Once a decision had been made, action must follow.
In the next day's Charms class, Professor Flitwick introduced and demonstrated a particularly practical spell—the Mending Charm. The incantation was Reparo.
To be honest, for Wentworth, a spell of this level posed no challenge whatsoever.
After Professor Flitwick finished his explanation, he gestured for the students to begin practicing. The task was to repair a small broken object placed in front of each of them.
Wentworth drew his wand and aimed at a shattered hand mirror. With a smooth motion, he flicked his wand and uttered,
"Reparo!"
Instantly, the mirror before him was restored to perfection, looking as good as new!
Wentworth's seamless execution immediately caught Professor Flitwick's attention. With a pleased expression, he praised,
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! From the angle of your wand movement to the incantation and the precise control of your magic—flawless! Hufflepuff, twenty points!"
The Hufflepuff students erupted in cheers.
Just then, from the direction of the Slytherin students, another voice rang out:
"Reparo!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the spell and saw Cassandra holding her wand aloft. Below it, a mechanical clock sat motionless, emitting a steady "tick-tock."
Professor Flitwick clapped as well, acknowledging her effort.
"Very good! Miss Cassandra, though you were a bit slower, that was still a perfect Mending Charm! Slytherin, ten points!"
Applause rippled through the Slytherin group, but Cassandra remained expressionless, as if entirely indifferent.
One of the Slytherin students, believing Cassandra was frustrated at having cast the spell after Wentworth, leaned in and whispered reassuringly,
"Don't worry, Cassandra. Next time, you'll be faster than Wentworth for sure!"
However, Cassandra merely cast a disdainful glance at the student and replied coldly,
"Rather than wasting time talking, why don't you focus on actually casting the spell? A Slytherin who can't master a simple Mending Charm in an entire lesson—isn't that a disgrace?"
The student blushed furiously and quickly backed away.
In Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall distributed a steel needle to each student.
As the students from Hufflepuff and Slytherin held the needles in confusion, Professor McGonagall returned to the front of the classroom. Placing a similar steel needle on the desk, she pointed her wand at it.
With a flick of her wrist, the needle instantly transformed into a small, furry mouse, which twitched its nose before leaping off the desk and scurrying toward the door.
Before it could get far, another flick of Professor McGonagall's wand turned the mouse back into a steel needle.
Facing the class, she announced,
"Students, we have been studying Transfiguration for some time now. Today, we will test your progress.
"The steel needles in your hands will serve as your material. I do not expect you to transform them into living creatures immediately as I did—feel free to experiment.
"By the end of the lesson, whoever creates the most refined and successful transformation will earn house points. You may begin!"
Moments after the lesson started, a loud BANG echoed through the classroom, startling the students.
All eyes turned toward the source of the noise, where a Hufflepuff student sat, his face covered in soot, staring blankly at the smoldering lump of charcoal on his desk.
Professor McGonagall, unfazed by the incident—clearly having witnessed similar mishaps many times before—sighed and asked,
"I am most curious… what exactly were you thinking just now?"
The student, still dazed, blurted out without hesitation,
"I was thinking about the barbecue I had during the holidays, Professor."
Suppressing a sigh, Professor McGonagall graciously handed him a fresh steel needle and deducted five points from Hufflepuff.
"I nearly forgot to mention—Transfiguration is an incredibly advanced branch of magic. You must maintain absolute focus while casting, or unexpected consequences are bound to occur!"
Glancing back at the student, she continued,
"Although, in my years of teaching, I have found that personal experience is often the best teacher."
From that moment on, the class proceeded without further accidents, as every student diligently concentrated on their transformations.
Midway through the lesson, Wentworth examined his creation with satisfaction before raising his hand.
Professor McGonagall approached and inspected his work. Pleased, she remarked,
"Very well done—a beautifully crafted brooch! What is the design?"
Wentworth smiled modestly before replying,
"It's a ginkgo leaf, Professor. It symbolizes resilience and composure."
Hearing this, Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly and said,
"Excellent work! Hufflepuff, ten points!"
As the class continued, more students raised their hands to present their work. Most had managed only simple objects like forks and knives, with little to no ornamentation.
However, when Professor McGonagall reached Cassandra's desk, she let out a quiet "Oh?" before giving her a knowing look.
"Miss Cassandra, cufflinks are typically worn on the sleeves of a gentleman. It is rare for a witch to use Transfiguration to craft such an item. May I ask—what were you thinking about?"
Cassandra's face flushed red at the question, but before she could respond, Professor McGonagall's expression suddenly shifted. She swiftly snatched the cufflinks from Cassandra's desk and examined them closely.
Her voice, now sharp and urgent, demanded,
"This symbol… Cassandra! Where have you seen this before? You know what it represents, don't you?! I sincerely hope you understand the gravity of what you are doing!"
After speaking, Professor McGonagall briefly glanced at Wentworth, leaving him bewildered by her reaction.
Then, without another word, she announced,
"Class dismissed!"
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