This Is a Good Thing!

The semester ended amidst laughter and joy. The echoes of Seamus being carried and slammed into the marble pillars seventeen times still lingered, but the lively atmosphere of packing luggage, exchanging gifts, and making promises to correspond during the summer vacation had already overwhelmed Hogwarts.

When the House Cup was finally settled, Gryffindor's Gem Hourglass once again came in first place with an overwhelming advantage.

After all, Harry's contributions this year were enormous. Even though the other houses were also involved, Harry was the one who led the effort.

When it comes to bonus points, Harry is truly the authority among authorities.

"We'll have to give the freshmen a really tough time next semester," Ron said, clapping his hands as he walked through the Great Hall. The first-year wizards around him joined in the applause.

The idea that if you get caught in the rain, you should tear off a piece of someone else's umbrella is universal.

Yes, why should we, the current students, have to suffer, while the freshmen don't?

What? You're saying the intensity will increase significantly?

This is a good thing!

Finally, the Hogwarts Express train, puffing out its familiar white steam, waited at the platform.

Sunlight streamed through the glass dome, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air and the excited faces of the students.

The suitcases were stuffed into the carriage by the House Elf, the owl cages clattered together, and farewells, laughter, and Peeves's final screech as he tried to stuff water balloons into the students' hats mingled together, creating quite a lively scene.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Seamus, whose ears were still a little red, finally found a relatively quiet carriage near the back of the train.

Just as she finished settling her luggage, the sliding door opened again, and Luna, wearing her newly changed hat that simulated sunrise and sunset—which was currently displaying the brilliant midday light—drifted in in a daze and naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Neville.

Like a ghost, this Ravenclaw girl.

"Hey, Luna! Any plans for summer vacation?" Ginny asked enthusiastically, having forged an unbreakable friendship with Luna at the Dueling Club and the Quidditch team.

Of course, Luna doesn't participate in Quidditch, but she's Quidditch.

"Dad and I are planning to go to Sweden to find the summer habitat of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Luna said in her ethereal voice, her eyes gazing out the window at the castle rushing past. "He said that according to letters from readers of * the Quibbler *, their chances of appearing there increase significantly this season. Of course, we'll also take the opportunity to observe whether the local Wrackspurt species differ from those in Britain."

She turned to Seamus and said earnestly, "Mr. Finnegan, I think the frequency with which you struck the pillars in the Great Hall may have inadvertently dispersed some of the Healers that gathered around the House Cup hourglass, which could have a potentially positive impact on Gryffindor's eventual victory. You should write it down."

Seamus choked, unsure how to react, and could only stammer, "Uh, thank you? I'll consider it."

Ron had already pulled out a large bag of candies he'd bought from Honeydukes, tore open the packaging, and the rich aroma of chocolate filled the air. "Finally over! So, what are you planning to do this summer, you Academic Bully with zeros? Study NEWTs at home and try to get twelve zeros next year?"

Seamus grabbed a Chocolate Frog and tried to shut Ron up. "Shut up, Ron. I'm going to France this summer to visit my uncle. He runs a little magical zoo and said he needs someone who can gently soothe irritable Magical Creatures. I think I've recently become quite adept at being gentle."

As he said this, he subconsciously rubbed his side.

mild?

Hearing what Seamus said, everyone in the carriage couldn't help but laugh.

You say your Charms is gentle, we all want to laugh.

Of course, Seamus could indeed subdue those Magical Creatures with just one Charms thrown out—

Veterans will all be shaken into PTSD, six in the left hand and seven in the right.

"France? Sounds good." Hermione had already opened a thick book titled <International Magical Law Framework and Enforcement Differences>, but hadn't opened it yet. "I'm flying directly to Vienna next Wednesday. Ms. Vivi Grindelwald said the first few weeks will be very intensive, getting familiar with the procedures and files."

Her tone was calm, but her eyes shone.

