Ron: Do You Only Know the Disarming Charm?

As darkness fell, the banquet officially began.

The fir tree in the center of the Great Hall shimmered with dazzling light, adorned with thousands of glowing bubbles. From the ceiling, ribbons of mistletoe and holly continuously showered down magical snowflakes, warm and dry.

Dumbledore left for a while, and when he returned, he was wearing a red robe with gold embroidery that Winky in the lamplight. His beard was tied up with a red ribbon, and he wore the lady's rabbit-ear hat.

With the old man's kind smile, the hat didn't seem so conspicuous anymore.

"Look what I've seen!"

As soon as Fred entered the Great Hall, he shouted. He and George ran excitedly to Dumbledore and said, "Tell me, you must be Santa Claus that Dumbledore summoned with magic."

Loren noticed the black oil stains on their clothes and the faint smell of gasoline. Without a doubt, the Twins had opened the hood of the Flying Car and might even have disassembled some parts.

The poor Flying Car, which survived a whole semester in the harsh environment of the Forbidden Forest, will likely be reduced to ashes within days of being found.

Upon hearing the Twins ' words, Dumbledore couldn't help but smile gently, "Oh, when I was young, I thought about doing something like that. I even experimented with some magic for it."

"Cool!"

George and Fred cheered and pestered Dumbledore for information about the magic to summon Santa Claus.

Until just before the dinner was about to begin, Dumbledore wanted to stay at the Gryffindor table and enjoy the meal with the young wizards like a student.

However, he quickly succumbed to Professor McGonagall's imposing gaze, sighed deeply, and returned to his High Table.

Seeing a hint of grievance in Dumbledore's expression, Hermione thought she was seeing things. She turned her head and whispered in Loren's ear, "I think Professor McGonagall is the headmaster. Dumbledore doesn't even seem like a professor; he seems like a student being managed by Professor McGonagall."

Loren nodded... "That's right, Dumbledore like a child."

A burst of laughter suddenly came from the long table in Gryffindor; it was Percy.

Unlike the other Weasley family children, he didn't wear Mrs. Weasley's knitted sweater on the outside, but instead wore a proper robe and had his hair neatly combed, like an adult.

Ironically, the Prefect Badge he wore on his chest had been enchanted at some point, turning the Prefect into an idiot. Without a doubt, it was the Twins ' doing.

Percy deliberately puffed out his chest, showing off his badge, which, combined with his serious attire, made Ron laugh so hard he almost fell under the table.

Percy was completely bewildered and asked the people around him, "What are you laughing at? Did something funny happen before I got here?"

Harry suppressed a laugh and pointed to the badge on his chest.

Percy looked down, and the word "idiot" made his head spin. Thinking about how he'd been wearing that badge all this time... Percy's meticulously combed hair stood on end in anger, and his fists clenched instantly. "George! Fred!"

Seeing the situation was getting out of hand, the Twins immediately stood up from the long table and screamed, "Help! That stupid Prefect is going to eat people!"

The three of them chased each other around the four college tables in the Great Hall. Percy, when Percy slowed down, George and Fred would tease him with Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs and confetti cannons, making Percy so angry that he wanted to kill them all.

The banquet officially began with Dumbledore singing a Christmas carol.

Aside from the various roasted meats, lamb chops, and stewed beans... what attracts the little wizard the most are all kinds of fancy puddings. The soft and chewy puddings are filled with the pulp of various fruits, such as strawberries, mangoes, and yellow peaches, Winky under the lights and look especially tempting.

In no time, Hermione had finished three servings of strawberry pudding, the bright red jam glistening on her lips.

Loren's plate was full of meat. Watching Hermione happily sip the pudding from her spoon again, he was tempted. "Is the pudding this good today?"

"What do you want to do?" Hermione's ears twitched, and she reached out to protect her pudding. "Go get it yourself if you want some."

"Good things should be shared with friends!" Loren said righteously, pushing Hermione's arm aside and scooping out a large piece with a spoon.

The pudding melted in his mouth with barely any chewing, its sweet flavor sliding down his throat. Loren clicked his tongue. "Same as before."

Hermione was so angry that she smacked him in the chest.

