Chapter 104: In the Storm
The second week of October brought more than just a chill; it unleashed a full-blown tempest. For days, icy rain hammered against the windows, and a howling wind tore around the castle. Sean watched from a high corridor as a massive figure, bundled in a moleskin overcoat, braved the storm to de-ice the broomsticks in the shed.
The foul weather drove everyone indoors. The Great Hall became the castle's primary social hub, with students clustered around the warm hearths.
Sean and his friends were one such cluster, though their three-house composition was unusual. He sipped his hot chocolate—Justin, having added an alarming amount of sugar, had made it almost painfully sweet. A soft wool blanket, piled high with books on Transfiguration and Ancient Runes, lay at his feet.
Professor McGonagall's warning had been stark: practicing advanced magic recklessly, especially self-transfiguration, could have disastrous consequences. Sean had taken her words to heart, shelving his practical Transfiguration work in favor of theory. He spent his days poring over McGonagall's private collection of texts and memorizing the shapes and sounds of the Ancient Runes.
His progress in Charms, however, continued unabated. Finite Incantatem was now at the Novice level, and already halfway to Adept. Justin, surprisingly, showed a natural talent for this specific counter-spell, his progress nearly matching Sean's. This had the very welcome side effect of giving Neville the confidence to practice levitating small wooden blocks, knowing Justin could safely neutralize any mistakes.
Sean wondered if magical talent was even more specific than he'd thought—perhaps aptitude varied not just by branch, but by individual spell.
As the storm raged, three small figures in thick, waterproof cloaks hurried across the grounds.
"Alright, Neville, you can hide behind me for now, but you won't be able to in a minute," Justin called over the wind, pulling a small, smooth pouch from his pocket.
Neville, who had been flinching at every crack of thunder, gratefully scrambled behind Justin. Back in the practice room, Hermione had sighed, "Neville, if you're truly that frightened of thunder, just stay in the classroom." He had merely shaken his head, stammering, "I-I'm fine..." Seeing him contradict himself, Hermione had rolled her eyes and stuffed a pair of earmuffs over his head. Even with the earmuffs, he was still trembling.
Justin's pouch, however, captured his attention. He pressed it into Sean's hand. "Mokeskin pouch," Justin explained warmly. "Perfect for seeds and small tools."
"Thanks." Sean's slender hand emerged from his own thick cloak. He curiously transferred his parchment notes into the pouch. Parchment was notoriously vulnerable to humidity and water. This solved a major problem. Sean recognized the bag; Mokeskin pouches were magically enhanced for storage, and only the owner could retrieve items from within. Hagrid had given Harry one for his seventeenth birthday.
Justin watched Sean prioritize his notes over anything else and sighed good-naturedly. "Knew you'd do that… Oh, Neville, this one's for you."
Neville stared at the identical pouch Justin offered him. "B-but... what about you?"
Justin just tapped the lump under his own cloak, where his Undetectable Extension Charm was hidden. Neville's eyes widened in envious understanding. "Th-thank you, Justin..."
For weeks, Sean had been helping in the greenhouses three days a week. With the arrival of the storm, his help was needed more than ever. Hogwarts was protected by powerful enchantments—Permanent Sticking Charms on the structure, atmospheric charms inside for temperature and humidity—but the greenhouses were still vulnerable to leaks, flooding, and damage to the plants kept outside. The staff was stretched thin.
Sean, Justin, and Neville's help, rotating with Bruce's team, was invaluable.
Outside Greenhouse One, three older students in matching Hufflepuff-yellow scarves were finishing their own work. When they saw the first-years approaching, Bruce waved. "Hey! Sean! Perfect timing. They're all yours." He glanced nervously at the dark, churning clouds and pressed a scarlet-red envelope into Sean's hand. "This arrived this afternoon. Do me a favour?"
Before Sean could react, Bruce had sprinted away, shouting over his shoulder, "Run, Leon, Pister! You lot too!"
Sean pulled his earmuffs on just as the envelope, clearly a Howler, began to shriek, the sound so loud it blew his hair back.
"BRUUUUCE! WHERE DID YOU PUT YOUR BROTHER'S WAND?!"
Sean muffled his ears as Bruce, now a safe distance away, hummed nonchalantly. "Ah, thought it might be about the wand. Thing's practically an antique, surprised it still works… Heh. This way, Mrs. Lister will have to use the money I sent…"
The screaming finally subsided. Bruce jogged back, pressing a Fizzing Whizzbee into Sean's hand. "I owe you one, little Green… As I didn't hear a thing, I can't very well respond, can I? Must have been delivered to the wrong person..."
He was about to flee again when Leon grabbed him by the collar. "Sorry, Green," Leon said wearily. "I'll make sure this idiot pays for his own pranks."
"Leon! Little Green agreed! How could you—"
"Shut up, you buffoon!"
The three older Hufflepuffs disappeared, bickering, into the rain.
Inside the greenhouse, Professor Sprout greeted them, her relief palpable. "Thank you for coming, gentlemen. The plants are certainly in need of your help."
"We're happy to help, Professor!" Justin said, already manhandling two large pots out of the rain.
"Y-yes, Professor..." Neville added, grabbing a trowel to clear a drain clogged with Moly roots.
"...Mm." Sean said little, but his wandwork was efficient, his non-verbal Levitation Charms clearing entire sections in seconds.
Soon, the storm broke in full force. Through the wind, rain, slippery mud, and dim light, the four of them worked tirelessly. Sean's time in the greenhouses had rewarded him not just with knowledge, but with a growing collection of rare seeds from the professor.
(End of Chapter)
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