Ask me a favor?
Zhang Xiao turned around and looked curiously at Ron.
There was something Ron had not told Zhang Xiao. Before Harry left, the two of them had had a talk.
"Harry, why not stay in bed for a few more days? Come on, this is a legitimate excuse to skip class! Zhang still has loads of snacks!"
Harry looked at Ron with his emerald-green eyes and said earnestly:
"Ron, do you remember when the troll attacked Neville?"
"Of course I do. Why?" Ron was even more confused. He could not understand what that had to do with their legitimate excuse to skip class.
Harry fell silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes to the tips of his shoes.
"Malfoy managed to cast a spell then, too. I didn't know what it was, but I asked Hermione.
Do you know what Hermione said?"
He raised his head and answered his own question, imitating Hermione's tone:
"Harry, that's impossible! That was a Shield Charm! A very difficult protective spell! I've read about it in Advanced Spells.
We don't even start learning it until fourth year. Unless they intend to become Aurors, plenty of wizards can't cast a complete Shield Charm even by the time they graduate!"
Ron's mouth fell open. He stared blankly at Harry, and the snacks in his hand dropped to the floor.
"A Sh-Shield Charm? Mate, I've heard of that spell. And... that's a spell only Aurors can cast. Aurors!"
Harry nodded emphatically and said with utmost seriousness:
"But Malfoy managed to cast a Shield Charm! He's only a first-year, just like us. We're all first-years!
Ron, I know what an Auror is now, too. I want to become one!
Without even realizing it, we've fallen miles behind Malfoy. We don't have time to waste.