Having learnt Apparition, the task Andy had arranged for himself over the Christmas holidays was considered complete.
Being able to run and fight, the safety was drastically increased.
After thinking about it, Andy suddenly said, "Right! Before this holiday, Professor Snape gave me a copy of the Advanced Potion-Making book, which was his textbook from his student days."
"Oh?" Helen looked at Andy with some surprise.
Andy continued, "Professor Snape improved many of the recipes and brewing steps of the magic potions, I originally wanted to give it to you as a Christmas gift, but on second thought, I figured it would be better to give it to you now."
Knowledge is such a thing, so of course, it's better to learn it early and use it early.
Helen was good at getting to the point, so she asked, "For no apparent reason, why would Snape give you his old textbooks?"
Ah, this...!
Andy gaped in surprise and then said, "I'm Professor Snape's favourite student."
Well! Even Andy himself didn't believe that, and Andy didn't expect Helen to believe it either.
"I gave him a vial of Basilisk blood for Christmas."
Andy posed lamely, "Do you still want the book?"
"Bring it over and let me have a look," Helen said.
Andy 'stomped' back to his bedroom and rummaged through the suitcase to get the Advanced Potion-Making book. By the time Andy went downstairs, Helen and Isabel had already returned to the living room from outside the house.
"Here! This is the book." Andy handed the book over.
Helen took the book and casually flipped through a few pages.
"Although I've known for a long time that Snape's potion attainment is very high, I didn't expect ..."
Helen had a surprised look on her face, "This is the book from his student days?"
There was no need for Andy to answer, just by looking at the cover page of this book, one could tell that this book was somewhat old.
As an expert in potion-making, Helen was naturally able to see the true value of this book.
As long as one followed the improved steps in the book, even a wizard who was not very proficient in potion study would be able to make a finished high-level magic potion.
How many gold galleons would it be?
"Tsk!"
Helen said at first glance, "I never thought that a Slytherin who was bullied by us Gryffindors would have this kind of accomplishment."
Andy gossiped, "How did you guys bully him? Did you guys do anything other than hang him with a Dangling Jinx?"
Helen smiled and gave Andy a blank look, "A vial of basilisk blood can't be exchanged for this kind of book."
After saying that, Helen put the book away solemnly.
Although she disliked Snape for being a Slytherin, using Snape's knowledge to beat up Snape was a tradition in their Gryffindor generation, and Helen certainly wanted to keep it up.
Andy smiled nervously, "We're on good terms."
Of course, Helen didn't believe it.
Snape could be on good terms with you?
There was no way Snape would look at you favourably when you had a Gryffindor in your family within three generations.
Helen didn't pursue the matter further, though.
Ever since she had learnt that Andy had killed a thousand-year-old basilisk, Helen had felt that her own boy didn't want to be as detached from the world as he appeared to be.
Last night, Helen also discussed with Kyle about creating another account - in Helen's words, Andy is not easy to manage now, if he waves himself to death one day, your Collins family will be extinct.
Kyle was naturally worried after hearing this, so he started to work hard on creating a new account...
Cough!
The days of being home on holiday were relaxing and laid back. But for Andy, it didn't really change much.
Apart from occasionally accompanying his family, Andy's life was still inseparable from reading books and practising magic.
In addition to Apparition, Andy had also learnt Sectumsempra.
Sectumsempra can send out invisible magic blades, and with Andy's current level of expertise in magic, he could slice a person into several pieces.
It was a very useful magic.
Apart from the exclusive counterspell 'Vulnera Sanentur', wounds cut by the Sectumsempra spell could not be healed by any means.
Whether it was injuring the enemy or killing someone, Sectumsempra could do the job well.
***
Day by day, with constant repeated practice, Andy's mastery of Apparition became more and more proficient.
After he successfully completed a long-distance Apparition, Helen finally announced, "Andy, you can now graduate the Apparition course outside."
"Hmm!" Andy was not surprised by this.
After all, the [Charms: 7] talent wasn't a decoration, and if Helen's requirements weren't too high, Andy would have officially graduated in just two days.
"Mum, can anyone use the Apparition spell in combat?" Andy asked curiously.
A mage who couldn't teleport was not a good one.
In the games Andy had played in his previous life, teleportation was almost the standard skill of a mage. It was precisely because of having the teleportation skill that mages were able to pull off the 'kite' tactic.
"What are you thinking about?"
Helen sneered and said in a grumpy voice, "When you perform Apparition, someone else can attack you and make you Splinch."
Andy thought about it.
Apparition was fast, but in a fight where every second counted, it was too slow.
Well ... was there any way to increase the speed of spell-casting?
Andy recalled the main points behind casting an Apparition, first determining the destination, and then filling the whole body with the idea of 'I'm going there' ... It was the speed of thought.
Andy thought in his mind, 'As long as the [Thinking] attribute is raised up, and after a long period of practice, the first two steps of Apparition can be completed in a split second.'
The key is the last step ... to turn around in place and feel the body become void.
Not to mention the other things, the action of turning around alone would take a little time to complete.
'But the action of turning around is actually the same as the wand-waving gesture, and it's not always necessary to do it. As long as one masters a spell skilfully, one can simplify the movements of casting a spell.' Andy thought deeply in his heart.
Seeing Andy standing there alone pondering over something, Helen had the intention to remind Andy not to be whimsical. She had lived for more than thirty years and had never seen anyone using an Apparition in the middle of a battle.
That is a spell for escaping.
But once she thought of Andy's magic talent, Helen didn't say anything in the end.
This kid could even improve the Patronus Charm, so what's the big deal about improving the Apparition spell?
Without disturbing Andy, Helen turned around and walked into the house.
Andy, on the other hand, recalled the magic knowledge he had learnt and searched for the magic theory to improve Apparition.
Firstly, Apparition was also a magic extension based on the basic theory of 'mind controls magic'.
Secondly, ... that feeling of being stuffed into a tube when casting the spell, was it travelling through a space tunnel?
Andy analysed, 'If the action of turning around is to better enter the space tunnel, then this action can actually be avoided.'
----
Thanks for all your love and support.
Read advance chapters on P@treon. If you have some extra pocket money, Support me at P@treon: www.p@treon.com/Crazy_Cat.
Happy Reading!!!