The afternoon lessons were as demanding as ever. Professor Quirrell looked worse by the day—his brow furrowed with constant anxiety, and the shadows beneath his eyes so dark they seemed painted on with ink.
Beyond the classroom, Quirrell still kept his distance from Wyzett, barely exchanging more than a word. Not wanting to raise suspicion, Wyzett said little as well, resorting instead to quietly leaving Chocolate Frogs as tokens of concern.
When he returned from the Great Hall, he discovered that while the celebrations on the pitch had ended, Ravenclaw's festivities were still in full swing.
It was a rare night when Ravenclaw students truly let loose, reveling in the sweet taste of long-awaited victory.
Penelope and the others raised their wands, casting spells on floating crystals to scatter dazzling rainbows of light across the common room.
Someone had tracked down Fred and George, buying up a trove of magical fireworks to mark the occasion.
The twins, delighted, were generous with their stash—sharing food and sweets, sending the party into a joyous frenzy.
…
As the snow piled higher and higher around Hogwarts, it signaled the approach of the Christmas holidays.
Early one morning, after bidding farewell to his roommates, Wyzett packed his trunk and returned to the familiar, uneven little platform.
Watching the Hogwarts Express billow white steam into the cold air, a wave of nostalgia swept over him.
Half a year at Hogwarts—gone in a blink.
But anticipation soon bubbled up inside him.
Sol fluttered his wings, perching on Wyzett's shoulder and nuzzling his cheek.
"Missing Diana, too, are you?"
"Hoo!"
Many students had chosen to stay at school, so as Wyzett walked through the train, most compartments were empty.
He settled by a window, pulled out his notes on magical circuits, and waited for the Express to depart.
His notebook held two diagrams—one of a Snidget's magical circuit, the other of the Golden Snitch.
The Snitch diagram had come from the very one Cho Chang caught during the match. Curious about its inner workings, Wyzett had recorded the circuit for later study.
The Snidget's circuit was fascinating: though it appeared broken into two halves, it somehow remained harmonious, as if it was meant to be that way. When the Snidget used its vanishing ability, half the magical circuit would disappear from its body—and reappear at the destination.
The Golden Snitch's circuit was equally intriguing: a stack of interlocking circles, spinning like wheels, never at rest. Perhaps it was this design that gave the Snitch its incredible speed and agility, making it so hard to catch.
After weeks of study, Wyzett sensed a connection between the two circuits.
He tried splitting the Snidget's circuit in half and inserting the Snitch's circuit between, then tried to link them together.
But no matter how he arranged the lines, the final result always felt… off. Not quite seamless, not the breakthrough he hoped for.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that if these two magical circuits could truly be fused, something extraordinary would happen.
"Wyzett Lovegood?" A gentle male voice broke his concentration. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Wyzett looked up to see an unexpected visitor in the doorway—Cedric Diggory.
Tall and handsome, with a healthy flush to his cheeks and a kind, open expression, Cedric was the sort of boy who was popular with everyone—even the first-years in Hufflepuff spoke of him with admiration.
Wyzett closed his notebook and shook his head with a smile. "No, go ahead. It's free."
"You played brilliantly in the last match!" Cedric sat down, his eyes shining. "Even in the professional leagues, you rarely see players bold enough to use the Quaffle the way you did!"
"I suppose I just didn't have much to lose," Wyzett said, rubbing his nose sheepishly. "Honestly, it was a close call—I just acted on instinct."
"That's a real gift! You're an incredible flyer!" Cedric admitted, a hint of envy in his voice. "If you ever become a Seeker, I'll probably lose sleep the night before our matches!"
…
There was a reason Cedric was so well-liked. He was easy to talk to, never let a conversation turn confrontational, and always steered clear of awkward questions.
He kept a comfortable distance, always ready with a new topic—making every chat flow naturally.
Cedric excelled at Transfiguration, and Wyzett took the chance to ask him plenty about it.
Cedric thought for a moment. "Just as Professor McGonagall says, Transfiguration requires caution…"
"But I think observation is just as important. If you can really remember the shape of an object, you can make your Transfiguration so much more precise…"
"Absolutely!" Wyzett nodded, scribbling notes as they spoke. "The better you understand something, the easier it is to get the details right…"
They were the same age, and Wyzett found Cedric's insights especially valuable—peer-to-peer wisdom was a rare gift.
Sunlight streamed through the compartment window as the two boys opened up to each other. Their conversation meandered from Hogwarts life to family and dreams.
Wyzett's life was simple—every happiness he knew was rooted in that garden, and within the walls of Hogwarts.
Cedric, on the other hand, carried the weight of his parents' expectations.
They hoped he'd study hard and one day join the Ministry of Magic—preferably the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He seemed relieved to finally have someone to confide in. Even as his cheeks reddened, his voice was firm: "But I think it'd be wonderful to work alongside my dad, too!"
"He's in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures—always working late, sometimes getting hurt. I want to help, so he doesn't have to do it all alone."
He scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "You won't laugh at me, will you?"
"I envy you," Wyzett replied softly. "Your parents' expectations mean they love you—they want the best for you."
"And you clearly love them, too. Wanting to work with your dad, to make his life easier… I can only admire you for that."
"If you want to work with your father, you'll need to get into the Ministry anyway. So your goals are already aligned."
"So what's there to worry about? Just keep working hard, and once you're in the Ministry, you'll have options—help your father, or aim for something even higher. Isn't that right?"
Cedric's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "You're right! I've been overthinking things… Why couldn't I see it before?"
"Because you're inside the maze, and I'm standing outside," Wyzett replied with a gentle smile. "It's always easier to spot the way out from a different perspective."
"Thank you!" Cedric let out a deep breath, extending his right hand. "I'm really glad we got to know each other today… Just call me Cedric!"
Wyzett grinned and shook his hand. "Wyzett!"
… ~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/GoldenLong