After Sean demonstrated silent casting, Professor Snape had the wizards pair up.
One would practice casting a minor jinx silently, while the other would cast the counter-jinx.
However, he had clearly overlooked the fact that these student wizards were only in their third year.
As one could imagine, in order to meet Professor Snape's standards, what followed was a great deal of acting.
Many students were whispering the incantations under their breath, merely keeping their voices from getting too loud.
What surprised Sean a little was that, ten minutes into the lesson, Hermione successfully repelled Sean's Jelly-Legs Jinx without saying a single word.
"You did it, Hermione."
Sean said, putting away his wand.
"Was that fast?"
Hermione asked, a little awkwardly.
"Very fast. Expert-level, I'd say."
Sean said with a smile.
Even judging by the strictest standards, Hermione's talent for charms was at least at the level of a master.
Hermione's progress in learning spells had already been quite fast to begin with. After receiving some unknown source of motivation, she and Justin had almost completely pulled ahead of the rest of the student wizards.
The clearest example was that they ranked second and third in the Duelling Club.
Even Harry, who possessed "Expelliarmus," had not beaten them much.
After all, spells could be dodged.
"Silent casting isn't actually that difficult—"
Hermione grew a little happier.
"But wandless magic—how is that done, Sean?"
"Maybe you can refer to the third set of September notes in the spell-notes section of the bookcase."
Sean thought for a moment, then said.
Those were notes he had written while organizing Ravenclaw's knowledge. They also incorporated his understanding of the essence of wizard magic and had been placed on the highest shelf.
He had thought Hermione and the others would not be able to use them before their fourth year.
But now, it seemed—
Hermione and the others' growth had all sped up quite a bit.
There was no need to even mention Hermione. In her personal booklet, most of her spells had already reached the Skilled level, and there were even some Expert ones that Sean did not know about.
Potions, Herbology, even Defense Against the Dark Arts—Sean believed Hermione was at least Skilled in all of them.
She had already caught up with graduating students.
She could practically be called a little all-rounder.
As for Justin, he was basically a smaller-scale Hermione all-rounder.
Strangely enough, Justin was always about the same as Hermione in every area, yet always just one step behind her.
Only in concealment, gathering, and stealth magic had Justin nearly caught up with Sean.
And one had to know, Sean's Disillusionment Charm had already reached the master level.
Then there were Harry and the others. Ron specialized in Transfiguration, and he had always planned to enter Professor McGonagall's advanced class.
In Transfiguration lessons, he never fooled around. He listened seriously, and even Professor McGonagall had gradually come to feel reassured about him.
Harry and Neville were full of passion for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Both of them held a vague longing toward becoming Aurors, and they spent their days clutching A History of Magical Careers and Auror Training Plan—the section Sean had written separately—without letting go.
Neville never spoke his thoughts aloud, but Justin seemed to know anyway, laughing and joking with him every day as he trained alongside him.
As for Harry, his training partner was Ron. One of them happened to be good at Defense Against the Dark Arts, while the other was good at Transfiguration, so they complemented each other.
"That's wonderful!"
Hermione's voice pulled Sean back to reality.
He saw Hermione's bushy hair lift happily, her whole person radiating a bright, cheerful energy from within.
When the lazy sunlight passed through the clouds for the third time and shone onto the elm desk in front of Sean, Professor Snape happened to be sweeping past in his long robes.
After seeing Hermione's silent spell, and the student wizard beside Hermione, his expression could not really be called ugly or pleased. He merely gave Hermione a cold glance, then strode away.
A few seconds later, the corner of his mouth curved into a cold smile. He deliberately stopped to watch Harry and Ron's difficult practice beside him.
Ron was supposed to cast a jinx on Harry. His face was red, and his mouth was pressed tightly shut, as if afraid he would fail to resist temptation and whisper the incantation aloud.
Harry held up his wand, waiting nervously to repel a spell that seemed as though it would never be sent his way.
"Pathetic, Weasley."
Snape watched for a while, then said, "Let me show you how it is done—"
No sooner had he said it than he suddenly turned his wand toward Harry. Harry instinctively ducked his head.
