Hagrid's Hut

It was soon time for Charms. Professor Flitwick was the most popular of all the professors, not only because he was adorable and barely reached anyone's waist, but also because he was always cheerful and kind to every young wizard. If you asked him a question, he would always explain the answer carefully. But any fool who asked the same question several times would find Professor Flitwick standing on a pile of books, pinching their ear, and then assigning them lines to copy.

Of course, fools wouldn't ask questions in the first place.

"Ah! What a beautiful Light Charm!"

Watching Ezio show off as he performed all sorts of tricks with the little ball of light at his wand tip, Professor Flitwick said happily, "Professor McGonagall has told me about you. You have a real talent for Transfiguration, don't you? But you have a wonderful gift for Charms as well. I rarely meet young wizards who can master advanced variations of spells through self-study."

"Do you mean changing the color and shape of the light produced by the Light Charm?" Ezio extinguished the Sunshine Rainbow Little Pony at his wand tip, then leaned down slightly to ask Professor Flitwick.

"That's only part of it." Professor Flitwick drew his wand. Without even saying an incantation, he conjured a Sunshine Rainbow Little Pony just like the one Ezio had made. Unlike Ezio's pony, which could only strike poses, this one, made of colorful light, seemed alive. It could gallop freely through the air and even neigh like a real horse.

"You can think of it as giving a spell a certain vitality. It's a little different from transforming an inanimate object into a living creature with Transfiguration. We have to control it actively to make it move, but this is the hardest part of advanced spellwork. It requires several different casting techniques."

"Controlling a spell so it can pursue a target?" Ezio asked in surprise. "I've never seen that technique in a book."

"Because so few people can do it. For most people, a spell is successful as long as they can cast it." Professor Flitwick smiled. "Once magic leaves a wizard's body—or, in other words, once a spell is launched from a wand—it's cut off from the wizard. It's extremely difficult to control a spell after it's been cast. But a spell like the Light Charm, which requires a continuous flow of magic, is relatively easy to control. As long as you keep supplying magic, you maintain an unbroken connection to the spell."

"Still, keeping the Light Charm under your precise control takes a long time to practice and master."

"All right, five points to Slytherin! I love the rainbow pony you conjured. Would you like to join my Duelling Club?"

Professor Flitwick hadn't spent all his time chatting with Ezio. He'd also extended an invitation.

"Of course. It would be an honor, Professor Flitwick."

"Then we'll meet at eight every Saturday morning, in the classroom beside my office."

This was the second club invitation Ezio had received. Transfiguration and Charms were the two subjects he most wanted to learn and master at Hogwarts. Potions and Herbology could wait a little.

First-year magic wasn't something Ezio needed to learn from scratch in class. Professor Flitwick allowed him to expand his practice of basic spells during lessons and offered a pointer or two whenever he passed by. Like Professor McGonagall, he placed great importance on the fundamental theory of magic. A towering building rose from level ground; the strength of its foundation determined how high it could reach. The more basic the knowledge, the more important it was to memorize, practice, and analyze it.

Before he knew it, the first week of term had passed. After attending all the first-year classes at Hogwarts, Ezio had successfully obtained exemptions from several courses. He applied to take the exams early for Astronomy and History of Magic. Out of consideration for Dumbledore, the Astronomy teacher agreed to his request to sit the final exam early, while Professor Binns, who taught History of Magic, proved unexpectedly easygoing.

As Hogwarts' only ghost professor, he cared about nothing beyond going to class and lecturing in a drowsy voice. Ezio mentioned it to him after class, and he nodded absentmindedly, telling Ezio to find a copy of last year's exam and complete it.

Being exempted from those two courses saved him four class periods every week. Add the two periods of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ezio had a full twelve extra hours of free time each week compared with the other first-years. He had even given up Flying Class. He'd learned how to use a Flying Broomstick long ago, and since Quidditch hadn't triggered a quest, he wasn't interested in the game.

Friday afternoon came. After finishing his last Herbology class of the week, Ezio and Harry headed toward Hagrid's Hut.

A huge crossbow and a pair of rubber boots large enough to fit Harry stood outside Hagrid's Hut.

They had barely approached the door, and hadn't even raised their hands to knock, when a dog began barking.

"Fang, back!" Hagrid's voice came from inside.

"It's me, Harry!" Harry knocked and called through the door. "I've brought Ezio along to see you, too."

"Oh, it's you two!" Hagrid opened the door a crack, revealing his huge, bearded face. A dog's head tried to poke out from behind him, but Hagrid held it back with one hand.

Hagrid kept a Neapolitan Mastiff, a dark, powerful, and fierce dog that seemed to have endless strength. Its drooping eyes were cold and gloomy, enough to make anyone shudder. Hagrid's dog was even bigger than most, nearly the size of a calf.

Normally, this was a ferocious and dangerous breed. Once it attacked, it fought to the death, and it was among the most formidable dogs in a fight.

But... perhaps its owner was a super-strong man who could grab a several-meter-tall Forbidden Forest monster by the neck and slap it around. Or perhaps ordinary, non-magical dogs like this were at the very bottom of the food chain in the Forbidden Forest. Whatever the reason, when Ezio met those dark eyes, he saw that Fang was all bark and no bite.

"Come in." Hagrid held Fang by the collar with one hand and opened the door with the other, making room for them.

Once the two of them were inside, Hagrid let go. Fang immediately bounded forward and rested his head on Harry's leg. His pleading eyes seemed to say, Quick, quick, give my head a rub!

Harry reached out, not quite sure whether to laugh or cry. Fang had genuinely frightened him a moment ago, but only for an instant. The dog had turned friendly so quickly.

Hagrid was pouring them tea. His thick beard hid his expression, making him look rather stern. Once the tea was ready, Hagrid sat down and gazed down at Ezio.

"So you're the fellow who got Harry into Slytherin?"

Hagrid frowned, his enormous face imposing.