At the High Table, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were talking animatedly, their lips moving as they discussed something. Snape, sitting next to them, seemed to have overheard their conversation; his face was ashen, and he looked quite displeased.

Hagrid was chatting and laughing with Professor Flitwick, pouring eggnog into his mouth like water without restraint. The Half-Giant was very happy, but this happiness seemed different from the happiness he had felt at previous Christmas.

Ron and Harry kept popping up colorful firecrackers, pulling out one white mouse after another from the blue smoke. But they weren't discouraged; they would occasionally pop up a small felt hat and shout with joy, not to mention the little things they would pop up, such as Wizard's Chess, wizard cards, and magical candies.

The magically adorned dome shimmered with iridescent light. At the start of the banquet, the scattered rays were crimson tinged with a magnificent gold. As the banquet drew to a close, the dome's flashes gradually slowed, finally settling on a cool, deep blue, like the starry sky outside the Castle.

The colorful bubbles and various decorations hanging on the Christmas did not change color; they still shone with a warm and vibrant gold and red glow.

Seemingly craving some kind of culinary reward, Hermione had been feeling quite stifled in the Hospital Wing these past few days, eating countless puddings. She struggled to swallow the last bite. After finishing it, Loren heard her let out a satisfied sigh.

Hermione patted her tummy, but didn't get up immediately. Instead, she leaned back slightly in her seat, her mouth slightly open, her eyes glazed over, looking blank.

She was so full that she couldn't recover even after sitting for a while.

"Go find Madam Pomfrey later and tell her you've eaten too much. Ask her to give you some digestive medicine," Hermione muttered, pulling Loren along as they walked back.

Not only because it was a bit embarrassing, but also because she would definitely be scolded by Madam Pomfrey while she was recuperating.

Loren remained silent.

Not only is she greedy, but she also wants him to take the blame. When did Hermione become like this, and who did she learn it from...? He was filled with deep doubt.

Near the entrance to the Great Hall, Draco was sitting at the end of the Slytherin table, and he spotted the two figures.

Both Loren and Hermione Muggle-born, but Malfoy no longer harbored the same disdain he had when he first entered Hogwarts. Interestingly, this change in attitude was largely due to Loren's change in perception, rather than Malfoy's excellent grades.

Unlike other young wizards, Loren didn't fawn over him because of his family's wealth, nor did he harbor any hostility towards him because of his prejudice against Muggle. He treated him completely as an ordinary young wizard.

This morning, Draco also received a Storage Scale. The Malfoy family had similar items, and he easily figured out how to use it. Now, the scale lay in the pocket of his magic robe.

Draco opened his mouth, wanting to greet Loren, but something seemed to be stuck in his throat, preventing him from saying anything.

Along with the Christmas gifts came a letter from his parents.

In his letter, Lucius repeatedly warned him: stay away from Crabbe, stay away from Marcus Flint (captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team), stay away from those brainwashed by the Pure-blood ideology. Stay away from Potter, stay away from the Weasley family, stay away from those who support Dumbledore. Also, try to avoid attracting attention.

Young Draco still felt somewhat bewildered when he recalled his father's letter. He didn't understand Lucius's cautious, almost humble, demeanor.

Is the Dark Lord coming back?

Do the Malfoy family need the Dark Lord to return?

If necessary, why would they distance themselves from Crabbe, or even Marcus? If not, why wouldn't they unequivocally support Dumbledore, or even distance themselves from Harry Potter, who is fighting the Dark Lord?

The letter lay quietly within the scaly space. Draco watched as Loren's figure receded into the distance. His lips moved, but no words came out. "Merry Christmas..."

For the next few days, Ron, with Harry in tow, followed George and Fred around like crazy, turning Hagrid's Hut into a chaotic Fang. Hagrid told them that some animals on the Edge of the Forbidden Forest had developed a fear of whistles and would now flee in panic at the mere sound of Flying Car horn.

On an ordinary holiday day, Harry dragged his muddy, snow-covered body back to the Gryffindor Common Room and immediately spotted Loren in front of the fireplace, holding a book and reading quietly and attentively. His focused expression and dark-haired, dark-eyed face shone with a radiance Harry considered the hallmark of a good student in the firelight.

Looking at others and then at himself, covered in mud and snow, Harry fell silent with guilt.

