dmims Chapter 182 The Snowball Spell and the Reconstructed Friendship
Chapter 182 The Snowball Spell and the Reconstructed Friendship
Chapter 182 The Snowball Spell and the Reconstructed Friendship
The approaching Christmas holidays filled the castle's younger students with excitement, the corridors echoing with the sounds of running and playing. Karen, clutching several heavy books on spellcasting, sat by the window in the library, intently studying a complex array of protective runes in her notes. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating the parchment, and the air was thick with the scent of old pages and dust.
"Excuse me, Hawthorne?"
A hesitant but clear voice sounded from beside her. Karen looked up and saw Hermione Granger standing by the table, holding several books in her arms, her face showing a hint of unease and a strong thirst for knowledge.
"Granger, what's up?" Karen put down her quill.
“I have a question for you, about the Levitation Charm,” Hermione said quickly, as if afraid of wasting his time. “The book and Professor Flitwick both emphasize ‘a slight flick of the wrist, a firm will,’ guiding the spell with intention. I can cast spells normally now, but every time I try to precisely control an object, like suspending a feather at a specific height or moving it along a trajectory, the magical flow fluctuates out of control! Either the object flies around wildly, or it falls straight down. I’ve checked all the angles, but it just doesn’t work! You see—” She seemed eager to verify, and before Karen could fully respond, she drew her wand and pointed to a spare feather she had brought with her on the table: “Feathered Gedim Leviosa!”
The feather floated up, but when Hermione tried to control it to draw a few crooked circles in the air, it fell back onto the table with a "thud" halfway through.
Hermione sighed dejectedly, "That's it! It's completely unstable! Where exactly is the problem? Is there a flaw in my magic output? Or am I ignoring some variable?" She pointed to the spellcasting animation and feather trajectory diagram she had drawn on her draft paper, her brows furrowed.
Karen looked at the feather and said calmly, "Magic isn't mathematics, Granger. It originates from will and depends on perception." He picked up his wand, his wrist flicking almost imperceptibly, a slight thought flashing through his mind.
The feather seemed to be gently lifted by an invisible hand, hovering lightly and steadily at eye level with the two, completely still. There was no dazzling light, no violent fluctuations, only an absolute sense of effortless control.
Hermione was dumbfounded.
"Magic output should be guided by the thought of 'breathing'," Karen controlled the feather to float slowly in front of her. "A clear intention of 'position' is the anchor point. Magic should flow naturally like water, not be forcibly 'pumped' using a formula. Formulas are the foundation of understanding, but what controls it is your heart, your feeling. Relax, trust your magic, feel it; your casting is too rigid."
Hermione watched contentedly as the feather floated freely before her, following Karen's every whim. Then she glanced at her own draft paper, as if struck by a sudden realization. "Feel the breath—anchor point," she murmured, lost in deep thought. A moment later, seemingly eager to put this new idea into practice, she hurriedly packed her books. "Thank you! Karen! I think I—I'm starting to understand! I need to—digest this!" Clutching her books, she gave Karen a quick nod, turned, and rushed out of the library, forgetting even the feather on the table.
Karen watched her retreating figure, shook her head slightly, and continued to organize her books and notes, putting the notes and spellbook together one by one.
When he walked out of the library with the neatly organized books, and crossed the porch into the cold, windswept courtyard, he was met with a chaotic scene.
In the center of the courtyard, Neville Longbottom, his face flushed and tears welling in his eyes, was futilely trying to jump up and reach for something. His precious Memory Orb, now a warning red, was held high in Malfoy's hand, waving it triumphantly.
"Give it back to me, Malfoy!" Neville's voice was choked with sobs.
"Want it? Come and get it, Longbottom!" Malfoy drawled, his grey-blue eyes filled with malice. Crabbe and Goyle stood beside him, blocking Neville like two mountains of flesh, emitting harsh sneers.
"Look at this pathetic wretch, he can't even remember what he forgot!" Malfoy continued to mock, deliberately tossing the memory orb to Crabbe.
Crabbe clumsily caught it and tossed it to Goyle, the two of them toying with Neville like a ball. Neville was pushed and shoved, awkwardly chasing after them.
