Hermione's Fear of Magic

Luan, who had grown up in Xilin, had never truly seen what war looked like.

But he knew that the Gracia Federation had been built atop the corpses of the previous generation.

The Federation and the Melani Empire had fought for a full ten years. In the end, the Scarlett family's male line had been reduced to Uncle Neil, Jay, and him.

Now, only eleven years had passed since the war ended, yet Fabian XIV, known as the Mad King, was preparing to launch another war.

The day before returning to Hogwarts, Luan saw a conscription notice on the street.

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All males aged twelve and above were required to enlist at the Snow Eagle Mountain Defense Line.

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After returning to Hogwarts, Luan felt a growing sense of urgency. He would turn twelve next May, and then he, too, would be sent to the battlefield.

That night, Luan lay awake, staring at the three saplings on his windowsill.

Bouncing, sleeping in the treehouse, sensed that something was wrong with his friend. It crawled out and slowly made its way onto Luan's pillow, stretching out its little paw to gently pat the boy's cheek.

"Chirp~"

"Thank you, Bouncing."

Sure enough, when someone was by your side, your heart would always be filled with strength.

Early the next morning, Luan resumed his habit of getting up early. Having finished reading Wandmaking and Maintenance, he focused on Modern Magical Phonetics Table instead.

In two hours, Luan only managed to read three chapters. The more advanced magical phonetics became increasingly tongue-twisting, so he had to try reading each newly learned word several times.

As the new week began, Luan was gradually able to keep up with the professors' lectures. This was thanks to Oxford Reading Tree, which Hermione had lent him.

Although the set contained quite a few books, the content was simple and easy to understand, and it came with plenty of illustrations.

This allowed Luan to quickly grasp a great deal of basic Muggle knowledge, while his spoken English improved as well. The key points he recorded in class now rarely contained mistakes.

Still, just to be safe, he would borrow Hermione's notes after class to compare them.

After Monday morning's History of Magic class, Luan went to the Great Hall with everyone else for lunch.

"Your notes don't have any mistakes, but you should probably work on your handwriting first."

After seeing Luan finish checking, Hermione took the notebook and criticized it like a little professor.

Luan had grown used to the little witch's way of speaking. Whenever it came to studying, she always had to be first.

And whenever other students encountered something they did not know, she would actively correct them too, though her tone was always very direct.

"Okay, thank you for the advice, Professor Hermione."

Luan jokingly picked up a croissant from the table and started eating. A blush spread across Hermione's face.

Harry and Ron snickered beside them. Seeing Hermione's unfriendly glare, Luan was just about to explain when a strange voice interrupted him.

"Are you Luan Scarlett?"

The speaker was an older student. Luan had seen him before at the neighboring Hufflepuff table.

"That's right. I am."

Luan stood and shook his hand.

"My name is Cedric Diggory. I'm the new secretary of Professor Sprout's Daffodil Club."

Every professor at Hogwarts had their own club, organizations they formed for students they favored to exchange ideas with one another.

Luan did not know what Hogwarts clubs were supposed to do, so he looked at Cedric in confusion.

Hermione and Ron beside him clearly knew something, however. The moment they heard "Daffodil Club," both their mouths and eyes widened slightly.

"Looks like you don't know much about it yet, but that's all right. I heard you're completing a special assignment for Professor Sprout?"

Cedric spoke unhurriedly, every bit the refined and well-mannered young man.

"That's right. I'm growing three saplings. Professor Sprout said we'll know whether they've survived in seven days, but I'm not sure they'll make it."

Luan honestly voiced his thoughts. Although the saplings were doing well now, no one could say what the final outcome would be.

"That's true. Saplings are always very fragile. Still, I hope you succeed. That way, the club can welcome its youngest wizard."

"I'll do my best."

Luan did not know what benefits came with joining the club, but judging by Ron and Hermione's expressions, he could guess it was not a bad thing. Besides, he did not want to disappoint Professor Sprout.

As Cedric walked out of the Great Hall, Ron could no longer wait to lean over.

"Luan, you're incredible. You can join a professor's club in First Year." The envy in Ron's eyes was practically overflowing as he spoke.

"Is joining a club that impressive?" Luan asked in confusion.

"Of course it is. Bill, Charlie, and Percy didn't join Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Hut Club until their third year. Every time they talk about it, they get absurdly proud."

Everything Ron knew about professors' clubs came from his brothers.

Luan did not know Bill or Charlie, but Percy was currently Gryffindor's prefect, and he had heard that Percy's grades in every subject were excellent.

"But you're already much better than them. When I get home, I'm definitely telling my family about this. Let's see how Percy can keep showing off after that."

Ron had always disliked Percy, which was no secret in their dormitory. Still, Luan felt that showing off an achievement he had not even earned yet was a little premature.

Hermione was completely different from Ron. She got along very well with Percy, and they could often be seen discussing schoolwork in the Common Room.

"Ron, I think you should show Percy a little more respect."

Hermione frowned at Ron, who was chatting and laughing with Harry.

"This is our family's business."

It had to be said that Ron always struck right at the other person's weak point during arguments. Hermione huffed and sat back down, while Ron continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of Hermione turning pages grew louder and louder, but her eyes kept drifting between her book, Ron, and Luan.

If there was one thing everyone was most excited about that week, it had to be the upcoming Flying Class.

Luan was looking forward to it as well. After getting used to traveling between worlds once every seven days, Flying Class no longer frightened him as much as it had at first.

But he was not as excited as those students who kept talking about racing airplanes on broomsticks.

Most Young Wizards were still afraid and worried. Even if they talked about racing airplanes on brooms, Luan believed it was simply a way to ease their fear.

Among them, Hermione was the most surprising.

She had already read The Quidditch Ball three times that week. Even while eating, she kept going on about the flying rules in it.

Whenever Luan asked Hermione about obscure magical knowledge, she would always steer the conversation toward flying.

"Look, that's exactly what the book says. Both feet off the ground. It's not difficult, right?"

Luan did not need to play along, because Hermione had already gained a loyal listener.

Neville.

He would agree with every word Hermione said, though he always forgot the previous few sentences.

Yet the more this happened, the more nervous Neville became. By now, the boy was so nervous that, like Quirrell, he had become a little stutterer.

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