Just before the clock on the classroom wall struck the start of the lesson, Tonks slipped into the Alchemy classroom like a stranded fish and dropped into a seat beside a Hufflepuff boy.
He was clearly used to her last-second arrivals and only whispered a reminder.
"Professor Shafiq called your name this afternoon and deducted ten points from Hufflepuff. You'd better be careful."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Tonks waved him off dismissively.
Her mind was a mess, and she had no desire to dwell on the unpleasant topic.
After catching her breath, she thought back to the handsome boy she had met on the staircase earlier.
If he knew where the Alchemy classroom was and walked so confidently, he must be a senior student taking the elective as well.
So handsome… and studying Alchemy too. How did I never notice him before?
Curious, Tonks straightened up and scanned the classroom, her dark eyes darting everywhere in search of that tall figure.
Suddenly, the quiet murmur in the room died away.
Her eyes lit up. The boy had just walked in, the heavy footsteps of the alchemical puppet behind him echoing in the silence.
Tonks was about to nudge her classmate and ask which House he belonged to—when, to her horror, he strode past every desk and went straight to the front, stopping behind the lectern and turning to face the class.
William placed the books in his hands down and surveyed the room.
Because Alchemy was so practical, this room resembled a mysterious laboratory more than a typical Hogwarts classroom. Shelves were packed with jars, mineral samples, and gleaming metal ingots. Wide workbenches held intricate distillation apparatus, precise weighing scales, rune-etched crucibles, and an array of tools.
Seated around the benches were only eight students—two from each House.
That was no surprise. As Hogwarts' most niche elective, Alchemy had a daunting entry requirement: students needed O.W.L. passes in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, and Ancient Runes before they could join the advanced class.
William noticed the students' curious gazes lingering on the gun-holding alchemical puppet at his side. He tapped the desk lightly.
"Good evening, everyone. Most of you have already met me in this afternoon's Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, so I won't spend much time introducing myself."
His voice echoed gently through the spacious laboratory.
"Although you studied Alchemy last year, your previous professor was already semi-retired. Some of the curriculum may have been… loosely delivered. So I will begin by reorganizing your understanding of the subject from the ground up."
At his words, Tonks felt her worldview collapsing and rebuilding in real time.
She tugged weakly at her classmate's sleeve and whispered in a voice that sounded as though she had seen a ghost, "That… that's our new professor?"
Her classmate stared at her as if she were mad. "Of course. Professor Shafiq. What's wrong with you?"
"N-nothing." Tonks covered her face in despair as her pink hair instantly faded into a dull grey.
She had just stopped her professor on the stairs, talked with him like any other student, and asked where the classroom was. At this point, she wanted to crawl into the nearest cauldron and stew herself alive.
Unaware of the Metamorphmagus' silent meltdown, William continued.
"Ancient alchemy focused on the fundamental elements of nature and the transformation of matter—legendary feats such as turning stone into gold. Modern alchemy, however, is far more pragmatic."
He drew three interlocking circles in the air with a piece of chalk.
"Many so-called alchemical products—self-stirring cauldrons, invisibility cloaks sold on the market, are built on a simple principle: binding, storing, or stabilizing a magical effect within a physical object."
"To achieve this, there are typically two methods."
He gestured to the complex equipment before them.
"The first involves the tools in front of you and your wand. That is why this course requires O.W.L.s in Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration."
"Transfiguration alters a material's form and structure so it can carry magic effectively. Charms provide the magical effect itself. Potions use magical materials to stabilize energy, enhance effects, or act as a medium of fusion."
"If you combine these three disciplines and use precise instrumentation, passing your N.E.W.T. in Alchemy is entirely achievable."
Then his tone shifted.
"But if you wish to reach a higher level, if you want to create alchemical constructs with true spirit or intelligence, then you will need the second method: Ancient Runes."
He pointed to the faintly glowing patterns on the puppet's chest.
"In your O.W.L. studies, you learned mostly 'dead' runes used for translation and reading ancient texts. But in the N.E.W.T. advanced course, Professor Babbling should have introduced you to more specialized concepts."
William traced the glowing runes lightly. They flared for a moment.
"These are rune circuits capable of storing magic, directing energy flow, and releasing magical effects instantly. In advanced alchemy, these circuits are what allow lifeless objects to 'come alive' and perform complex functions."
He clapped his hands lightly.
"Enough theory. Let's practice."
He rubbed the silver ring on his finger.
With a series of heavy thuds, eight identical silver-grey puppets appeared in midair and landed in formation.
Gasps filled the room. The students' eyes sparkled with excitement.
Even professors would admire such an alchemical ring—how much more so teenagers.
With a flick of his wand, the puppets floated to each student's workstation.
"These are your experimental subjects," William said with a smile. "Your major project for the first half of the year will be entirely self-directed. Your subject: this humanoid puppet."
"If you can successfully modify and improve them by the end of the term, congratulations—your N.E.W.T. in Alchemy will be well within reach."
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