Maverick stood confidently at the front of the classroom, his eyes sweeping across the rows of curious students.
"We're here to uncover what science really is, then dive into what makes it different from magic, what they have in common, and... most importantly, what happens when the two come together."
He was a professionally trained espionage agent, skilled in the art of precise word choice, subtle body language, and compelling expressions. By using these skills, he made it feel like the students were hearing an exciting story, naturally capturing their attention.
"So... what is it that Muggles call science?" He asked, pacing slowly across the front of the classroom. "Is it of any use to us? Or could we even use it in the first place?"
The room was silent.
"This year," he continued, his voice softening slightly, "we will come to understand the answers to these questions, piece by piece. And today, I'll explain what science is in the simplest way I can. After that, I'll show you a glimpse of the endless possibilities it holds... possibilities that, I hope, will change how you see the world."
He paused, giving the students a moment to absorb his words and waited to see if anyone had questions. No one did.
"Alright, let's begin with the simple question. What is science?"
He gave the students a moment to think.
"Yes?" he asked, nodding toward the little witch in the front of the class, whose hand shot up immediately.
"Science is understanding how things work," she answered, doing her best to sound confident.
"Exactly," Maverick said, pointing at her with a smile. Miss know it all for a reason... He thought, his eyes glinting with approval. "What's your name?"
"Hermione Granger, Professor," she replied, fidgeting slightly, now aware that the entire class was focused on her.
"Well, Ms. Granger, five points to the House of Lions."
Her face brightened immediately, the earlier stiffness disappeared as she beamed with pride.
Maverick turned to face the class again.
"Science is about understanding the world..." he paused, then added with emphasis, "through logic... Science is, in the simplest of terms, cause and effect."
He flashed a small smile at the students.
"Why did I say through logic?... Well, let's think about magic for a moment."
He glanced across the students. "Magic is not logical. You cast a spell, and something happens according to the spell you intended. Or in other words, according to your intent. But... you can't explain why. It simply does. Magic, does not follow logic the way science does."
The students looked puzzled, their brows furrowing. Only the teachers seemed to understand.
Maverick knew it would take more than a simple explanation to make these young witches and wizards grasp the difference. This was an unfamiliar concept to them.
He turned and walked toward his desk, the students' eyes following him in eager anticipation. He picked up a small ball, prearranged for the demonstration.
Returning to face the class, he tossed the ball into the air twice before looking back at Hermione.
"Here, catch!" he called.
She was startled but quick with her reflexes, easily snatching the ball out of the air. Maverick nodded in approval, a smile forming on his lips.
"Now," he said, addressing the class once more, "you all saw me throw that ball to Ms. Granger. The logical explanation would be that the force from my hand—" he gestured with his hand to illustrate, "made it move through the air, and she caught it. This is cause and effect, or as the Muggles phrase it, the law of motion... a basic principle of science that applies to everything."
He studied the faces of the students and noticed that only a few seemed to understand, while most still looked uncertain.
"Now watch," he said, retrieving his wand, which everyone saw him pull from the holder strapped to his wrist.
As all the students watched in silence, Maverick flicked his wand, and the ball floated from Hermione's hands and back to him.
"Did you all see that?" he asked, holding up the ball. When he looked at their expressions, he realized they had misunderstood. "I'm not talking about the Levitation Charm. I'm talking about how it happened..."
"There was no force or reason that made the ball float to me—it just did. That's because of magic. Unlike science, there's no clear cause-and-effect explanation for it. Instead, the cause is replaced by my will. And that, children, is what magic is—shaping the world with your will."
He paused, teasing the class. "Now, you might ask, what's so impressive about cause and effect, or this so called law of motion in science when magic, like what you saw just now, can cause things to happen at will?"
The students exchanged glances, unsure how to respond, but Maverick could see they were starting to grasp the subtle difference between magic and science.
His voice softened. "That simple action of me swinging my hand to throw the ball... the force that made it move... understanding the 'how' and 'why' behind it, is called science."
"Muggles have done just that... figured out the principles behind this law of motion, why and how the ball moves the way it does when thrown... and let me tell you, this has allowed them to do things that even we, magicals, would consider impossible."
