Chapter 128: Fire Lizard

In the cold courtyard.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Ron asked, uneasy.

“If any other teachers are listening, I think he wouldn’t refuse—everyone knows this rule was made up on the spot.”

Harry’s eyes were filled with determination. What he didn’t say was that he and Ron were struggling over how to approach Wizard Sean— they wanted to join that mysterious place too.

And just then, he had lost Hermione’s book—how infuriating.

He went downstairs to the staff lounge and knocked on the door.

No answer. He knocked again—still no movement.

Maybe Snape left the book inside? Worth a try.

Harry pushed the door open a crack and peered inside—what he saw was a horrifying sight.

The room held only Snape and Filch. Snape had hiked his robe above his knees.

One of his legs was drenched in blood, flesh torn and raw. Filch was handing him something.

“Damn thing,”

Snape muttered,

“How are you supposed to watch three heads at once?”

“Oh—try this.”

Mr. Filch pulled out a vial and gauze, which startled Professor Snape.

“I don’t think—”

Before he could finish, Mr. Filch uttered a name that darkened his face in an instant:

“Ah, ah, this one’s… Green…”

At that, Harry quickly clapped a hand over his mouth and saw Wizard Sean dart past the corner of the corridor.

In his hand was a book with a green cover.

After spotting the sneaking Harry, Wizard Sean nodded to him, signaling that Hermione’s confiscated book had been retrieved from the caretaker’s office.

“Merlin… Wizard Sean…”

Harry seemed to realize something—had he just moved to get the book back, and Wizard Sean had already completed the task?

…

Ron and Harry had fully aligned their stance because of Neville’s performance in Charms class.

“Excellent! Very good, Mr. Longbottom—outstanding progress!”

Professor Flitwick’s delighted voice seemed ready to lift the entire classroom off the floor as he hurried to Neville’s side, watching as the small wooden board floated back and forth, then spun cleverly twice.

Around them, the young witches and wizards stared wide-eyed, whispering among themselves.

Some claimed Wizard Sean knew a magical spell—that Neville secretly vanished each day to seek Wizard Sean’s magic, and that receiving this magic made one incredibly smart; otherwise, how could one explain Longbottom’s rapid advancement?

His Levitation Charm progress had even surpassed many other young wizards.

Ron and Harry’s behavior became noticeably more attentive to Wizard Sean—they wanted to know if Wizard Sean would accept them.

And Wizard Sean?

Lately, he had been busy studying Dark Arts and Transfiguration.

Starting Thursday, Professor Snape had been glaring at his Dark Arts progress almost daily.

Just like the recent Gryffindor Quidditch team captain, Wood—

Wood demanded every member devote every second to Quidditch training, while Professor Snape demanded Wizard Sean devote every second to Dark Arts training.

His exact words were:

“Ha—our arrogant Green, thinks he’s gifted… but let me tell you, Green, I’ve seen too many so-called geniuses…”

He spoke as if he meant to devour someone,

“But I tell you—they’re all dead, wasted away because they squandered time on trivial things!”

So regardless, Wizard Sean’s Dark Arts progress saw a marked improvement:

【You practiced the Sectumsempra spell to expert standard—proficiency +50】

【You practiced the Sectumsempra spell to expert standard—proficiency +50】

…

【Disarming Charm: Expert (10/9000)】

【Sectumsempra: Skilled (10/3000)】

【Advancement: Three beginner-level Dark Spells unlocked—can claim Beginner title in Dark Arts】

Wizard Sean’s Dark Arts title remained at Apprentice, but the two Dark Spells he’d learned already had high proficiency.

He had even begun practicing silent Sectumsempra.

But unfortunately, Dark Arts seemed to share the same principles as Charms—quantity and strength must coexist.

Thus, Wizard Sean grew even more eager for tomorrow’s third Dark Spell—

Professor Snape had said offense was vital, but if you couldn’t control—Green, do you think you could defeat everyone?

Wizard Sean began guessing what spell it might be: Impedimenta, Full Body-Bind, or Leg-Locker Curse?

Hogwarts had few books on Dark Arts; the accurate Dark Spells Wizard Sean could learn were even fewer.

Of course, he had no strong interest in Dark Arts either.

Dark Arts was indeed a highly destructive branch of magic, but in raw power, Transfiguration matched it perfectly—and surpassed it in versatility and universality.

More importantly, Wizard Sean dared not study too much Dark Arts—it corrupted wizards, and Hogwarts had a headmaster who fiercely opposed it.

In contrast, Wizard Sean naturally devoted vast amounts of time to Transfiguration.

He had mastered intermediate Transfiguration: the mutual transformation between inanimate objects and living beings.

And partial advanced Transfiguration: turning objects into magic, and multiple-transformation casting.

Not long after, the day before the Quidditch match began.

Wizard Sean could now turn snow on the ground into a snowman that threw snowballs by itself, though it didn’t last long—it kept hollowing itself out.

Once it hollowed itself, it would collapse into a limp, soggy heap.

Meanwhile, Wizard Sean frowned in the courtyard—he faced a problem: the fire lizard had grown larger, sometimes as big as a football.

But it was disobedient.

It would suddenly shoot into the air, spin wildly through the courtyard, crackling sparks and making loud noises.

Because Wizard Sean had cast a Silencing Charm, it had crept onto Hermione’s book unnoticed and set it ablaze with a hiss.

—It was like Wizard Sean’s opposite, always doing things Wizard Sean would never do.

Jia Jia Siting laughed, saying this was Wizard Sean’s “demon” unleashed; Wizard Sean didn’t fully agree—he thought even demons wouldn’t be cruel enough to burn books full of knowledge.

But if Wizard Sean wanted it to obey, its size would shrink rapidly, transforming into a miniature lizard.

Wizard Sean knew the football size was probably not its limit—if he poured all his magic without restraint, he didn’t even know what monster he could create.

No wonder Transfiguration required caution—Wizard Sean now understood deeply.

Another update in half an hour.