NOVEL FROG Chapter -012.
Chapter -12.
As Theodore continued to immerse himself in the pages of the book, he quickly came to a profound realization: while the curriculum for his students consisted of only a handful of topics, the depth and complexity of the material contained within those topics were far more substantial than he had initially anticipated.
Given the weighty nature of the content, Theodore found himself gravitating towards a particular teaching aid that he believed would enhance the learning experience for his students—a projection device.
This seemingly simple tool had the potential to transform the way he presented information, allowing him to bring the lessons to life in a way that static text could not. However, there was a significant hurdle he faced: in order to utilize this device, he would need to develop a specific spell to operate it.
The thought of crafting a spell from scratch was daunting, yet it also ignited a spark of excitement within him.
Theodore was confident that if he could successfully create this spell, the rest of the teaching materials would fall into place with relative ease. Drawing from his experiences as an earthling, he had honed his skills in character art and animation, giving life to static images with fluid movements.
He envisioned applying this talent to his educational materials, and he felt a surge of optimism at the prospect of being able to produce engaging content before he even boarded the Hogwarts Express.
As time passed, Theodore diligently committed the first year's history of magic book to memory, carefully noting the main ideas and important concepts. Yet, a troubling thought began to arise: 'If all I do is consume these lengthy texts, I won’t truly advance.' Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to him.
Since he was living in one of the wizarding world's noble families, he was sure there must be valuable insights hidden within the Black family home. With the family’s vast collection, he believed they’d have books covering both light and dark magic.
"Perhaps I should ask Bellatrix to lend me some books from her family’s private library; they may be useful after all." With this thought, Theodore closed his book and headed to Bellatrix's room.
*KNOCK*
After knocking twice, he opened the door upon hearing her voice say, "Come in."
Bellatrix was seated on her bed, lost in thought with her head down, but as Theodore entered and she lifted her gaze, he noticed a wand in her hand. Although he had expected she would acquire one soon, seeing her holding it surprised him.
Regardless, Theodore dismissed his surprise; he knew Bellatrix was no match for him even with a wand in hand. He approached her and sat beside her on the bed, sharing his thoughts.
'He wants to read those books? What's he thinking?' Bellatrix, aware of the nature of the texts in her family's hidden library, looked at him quizzically. Sensing her apprehension, Theodore teased, "Don't worry, I’m not looking to steal outdated books about becoming a pest’s dinner. I just want to study them to create something before heading to Hogwarts."
Realizing her mistake, Bellatrix sighed but then asked, “What do you want to make?” Given her current aimlessness, it seemed sensible for her to direct her attention elsewhere.
“Are you interested? If you are, that would be fantastic!” Theodore said, his excitement palpable as he shared his idea for a possible projection spell with Bellatrix.
Lost in thought for a moment, Bellatrix appeared to try and recall something relevant before finally suggesting, “Isn’t the magic lantern a good tool for your plan?”
Theodore, familiar with the magic lantern used at Hogwarts, shook his head. He believed it had limitations. What he truly wanted was a spell or device that could animate the images he created, much like anime, while the magic lantern only projected still images through a specific potion and lense.
However, since Bellatrix had offered the idea, he couldn’t disregard it entirely. He explained the lantern's shortcomings, prompting Bellatrix to rest her chin on her hand and ponder further.
Seeing her deep in thought made Theodore smile internally; he hadn’t anticipated her rapid development into a new persona, but she seemed to be making significant progress toward a different path, or at least that was his impression.
As the conversation unfolded, Theodore found himself grappling with a small realization of his own, a flicker of insight that he chose to keep to himself for the moment.
He knew the importance of allowing Bellatrix to emerge from her contemplative state, which she eventually did, her mind seemingly ignited with a brilliant idea that she was eager to share.
"That's a great idea, but as you know, I'm broke as hell," Theodore remarked, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm as he acknowledged the obvious truth of their financial predicament.
The suggestion Bellatrix had put forth was to purchase the magic lantern, a clever alternative to starting from scratch, which could potentially take an eternity. Instead of laboring over a new creation, why not modify something that already existed in the market? It was a pragmatic approach, one that made sense given their circumstances.
However, Theodore's thoughts were already racing ahead, contemplating a different avenue altogether.
He had been mulling over the idea of studying the Pensieve, that extraordinary object capable of allowing one to review memories and experiences. His interest wasn't solely in the Pensieve itself; rather, it was the silvery potion that lay within it, shimmering with potential, and the intricate runes engraved around its edges that could captivate ones mind.
If he could delve into the mysteries of those runes and poption, perhaps he could uncover a breakthrough that would change everything.
Lost in this reverie, Theodore was abruptly pulled back to reality by Bellatrix's voice, her offer cutting through the haze of his thoughts. "What did you just say now?" he asked, a hint of surprise coloring his tone as he sought clarification.
Bellatrix, momentarily taken aback by his startled expression, repeated her words with a touch of hesitation. "I can help you with the financial problem, since those galleons are going to eat dust only in Gringotts." As she spoke, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her mind—had she just revealed something she shouldn't have?
Theodore's heart raced at her proposition. The prospect of accessing Bellatrix's wealth was a tantalizing opportunity he had never anticipated would come so easily. Yet, he was acutely aware that there were still hurdles to overcome. "I appreciate your kind gesture," he began, his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling within him, "but how are you going to take out those galleons? The current you is supposed to be in Azkaban, and if someone were to withdraw money from your vault, it would surely raise concerns."
His question hung in the air, a reminder of the precarious situation they found themselves in. The implications of her offer were significant, and Theodore knew that navigating the complexities of their circumstances would require careful thought and planning.