Chapter 611 - Properties of Runes (2/2)
The classroom as a whole mutters, ”Yes, Professor,” before tactfully remaining silent. They could easily tell that Professor Babbling was overwrought and none of them wanted to get on the wrong side of her.
Turning to the board, Professor Babbling waves her wand as the chalk begins to quickly scribble a rune script that they had already learned. Finished, she turns back to face them and says, ”With O.W.L.'s this year, we have been reviewing past rune scripts, but we have yet to go over the alternate usage of Runes beyond being written or inscribed on various items to embedded with power to create talismans of sorts or even spell matrix's.”
”Can someone name a group that still uses Magical Runes in every day to day life?” Professor Babbling asked as she glanced all around the room before her eyes finally settle onto Rowan Prince. ”Miss Prince?”
Rowan almost groans at being signaled out as her mind hurries to come up with an answer. After a pause, she carefully replies, ”I believe Merpeople still use runes, Professor.”
”Correct, five points to Slytherin,” Professor Babbling said, before turning and asking the class, ”And why is that? Does anyone know?”
From the back of the classroom, the figure of Quyen Crowley can be seen raising her hand. ”Yes, Miss Crowley?” Professor Babbling gestured to the student to begin to speak.
Quyen confidently arches her chin and answers, ”It is a well-known fact that wand magic does not work very well underwater, and if it does often with unexpected results. It is a phenomenon not yet explained, but one thing all wizarding researchers all agree upon is that it has something to do with the way that wands are forged above land. Many attempts in the past have been made by intrepid wandmakers, but it is impossible to forge a wand beneath the surface of the water. Not only is the wand core and wand itself damaged by the water itself, but even the best-forged water wands fare even worse than properly made wands.
There is even more speculation that the phenomenon is related to the fact that since wizardkind much like muggles were born on land, therefore all wizards to some extent carry ancient earth elemental magic within them. And thusly, the very nature of our magic is to some extent repulsed by the natural water elemental magic found within all water surfaces. And vice-a-versa as the Merfolk's inherent water elemental magic is repulsed by the natural earth magic found within all forged wands. Unfortunately, the merpeople's reaction is even more severe to wood wands causing them unbelievable amounts of pain, and oftentimes accompanied by severely burned fingers and hands.” (Thought that phenomenon only excluded water dwelling magical creatures and not land-dwelling creatures such as goblins and others.)
”Thank you, Miss Crowley, ten points to Slytherin,” Professor Babbling said causing Quyen to proudly perk up in pleasure.
Personally, Rowan was intrigued by said theory. She had been somewhat familiar with the concept before, but with everything going on in her life, she had never really had time to contemplate the subject. And more importantly, she had to keep that in mind when she finally went and visited Nadira. That was if Nadira was not already severely irked with Rowan for having failed to keep her promise. And as a rule of thumb, one should never mess with a magical snake's feelings when they might end up eaten alive.