Chapter 128: Nonsense
Chapter 128: Nonsense
"We're waiting for the pudding", Hermione answered, while Harry and Ron remained silent.
Lavender looked at them with confusion.
"I never knew you guys were so fond of pudding?"
As she spoke, various desserts suddenly appeared on the table.
In front of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, a cup of yellow, mango-flavored pudding appeared!
The three of them stared at the pudding in disbelief.
"You were right, Hermione!" Ron jumped up from his chair, exclaiming excitedly.
His sudden outburst startled the Gryffindors who were eating nearby, and even the students at the Slytherin table took notice. Malfoy, with his arm in a bandage, sneered.
"Did you spot a Dementor, stinky Weasley?"
The Slytherins burst into laughter.
But Harry, Ron, and Hermione paid no attention to the mocking. They were fixated on the cup of pudding in front of them, as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Hermione, they've gone mad", Parvati muttered, moving her chair away to avoid any trouble.
Harry lifted the glass cup filled with mango pudding and, with trembling hands, scooped some into his mouth with a spoon.
"It's pudding!"
Hearing his confirmation, Ron and Hermione slumped back into their chairs.
"At least we can confirm one thing now: Professor Forrest's Jinxed Mouth spell is ineffective when he knows what he's saying is part of a test", Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"Whether there would be pudding for dessert at lunch was always uncertain. Normally, if the professor said there would be pudding, it meant there wouldn't be."
"Of course, there's a tiny possibility that the pudding was already prepared in the kitchen when he said it, making it a certainty that there would be pudding, even if his Jinxed Mouth spell couldn't change it."
Though this possibility was small, it couldn't be entirely ruled out.
The main event would be the Charms class and the weather changes in the afternoon.
After leaving the Great Hall, Harry and Ron, unusually, didn't linger in the common room. Instead, they arrived at the Charms classroom with Hermione almost an hour early.
They found a seat by the window and kept a close eye on the sky outside.
The overcast morning had cleared up, and the bright sun now hung high in the sky, indicating a clear day.
However, Sherlock had said, "It should be sunny in the afternoon."
It was only just past noon, and several hours remained before the afternoon was over, so Harry and the others didn't jump to conclusions.
They waited in the Charms classroom until the class began.
Professor Flitwick instructed them to open their textbooks, Standard Book of Spells, to the page on Reparo.
"Reparo is a spell that wizards use frequently in daily life. It can repair items that are damaged, whether they have no magical properties or only a small amount."
"This spell isn't difficult. Some of you may have already learned it in your first or second year, but now we will start studying it formally."
"The incantation for Reparo is 'Reparo.' Remember the key points in its pronunciation."
Reparo was indeed a simple spell. Hermione had mastered it in her first year, and Harry and Ron had learned it at the start of their second year.
Last semester, when Ron's wand broke, he had tried to repair it with this spell, but wands couldn't be fixed that way, and his attempt failed.
Harry and the others knew the spell, but they were certain Seamus hadn't learned it.
Five days ago, Seamus had accidentally dropped his teacup, and Ron had cast the spell to repair it for him.
So when Professor Flitwick finished explaining the technique and instructed the students to practice, Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't move. Instead, they stared intently at Seamus, who was sitting in front of them.
Their gaze was so direct that Seamus couldn't help but notice.
He felt a chill run down his spine and turned to look at Harry and the others.
"What are you staring at me for?"
Harry waved his hand dismissively.
"Nothing, we just think you look great today, Seamus."
Seamus believed him and excitedly brushed his fringe off his forehead.
"Really? Did you notice I used some Selwyn's Facial Cream today?"
Harry had no interest in the brand of facial cream Seamus used. He only wanted to know if Seamus would cause anything to explode during the class.
"Yes, you look very cool and handsome, Seamus. You're the best-looking person in Hogwarts after Professor Forrest. So, go ahead, since you're in such good form, you'll definitely get the hang of Professor Flitwick's Reparo spell right away."
Seamus's face turned red from the praise.
"Oh, you're being too generous, Harry, but I do feel that I'm in top form today."
With that, he raised his wand and pointed it at the parchment on the table that had been torn in half.
Watching his movements, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all held their breath, appearing even more nervous than Seamus himself.
Under their watchful eyes, Seamus followed the method Professor Flitwick had just taught, waving his wand and uttering the spell.
"Reparo!"
A faint white light flashed at the tip of his wand, and the spell took effect instantly, seamlessly rejoining the torn parchment as if it had never been damaged.
"See! I really am in great form today!" Seamus said proudly, lifting his head. "Ever since I stepped into this classroom, I had a feeling that no matter what spell Professor Flitwick would teach us today, I would master it."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained silent, their eyes wide as they stared at the perfectly repaired parchment, as if they were witnessing an incredible miracle.
At that moment, Professor Flitwick happened to walk by Seamus and saw his perfect performance. He praised him.
"Very well done, Mr. Finnigan. This is the first time I haven't seen you blow up your desk while teaching a new spell."
"Those were just accidents. Today is my true form, Professor", Seamus said without a hint of modesty.
True form, my foot!
Harry and the others all thought the same thing at that moment.
There was no way Seamus's first successful use of a spell could be his normal performance.
Except for Seamus himself, who refused to admit it, the other Gryffindor students knew that when learning a new spell or brewing a potion, they should stay far away from him.
Just like now.
In this class, besides Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting behind him, Seamus didn't have a partner.
"This only confirms Hermione's theory", Ron said, his voice trembling.
Hermione's lips were pressed together until they turned white. She stared at Seamus, who was proudly tearing the parchment again and using Reparo to verify his success, and said softly.
"Perhaps we should try increasing the difficulty a bit."
With that, she moved to sit next to Seamus, much to Harry and Ron's surprise.
Seamus looked equally surprised and asked, "What's up, Hermione?"
Hermione stared at him.
"You said you felt particularly good in this class today?"
Seamus shrugged. "My performance speaks for itself."
"Could you handle learning and casting another spell right away?" Hermione asked, batting her eyelashes.
Harry and Ron realized what Hermione was up to and looked at her with a mix of shock and admiration for her bravery.
If Seamus used an unfamiliar spell and it exploded, Hermione would be the first to suffer!
Seamus thought he understood Hermione's intentions.
After all, he was indeed irresistible today, even the usually reserved Hermione couldn't resist joining in.
Moreover, Seamus hadn't lied when he said he felt incredibly good from the moment he entered the Charms classroom, better than he had ever felt before.
So, without hesitation, he confidently replied, "Of course I can."
Hermione's knowledge of spells far exceeded that of a typical third-year student. She immediately presented Seamus with a particularly challenging spell.
"The Bubble-Head Charm, a spell that allows wizards to move underwater by creating a bubble of air around the head."
She guided Seamus through the spell, and to their surprise, he actually dared to learn it!
After listening to Hermione's explanation, he eagerly prepared to make his first attempt.
Harry and Ron immediately leaned back, keeping a safe distance, and even pulled Hermione away.
However, no explosion occurred. Seamus flawlessly replicated Hermione's demonstration, successfully casting the fifth-year spell on his first try, forming a bubble of air around his head.
Harry and Ron stared in disbelief at the smug Seamus, while Hermione's eyes widened in astonishment.
It seemed as if Seamus had been blessed with extraordinary luck during this class. Even the most difficult spells seemed within his reach, and even if he failed, there would be no explosions.
Everything had changed, just like on that road in France.
Professor Flitwick no longer had a cursed mouth; he had turned into a wishing cup!
(End of Chapter)
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