Chapter 87: The Flight Test
Neville clearly hadn't expected anyone to wait quietly beside him for over ten minutes. When he cautiously looked up, Sean's calm, patient expression met his tear-filled eyes. A fresh wave of emotion threatened to overwhelm him.
Sean gently sat down beside him on the wide stair landing, transfiguring the book he was holding into a soft blue cushion. Learning Transfiguration and Charms had once again become his top priorities. His 'advanced intermediate' Transfiguration skill still lacked proficiency; if he could reach 'Expert' level, he suspected he could fully transform a desk into a charging boar. As for Charms, Transfiguration helped compensate for his lack of offensive spells – though his most potent attack currently seemed to be the Dark Arts Knockback Jinx, which he preferred not to use, given the… talents already accumulating on his Panel. Defense, however, remained a weakness. He had decided to focus on a versatile counter-spell: the General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem). Classified as protective magic, it complemented shielding charms like Protego. Snape had demonstrated it in the Dueling Club, using it to end Harry and Malfoy's exchange. Hermione had used it to stop the cursed Bludger attacking Harry. Crucially, it seemed significantly easier to learn than Protego, yet offered comparable utility – an excellent choice.
"Even though you just taught me the Levitation Charm," Neville mumbled, his voice thick with tears, "I failed again. I… I think, Sean… maybe I'm not really a wizard at all…" Perhaps it was Sean's patient tutoring, or the fact that he'd never once mocked him, but Neville found himself pouring out his insecurities. "They say I'm clumsy and forgetful, and they're right… I forget everything, I mess everything up…"
Sean listened silently. The old oak stairs creaked softly beneath them, like the gentle snores of a sleeping giant. The magical lantern hanging overhead cast a warm, honey-gold glow, softening as the night deepened, enveloping them in a small pocket of peace.
"Your Levitation Charm failed…" Sean stated simply when Neville fell silent.
Neville flinched, bracing himself for the expected disgust or ridicule.
"…So, shall we practice again?"
Sean's voice was soft. In the gentle light, Neville couldn't quite make out his expression, his own vision blurred by fresh tears.
Inside the hidden room.
"Alright, alright, just a little longer," Justin paced anxiously. He'd been watching Neville since Sean first encountered him crying in the corridor. He was certain Longbottom was a kind Gryffindor, and not nearly as cowardly as the Slytherins claimed. After Malfoy had stolen his Remembrall and Harry had retrieved it, Neville, prompted by Harry, had even managed to stand up to Malfoy: "You're just a bully!" Malfoy had sneered. "Oh yeah? Harry says I'm not. He says you are," Neville had retorted. Justin had seen the spark of courage hidden within him then. It just needed… nurturing. He'd thought Harry would be the one to do it, but Longbottom seemed drawn to Sean instead.
"Perhaps you should come inside to practice?" Sean's voice came from the doorway. Justin looked up to see Sean holding the door open, a plate piled high with fried snacks and puddings balanced precariously on his arm. Hermione nodded from beside Sean, her nose wrinkled slightly. "It's freezing out here, Sean. If you catch another cold—!"
The hidden room gained another regular occupant. Hermione spent much of their practice time patiently drilling Neville, while Justin seemed to have taken up permanent residence in the Hogwarts kitchens, occasionally emerging with bizarre but surprisingly tasty creations made from ingredients 'borrowed' from the greenhouses – like his infamous 'Every Flavour Pudding,' which randomly tasted like one of six different puddings with each spoonful. Hermione had glared at him, then promptly eaten two servings.
Saturday morning.
Sean sat on the dew-kissed lawn near the Black Lake, reviewing Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration notes. The lake's surface was like polished obsidian, reflecting the clear sky. He knew the castle's plumbing eventually drained into it, and that it was home to a Giant Squid, Grindylows, and a Merpeople colony. (There was also a persistent rumour that the Giant Squid was Godric Gryffindor in Animagus form, though Sean highly doubted its veracity.)
A black speck appeared against the blue, growing rapidly larger. Sean stood up as Madam Hooch landed lightly beside him.
"Good morning, lad!" she greeted him briskly, the wind whipping strands of grey hair across her face. "Your flight test is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Remember to collect your broom. Wouldn't hurt to sleep with it, either…" She wasn't entirely joking; some Quidditch players were notoriously devoted to their brooms. There was even a historical account of an Italian wizard who had unsuccessfully petitioned the Ministry for permission to marry his Moontrimmer. In any case, familiarity bred better control.
"Yes, Madam," Sean replied. With a wave of his wand, the cushion he'd been sitting on transformed back into a book, and the scattered quills and parchment zipped neatly into his bag via a Summoning Charm.
October was growing colder. Getting chilled after sweating was a surefire way to catch a cold, as Sean knew from recent, miserable experience. He followed Madam Hooch towards the changing rooms.
Passing the Gryffindor locker room, he saw Oliver Wood giving his team a fervent pre-practice pep talk, gesturing wildly at a large diagram of the Quidditch pitch covered in colourful lines, arrows, and crosses. He tapped the diagram with his wand, and the arrows began wriggling like caterpillars.
"…beat Slytherin into the ground! Hufflepuff's a non-issue! With Potter, even Ravenclaw doesn't stand a chance! Our name will be on the Quidditch Cup this year! Because we," Wood declared dramatically, "have the best bloody team Hogwarts has ever seen!" A true Quidditch fanatic.
Wanting no part of the inter-house rivalry, Sean hurried past and collected his Nimbus 2000 from Madam Hooch's secure storage. Visions of soaring effortlessly up to the Ravenclaw Tower entrance filled his mind. No more stairs…
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