"And me," Ron mumbled, but smugly, with his mouth full of Fizzing Whizzbees, "I got invited to Pride of Portree's summer training camp! As an observer! It's not a formal selection, but George said it's a good sign, and Fred even said he'd design a broom polish for me that could be sold to Quidditch superstars for training, guaranteed to make the broomstick gleam like the Gringotts vault door—though I doubt it'll make the broom slippery afterward."

Harry listened to his friends' plans with a smile, his gaze occasionally drifting out the window. He saw Draco and Pansy standing on the platform a little further away, saying a brief goodbye to some of their Slytherin classmates.

Pansy stood ramrod straight, her profile sharp and aloof, but as she turned slightly to respond to someone, the sunlight perfectly framed a strand of black hair that had slipped past her ear.

Seemingly sensing the gaze, she suddenly glanced towards the train, her gray eyes piercing through the crowd and the windows, meeting Seamus's gaze before he could look away.

There was no smile, no extra expression, just a very brief glance, and then she turned back to continue talking to Draco.

Seamus seemed to be burned by that gaze, and quickly turned his head away, pretending to be very interested in the picture of the Chocolate Frog.

The picture shows a guitarist from the Weird Sisters band, who does indeed have a rather quirky appearance.

"What are you looking at?" Ron looked in the direction Seamus had just been, only seeing the Slytherin' backs as they walked towards another carriage. "Oh—the poodle."

He deliberately dragged out the tone.

"Eat your candy." Seamus stuffed another piece of candy into Ron's mouth.

The train slowly started moving, Hogwarts Castle gradually shrank, and finally disappeared behind the winding hills. The carriage fell into a brief, comfortable silence, with only the rhythmic clatter of the wheels and the faint chirping of Luna's hat.

Neville carefully pulled a small, drooping-looking plant from a cloth bag that had been enchanted with Untraceable Extension Charm.

"This is a hybrid of Mimbulus Mimbletonia and Leaping Toadstool, which Professor Sprout asked me to observe and record over the summer—hopefully it won't be jumping around in my Living Room," he introduced to everyone.

Ginny leaned closer to examine it. "It looks a little melancholy."

"It's probably because they left the Greenhouse," Neville said worriedly.

Hermione finally closed the thick book and looked at Harry: "And you, Harry? Any plans for summer vacation?"

Harry leaned against the window, sunlight flickering on his face.

"I'll probably visit the Dursley family, and then—we'll see. Maybe I'll pay a visit to Lupin, or maybe keep in touch with Sirius. Of course," he smiled, "I'll also have to find time to keep up with international news."

The last sentence was said casually, but Hermione and Ron both understood the implied meaning.

The shadow of South America, the ambiguous movements of Voldemort and Runcorn, hung over their heads like the Sword of Damocles.

Of course, it's not that I'm particularly afraid of Voldemort, but rather that this guy is like a mangy dog, biting and annoying, and lurking in the shadows, so no one knows when he'll suddenly attack.

"Anyway," Harry stretched, "This semester hasn't been bad, has it?"

"Except for someone's waist," Ron added, earning a chop from Seamus.

"Except for certain reports that are never-ending in their approval process," Hermione sighed.

"Except for the ever-present, Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Luna said absently.

"Except for the test subject that always tries to bite my fingers—" Neville muttered to the potted plant.

"Pabbie said," Harry began again, "Newt is getting along well with the Kraken in Norway and has invited us over. If you feel you have nothing to do after you get home, perhaps we could go on a trip to Norway together? Like when we went to Antarctica as a group last year."

"Great!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly. "The Kraken, that sounds intriguing—but I wonder if I'll have the time. It would be terrible if Ms. Grindelwald didn't give me the time off—"

"Hey," Ron said with a grin, "Why are you already using such a formal title before you've even started your job? Haven't you always used your nickname?"

"You'll get used to it." Hermione turned her head away, her gaze shifting to the distant, rolling mountains. "When you're at work, you should address people by their job titles; it's basic professional etiquette, okay?"

"Okay, Granger Plant." Ron finished speaking before Hermione punched him in the arm.

