Hearing the name, Malfoy froze. After awkwardly standing up, he quickly turned around and saw the person approaching. He didn't dare to say a word but glared angrily.
However, there were still traces of bird claws on his face.
"Malfoy, did I ever tell you not to mess with my friends?"
Malfoy paused. "When did you say that?"
Root: (_)"Didn't I say that?"
Recalling the lesson he had given Malfoy last time during their flying class, Root realized he had only scolded him a few times.
Root looked at Malfoy seriously. "It doesn't matter. I'm saying it now."
Malfoy: (●●)…
"You're really nosy!" Malfoy glared at Root.
Root chuckled, not caring much about Malfoy's glare. Slowly, he raised his hand and waved gently at the bird still circling above Malfoy's head.
Suddenly, the bird flapped its wings and flew over. It folded its wings gently and landed steadily on Root's shoulder, rubbing its head against his neck affectionately.
Root stretched out his fingers and stroked Alanna's forehead. A faint ripple of magic spread from his palm and enveloped Alanna.
Gradually, the bird's figure became blurred until it disappeared.
Malfoy and Neville were both stunned.
"You can cast spells without a wand?" Malfoy stared in disbelief.
"Oh my god, Root, you've gotten even better!" Neville said enviously.
Root smiled. "I don't like bullying children, but I also hope you can stop messing with my friends."
"What are you talking about? Aren't you also a child?"
Malfoy blinked, snapped back to reality, and widened his eyes in anger.
"No, are you treating me as your follower? How dare you order me around? You're a Gryffindor! I'm a Slytherin!"
Root blinked. "Oh? Although I make potions with Professor Snape from time to time, I really don't know—"
"So, Slytherins only rely on their height and magic to bully others just to please themselves?"
Root held his wand in his palm. "That's a really good question. Do you want me to send a message to Professor Snape and ask him about it?"
Malfoy's expression froze.
He remembered when he passed by the Potions classroom and saw Professor Snape personally instructing Root.
The fire of jealousy burned in his chest.
Why? Why would Professor Snape instruct a little Gryffindor wizard every week? He was a descendant of a pure-blood family! His talent for potions couldn't be worse than Root's!
For several days and nights, Malfoy fantasized about standing in front of the potion table with Snape, receiving the professor's careful one-on-one guidance.
But whenever he prepared meticulously and asked Snape for extra lessons, his confidence was crushed when Snape mercilessly rejected him.
"Damn it, Root, did he cast the Imperius Curse on Professor Snape?"
Snape should've looked at him differently. He should've trained him, not some Gryffindor!
But...
Even Malfoy had to admit, Root's magical talent was exceptional.
If he were a teacher, he, too, would prefer a talented and hardworking student like Root.
"You're not talking. Should I write the letter to Professor Snape? Or should I wait until I see him next week and tell him myself? That a Slytherin is using magic to bully his classmates?"
Root's voice interrupted Malfoy's thoughts.
When Malfoy heard Root mention extra lessons next week, his expression froze. Then, anger flooded his face, turning him red like a ripe tomato about to burst.
With an angry snort, Malfoy swung the corner of his wizard robe and turned around, storming off.
Root watched his retreating back and noticed something on the ground.
"Tsk." Root sighed helplessly, raised his wand, and whispered a spell.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Malfoy's wand trembled slightly, lifted into the air, arced gracefully, and landed steadily in front of him.
Malfoy froze.
He looked at the wand, then quickly reached into his pocket.
Wait! He had dropped it without realizing it!
His shoulders trembled. He picked up the wand and stood still for a long moment. Slowly, he turned around. His previously angry eyes were now filled with complicated emotions.
He hadn't expected Root to remind him and return his wand instead of taking it away to tease him.
Seeing Malfoy hesitate, Root curled his lips.
"A wizard should never forget his wand—unless you plan on casting magic with your mind and ending up as a joke for a bunch of owls."
Malfoy didn't respond. He just pressed his lips together and looked at Root deeply.
Then, without another word, he turned around. This time, his steps were more thoughtful and less hurried as he disappeared around the corridor's corner.
"Thank you, Root. It's all thanks to you again."
After Malfoy left, Neville looked up at Root with his round little face.
Root glanced at him but was suddenly reminded of himself in Professor McGonagall's office, after being hit by a Transfiguration Curse.
He shook his head quickly.
No, no, no. He didn't think Neville looked like a little pig.
"It's okay. Let's go have dinner—it's getting late."
Neville nodded, holding the crystal ball his grandmother had given him, and followed Root to the Great Hall.
Harry and the others were still eating.
As soon as Neville sat down, he immediately told Ron and Hermione about what had just happened.
Hermione looked at Root in surprise. "Wandless spellcasting? You've already learned it in your first year? That's impossible! I've tried countless times, and it never worked!"
Root smiled modestly. "Maybe I'm just gifted. Merlin is looking after me."
Hermione: (.)
Harry, Ron: (°°)
Neville nodded frantically. "Root is amazing! If it weren't for him, I would've been stuck in a Leg-Locker Curse!"
"It's no big deal~"
Having easily gained a fanboy, Root smiled and waved his hand, then picked up a steak.
(End of the chapter)
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