It was always said that learning magic relied more on natural talent than on hard work.
Wizards would often explain the Levitation Charm as simply a matter of saying the words, with a flick and swish of the wand.
Any further explanation was as muddled as the bubbling of a cauldron.
Even Professor Flitwick, in teaching the younger wizards, would emphasize clear pronunciation and then fall back on the same old advice: 'a flick and swish.'
After memorizing *The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1*, Sean found no more detailed explanations. He had reason to believe that spells were simply like that—governed by ancient principles, a body of knowledge based on experience.
Since it was based on experience, it lacked precision. For example, 'a flick and swish.' How far should the wand be flicked? How big should the swish be? These things were hard to explain and had to be figured out by the students' 'talent.'
Of course, Sean also suspected that truly gifted wizards didn't have these problems at all; they probably just succeeded on their first try.
This led to a bigger issue: talented wizards had no worries, while those without talent were stuck, wasting a huge amount of time on pure luck.
In the end, these problems were the same ones Sean faced when brewing potions. They were simply left unanswered.
Sean didn't think magic had much to do with science, but the increase in his spell proficiency told him one thing: there had to be an easier way to cast spells.
"Yes, you should use a wider arc for the swish. And for the incantation, the emphasis is on the 'g.' There's a small detail here—the 'di' after it should also be emphasized..."
Inside the classroom, a single magical lantern illuminated a small area.
Sean was intently guiding Justin's practice, pouring all of his understanding of the Levitation Charm into his instructions.
So, when Justin followed Sean's new standards precisely, the feather that had never floated for more than five seconds wavered for a full ten seconds.
"Blimey! Sean, we did it!" Justin exclaimed in an excited whisper, his eyes glued to the feather as it drifted slowly back down. "This is all thanks to you, Sean. Thank you so much for your help."
Justin's gratitude was heartfelt and sincere.
Sean nodded, acknowledging his thanks.
"I think a wider arc would be even better... but... after the 'di,' is the 'Le' also emphasized?"
Nearby, Hermione, who had been observing from behind a book for quite a while, suddenly chimed in. Her tone was still a little know-it-all, but the two boys automatically ignored it.
"Hmm, I think it should be more pronounced. As for the swish arc... we can try it, but..."
Sean glanced at the feather. He was about to say his magic hadn't recovered yet, but before he could finish his sentence, Justin had already cast the spell.
*Are all Hufflepuffs this thoughtful?* Sean was stunned for a few seconds.
The three of them in the hidden room all stared at the feather, watching it wobble in the air for fifteen seconds.
As soon as it landed, Justin let out a gasp. "Wow! Hermione, your guess was absolutely right!"
Hermione's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she seemed to quite enjoy the praise.
For the rest of the time, the three of them, full of energy, conducted many experiments. They kept at it until Sean's magic recovered, he mastered the Levitation Charm, and then his magic was completely drained once more.
Time slipped through their fingers like fine sand.
The magical lantern bobbed along with them as they walked out of the hidden room.
Sean was satisfied; he had gained 45 points of proficiency. Hermione was also satisfied; her clever ideas now had a like-minded, and even "smarter," partner in Sean, along with a dedicated—and physically exhausted—tester in Justin. Justin, too, was incredibly satisfied; he felt like he had discovered a new world.
The Hogwarts Castle, bathed in the evening twilight, was already deep in slumber.
At the end of a corridor on the third floor, a section of the wall subtly shifted, revealing a yellowed, cracked painting. The painting showed a snowy-white owl wearing a velvet waistcoat and tiny pince-nez glasses. At this moment, it was acting very human-like—with a comically annoyed expression—as it struggled to push its teetering glasses back into place with a fluffy claw.
"Little wizards! You wretched little wizards!" it shrieked loudly as Justin and Hermione walked past.
But when Sean passed by, it immediately stopped its fussing. "Little wizard," it muttered softly, "a clever little wizard..."
As they waited for the staircase to move into place, Hermione's voice, mixed with the thunderous creaking of the rotating staircase, rang out. "I think we'll probably need to use this room all the time... so we should inform a professor. Professor Flitwick will definitely agree to let us practice spells in there."
"That's so thoughtful, Hermione! You've really thought of everything," Justin praised.
Hermione's face was a bit red. She looked at Sean, and after he nodded, she quickly said goodbye and disappeared down the corridor, leaving only Sean and Justin to walk along the corridor lit by warm firelight.
"Hey, Sean," Justin said suddenly in a quiet voice, "You didn't even eat your Yorkshire Pudding today... Was something wrong with your potion brewing?"
Sean was taken aback. He hadn't expected Justin to connect those two things so quickly. After a moment, he nodded slightly.
"Was it Professor Snape? I heard he never lets first-year students brew potions on their own, but he's pretty lenient with some of the older Slytherins... I don't think you'd fail, so, do you need any help? Professor Snape is scary, but I'm brave enough to go to his office and check it out."
Justin's words made Sean even more silent. He looked up, and the young Hufflepuff's eyes shone with a gentle, determined light. "Remember? We're friends. If you're in trouble and I don't lend a hand, what kind of friends would we be?"
...
That night, the light blue hangings swayed slightly, and the sound of the wind outside the window made Sean feel at peace. The fireplace crackled cheerfully.
Sean recalled Justin's words before he left: "Even if I'm scared, I can face it head-on... The prefect said there's no school rule at Hogwarts that says first-years can't brew potions."
Ravenclaws only had Herbology on Friday, giving Sean a whole day to wait for Professor Snape to leave his dungeon.
He looked at the picturesque moonlight outside the window, his mind swirling. Hogwarts, a thousand-year-old magical school, and Hufflepuff, a warm and wonderful House, had produced wizards who were full of life. They might not be exceptional or always memorable, but as Helga Hufflepuff herself said: hard work, loyalty, and patience were qualities just as great.
A complex emotion settled in Sean's heart. *Advanced Potion-Making* lay open on the windowsill, its pages rustling. The sound made Sean feel as if he could see Justin's notes spread out in the library:
"The prefect said that Hufflepuffs are loyal and trustworthy. We never start fights with others, but we're not to be messed with. Just like our badger emblem, we will protect ourselves from anyone who is against us and help our friends and family. Nothing can scare us."
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