章 67: 67
Chapter 67, "A Busy Day":
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Their eyes met.
After a pause, Wade resumed walking forward and asked, "Did you witness that just now?"
"Yeah," Griffiths nodded. "While I was visiting, I happened upon you and the house-elf... A mark of a good house-elf is remaining unseen by wizards, and the house-elves at Hogwarts have always been the best—many students graduate without ever laying eyes on one!"
Griffiths chuckled knowingly, "Naive little fools, believing the castle has some magical housekeeping charm that cleans their dirty laundry and shoes!"
"Whether they're seen by others isn't the measure of their worth," Wade defended his small friend. "The house-elfs are truly remarkable."
"You're right," Griffiths agreed with a nod, surprisingly not arguing any further, which struck Wade as odd.
Ahead in the corridor, where there were no portraits, Griffiths had to halt and watch the Ravenclaw wizard go on his way.
"—A Ravenclaw befriending house-elves?" He mused aloud, then chuckled, "Just friends, huh?"
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Wade noticed a distinct change in how the professors treated him—even Professor Snape awarded him two extra points for the first time. Previously, in Potions class, despite Wade consistently brewing near-perfect potions, Snape rarely awarded him more than one point out of every three attempts.
Wade wished he could capture the stunned expressions of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in the classroom.
Even Professor McGonagall, typically stern, allowed Wade to remain after class and handed him a list of books.
"Transfiguration is the most magical of arts," Professor McGonagall said with a smile. "If you study these books diligently and comprehend them thoroughly, you'll undoubtedly advance on the path of Transfiguration."
"Thank you, professor," Wade acknowledged, studying the list. He hadn't read most of them, but—
"The last few books appear to be in the restricted section of the library."
"That's correct. Once you've finished the earlier volumes, you may come to me—" Professor McGonagall looked at him expectantly, "I'll sign your library pass."
Professor Flitwick, needless to say, assured Wade he could borrow any book from his private collection at any time. Whenever Wade sought advice, the candies and desserts on Professor Flitwick's desk were more plentiful than usual.
Professor Sprout's smile grew warmer, and she lent Wade several herbology books after class.
Wade's schedule grew increasingly packed.
Each morning, he would fly from the tower to the main building's eighth floor on his broomstick, with either Zoe or one of the others rushing to return the broom to his dormitory.
He'd transform the Room of Requirement into exercise equipment or a swimming pool for a workout, then into a study area for reading, homework, and breakfast. During these times, a house-elf always stood nearby, ready to alert him via the friend book if anyone approached, ensuring he wouldn't be caught entering or leaving the Room of Requirement.
If he had classes, he'd naturally head straight to the classrooms; on off days, Wade spent almost all his time in the Room of Requirement.
For spell practice, the Room provided relevant books and spell-casting targets. For potion study, there were various cauldrons, scales, fuels, and measuring cups, though he still needed to prepare the materials beforehand. For alchemy, the equipment surpassed even that of Professor Murray, along with the "gifts" and "trials" presented by the professor.
After dinner and before curfew, the time was almost exclusively reserved for SSC. They congregated in the Umbrella House to practice spells, complete unfinished homework, troubleshoot together, or simply chat.
In terms of Wade's advanced learning progress, none of the SSC members could offer valuable academic assistance. It functioned more like Wade's personal after-school tutoring session, without any charge.
But not everything had to be viewed through a lens of utility and mutual benefit.
The time spent with these companions was invaluable to Wade. Here, he could relax his mind and spirit completely, setting aside any weighty concerns. Casual conversations and laughter relieved the strain of a day packed with intense study.
Moreover, witnessing the significant progress made by Neville and others under his guidance brought Wade immense joy and satisfaction—perhaps even more than mastering a new magical technique, something he was already accustomed to. The happiness derived from mentoring surpassed expectations every time.
Positive emotions proved infectious. After each Umbrella House session, everyone departed with a smile.
"I wish we could convince the headmaster to extend curfew by another hour," Padma remarked, packing her books away with a smile. "I've never enjoyed studying so much."
Even Neville nodded in agreement. Within the Umbrella House, even studying Potions no longer felt like a chore.
Though mistakes were still common, his friends would promptly correct them without reproach.
"Next week is the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, isn't it?" Michael glanced at students from both houses with a thoughtful expression.
"Yes," Hermione sighed worriedly. "I heard Professor Snape will be the referee."
"That doesn't bode well for you," Padma sympathized. "Professor Snape is hardly impartial—we all know how much he dislikes Gryffindor, especially with Harry Potter on your team."
Hardly anyone in the entire school was unaware of Snape's bias against Harry Potter.
However, those who had visited the headmaster's office recently exchanged knowing looks.
The following day at noon, Hermione signaled in the Great Hall, and several students converged at the Umbrella House with an unspoken agreement to discuss—
"The headmaster surely appointed Professor Snape to ensure Harry Potter's safety on the field, right?" Ryan speculated. "Despite his temper, Dumbledore must place a great deal of trust in him. Snape is dependable."
Michael idly manipulated his Quidditch star model, watching the tiny figurine fall and rise repeatedly. He added with a grin, "Managing point deductions and protection—there's no conflict in handling both."
Ryan sighed, "With so many professors available, why would the headmaster choose the one who harbors the strongest dislike for Harry Potter?"
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