"Hey, Seamus?" Ron tried to change the subject. He noticed Seamus looking down at his phone and asked curiously, "What's wrong with you? You've been so quiet since earlier, not saying a word?"

After remaining silent for a while, Seamus finally spoke. He locked his phone screen and sighed.

"What else could it be?" he shrugged. "Lavender and I are finished."

Ron remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "That's a good thing, brother."

"How could this be a good thing?" Seamus looked at Ron suspiciously.

Ron slapped his thigh, leaned forward, and instantly switched to an exaggerated expression that mixed street smarts with the vicissitudes of a seasoned veteran.

"Brother, let me tell you," he tapped the table, "I know exactly what's going on with you right now! You think this is a bad thing? Wrong! Completely wrong! I'm telling you, Seamus, you're a classic case of being blinded by your own involvement, while an outsider sees things clearly! Think about it, think about it carefully—"

"A woman, oh, just because you coordinated a little better with the other students in the training grounds, were a little more precise, a little more efficient—what for? For the future of Hogwarts! For the safety of the younger wizards! Such a noble cause, and she doesn't support it, instead she's upset with you, thinks your eyes are off, thinks your reactions are eight hundred times faster—I'm telling you, brother, what do you call that? That's called not having a broad perspective! That's called not being able to keep up with your progress!"

Ron became more and more engrossed in his speech, waving his arms as if giving a mini-lecture, drawing the attention of the entire carriage. Harry suppressed a laugh, Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't interrupt, Neville and Ginny listened curiously, while Luna wore a focused expression.

"Look at yourself now!" Ron pointed at Seamus. "A perfect 0! What does that mean? This is the cream of the crop! This is the level of a sixth-year Academic Bully at Hogwarts! Are you going to become an elite Auror at the Ministry of Magic, or open a zoo in France and become the head animal trainer? Your future is bright! But what about Lavender? She's still wondering if your Charms coordination with that poodle from Pansy Parkinson's during training was too perfect? Brother, you're on completely different tracks now!"

"Breaking up is a good thing, a fantastic thing! What's this called? It's called cutting your losses! It's called investing your limited youth and magic into contributing to the magical world and improving yourself! You're upset? What are you upset about! You should feel fortunate, relieved! You're free, Seamus! No one will ever again ask you, 'Am I more important than your wand,' when you're studying advanced Explosion Charm —that kind of death trap question!"

Seamus was a little stunned by his barrage of comforting words, and the frustration on his face was replaced by a wry smile, "Ron, where did you learn all these twisted theories?"

"How is that fallacy?" Ron raised his chin. "This is the culmination of wisdom! Emotions? Emotions are just embellishments on the road to success, luxuries! What you need now is to solidify your foundation and enhance your strength! Once you are strong and stand tall, what kind of witch can't you find? Don't you agree?"

Ron made a very Seele-esque exaggerated gesture as he said this.

"So listen to me, Seamus Finnegan. Turn the page, turn it completely! Hold your head high and embrace your bright new future! That's the mature mindset a wizard should have, understand?"

The carriage was completely silent.

Then, Harry couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Then, Ginny, Neville, and even Hermione started laughing.

Luna didn't laugh; she was thinking.

Ron hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he didn't let Seamus go to buy sunflower seeds for Luna.

"Alright, Master Ron." Seamus snatched the last piece of Fizzing Whizzbees from Ron's hand. "Okay, you can leave it at that. But if you fall from the sky at Quidditch camp because your broomstick is too slippery with oil, don't blame me for not warning you."

"Hey! That's impossible!" Ron immediately defended the reputation of his Twins brother's product, "Even if it falls off a broom—"

"That's a good thing!" Seamus chimed in, mimicking him.

"How can this be a good thing?" Ron leaned back strategically.

"That's certainly a good thing, listen to me—" Seamus mimicked Ron's tone and expression, launching a counterattack, "Think about it, even if you fall off the broom, it can't be entirely considered a bad thing, can it?"

This means you've identified the shortcomings of your two brothers' products through testing. This is helping them improve them so they can quickly find and address the product's weaknesses. Tell me, am I right?