"What a beautiful Levitation Charm."
The short, stout Ernie stared fixedly at the circling feather.
As someone from a pure-blood wizarding family, he naturally knew how much skill that required—especially for a wizard who had never encountered magic before.
"If it were Mr. Green... no, wait? Why is it Finley?!"
Only when Hannah moved the back of her braided head aside did Ernie recognize the Little Badger, following Professor Flitwick's voice.
"Merlin's beard, wasn't Finley unable to make a feather float in the last class...?"
It was not only his question, but the question of the young wizards gathered around them as well.
Especially for the Hufflepuffs familiar with Justin, it was like discovering that their poor friend was secretly the heir to a fortune.
"Looks like you haven't wasted that classroom, have you?"
Professor Flitwick walked down from the staircase of books and stopped before Justin, lowering his wand with some satisfaction.
"I think I'll have to come and take a look... but not now—three points to Hufflepuff!"
As soon as class ended, Justin was surrounded by enthusiastic Little Badgers.
"Ooh, how did you do it, Mr. Finley?"
It was Hannah speaking, freckles scattered across her face as she fidgeted shyly.
"Honestly... Finley, you made such huge progress and kept it from us!"
Ernie folded his arms and held his chin high.
"I think we need to punish this young wizard who betrayed the 'Never Go Hungry' Club, unless you tell us how you did it."
His words drew nods from the Little Badgers. At least six of them glared at Justin "menacingly."
Sean glanced at the noisy crowd before leaving the classroom with a book in his hands. Its brownish-yellow cover read Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1.
If Professor Flitwick was going to visit their classroom,