Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Madam Rosmerta had certainly retained her mature charm.
Young wizards plainly found her every smile and movement irresistible. In Suer’s eyes, however, she was nothing remarkable.
Weren’t Ms Hata, Ms Yoshizawa and Ms Aoi all more alluring than she was?
One claim had proved true, though. The Umbrella-Snail Cherry Syrup Soda tasted quite good. Suer took small sips, eyes half closed as he savoured the sweet fragrance and bubbles mingling in his mouth.
Hagrid drank great mouthfuls of mead. Between the warm fire and the alcohol, his entire face grew even redder.
“Not bad, is it?” Professor Flitwick asked Suer quietly.
“Thank you, Professor.” Suer had clearly heard Professor Flitwick offer to pay for the soda.
Professor Flitwick gave a quiet laugh. “There’s no need to thank me, Mr Bones. Your idea gave me a great deal of inspiration.”
A small question mark practically appeared over Suer’s head.
Apparently noticing his confusion, Professor Flitwick softly said a name, and understanding dawned.
The informant had been beside him all along!
“It wasn’t all my idea.” Suer scratched his head. “Cedric shared many interesting thoughts with me too.”
What a modest, studious and intelligent young wizard, and a descendant of his old friend Bones as well.
Professor Flitwick smiled and nodded.
“If your weekends are relatively free, you may come to the sixth small classroom on the right side of the fourth floor on Saturday afternoons,” he said.
“I hadn’t intended to include a second-year student. Most of the lessons there are aimed at N.E.W.T.s and O.W.L.s, so it is still far too early for you.”
“But you may attend as an observer. I think there might be some value in laying the groundwork early.” Professor Flitwick winked at him.
The unexpected ‘surprise’ left Suer rather ‘stunned’.
“I’ll be there. Thank you, Professor.” Suer nodded and quickly lowered his head to take a large gulp of his cherry soda.
“Pro… Professor.” After a while, Suer quietly addressed Professor Flitwick beside him.
“Do you have a question, Mr Bones?”
“It’s like this, Professor. I came across a spell in the library,” Suer said. “But everywhere else, I could only find fragmentary references, not a detailed explanation.”
Suer was lying. He had a stack of permission slips signed by Professor Lockhart. Apart from books requiring the signatures of two or more professors, the Restricted Section was effectively open to him.
The Patronus Charm was not a dangerous spell, though neither was it one young wizards could encounter in the ordinary shelves.
Beyond its wand movement and incantation, the description introduced something far more mysterious: happiness. The spell had a special requirement. A young wizard casting it had to remain happy. But what kind of happiness was needed, and how was that emotion infused into the spell? The book offered no detailed explanation.
“Oh? Which spell?” Professor Flitwick shifted position and adopted his usual classroom manner, though the flush on his face rather undermined the effect.
“The Patronus Charm, Professor.”
“The Patronus Charm?” Professor Flitwick was surprised. “Why are you interested in that spell?”
Most young wizards pursued flashy, powerful magic. Very few asked about a spell like the Patronus Charm.
In some people’s eyes, the spell was not even as useful as Stupefy.
“I simply think it’s rather interesting,” Suer said.
“Could you teach me? I read that the spell doesn’t demand a great amount of magical power from the caster.”
“Of course.” Professor Flitwick agreed readily. “It is a very special form of magic. Its strength depends entirely on the caster’s emotions at the moment of casting. It is a classic example of emotion-based magic.”
“Hmm… This isn’t a suitable place for a lesson, but you may come to my office tomorrow.”
“Since the Patronus Charm interests you…” A smile appeared at the corner of Professor Flitwick’s mouth. “As it happens, someone here is highly proficient in it.”
Suer’s eyes brightened. Who?
Professor McGonagall? The plump, smiling blond wizard? The kindly witch? Or perhaps… Oh, surely not him. Look at that stern face and icy manner.
Just like Professor Snape.
“Pix,” Professor Flitwick called, drawing everyone’s attention.
“This student of mine is interested in the Patronus Charm. Would you show him yours?”
“Of course, Filius.” The cold-faced wizard replied, his lips twisting into an odd smile.
To Suer’s surprise, Pix was the very person he had dismissed as impossible at first glance.
Seeing Suer’s startled expression, Professor Flitwick chuckled softly and explained,
“Don’t be misled by Pix’s forbidding expression. That isn’t his natural disposition. A spell’s side effect robbed his face of the ability to show emotion.”
“He is actually a very gentle person and a researcher who specialises in emotion-based magic.”
“I’m sorry, Professor Flitwick,” Suer apologised honestly. He had allowed appearances to influence him too easily.
“This is hardly the first time. Don’t worry about it.” The good-natured Professor Flitwick waved the matter aside. “Many people assume Pix isn’t a good wizard when they first see him.”
Pix drew his wand, which was entwined with flowers.
Suer was certain that he heard no incantation and saw no movement of Pix’s wrist.
Fine strands of silver light streamed from the wandtip and swiftly gathered into a silvery-white squirrel.
The silver squirrel bounded through the air, circled Pix and landed lightly in front of Suer. Wisps of silver radiance drifted away from its body.
It scampered playfully around the table before Suer, then held up its paws as if begging him for food.
Suer marvelled at it, for the squirrel was full of spirit. It seemed like a living creature, unlike an animal created through Transfiguration, which might be ‘alive’ but was actually ‘dead’.
The difference was that creatures produced by Transfiguration lacked that lively spark in their eyes.
Unable to resist, Suer reached out and gently touched the silver squirrel with a fingertip. The sensation was extraordinary. It felt no different from an ordinary squirrel, yet conveyed emotions of tranquillity, purity and happiness.
“Well?” Professor Flitwick asked with a soft laugh.
“It’s magnificent, Professor,” Suer answered honestly. He watched regretfully as the squirrel dissolved into a cloud of silver light and vanished.