Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 147 Familiar Classroom and New Challenges

Chapter 147 Familiar Classroom and New Challenges

The new semester's courses proceeded as scheduled, with the solid and challenging teaching of the other professors standing in stark contrast to the poor Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The Charms classroom was as cheerful and magical as ever. Professor Flitwick stood on his high stool, welcoming the second-year students in his clear and enthusiastic voice: "Welcome back, my bright children! Congratulations on successfully completing your first year!"

But this is just the beginning! The true art of magic lies in a more refined and profound understanding and application of spells! He waved his wand, and several deliberately damaged items on the podium—a cracked teacup, a broken stool, a small brass box with its keyhole blocked—[…].

They all floated up.

"Reparo!" Professor Flitwick chanted the spell clearly, his wand tracing a precise path. A soft blue light flashed, the crack in the teacup instantly healed, and the broken stool was reassembled perfectly. "This is a spell you learned in your first year, but its subtlety goes far beyond that! It restores not only the form of an object, but also the integrity of its internal structure! This requires the caster to have a clear understanding of the object's structure and a precise grasp of the timing and intensity of the magic infusion!"

Then he pointed to the box with the keyhole blocked: "Alohomora!" A flash of silver light struck the keyhole.

The obstruction vanished silently. "The Unlocking Charm, seemingly simple, is actually a precise dismantling of the concept of 'obstruction'! It tests the caster's concentration and magical penetration!" Finally, he pointed his wand at the classroom door, "Colloportus!" An invisible force field instantly enveloped the lock, locking it firmly. "The Locking Charm, on the other hand, creates a temporary 'lock' to lock or seal the door, preventing it from being opened directly by hand. Its counter is naturally the Unlocking Charm."

Professor Flitwick gazed intently at the audience: "Second year, we will no longer be content with making objects float or glow! We will learn how to repair damage, how to release restraints, and how to set up barriers! These spells require greater precision in magical control and stronger focus! Now, take out your wands and begin by repairing this cracked ink bottle! Remember the hand gestures—a gentle yet decisive wrist turn! Clear and full pronunciation of the spells! Stable and consistent magical output!"

The students sprang into action, the classroom filled with chants of "Reparo!" Karen picked up a shard of an ink bottle broken in two, tapped his wand lightly, and the spell flowed smoothly. A flash of blue light, and the ink bottle was instantly restored to its original state, its walls smooth, without a single crack. He could even feel the magic perfectly filling every gap between molecules during the repair process.

"Perfect! Mr. Hawthorne!" Professor Flitwick's voice was filled with undisguised admiration. He lightly jumped off the bar stool, walked to Cullen's side, picked up the repaired ink bottle, and examined it carefully. "Exquisite control! The magic output is as stable as if measured with a ruler."

The core of the spell perfectly captures the concept of the object's 'wholeness'! It seems your summer practice hasn't been neglected!" He looked at Karen with genuine satisfaction. "Keep it up, Karen! Your understanding of the essence of spells is astonishing!"

Karen smiled and replied, "Thank you, Professor. I will continue to work hard."

The following Transfiguration class was filled with rigor and precision. Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the class, her expression as serious as ever, her gaze sweeping over the entire class, carrying an invisible pressure.

"Turtle to hourglass." She coughed succinctly, waved her wand, and the shells of several small turtles on the platform instantly turned into transparent glass, their bodies transforming into fine golden sand that began to flow slowly. "This is not merely a change of form! It is a dual transformation of material properties—organic life forms transforming into inorganic matter, solids transforming into fluids! It tests your depth of understanding of two completely different states of matter and the precision of your magical conversion!"

Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd: "Remember! The ultimate goal of Transfiguration is complete freedom and perfection! Any hesitation,..."

Even the slightest fluctuation in magical energy could lead to a failed transformation or even a dangerous accident! Now, begin practicing! Goal: Complete form, uniform sand flow, and a duration of at least ten seconds!

The classroom immediately fell silent, save for the whooshing sound of the wand whistling through the air and the students' focused whispers. Under the steady guidance of his wand, the little turtle in front of Karen's shell swiftly became transparent and smooth, its body transforming into fine, even golden sand that flowed smoothly and naturally, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times.