Time and again they came up empty-handed, the wolves and foxes were utterly defeated.
"Stop, Malfoy!" an angry voice rang out. Harry and Ron, clearly drawn by the commotion, had just run into the courtyard from another corridor and rushed over upon seeing the scene.
"Oh, the savior and his poor henchman are here?" Malfoy turned around, a fake smile on his face, showing no fear whatsoever. "What, want to stand up for this forgetful idiot?"
"Give Neville back his Memory Orb!" Harry glared at Malfoy, his fists clenched.
"You think this is the flying lesson from before? But you want me to give it back to him? Sure." Malfoy grinned wickedly, suddenly snatching several fist-sized snowballs from Goyle and the others. These snowballs shimmered with an unnatural light, clearly under a curse. "Catch it and give it back!" He hurled one of the snowballs at Harry!
Harry instinctively dodged to the side, and the snowball hit the stone pillar behind him, exploding with a "crack." Inside were small pebbles, which, as if they had a life of their own, veered off and chased after Harry!
"Watch out! The snowball might be a Tracking Charm!" Ron yelled, trying to pull Harry away.
Malfoy laughed and hurled several more magical snowballs at Harry and Ron. Snowballs flew wildly through the courtyard, whistling through the air, relentlessly pursuing Harry and Ron. The two dodged and ran like wolves, Harry even getting grazed on the shoulder by a snowball, the icy cold sending him flying. Crabbe and Goyle clumsily grabbed handfuls of snow, made snowballs, and joined the fray, hurling them at Harry and Ron. Though their aim was poor, it only added to the chaos.
Karen couldn't stand it anymore and prepared to end this farce.
Suddenly, a clear female voice, though noticeably distorted by nervousness, rang out. "Yugadimurleviosa!"
It was Hermione! She had come out a little earlier than Cullen and was about to help Neville when she saw him being bullied. However, Harry and Ron attacked first, and seeing them now surrounded, Hermione desperately drew her wand, attempting to use a levitation charm to control the scattering magical snowballs. However, she was too nervous, still thinking about Cullen's words, and the spell missed! A beam of red light missed all the snowballs, instead grazing the ground and striking Goyle, who was bending down to grab some snow!
"Ouch!" Gore suddenly slipped, his massive body lost its balance, and he crashed down like a mountain of flesh, landing squarely on Crabbe, who was also bent over next to him!
"Ouch!" Caught off guard, Crabbe saw stars as the impact struck him, and the two of them tumbled together like gourds, splashing up a large amount of snow and mud.
The scene was both comical and chaotic.
Seeing his two henchmen in such a sorry state, Malfoy's smug expression froze instantly, replaced by rage. He glared fiercely at Hermione, who was holding her wand and looking pale: "Damn it! You! You damned Mudblood!"
Karen's eyes instantly turned icy cold. He had just witnessed Hermione's unexpected intervention turn the tide and was about to leave when he heard Malfoy utter that insulting word.
"They'll all be petrified!"
An invisible yet powerful binding force instantly traversed space, striking Malfoy precisely! The anger on Malfoy's face and the vicious words he was about to utter froze instantly. He was as if he had been cast in cement, falling straight backward and crashing heavily onto the cold snow with a "thud." Like a stiff piece of wood, only his gray-blue eyes were filled with shock, fear, and disbelief, staring fixedly in the direction of Karen.
The courtyard fell silent instantly. Only Crabbe and Gore were still struggling to get up in the snow, groaning and moaning.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were all stunned, looking at Cullen who had suddenly appeared and subdued Malfoy in an instant, and then at Malfoy lying motionless on the ground.
Cullen walked expressionlessly to the stiff Malfoy, looking down at him. His grey-blue eyes held no emotion, only a cold, penetrating insight that seemed to pierce Malfoy's soul, revealing his deepest fears and cowardice. Malfoy felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze. He wanted to curse, to threaten, but the petrification spell prevented him from moving anything but his eyes. In that instant, he remembered the fate of the Selwyn family last year, and the various rumors he'd heard from his father about Cullen. A chill shot up his spine to the top of his head.
