"What a beautiful Levitation Charm."
Ernie, short and stout, stared at the circling feather. As a pure-blood, he knew the finesse it required—especially for someone who'd never known magic before.
"If it were Mr. Green I'd—wait, what? Finch-Fletchley?!"
Only when Hannah moved her plaited head did Ernie, following Flitwick's voice, recognize the Hufflepuff badger at the desk.
"Merlin's beard—last class Finch-Fletchley couldn't even lift the feather!"
He wasn't alone; a ring of first-years wore the same baffled look. To Hufflepuffs who knew Justin, it was like discovering their "broke" friend was secretly filthy rich.
"Seems you haven't wasted that classroom, have you?" Professor Flitwick stepped down from his stack of books, came to Justin, and—pleased—lowered his wand. "I'll have to take a look… though not now. Hufflepuff, plus three!"
…
The moment class ended, Justin was mobbed by jubilant badgers.
"Oh—oh—how did you do it, Mr. Finch-Fletchley?" asked freckled, shy Hannah.
"Really, now—Finch-Fletchley, to keep such progress from us!" Ernie folded his arms, chin high. "We'll have to punish you for betraying the 'Never Go Hungry' club—unless you tell us how you managed it."
Nods all around; at least six badgers glowered "fiercely" at Justin.
Sean glanced at the lively scrum and slipped out with his book—The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. If Flitwick was coming to their classroom, Sean thought, maybe he could find a chance to ask about the Smokescreen Spell and the Knockback Jinx. He also knew professors were busy; one-on-one coaching wasn't common—except for a favorite like Hermione later on, who often got first-hand exam tips, even exclusives. Sean wasn't sure he had that standing yet.
The Charms room jammed with badgers; out in the hall, a lazy breeze stirred again. Friday's ease was a warm charm draped over the old castle. A few Hufflepuffs leaned on the windowsill, watching the Black Lake throw gold scales in the sunset. Their laughter turned soft, like drifting dandelions. In a corner, a suit of armor shivered dust with a faint metallic rasp.
Unlike Justin, who drew a crowd, few dared approach Sean—except—
"That Levitation was cool! I'm guessing you had something to do with it, right, Sean?" Michael popped from behind an unexpected portrait, revealing the deep secret-passage beyond. "Oh—but don't tell me. This will be a fun mystery—better than castle passages or odd magical gizmos!"
His eyes lit; his feet light—then he vanished in seconds, leaving Sean blinking.
Was… someone just talking?
Sean closed Standard Spells, then quietly reopened it. Up the spiral stairs, he tapped the set rhythm to wake the owl. Today it seemed excited:
"Little wizard! Clever little wizard—answer my question!"
Sean waited.
"Simple question? Hard question? I watched a fraud—adored, in the spotlight—his wisdom served his heart's desire. I watched a wretch—stirring trouble with her pen—her wisdom served hers. Their 'wisdom' follows only their hearts. Tell me—is that wisdom, or madness?"
Sean thought for a few seconds. "Idiocy," he said.
The owl froze. It rifled the parchment, then stiffened by degrees, beak still clacking: "Little wizard—greedy little wizard! Ambitious little wizard! Truly a child of Lady Ravenclaw—"
Its last words blurred as the sky-blue door shimmered into view.
"Ambitious?" Sean mused as he opened it. Hardly. "Greedy?" That was just bias.
Inside, three lanterns cast warm arcs. Three chairs now had plush black-and-yellow cushions. In the center sat a cream-colored settee beside a little wooden table strewn with sweets and biscuits—mostly puddings: Yorkshire, strawberry mochi, mint, even chili pudding…
On the sofa, Justin was handing Hermione a pumpkin soda. She took it without thinking, still a little dazed. In a few days the badger had turned the place into a real hideout.
Justin? Sean blinked—hadn't he been mobbed?
"Oh, Sean—we should discuss something…" Justin hurried over the moment Sean reached the sofa; Hermione hadn't noticed anyone move. "Did you see it? I mean Hermione—she's hiding something from us…"
Knocks sounded behind the blue door. A paper airplane slipped through the crack and burst into glowing words:
[Are you in, children?]
"Oh! Professor Flitwick!"
"—Professor Flitwick!" Hermione's sudden reaction made Justin jump.
He faltered, so Sean went to open the door. Justin, worried, sat beside Hermione. "If you want to talk, we're listening—anytime. Mother says—that's what friends are for."
Hermione lifted her eyes and met the sincere, just-right concern in those light-grey irises. "All right. I've been silly. How could I forget I have you two…" Her voice found its old strength.
"Oh, children?" came Flitwick's voice—but not the man. Justin, halfway smiling, looked lost again and glanced at Sean for help.
A handful of books thunked into being, growing as they hit the floor. Only then did Professor Flitwick's figure rise from behind the sofa.
"Mr. Finch-Fletchley—well done. And Mr. Green? Miss Granger?"
~~~
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