Professor McGonagall paused at Cullen's desk during her rounds. Gazing at the perfectly flowing hourglass, a barely perceptible nod of approval crossed her serious face. Only when Cullen had completed her transformation and the hourglass stood firmly upright did Professor McGonagall speak up: "Excellent control, Mr. Hawthorne. Precise and steady. Ravenclaw, three points for your performance."

Then she paused, looking directly at Karen. "I heard from Albus that you did some intensive study in France over the summer." Her tone was calm, but Karen could hear the concern and reminder in it. "The mysteries of alchemy are certainly fascinating, but don't forget that Transfiguration is the foundation of all shapeshifting magic. Its precise control is equally crucial to the path you pursue. If you want to become a master, you must not neglect the fundamentals."

Karen understood the professor's meaning and nodded solemnly, "I understand, Professor McGonagall. Thank you for reminding me; I will balance the two."

"They won't slack off on their Transfiguration practice." Professor McGonagall nodded slightly in satisfaction and moved on to the next student.

If Charms and Transfiguration were a mix of challenges and rewards, then Potions remained synonymous with coldness and high pressure. The damp, chilly atmosphere of the dungeon classroom mingled with the strange smells of various potion ingredients. Professor Snape, like a giant bat, his black robes billowing, glided silently between the long tables, his icy gaze sweeping over each student, especially those from Gryffindor.

"Barbok tuber." Snape's voice was slick and cold, like a viper's hiss. "Today's task is to deal with this disgusting plant and extract and purify its pus. The pus is the active ingredient in a potion for stubborn acne, but it's highly corrosive and irritating. Improper handling could not only ruin your potions but also your faces. I hope you don't end up like Mr. Potter in your first year, with your brains trampled by trolls!" He made no attempt to hide his mockery of Harry, even though this wasn't a first-year classroom.

Karen and Ernesto worked together seamlessly. Ernesto carefully squeezed and peeled away the swollen pustules filled with yellowish-green pus from the tuber using his dragon-skin gloves, while Karen precisely guided the viscous, disgusting pus into a specially made glass bottle with purification runes engraved on its inner wall using a glass rod. Then, Karen lit an alcohol lamp, placed the bottle above the flame, and simultaneously tapped the bottle opening with his wand while quietly chanting a purification spell. His movements were methodical, his magical output steady and precise. Under the influence of the spell and the flame, the pus in the bottle gradually changed from a murky yellowish-green to a clear and transparent color, and the pungent odor was greatly reduced.

Professor Snape glided like a ghost to their long table. His unfathomable black eyes first scrutinized the tuberous remnants Ernesto had peeled off. "Mr. Griffith, not thoroughly enough. Wasted usable fibrous tissue," he said, then his gaze fell on the vial of pus that Cullen was purifying, before sweeping over the still clean and tidy work surface. His eyes lingered for a moment on Cullen's focused and calm face, his thin lips twisting into a smile that was almost "satisfied" but still sarcastic. In his characteristic, drawn-out tone, he said, "Hawthorne. It seems the French sun hasn't filled your brain with inflated confidence. The material handling was fairly clean and efficient, and the magical control during purification was barely passable. Keep up to at least a presentable standard." With that, he flicked his sleeve and glided to his next target, a poor Gryffindor.

Ernesto only dared to let out a quiet sigh of relief after Snape left, casting an admiring glance at Cullen. Cullen simply continued with his work calmly. He knew this was already Snape's kind of "praise." Compared to the frequent venom sprays of the previous semester, this treatment was a qualitative leap. Clearly, with Harry as a more conspicuous "target," Snape's "firepower" had been significantly diverted, a difference felt even by those in different years.

After the potions class, the four of them stepped out of the cold dungeon and into the relatively warm air of the castle corridor.

"Snape didn't give us any trouble today?" Wesley looked incredulous, rubbing his ears exaggeratedly. "He even seemed to compliment Cullen? Although it still sounded so awkward. Is it because of Potter? I heard he really made things difficult for Harry Potter in his first-year class."

"It's obvious," Ernesto scoffed. "All his 'enthusiasm' is poured into Mr. Potter. We Ravenclaws, unless we make some stupid mistake, are probably just background figures in his eyes."

"Being a backdrop is fine too," Fabian said, still somewhat shaken. "At least I don't have to endure that death stare. Potter really had it tough."

Karen smiled but didn't say anything. Just then, a small group of people gathered in front of the bulletin board in the hallway. Butt, the sixth-year captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, was pasting a brand-new piece of parchment onto the bulletin board.