Defense Against the Dark Arts soon ended amid Harry's torment.
Most of the students felt as if a weight had been lifted from them. Only Hermione still looked unsatisfied.
"It feels so unnatural not to make any sound. How did you train back then, Sean?"
Hermione walked out of the classroom with brisk steps. They still had Potions class together afterward.
"Mm—cast a Silencing Charm on yourself."
Sean offered a shortcut.
If a wizard did not have the ability to make sound, then they could only speak in their mind and cast silently.
"Oh, why didn't I think of that!"
Hermione's eyes sparkled.
She had always enjoyed the feeling of learning new knowledge, just like the student wizards around her.
"Professor Flitwick taught me that too."
Sean walked down the stairs.
"That's not fair! Professor Flitwick never told me!"
Hermione immediately bristled.
"Who knows? Maybe because you're not in Ravenclaw?"
Ron cut in.
At the same time, he secretly glanced at Hermione.
Ever since the misunderstanding about Crookshanks had been cleared up, Hermione had practically been looking down her nose at him.
He knew he had misunderstood that ginger cat, but he could not bring himself to apologize to Hermione. He had been deeply troubled during this time, and the terrifying thing was, yesterday he had even been in the Magic Web—
Merlin, Ron felt like he was about to drown in worries.
"Don't listen to him."
Justin appeared from who knew where and came over.
"Professor Flitwick probably just doesn't know you're already learning silent casting, Hermione. Have you told him?"
"Oh—"
The tips of Hermione's ears quickly turned pale pink.
"How—why are you here?"
Hermione asked in a panic.
"You don't know? Professor Slughorn is teaching us together. How long has it been since you last looked at the noticeboard in the Great Hall?"
Justin looked at her in confusion.
Hermione's face turned completely red.
In truth, Sean had not known either.
So when the student wizards all poured down the underground stairs together in a noisy crowd, Sean still had not realized that this was a rare class shared by all four Houses.
The underground classroom was filled with steam and all sorts of strange smells.
Sean walked past bubbling cauldrons one after another and looked at Professor Slughorn with interest.
After confirming that Voldemort would not choose Nagini as a Horcrux, that conversation between Professor Slughorn and Voldemort had become even more important.
A little more information might not raise their chances of winning in a direct confrontation with Voldemort, but perhaps it could save a few innocent lives.
Sean thought of the old man who had barged into the Riddle house, and Bertha Jorkins, who had been murdered.
He could still—save some people.
That photograph, the group photo of Hogwarts' Great Hall, appeared once again in Sean's hand.
This time, strangely enough, many, many people had been added to it.
Sean had once thought his ability was small, and so it had only encompassed the Great Hall of Hogwarts. But now—
The students from each House automatically gathered at different long tables, waiting for class to begin.
Sean and the others, wizards from different Houses who were still sitting together, seemed especially conspicuous.
But no one cared.
All the wizards were attracted by the waves of fragrance coming from the cauldrons.
They had never smelled anything so tempting before. It made them think at the same time of honey tarts, the woody scent of flying broomsticks, and a floral fragrance that must have been something they had smelled at home.
Most of the student wizards were astonished to discover that they were slowly, deeply inhaling. The scent of the potion filled their bodies like alcohol, and a tremendous sense of satisfaction slowly came over them.
"All right, all right, all right."
Slughorn said.
Seen through the many layers of steaming vapor, his large figure seemed to waver and float.
"Students, please take out your scales, your ingredients, and do not forget your textbooks—"
A rustling sound immediately filled the classroom.
As Slughorn spoke, he returned to the front of the classroom. He pushed his already bulging chest forward even more, and the buttons on his waistcoat looked as if they were about to burst.
"Dear Mr. Green, why have you gone to sit among the students—"
Sean was stunned. He had forgotten about that.
Voldemort had occupied most of his thoughts, and lately, he seemed to have been overusing the Time-Turner.
So he quickly walked up to the lectern. Low laughter sounded in the classroom.
"How rare—muddled Sean—"
Ron asked with great curiosity.
"He's been too busy lately—"
Hermione frowned.
Even though she possessed the same Time-Turner, she could not find any trace of Sean.
