Chapter 156: The Magical Crash Course
Among all spells, Apparition can absolutely be considered one of the most difficult and dangerous.
First, as a Hogwarts student, one must be at least seventeen years old and in sixth year to qualify for learning this spell.
Secondly, during both learning and practice, a teacher must be present throughout, because improper use can result in splinching—losing arms or legs is quite common.
At such times, the teacher needs to promptly use healing magic to reattach the severed parts.
Many young wizards develop psychological trauma from splinching incidents, ultimately becoming too afraid to use Apparition again.
Finally, after completing the training, an examination must be passed. Only those who can flawlessly perform Apparition will receive an Apparition License, equivalent to a driver's license in the Muggle world.
Wizards without a license who use Apparition may get away with it if not caught, but if discovered, they will face hefty fines.
This serves two purposes: ensuring the safety of young wizards and reducing the workload of the Ministry's Accidental Magic Reversal Squad.
Before fines were implemented, this squad had to handle dozens of daily incidents involving unauthorized Apparition leading to splinching or Muggle exposure.
Thus, under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be easy for George to learn Apparition in his first year.
Even though he had already found the incantation and related study materials for Apparition in the Restricted Section.
Unlike other spells, self-study might not pose major safety risks if unsuccessful, but failure with this one could be fatal.
With his physical constitution, if his head and body were separated, he wouldn't survive either.
He also couldn't easily ask Snape for guidance, as Snape wouldn't violate school rules to teach him in advance—this was different from teaching his own created spells.
As for Voldemort in the diary, on one hand, that version was from his fifth year and hadn't learned Apparition yet; on the other hand, even if he knew, it wouldn't help.
What George needed was someone to promptly heal and reattach him if he splinched during practice—something the diary couldn't provide.
He also considered kidnapping a dark wizard and using the Imperius Curse to force them to teach him, but that seemed unreliable.
Those under the Imperius Curse weren't in their right minds, making them untrustworthy as instructors. If discovered, he'd end up in Azkaban.
After weighing his options, he concluded there was only one safe and reliable path:
Enroll in a magical crash course.
These courses, akin to extracurricular tutoring in the Muggle world, were run by reasonably competent wizards.
Their main purpose was to help struggling students improve their grades and assist adult wizards who lacked sufficient magical skills to secure good jobs after graduation.
Of course, they also scammed Squibs from wizarding families into thinking they could learn magic.
Hogwarts' caretaker, Argus Filch, had long hoped to learn magic through such crash courses.
George believed that if he offered enough money, the instructors wouldn't mind bending the rules to teach him Apparition early.
[Translator: sauron05]
After all, this wasn't a major offense—getting caught would only result in a fine, nothing compared to the consequences of using the Unforgivable Curses.
Moreover, the Ministry generally didn't prioritize such matters, especially now when it was already in disarray.
Since money could solve the problem, George saw no need to take unnecessary risks.
With this settled, he resumed his normal magical studies, currently focusing on the Disillusionment Charm—a high-level spell that could render the body invisible.
After seeing Aria successfully ambush Makarov with invisibility, he realized how useful such magic could be in combat.
The next morning, George first visited Ollivander with gifts.
Ollivander, an old wizard with extensive connections in the wizarding world, was someone worth maintaining a relationship with, even if George no longer needed wand-making lessons.
It would be helpful to have his assistance in the future.
Ollivander was delighted by George's visit—rarely did he have such a talented apprentice, especially one who brought rare wand-making materials.
After leaving Ollivander's, George found an advertisement for a magical crash course on a street-side wall and followed the address to a shop labeled "Magical Crash Course."
It was a tiny, faded storefront—possibly the smallest he'd seen in Diagon Alley or Knockturn Alley—wedged between a secondhand cauldron shop and an ice cream parlor.
Pushing the door open, he found the interior even more cramped than expected, barely fitting a table and two chairs with little extra space.
Inside, a fair-skinned witch with short hair, wearing a faded jacket and looking about thirty, was sprawled across the table, fast asleep—completely unaware of George's entrance.
"I'm starting to doubt my decision."
George's lips twitched as he stepped forward and knocked on the table.
"Excuse me, is this the Magical Crash Course?"
The witch drowsily opened her eyes, then immediately bolted upright upon seeing George.
"Of course! Are you here to enroll? Our crash course is affordable, fast, and guarantees rapid improvement—no more being looked down on by classmates—"
"Stop."
George raised a hand to cut her off, then asked directly:
"Just one question: Can you teach Apparition?"
"Apparition? Of course! But... you seem a bit young..."
The witch blinked, scrutinizing George before hesitating.
George replied calmly:
"If I met the age requirement, I'd learn it at school. Why come here?"
"Well... we only offer Apparition training for adults who haven't mastered it yet, helping them retake the licensing exam. We don't teach underage wizards—you know the Ministry fines for that are steep!"
The witch looked uneasy.
"How about other spells? We cover everything from first to seventh year, even holiday homework!"
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(End of Chapter)