Creating a magical mark was no easy task.
Harry had spent half a day experinting in the Room of Requirent without success. anwhile, Hermione and Ron were enthusiastically dueling with Expelliarmus spells, taking turns to puml the training dummy, their delight plainly visible.
But Harry couldn’t ignore a growing concern. Ron’s talent wasn’t bad, but his mismatched wand made learning spells twice as hard and half as effective.
Harry recalled Ollivander’s words about wands choosing their wizards, but he had always felt it went both ways. Surely, it was just as much about the wizard choosing the wand, wasn’t it?
It was ti to figure out a way for Ron to get a new wand, Harry decided. Considering the Weasleys’ financial situation, if they could have afforded one, they wouldn’t have handed Ron Charlie’s old wand in the first place.
Maybe he could gift Ron a wand? But the thought of directly giving it to him made Harry hesitate—he didn’t want to hurt Ron’s pride. He’d have to find a better way.
When they finally left the Room of Requirent, Ron and Hermione seed reluctant to end their practice session. Kids, after all, were naturally drawn to new and exciting things—and to the thrill of destruction. Hermione and Ron were no exceptions.
Who wouldn’t be fascinated by the freedom and exhilaration of casting spells at will?
--
“Excellent! Well done! Five points to Gryffindor!”
During Charms class, Professor Flitwick clapped his hands in delight, praising Ron’s spellwork.
Ron had been the first in class to levitate sothing heavier than a feather using the Wingardium Leviosa spell. The proof hovered briefly before Flitwick in the form of a desk, which promptly crashed back down after a few seconds.
Still, Flitwick was thrilled and generous with his encouragent.
“Harry! Harry! I did it!” Ron exclaid excitedly, shaking Harry’s arm.
Hermione clapped politely but couldn’t help shaking her head at Ron’s enthusiasm. She had mastered this level long ago.
She’d held back deliberately in class at Harry’s private request, allowing Ron a mont to shine without stealing all the house points for herself. To their classmates, it simply looked like Ron was celebrating with friends. No one suspected his sudden improvent in charms was thanks to Harry’s careful guidance.
The trio often visited Hagrid in his hut on Friday afternoons. As usual, Harry didn’t hesitate to accept a rock cake under the disapproving stares of his friends.
“Just soak it in tea before eating,” Harry advised. “I tried it last ti when I had a toothache—it works surprisingly well. Hagrid, could you break them into smaller pieces for us?”
“Of course, Harry,” Hagrid said cheerfully, taking the rock cakes and breaking them into manageable chunks. Fully aware that human teeth were no match for his baking, Hagrid smiled as he poured them each a cup of honey water.
“Phew...” Harry took a sip and said to Hagrid with mock relief, “You know, Hagrid, this is lemonade. What I had in the Headmaster’s office the other day? That was more like lemon syrup.”
“You were in Dumbledore’s office?” Hagrid asked, stroking his beard. “Dumbledore’s a good man, isn’t he? Loves sweets—everyone knows that. Professor McGonagall keeps trying to hide his candy, but it never works. Most of Snape’s tooth-strengthening potions end up going to him!”
Hagrid leaned in conspiratorially, motioning for the trio to do the sa.
“Speaking of Snape,” he whispered, “he suggested the tooth potion expenses go on the school board’s budget. But Dumbledore refused.”
Hermione frowned. “Hagrid, don’t you realize Snape was being sarcastic?”
Hagrid blinked in surprise. “Oh! He was?”
“Yes,” the trio said in unison.
“Ohhh...” Hagrid scratched his head and chuckled. “I was wondering why he’d say sothing like that...”
“By the way, Hagrid,” Harry interjected, “since you ntioned Snape... I saw him after Halloween, and his leg looked injured. Filch was treating him, and I overheard sothing about a three-headed animal biting him. You’re the expert on magical creatures—any idea what it might be?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t call myself an expert,” Hagrid said modestly, scratching his head again. “But maybe it was Fluffy.”
“Fluffy?” the trio asked in unison.
“Yeah, Fluffy’s a three-headed dog I got off a Greek bloke. Bit of an odd one—falls asleep the mont it hears music. Dumbledore borrowed it to guard sothing on the fourth floor. I’m not sure it’s enough to protect N... Oh, I shouldn’t have said that!”
Hagrid clamped a hand over his mouth, realizing he’d let sothing slip.
“Nicholas Flal?” Hermione asked imdiately.
The trio exchanged glances. Harry leaned back in his chair, suddenly calm.
“Who’s Nicholas Flal?” Hermione pressed.
“Oh no, lass, that’s Dumbledore’s business,” Hagrid said, quickly standing up to usher them out. “I’ve already said too much. You’ve got classes tomorrow—it’s getting late, so off you go!”
With no choice, the trio left Hagrid’s hut.
“Nicholas Flal?” Ron muttered as they walked. “Why does that na sound so familiar? I feel like I’ve heard it sowhere before.”
“ too,” Hermione said, frowning. “But I can’t rember where.”
“Harry, any ideas?” Ron turned to him.
“You actually saw it today,” Harry replied, pulling a Chocolate Frog card from inside his robes. “Here, I’ve still got it on .”
Ron took the card and read aloud:
“Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts, widely regarded as the greatest wizard of our ti. His notable achievents include defeating the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, discovering the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his work in alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flal...”
“Oh, right! I saw his na on this card before! What does he do?”
“It says it right there—Nicholas Flal is an alchemist,” Hermione explained.
“I read about him in a book,” Harry said smoothly, not missing a beat. “Nicholas Flal is over six hundred years old. He’s lived since the 14th century and is said to own the Philosopher’s Stone—a magical object with incredible powers. It can turn any tal into gold and grant immortality.”
Hermione and Ron exchanged a shocked look, gasping audibly.
Ron was astonished by the stone’s miraculous abilities. Hermione, however, was amazed by Harry’s impressive knowledge.
“You know so much, Harry,” she said admiringly.
Harry simply smiled modestly. Internally, he thought, If only you knew—I’ve t Nicholas Flal myself...
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