"What did you just say, Malfoy?" Karen's voice was eerily calm, like water flowing beneath ice. "'Mudblood'?" He uttered the vicious word clearly and slowly.
Harry and Hermione didn't understand the meaning of the word, but they could sense that it wasn't a friendly term. Ron, standing nearby, gasped. He had just heard Malfoy say it, but wasn't sure. Now that Cullen had repeated it, he understood the malice of the word.
Cullen's gaze swept over Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione, finally settling on Hermione's pale face. She explained, "'Mudblood,' an extremely insulting term, specifically referring to Muggle-born wizards. Those who use it are using the dirtiest way to deny the magical talent flowing in your blood, to insult your parents, and to trample on your most fundamental dignity as a wizard." Each word was like an icicle, piercing Malfoy on the ground, and clearly reaching Harry and the others' ears.
Seeing Neville and Ron nod, confirming that Cullen was indeed right, Hermione clenched her fists tightly, her body stopped trembling, and a flame of anger burned in her eyes.
Karen's gaze returned to Malfoy's pupils, dilated with fear. Her voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority: "Now, he can't move. You were just surrounded by him and his henchmen, and your humiliated friend is still crying. What do you want to do?"
This statement was like lighting a powder keg!
"Beat him up!" Ron roared first, his pent-up anger exploding instantly. He lunged forward and delivered a powerful punch to Malfoy's stiff stomach! "Serves you right for bullying Neville! For throwing stones at me! For swearing! Today I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
Harry, realizing what was happening, was instantly overcome by a surge of justice and a desire to protect his friend. He remembered Malfoy's usual arrogance, his insults towards Ron's family, and his malicious intent towards Hermione. His blood boiled, and he charged forward, punching Malfoy several times in the shoulder and arm! "Give the Memory Orb back to Neville! Apologize to Hermione!"
Hermione looked at Malfoy, who lay motionless on the ground, and watched Harry and Ron stand up for her and Neville. A strange warmth and courage washed over her humiliation. She wasn't a proponent of violence, but at that moment, she felt Malfoy deserved it! She gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and instead of throwing a punch, raised her thick dragon-skin boot and kicked Malfoy's shin several times! "How dare you insult me!"
"That's what you call being arrogant and rude!"
Neville watched this scene, then looked at his recovered Memory Orb, and then at his friends who had stood up for him. Tears finally streamed down his face, but no longer from resentment; they were from excitement and a warm feeling of finding support. He mustered his courage, walked over to Malfoy, and though he didn't dare hit him hard, he kicked Malfoy lightly, whispering but firmly, "You bastard! You tried to steal my stuff!"
Crabbe and Goyle struggled to their feet and saw their master being beaten like a punching bag by three Gryffindors. They hadn't seen Cullen cast the spell after they fell, so they were both shocked and furious. They roared and rushed over to help, "Let go of Draco!"
Karen didn't even turn around, casually waving her left hand behind her!
"They'll all be petrified!"
Two more silent, staffless petrification spells! They hit their mark precisely! Crabbe and Goyle, who had just gotten up, turned into two stiff, fleshy sculptures again, "plop," "plop," and fell back onto the snow in comical poses.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione gave Malfoy a few more hard slaps until they were panting heavily. Malfoy's stiff face was filled with pain, his expensive robes were stained with snow and mud, he looked disheveled, and his eyes were filled with resentment and fear.
"Enough!" A stern, cold, and angry voice rang out at the entrance to the courtyard.
Professor McGonagall strode in, her face ashen, wearing a long, bright green robe. Her sharp gaze swept over the stiff Malfoy trio, then over the panting, angry Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and over Neville, clutching the Memory Orb with tears still on his face, before finally settling on Cullen, who stood calmly to the side.
"Who can tell me," Professor McGonagall's voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with oppressive force, "what's going on here?! Why are my students fighting like savage trolls in the snow?! Mr. Hawthorne, release Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, and Mr. Goyle from their spells! Now!"
Karen did as instructed, waving her finger to lift the petrification spell on the three of them.
"Aww!"
"It hurts so much!"
