A full week had passed, and in the cozy common room of Hufflepuff, a rare tension hung in the air for the first time. Today marked the end of their last class, signaling the imminent arrival of finals week. Tomorrow, Hogwarts would unveil the detailed exam schedule. The thought of exams stirred unease even among the usually laid-back students. Even a seasoned student like Cedric felt his pulse quicken slightly.
The reason was straightforward. This year, Hufflepuff had clinched the Quidditch Cup trophy, a significant achievement. Yet, the coveted House Cup remained elusive. Tradition dictated that professors tallied the final exam scores of first-year students across all houses. The house topping the comprehensive evaluation would earn an additional 50 points toward the House Cup. While Hufflepuff held a substantial lead, securing these extra points would make their victory unassailable.
Moreover, this year's Hufflepuff freshmen boasted grades far superior to those of Cedric and his peers in their time. Even Ravenclaw, historically dominant in academics, found themselves outshone for the first time. With a shot at claiming the top spot in the overall evaluation, why not seize it?
But then, eyes drifted to a figure in the corner of the lounge, and a sense of calm washed over Cedric and the others. Admiration gleamed in their gazes. That figure was none other than Char. For the past week, aside from essential classes, Char hadn't left the common room. Everyone passing through could see him tirelessly practicing the most fundamental spells. How many times had the soft glow of the Lumos Charm flickered? No one could pinpoint the number, but it likely reached into the hundreds of thousands.
This dedication inspired the young Hufflepuffs. Never short on hard work, they couldn't stand idly by while so many peers strove for the house's honor. Over the week, the students doubled their training efforts voluntarily. Many practiced late into the night before retiring to rest. As a result, the midnight snack supply in the kitchen tripled compared to usual!
At that moment, Cedric spoke up. "Alright, everyone, don't be too stressed. With this momentum, we have a strong chance of taking first place in the overall evaluation this year." His words, meant to reassure, instead deepened the solemnity on the young Hufflepuffs' faces. No one wanted to lag behind. Without any prompting, they began practicing on their own. Older students offered patient guidance, and everyone instinctively steered clear of the corner where Char trained, avoiding any disturbance to his intense focus.
As the night grew late, yawns spread among the students. One by one, they succumbed to exhaustion and shuffled back to their dormitories. Hannah, ever thoughtful, quietly brought a cup of hot black tea and a few plates of snacks, setting them on the table before Char. Then, gripping her wand tightly, she settled into another corner of the lounge, flipping through a worn textbook. Before long, her head rested on the book, her breathing steady and even.
Moments later, Char waved his wand with a gentle flick. A blanket floated over and draped across Hannah. Then, he let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Tomorrow marks the start of exam week, doesn't it? That means the first school year is truly drawing to a close. Quirrell, what's your scheme?" Pondering Quirrell's actions over the past week, Char found himself genuinely perplexed.
Quirrell showed no apparent intent to breach the fourth-floor corridor. Instead, he'd spent the week granting interviews to the Daily Prophet and various wizarding media, spinning a heartfelt tale of capturing a man-eating monster. The Ministry of Magic had showered him with medals, and Fudge himself visited twice, displaying remarkable warmth. After all, had it not been for Quirrell, the disappearance crisis might have forced Fudge out of office prematurely. In a way, Quirrell had salvaged Fudge's political career, and Fudge was eager to align himself with Quirrell to boost his own approval ratings.
Consequently, Quirrell's reputation in the wizarding world soared to unprecedented heights. Many hailed him as a hero, viewing him as an upright, noble, and capable wizard. Yet Char knew Quirrell's true nature. He didn't believe these accolades were Quirrell's ultimate aim. From start to finish, Voldemort's sole target had been the Philosopher's Stone. How did this public adulation aid Quirrell in securing it?
Char shook his head. "The events of the first year have diverged significantly from the original story. I haven't the faintest idea what Quirrell is plotting." But soon, he redirected his focus inward. If Quirrell's intentions remained elusive, dwelling on them was a waste of time and energy. Strengthening himself was the best way to brace for whatever lay ahead.
He glanced at the system panel, a look of satisfaction and joy spreading across his face. Over the past week, the changes on the panel were striking. The various spells, once somewhat unstable, had been refined through nearly ceaseless day-and-night practice. The superficial sheen on them had been polished away, leaving a luster as dense and tangible as reality itself. Even the deep foundation Char had built during a long bottleneck period had been fully absorbed during this intensive week.
On the system panel, brilliant platinum light shimmered. Compared to a week ago, these lights glowed far brighter. Though they hadn't reached diamond level, the disparity within the platinum tier was vast. In terms of magical mastery, Char had made tremendous strides. And on his system panel, tiny flecks of diamond light even twinkled. This wasn't from the temporary diamond-level boost of the Oolong Cave Spell, enhanced by dozens of cursed jewels. No, this stemmed from a week of relentless practice—a result of Char's near-instinctive mastery of the Lumos Charm, now woven into his very being.
Within its platinum glow, specks of diamond-like brilliance sparkled, teetering on the edge of ascending to diamond level. Char took a deep breath. "It's worth it, pouring most of my energy into practicing the Lumos Charm this week. The effort has truly paid off. Excluding the rare geniuses and outliers, few wizards in the magical world could hone the Lumos Charm to my current level. After all, it's just a basic spell. Most treat it as functional enough if it works. Who would dedicate themselves to mastering it?"
Yet, as Char gazed at the Lumos Charm's entry, a peculiar expression crossed his face. This spell had been instrumental in familiarizing him with magic particles at a microscopic level. By studying the interactions of the Lumos Charm's particles, he could draw parallels to the principles of other spells. Beyond that, an idea he'd once entertained was slowly taking shape: maintaining the magic particles of the Lumos Charm at a consistent vibrational frequency, mimicking the laser concept from his past life's knowledge.
Char had previously envisioned this. The light of the Lumos Charm could become extraordinarily dazzling, amplifying its inherent startling effect on dark creatures. But back then, his magical perception was too limited, far from meeting his expectations. Now, however, Char's eyes traced a derivative line extending from the Lumos Charm on the system panel. Parallel to it, a new entry—also gleaming with platinum and diamond light—was nearly fully formed.
Char tapped his wand and intoned a spell derived from the Lumos Charm. "Lumos—Acies!" In an instant, a beam of near-incandescent white light shot from the tip of his wand. Its brightness far surpassed the limits of the standard Lumos Charm, so intense that merely glancing at it felt like it could sear the eyes. With a subtle flick of his wand, the blazing white light sliced across the corner of the long table before him. A smooth gash appeared instantly on the thick wood.
Char ran his fingers over the incision, still radiating surprising heat, his gaze locked on the system panel. He had completed this spell within the week, yet something felt incomplete. The system panel reflected this as well—though usable, the text marking the new spell fell just short of being fully realized. "What's missing?" Char muttered. He'd wrestled with this question for two days.
For now, he shook his head. If the answer eluded him, he wouldn't force it. After all, in terms of magical potency, he didn't lack for lethal cutting spells. The platinum-level Severing Charm far outstripped this new creation in raw destructiveness, not to mention the diamond-level Oolong Cave Spell. Perhaps, in time, the solution would come naturally.
With that, Char shifted his attention to his Occlumency technique. Over the week, the power of the voodoo doll's curse had steadily intensified. Though the journey from gold to platinum level was long and grew slower with time, Char's progress in Occlumency maintained a consistent pace. Now, platinum light almost fully enveloped the entry. Just a sliver remained.
Anticipation gleamed in Char's eyes. He had reaped immense benefits from Occlumency already. If it could ascend to platinum level, he had a strong feeling the gains would be monumental. Exam week began tomorrow. What was Quirrell scheming? Was it time to unveil his true motives? Yet, this final bit of progress had stalled for two days, stuck at the brink.
Determined, Char reached into his robes and withdrew the voodoo doll. At that moment, despair etched the doll's face. Seven days—seven unrelenting days. It hadn't rested for a single moment. Even as a cursed object, it felt this treatment was beyond cruel. Staring at Char, fear filled its eyes. This boy wasn't human. Even demons from the underworld seemed kinder by comparison. He deserved to be strung up on Hogwarts' highest tower or locked away in Azkaban!
Char smiled. "Don't give me that look. Yes, I know you've worked hard lately. But your efforts haven't been in vain. They've all contributed to my growth. You're not just any voodoo doll—you're one with purpose. I've always been fair in my dealings. Let me think… how about a break?"
At the mention of a break, the voodoo doll's eyes, previously dulled by hopelessness, sparked with life. A break was all it craved. It couldn't endure this existence any longer. If granted a respite, it would do anything. And yes, the first thing it'd do during that break was flee from Char, never to be exploited by him again in this lifetime.
"You… are you really giving me a break?" The doll's voice quivered.
Char grinned. "Look at how you phrase it. I'm not some fiend. How could I make you toil endlessly without rest? Of course, there'll be breaks."
The voodoo doll's face brimmed with eager anticipation. Looking at Char, its resentment softened. Perhaps this boy was still human after all. "Then release me now. I want my break now."
But Char shook his head. The doll grew frantic. "Why?"
Char spread his hands. "There's a critical task only you can complete. What happens to the mission if you leave?"
The doll was baffled. "What about my break? Didn't you say I'd get time off?"
A sly curve touched Char's lips. "I've told you, don't worry. Have you heard of a certain concept? I call it a permanent rest."
In the next moment, as the voodoo doll grasped the meaning of "permanent rest," the threads binding its form snapped one by one. It unleashed a curse more venomous than any before. "Permanent rest? Curse whoever devised this heartless trick! May they perish!"
As the voodoo doll's curse invaded his mind, amplifying his magical power, Char took a deep breath. On the system panel, the last vestige of golden luster on the "Occlumency" entry vanished entirely. Platinum light fully cloaked the text.
Occlumency (Platinum Level), complete upgrade!
Simultaneously, Char felt an intense, sour sensation between his brows, accompanied by waves of swelling, as if thousands of lemons had been crammed inside. The indescribable acidity forced tears from his eyes, blurring his vision. Caught off guard, Char could only clench his teeth and endure. Half an hour later, the soreness and swelling finally ebbed. Wiping away the tears, his sight cleared at last.
Though he had anticipated that advancing Occlumency might bring changes, Char hadn't expected the shift to be so potent. "I just wonder what kind of enhancement this transformation will yield," he mused, glancing at the system panel. Then, beneath the Occlumency entry, a new line of text appeared.
Sixth Sense Enhancement (Gold Level)!
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