Young wizards in their student days often have a strange psychological state: if they are too comfortable and indulgent for too long, they will feel guilty.

After a few days of carefree fun, Harry clenched his fist and said firmly, "Harry Potter, you have a mission, you can't go on like this."

"I'll start studying seriously from tomorrow!" Harry encouraged himself as he slowly walked away.

Hearing the sound, Loren looked up from his storybook, saw Harry walking away, and muttered, "So mysterious."

After glancing at Dumbledore's annotations in the storybook, he muttered, "This one's all a bit mystical too..."

"The Warlock's Humbled Heart of the Wizard" (Collector's Edition), a Christmas gift from Dumbledore. Logically, "The Warlock's Humbled Heart of the Wizard" is just a short story, not long enough to fill a book. The editors republished the story in seventeen different languages, hence the Collector's Edition.

In addition to the main languages of human wizards, there are also Mermaid script, Centaur script, and even the most primitive Runes script.

Dumbledore made a lengthy annotation at the end of the story, which, as Loren said, was rather mystical...

The next morning, Loren was shaken awake by Harry. He struggled to open his heavy eyelids and saw Harry's excited face. Remembering the voice he had just heard, he asked groggily, "Duel practice?"

"Duel practice?!"

In an empty, Abandoned Classroom, Ron, who was also dragged up by Harry, suddenly snapped out of his daze and cried out in surprise.

Hermione, wearing a red beret, stood to the side, the fluffy brim making her skin appear even whiter. Her feline traits had mostly faded, leaving only a pair of triangular ears; she no longer needed a cloak.

Harry looked at his three friends in front of him, nodded seriously, and said firmly, "We can't keep playing like this!"

"You can memorize and learn," Ron said quietly.

Harry blushed slightly and scratched his head. "I can't concentrate on it. I fall asleep while I'm reading."

"No wonder you went to bed so early last night."

No wonder you look so energetic today.

The three friends next to him couldn't help but burst out laughing.

After some playful banter, the dueling practice plan was finalized. They had dueled practiced before, so it wasn't unfamiliar to them.

Hermione wasn't fully recovered, and her Magic Power was still unstable, so she didn't participate. Harry and Ron had their turn first, with Loren watching from the sidelines and offering suggestions afterward.

A duel practice between friends certainly can't be like a real duel, where things can easily end in "Sectumsempra" or "Sectumsempra." Both of them chose Petrificus Totalus, Stunning Spell, Disarming Charm, Repelling Charm... the kind of spells that wouldn't harm the other.

At first, Ron and Harry were evenly matched. The atmosphere was quite harmonious; I'd cast Repelling Charm, you'd dodge. You'd cast Disarming Charm, I'd dodge.

Gradually, the two got into the zone, their spellcasting speed increased, and their dodging movements decreased. When it became a direct exchange of spells, the situation changed.

Ron launched a Petrificus Totalus first, Harry countered with Disarming Charm, dispelling Ron's spell. The slightly dimmed red Magic Power light continued to fly towards Ron, Ron could only dodge hastily, looking somewhat disheveled.

Harry went first, unleashing another Disarming Charm. Ron's Stunning Spell was charged up and launched, only to be countered by the Disarming Charm, the remaining Disarming Charm forcing Ron to dodge in a sorry state.

Undeterred by two consecutive defeats, Ron gritted his teeth and raised his hand to unleash a Disarming Charm in retaliation. To his dismay, his Disarming Charm Disarming Charm easily dispelled by Harry's. The red beam of Magic Power paused for a moment before hurtling towards him, leaving Ron with no choice but to flee once more.

No matter how Ron changed his spells, Harry only responded with simple, straightforward Disarming Charm. Ron was completely helpless; what could he do? Harry's Disarming Charm was just that powerful.

After a few rounds, Ron's stamina waned, and his speed slowed down, preventing him from dodging the Disarming Charm. He was knocked back several steps, and his wand flew out of his hand.

Ron clutched his chest, catching his breath for a moment. Recalling the battle just now, he felt incredibly frustrated. He glared at Harry, annoyed and embarrassed. "Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus the whole time! Don't you know any other spells?"

Harry handed his wand back, his eyes innocent. "But the Disarming Charm really works."