Charms Class

Neville stood in a corner of the Greenhouse, facing a row of newly repotted Mandrakes. Their leaves were much larger than the last time Harry had seen them, and their color was deeper too.

Harry walked over, crouched beside him, and rummaged through the leaves.

"They really are growing well," he said.

"It wasn't this obvious last week. This week, they suddenly sped up." Neville pointed at the edge of one plant's leaves. "Look here. New leaves grow outward from the center. They can grow half an inch in a day, much faster than normal."

"The impact of Ley Line changes on plant ecosystems runs deeper and wider than we expected," Harry said thoughtfully.

Neville straightened and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Is the Confederation still monitoring it?"

"Yes. The system is still running. The rate of Ley Line displacement has stabilized, and for now, the changes seem controllable."

Harry spent nearly an hour in the Greenhouse, helping Neville water the Mandrakes and checking the condition of several rows of agave leaves. At last, he washed his hands and headed back along the corridor.

That evening, Harry sat on the windowsill in the Common Room, flipping through an old magazine.

Seamus and Dean were playing Wizard Chess, the pieces on the board muttering arguments among themselves.

Ron came in from the staircase and sat down on the sofa. "Going back to Vienna tomorrow?"

"No. There's nothing I need to go back for at the moment."

"Then want to take a walk by the lake tomorrow? Hermione said the daffodils are blooming."

"Sure."

Outside, the sky gradually darkened, and lights came on throughout the castle.

The fire burned in the Common Room fireplace, the crackling of wood clear in the quiet air.

Several younger