"What a magnificent sword!"
When Professor Swinton drew that gleaming, metallic blade, Qin Yu couldn't help but let out a heartfelt exclamation.
This was no ordinary Western rapier, but a broad, weighty sword—its blade etched with bold ridges and finished to a mirror-like polish, smooth and gleaming enough to catch your own reflection.
Just the look of it was enough to stir excitement.
"I based this on the flight mechanics of broomsticks," Professor Swinton explained, tossing the sword lightly into the air. "With a bit of Extension Charm work, it can change size—and yes, it flies."
He flicked his wand, and the sword grew longer and wider with a shimmer.
"Up!"
With the classic broomstick command, the sword floated gently upward and hovered in midair.
"Go on, step aboard!" Professor Swinton grinned at Qin Yu.
"Er… are you sure this is safe?" Qin Yu hesitated.
"Come now, I can't very well be the one to take its maiden flight, can I?" Professor Swinton shrugged, feigning innocence.
"…Is it really appropriate to say that to a student?" Qin Yu grumbled inwardly.
Still, he rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms and legs, and then jumped up, landing lightly on the sword's back.
The instant his feet touched the blade, a magical suction locked them in place—steady as if he stood on solid ground.
A Sticking Charm, of course!
Noticing the surprise on Qin Yu's face, Professor Swinton looked rather pleased with himself. "Took me ages to get that charm just right. Wouldn't want you tumbling out of the sky, would we?"
Qin Yu gave him a big thumbs-up.
Flying the sword was much like riding a broomstick—a skill Qin Yu already had, though standing instead of sitting took some getting used to. He crouched low, urged the sword forward, pulled up just before hitting the wall, spun, and zipped back the other way.
After a few laps, he'd gotten the hang of it. It wasn't quite as effortless as a broomstick, but he was soon slicing through the air like the wind.
Watching Qin Yu master the flying sword so quickly, Professor Swinton felt a pang of pride—and a touch of regret. This boy really could learn anything in no time. If only he had a little longer to teach him… there were so many wonders left to share.
But he'd only ever been a temporary fixture at Hogwarts, and his time here was almost up.
The thought left him feeling strangely conflicted.
"Woohoo!" Qin Yu cried, spinning the sword into a high-flying flip and letting out a whoop of pure joy.
"All right, that's enough! If you keep practicing, you'll bring the whole office down around our ears!" Professor Swinton laughed, shaking his head.
"Heh, sorry, Professor—I got a bit carried away." Qin Yu landed the sword gently at Swinton's side.
"Off you get—there's more." Professor Swinton beckoned him down.
"Oh? More? What, are we going to chop something?" Qin Yu asked, curious.
"Not just that—" Professor Swinton teased, keeping him in suspense.
Qin Yu hopped off, eyes shining with anticipation.
Professor Swinton shrank the sword back to its original size and gripped it tight.
"Watch closely!"
He murmured an incantation, and with a whoosh, the sword burst into brilliant flames.
Qin Yu's eyes went wide.
What man could resist a sword wreathed in fire?
"I borrowed a few phoenix feathers from Professor Dumbledore," Professor Swinton said, arching an eyebrow, clearly pleased with himself. "Seems to work rather well."
"'Rather well' is an understatement—this is incredible!" Qin Yu gushed.
"And that's not all!"
With a flick, the flames vanished, and the blade crackled as a layer of frost formed instantly along its edge.
Glancing around, Professor Swinton swung the frost-covered sword at his desk. With a thud, a chunk of the desktop broke clean off and crashed to the floor.
"That's the effect of those ancient runes we used for the pyramid fridge," he explained. "I repurposed them for the sword."
"Brilliant!" Qin Yu applauded.
"And there's more!"
He gave the blade a twist, and it shimmered with an eerie green glow.
"That's… Acromantula venom?" Qin Yu guessed.
"Haha, sharp eyes!" Professor Swinton grinned.
"Now that's practical!" Qin Yu nodded in approval.
"And there's more!"
