Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the classroom with a wooden cup on her desk.
"Today, you will learn Reparifarge."
She picked up the cup.
"This spell is used to reverse a Transfiguration and return an object to its original form. It is especially useful when a transfiguration goes wrong, or when something has been deliberately disguised."
She raised her wand and spoke clearly, "Reparifarge."
The cup shimmered and briefly changed back and forth before settling into its original shape. The class watched closely.
McGonagall nodded. "Reparifarge does not fix broken objects. It only undoes magical transformation. If the transfiguration was unstable, the reversal will also be unstable."
She then explained the spell in detail. The charm required focus, correct pronunciation, and a steady wand movement. Rushing it could cause the object to change only halfway, or not at all.
"Take notes. You must understand what you are undoing before you attempt to undo it."
The students quietly wrote down the incantation, wand movement, and important cautions.
After a few minutes, McGonagall told them to stand.
"Practice the stance and movement only. Do not cast yet."
The class stood beside their desks, slowly copying the wand motion through the air.
McGonagall walked between the rows, correcting grips and posture.
"Slower."
"More control."
"Do not force the spell."
When she was satisfied, she returned to the front.
"Now, you may attempt the spell."
Each student was given a simple transfigured object.
Some students succeeded, undoing the transfiguration cleanly. A few objects only partially changed back. Others failed completely.
Soren and his group, like always, are good at learning at their first try.
Soren, Penny, Cassie and Jacqueline cast the spell calmly, and the object returned to normal at once.
McGonagall paused to observe them.
"Very good. You understand control and intent."
Merula also succeeded, reversing the transfiguration quickly. "Well done, Miss Snyde," McGonagall said.
By the end of the lesson, most of the class understood Reparifarge.
---
After class ended, students began leaving the room. A first-year Slytherin hurried up to Soren and asked quietly, "Do you have any idea how to deal with Professor Snape?"
Soren smiled and said, "Yes. Don't breathe, don't blink, and never make eye contact."
The first-year laughed and walked away.
A second-year stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Merula is plotting something with a powerful group of Gryffindors. You should be careful."
Soren nodded. "I know how to handle her."
Soon after, Soren gathered Penny, Cassie, and Jacqueline together in a quiet corner.
"We need a way into the Gryffindor common room," he said.
They talked for a few minutes, going over ideas, until Cassie finally spoke.
"What if we use Shrinking and Engorgement charms?"
Everyone looked at her.
"I shrink all of you," Cassie explained, "carry you into the Gryffindor common room, and once we're sure no one's there, I enlarge you again."
Penny nodded. "That could work. Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match is happening right now, so the common room should be empty."
She sighed slightly. "I'm a big Quidditch fan… but this time I'll help instead of watching the match."
Soren smiled. "Thanks, Penny."
Jacqueline added, "If everything goes smoothly, we find the black quill and leave without anyone knowing we were there."
Everyone agreed.
The plan was risky, but simple. And if it worked, they'd finally get their next clue.
---
They went to Charms class to learn the Shrinking Charm.
As they entered the classroom, a second-year Slytherin asked, "Aren't you excited for the Slytherin versus Gryffindor Quidditch match?"
"Yeah," Soren replied. "We're excited. We'll watch it."
A second-year Gryffindor nearby muttered, "The class feels different without cowardly Ben."
Soren ignored the comment and walked up to Professor Flitwick. "Excuse me, Professor Flitwick."
"Yes, Mr. Soren?" Flitwick asked.
"I have a few questions about the Shrinking Charm," Soren said.
Flitwick raised an eyebrow as Soren continued.
"Does the Shrinking Charm work on humans? Can you control how small someone shrinks? And how do you avoid being stepped on?"
Professor Flitwick stared at him for a moment, then replied firmly, "Using the Shrinking Charm on oneself would be complicated, dangerous, and incredibly foolish."
He then leaned forward slightly. "I'm going to ask you a question, Mr. Soren, and I strongly suggest you tell the truth if you wish to avoid further punishment."
Soren swallowed.
"Are you planning to break school rules yet again?"
Soren nodded. "Yes, Professor. But it's important."
Flitwick sighed, then smiled faintly. "I appreciate your honesty. However, do not do anything dangerous. Now, take your seat."
He turned to the class.
"Welcome, everyone. Today, we will be learning Reducio."
"The Shrinking Charm allows you to decrease the apparent physical size of your target," he explained.
He glanced at Soren. "And it should never, ever be used on oneself."
A few students chuckled.
"This charm is very useful when packing suitcases," Flitwick added cheerfully.
He placed a small box on his desk and raised his wand. "Observe carefully."
"Reducio!"
The box shrank neatly to half its size.
"The successful shrinking of an object is not easy," Flitwick said. "Please look at what I've written on the board."
