Chapter 258

Chapter 258

After they returned to the common room, Cedric Diggory kept Suer talking for quite some time about techniques for advancing more quickly with the Patronus Charm.

Suer himself, however, had no clear idea. He had never advanced through its stages in a normal, orderly fashion.

“Think about it, Suer. What did you experience between the first stage and what Professor Filius Flitwick called the second? There might be something useful in it,” Cedric persisted.

“Hmm… if I had to name something…” Suer hesitated. “I think I crossed from the first stage to the second on the train. During the summer holiday last year, I could still produce only a little mist.”

“Then I encountered a Dementor aboard the train at the start of term. That was probably when my Patronus truly emerged.”

“There, you see? That is an excellent method!” Cedric seemed to realise something. He suddenly clenched his left fist and struck it against his right palm.

“No wonder I always felt I was missing something. Thank you, Suer. I know what to do now.”

“Face my fear, is that it? A Dementor…” Cedric muttered as he wandered away, nodding to himself.

Suer scratched the back of his head as he watched him go. What exactly had he just said? How had the brilliant student found the crucial insight in that?

Then Suer’s expression changed as a dreadful premonition struck him.

Surely not… Cedric was not planning to go outside and challenge a Dementor to single combat, was he?

Dumbledore’s warning had been perfectly clear. The swarm of Dementors outside was not remotely easy to handle.

So… he p-probably would not? Hufflepuffs were not as reckless as Gryffindors… although badgers did seem to possess a certain streak of brute courage…

Fortunately, Cedric did not leave the castle that night. He remained in the common room apart from one trip out to meet Cho Chang, and returned to the dormitory before curfew.

The Marauder’s Map truly was an excellent tool for keeping an eye on people.

Before going to sleep, Suer held the little bronze badger from his bedside table and stared at it for a long time. From his conversation with Dumbledore, he could guess that the third figurine was probably in the Hogwarts kitchens. Even if it was not, the house-elves might be able to offer him a clue.

As for the token he needed, surely it could not be Hufflepuff’s Cup?

According to historical records, the cup had passed down to Helga Hufflepuff’s descendants. Suer did not believe that, after obtaining it, none of them would have visited the castle to see whether she had left anything behind. That possibility could therefore be dismissed.

The most likely answer was the little badger figurine already in his hand.

He did not know what form Helga Hufflepuff’s trial would take, but it would surely require him to use his own power. Better to wait until he had absorbed and tamed his excess magic.

As for obtaining the third figurine from the house-elves, its presence in the Hogwarts kitchens was still only a strong possibility.

Besides, who knew whether Helga Hufflepuff had instructed the house-elves to test any claimant’s qualifications as her heir?

Everything could wait.

Suer slept soundly. He awoke to sunlight breaking through the clouds. The gloom that had persisted for months seemed to have vanished all at once, and the long-obscured sun poured down its light with impatient brilliance.

“What happened? Why is the sun suddenly out?” Young wizards everywhere whispered about the weather, delight shining upon their faces. No one liked grey skies. Magic might keep their bedding dry, but nothing could truly replace sunlight.
Standing in the oak doorway, Suer gazed into the distance. The dark mist that had shrouded the snowy peak west of the castle since the start of term had disappeared completely.

The sight of sunlight gilding the mountain confirmed it: every Dementor had withdrawn.

The greatest obstacle of the school year was gone, just like the clouds pierced by the sunlight that morning.

Knock, knock.

On the first underground floor, passing students gave Suer strange looks as he knocked on the door of Snape’s office. Another unfortunate soul, they thought.

Suer ignored them. He pushed the door open as soon as a narrow gap appeared. None of you appreciated Professor Snape properly.

Suer had not visited him for some time, but Snape looked exactly as he always did. Pale-faced and gloomy, he sat behind his desk and stared at Suer without a word.

If Snape wanted to stare, Suer would stare back. Who was afraid of whom?

Their “affectionate” gaze lasted for a very long time. Snape was the first to admit defeat, lowering his eyes.

“What do you want?”

“I came to thank you for saving my life, Professor. I heard that you carried me to the hospital wing and poured a great many potions down my throat.” Suer blinked his dry eyes and spoke with perfect sincerity.

“If that tedious little matter is your only reason for coming, the door is behind you. You may leave.” Snape’s reply was almost heartless, and his hand never stopped writing across the parchment.

“There is something else, Professor.” Suer did not mind. Professor Snape merely possessed an exceptionally poisonous tongue. He was a decent man underneath it — or at least a good teacher. Suer had learnt that much from their dealings the previous year.

“Dumbledore asked me to consult you about the magic inside me. He said you might have a useful solution.”

Snape’s hand stopped.

“What problem?”

Suer repeated Professor Flitwick’s assessment from the day before. To demonstrate the effect more directly, he looked around, found an elderly chair and cast the Levitation Charm before Snape could respond.

Bang… bang… crash!

The chair shot upwards like a rocket, struck the ceiling, plummeted to the floor and collapsed into a heap of broken wood.

The corner of Snape’s mouth twitched, and a vein slowly rose at his temple. That chair had accompanied him throughout his entire tenure as Potions professor at Hogwarts…

“I am capable of understanding spoken words, Mr Bones.” The rage suppressed beneath Snape’s voice was unmistakable.

“Er, I didn’t mean to do it, Professor.” Suer gave him an awkward smile. He had tried hard to control the amount of magic he released, yet this was still the result.

“I’ll repair it at once! Reparo…”

“Wai–”

Before Snape could finish the word, white light flashed.

Wood was not porcelain. Their structures were entirely different. Under the force of Suer’s magic, the chair exploded almost instantly into even smaller splinters.

“You…” Snape drew a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes.

As Suer watched him cautiously, Snape raised a hand and rubbed the space between his brows.

It was a long time before he forced out two words.

“Get! Out!”