As Kyle watched Kanna turn and walk into the Charms classroom, he was completely dumbfounded. He really hadn't expected her to take his previous words seriously.
This was Felix Felicis, after all!
If it had been the Weasley brothers, not only would they have known it was just a joke, they probably wouldn't have cared even if they actually turned into a Crup.
Kyle wanted to say something more, but Kanna had already sat down in the classroom and was talking with her roommate. Seeing this, he could only put away the bottle of Felix Felicis and follow her into the classroom.
This class was about learning the Engorgement Charm, a very practical household spell that Hagrid used frequently. Those pumpkins in his garden grew so large because of his constant use of Engorgio.
The most amazing thing was that while magic couldn't create food out of nothing, it could make existing food larger without changing its taste.
But for some reason, very few people would eat food that had been enhanced with the Engorgement Charm. Hagrid's pumpkins ultimately ended up being used as Halloween decorations.
"The hand movement is important." Professor Flitwick said seriously from the front of the room, "Remember what I just told you — keep your arm steady, use your wrist to draw a circle downward... and most importantly, don't mispronounce the spell."
Although the Engorgement Charm was normally taught in second year, it wasn't difficult — at least it was much simpler than the Levitation Charm.
Kyle looked at the button on the table in front of him and gently flicked his wand.
✭ Engorgio ➜ Engorgement Charm ✭
Instantly, the button began to swell rapidly, like a balloon filling with air, quickly becoming about the size of a plate.
"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick clapped his hands and called out, "Everyone look, someone has already succeeded. Five points to Hufflepuff!"
It was easy for Kyle, but for others, it was a different story.
Michael and Ryan imitated his movements, turning their wrists again and again, but the buttons that should have enlarged remained motionless on the table.
In frustration, Michael jabbed at his button with his wand... with a bang, the button blasted away, grazing Professor Flitwick's hair before hitting the wall.
Across the room, the Gryffindors weren't doing much better.
"Engorgio... Engorgio!" a young Gryffindor wizard shouted loudly, completely forgetting Professor Flitwick's instructions, waving his arms like a windmill.
The button showed no response, but due to his exaggerated movements, he accidentally poked his wand into Katie beside him.
"Merlin's beard..." Professor Flitwick seemed to anticipate what was coming and covered his face with his hands.
The next second, Katie inflated into a ball and floated slowly up to the ceiling. She looked terrified, flailing her arms and letting out piercing screams.
"Don't panic, Miss Bell, don't panic."
Professor Flitwick quickly ran over and soon restored her to normal, then had someone escort the still-shaken girl to the hospital wing.
In Charms class, he had seen such accidents many times and handled them with practiced ease.
"Mr. McLaggen, your arm movements were too large, which is very dangerous." Professor Flitwick said sternly, "Ten points from Gryffindor!"
After Charms class ended, Kyle wanted to find Kanna, but she had already left.
And after that, she never mentioned the matter again, as if it wasn't precious Felix Felicis but just a bottle of ordinary pumpkin juice.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
Hogwarts never kept secrets for long.
By the next day, everyone had heard about the Gryffindor student Cormac McLaggen blowing up his classmate like a balloon.
"That's just unbelievable." At the dining table, Harry ate his toast and curiously asked Ron beside him, "How do you think he managed to do that..."
"Never mind that now." Ron clearly didn't want to discuss it. He looked at Harry and asked eagerly, "Is what you just said true? Did Professor McGonagall really make you the Seeker?"
"That's what Professor McGonagall said." Harry replied, "And she took me to meet a fifth-year student called Wood, saying he would train me."
"Oliver Wood?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded.
"He's the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. This is incredible — you're only a first-year." Ron put the piece of pie he'd been holding into his mouth and said, "Harry, you must be the youngest house team player in many years."
"In a century, actually." Harry said, taking a piece of pie himself, "Wood told me."
"A century..." Ron sat there, staring blankly at him.
"I start training tomorrow." Harry said, "Don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
At that moment, Fred and George entered the Great Hall, and as soon as they spotted Harry, they hurried over.
"Well done." George said in a low voice, "Wood told us. We're on the team too, as Beaters."
"I'm telling you, we're definitely going to win the House Cup this year." Fred said excitedly, "You should have seen how surprised Cedric and Kyle were when they heard about this."
"They're on the Hufflepuff team." George said, "Before this, they were sure Gryffindor would lose. Huh... two stupid top students."
"Kyle joined Quidditch?" Harry was surprised.
He had always thought that someone as academically excellent as Kyle would only be interested in studying, like Hermione. He hadn't expected him to like Quidditch too.
"Strictly speaking, not yet." Fred said, "But he'll have his final tryout tomorrow, and if he passes, he'll be on the team."
"I think you should go watch. Consider it sizing up your competition..."
"Is that allowed?" Harry's eyes lit up, "I mean, isn't that the Hufflepuff tryouts?"
He was now interested in anything related to Quidditch, and if he could see in advance how others played, that would be perfect.
"Go ahead." Fred smiled, "Slytherin would never allow it, but Hufflepuff won't mind."
"We've got to go. Lee thinks he's found a new secret passage out of the school."
"I bet it's the one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. We found that one in our first week here."
"Good luck to you both, bye."
"Bye!" Harry waved to them, then turned to Ron, "I'm planning to go watch tomorrow. Want to come along?"
"Sure, let's go." Ron thought for a moment, then added, "Though I hate to discourage you, but I've seen Kyle play Quidditch with Fred and the others, and he's really good."
"Is that so..."
Hearing this, Harry became even more curious, feeling like a cat on hot bricks, wishing tomorrow would come immediately.
✭✭✭
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