The green faded, and a sharp wind began to swirl around the blade.
"And more!"
The wind died down, replaced by a dazzling white light.
"And more!"
The blade's color shifted, blending seamlessly into the surroundings—nearly invisible.
"And more!"
The sword softened, curling itself around his forearm like a silvery snake.
"And more!"
"And more!"
"And more!"
With each "and more!", Professor Swinton unveiled yet another function—each more imaginative and dazzling than the last. It was a masterclass in magical creativity.
By the end, Qin Yu could only watch in awe, silent and spellbound, as if witnessing a virtuoso's performance.
Wasn't a truly gifted wizard little more than a magical artist?
Of course, as he admired the spectacle, Qin Yu couldn't help but wonder just how many Galleons had gone up in smoke to make all this possible.
Professor Swinton really did come from a wealthy family—his "money magic" was second to none.
"Well, that's about the lot," Professor Swinton finished, sheathing the sword.
"Professor, I remember making a whole list of requests you never agreed to. How come you ended up adding even more features than I asked for?" Qin Yu couldn't help but ask.
"That's different," Professor Swinton replied, raising an eyebrow. "When you make a list, it's called wishful thinking. When I do it, it's called a surprise!"
"…Touché," Qin Yu conceded, unable to argue.
"The only catch," Professor Swinton added, "is that many of these features can only be used once or twice before needing time to recharge. That's just how magic works—according to the law of magical conservation, every effect costs you a certain amount of power. No way around it."
In other words, not enough mana—or, in gamer's terms, he was always low on MP.
"This is already amazing—far beyond what I imagined!" Qin Yu said, deeply impressed.
"Then it's yours," Professor Swinton said, handing him the sword.
Qin Yu accepted it, his hands trembling with excitement.
…
Of course, all the professors soon heard about Qin Yu's new flying sword.
After all, Professor Swinton had consulted nearly every one of them during its creation. He'd borrowed phoenix feathers from Dumbledore; Professor McGonagall contributed ideas about Transfiguration; Madam Hooch's knowledge of broomstick construction was invaluable; Professor Flitwick's expertise in Charms and Professor Sprout's in Herbology had both made their mark.
But the most crucial help came from Professor Snape, who'd been involved from start to finish, always muttering, "That Qin boy loves showing off—here's what you should do…"
So, after receiving the sword, Qin Yu made a point of thanking every professor in person.
One day, Professor Dumbledore himself dropped by the Defense Against the Dark Arts office to inspect the sword.
"It reminds me of the Sword of Gryffindor," Dumbledore remarked, a twinkle in his eye.
Then, with a note of regret, he added, "But this sword still lacks the spark that makes a true legend."
"What spark?" Professor Swinton couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm… I'm not quite sure myself," Dumbledore replied with a mysterious smile.
Professor Snape, standing nearby, caught the glint in Dumbledore's eyes and fell into thoughtful silence.
Qin Yu thought privately, "Listening to you is like… listening to you." He wasn't brave enough to say it aloud.
Then Qin Yu opened the giant pyramid he'd kept in Professor Swinton's office, took out a chilled drink, and handed it to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore took a sip, nodding in approval. "Very nice. With the weather getting warmer, this is just the thing."
As he finished and prepared to leave, Dumbledore glanced at the pyramid in the corner and remarked, "Excellent alchemical materials—using them to store food is rather extravagant, don't you think?"
At that, all three faces went red with embarrassment—even the perpetually stoic Professor Snape couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth.
As the saying goes, never hit a man in the face, never point out his shortcomings.
But Dumbledore just smiled and drifted away, leaving the three of them in awkward silence.
After a long pause, Professor Swinton finally spoke. "Qin, maybe we should—"
Shing!
Before he could finish, Qin Yu drew his new sword with a flourish.
Professor Snape opened the pyramid and began removing its contents.
A flash of cold steel, a ringing clang, and the pyramid split neatly in two.
All three let out a sigh of relief.
"I think these alchemical materials could be put to much better use," Professor Swinton said, finally sounding serious.
