The Curse Class

"Allen, your performance was absolutely brilliant, but why didn't they let you play as Seeker? You spotted the Golden Snitch much faster than Cho Chang did." Edward, having watched his roommate's training, spoke with indignation.

"It's probably for tactical reasons." Allen didn't feel regret; compared to searching the sky for the Golden Snitch, he preferred carrying the Quaffle and constantly driving for points.

"Allen, are you really going to use that Cleansweep Seven for the match? I heard Harry Potter got a Nimbus 2000." Edward was a bit worried; in Quidditch, equipment was crucial.

"Of course not. Actually, Professor Flitwick privately offered to sponsor me a Nimbus 2000, but I declined. Walls have ears, and I'm sure others would want one too if they found out. Besides, I have a 'Neptune'."

"Neptune?" Edward was extremely surprised. "That special edition broom from the Cleansweep Broomstick Company? I heard there are only ten in existence. Every bristle on its tail is hand-selected to achieve perfect streamlining; its balance and precision are unparalleled. That's not something an ordinary person can get!" Edward exclaimed in admiration.

Seeing Edward's expression, Allen knew his mind was wandering. He smiled and patted Edward on the shoulder. "Edward, what are you thinking about? I just got lucky." Afterward, Allen briefly explained how he had obtained the Neptune, leaving Edward full of envy.

"What a rare opportunity! That's great; now our House has a much better chance of winning the Quidditch Cup. Plus, since our House points have been leading by a wide margin, maybe the House Cup will be ours, Ravenclaw's, too." The more Edward thought about it, the more excited he became.

Allen really didn't have the heart to interrupt Edward's daydream; at the end of the term, Dumbledore would award a massive amount of points to Gryffindor, making Ravenclaw's chances of winning slim indeed.

Chatting and laughing, they arrived at the Charms classroom. "I heard from Susanna that the professor is going to teach the Levitation Charm today. Her toad died yesterday, and she was in a bad mood, so Professor Flitwick invited her to his office, used magic to make delicious pocket cupcakes dance on the table, and even leaked what he was going to teach today!" Edward said with a look of envy and longing.

"If you're in a bad mood, the professor will comfort you too. For instance, he knows you were scolded by Professor McGonagall for copying my homework." Allen teased.

"Shh, don't mention that. He'll lecture me all over again." Edward looked around guiltily, terrified that Professor Flitwick might hear.

Although Professor Flitwick was short in stature, he was knowledgeable, gentle-tempered, fair, and deeply concerned for his students, which earned him the respect and love of the young Ravenclaw wizards.

Sure enough, Professor Flitwick announced in class that he believed they were ready to start making objects fly. After explaining the standard wand movements and the essence of the magic, Professor Flitwick divided the class into pairs to begin practicing.

Edward and Allen sat together and were paired up. With a flick and a swish of his wand, Professor Flitwick sent countless feathers floating, which automatically flew to the desks of each pair of students. This display was simply cool! The students' enthusiasm was instantly ignited. But they soon learned that even making a single feather fly was no easy task.

Allen was also filled with admiration for Professor Flitwick's display. It required not only a massive reserve of magic but also precise distribution. Consequently, Allen's own passion for learning was stirred.

Allen drew his wand and pointed it at the feather. "Wingardium Leviosa!" No sooner had the words left his lips than their feather rose from the table, hovering four feet above their heads.

"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick squeaked, clapping his hands. "Everyone look, Allen has succeeded! Allen is the fastest student to master the spell since I began teaching."

The students had lost count of how many times they had heard Professor Flitwick say this, but every time, they couldn't help but look at Allen with a mix of envy and admiration.

"Oh, Allen, you're a genius. I haven't even figured out how to do it yet; hurry and teach me." Edward was incredibly envious. Back in the Muggle world, he had been a top student, so why was he so clumsy now that he was in the magical world?

Allen canceled the spell, and the feather drifted back onto the table. "You need to pay attention to the flick-and-swish motion and watch your pronunciation. It's Wingardium Levi-o-sa; make sure the 'gar' is long and clear. Don't rush." Allen explained it clearly, and Edward, who trusted his roommate implicitly, mastered the trick after a few attempts, and the feather was soon hovering above the table again.

"Look, look! Not only is Allen excellent himself, but he also helped his partner Edward complete the spell. Truly outstanding!" Professor Flitwick praised loudly in his high-pitched voice.

"I'm the one who successfully cast the spell, so why is the professor praising you?" Edward was left between laughter and tears; the professor was simply too biased toward Allen.

"Now, don't forget that subtle wrist movement we've been practicing!" Professor Flitwick said, standing on his usual stack of books. "Flick and swish, remember, flick and swish. Pronouncing the incantation correctly is also very important—never forget the wizard Baruffio, who said 'f' instead of 't' and found himself lying on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

As time ticked by, the clever Ravenclaw students gradually mastered the trick, and more and more feathers hovered above the tables, making the smile on Professor Flitwick's face grow wider. Privately, the professor felt that the Ravenclaw students were the best of the four houses, at least in Charms class. By this point in the lesson, only Miss Hermione Granger had managed to cast the spell in Gryffindor.

When the class ended, everyone in Ravenclaw wore a relaxed and happy expression. Since the entire class had successfully cast the spell, Professor Flitwick decided to waive the written homework for this lesson, requiring only that they continue to practice the spell. This was a delightful surprise, especially with the workload in other subjects becoming increasingly heavy!

They hurried downstairs to the Great Hall; after a full afternoon of classes, everyone was hungry, especially with the scent of sweet pumpkin wafting through the corridors.

Walking into the Great Hall, everyone was pleasantly surprised to find it decorated for Halloween, looking both eerie and magnificent. A thousand bats fluttered against the walls and ceiling, while another thousand swirled like low-hanging storm clouds above the tables, causing the candle flames inside the pumpkins to flicker. Delicious dishes appeared on the golden plates, just as they had at the opening feast.

Allen and Edward looked around while eating the beef pies on their plates—they were delicious!