After Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Rock headed back up to the tower with the letters he needed to send out.
He selected an owl with practiced ease, fed it a little treat, and the bird immediately took off from Hogwarts with the letters in its beak.
Not bad—just a small snack and it was charged up enough to fly across half a continent.
Well… half of Europe, anyway.
Rock walked down from the Owlery at the West Tower, wondering whether Theseus would actually teach him the Disillusionment Charm.
If he wouldn't… then Rock would have to ask Penelope, the fifth-year.
He had just arrived at Ravenclaw's bronze door and was about to answer the riddle when the door opened on its own. Theo and Adam were coming out.
"Rock! Perfect timing—we were just about to look for you."
Theo walked up with a quick, light step and threw an arm around Rock's shoulder.
"Huh? What's going on?" Rock asked, barely able to step inside before being pulled around by Theo and Adam toward the staircase.
"We just heard from some students who came back—someone in Gryffindor fell off a broom during Flying Class," Theo said, shaking his head, obviously intrigued.
"Flying class is that dangerous?" Adam looked more concerned than curious. "Our flying lesson is tomorrow afternoon… I thought Hogwarts was supposed to be safe."
To Adam, school should be the safest place there is.
But clearly, after thinking back on this morning's Potions class—plus what he'd just heard—he realized he might've been a little too optimistic.
Rock couldn't help but smile bitterly. If Adam had enrolled seven years earlier and graduated before Harry Potter showed up, then yeah—Hogwarts would've been pretty safe.
But starting this year, Hogwarts was about to enter the most chaotic seven-year stretch in its entire history.
"You should probably forget that idea. I don't want you freaking out every single school year."
Rock said it half-jokingly, patting Adam's shoulder before turning toward the infirmary.
If things followed the original story, it was almost certainly Neville who fell. Since they'd gotten along well on the train, Rock definitely wanted to check on him.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Adam frowned. "It doesn't sound… reassuring."
Theo shrugged. "No clue. But honestly, I feel like something fun is going to happen."
"…I swear, you want trouble to happen," Adam muttered, exasperated, before hurrying to catch up to Rock.
"Come on, learning while having a little fun isn't a bad thing."
Theo grinned and jogged after him.
The infirmary was on the second floor. Rock reached the closed doors and suddenly remembered—visitors should probably bring something.
He suddenly felt oddly jealous of Hufflepuffs—they could whip out snacks anytime, anywhere.
"What's wrong?"
Adam had caught up and looked puzzled.
"You got anything on you? Snacks maybe?" Rock asked, eyes lighting up.
For kids who grew up entirely in the wizarding world, Muggle treats usually had a certain charm.
"Snacks?"
Adam blinked, then dug through the pockets of his robes.
"Uh… hollow chocolate balls."
He dumped five or six into Rock's hand.
"And these… caramel-apple lollipops."
A few wrapped lollipops dropped into Rock's palm.
"Oh—and I have a few bottles of clear soda in my trunk. Want one?" Adam added.
"Coca-Cola?" Rock asked instinctively.
"No, Crystal Pepsi—it's a clear, non-caramel version of Pepsi." Adam shook his head quickly.
"Heretic," Rock muttered, his mouth twitching with mock disgust.
"What?" Adam stared at him, confused.
Meanwhile, Theo was patting down Adam's robes like he was searching for treasure. "Dude, did you put an Undetectable Extension Charm on this thing?"
"No! I just carry this stuff because I get low blood sugar sometimes." Adam pushed him away—thoroughly disgusted.
While they were bickering, a stern voice cut in:
"What are you boys doing here?"
All three froze. Rock looked up to see a middle-aged witch—very much like Professor McGonagall in temperament—opening the infirmary door with clear disapproval.
"Hello, ma'am. I heard Neville fell off his broom, so I wanted to check on him."
At that, Madam Pomfrey's expression softened noticeably. "Come in. He's inside. But keep your voices down."
"Of course. Thank you, ma'am."
Rock gestured for Theo and Adam to follow and stepped inside.
The strong smell of herbs filled the infirmary. Rock walked to the corner bed just as Madam Pomfrey had indicated.
There lay Neville—except his wrist didn't look injured at all.
"Rock?!"
Neville lit up the moment he saw him and sat up happily.
"Quiet, please!" Madam Pomfrey barked, making Neville shrink back nervously.
"I thought you were hurt?" Rock asked, leaning closer. Neville really didn't look injured.
Neville lifted his right hand. "It was my wrist… but Madam Pomfrey already healed it."
"That fast?" Adam leaned in, inspecting Neville's hand. Not a single trace of injury.
"This is Adam, and this is Theo," Rock said, making introductions.
"Nice to meet you. If you're Rock's friends, you're my friends too."
Theo shook Neville's hand with an unusually formal air.
Neville smiled shyly. "Hi, I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom."
"Longbottom? As in one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight?" Theo asked, unsure he heard right.
"What's the Sacred Twenty-Eight?" Adam asked, puzzled.
"Uh… nothing important," Neville said quickly, clearly not wanting to get into it.
Rock raised an eyebrow—probably because of Neville's grandmother.
Theo rubbed his nose, realizing he'd blurted out something awkward.
Right then, Madam Pomfrey returned with a cup of potion.
"Mr. Longbottom, time for your medicine."
All three boys instinctively stepped back. The potion in that cup looked… frightening.
A thick, bubbling purple liquid, giving off a terrible smell.
"Gulp…"
Neville swallowed hard, clearly terrified.
"D-do I really have to drink it?"
"You must. It will help you recover faster," Madam Pomfrey said in a tone that allowed no argument.