Bluebell Flames

On the third floor of the Castle, Su Er led Hermione into an empty classroom, both of them crouching low.

"Here? Isn't this a bit inconvenient? What if someone finds us..."

"It's fine. This won't take long."

"All right, then. Here I go."

Inside the classroom, Su Er and Hermione stood facing each other across a table. A small, clear glass bottle and a sheet of parchment covered in writing sat between them.

Hermione held her wand with a solemn expression, its tip aimed at the mouth of the bottle.

An awkward incantation spilled from her little crimson lips. As the final syllable fell, bright blue flames gushed from her wand tip and gathered inside the bottle of their own accord, forming a small, dancing ball of fire.

Su Er quickly picked up the stopper and sealed the bottle tight.

"Hmm... it really does look a bit like a bluebell." He picked up the bottle of blue flames, gave it a few gentle shakes, then handed it to Hermione.

Hermione cradled the bottle in her palms and brought it closer to study it, the dancing flames reflected in her eyes. "Beautiful," she said.

Following her example, Su Er conjured Bluebell Flames of his own. They hovered in midair, dancing gently like a little fire sprite, driving away every trace of the chill in the air.

Putting away his wand, Su Er reached a fingertip toward the blue flames.

"Just as the book said, they're very gentle. So gentle they hardly feel like fire." There was no burning pain against his fingertip, only steady warmth.

Pop... The instant Su Er poked his finger inside, the flames rapidly dissolved and vanished.

"Hmm... and they don't harm the caster. What exactly is this spell for?"

"Maybe it's just for looking at and keeping warm?" Hermione lifted the bottle in her hands. "It's nice and warm. I can use it to warm my hands on the way to class."

"Keeping warm?" Su Er raised his eyebrows and smiled at Hermione. "Hermione, want to make some money?"

"Make money?" Hermione tilted her head in confusion. "How?"

Su Er pointed at the bottle in her hands. "I've heard lots of people complaining about the cold these past few days. I think they could really use something to keep them warm."

"With this?" Hermione's eyebrows rose involuntarily. "But we don't need money at school..."

"Christmas is coming..." Su Er reminded her. "We need to get Christmas presents."

"All right." Hermione had no real grasp of making money, but she nodded blankly. "What should we do, then?"

"Borrow the book with this spell in it, and keep it for as long as possible. Ideally, don't return it until the weather warms up," Su Er instructed.

"As for doing business, we should leave that to the people who do it best." Su Er smiled. He had the perfect partners in mind: the two brothers from the Weasley family, who would go on to become successful businessmen with a joke shop in Diagon Alley.

In that brief span of time, Su Er had already worked out a complete plan. Just as he was about to explain it to Hermione in detail, a gloomy gaze shot toward them from the side.

It was Filch...

How did he always manage to find people among hundreds of empty rooms?

There was nothing for it. Their discussion would have to wait. Bracing themselves, the two walked out of the classroom under his stare. Hermione went to the Library to find the book containing the Bluebell Flames spell and get a library card, while Su Er had another task.

But after wandering around, he still failed to find George and Fred. Instead, he spotted Harry flying about in the air above the Quidditch Pitch.

"Hufflepuff?" A tall, sturdy boy stopped Su Er as he was about to enter the Quidditch Pitch, his expression hostile, as though facing a formidable enemy.

Su Er gave the boy a puzzled look and nodded.

"What are you doing here?" The boy looked determined to get to the bottom of things, his piercing stare like that of a lawman interrogating a criminal.

Su Er frowned, a little uncomfortable under his gaze, but answered anyway. "I'm here to find someone."

The boy opened his mouth to say something, but Harry, who had been darting about overhead, had already spotted Su Er.

"Hi, Su Er!"

He swooped straight down and came to a perfect, abrupt stop in front of Su Er.

"Wood, he's my friend."

But the boy named Wood continued staring at Su Er as though he were a class enemy. Harry hurriedly added, "He won't tell anyone I'm... er... he won't tell anyone I'm here."

"All right..." Wood still looked doubtful, but he nodded. "Since your friend's here to see you, let's call it a day."

"Okay." Harry looked rather pleased. Holding his broom, he quickly tugged Su Er away from the Quidditch Pitch.

"This bloody weather is freezing, but Wood insisted I come here to train. You know, the match is coming up soon," Harry said as they walked.

"You've joined the Quidditch team?" Su Er asked, despite already knowing the answer. "What position?"

Harry's steps faltered. He glanced around, then whispered nervously, "Seeker. Don't tell anyone. Wood has a plan to use me as the Gryffindor Quidditch Team's secret weapon."

Su Er nodded. The two walked in slightly awkward silence for a while along the path connecting the pitch to the Castle.

The truth was, Su Er and Harry barely knew each other. No, more accurately, Su Er knew Harry, but Harry had hardly had any contact with him.

"Don't tell anyone, or Wood will definitely kill me," Harry repeated. "By the way, did you need me for something?"

"I won't." Su Er paused, then added, "Actually, running into you at the pitch was a coincidence. I'm looking for George and Fred."

Someone with a little more social tact probably would not have been so blunt. But getting too close to Harry this year risked a direct confrontation with Voldemort. Even if the Dark Lord was weakened to the point of being nothing but a soul, there was no imagining how many tricks he had hidden away that could make death seem like a mercy.

Yet Harry did not seem to hear anything odd in Su Er's words. If anything, he seemed a little... well, happy?

"Maybe they've been in the common room all day. You know, people from other houses can't get in without the password... I mean, if I see George or Fred in the common room, I can tell them you're looking for them," he said.

"All right. I've looked in lots of places and haven't found them." Su Er's eyes curved in a smile. "Sorry for the trouble, Harry."

"It's no trouble." Harry gave him a goofy smile.

As they approached the Castle, Harry began to panic. Every Gryffindor they met cheerfully patted him on the shoulder and offered him encouragement.

"I'm sure you'll play brilliantly."

"We'll run after you carrying mattresses. That way, if you fall off your broom, you won't get hurt."

Harry looked to Su Er for help, but Su Er merely spread his hands.

"Looks like the news has leaked."

"It wasn't me. I only just found out you're Gryffindor's Seeker."