Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 88: Flight Test

Neville clearly hadn't expected anyone to wait quietly in one place for more than ten minutes.

When he cautiously turned his head, he still saw Sheen's calm face.

So his face, which was already on the verge of tears, almost turned into a full-blown sob.

Sheen sat down gently, turning the book in her hand into a blue cushion.

He once again placed the study of Transfiguration and Spells at the forefront of his priorities.

He still lacked proficiency in intermediate-level transformation techniques. If he could reach the "expert" level, he thought he could completely transform the desk into a wild boar.

As for spells, Polymorph makes up for his lack of offensive options.

Although the strongest offensive method at present does not seem to be polymorph, but rather the black magic knockback spell.

But Sheen was not going to use it easily, since he already had enough buffs.

But not using it doesn't mean he can't learn it; you can never have too much magic up your sleeve.

However, he still lacked in defense, so he chose a seemingly omnipotent defensive spell—Finite.

The spell is categorized as defensive magic in the book, complementing protective spells such as those for armor.

The following year, Professor Snape first demonstrated the spell at the Hogwarts Dueling Club to end Harry's spell duel with Malfoy.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hermione used the spell to break free from the pursuit of the enchanted Bouncing Ball.

Therefore, its difficulty is clearly not on the same level as that of armor.

It's simpler than armor, yet offers the same level of practicality, making it an excellent choice.

“You just taught me the Levitation Charm, and I failed again. I… I think… maybe I’m not a wizard at all…”

Neville's low voice rang out, perhaps because Sheen had instructed him on the Levitation Charm multiple times, or perhaps because Sheen had never mocked him; Neville spoke unusually much.
"They say I'm timid and absent-minded, and they're right... I always forget so many things, and I can hardly do anything right..."

Sheen listened quietly as the oak stairs creaked softly beneath his feet, like the snores of a sleeping giant.

A magic lantern hung down, its light a flowing, honey-golden glow that softened gradually as the night deepened, warmly enveloping this small space.

Neville was huddled on the wide steps at the corner, whispering to himself, while Sheehan listened silently.

"Your levitation spell failed..."

Sheen said.

Neville had already shrunk his head, as if waiting for the inevitable disgust and ridicule that would follow.

So, do we need to practice again?

Sheen's voice was very soft, and Neville could not see his face clearly in the soft light because something glistening was running down Neville's face.

Inside the house at this time.

"Okay, okay, wait a little longer."

Justin paced anxiously back and forth.

He had been observing this Mr. Longbottom since Sheehan's first encounter with him.

Mr. Longbottom is a kind Gryffindor, he's quite certain. And he's not as cowardly as those Slytherins mock him to be.

After Malfoy snatched his memory orb and Harry took it back, Neville, after being reminded by Harry, even dared to argue with Malfoy a few times:
"You are a coward!"

Malfoy said.

“Oh, Harry said I’m not a coward, you are.”

This is Neville's answer.

From that moment on, Justin knew of the courage hidden within Mr. Longbottom; he just… needed to be guided. He had initially thought it would be Harry, but Mr. Longbottom seemed to have approached Sheehan several times.

"Perhaps you should come in and practice?"

Sheehan heard a "thump" and Justin was leaning against the doorway with a platter of fried meat and a pile of pudding.

Hermione nodded, tilting her nose up:

"It's cold outside, Sheen, what if you catch a cold again—!"

……

With another Gryffindor in the classroom, Sheehan now sees Hermione anxiously instructing Mr. Longbottom most often.

Justin seems to have moved into the kitchen, and occasionally he gets some magical plants from the greenhouse and bakes strange and wonderful foods.

For example, the Hundred Flavors Pudding—that's how Justin named it, as it has six random flavors of pudding.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Justin, then ate two servings without any hesitation.

Early Saturday morning.

Sheehan sat on the lawn, holding Professor McGonagall's notes. The Black Lake on the south side of the castle was like a calm mirror, and Sheehan knew that the drainage system of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry eventually led here.

Giant squid, Grindelwald, and a community of mermaids also live in the lake.

Well, some people believe that this giant squid is Gryffindor, but Sheen doesn't know if that's true.

A black dot suddenly appeared in the azure sky, approaching from afar, and Sheen stood up as well.

"Madam Huo Qi".

He said.

Good morning, young man!

Mrs. Hodge gracefully and deftly put down her broom, creating a gentle breeze that smoothed the lush green grass.

"Flight tests will begin tomorrow afternoon. Remember to take your broom back. If you can, it's nice to sleep with it..."

Mrs. Hodge was not joking; some Quidditch players almost mistook brooms for wives.

There was even an Italian wizard who wanted to marry a broom, and unsurprisingly, his request was rejected.

However, regardless of the circumstances, wizards who are more familiar with their brooms actually have a greater advantage in flight.

"Okay, ma'am."

Sheen waved his wand, and the cushions on the lawn turned into books, while the scattered quills and parchment were neatly collected into his bag by a summoning spell.

October is getting colder and colder, and if the little wizards don't change their clothes in time after sweating, they can easily catch a cold.

Having experienced the confusion of his past, Sheen was unlikely to make the same mistake again, so he followed Mrs. Hooch's directions and went to the dressing room first.

As Sheehan passed by the Gryffindor locker room, he saw a meeting taking place inside:
Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, holds up a large diagram of the Quidditch pitch, which is decorated with lines, arrows, and crosses of various colors.

He took out his wand and pointed it at the drawing board, and the arrows began to wriggle on the drawing like caterpillars.

Then he loudly explained the tactics to his team, explaining that they would begin training the next day after a young wizard's flight test, concluding with:
"Kill Slytherin! Hufflepuff is nothing to worry about! With Potter, Ravenclaw is no match for us! Our name will definitely be written in this year's Quidditch Cup! Because we have the best team ever!"

You could say he's quite the Quidditch fanatic.

Not wanting to get involved with Quidditch, Sheehan quickly left the dressing room and retrieved his Nimbus 2000, which he had left with Mrs. Hooch.

He could already picture in his mind that he would no longer have to climb stairs, but would instead fly into Ravenclaw Tower.

(End of this chapter)