"Look! Quidditch selection notice!" Wesley, with his sharp eyes, immediately pulled the others through the crowd.

The parchment clearly stated: "Ravenclaw Quidditch Team Selections! Time: This Saturday at 2 PM. Location: Quidditch Field. Selection Positions: One Seeker prospect, two Chasers, one Goalkeeper (former Goalkeeper graduate). All talented and passionate students are welcome to participate!"

"Saturday at 2 p.m.!" Wesley pumped his fist excitedly, his face flushed with excitement. "Finally! The Chaser!"

I want to sign up as a ball chaser! Fabian, Ernesto, Kalen! Are you free this afternoon? Come with me to the pitch for practice! I need a practice partner!

Ernesto's eyes lit up with interest: "Sure. I'm thinking of signing up to give it a try too. Although chasing isn't my forte, I should at least give it a shot." He looked at Karen and Fabian.

Fabian quickly waved his hand, "I...I think I'll pass, flying isn't my forte. But I can cheer you on! And I can record your flight paths, maybe I can analyze some tactics?" He offered a way to help that suited his strengths.

Karen looked at Wesley's expectant eyes and nodded. "No problem. Perfect, let's try the Silent Levitation Charm to pick up the Ghostball." He patted his wand.

In the afternoon, at the Quidditch pitch. The sky was azure, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Wesley and Ernesto each rode their own broomsticks, both Nimbus 2000s, bought with their previous Forbidden Forest windfall. They darted, swooped, and made sharp turns in the air, practicing their ball control and feints. Wesley's speed and explosiveness were truly astonishing; he moved through the air like a nimble ape, his dribbling charge carrying an unstoppable momentum. In contrast, Ernesto's flight was more elegant and stable, his turns and ball control more precise, but he was slightly slower.

Karen and Fabian stood on the sidelines. Whenever Wesley or Ernesto "accidentally" missed a Quaffle while practicing a difficult move, Karen would quickly raise his wand and activate the Silent Charm! The Quaffle would be caught steadily by an invisible hand and then accurately tossed back into the practitioner's hand. His movements were fluid and natural, and his control over his magic was exquisite.

"Beautiful! Karen!" Wesley caught the ball mid-air and shouted with laughter, "That was almost as precise as a 'Summoning Charm'! Silent and undetectable!"

"Karen's Silent Spell is getting more and more powerful." Fabian exclaimed sincerely from the side, while quickly sketching out a simple diagram of Wesley and Ernesto's flight paths in his notebook.

As Wesley attempted a high-speed dive followed by a sudden stop and turn, nearly losing his balance due to inertia, Cullen tapped her wand lightly. An invisible buoyancy instantly appeared beneath Wesley's potential fall point. Although it was just a levitation charm, it was enough to cushion the impact. Wesley narrowly managed to steady his broom, supported by the buoyancy, and landed safely.

"Phew, that was close! Thanks, bro!" Wesley patted his chest, still shaken.

"Focus, Wesley." Cullen put away his wand, his tone encouraging. "Your speed and impact are your strengths, but your transitions between sudden stops and changes of direction need to be smoother. Consistency will also be important during the trials." He then looked at Ernesto, who was circling in the air. "Ernesto, your flight is very stable, and your ball control is precise, but when you sprint in a straight line, you could try to lower your body to reduce wind resistance."

"Understood." Ernesto's voice came from the air. He adjusted his posture, and sure enough, his speed increased slightly.

The practice lasted for over an hour. The four didn't leave the court until sunset. Wesley, though exhausted and covered in sweat, had bright eyes full of fighting spirit: "I feel great! I must take the chaser position on Saturday!"

"Your talent is truly outstanding, Wesley," Karen affirmed. "Especially that relentless drive, it's perfect for a ball chaser. Just maintain your form and perform normally during the trials."

"Yes!" Wes nodded vigorously, full of confidence. Ernesto didn't speak, but his tightly pursed lips showed his determination.

Karen glanced at her two roommates, then at the gentle Fabian beside her. The challenges of the new school year had begun, starting with improving in the classroom...

The struggles of Quidditch, the research at the Eagle's Nest, and the shadows lurking deep within the castle. He gripped his wand tightly, his heart filled with a calm and strength to face the future. Whatever lay ahead, he and his companions would be ready.