If the Professor Wouldn't Come to Me, I'd Go to the Professor

Kane looked at Neville in surprise and slowly said, "You're a good person."

Neville's little face turned bright red as he nodded. "My gran says that about me too, though she always adds that I'm weak afterward. But I thought maybe you needed someone to wear a flower wreath with you, so you wouldn't stand out so much? Consider it my thanks for helping me yesterday."

Kane looked at Neville. Well, he had seen this kid before. He was a truly good person.

But there really was no need for that. He was only annoyed by Harry and Ron gloating. It was not as though being seen wearing a flower wreath would make him want to die.

"Still, Neville, if you really want to thank me, how about lending Lucky to me for two days so I can help look after him?"

Harry looked at Kane speechlessly. Kane's Hujin had practically been looked after by Harry, and now Hujin ate and lived with Hedwig every day. If ravens and snowy owls had not been reproductively incompatible, an egg might have popped out one day.

And now Kane wanted to look after someone else's pet too? A frog, no less, the creature Kane disliked most?

Something was off. From what Harry knew of Kane, this guy definitely had some strange scheme going on. He was probably up to no good!

Neville hesitated. "Then you have to guarantee Lucky's safety."

"I absolutely won't hurt him. I'll make sure he returns to you alive and kicking, and very much alive," Kane promised solemnly.

Neville did not hesitate any further. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his slimy, chubby Lucky, and prepared to hand him to Kane.

"Um..." After hesitating again and again, Kane finally reached out and took the Toad. He had personally devoured foods normal people did not dare look at, like grilled frog legs and frog-leg sandwiches. Holding a Toad was no big deal.

Breakfast ended quickly, and the first-year wizards began their first class at Hogwarts.

The Charms professor was a half-goblin wizard named Professor Flitwick. He was very short and stood atop a stack of books, barely high enough to reach the lectern.

A professor capable of teaching Charms, one of the foundational subjects of magic, should have had no trouble using a more dignified method to make himself taller, or even simply flying. Yet he still chose to stand on books.

He truly embodied the saying that books were the ladder of human progress.

"The spell we will be learning is a very basic, very simple spell. If you listen carefully, you will find it has no difficulty at all."

"After all, the main purpose of making this your first lesson is to teach you how to control your own magic and to understand the importance of wand movements and incantations."

"And the incantation is very simple as well. I believe some of you have already mastered it before enrolling. Now, who can demonstrate it for us?"

As soon as Professor Flitwick finished speaking, several confident young wizards immediately raised their hands. Hermione's hand was raised the highest, and unsurprisingly, she was chosen. She stood at the front of the room, facing the feather before her.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

As Hermione's voice fell, the feather in front of her slowly floated into the air.

"Five points to Gryffindor. Let's give Miss Granger a round of applause."

The entire classroom erupted in applause. Ron clapped until his palms turned red, while Kane asked curiously, "What's the use of earning points normally? Can they be added to our final exam scores?"

"Not that. I heard that if you earn enough points, you can win the House Cup at the end of the term," Harry explained.

Although Kane had arrived at Hogwarts before Harry, he truly knew less than Harry did. So he continued asking, "Then what's the prize for the House Cup?"

"Um... that House's banner gets hung in the Great Hall," Harry said after thinking for a moment.

"So? That's it?"

"Yeah."

Kane's rapidly clapping hands gradually slowed. Evil adults, coercing young wizards into competing against each other with honors that were not useful in the slightest. I'll personally—

"Mr. Kane Hiss, you come demonstrate as well. As far as I know, you practiced magic before the school term began," Professor Flitwick suddenly said, looking at Kane.

"Professor, since Gryffindor has already received five points, perhaps the other Houses should be given a chance?" Kane said, though he did not waste time and immediately walked toward the front.

He pulled out his wand, gave it a wave, and chanted, "Wingardium Leviosa."

As the wand's shadow twisted strangely for a moment and fell over the feather before him, the feather slowly hovered in midair.

"Another five points to Gryffindor. The next two will be from Slytherin. Slytherin students, get ready!"

Kane returned to his seat and idly played with his wand while symbolically practicing the Levitation Charm a few times. This spell was not difficult. Its lower limit was low, but its upper limit was high too.

Using a Levitation Charm to send an enemy flying was, in all seriousness, a very good control skill. He could not neglect a spell simply because it was easy.

The hour-long Charms class soon ended. The young wizards gradually left the classroom, and Professor Flitwick packed his things to leave as well.

Kane patted Harry and Ron. "Wait for me outside for a moment."

After saying that, he jogged to the front and stopped Professor Flitwick. "Professor, I have a few questions I'd like to ask."

Professor Flitwick was delighted to see Kane. After all, a young wizard who could meet Dumbledore without even needing a password had chosen to come to him with his questions instead of going to Dumbledore. That alone said a great deal!

"What questions do you have? Go ahead," Professor Flitwick said cheerfully.

Kane did not speak immediately. Instead, he took Lucky the Toad from his pocket and placed him on the lectern.

"Professor, I think you should take out your wand and be ready," Kane reminded him.

"Thank you for the reminder." Professor Flitwick readily took out his wand.

Seeing that, Kane did not waste any time. He directly controlled the shadows and sent them into Lucky's body. In an instant, Lucky transformed back into that disgusting form with glowing eyes and warts all over his body.

He stared at Professor Flitwick and rapidly flicked out his tongue, trying to attack him. However, his tongue struck a purple barrier instead.

"This is the Shield Charm, a very practical spell. You'll learn it in your upper years."

Professor Flitwick noticed Kane examining his purple barrier and explained briefly before continuing, "Dumbledore did tell us that your... Shadow Magic could do such remarkable things. Is there anything I can help with?"

"If you had not used Protego, Professor, not only would this Toad's tongue have injured you, but through some inexplicable principle, it would also take an item from you." Professor Flitwick was stunned before Kane had even finished speaking.

"Hmm?"

Kane nodded. "Would you like to try it?"

Professor Flitwick removed the Protego around himself. "Of course. Go ahead."

The frog seized the opportunity and flicked out its tongue once more.

Along with Professor Flitwick's pained hissing, there was a clatter. The ring of keys hanging from Professor Flitwick's waist abruptly fell to the ground.