Chapter 54: Clear Water Like a Spring

The three-headed dog incident was merely a small interlude, causing no great ripple in Wizard Sean’s life at Hogwarts.

It was Professor Flitwick’s notes that greatly aided Wizard Sean; though the content within remained vague, even vagueness often concealed traces of knowledge.

The casting gesture for the Clear Water Gush spell is typically described as a "diagonal upward arc."

Miranda Goshawk, in *Standard Spellwork: Level One*, compares it to “the arc of water from a fountain statue,” vivid and intuitive, ideal for beginners to form a mental image.

However, in her later work, *The Book of Spells*, she revised this description to “the beautiful arc created when natural water strikes a stone.”

Unfortunately, I have never heard Madame Goshawk publicly explain the specific reason for this change.

Yet in practical casting, the latter gesture indeed produces a smoother magical flow and more stable results—this has been repeatedly confirmed in my teaching practice.

Therefore, we might infer that this revision was not arbitrary, but rooted in a deeper understanding of the spell.】

“I think I understand—”

The Saturday lethargy of Hogwarts had not seeped into this owl-guarded classroom.

Early in the morning, two small heads were bent together over books spread across the desk, immersed in deep study.

In the corner of the books, steam from three cups of honey-lemon tea curled softly, blurring the faces of the two focused students.

“Want to try?”

Wizard Sean stared long at the description, then spoke to the young witch beside him.

“Of course—Agua—men—ti!”

Hermione swung her wand with confidence, tracing a natural arc through the air.

A thin stream gushed from the tip of her wand and splattered loudly onto the floor.

“Higher, more energetic… oh, what am I even saying…”

Hermione tried to articulate her feeling, but found her words as vague as those in the book.

She let out a soft sigh and turned her gaze to Wizard Sean, hoping he would understand.

“A larger arc, and swing the wand faster, right?”

Wizard Sean first used a cleaning charm to wipe away the water, then described it in detail, watching Hermione’s eyes grow brighter.

“Agua—men—ti!”

You practiced the Clear Water Gush spell at apprentice level. Proficiency +1.

Clear Water Gush spell: Locked (27/30)

【Summoning Charm: Locked (1/30)】

【Floating Charm: Beginner (200/900)】

In half a day, Wizard Sean had nearly unlocked the Clear Water Gush spell.

This was thanks in part to Hermione’s help—Miss Granger truly had a gift for charms.

Otherwise, she likely never would have become Professor Flitwick’s favorite later on.

Wizard Sean cleaned the water from the floor and, before exhaustion fully set in, practiced several more times.

You practiced the Clear Water Gush spell at apprentice level. Proficiency +1.

You practiced the Clear Water Gush spell at beginner level. Proficiency +3.

Clear Water Gush spell: Unlocked.

Not too difficult.

But the feeling of total exhaustion was unpleasant—Wizard Sean could barely lift his wand.

He met Hermione’s tired gaze; both their eyes sparkled with the thrill of mastering a new spell.

“There’s also the Summoning Charm—Professor Flitwick’s notes say:”

“When summoning an unknown object, a wizard need not know its exact name, only some defining property.”

“Though it’s not entirely impossible to summon living things, most cannot be summoned, and those that can aren’t worth summoning…”

Hermione rattled off a string of convoluted phrases that would leave anyone else baffled.

But Wizard Sean, who had spent nights reading the entire notebook alongside Hermione, understood every word.

After the three-headed dog incident, Hermione became even more obsessed with charm study.

Perhaps driven by some sense of crisis, she frequently discussed magic with Wizard Sean.

As for Jia Jia Siting, something seemed to have happened between him and Harry; when he learned Hermione had insisted on going along, his confidence waned.

Hermione now ignored Harry and Ron, but Jia Jia Siting had changed his view of Harry:

“Wizard Sean, I realize how different Harry is from my previous impression. When I spoke with him,

he even expressed regret to me about Hermione—his expression was genuine…”

“We talked for a while. Honestly, if I’d faced the same trouble as that Slytherin,

I doubt I could’ve resisted breaking the rules myself.”

Jia Jia Siting sounded thoughtful.

“If this incident taught me anything, it’s this: don’t judge until you know the full picture—

Mother was right.”

Wizard Sean nodded slowly, then left the classroom.

He was genuinely curious about Mrs. Finley—she must radiate light.

Left alone, Jia Jia Siting miraculously slipped a note to Hermione:

【Sorry, Granger】

It was unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable.

In first year, Harry had already shown maturity and resilience.

Raised in the Dursleys’ abuse and neglect, he had not become twisted or timid.

Instead, he had cultivated a quiet kindness and a fierce longing for justice.

Wizard Sean was perhaps the only first-year wizard who truly understood this feeling.

After all, they were both orphans.

If Wizard Sean’s character was upheld by a firm sense of self, keeping him from going astray,

then Harry’s was pure resilience.

Harry was never a bad child, nor a reckless fool.

If anything, Wizard Sean thought he was a war orphan who deserved some favor.

The few brief lines in the original texts about his childhood were enough to cast long, damp shadows.

So Wizard Sean did not think it wrong that Headmaster Dumbledore had brought Professor Quirrell to Hogwarts or designed dangerous traps on the fourth floor.

If Harry could not grow, and Dumbledore could not use this to root out the double agent,

then who would face Voldemort?

The only thing to remember was to stay as far away from Professor Quirrell as possible.

Wizard Sean thought this, and exhaled softly.

Warm wind stirred his hair, making his emerald eyes shine brighter.

After the rain, the grass was hazy with mist, the crisp scent of earth rising around him, faintly mingled with the mildew of the oak benches soaked by night dew.

Wizard Sean found Madam Hooch gathering brooms there, and walked over quickly:

“Madam Hooch, may I practice flying here? I won’t take long.”

Wizard Sean asked hesitantly.

“Oh, did you think I was waiting for someone? Mr. Green, take this broom!”

Madam Hooch’s hawk-like eyes swept over him and tossed him a relatively intact Cleansweep Seven.

“Thank you.”

Wizard Sean mounted the broom smoothly; whether from psychology or not, he clearly felt the fatigue from spell practice had lessened somewhat.