On Throwing Mandrakes

After lunch, Manus returned to the common room and checked the time. It was still early, well before noon.

So he first used the Paper-Making Spell to create a sheet of stationery and wrote down his opinion that Filch, as a Squib, was not suited to work at Hogwarts. It was simply too cruel a harm to inflict on him.

After putting the letter into an envelope and giving it to Minerva, asking her to deliver it to Dumbledore, Manus finally took out Barty Jr.'s parchment and began reading it.

He had actually already read it once before class. This essay on the Banishing Charm—the counterspell to Accio—was not that profound. Understanding it did not require so many readings.

But he had said he would read it carefully, so he still needed to analyze the thought behind the essay.

Barty Jr. arrived at nearly ten to twelve, carrying a satchel full of books.

It was easy to find Manus in the common room. He was usually by a window, or near the fireplace in winter. Those single seats were not very sought-after, so he could always find one.

Recalling the tip he had gotten when consulting Senior McLeod, Barty Jr. indeed found Manus at once.

"Senior King..."

"You're here. Sit."

Manus closed the notebook in his hands, picked up Barty Jr.'s essay from the table, and handed it back to him.

"I carefully finished reading the essay you put such care into writing..."

Hearing that, Barty Jr. could not help lowering his head. At the time, he did not know what he had been thinking. Maybe he had simply... been unwilling to accept it. Or perhaps he had not wanted the other person to overlook his efforts as well, so he had emphasized how much care he had put into