The student wizard seemed to have talent even in using the Time-Turner. His other self often appeared earlier than Hermione did, and disappeared later than Hermione too.
"His time is a little disordered."
Justin said thoughtfully.
Hermione's body immediately tensed. She could not help suspecting whether Justin had guessed something.
"All right, I have prepared several potions to broaden your horizons. Of course, merely out of interest.
"Although you have not brewed them yourselves, you must certainly have heard of them. Who can tell me what this one is?"
He pointed at the cauldron closest to the Slytherin table.
Standing beside him, Sean saw that the inside looked like a pot of clear water rolling and boiling.
Hermione's well-trained hand shot up first.
Slughorn pointed at her.
"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion. Anyone who drinks it can be forced to tell the truth."
Hermione said.
"Very good, very good!"
Slughorn said happily.
"Now,"
he pointed at the cauldron closest to the Ravenclaw table and continued, "this one is rather famous—oh, it was also given special emphasis in the best-selling Green's Potion Notes—who can—"
Hermione's hand shot up first again.
"It's Polyjuice Potion, sir."
she said.
"Excellent, excellent! And this one here—you, my dear?"
Slughorn said. When he saw Hermione's hand raised once more, he looked a little astonished.
"It's Amortentia!"
"Quite right. It seems there is no need to ask at all."
This time, Slughorn showed genuine admiration and said, "I suppose you must know what it is used for?"
"It is the most powerful love potion in the world!"
Hermione said.
"Absolutely correct! I suppose you recognized it by its distinctive mother-of-pearl Sean?"
"And by its characteristic steam rising in spirals," Hermione said with great interest. "Also, its smell is different for everyone, depending on what each person likes best. I can smell freshly mown grass, new parchment, and—"
Her face suddenly flushed crimson, and she stopped speaking.
"Well then, everyone, you may all come and smell it. Perhaps you will smell—"
The scent of someone in particular?
Sean thought inexplicably.
As everyone knew, Amortentia allowed people to smell their favorite scents. If a wizard liked another person, then naturally they might smell the scent that often lingered on that person.
There was a large Amortentia fountain in the Love Chamber of the Department of Mysteries at the British Ministry of Magic.
It was said that wizards who secretly slipped inside could find their true love.
After that rumor spread, the Department of Mysteries not only had to guard against thieves, but also lovestruck fools.
"My dear, may I have your name?"
Slughorn asked, seemingly not noticing Hermione's embarrassment.
"Hermione Granger, sir."
"Granger? Granger? Are you perhaps related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, founder of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"
"No, I don't think so, sir. I'm Muggle-born."
"Oh! Very good, very good. A well-deserved twenty points to Miss Granger of Gryffindor."
Slughorn said kindly.
"Of course, Amortentia cannot truly create love. Love cannot be manufactured or imitated.
"This potion only causes powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous and most potent potion in this classroom—yes, that is right."
He nodded sternly toward Malfoy and Nott, who were snickering skeptically nearby.
"When your life experience is as rich as mine, you will no longer underestimate how powerful bewitched infatuation can be. Now, our lesson shall officially begin—"
Potions class took up the entire afternoon. Amid a certain daze, Sean realized that Friday had passed just like that.
As he walked out of Hope Cottage, his body overlapped with a faint shadow.
That was Sean from another timeline, using the Time-Turner.
Sean walked silently, visible exhaustion on his face.
After realizing that Voldemort had returned, he had begun squeezing every sliver of time he had, to the point that even the walk from Hope Cottage back to the dormitory had become his rest.
He slept less and less. He used the Time-Turner more and more frequently.
Sometimes, he even pushed right up to the edge of losing control.
He realized that some unavoidable battles were approaching.
He had to become a little stronger.
At the same time, under his efforts, Elemental Activation and Vine-Stone Guardian had both lived up to expectations and entered the Expert level, advancing by another third as well.
Magical Transformation and Material Transformation had also stepped into Expert.
Two masters, one legend—and Sean would be able to achieve the true legend of Transfiguration.
What would that title bring?
Would it change his talent for Transfiguration?
Sean did not know.
But he needed it.