Chapter 155: 34
Chapter 34: The Beginning of Seamus's Explosive Genius Career
"Scourgify!"
As soon as he left the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Ethan cast a cleaning spell on himself.
After spending so long in a room reeking of garlic, he felt thoroughly marinated. The spell not only cleaned off surface stains but also removed the odor.
After casting the spell on his roommates and a few familiar students, Ethan left. It was the end of class, so he could go back to the dormitory to change clothes or find seniors to help cast spells.
Next was Charms class, held on the third floor of Hogwarts.
The first thing that caught his eye when he entered the Charms classroom was the front window, where numerous books were stacked in a staircase shape.
For those in the know, the reason was clear.
Today's lesson was the Lumos charm.
After Professor Flitwick explained and demonstrated the spell from his desk, he let the students practice on their own. This was one of the most basic spells.
Many young wizards eager to try magic after receiving their textbooks often started with the Lumos spell.
With the chant of "Lumos" filling the room, the classroom resembled a collection of lamps with varying levels of brightness, some flickering unstably.
Of course, there were also a few students who couldn't manage to cast the spell at all. Not every young wizard had the talent or had read the textbook in advance.
Given this situation, Professor Flitwick found it challenging to award points. Should he give points to all four houses? Some students in each house, including Hufflepuff, managed to cast the spell on their first try, with Ravenclaw having the highest success rate.
This saved Professor Flitwick some face.
"Think about what I just said. Don't panic, stay steady," Professor Flitwick advised, running back and forth with his short legs, reminding the students one by one.
Thanks to his reminders, more and more students successfully cast the Lumos spell.
Ethan appreciated why Professor Flitwick was so well-respected at Hogwarts. He was serious, responsible, and patient. Unlike Professor McGonagall, who often appeared stern, or Snape, who seemed perpetually annoyed, Flitwick was approachable.
"Pronounce the spell correctly and clearly. Don't panic. Try again!"
Ethan noticed Professor Flitwick stopping in front of a young Gryffindor student. Upon closer inspection, it was Seamus.
Ethan immediately sensed trouble. If Seamus had a status panel, it would probably show he had a talent for "Explosive Mastery." Any spell he cast had a chance of exploding, and explosive spells were even more powerful in his hands.
"Lumos!"
Seamus took a deep breath and raised his wand high, as if holding a torch.
"It's working, it's working!" Neville, who sat in front of Seamus, shouted excitedly. The two had been among those who couldn't get a reaction earlier.
Now that Seamus had succeeded, would he be next?
"Don't get too excited. Control your magic and try to maintain it," Professor Flitwick cautioned as he saw the light beginning to waver.
Seamus nodded seriously and raised his wand again.
In an instant, the light from his wand intensified at a visible rate. If it started as a five-watt bulb, it now soared to at least eighty.
Ethan felt a sense of foreboding. "Close your eyes!" he shouted to the Ravenclaws around him. They immediately complied, turning away and lowering their heads.
Just after Ethan's warning, a blinding light filled the classroom, followed by a loud explosion.
Though the noise and flash didn't last long, the effect was impressive. The entire classroom was in chaos, with students screaming and pushing.
Many had been watching Seamus and Professor Flitwick, hoping to learn from their demonstration. When the intense light burst forth, it blinded them temporarily.
Others, though less affected, still found the flash and noise overwhelming.
At the center of the explosion, several Gryffindor students had blackened faces and singed hair, looking like they'd been scorched by fire.
Fortunately
, Professor Flitwick, due to his height, had only been partially affected by the explosion, avoiding the worst of the blast by being under the desk. However, the intense light had still blinded him temporarily, and his ears were ringing.
"What happened?" Terry asked, blinking in confusion and trying to clear his vision. He had been chatting with Gene when he heard Ethan's urgent shout to close his eyes and had followed suit just in time.
"Seamus Finnigan's spell backfired," Ethan explained helplessly. "It was like a low-grade flashbang."
"Everyone, sit down at your desks. Don't panic, you will recover soon," Professor Flitwick instructed, using a Sonorus charm to amplify his voice across the classroom. He understood the need to quickly restore order and prevent further chaos.
As a dueling champion, Flitwick felt a sting of embarrassment at being caught off guard. His reflexes might not have been what they once were, but he had to regain control of the situation.
Ethan saw that Professor Flitwick's eyes were tightly shut, and tears streamed down his cheeks, evidence of the discomfort he was experiencing. Realizing the need for action, Ethan and a few classmates who had followed his warning helped guide and calm the panicked students, ensuring they stayed in their seats and assisting those who had fallen.
Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were the worst affected. Cassandra from Ravenclaw was relatively unscathed, but Hermione was lying on her desk, clearly overwhelmed by the explosion.
After nearly ten minutes, the aftereffects of the intense Lumos spell began to fade, and everyone slowly regained their sight.
Following the incident, it was impossible for Professor Flitwick to continue the lesson. He instructed the students to take a break and recover. The name Seamus Finnigan was now etched into everyone's minds.
Ethan knew this was just the beginning of Seamus's explosive career. During the Battle of Hogwarts, when Neville needed to destroy the bridge to thwart the Death Eaters, Professor McGonagall specifically instructed him to consult Seamus. This showed just how many explosions Seamus had caused during his seven years at Hogwarts, leaving a lasting impression on his professors.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone