center had a statue of young wizards holding wands.
Many portraits hung on walls. Outstanding students throughout history. Those paintings advertised, recruiting new members.
Quite a few students walked around. Most were first-years.
After looking around, Hofa spotted a registration desk in the corner. A pretty sixth-year girl sat there, writing efficiently with a quill.
Hofa walked over. The girl looked up with a professional smile.
"Hello. Can I help you?"
"Do you know any clubs that study Charms?" Hofa asked politely.
"The school has seventeen Charms clubs. Which one?"
She pulled out a stack of parchment.
"Uh..." Hofa froze. Indor only said a Charms club could teach him spells. Didn't say which. He never expected seventeen.
Seeing his silence, she asked again.
"Do you have an invitation? Some clubs require them."
"No." Hofa said honestly.
"Well, only three don't need invitations. But you should screen them yourself."
She handed him a stack of parchment.
Hofa looked. All kinds of club names:
Trastragus Charms GroupOx Horn SocietyArcana MagicaKrypteia SocietyOmicron BrotherhoodNorthern Ireland Magic ClubNorthumberland Group ...
These clubs had founding dates, members, and requirements. Many had strict requirements. Region, family, even bloodline.
Hofa looked for a while. Didn't know which one Indor meant.
He asked the upperclasswoman. "Which one teaches spells upon joining? Any spell."
"Any spell?" She frowned.
"I've never heard of any club making such claims. Besides, new members usually learn club rules first. No one teaches spells easily."
Hofa froze. Not what Indor said.
He casually flipped through the parchment, thinking.
Suddenly, his finger paused on the last page.
Violet Wizarding GroupOnly the wise, rigorous, and resolute may joinOnly those who strictly keep secrets may join
At the end: (Recruitment full.)
But what caught Hofa's attention was a small sketch.
A man wearing a strange pale mask. Covered his entire face. But his ear had an earring identical to Hofa's own.
Hofa immediately knew which club to join.
He told the upperclasswoman, "This one. I want to join this club."
She took the parchment and looked. Eyes widened. "Violet Group... but it's full. Didn't you see?"
"Tell me its location. I'll visit myself." Hofa insisted. His determination to get the Disillusionment Charm was firm.
"Alright." She pulled out a stack of cards. Selected one and handed it to Hofa.
"Here. Follow the arrow. But whether they let you in, I can't control."
Hofa took the card. The face showed a tower area with a trembling arrow marking his position.
After thanking her, Hofa followed the card's guidance to the club area.
Hogwarts had a dedicated area for clubs.
Compared to the hall's liveliness, the club area was quiet.
A tall spire. Transparent glass top. Bright white light ran from bottom to top, connecting peak and base. Strange form. Like some array's core.
Strange instruments slowly rotated around the white light. Occasionally tinkling.
Many oil paintings in the tower. But these paintings were doing their own things. Very silent.
Occasionally, someone in a painting would glance at Hofa. Then lower their head again.
He saw some wizard students. When they saw him coming, they silently closed their mouths. After he left, they gave passwords and disappeared behind paintings.
Every painting here hid a different student group.
This gave Hofa a feeling of insignificance. So many unknown chambers. So many wizard groups. So many ancient secrets...
If he needed 100% exploration to get Knowledge of the Great God, who knew how long he'd explore this school.
Hofa held the card. Slowly walked along the tower stairs.
Walked further off.
Finally, he stopped before a huge woman's portrait. A masked witch holding violets.
Very remote. Few paintings around. The person in the painting glanced at Hofa. As if sensing his intention.
"Business?" She asked calmly.
"Excuse me, please inform them. I'd like to apply to join." Hofa said politely.
The woman put down the bouquet. Slowly disappeared into the painting's corridor. Soon, she returned.
Another person returned with her. A student wearing a pale mask. Small build. Couldn't see their face. The two walked together in the painting.
The thin student came before Hofa. After looking him over, they actually climbed out of the portrait. Startling Hofa.
"What do you want?" The masked person asked. Female voice. Probably young.
Hofa looked at them with lingering fear. Felt they might be under profound magic.
This masked woman felt transparent. She clearly stood before him, yet seemed far away. Blurry. As if she'd disappear the moment he turned his head.
Hofa asked respectfully, "Can I still join the club?"
"You want to join?" The masked person tilted their head. "Didn't the student council tell you we're full?" Her voice was ethereal. No substance.
"They did. But I still wanted to try."
The masked woman said, "Then your purpose? State it."
Hofa looked up. Stared into the eyes beneath the mask.
"I want to get a spell. I heard joining your club gets you any spell."
The masked person shook their head. Then nodded.
She laughed mysteriously. "What an honest answer. Really interesting. Don't know who told you. But joining the Violet Wizarding Group isn't impossible. But I must give you a small test first."
"What test?"
"Recite the membership requirements. You should've seen them at the student council."
Hofa answered, "Only the wise, rigorous, and resolute may join. Only those who strictly keep secrets may join."
"Good. Good memory."
The masked woman stepped closer. Circled Hofa halfway.
"Tell me. Are you really such a person?"
Hofa thought. "Not wise. Don't know about rigorous and resolute. But keeping secrets—I think I can do that."
"You're quite humble. Come with me."
She walked into the painting with her hands behind her back. Disappeared inside.
Hofa followed through the painting. Like passing through gauze. But he knew this was magic. Without this masked woman, he couldn't pass this checkpoint.
After entering, Hofa found it very dark.
Stone steps leading underground. Strange carvings on the floor. Fire basins lit at intervals.
Through the steps, Hofa entered a square underground hall.
Standard square. Raised stone platform in the center. Glass boxes neatly stacked beside it. Only one cushion on the floor.
Clean. Simple. But strangely eerie.
That was Hofa's first impression.
After bringing Hofa in, the masked woman didn't acknowledge him. She took violets from the stone platform. Walked to a row of paintings.
The people in these paintings all wore masks. Various masks. But they weren't alive like outside paintings. These hung motionless. Thick dust on the glass.
Below each painting was a transparent vase.
Some vases held fresh violets. Some flowers were very withered. Like they hadn't been changed in decades.
The masked woman held the violets. Removed old withered flowers. Inserted fresh ones.
Her entire posture and movements were abnormally slow. Solemn. Mysterious.
Somehow, Hofa felt this wasn't a club classroom. More like a tomb.
The atmosphere was too eerie. Not a single person. Deathly still. The fire basins provided no warmth.
Hofa involuntarily shivered. Looked around. Wanted to find other people. But the underground hall had no one else. Only the masked woman slowly changing flowers.
Finally, after changing the flowers.
The masked woman came to the stone platform. Pointed at the only cushion.
"Sit."
"Where's everyone else?" After sitting, Hofa looked around.
"The club is just me." The masked woman said in an ethereal voice.
Hofa was shocked.
"You said you were full!"
"If one person can do what ten people do, the other nine are meaningless." The masked woman tucked her hands in her sleeves. Stood behind Hofa.
"But you're lucky. I just wanted to recruit a subordinate to help organize the club. And you came."
"So... you'll teach me spells?" Hofa asked skeptically. Somehow he had a bad feeling.
"If you pass the real test, I don't mind."
The masked woman walked to the stone platform. Drew her wand. Tapped the glass boxes. They slowly opened. She took out a scroll.
Hofa's brow furrowed.
"What's your test?"
"Very simple. The Violet Wizarding Group is a Charms organization. Naturally obligated to help students learn Charms."
She placed the scroll before Hofa.
"I don't know who told you our club teaches spells. But clearly you misunderstand us. Our test is having students learn any spell in a short time. If they learn it, they pass."
"But if they can't..."
The masked person unrolled the scroll.
"Consequences are yours. Please."
Hofa looked at the scroll. But found only flowing white light. Nothing else.
"This..." Hofa looked up to ask.
Suddenly, white light blazed from the scroll. Hofa's entire body twisted. As if twenty Dementors were tearing at his soul. He couldn't even breathe.
Seconds later, the white light faded.
Hofa instantly collapsed on the table. Lost consciousness.
The masked woman's expression was unclear. She bent down and collected the scroll. Then pulled out a small white hourglass from her sleeve. Placed it beside Hofa.
She tilted her head slightly. Looked at Hofa's now lifeless eyes. Said coldly:
"Friendly reminder. In the Book of Spells, only pure purpose is the only truth."
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