"But there's no holiday for Halloween. Will the professors really let you leave the castle?" Shirley asked, reaching out to fix Adam's crooked scarf, her face full of confusion.
"I've been thinking about this for a while," Adam replied. "When Grandma Tina sent me some winter clothes a couple of days ago, she agreed to my request to take me back home for a bit. Professor Sprout gave me an application form, and after class, I just need to get Professor McGonagall's signature."
He glanced down at his scarf and added, "It's supposed to be signed by the headmaster, but, well, you know—Professor Dumbledore hasn't been around much lately."
"But I haven't asked!" Shirley said, her voice tinged with panic as she rummaged for a quill and parchment. Before she could start writing, Adam grabbed her hand, grinning. "Relax, your name's already on the form."
Her cheeks puffed out like an indignant little bun, and she raised her fist to thump Adam's shoulder—though she couldn't bring herself to hit hard. Instead, she pinched his smiling face, her ears turning red as her lips curled into an uncontrollable smile.
As they discussed what to pack for the trip, the classroom door swung open. Professor Hogg strode purposefully to the front.
The young witches and wizards quickly sat up straight, placing their textbooks on their desks and looking at him eagerly.
Since arriving at Hogwarts, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had quickly won over every student. Gone were the days of sitting through dull, self-study sessions with just a textbook. The first-years especially loved his teaching style.
Though strict and serious in class, he treated every student fairly—unlike a certain unnamed Slytherin head of house. He also gave them plenty of chances to practice spells and offered tailored advice.
"Last lesson, we covered the Shield Charm," Professor Hogg said from the front of the room, his tone grave. "It's not part of the first-year curriculum, and it's a challenging spell for you lot. But I stand by teaching it because it could save your lives in critical moments."
He continued, "I wish I had more time to teach each of you individually, but with only one Defense class a week, it's not enough. So, I'll make this clear: any student who masters the Shield Charm by the end of term will earn an 'O'—Outstanding—on their final exam."
Aiden's eyes lit up, practically glowing, as if he wanted to leap up and ask for pointers right then. The Ravenclaw students clenched their fists, already planning to track down older students for Shield Charm tips that evening.
Seeing the excited buzz in the room, Professor Hogg, as if expecting it, tapped the blackboard behind him. The class fell silent. He raised his wand, pointing to a cage by the lectern, and cleared his throat. "Who remembers our first lesson? Can anyone tell me about the habits and traits of an Erkling?"
Aiden's hand shot up. Professor Hogg nodded for him to speak.
"Erklings are elf-like creatures, bigger than garden gnomes, about three feet tall with pointed faces. They're especially sensitive to the scent of children," Aiden said confidently. "They lurk in dark corners and use a hypnotic cackling sound to lure kids, creating a false sense of safety. Then they lead them away from adults to kill and eat them. They're mostly found in Germany's Black Forest."
Professor Hogg led a round of applause before asking, "Now, facing a dangerous creature like an Erkling, who can tell me the most effective way to deal with it?"
A Ravenclaw piped up, "Cast a Shield Charm!"
Professor Hogg nodded approvingly but pressed on. "That's a good option, but not the most effective, especially since most of you haven't mastered it yet. Anyone else?"
Hands went up, but each answer was met with a shake of his head. When no more hands rose, his sharp eyes scanned the room and landed on Adam, who was scribbling a shopping list on his parchment.
"Adam, care to answer?" he called.
Adam stood quickly, tucking the parchment under his textbook. After a moment's thought, he said, "The best way is to cover your ears and run. Erklings are fragile creatures, but when it comes to danger, staying safe is the top priority."
"Well done! Five points to Hufflepuff!" Professor Hogg said, ignoring Adam's sneaky note-taking and adding, "In 1927, during the last recorded Erkling attack, one tried to lure a six-year-old boy into the Black Forest to kill him. His father caught on in time and smashed the Erkling with a collapsible cauldron. So, even without a wand, covering your ears can handle it easily."
The students scribbled notes furiously as the lesson moved on. Professor Hogg pulled a stack of leather earmuffs from his robe, passed them out, and gestured for everyone to gather around the cage. "Now, take off the earmuffs and experience what it's like to be lured by an Erkling."
The first student, a round-faced wizard, approached the cage and immediately staggered into it, muttering, "So many Veela… wait for me…"
The others burst into giggles, but when their turns came, their laughter froze. Some circled the cage as if pulled by invisible strings, while others started listing off food names, making nearby Hufflepuffs reach for snacks tucked in their robes.
As they left the classroom, many kept glancing back at the bronze cage, still caught up in the strange experience.
Shirley, her face flushed, tugged at Adam's sleeve. "You were moving around too, but I could tell you were faking it. Didn't you see anything?"
"What did you see?" Adam asked, dodging the question as he pulled out the application form tucked in his textbook.
"I almost couldn't stop you—you nearly crashed into the cage!" he teased.
Shirley fell quiet, then murmured sadly, "I saw my mum and dad, sitting together in a huge field of flowers, smiling and waving at me."
Adam ruffled her hair gently and pulled her toward Professor McGonagall's office. "You didn't see Grandma Tina? She'd be heartbroken."
They hurried along the second-floor corridor, its red carpet leading to a door adorned with small lion plaques. Adam knocked lightly, and after a crisp "Come in," they stepped inside.
The small study was cozy, warmed by a crackling fire in the stone fireplace, casting shadows of a brass poker on the paneling. Through the window, the Quidditch pitch was visible in the distance.
Professor McGonagall sat at her desk, her quill scratching across a stack of parchment. Her square glasses rested low on her nose, and she looked up as they entered, pausing her writing.
"Adam, Shirley?" she said, adjusting her glasses, her tone kind but carrying a hint of authority. "What brings you here?"
Adam handed over the application form, explaining their request.
"I understand how you feel, but it could be dangerous out there…" McGonagall said, her voice hesitant as she studied the form.
Just then, the study door creaked open, and a gentle, weary voice spoke from the doorway. "I approve this request."
The figure stepped toward the fireplace, rubbing their hands. Their purple robe, embroidered with silver wreaths, was dusted with snowflakes and flecked with ice crystals, as if they'd just returned from somewhere freezing.
"I happen to have the weekend free to take you both there myself, so we won't need to trouble Tina," they added.