Noah walked slowly through the corridors. He'd been thoughtful these past few days, planning when he should head into the Forbidden Forest. While he didn't really think he'd be in any real danger—at least not without some extraordinary bad luck—he preferred not to tempt fate.
But he had underestimated his own curiosity. That, combined with the fire burning in his chest after day upon day of training, made for a dangerous mix. What he wanted now was a taste of adrenaline.
He wanted to feel his heart race, that flutter in his stomach, sweat dripping down his wand hand.
Since coming to this world, he hadn't faced a single decent fight. How was he supposed to grow like this?
Every protagonist needed a rival, or a villain to force them forward. But Noah had neither.
"I hope I run into a good antagonist," he joked, then immediately shook his head.
"Why do I feel like I just raised a bunch of flags?"
Without dwelling on it, he slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a tart.
"I really do love magic."
As he bit into the pumpkin tart, he heard raised voices coming from a corridor to his right.
It wasn't the way he'd planned to go, so he considered ignoring it. But then he recognized one of the voices. His steps froze, and after only a moment's hesitation, he turned and walked toward the commotion.
Violet stood face-to-face with a black-haired girl in Slytherin robes. Hermione hovered behind, hands covering her mouth. Her teeth had grown absurdly large.
"It's forbidden to use magic in the corridors," Violet snapped. "And how dare you attack another student?"
The Slytherin girl laughed as though she'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Student?" she spat. "That ugly thing is just a filthy mudblood."
Her eyes shifted to Violet, who had already raised her wand. "And you're a blood traitor—walking around with scum like her."
Violet's grip on her wand tightened as she heard Hermione sob quietly behind her.
What do I do? She felt weak. She wanted to fight back, but she'd barely learned the basics.
Unlike this girl, who clearly had practiced at home. Probably with a private tutor—her spellcasting carried confidence.
Think, Violet. Be creative.
"Looking at you makes me sick. Step aside from that filth and I might spare you. I just want to teach this mudblood another lesson." She raised her wand. "So she learns not to walk past me without lowering her head."
Violet raised her own wand in defiance. "And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll teach you a lesson too."
The wand slashed through the air. "Furnunculus!"
Violet had no idea how to block spells. All she could do was dodge.
Her legs moved at the last second, her body twisting aside. The curse struck the wall behind her.
Acting on instinct, Violet thought fast. If she had no power, she had to use her mind.
"Accio!"
The Slytherin staggered back in reflex. But realizing it was only a simple Summoning Charm, she smirked in disdain.
"Pathetic—" Her words cut off as the ground tilted beneath her and she toppled backward.
Violet had aimed at her shoes. The girl's weight was far too much to drag with such a weak charm, but when she stepped back—only one foot on the ground, the other lifted—the gap was all Violet needed.
Violet grinned in triumph. But the moment she saw the girl's furious expression as she got up, she knew luck wouldn't save her again.
"You little bitch!" the Slytherin snarled. "I'm going to humiliate you!"
Violet tried to dodge, but this time she wasn't fast enough.
The spell hit before she even heard it.
She realized something was wrong only when her clothes began to shrink.
"Let's see you walk through the Great Hall as you came into this world," the girl sneered like a rabid dog.
Shame flooded Violet. And then—rage, boiling in her chest.
Why am I so weak? She gave up trying to stop her clothes from shrinking.
But before anything indecent was revealed, a glow shimmered around her.
Her clothes stopped shrinking—and in the next instant, returned to normal.
"That was pretty rude."
A calm, almost gentle voice drifted from the end of the corridor.
She turned. Noah was strolling toward them, still biting into his tart.
He reached Hermione first, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"No need to cover up anymore. I fixed it."
Hermione blinked in shock, then touched her teeth—back to normal.
"When?" she whispered.
Noah only smiled, offering no answer.
Since arriving, he hadn't looked once at the Slytherin girl.
That seemed to enrage her.
"Who are you?"
Apparently, she didn't recognize him—probably too heated to notice.
Ignoring her, Noah looked to Violet.
"Are you alright?"
Violet met his blue eyes—so calm, so detached—and something twisted inside her.
I hate being weak.
The reflection of her own helplessness glared back at her in those eyes.
Is that how he sees me? A useless, defenseless girl?
Her hand squeezed the wand, then loosened with a sigh.
"…Thank you."
Noah held her gaze for a long moment. Whatever he was thinking remained a mystery.
"Don't ignore me!" the Slytherin snapped, raising her wand again.
"Furnunculus!"
A translucent barrier shimmered before Violet, absorbing the curse before fading.
The girl recoiled, eyes darting to Noah. Recognition struck—and fear.
"Gray…"
Noah took another bite of his tart, voice light and amused:
"Looks like your empty skull still works."
"Now tell me, how should I punish you for attacking me?" he asked, almost curious.
"Maybe I should make your clothes disappear too…"
He raised his wand—but a harsh voice cut in.
"I wouldn't advise that, Mr. Gray."
Snape strode up from the same direction Noah had come. "Attacking other students could earn you expulsion. Which I would gladly recommend, if necessary."
Noah's grin widened, as though he'd just heard something hilarious.
"What perfect timing, professor. Truly perfect."
Snape brushed past the trio, checking the Slytherin girl first, then turned on Noah.
"Care to explain what's going on here, Mr. Gray?"
Hermione stepped forward.
"Noah was only helping. This student attacked me without reason, professor." She touched her mouth. "Then she attacked Violet when she defended me."
"I don't recall asking you, Miss Granger," Snape's voice rumbled.
Violet opened her mouth, but Noah's voice cut her off.
"Come on. It's nearly lunchtime."
He was already turning away, walking lazily.
Violet glanced at Snape but saw no sign he would stop them. She cast one last look at the sneering Slytherin before storming after Noah. Hermione quickly joined them.
The corridor was left to Snape and the girl.
"That Gray doesn't even respect the professors," she muttered.
"One more word out of your mouth, Miss Parker, and you'll spend the next several weeks in detention."
She bit back her reply, but her eyes stayed locked on the two girls leaving.
Snape's gaze, however, lingered coldly on Noah's back, deep in thought.
…
By the time they reached the Great Hall, Hermione excused herself and hurried toward the bathrooms.
"Hermione," Violet called after her. But the girl only ran faster.
Noah said nothing. He was too attuned to emotions—not just his own, but others'. Hermione's humiliation and confusion radiated so strongly it was impossible to miss.
And Violet… she carried something else.
A small seed, already rooting in her mind.
Noah knew that feeling well.
Hatred.
Hatred for her own weakness.
"The Summoning Charm you used—aiming at her shoes, predicting her movement," he said with a nod. "That was creative."
Violet exhaled.
"I should be happy hearing that," she muttered, shaking her head. "Being praised by the best student in the school."
She should thank him. She should feel proud, even if it was shallow.
But she couldn't.
"See you around."
Noah gave a small wave, saying nothing more.
His gaze lingered on Violet until she disappeared toward the bathrooms.
A playful smile curved his lips.
"She's got a birthmark above her knee shaped like a leaf…"