After landing, Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead, his chest still rising and falling from the exertion. Though the entire episode hadn't lasted very long, the level of concentration required to control that unstable broom far exceeded what he normally needed when chasing the Golden Snitch during a Quidditch match.
Carefully, he opened his hand and revealed the tiny golden creature nestled inside—its delicate wings twitching faintly.
"I think this might be the only time in my life I'll ever catch a Golden Snidget while flying," Harry said with a breathless laugh. "It was even harder than catching the Snitch. Honestly, it felt like trying to grab a flicker of sunlight out of the air."
He paused, glancing toward Hagrid with a mixture of relief and mild reproach.
"Hagrid… you really need to be more careful."
Then, turning toward Ryze, his tone softened with gratitude.
"And Ryze—thanks to you, and Ailey as well. If you hadn't predicted where it would appear, there's no way I could've caught it. Not on that broom."
Ryze gave a small nod, his expression calm as always. He didn't seem inclined to make much of it, but the results spoke for themselves.
It was evident to everyone present that this experience had changed Harry. Catching a Golden Snidget under such dangerous conditions—while riding a damaged broom—had clearly boosted his confidence. There was a steadiness to him now, a quiet certainty that hadn't been there before.
At that moment, Professor Kettleburn hurried over, slightly out of breath. With practiced ease, he cast a Binding Charm on the Golden Snidget, securing it once more before gently placing it back into its cage and handing it over to Hagrid.
"Hagrid," he said, patting the larger man on the back, "your reckless streak hasn't faded one bit over the years. You remind me of myself when I was younger—though unfortunately, my bones aren't nearly as forgiving anymore."
He chuckled lightly, the tension from earlier already fading from his demeanor.
"A few more 'surprises' like that, and I might have to retire early and check myself into St. Mungo's."
Despite the words, there was no real criticism in his tone—only fond amusement.
"Still," he continued, glancing around at the students, "making a bit of a mess now and then has always been something of a tradition among magizoologists. As long as everything turns out well in the end, I'd say it's all part of the learning experience."
Hagrid sniffed, rubbing his eyes as he stepped forward and pulled Harry into a tight embrace.
"I noticed it back at the Quidditch pitch," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I've got to say it again… Harry, that dive you made just now—it was exactly like your father's. If James could've seen that, he would've been proud. Really proud."
The moment lingered briefly before the group gradually settled down. The magical creatures, which had been thrown into chaos by the Snidget's frantic escape, were now calm once more.
Seeing that things had finally stabilized, Professor Kettleburn clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Alright, children," he announced. "Despite the little incident, our impromptu Care of Magical Creatures lesson has come to an end."
He gestured vaguely toward the enclosure behind them.
"As for the golden fellow—and that rather peculiar lion with a python's tail—I suggest that once you leave this suitcase, you treat today's experience as… something of a vivid dream."
A knowing smile tugged at his lips.
"If you can manage that, perhaps I'll introduce you to some even more impressive creatures in the future."
The young wizards exchanged glances, each of them clearly understanding the implication. No one spoke it aloud, but they all agreed—some things were better left unreported.
As they exited the suitcase, the lingering warmth from the Warming Charm faded away. A sharp gust of cold air greeted them, making several students shiver involuntarily.
Yet the chill did little to dampen their spirits.
If anything, the experience had only deepened their fascination with magical creatures. The sight of such rare and powerful beings, combined with the thrill of the earlier chaos, had ignited a genuine enthusiasm among them.
The incident with the Golden Snidget had also brought them closer together. In the midst of the confusion, everyone had contributed in their own way—even Ron, who had struggled to keep several mischievous Nifflers from causing further trouble.
As they made their way back toward the castle, conversations buzzed quietly among the group.
Terry approached Harry, a look of admiration on his face.
"Harry, that was incredible," he said. "You're easily the most talented Seeker we've seen. Pulling off a dive like that on a Shooting Star with a broken handle… Ravenclaw is definitely going to have a hard time against you this year."