"Professor! They hit me!" As soon as Malfoy could move, he let out a pig-like scream and accusation, pointing at Harry, the other two, his face covered in snot and tears, and genuine pain and humiliation, but he dared not look at Cullen. Crabbe and Goyle also groaned as they got up.
"Professor! Malfoy stole Neville's memory ball first! And he attacked us with a cursed snowball!" Harry immediately retorted, pointing to the traces of the magical snowball left on the ground.
"He even called Hermione a 'Mudblood'!" Ron added angrily.
"That's how it is, Professor, all thanks to Karen!" Hermione's voice trembled, but her gaze was firm.
Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept over everyone, becoming even colder and sharper when she heard the word "Mudblood."
She looked at Karen: "Mr. Hawthorne?"
"As I passed by, I saw Mr. Malfoy and his companions robbing Mr. Longbottom's belongings and physically assaulting and verbally abusing him," Cullen's voice was clear and objective. "Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley then intervened, only to be attacked by snowballs imbued with a curse by Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger attempted to use a levitation charm to stop the chaos, accidentally causing Crabbe and Goyle to fall. When Mr. Malfoy used the extremely offensive term 'Mudblood' on Miss Granger, I used a spell to silence him. Afterwards, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger, in a state of heightened emotion, physically retaliated against the incapacitated Mr. Malfoy. When Crabbe and Mr. Goyle attempted to intervene again, I stopped them once more."
Karen's statement was clear and logical, pointing directly to Malfoy's provocation and insults as the root cause.
Professor McGonagall's face was so dark it could drip water. She glared at Malfoy: "Mr. Malfoy! Stealing from a fellow student, using a curse to attack someone, and using such unforgivable insults! Twenty points deducted from Slytherin! Solitary confinement! The details and duration will be decided by Professor Snape! Now, take your servants and go to the school hospital! Then go see your Headmaster!"
Malfoy tried to argue, but under Professor McGonagall's icy gaze, he could only glare venomously at Harry and the others before limping away, supported by Crabbe and Goyle.
Professor McGonagall turned her gaze to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, her tone still stern, but seemingly softened slightly: "Mr. Potter,"
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger! Your act of bravery is commendable, but violence is never the solution! Five points deducted from each of you! Gryffindor courage is not for fighting! However, for helping your classmate, three points will be added to each of you! Mr. Longbottom, are you alright?" She looked at Neville.
"It's alright, Professor. Thank you," Neville said softly, hugging the memory orb he had just recovered.
"Disperse! Go back to the common room! Any more group fights, regardless of the reason, will be severely punished!" Professor McGonagall gave a final stern look around, her gaze lingering on Karen for a moment as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just waved her hand, turned around and strode away.
A cold wind swirled snowflakes, and only Cullen, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville remained in the courtyard. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Harry rubbed his shoulder, which was sore from being hit by a snowball, and looked at Hermione with a complex expression—surprise, gratitude, and a hint of embarrassment: "Well—Hermione, thank you for your help earlier, although—" He wanted to say that although he hadn't hit the snowball, it had unexpectedly been a great help.
Ron scratched his red hair, somewhat awkwardly saying, "Yeah, I didn't expect you to be so—brave." He recalled his previous comments about Hermione being "know-it-all" and "show-off," and his face flushed slightly.
Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly. She smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, trying to remain calm, but her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of ease and pride: "I just did what I was supposed to do." She looked at Karen, her eyes filled with genuine gratitude. "And thank you, Karen. Thank you for helping us, and thank you for giving us this opportunity."
Karen nodded casually. "No need to be polite. That kind of person needs to be taught a lesson. You did a good job." He glanced in the direction Malfoy had left, his gaze suggestive.
Neville whispered, "Thank you—thank you all." He looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then at Cullen, his eyes filled with gratitude and trust.
"Alright, let's go," Hermione took a deep breath, picked up the books on the table, "It's lunchtime."
"Okay, let's go." Harry nodded and, together with Ron, naturally followed Hermione's footsteps. Neville quickly followed as well.
Karen watched the four of them walk away side by side. This unexpected farce seemed to have become an opportunity to break the ice and reconnect the friendship that should have been formed during the troll incident.