Sean looked at Professor Jovic, who stood frozen in place.
He estimated that the effect of Petrificus charm would wear off soon.
Just as Jovic had said, the duration of the paralysis depended on the caster. The stronger the caster's magic and the more stable the magical framework, the longer the target would remain immobilized.
Sean's magic was still at the level of an underage wizard.
On the other hand, the stronger the target's magic, the weaker the effect would be.
If Sean cast the spell on the Weasley twins, it could probably last an hour.
But against Jovic, it might only last ten minutes.
"Finite."
Sean had no desire to face the fury of a former Death Eater when the spell wore off naturally, so he quickly removed the paralysis.
The students instantly fell silent.
As if they hadn't been cheering just moments ago.
"Sean Grylls! How dare you cast a spell on a professor!"
Jovic roared through clenched teeth.
The shout made Sean's ears ring.
He dug a finger into one ear and looked up at Jovic with innocent confusion.
"But Professor," Sean said, "you told me to come up and demonstrate Petrificus charm."
"I told you to cooperate with me, you idiot!"
Jovic's voice grew even louder.
"I did cooperate," Sean replied, looking wronged.
For a moment, Jovic was speechless.
Yes, he had asked Sean to cooperate with the demonstration.
But he hadn't expected a first-year student to actually know the spell.
Normally, wasn't the professor supposed to cast the spell while the student cooperated?
The more Jovic thought about it, the more it felt like Sean had tricked him.
"Sean Grylls," Jovic finally said, his voice cold, "after school today you will come back here and copy this entire chapter one hundred times."
Some students wanted to defend Sean, but none dared to speak.
It was obvious Jovic was abusing his authority.
"Professor, you don't have the right to do that," Sean said calmly. "I didn't break any classroom rules."
"Arrogant. Self-righteous. Attacking a professor without permission. Isn't that enough?" Jovic shouted.
Before Sean could argue further, Jovic suddenly pointed his wand at him.
Sean instinctively raised his own wand in response.
But Jovic didn't cast anything.
"Sean Grylls, get out. The rest of you will continue the lesson."
Sean had simply been ordered to stand outside the classroom.
Honestly, he didn't mind.
Listening to Jovic shout inside the classroom would have been far worse.
At least outside, he could quietly study Snape's notes.
Standing in the hallway, Sean began recalling the Sectumsempra spell he had seen in Snape's textbook the previous night.
That spell consisted of twelve magical frameworks.
He had tried to reconstruct the structure yesterday.
Just as expected—
he had failed.
Sean became completely immersed in his thoughts and didn't notice that Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape were standing at the other end of the corridor, watching him.
"Don't you think Sean resembles James when he was young?" McGonagall said thoughtfully.
"They're both students professors dislike," Snape replied coldly.
During his school years, Snape and James Potter had been in the same class.
James had been extremely talented—
but also extremely troublesome.
He caused incidents every few days and naturally became a leader among students.
Much like Sean now.
Only two days after the term began, Sean's name had already spread throughout the first-year students.
Even second- and third-years had started noticing him.
If not for his undeniable academic ability, he might have already been labeled Hogwarts' problem child.
Most professors currently shared the same opinion:
The boy was extraordinarily talented.
But he was also somewhat arrogant and impatient for quick success.
He needed proper guidance.
Just before the class ended, Keith Brent passed by Sean's classroom.
Seeing Sean standing outside as punishment, Keith sneered.
"Disgrace of Slytherin."
"Move along," Sean said without even looking up. "You're interrupting my punishment."
Keith snorted and walked away.
Sean didn't even glance at him.
Instead, he continued analyzing the magical frameworks of Sectumsempra.
The results weren't encouraging.
If only I could see Snape cast it once, he thought.
After Defense Against the Dark Arts, the second class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.
From the fact that Sean had turned a teacup into a mouse the previous day, it was clear he already had a basic grasp of transformation spells.
McGonagall lectured at the front of the classroom.
Meanwhile, Sean was busy with his own notes.
He used a quill to record his ongoing analysis of Sectumsempra, trying to find where his reconstruction had gone wrong.
"Should the triangular framework come first...?" Sean muttered softly.
"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous branches of magic," McGonagall said sharply. "I expect all students in my class to pay attention."
The message was clearly directed at Sean.
"Sean."
Cassius nudged him with his elbow.
McGonagall was staring at him.
"Students, watch carefully," she said. "I will demonstrate a basic transfiguration spell."
She approached the front desk and lightly flicked her wand at a crystal goblet resting on a stand.
"Vera Verto."
Using his magical vision, Sean watched the spell form.
Two magical frameworks rapidly assembled at the tip of her wand.
The speed was far beyond his own.
The old masters really are something else, Sean thought.
Under the spell's influence, the crystal goblet twisted and reshaped before everyone's eyes—
until it became a bird.
The bird flapped its wings and flew onto McGonagall's shoulder.
The students stared in amazement.
"When casting the spell," McGonagall explained, "pronounce the incantation clearly and focus your mind on the animal you wish to transform the object into. Your intention must be strong."
"Now try transforming the cups on your desks into animals."
Her explanation matched Sean's own summary of magic's three essential elements:
Clear incantation.
Strong mental focus.
And a stable magical framework.
"Vera Verto!"
Students on the Hufflepuff side had already begun trying.
A crystal cup on one desk transformed into a green frog.
The frog leapt across the aisle from Cedric's desk and landed on Cassius's table.
"Very good, Cedric," McGonagall praised.
The Hufflepuff students immediately erupted in cheers.
For the past few days, Sean's brilliance had overshadowed everyone.
Now Cedric had finally taken the spotlight.
Cedric himself smiled happily and glanced toward Sean.
Sean, however, was completely uninterested.
He continued scribbling in his notebook.
"Sean, look how proud the Hufflepuffs are," Cassius said. "You're just going to let that slide?"
"Sean, transform one too!" Graham called from the back row. "You can definitely do it."
"If you're confident enough to take final exams already," Chris added, turning around from the front row, "this should be easy."
Sean sighed inwardly.
Why are these kids so obsessed with competing?
McGonagall hadn't even said the first successful student would earn house points.
"Fine."
Sean drew his wand.
Pointing it at the crystal goblet on his desk, he said:
"Vera Verto."
The goblet twisted under everyone's gaze—
and finally transformed into a dark green snake.