Harry scratched the back of his head, clearly a bit embarrassed by the praise, but he couldn't entirely hide his satisfaction.
The group continued chatting in low voices until they reached the castle entrance. Almost instinctively, they fell silent upon stepping inside, each of them wary of drawing the attention of Filch.
Without needing to say anything, they dispersed quietly and headed toward their respective dormitories.
Back in the Ravenclaw dormitory, Ryze spent some time chatting with his roommates before finally turning his attention inward.
The reward from his mission still lingered in his mind.
The golden attribute forger.
With a single thought, he activated it.
A burst of shimmering golden light erupted before him, fragments scattering like broken glass in the air. Then, a notification appeared.
[Spell Penetration +2]
"Spell Penetration…"
Ryze's eyes sharpened slightly.
This was not a common attribute.
From his previous observations, both wizards and magical creatures possessed an inherent resistance to magic, largely influenced by the strength of their magical power. The greater the power, the stronger the resistance.
On top of that, wizards could create magical barriers—defensive constructs that required either specific counter-spells or significant force to break through.
Spell Penetration, then, was a direct countermeasure.
If his understanding was correct, even a small percentage of penetration could significantly weaken such defenses. At higher levels, it might even render certain protective spells ineffective altogether.
"These two points…" Ryze murmured to himself. "They should already make a noticeable difference."
Given that most underage wizards didn't possess particularly strong magical resistance, this attribute would likely give him a clear advantage in practical combat situations.
His hypothesis was confirmed the very next day.
During routine practice at the Dueling Club, Ryze faced a third-year student. The opponent cast a defensive barrier—a spell that, just a week ago, had required two of Ryze's attacks to reliably break.
This time, however, the outcome was different.
With a single spell, the barrier shattered.
The change was immediate and unmistakable.
His opponent stared at him in disbelief.
"How…?" the student muttered. "How did your spells get so strong in just a week?"
Ryze didn't answer.
Instead, he quietly noted the results.
The increase in raw ability power he had gained recently was modest—only seven points. That alone shouldn't have been enough to produce such a dramatic improvement.
The only plausible explanation was the Spell Penetration attribute.
It wasn't just increasing his damage—it was reducing the effectiveness of his opponent's defenses.
That realization alone made the reward far more valuable than it initially appeared.
Interestingly, Ryze soon discovered that the benefits of Spell Penetration extended beyond combat.
It also had a subtle but meaningful impact on potion brewing.
When creating potions, a wizard must infuse magical power into the ingredients. The quality and stability of that infusion directly affect the final result.
Previously, while Ryze's magical power was already comparable to that of a fourth-year student, he still faced limitations.
The period between ages thirteen and sixteen was known to be the fastest phase of magical growth. Despite his advantages, he had not yet reached the upper threshold of his potential.
As a result, when brewing sixth-year-level potions, he could consistently achieve a "Passing" grade without much difficulty. However, reaching "Outstanding" required precise control and refinement—something that demanded more than just raw power.
Now, with Spell Penetration, the situation had changed.
His magical power integrated more smoothly with the potion ingredients. The infusion process became more efficient, more precise.
The results spoke for themselves.
The batches of Elixir of Euphoria he produced began to show a marked improvement in quality. Their effects were cleaner, more stable—easily reaching the "Outstanding" standard.
On the market, such potions commanded a respectable price.
Recognizing the opportunity, Ryze arranged for Ailey to transport his daily potion output to his home in Hogsmeade. From there, Andromeda could sell them, or Ted could distribute them as gifts when appropriate.
It was a practical system—one that allowed Ryze to convert his growing skill into tangible benefits.
Even so, he understood one thing clearly.
"Outstanding" was not the end goal.
At least, not in Professor Snape's eyes.
For Snape, excellence was merely the baseline.
And anything less than perfection… was simply not good enough.
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