"Absolutely," Qin Yu agreed.
"Mhm," Professor Snape grunted.
Anything would be better than a pyramid fridge, Qin Yu thought privately.
He'd wanted to say it for ages—clearly, so had Swinton and Snape, but pride had kept them quiet. After all, they'd spent ages on the project, only to have Dumbledore call them out.
Now that everyone was on the same page, it was time for a fresh start.
"So, what should we make?" Qin Yu asked.
Professor Snape and Professor Swinton both looked at him—and at the sword in his hand.
Then they exchanged glances, perfectly in sync.
…
Time slipped from late April into late May.
The Hogwarts school year was drawing to a close; classes were finished, and final exams loomed.
Before the exams began, Snape and Swinton both completed their secret projects.
When the two new swords—each unique in design—were placed side by side, Qin Yu was there.
On a whim, he drew his own sword as well.
With a metallic clang, the three blades touched, resonating as if bound by some invisible thread.
They'd been forged from the same source—there was a connection, deep and mysterious.
"Haha, what a curious thing," Professor Swinton laughed.
"Didn't expect that effect," Qin Yu agreed.
"Same materials—no surprise there's a bond," Professor Snape remarked, sheathing his elegant rapier.
Then, with his usual calm, he turned to Swinton. "Stephen, when are you leaving?"
"…Severus, must you bring that up at a moment like this?" Professor Swinton sighed.
"If parting is inevitable, why not face it?" Professor Snape replied, uncharacteristically sentimental.
Qin Yu had grown quiet as soon as the question was asked.
Since his arrival at Hogwarts, Professor Swinton had been a tireless mentor and friend—almost an older brother.
Now, with farewells looming, his heart was a tangled mess of emotions.
Life, perhaps, is just a series of goodbyes, Qin Yu thought.
"Well, if we must part, let's drink to it," Professor Swinton declared, producing a bottle of fine old wine.
He and Snape poured themselves each a glass.
Qin Yu, being underage, was strictly denied any, despite his longing. He had to settle for a non-alcoholic "wine substitute"—which mimicked the taste and even the buzz, but wasn't quite the same.
So, in that office, the three of them raised their glasses to parting—again and again, for there seemed to be so much to say.
When they were all a little "tipsy," Qin Yu patted both professors on the shoulder, his words slurring with emotion: "Professors, I… I have an idea. Not sure if I should say it…"
"Say it! Whatever's on your mind!" Professor Swinton waved expansively, clearly in his cups.
"Go on, I promise not to scold you tonight," Professor Snape added, face flushed, eyes distant—lost in some old memory.
With their blessing, Qin Yu grinned. "I was thinking… fate brought us together, and now we each have a sword. In the Muggle world, this would make us the Three Musketeers!"
"Mm! I know that story!" Professor Swinton piped up.
"So… why not swear brotherhood?" Qin Yu said, eyes bright despite the haze.
"Brotherhood?" Professor Swinton echoed.
"Yeah! From now on, we're brothers from different mothers! Of course, you'll still be my professors, but you can call me 'third brother'!" Qin Yu, "drunk" and beaming, thought it was the best idea ever.
"Deal, deal! Third brother, you're my real little brother!" Professor Swinton declared, clapping him on the back.
"Third brother?" Snape echoed, bemused.
"Right! Big brother, second brother!" Qin Yu threw his arms around them both.
And so the three clinked glasses again.
Tonight, they drank for parting, for friendship, for all the moments that brought them together—drunk on nostalgia, on laughter, and on the bittersweet taste of farewell.
——Dimensional Wall——
Originally, the pyramid was meant for something else, but in the end, I decided to split it into three swords—a symbol of the bond between these three.
And with Qin Yu being an adult at heart, it's only natural that he sees the professors as big brothers.
Well, my writing hasn't been smooth lately—please forgive the rough patches.
Thanks to "Old People Remember Old Times" for the god-tier certification, and to every reader for your gifts, encouragement, and comments! Your support means everything to this little author!
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