Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

"The perception and mastery of magic, as well as the understanding of spell structure, require long-term practice. It is said that thousands of years ago, wizards needed to use meditation or other special methods from childhood to perceive and master their magic. This special course is called 'meditation method'."

"If a magic apprentice lacks talent and his teacher doesn't have a sufficiently good and complete meditation method, he may never become a true wizard in his entire life."

"This makes ancient magic much more difficult to get started with than modern magic."

Flitwick sighed softly as he spoke. "This isn't an original idea of ​​mine. In fact, it originated with the legendary wizard Barberu Bragg—you should know him. He established the Wizarding Council in 1300 and, at the first meeting, discussed these two issues, promoting the simplification and improvement of spells."

He expressed some regret. "He even issued a decree to reclaim almost all meditation methods and a large number of ancient magical books... This decree directly led to the complete loss of many ancient spells."

Under normal circumstances, when Professor Flitwick said this, Ryan might have sighed that the other party was more suitable to be the professor of History of Magic than Professor Binns!

But now, Ryan just frowned and said nothing.

He knew very well that this was indeed a flaw in ancient magic.

In terms of difficulty - he has been taught by the four giants, and his talent has long been recognized by the four giants.

But even so, he still followed the four teachers for seven years before he felt that he had truly inherited their mantle.

As for the dangers, there is no need to say more.

In the few years he had traveled with the Big Four alone, he had seen more than one wizard die from his own out-of-control spells.

But at this time, Flitwick had not finished speaking yet.

"Third, and most important... the demands of the times themselves."

At this, Flitwick sighed.

"Ryan, there are only a few wizards like me who are obsessed with spells. I don't want to brag, but the effort and talent I put into spells definitely exceed that of most wizards."

"In fact, after graduating from school, wizards today may not need to cast a single Shielding Charm or Disarming Charm for decades."

"Travel, work, song, Quidditch... wizards nowadays have so many things to do, most of which don't require the power of spells—most of them are obviously more concerned with how to get more Galleons rather than how to improve their magic."

He looked at Ryan.

Or perhaps it's looking back to the past, the golden age of wizards.

"I don't know why you're so curious about ancient magic, or what your elders left you in the vault—but... times have changed, Ryan."

So Ryan remained even more silent.

He found himself unable to argue with Professor Flitwick.

Danger, difficulty, and the changes of the times...

The combination of these three factors does indeed reasonably explain why ancient magic disappeared.

They also explain why the lessons taught at Hogwarts are the way they are.

It's not just because of the passage of time, but because the demands of wizards have changed.

If wizards in an era are satisfied with just waving wands and chanting spells, then ancient magic will naturally have no soil to grow - because this means that most wizards in the magic world have given up their pursuit of the magical path.

Ryan couldn't refute this.

but...

He couldn't admit it either.

"Wizards themselves are magical beings."

He thought he heard the Slytherin's muffled comment.

"The path of magic is the essential pursuit of the wizard's birth."

He seemed to hear the clear murmur of Ravenclaw.

"When a wizard gives up exploring the path of magic, it's like a tree withering and dying. The roots remain, but they're bound to die!"

He seemed to hear Hufflepuff's gentle warning.

"Giving up the exploration of magic is like a warrior giving up the battle - Ryan... We can't give up the fight! We must hold on to our swords!"

He seemed to hear the resounding battle cry of Gryffindor.

so...

"professor."

The hiss of snakes, the cry of eagles, the cry of badgers, and the roar of lions finally converged in his throat.

"A thousand years can change the needs of wizards and witches, and it can also change the perception of the magical world."

"But I think that at least Hogwarts...should not be changed."

He looked at Professor Flitwick.

"Perhaps most wizards have lost interest in ancient magic - but I believe there will always be young wizards willing to explore the essence of magic, like you in the past and Headmaster Dumbledore in the past!"

"And the existence of Hogwarts is to ensure that at least when they appear, there is a place where they can obtain the knowledge they want and the qualifications to embark on the road!"

He thought of Padma in class not long ago.

The little witch did not get discouraged after repeatedly failing to cast spells.

She also enjoys and looks forward to the joy of finally succeeding after countless failures.

That was very similar to how Ryan first learned magic.

It had nothing to do with power, wealth, or anything else—it was simply the initial curiosity and exploration of magic.

Ryan certainly didn't dare to predict how much she would have achieved in the wizarding world a thousand years ago, but at least...

Whether it is enjoying the convenient, simple and easy wizard life.

Or embark on that lonely, difficult, but magnificent magical road.

"Young wizards should always have a chance to choose."

Ryan said softly.

In fact, this is the meaning and purpose of the Big Four establishing Hogwarts.

Ryan also believed that this was the responsibility they entrusted to him as the successor.

And after hearing Ryan's words.

Professor Flitwick was almost stunned on the spot.

"...Oh, Ryan."

He looked at Ryan and spoke softly.

“Those are thought-provoking words.”

For the first time, he realized what kind of person this talented young wizard, whom he had personally introduced to the magical world a few months ago, was.

For the first time, he also truly realized what Dumbledore had said at the start-of-term dinner.

genius?

Of course that's true, but Ryan is clearly much better than a so-called genius.

Not just in his magical gifts and talents, but also in his heart—he hardly looked like a little wizard.

Professor Flitwick even had an illusion.

He felt that communicating with Ryan was a bit like communicating with a person from ancient times who possessed a great heritage and heart.

But after a moment, he shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

"Ryan, you're right. I also think that ancient magic should not be completely abolished... I can also understand the curiosity of a young wizard like you about ancient magic!"

In fact, Flitwick himself was extremely curious about ancient magic when he was studying at Hogwarts.

"But as I said—those 'meditation methods' that were the key to ancient magical practice have completely disappeared..."

He sighed regretfully.

Yes.

Throughout his long teaching career, Flitwick certainly had thought about teaching young wizards some less dangerous knowledge of ancient magic.

Such as how to master your own magic power, and the meaning of spell structure.

But he found that this was too difficult.

He could cast powerful spells easily, but he could hardly ensure that every one of his students could learn the levitation spell in the first semester, let alone ancient magic!

The difficulty of learning something and passing it on perfectly are simply not on the same level.

That's why he couldn't help but sigh at this moment.

Ancient wizards learned the foundation of ancient magic - meditation.

Each of them came into being after being perfected and passed down from generation to generation by the great wizards of ancient times.

But now, they are all extinct.

That was obviously not something Flitwick could recreate, nor even Dumbledore could.

but...

"In fact—they are not extinct."

At this moment, Ryan laughed.

"Professor, how do you think I mastered the Star Curtain Charm?"

he asked with a grin.

"?"

Then he saw Flitwick suddenly fall down and even spilled the tea on the table.

But then he immediately stood up again - even though the tea wet his beard, he didn't have time to pay attention.

"Star Curtain Spell!? I thought the specific spell structure was passed down in your family vault..."

"Do you mean..."

His voice trembled a little, as if he couldn't believe the answer.

“My elders left me the meditation method.”

Ryan smiled.