Volume 1 Chapter 49: Dark Clouds Dispersed
Jon only said that he had made a major breakthrough in the levitation spell, but did not mention what the progress was.
Slughorn's mind was obviously focused on the potion he was brewing, and he did not ask any further questions about the major breakthrough he mentioned.
After sitting in the office for a while, Jon left.
He walked along the corridor, his expression returning to calm, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Just as he passed the storage room, a familiar little figure quickly jumped out in front of him.
Jon reacted quickly. He reached out and grabbed Biqi, who was holding a cherry in his little paw.
"Why did you sneak in again? And steal food from the storage room?" He stretched out his hand, flicked Biqi's head lightly, and taught him a lesson.
Beach looked guilty as he quickly stuffed the cherries into his stomach pocket. It seemed that he knew that stealing was wrong.
John changed direction while carrying it, and walked towards the exit where the driver's seat was, ready to hand over the captured Beech directly to Hagrid.
Just as he opened the door, he saw Hagrid standing outside the door, and he looked like he wanted to go into the carriage as well.
"Are you looking for it again, Hagrid?"
Jon grabbed Beech by the scruff of his neck and shook him in front of Hagrid.
Hagrid's originally nervous expression suddenly relaxed completely. He took Beech from Jon's hand with an angry look on his face. He looked like he wanted to teach the Niffler a lesson, but his hands were always very careful, subconsciously trying not to hurt it.
"Did you find it in the storeroom?"
"Yes, it stole a cherry from there."
"It has been stealing food there recently. I have already prepared a plate of rock cakes for it, but this little thing still runs into the carriage."
Jon really wanted to persuade Hagrid to try feeding Biqi a different kind of dessert. After all, his rock cakes were difficult even for humans to bite, let alone sniff.
But Hagrid, who was extremely confident in his skills, obviously didn't listen to him. The biggest shortcoming of this former gamekeeper and current coachman was that he always regarded others as the same as himself , and thought that if he could do it, others could definitely do it too.
Hagrid enthusiastically invited Jon to sit in the driver's seat and have some snacks, but Jon found a reason to refuse. He was not in the mood to relax.
Students passed by the corridor from time to time , but no one paid attention to Jon who was staring at a door in a daze.
He stood at the end of the corridor, just in front of the door opposite the exit leading to the carriage driver's seat. He hesitated several times as if he wanted to reach out and knock on the door, but in the end he left silently.
…
Jon practiced the levitation spell more frequently.
However, this time he did not continue to torture Neville in the dormitory. Instead, he applied for permission from McGonagall and was given the right to enter and leave the astronomy classroom freely during the day. He went to the top of the carriage to practice every day.
Except for classes, meals and sleeping time, he would disappear from Neville and the others' sight whenever he had free time.
This peaceful life lasted for two months. By the beginning of May, when the students on the bus began to prepare for the final exams of this semester, almost no one talked about the two attacks of the previous year.
It seemed that the person hiding in the carriage had retreated, and Hogwarts returned to a life that was relatively peaceful despite being in exile.
There were less than five weeks left until the final exams. After dinner, Neville stopped Jon who had just stood up from the dining table and was about to go to the roof of the car.
"You should prepare for the exam, Jon. You keep practicing the levitation spell. What if you fail the exams in other subjects?"
Jon looked up and thought about it.
"Although I have indeed been practicing the Levitation Charm, I have not fallen behind in other courses. Moreover, Professor Slughorn exempted me from the History of Magic exam because I gave excellent grades on every assignment this semester, and he gave me an excellent grade directly. Professor Flitwick was also very satisfied with the map of Jupiter I drew in the last class, and he also exempted me from the Astronomy exam. And Professor Potter, she..."
"Okay, okay, Jon." Ron interrupted his "showing off" with a painful look on his face. "We actually just want you to take a break. Neville said that you have been practicing spells like you are possessed during this period. We are worried that your body and mind can't bear it. Let's take a break today. How about we go to the lounge to play diamond cards together?"
Justin and Lavender also looked at him expectantly. Jon didn't feel any fatigue either physically or mentally.
But what Ron said was right. He indeed hadn't participated in any recreational activities with Neville and the others for a long time.
So he didn't refuse anymore and gladly accepted and walked towards the common room with them.
Just as they entered the lounge, Slughorn pushed the door and walked into Lily's office, which was filled with the fragrance of flowers and plants.
Lily was wiping her wand carefully, as if what she was holding in her hand was not a wand, but a token of her longing.
Watching her actions, Slughorn sighed as he gently closed the door.
"I always thought you would look forward."
Lily's voice was calm and cold, just like when she first met Jon.
"I'm always looking forward, teacher, not only me, but also James' wand in my hand."
"But hatred has been accumulating in your heart."
"Looking forward and holding hatred in one's heart are not contradictory. I have never been blinded by hatred. Instead, it has made me much more clear-headed than ever before."
The office fell into silence. After a moment, Lily took the initiative to ease the atmosphere and asked softly.
"How is your new student doing?"
Slughorn obviously enjoyed this topic, and the corners of his mouth showed a smile that he only showed when eating pineapple candied fruit.
"Excellent, better than any child I've ever seen!"
Lily seemed a little surprised at his high evaluation. She curled up a sarcastic smile, but this smile was not directed at Slughorn, but at another man who must not be named.
"If he heard what you said about this boy, he would probably go crazy."
Slughorn smiled and blinked.
"So you should take good care of him in the future. Maybe he is the moon that Dumbledore mentioned."
"I will treat all students equally, no matter whether they come from prominent families or have talents. Instead of waiting for the moon, it is better to let more stars shine." Lily said expressionlessly.
Slughorn looked up at the dark night sky outside the window. He didn't know when the carriage had reached an area covered with dark clouds.
Suddenly, lightning flashed between the clouds, followed by a burst of thunder.
The old man's voice was also drowned out by the thunder.
"Whether it's the moon or the stars, if they want to shine, they always need wind to help them disperse the dark clouds..."
