Chapter 79: The Smokescreen Spell
Outside the corridor, the torrential rain continued its relentless assault, drumming against the ancient stone for days on end.
Minerva McGonagall sensed the palpable hostility radiating from Severus Snape but couldn't fathom its source. Her stern expression flickered with confusion before her sharp eyes caught sight of the potion phial half-hidden within his robes – Pepperup Potion, the standard remedy for colds. A memory surfaced, and she subtly shifted her stance, angling herself slightly away from him.
Snape saw her gaze and knew she'd noticed. With a face like thunder, he swept past her. "As I said, Professor—I will handle it." His black robes billowed as he strode rapidly towards the Great Hall, students shrinking back against the walls to let him pass.
In the Great Hall, Justin supported Sean, who was leaning heavily against him. Hermione had rushed ahead, clearing a path through the throng, her voice a low, furious murmur directed indiscriminately at both boys.
"Merlin's beard! You're burning up! Sean! Your stubbornness is going to—! And you, you idiot! Waiting for a sick person to tell you what to do! Snape was right, you both deserve to be hung up by your thumbs!" Then, her tone shifted to quiet self-reproach. "...It's my fault too. I should have noticed yesterday. He looked dreadful..."
Justin's usually cheerful face was grim. "Mm," was all he said.
They reached the entrance hall just as Snape's imposing figure materialized before them. Justin instinctively flinched and tried to steer Sean to the right, his mind singularly focused on reaching the hospital wing. Even a direct order from a professor couldn't penetrate his worry.
"He needs the hospital wing, Professor Snape," Hermione stated firmly, planting herself between Snape and the boys.
"Heh—the ever-astute Miss Granger," Snape sneered, the sound making nearby students flinch. "Then you should also know precisely what potion is administered for common colds in the hospital wing..." His voice trailed off as his gaze fell on Sean. The boy seemed completely oblivious, swaying slightly, his green eyes unfocused, lips trembling with each shallow, feverish breath.
"Give it to him! Now!" Snape suddenly roared, startling everyone. A phial landed squarely in Hermione's hand. She stared at it for a split second, wide-eyed, then immediately uncorked it and helped Sean drink.
The Pepperup Potion worked instantly. Steam billowed from Sean's ears like smoke from the Hogwarts Express. The world swam back into focus. He saw Little McGonagall morph back into Big Hermione, and then watched something resembling a giant black bat flap away down the corridor, dropping another phial of Pepperup Potion in its wake.
In the hidden room, Sean, feeling somewhat recovered but still weak, nervously opened the door from the inside.
"Filius! You again! For Rowena's sake, just get in—" came the owl portrait's strangely exasperated hoot. A moment later, the diminutive Charms Master bustled in, beaming.
"Excellent to see you looking better, Mr. Green!" Professor Flitwick hopped onto the small wooden table. The squirrel that had been nibbling on leftover biscuits squeaked in alarm and darted out the window. "But my dear boy, rest is often the key to greater progress. Are you quite certain you wish to study now?"
Sean considered for a moment. He thought of the list in The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection:
Green Sparks (Verdimillious)
Red Sparks (Periculum)
Knockback Jinx (Flipendo)
Smokescreen Spell (Fumos)
Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Of the essential defensive spells, only the Smokescreen Spell and Knockback Jinx remained unlearned. His notes covered the theory, but he lacked the practical mastery. These two spells were the final pieces needed for the scholarship assessment. With only two days left until Friday, he had to master them. He nodded firmly.
Professor Flitwick sighed, a sound barely audible, then his usual enthusiasm returned. "Very well, Mr. Green! But I shan't lower my standards, especially not for a student of your caliber!"
The Smokescreen Spell (Fumos) was a standard defensive charm, creating a thick cloud of smoke to obscure vision – useful in duels for disorienting opponents. Garrick Ollivander was noted as a particularly adept user.
Sean quickly discovered the smoke wasn't merely physical; it seemed almost... subjective.
"Fumos!"
[You have practiced the Smokescreen Spell once to the Novice standard. Proficiency +3]
His wand tip emitted a dense, swirling cloud of black smoke that completely enveloped him. Completely. When he focused his intent, the smoke not only blocked sight but also muffled sound and even seemed to absorb light. Its utility far exceeded his expectations, much like the Wand-Lighting Charm. Lumos, though seemingly just a light spell, was listed in the Defence textbook because it could repel certain spectral entities, like Gytrashes – fast, dangerous, pale dog-like creatures with forked tails found in British forests (including, apparently, the Forbidden Forest).
He remembered Miranda Goshawk's words from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1: [When a wizard has a need, a charm arises. Spells that seem impractical have often proved invaluable throughout magical history. Therefore, I earnestly remind every student of Charms – there are no useless spells, only useless wizards.]
By the time Professor Flitwick left, satisfied, Sean had an ice pack pressed to his forehead. The lingering effects of the cold definitely hampered his spellcasting. It had taken him the entire afternoon just to unlock the Smokescreen Spell.
[Proficiency]
[Smokescreen Spell: Apprentice (150/300)]
Still, with some effort tonight, he could likely push it to Novice level. Friday... Friday... He focused on the goal, the deadline looming.
Thursday morning.
Since recovering from his cold, Justin and Hermione had become even more attentive to Sean's well-being. They soon noticed something that wasn't hard to deduce.
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