Volume 1 Chapter 25 Change
The first thing that came to Jon's mind was that this ring could replace the wand, allowing him to cast spells without a wand in any situation.
While he was thinking about it, he also asked this question.
"Will it help me get rid of my wand?"
"No, no, no, Jon, actually when you have such thoughts, you are already wrong."
Slughorn said, shaking his head.
"The wand has never been a restriction on wizards, but a means to strengthen them. Moreover, there are many regions in the world where wizards do not use wands as a means of casting spells. For example, some tribal wizards in Africa have always adhered to the tradition of casting spells with gestures. Although such skills are complicated, they are not difficult to learn. But why don't European wizards learn from them? In fact, this question is like why we have to use knives and forks when we can eat directly with our hands."
"It's not that wizards can't do it, but we think that using a wand to cast spells is the most effective, labor-saving, and reasonable way to cast spells. It's not that no one has ever wanted to use other magic weapons to replace wands, such as rings, crystal balls, books, etc., but the reason why these things are not popular is because what we are using is the best."
Jon looked at the ring on his hand, a thoughtful look on his face.
"So, Professor, you said that it can allow me to learn a way of casting spells that no one else can learn?"
"According to your understanding, what is the magic used by wizards ?" Slughorn looked at Jon with a smile.
Of course, Jon had thought about this question in private. He did not hide anything and spoke frankly about his understanding of magic.
"A wizard with magical powers can use his will to change the world."
“It’s a very simple but direct understanding.”
Slughorn sat up straighter, his attitude becoming noticeably more serious.
"Thinking this way means you have figured out the two most important things about magic, Jon. Magic and will. These are the basis of what makes a wizard a wizard. A wizard with will but no magic is a Muggle. A wizard with only magic but no will is called an Obscurus. A wizard with both magic and will but no way to connect the two is called a Squib in the magic world."
"All spells, whether they are transfiguration, spells, potions or prophecies, require magic power and willpower to complete them. Other things, whether they are wands, spells or wand-waving gestures, are all auxiliary to spellcasting. They can help wizards perform magic better and more conveniently, but without them, it does not mean that wizards have lost their ability to cast spells."
What Slughorn was saying now was exactly what Jon had thought of before, but it was obviously just a prelude, and the focus was on what he said next.
"Willpower depends only on the wizard himself. Wizards with strong willpower are generally considered to be geniuses with excellent talent for learning magic. The strength of magic power can increase with age, and there are wands and spells to assist. Magic power has actually always been the subject of research by most wizards from ancient times to the present. But as you said just now, magic is actually a wizard with magic power that can use his will to change the world. So what else is the key besides magic power and willpower?"
Jon was stunned at first, but soon a light bulb went off in his head!
"You mean, there are changes?"
Slughorn seemed very excited to hear Jon's answer.
"I'm very happy to hear the correct answer from you, Jon. Yes, even if Filius hasn't taught you a spell yet, you should have seen the sentence written by Miranda Goshawk in "Standard Spells, Elementary" - 'Spells add specific properties to an object or creature, while Transfiguration spells turn it into something completely different.' She left this sentence in the book so that beginners of magic can clearly distinguish the difference between spells and transfiguration, but at the same time, it also explains the effectiveness of magic itself."
"Change. This is the ultimate purpose of all magic. Levitation spells can make objects lighter, Transfiguration can turn matches into needles, and potions can turn ordinary porcupine quills and dry nettles into potions that can treat boils. These are all changes. This is how magic affects the world."
"But such changes all follow a unified pattern, Jon. Perhaps you have been in contact with magic for too short a time and have not discovered this pattern yet. Wizards use magic, but magic can only change the world, but it cannot change the wizards themselves."
Slughorn was very serious when he said this. He stared into Jon's eyes without blinking, as if he had said the only truth in the world.
Jon was stunned. He carefully recalled all the magic he knew, and indeed none of them had any effect on the wizard himself...
etc!
He took a deep breath and spoke carefully, choosing his words.
"I don't mean to refute you, Professor. It's just that after I came to Hogwarts, I would stay in the library . In one of the books about Transfiguration, I learned about an advanced human body transformation magic called 'Animagus'. Isn't this a change that wizards make to themselves using magic?"
When Slughorn heard Jon raise a counterexample, he not only did not show any displeasure on his face, but looked even happier.
"I'm really happy, Jon. Before I really made up my mind, I was actually hesitant about whether to tell you this, but now it seems that you are very good! Even Ron and Neville, two children who grew up in wizarding families, may not have heard of Animagus magic. You have only been exposed to magic for less than two weeks, and you have already understood it!"
"Your example is correct. Animagus, a high-end transfiguration technique, is indeed an attempt by ancient wizards to change themselves with magic, but it is actually the product of a failed attempt."
"Failure?" Jon's eyes widened.
"Yes, it was a failure." Slughorn emphasized again, "Since you have seen Animagus in that Transfiguration book, you must also know the biggest limitation of this Transfiguration magic -"
Jon thought about it, and he heard what Slughorn was trying to say.
"Cannot transform into any magical creature."
"Yes! The change that Animagus brings to wizards is just a transformation of species. But in essence, what is the fundamental change that magic brings to the outside world? The change in magic power! But it can't do it, so it is just a failed transfiguration! In this regard, perhaps the existence of werewolves is much more successful than it, but you should also be able to imagine what werewolves lose after they transform?"
"They have lost... their willpower. After they transform, they can no longer mobilize their magic power to use magic!"
The look Slughorn gave Jon now could be described as extremely satisfied.
"Well said! Even with the wolfsbane potion, which can allow werewolves to suppress their bestiality during the full moon, they still can't use any magic. Will and magic are isolated. Although this is slightly more successful than Animagus, it is still not perfect. Because of this imperfection, its performance is even worse than Animagus in terms of effectiveness."
At this point, Jon had basically understood what Slughorn was trying to say.
He looked down at the ring in his hand, his eyes blankly fixed.
"So, this ring..."
The excitement on Slughorn's face faded and he became extremely solemn.
"It can help you let your magic change yourself. Not the kind of superficial change that is only in form, but the most essential change in magic power!"