He wrote the theory clearly, explaining that control and focus were essential.
"The incantation is Reducio. You may now practice saying it."
Students repeated the word quietly.
"Posture matters more than you think," Flitwick continued. "Watch closely."
He demonstrated the stance and wand movement, slow and precise.
"Now, you may practice."
Students began casting the spell on small objects.
Some objects shrank unevenly. Some barely changed. A few worked well.
As usual, Soren and his friends performed perfectly.
Soren's object shrank cleanly. Penny's was controlled and steady. Cassie and Jacqueline succeeded with ease.
Merula also did well, her object shrinking smoothly.
"Well done," Flitwick said happily. "Excellent work."
The lesson ended with most of the class understanding Reducio.
---
Before the class ended, Professor Flitwick stopped Soren as he was leaving.
"Well done, Mr. Soren," he said kindly. "But remember—just because you know a spell does not mean you should use it outside of class."
He looked at him seriously. "Especially when a professor has expressly forbidden it."
Soren nodded. "Yes, Professor."
As he walked away, he thought to himself, I don't want to disappoint Professor Flitwick. But this is the only way I know to help find Ben. I'll just have to be careful and not get caught.
Later, they gathered in the Great Hall.
Penny leaned closer to Soren. "People are saying they've seen Ben walking around the corridors. It's really strange."
Before Soren could respond, Merula spoke up.
"First your sister went missing, and now your friend?" she said coldly. "You're cursed, Soren."
Soren glared at her.
Merula rolled her eyes and finally stayed quiet.
A first-year Ravenclaw hesitated, then asked, "Hey… are you the cursed kid everyone's talking about?"
Soren ignored the question.
While they were eating, the group talked quietly and agreed it was time to move forward with their plan.
Soren looked at Penny. "When does the Quidditch match start?"
"In a few days," Penny replied.
Soren nodded. "Good. Until then, we'll practice Reducio and Engorgio. We need to get them perfect."
Everyone agreed.
---
The next day, they went to Flying class.
Madam Hooch was waiting for them on the training ground, broomsticks laid out neatly on the grass.
"Today, we'll be practicing basic flying control and speed. I want smooth takeoffs and clean landings."
The students lined up beside their brooms. At Madam Hooch's command, they called their brooms into their hands and mounted them.
"On my whistle, push off gently."
The class rose into the air. Some students wobbled and struggled to keep balance, while others flew low and carefully around the pitch.
Soren and his friends had no trouble at all. Soren flew easily, keeping perfect control. Penny circled smoothly, Cassie handled tight turns without effort, and Jacqueline stayed steady at a clean height. Flying felt natural to them now.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle again and had them practice stopping, turning, and landing. A few students landed awkwardly, but Soren and his group touched down cleanly every time.
"Well done," Madam Hooch said, clearly pleased. "Good control."
When the lesson ended, Penny walked over, excited.
"The Quidditch match starts today," she said. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin."
Soren nodded, already thinking ahead.
"Then we do it today," he said quietly.
Everyone understood.
With the match pulling most students away, the Gryffindor common room would finally be empty.
And that meant it was time to put their plan into action.
---
They reached the corridor near the Gryffindor common room and immediately noticed Angelica, the Gryffindor prefect, standing guard.
For a moment, they thought their plan was ruined.
Soren took a breath and decided to handle it himself.
He walked up to her calmly. "Hello. How are you?" Soren asked.
"I'm fine," Angelica replied. Then she frowned slightly.
"What are you doing here instead of watching the Slytherin versus Gryffindor Quidditch match?"
"I wanted to wish you good luck in the match," Soren said.
Angelica raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be wishing luck to Slytherin? That is your house."
Soren shrugged. "That's because I heard they're planning something against Gryffindor."
Angelica paused, thinking. "Slytherins are jealous of us," she said. "And they can be quite cunning. But why are you telling me your own house's plan?"
"Because I want a fair match," Soren replied. "And this isn't fair."
Angelica crossed her arms. "What exactly are they planning?"
"I overheard some Slytherins talking," Soren said quietly. "They're planning to cast the Full Body-Bind Curse on the Gryffindor Seeker during the match."
Angelica's eyes widened. "What? That spell paralyses the victim. She could fall to her death!"
"I'll go tell Professor McGonagall," she said angrily.
"That's a good idea," Soren agreed. "But even Professor McGonagall can't watch every Slytherin in the stands."
Angelica hesitated.
"You should stay at the match until it ends," Soren added. "Help keep an eye on things."
Angelica nodded firmly. "You're right. I'll protect her."
Without another word, she rushed off toward the Quidditch pitch.
Soren turned back to his friends.
The path to the Gryffindor common room was finally clear.