Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 286: Luna

Could a small earthquake really be a kind of magic?
Sheen suddenly realized.

In the early days, wizards who used ancient runes were able to accomplish many incredible feats. For example, Sheen discovered that in the dueling tournament of 1379, a wizard used a similar "weather magic" in battle—the origin of the famous Mountain-Moving Curse.

The participants in this competition were described as having "almost unprecedented skill and fighting prowess."

It reads: The second wizard then faced the third wizard, who conjured a huge storm cloud in the sky, drenching his opponent in cold rain while he constantly dodged the lightning bolts.

The third wizard devised a plan, conjuring a powerful whirlwind that not only blew away the storm but also the judges, most of the audience, and several trees.

The magic here has a powerful influence, just like the matter transformation that Sheen is learning.

Sheen needs to learn ancient runes from Professor McGonagall and prepare for a long time before he can unleash such a transformation spell.

Despite Professor McGonagall's assessment of such transformations as "flashy magic."

But for Sheen, it will provide a powerful boost in his fight against the basilisk.

If Sheen could really lift a mountain and smash it on the basilisk's head, then a major obstacle in developing basilisk cookies would be solved.

Amidst these plans, the summer vacation quietly slipped away.

During this period, Fairy Tale Bookstore officially announced the launch of the "Cerberus" series, a piece of news that reignited the enthusiasm of wizards. 77 Diagon Alley, a shop that only a very few people have ever entered, has almost become a legend.

Reporters from The Wizarding Weekly staked out this place every day, hoping to capture some earth-shattering photos, but they always returned empty-handed—except for the day it was open, the shop was like a "dead" place.

September 1st.

The young wizards were all heading to King's Cross Station to board a train called the Hogwarts Express.

Leaving home can be sad and unsettling, but the little wizards' expressions brightened up quickly when they thought of their friends on the train.

This is something that young wizards usually do every year on September 1st, but today there was an exception.

"Am I going too, Hagrid?"

Sheen followed Hagrid out of the castle, one after the other.

Sheen has recently been researching the entrance to the secret room, and his memory of it is a little hazy; he only remembers Myrtle and the girls' restroom.

Sheen only had some speculations about its true entrance, which was one of the most important things she needed to do after the start of the semester.

"Why not go? You've never ridden in a Thestral carriage before—believe me, it's a wonderful feeling—"

Hagrid shouted, leading Sheen down the slope outside the castle toward the Forbidden Forest. Or rather, toward the Thestrals.

They were to lead the Thestrals to Hogsmeade Station to pick up the wizards in their first year and above and bring them back to the castle.

After all, first-year students can row small boats, but second-year and above wizards can't exactly swim over, can they?
……

The sky had already darkened, and the sun hung on the treetops like an orange.

Hogsmeade Station was bustling with activity. In the distance, the train slowly slowed down. Justin, Hermione, and Neville heard a commotion all around them as everyone busied themselves gathering their luggage and pets, preparing to disembark.

They dragged their heavy steps out of the private room and joined the flow of people in the corridor, feeling the long-lost sting of the night air on their faces. They slowly moved towards the door, where they could smell the fresh scent of the pine trees lining the path leading to the lake.

After getting off the train and onto the platform, they looked around and began to strain their ears to find that familiar voice:

"First-year students, come here...first-year students..."

The voice was both familiar and strange. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a young wizard gathering the new students.

"Sheen?"

Hermione was stunned. Had Hogwarts really handed Hagrid's job over to Sheehan?
He's only in first or second grade!
While Hermione was still stunned, Justin and Neville were already helping to guide the freshmen who were running around aimlessly. Finally, after a while, they managed to gather the freshmen together, and Hermione had a chance to ask her question:

"Hagrid, Sheen? What are you doing here?"

Hermione frowned.

"Hagrid lost a Thestral, went to look for it, and returned quickly."

Sheen calmly replied that the half-giant became somewhat unreliable when Hagrid was with him, and he even came up with the brilliant idea of ​​having Sheen lead ten Thestrals by himself.

They completely forgot that Sheen was just a minor wizard.

"Thestrals, it's... never mind, this isn't the time for that. Have you seen Harry and Ron? We haven't been able to find them on the train. Did they go back to school early?"

Hermione asked.

At this moment, Justin and Neville both looked up, waiting for Sheehan's answer.

Sheehan had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going to happen, and he whispered, "Nothing will happen," to which Hermione breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Oh, so how do we, I mean, get back to the castle?"

Hermione looked around curiously at the shafts, where about a hundred horse-drawn carriages were parked.

"Don't worry."

As Sheen spoke, a completely unfamiliar voice came from in front of them, a female voice that sounded like singing:

"You use Thestrals to pull your carts?"

Before anyone could react, the voice grew even closer:
She was a "strange" witch.

She had a head of messy, dirty, waist-length golden hair, very light-colored eyebrows, and protruding eyes that gave her a perpetually surprised expression.

This girl had a distinctly eccentric air about her. Perhaps it was because, just to be safe, she had stuck her wand behind her left ear; or perhaps it was because she was wearing a necklace made of corks from butterbeer; or perhaps it was because she was holding the magazine upside down while reading it.

"It's nice to meet you. Can you see the Thestrals too? It seems not... Only you and I can see them."

Luna peered at them from the upside-down magazine, the one titled "The Quibbler." She didn't seem to blink as often as most people; she just kept staring at Sheehan.

"Ah."

Sheen replied.

"She's acting a bit strange."

Hermione stared into Luna's eyes and said.

"Maybe?"

Justin didn't seem to mind; he simply echoed the sentiment gently.

"Just like the Thestrals, people used to think that things like Bubble-nosed Monsters and Curved-horned Snoring Beasts didn't exist in the world. Do you believe that?"

Her thoughts were racing, and as if she had heard Hermione's words, she raised her voice slightly.

"There really are no bubble-nosed monsters or curved-horned snoring beasts in the world."

Hermione was getting annoyed, especially when she saw Sheehan deep in thought like an idiot.

(End of this chapter)