HPS 108 (Patreon)

Chapter 108: The Quieting Charm

Outside the classroom, the stone wall illuminated by candlelight let out a "Hoo-hoo" cry, and one of Mr. Owl's claws lifted, adjusting his spectacles as if performing a trick.

His other foot clutched the parchment tightly, and his large eyes were as bright and sharp as Professor McGonagall's had been that day when she appeared in the fireplace.

Beside the soft cushion, to the left of the gold-edged letter, was a sweater that looked both comfortable and suitable, with a note resting on the blue and white collar:

【My mother sent lots of sweaters. You’re not the only one who got them.

Your friend,
Hermione Granger】

As if to prove this point, two other sweaters were placed to the left of this one, clearly and forcefully labeled: To Justin, To Neville.

Sean's smile was always subtle; his lips curved into a small arc, but it was enough to draw the attention of the few people peeking through the crack in the doorway.

Mr. Owl flapped his wings and loudly cried:

"Little wizard! Stupid little wizard!"

"Please, a little quieter..."

Justin clasped his hands together, which finally made Mr. Owl stop his clamor and turn his head one hundred and eighty degrees.

Then, he secretly opened one eye, as if he could see the scene inside through the sky-blue door.

Sean tucked the sweater away in his wardrobe. Just when he thought those were the only two, he noticed that another, noticeably wider sweater was pressed under Justin's package.

On top lay a crumpled note:
【Sean, I… don’t have anything else…】

Sean’s smile grew wider. His shorthand quill scratched softly on the back of the note, writing a few lines.

【Thank you, this is enough】

In the space of one morning, Sean received three sweaters. The difficult problem that appeared along with the question of which one to wear was—what should he give in return?

One-sided friendships never last; friendship, like all affections, is an investment over a long and indefinite period of time.

As the fireplace roared more fiercely, Sean glanced casually toward the door. 'Perhaps they should cast a Quieting Charm on Mr. Owl?' he thought.

That way, its squawks wouldn't drift over to him.

Sean silently put away the wand he had prepared to grind the proficiency for the Quieting Charm and instead picked up the three sweaters, slowly walking toward the door.

This immediately terrified the three little wizards who were pressed against the door crack, and they hastily scrambled to the spiral staircase.

"Haha—stupid little wizards!"

Mr. Owl had just finished laughing when he quickly raised his claw and covered his beak.

'A Ravenclaw... owl shouldn't laugh like that...'

Sean confirmed they were all gone before pushing the door open.

Holding the three sweaters and carrying his broom, he walked into the Ravenclaw Tower shortly after.

The cold wind no longer bothered him; after all, he had a new sweater to wear, his first... three new sweaters.

But later, Sean found there were more.

"It's just around the next corner—"

A wizard with bright red, flowing hair popped out from behind a portrait. It was Fred Weasley.

"It's strange—how does Ron even know Glynn would go there?"

An identical face lifted the portrait. George blinked.

"He'd have to be a clock to be so precise!"

"And a clock that's paid... Sss—"

Fred had just taken up the conversation when his face went ghostly pale with fright.

"Are you imitating a snake? Oh! A rattlesnake? Hiss hiss... Professor Snape."

George quickly stood at attention after setting the portrait back in place.

Professor Snape stared at them darkly. His voluminous robes were like sweeping black clouds. After waving his wand at the secret passage, he swept away.

"Rare... truly rare..."

Fred remained rooted to the spot, muttering to himself.

"We survived?!"

George felt Fred up and down, then nodded slightly. The other person was indeed intact.

"This isn't right..."

Fred slapped away the hand George had shoved toward his mouth.

"Of course, it's not right..."

George danced as he took a step forward, and the two walked on amidst their argument.

They completely failed to notice that their hands now held something extra.

At the end of the corridor.

Sean spotted the hair that burned like orange-red flames instantly; Fred and George's steps always seemed like skips.

"Two Galleons, please!"

Fred swung his hand in the air a few times, then gave a bow.

"But we almost bought the farm just now..."

George picked up a full set of clothes, shaking his head with a laugh.

"But when you take a job, the risk is yours!"

Fred took a pair of boots out of his bag and stuffed them onto Sean's hands along with the rest, filling his arms completely.

"Wait..."

George finally saw the three sweaters in Sean's grasp. He squinted one eye.

"A sweater collector?!"

Sean hadn't even had a chance to speak when he heard Fred immediately follow up:

"Doesn't mean we're giving a discount!"

Ignoring their banter, Sean was unsure if he could leave the place at all, so he dropped two gold Galleons into Fred's hand from his Undetectable Extension Charm pouch, said his thanks, and turned to leave.

"He has an Undetectable Extension Pouch! Did you see that, George?"

"If my eyes weren't blinded by a rattlesnake... I mean, we need to get more business from him!"

It wasn't until Sean returned to his dormitory that he realized he might not have to choose which sweater to wear, because nestled right in the center of those clothes was a purely black sweater with a green collar.

For no reason, Sean suddenly thought of those gloomy black eyes at the cellar door. Sure enough, he found a note inside:
【Wear it.】

As brief as ever.

After leaving the Ravenclaw Tower, Sean no longer felt the biting wind. His mind was occupied with a densely packed spell practice schedule.

His Whisper Charm had already reached the Beginner level—just a bit more effort, and he’d be proficient.

The only troublesome one was the Disillusionment Charm. It was the most complex spell Sean had studied so far, something easily seen from Professor Flitwick’s notes.

The Whisper Charm took only three paragraphs to describe, but the Disillusionment Charm filled ten full pages—covering everything from its history to intricate details.

Staring at the progress line 【Disillusionment Charm: Locked (0/30)】, Sean’s eyes grew even more determined.

Sean's gaze grew firmer.

Although the Green Common Talent made it hard to learn the difficult Disillusionment Charm, he just needed to successfully practice it once.

With one successful attempt, Sean could use the panel to turn it into thirty.

And once the charm reached the Apprentice level, Sean would gain new insights.

'Layered strengthening doesn't believe in talent.'

The cold October wind didn't just howl through the corridor; it even made the flames in the classroom fireplace flicker for a moment, although a "Hoo-hoo" from Mr. Owl would make the fire roar fiercely once more.

Justin and Hermione pretended to be busy, but they had secretly glanced several times at Sean, who was concentrating on practicing the Quieting Charm.

Only Neville was truly absorbed in carefully tending to his Biting Bellowplant.