None of the students' expressions showed that they believed the last part of what he had said. Of course, it was expected. Magicals were a proud bunch, even if they disagreed with one another. They wouldn't easily believe that science could do things that magic could not, just because he said so.
He decided it was time for the next demonstration and held the ball out in his palm, showing it to the class.
Without any wand or incantation, he made the ball float for a moment before transfiguring it into the shape of an aircraft. It was small, about a meter long.
A few students gasped, and even the professors appeared genuinely impressed by the seamless transfiguration.
"Who can tell me what this is?" he asked.
A few hands shot up. "An airplane?"
"Correct," Maverick said, smiling. "This here is an aircraft... of course, the real ones are much, much bigger than this. It's used by Muggles as a means of transport through the air. It can fly faster than the quickest broomstick, and it's larger than even the biggest dragons alive today. It can also fly continuously for longer than any dragon, and weighs as much as 500 tons—that's over a million pounds."
The students stared, unsure of where Maverick was going with the explanation.
Maverick glanced toward the teachers sitting at the back of the room.
"Professor Flitwick," he called, and the small half-goblin teacher, who had been lost in concentration, looked up, startled.
"Ah, yes, Professor," Flitwick responded, his voice slightly flustered.
"Very simple question, Professor," Maverick said. "You are one of the few Great-Maguses in the world, one of the most powerful people alive today... Would it be possible for you to levitate ten Hungarian Horntails at the same time?"
"What?" Flitwick blinked, confused by the randomness of the question, but quickly collected himself in almost the next moment.
The other professors, including Dumbledore, chuckled in amusement.
Cough! The charming Professor of Charms cleared his throat. "I mean... I could maybe manage two... or three. But ten would be impossible."
He glanced at Dumbledore. "Perhaps, Headmaster—"
"Unfortunately, levitating ten dragons is beyond even me," Dumbledore interjected with a smile, his eyes twinkling as he looked across the class.
Maverick noticed that the students were now looking at Dumbledore and Flitwick with awe and admiration.
"You see, children... What I'm trying to say is that with science, it's possible.
Using science, it's possible to make an aircraft, which is dozens of times more massive than the largest dragons, fly at incredible speeds... much faster than the fastest Quidditch broomsticks...
While the most powerful among us, just admitted that it would be impossible for him..."
The students listened intently, their expressions growing more serious.
"By understanding cause and effect, by learning the logic behind why things happen, Muggles are able to do incredible things..." Maverick continued, his tone passionate.
"That is science. Learning the mysteries of the world, the how and why behind everything that happens around you every day."
He paused, glancing at the students, who now seemed to finally grasp what he was trying to say.
One of the students, a sixth-year who had actually chosen the course as an elective, raised his hand.
"Please," Maverick gestured for him to speak.
"Professor, you say Muggles studied this force that... after you throw a ball, it moves through the air and falls somewhere else... but I don't understand how it can move a big object like an aircraft..."
"Excellent question." Maverick clapped, looking at him appreciatively.
"Remember what I said about Muggles naming this force a law?" he asked, looking at the student, then across the class.
They all nodded after a moment, and he continued, "Well, this law isn't something they invented. They just figured out how it works. Also, the reason why such a heavy object like an aircraft can move through the air involves a lot of complicated scientific knowledge, like aerodynamics, gravity, relativity, combustion, and more."
"These are also laws of science Muggles have studied and learned to manipulate. Only when all of these laws work together does the aircraft fly. But even if you study with me every day for the next two years, I cannot teach you exactly how it functions. All you need to know is that these scientific laws work together to make it possible. And... the law of motion can be said to be the core principle of it."
"It's like in magic. Without Magical Energy, even if you have intent, emotions, the correct incantation, the best wand, and knowledge of the skill... you cannot cast magic."
The student who asked the question nodded, though still more puzzled than realization from the looks of it.
"I know it sounds complicated... that's why we're here. Over these next two years, I'll simplify and teach you the most important laws of science."
"'I will teach you the basics of Muggle biology, chemistry, and physics... so when you graduate, you'll have a more profound understanding of everything you see... It can even help you in magic, because remember what I said in the beginning—it's when science and magic come together that the real miracles happen."
