By noon, the sky was overcast. After finishing his meal, Morris practiced the Bird-Conjuring Charm in the yard.
This is a spell that summons a flock of magically formed birds, typically used to disrupt the enemy's vision.
But for some reason, all the birds he summoned were of the same species: crows.
It's not that he dislikes crows, but having only one color, black, is indeed somewhat monotonous.
" Morris!"
Morris was staring blankly at the flock of crows flapping their wings when he heard someone call his name.
He turned around and saw Harry and Ron walking quickly toward him.
Both of them looked noticeably haggard and tired.
"It's you guys," Morris said, stopping his practice. "I heard about what you did yesterday."
"Oh," Harry sighed, "Even you know."
"In fact, the whole school knows," Morris shrugged. "It's everywhere."
Ron, looking troubled, pulled a stick from his pocket and asked, " Morris, do you have any ideas about this?"
Morris's gaze fell on the stick, which should have been a magic wand, broken in two and crookedly bound together with transparent tape.
"This is...
"My wand," Ron said dejectedly, "Broke in the car crash yesterday."
He pointed to the rough tape. "I used this to temporarily seal it, but it's completely useless. Forget about casting spells; sometimes it sparks or makes strange noises, and it even burned my pajamas."
The importance of wands to wizards is self-evident.
Morris shrugged. "I might be able to help with other problems, but for this, I suggest you buy a new one."
Ron covered his face. "No, if my mother finds out, she'll kill me."
Morris suddenly remembered that the Weasley family ' financial situation wasn't good.
He could understand Ron's predicament.
"Perhaps," Morris pondered for a moment, "I happen to have some secondhand wands here, and I'm not sure they'd be any better than your broken one, or even worse."
When he bought a used Guantou for Canned Goods in Knockturn Alley, the shopkeeper was having a promotion: buy one wand, get a dozen free.
Yes, we'll send you a dozen.
Of course, apart from the one I paid for, the ones that were given away as gifts were mostly defective.
Half of it was damaged, and the other half was simply some practice pieces made by apprentices.
Such wands are completely useless to wizards and can only be considered non-recyclable waste.
Morris had intended to throw it away, but the Guantou were very interested in the wands, so he brought them back with him.
"Really? Thank you so much, Morris!" Ron's face lit up with hope, and he almost rushed to hug him.
"Don't get your hopes up too high," Morris explained. "But even if it works alright, it's best to buy a wand that suits you. An incompatible wand could ruin your life at a crucial moment."
Ron nodded repeatedly.
Morris left, and ten minutes later he returned with a bundle of sticks of varying lengths tied together with an old leather belt.
Ron went through the wands one by one, and finally chose one that looked relatively straight and light.
Only this wand's Lumos Charm worked— Ron said it was about as comfortable to use as his old one.
"Looks quite ordinary," Harry commented.
"That's how wands are," Ron said. "I think it's rather honest."
Harry didn't know why the word "honest" was used to describe a wand.
In the afternoon, Ravenclaw and Slytherin attended Professor Sprout's Herbology together.
Today's topic is caring for Mandrake.
For Morris, he was more interested in how to concoct Potions from herbs than in planting or cultivating them.
Can anyone tell me what the characteristics of Mandrake are?
Professor Sprout posed the question, and Morris raised his hand.
At times like these, he never hesitates to earn a few points for his college.
Moreover, it's very important to impress the professor.
" Mr. Black."
Sure enough, Sprout kindly called his name.
Morris quickly replied, " Mandrake, also known as Mandrake Root, is an important component of most antidotes. The sound of crying is extremely deadly to wizards, requiring strict protection. Besides, the soup made from it has a rotten smell, but it's barely edible."
"I doubt anyone would use Mandrake to make soup," Professor Sprout chuckled. "Apart from that, everything else is correct. Ravenclaw, five points."
Morris nodded.
In fact, he had tried making chicken soup with Mandrake during the summer vacation.
It doesn't taste good.
"We're going to repot the Mandrake today," Professor Sprout said, pointing to a pile of earmuffs on a nearby stool. "Everyone take a pair and put them on. Remember, don't take them off until I say you can. The cries of the Mandrake seedlings aren't deadly, but they'll keep you dizzy for an afternoon."
The students rushed forward, while Morris followed leisurely behind. Only after most of them had made their choices did he casually pick up one of the remaining few.
The pink one is nice.
Before he could even put it on, he heard a deliberately drawn-out, mocking voice from beside him, "Oh, look who chose such a... cute color. Black, you have such unique taste. Are you a little girl?"
1
Morris turned his head and saw that it was Draco Malfoy who had spoken.
Draco was holding a pair of dark green earmuffs, while Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him, grinning foolishly.
Clearly, Malfoy was mocking the color of his earmuffs, trying to assert some kind of superiority and humiliate him.
This guy, he's already acting up again after just one summer vacation?
Morris remained expressionless and put on his earmuffs.
Seeing this, Draco laughed even more unrestrainedly until Professor Sprout said, "Everyone, come closer," before turning away.
At that moment, Morris muttered incantations, and his hand holding the wand moved extremely slightly beneath his sleeve, releasing the spell with pinpoint accuracy.
Draco's earmuffs instantly turned a delicate pink, and he was even given two extra sparkly bows.
Seeing this, the surrounding students couldn't help but let out muffled laughter.
Draco himself was completely unaware of this until Goyle patted him on the shoulder, at which point he belatedly realized what was happening.
He ripped off his earmuffs, and when the glaring pink came into view, he glared at Morris and yelled, " Black!!"
Unfortunately, Professor Sprout was just then pulling up a Mandrake and bringing it close to an empty flowerpot to demonstrate the correct transplanting method.
"Wow!"
This was the last sound Draco heard, and the last sound he wanted to hear.
The next second, the world spun around.
His eyes rolled back, and he fell straight to the ground.
Upon seeing this, Morris chuckled.
This is what happens when you don't heed the professor's advice.
Professor Sprout had no choice but to suspend his lecture and take Draco Malfoy to the Hospital Wing.