After isolating herself for two days, Aileen reappeared in class.

Hermione Granger wasn't too surprised by the white-haired puffball's occasional disappearances and absences from class, as it wasn't the first time – shortly after the start of the previous year, Miss Kaslana had used a sick leave to avoid "Hogwarts military training."

In Hermione's view, the illness might have been real, but Aileen definitely secretly had private tutoring.

If she remembered correctly, it was the same last year.

"Wandless casting? What amazing place have you been to these past two days..."

In the dungeons of the Potions classroom, Hermione witnessed Aileen ignite a flame under the cauldron out of thin air, and her beautiful eyes widened instantly as she looked incredulously at the little witch calmly slicing ginger.

"That's definitely the Fire-Making Spell! It's specifically noted in *Basic Spellcasting* that this is one of the few dangerous spells that cannot be cast without a wand. If you cast it rashly, it will burn the caster before the flame appears..."

"Shhh—quiet, quiet... I don't want to get points deducted by Professor Snape."

Aileen said lazily, while concentrating on slicing her pile of ginger.

Today they were learning a new potion: [Invigoration Draught - Modified].

As usual, Professor Snape listed a series of exclusive potion operations on the blackboard at the front of the classroom. This was very much in line with the style of the Potions professor. In his class, following the textbook would lead to points being deducted.

However, only Aileen knew that they were not brewing the potion originally scheduled in the Hogwarts curriculum.

In the "Magical Cold Medicine" researched and registered by the "Umbrella" Corporation, one of the most important ingredients came from this special magical solvent made of ginger, epimedium, honey, Walking Mushrooms...

The advantage of this solvent is that it can be used as an additive to conventional potions to complete relatively mild "enchantment" processing.

"B-but, this fire magic..."

Hermione watched as Aileen flicked her finger at the edge of the cauldron again.

The orange flame bloomed as if it had life, tightly wrapping the bottom of the cauldron and heating it evenly – according to the handbook and the prompts on the blackboard, adjusting the heat in this step was not so easy.

"Hermione, don't just stand there in a daze, help me stir the pot—"

Aileen said without looking up, paused slightly, and casually explained.

"As for the note in *Basic Spellcasting*, I can tell you with certainty that there is more than one wizard in this castle who knows how to cast the Fire-Making Spell wandlessly... Of course, mine isn't a spell, it's a Flame Rune."

A few months ago, she had personally seen a top wizard ignite flames from his hands to cook potatoes.

"Flame... runes? Professor Apocalyps has taught you a new rune?"

There was a hint of lemon zest in Hermione's voice.

She was still envious of the last Healing Rune, but in the blink of an eye, the white-haired puffball had gained a new skill.

If she had Aileen's ability to control flames so freely, she wouldn't have to huddle in her robes and shiver like a stray cat abandoned in the snow while supervising everyone practicing Quidditch on the stands.

"Uh, don't think about it, you won't be able to learn it for now—"

Aileen turned her head helplessly, looked into Hermione's eyes, and said seriously.

"If it weren't for previously... well, being sick... Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed me to learn this rune. It's too dangerous. The prerequisite for mastering it is mastering the casting of Fiendfyre... you'll understand if you check the books."

"Fi-Fiendfyre!"

Hermione searched her mind for a second, carefully looked at the flames under the cauldron, and suddenly froze.

Although at first glance, Fiendfyre and the Fire-Making Spell both summon flames, there is an essential difference between the two.

The Fire-Making Spell is a spell that can ignite a raging fire, which first-year Hogwarts students can master. The corresponding spell is incendio, and its history can be traced back to ancient times tens of thousands of years ago.

But Fiendfyre is completely different. It is an extremely profound and dangerous form of dark magic.

It is both a spell and a curse.

This kind of fire can sense living targets, and sometimes even autonomously transform into a group of terrifying magical creatures composed of flames, such as fire snakes, chimeras, dragons, Cerberus... It is a type of advanced dark magic. Inexperienced wizards can also cast it, but if they want to control it freely, it is too difficult.

And now, the flame bound beneath Aileen's cauldron, breathing like life, is clearly...

"This is dark magic. If the Ministry of Magic finds out, you'll be in big trouble..."

Hermione lowered her voice nervously, looking uneasily at the flames.

As if noticing the little beaver's gaze, the orange flames under the cauldron suddenly burst into a small spark, gradually expanding and deforming in her gaze, and finally turning into a... cute miniature three-headed puppy?

"Don't worry, what I'm casting isn't Fiendfyre, but the ancient flame rune: Kenaz—"

Aileen nonchalantly reached out and teased the puppy.

As the girl's finger gently poked, the miniature three-headed puppy first looked around warily, then quickly relaxed, flipped over and floated in the air, exposing its belly unguardedly and letting the girl tease it.

"Whether it's Fiendfyre, the Fire-Making Spell, or even the magic used by the Contracted Snacks, the Lumos charm... the origins of these spells mostly come from the ancient magic word I just recited... Fire has neither justice nor evil. At least in the hands of a kind little witch like me, it also symbolizes warmth, friendliness, brightness, sacred wisdom, and the fire of life."

"...Oh."

Hermione responded rather perfunctorily.

"Okay, an advanced form of fire magic, I understand."

Anyway, no matter how much the white-haired puffball explains, she can't learn this magic.

The more detailed she understands, the faster and more vigorously the lemon tree in her heart grows—the study of runes is different from spells. If you haven't personally seen the real "original rune" imprint, it's almost impossible to comprehend it based on magical phenomena alone.

It's just that for some reason, Professor Apocalyps chose Hannah when selecting Rune inheritors.

Hermione picked up a knife, pulled a few Walking Mushrooms from the table, and chopped them gloomily.

Compared to the generous Professor Apocalyps, Professor Dumbledore, who chose her, was obviously much stingier. Besides learning a few enhanced spells from the Headmaster, Hermione didn't learn too much special magic.

She was the first to meet Aileen, whether on the Hogwarts Express or during the first night in the dormitory.

But now it seems...

Hannah can dominate the Quidditch field in the next match, Luna can secretly replay the cartoons Aileen played before, and only she is still standing still. She has never even used the Exploding Charm that she finally learned.

It's really... too biased...

Hermione Granger pouted unhappily, chopping the Walking Mushrooms in front of her forcefully.

"Uh, Hermione, that's right!"

Aileen glanced at the pile of Walking Mushrooms that were about to be minced into a paste and blinked.

"I suddenly remembered, I promised you before! Starting this weekend, why don't you come with me to..."

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Goo ya~ Hooray~

Happy New Year! 2021~ Little fat chickens, Happy New Year~

The new year has begun. This fat chicken's New Year's wish for 2021 is to update properly! Finish writing this book properly! No Goo Goo! (no procrastination)

Thank you, dear little fat chickens, for your company in the past year. Happy New Year, be happy~