Hogwarts: Don't Starve in the Forbidden Forest Chapter 25 25: If the Professor Won't Come to Me, I Shall Go

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Kane looked at Neville with a hint of surprise. "You're a good person, Neville."

Neville nodded, his face turning a bright shade of pink. "My gran says that too, though she usually follows it up by calling 'weak.'

But I thought... well, maybe you'd want soone to wear a garland with you? So you don't feel so out of place? Think of it as a thank-you for helping yesterday."

Kane studied Neville. This kid, he thought, is a rare breed. A genuinely good soul.

However, it wasn't strictly necessary. Kane was mostly just annoyed by Harry and Ron's snickering; he wasn't so fragile that being seen in a flower garland would crush his spirit.

"Actually, Neville, if you really want to thank ... how about you let borrow Trevor? I'll look after him for a few days."

Harry watched this exchange with a look of utter disbelief. He was already the one doing all the heavy lifting for Kane's raven, Hujin.

These days, Hujin lived and ate with Hedwig; if it weren't for the biological impossibility of a raven and a snowy owl crossbreeding, Harry half-expected to find a weird egg in the owlery any day now.

And now Kane wanted to take on another pet? And a frog, no less—the very creature he claid to despise?

Sothing was wrong. Based on everything Harry knew about Kane, the boy was definitely cooking up so bizarre sche. He was almost certainly up to no good.

Neville hesitated. "You... you have to promise Trevor stays safe."

"I won't harm a hair on his—well, I won't harm him. I promise he'll return to you alive, kicking, and in one piece," Kane vowed solemnly.

Neville didn't dally. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the plump, slimy form of Trevor, and moved to hand him over.

Kane hesitated for a fraction of a second. He had personally cooked and eaten frog legs and frog-leg sandwiches—food most people wouldn't even look at. Surely he could handle holding one live toad. He took the creature.

Breakfast ended, and the first-years headed to their very first lesson at Hogwarts.

The Charms professor was a wizard of part-goblin descent nad Professor Flitwick. He was remarkably short and had to stand on a towering stack of books just to see over his lectern.

For a professor teaching the very foundations of magic, it wouldn't have been hard to find a more elegant way to gain height—or even just hover—but he chose the books. It was a literal interpretation of the idea that "books are the ladder to human progress."

"We are going to learn a very basic, very simple charm," Flitwick squeaked. "If you pay attention, you will find no difficulty in it."

"The primary reason we use this charm for your first lesson is to teach you how to control your own magic and to understand the vital importance of wand movents and incantations."

"It is a simple spell. I believe so of you may have even mastered it before arriving. Who would like to give us a demonstration?"

As soon as Flitwick finished, a few confident hands shot up. Hermione's was, predictably, the highest. She was called to the front to face a single feather.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

The mont the words left her mouth, the feather rose gracefully into the air.

"Five points to Gryffindor! Let us give Miss Granger a round of applause."

The classroom erupted in cheers. Ron clapped so hard his palms turned red. Kane, however, was curious. "What do these points actually do? Do they get added to our final exam scores?"

"Not quite," Harry explained. "I heard that if your house has enough points at the end of the year, you win the House Cup."

Even though Kane had arrived at Hogwarts earlier than Harry, his grasp on school traditions was clearly lacking. "And the prize for winning the House Cup?"

"Er... they hang your house banners all over the Great Hall," Harry recalled.

"So? That's it?"

"Yeah."

Kane's clapping slowed down. Wicked adults, using aningless honors to trick children into competing with each other. I'll have to take matters into my own hands!

"Mr. Kane Heath, why don't you give us a demonstration? I understand you practiced so magic before the term began," Professor Flitwick said suddenly.

"Professor, since Gryffindor already has five points, shouldn't we give the other houses a chance?" Kane said. He didn't stall, though; he walked straight to the front.

He drew his wand and gave it a sharp flick. "Wingardium Leviosa."

The shadow of his wand flickered and twisted strangely for a split second as it touched the feather. The feather didn't just float; it hovered with an uncanny, unnatural stability.

"Another five points to Gryffindor! Now, the next two spots are for Slytherin—Slytherins, be ready!"

Kane returned to his seat, idly playing with his wand. He practiced the Levitation Charm a few more tis. The spell was simple to learn, but its potential was high. Lifting an enemy into the air was a top-tier control move. He wasn't about to ignore a spell just because it was "basic."

The hour passed quickly. As the students began to filter out, Professor Flitwick started packing his things.

Kane patted Harry and Ron on the shoulders. "Wait for outside for a second."

He jogged up to the lectern. "Professor, I have a few questions I'd like to ask."

Flitwick bead. A student who didn't even need a password to see Dumbledore choosing to co to him for help was a great complint. "Of course, ask away!"

Kane didn't speak imdiately. Instead, he pulled Trevor the toad out of his pocket and placed him on the desk.

"Professor, I think you might want to have your wand ready," Kane warned.

"Thank you for the advice," Flitwick said, humoring him by drawing his wand.

Kane didn't waste ti. He sent a pulse of shadow into Trevor. Instantly, the toad transford into that disgusting, neon-green version of itself, eyes glowing and skin bubbling with pustules.

It turned toward Flitwick and lashed out with its tongue. The strike was lightning-fast, but it slamd into a shimring purple barrier.

"That is the Shield Charm, Protego—a very useful spell you'll learn in your later years," Flitwick explained, watching Kane study the magical light. "Dumbledore did ntion your... 'Shadow Magic' could produce such fascinating results. How can I help?"

"If you hadn't used that shield, Professor, the tongue wouldn't have just bruised you," Kane said. "Because of so rather strange laws of physics from where I co from, it would have taken an item from you."

Flitwick blinked, looking bewildered. "Pardon?"

Kane nodded. "Would you like to try?"

Flitwick lowered the Shield Charm. "Certainly. Let's see."

The frog seized the opportunity and struck again.

Aside from a sharp hiss of pain from the Professor, there was a sudden clatter. Professor Flitwick's ring of keys, which had been hanging securely from his belt, was now lying on the floor.

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