Maverick observed the expressions on all of the students. If he had to guess, he'd say that they had understood about 30% of what he had explained the whole time. But he wasn't disappointed, because with his last demonstration, he was sure that all of the students would realize the greatness of science.
He smiled, looking at the silently listening class. "I have one last demonstration to show you today. It's also related to the law of motion, but on a much grander scale... And let me tell you in advance, this will blow. Your. Mind."
The students perked up, their attention fully locked in. Even those who had seemed bored before were now focused and intrigued.
"Alright, if you would all focus your attention on me... please stand up and close your eyes... Professors, that includes you," he said, glancing across the students before turning to the teachers.
The students and teachers rose to their feet, following his instructions—some with curiosity, while the teachers wore expressions of amused anticipation.
One second... Two seconds...
The classroom was utterly still.
Three seconds...
With a casual wave of his hand, he transfigured the tables and chairs, making them vanish, while the inclined rows leveled seamlessly into a flat surface. Using precise magical energy manipulation, he ensured everyone remained steady, preventing anyone from losing their balance.
Simultaneously, he flicked his finger, casting the spell, "Illusio Lunam Lectorem," now at master level proficiency, and silenced any noise that would have accompanied the transformation.
However, for this demonstration, he used a watered-down version of the spell, ensuring that the professors present could easily dispel it with a mere thought if they wished.
He had no intention of revealing the full extent of the spell's capabilities. At its master proficiency level, the spell was so refined that he could manipulate all their senses with just a simple gesture, confident that even the Arch-Magus Dumbledore would be fooled for a time.
Moreover, if a wizard of Dumbledore's rank were caught off guard and not directly attacked, they would remain unaware of the deception for as long as he desired. And if even an Arch-Magus could be deceived so thoroughly, there was little chance that anyone of a lower rank could resist his arrangements.
"Do not be alarmed by what you see," he said calmly.
"And slowly open your eyes..."
As the students obeyed, a collective gasp filled the room, some students even grabbing on to their friend while only a few thought to remain calm.
In their perspective, they were no longer in the classroom, nor weren't even inside any contained space.
Instead, they found themselves hovering in the air, or so it seemed, and below them lay the entirety of Hogwarts Castle, its grandeur fully visible.
"Do not be concerned. This is a variation of a Confusion Spell I created," Maverick explained. "For those of you who have experienced watching a memory through a Pensieve, you may understand what's happening now. And for those who don't know what a Pensieve is, allow me to explain."
"It's an alchemical creation that allows you to view another person's memories, immersing you as if you were there in that very moment yourself."
"Likewise, you are now in an illusion spell. What you are seeing is the world in my mind. You're still inside the classroom, but your sight and hearing are being manipulated by me."
He glanced at the professors, who were watching him with a mixture of amazement and curiosity.
"If it helps, breaking free from this illusion is quite simple. Just close your eyes and focus for a moment to break free from the illusion, and it will cancel the spell." He reassured them. This was true and intentional—once again, he had no intention of revealing the full extent of the spell's capabilities.
"For the professors, a quick pulse of magic will easily release you as well. But I suggest you all hold off for now, or you might miss what I'm about to show you."
With a subtle smile, he continued, "In this demonstration, I want to show you the power of scientific laws—how the law of motion, which we discussed earlier, works on a much grander scale."
Spreading his arms wide, he added with an excited expression, "Beyond that, this will also give you a glimpse into the perspective of the world through the eyes of a Muggle. And by perspective, I don't mean mere guesses or theories. I mean actual facts—what they've discovered about this world... and even beyond it."
The students listened intently, their amazement still fresh as to what they were seeing. Many turned their heads and bodies, whispering to each other as they looked around in all directions, trying to absorb the surreal scene unfolding before them.
"I need all of your attention on me now," he said, amplifying his voice so it reached every person present. "This will be a journey, one I assure you will stay with you forever as an unforgettable memory."
He waited until everyone's focus was solely on him, then with a smile full of excitement, continued, "We are about to go on a journey..." He raised his head to the blue sky. "To the stars."
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Author's Note:
Just a quick update — up to Chapter 107 is already available on P AT r30n!
PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic