Chapter 45: Determination

Another day,

Wizard Sean walked out of the dungeon.

He carefully cleaned up all traces of his potion-making, and even after Justin scrutinized the area at length, he found no sign.

Soon after, lightning split the sky,

It was clear that Hogwarts would be another day of thunderous storms.

Rain fell outside the castle, and Wizard Sean read in the library,

the magical crystal ball emitted a soft, warm glow; Madam Pince always glanced his way as she passed by.

If Hermione spending six hours daily in the library was already diligent,

then Wizard Sean, who opened and closed the library’s oak doors alongside Madam Pince every day, could be called half the librarian.

At least on this row of shelves, Wizard Sean always helped organize the books.

It wasn’t because Wizard Sean enjoyed helping others—only that after skimming each book, tidying them up was easy.

Occasionally, Madam Pince would tell Wizard Sean—

which books held real substance, and which were mere empty boasts.

Wizard Sean was deeply grateful.

Madam Pince was not as cruel as the young wizards claimed; she could be kind.

At least when she saw Wizard Sean’s notes on Magical History, she was happy to discuss them with him,

and even shared sweets with him—though never in the library, only at dawn when opening or at night when closing.

Justin’s sweets had recently become widely popular,

no one knew how he convinced the house-elves to let him into Hogwarts’ kitchen, but his skill was undeniably superb.

Perhaps Hufflepuffs are born with a culinary magic talent; Justin’s improved desserts in “A Feast to Appear!” had recently received high praise.

Even Hermione would gobble down two Da Fu cakes at once, her cheeks puffed out,

while Wizard Sean was usually the first to taste them.

…

Outside the window,

rain pattered softly onto fertile soil, and the Scottish Highlands rose in a hazy veil of mist,

here, nights were always golden and warm; when the damp breeze, carrying the scent of earth, brushed Wizard Sean’s cheek,

his emerald eyes would shimmer with a faint magical glow.

“Be more resolute—the left hand’s arc should be wider; most importantly, believe, believe you can do it… overcome gravity…”

Wizard Sean murmured, correcting Justin’s Levitation Charm once again.

Thanks to sheer diligence, in just over a week, Wizard Sean’s progress in charms had far outpaced the other young wizards,

even Hermione would pause to carefully consider his teaching.

Wizard Sean never minded sharing his experience,

he was happy to share minor insights on charms after practice, when everyone was tired.

The only thing that troubled Wizard Sean was that Professor Snape had been brewing potions far too frequently lately.

These days, Snape and Wizard Sean existed in a strange rhythm:

if Snape wasn’t in the dungeon, then Wizard Sean was;

if Wizard Sean wasn’t there, then Snape was.

Through this game of hide-and-seek,

Wizard Sean’s Potion Master title progress had surpassed two-thirds,

yet he still felt urgency—he had been enrolled for a week and a half,

and this pace was still too slow; so he made a decision.

Even without confirmed news of Snape’s whereabouts, he would brew potions anyway.

He must unlock the Potion Master title before the end of this week—it was his guarantee to go further in potion-making.

In the magical world, differences between wizards with different talents have always been stark,

Wizard Sean understood this deeply.

…

Ravenclaw common room.

Since the flying lesson announcement, nearly every young wizard had been talking endlessly about Quidditch.

“Many believe the Chudley Cannons’ glorious era is over, but more believe they’ll surely reclaim their past glory!

After all, the Chudley Cannons have won the League Cup twenty-one times!”

Michael held a poster in one hand and gripped the chair with the other, boasting loudly.

On the poster, Chudley Cannons players wore bright orange robes adorned with a speeding cannonball and two black letters “C.”

“Oh, come on, Michael, can you explain their slogan then?

Before 1972 it was ‘We Will Conquer All,’ but why did it change to ‘Let’s All Cross Our Fingers and Stay Positive’?”

A tall, thin young wizard suddenly laughed out loud.

“That! That doesn’t count!”

Michael looked as if stabbed in the foot,

then began spouting things like “management-made slogans,” “unrelated to the team,” “you have no idea about the Cannons’ glory”—making everyone laugh until their faces turned red.

“Such a decline…”

In the end, even Michael couldn’t help sighing, then helplessly spread his hands.

The warm fireplace blazed, and Wizard Sean passed by, pale-faced,

behind him was Anthony, pretending to read but never taking his eyes off Wizard Sean—

he always lagged half a step behind Wizard Sean.

“Oh! Wizard Sean, Anthony!”

Sharp-eyed Michael spotted them and hurried over warmly,

casually slinging an arm around Wizard Sean’s shoulder; the group sat together on Ravenclaw’s benches,

the velvet upholstery worn thin by age, glowing with a soft, mellow sheen.

Star-patterned cushions and low stools lay scattered about, draped in deep purple, ink-blue, or bronze silk pads,

casually placed atop Persian rugs or velvet carpets, like scattered constellations.

The lively chatter of the Ravenclaws blended with the drumming rain outside, and Wizard Sean took a moment to rest in the common room.

The Ravenclaws discussed Quidditch teams across Britain and Ireland, having forgotten their earlier boasts about Quidditch skills,

and Wizard Sean slowly pulled out “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”—admittedly, the book was genuinely fascinating.

For example: 【The Falmouth Falcons were famed for their aggressive play, boasting world-renowned Beaters Kevin and Karl Broad.

Their motto: “Win if we can, but if we can’t, let’s break a few skulls.”】

Quite intimidating indeed.

Suddenly, Wizard Sean noticed the chatter around him had stopped; he looked up, puzzled, to find six or seven heads leaning in.

“Wizard Sean, you borrowed ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’?!”

Michael’s cry broke the silence first.

“Wizard Sean, can I take a look?”

Wizard Sean heard Michael say, slightly embarrassed,

the black-haired male wizard Anthony sighed helplessly,

he glanced idly—Terry was still watching raindrops by the stained-glass window, where he’d been for three hours.

Anthony sighed again.

Wizard Sean nodded and generously placed the book on the table.

The young wizards erupted in clamor:

“Let me see too, Michael.”

“Me, me, me—I want to see!”

Even the student who owned the book couldn’t resist joining in—Madam Pince’s precious copy, could it compare to one you bought yourself…

“Oh—guys, I think we should be careful…”

Michael’s voice was swallowed by the howling wind and pouring rain outside,

Wizard Sean thought again of tomorrow’s plan,

yes, tomorrow, if Snape wasn’t in the dungeon—even if he couldn’t find the professor himself, as long as it was safe,

Wizard Sean would risk brewing potions,

he was only six proficiency points away.

The hardest fragment of the scholarship was finally about to be completed.