It occurred to Sean that a minor earthquake might count as a kind of magic too.
In the early days, wizards who used Ancient Runes could pull off all kinds of unbelievable feats. For example, Sean had once found a record from the 1379 Dueling Tournament describing a sort of "weather magic" used in battle — the origin of the famous Mountain-Moving Charm.
The competitors in that match were praised as having "a virtually unprecedented level of skill and dueling prowess."
It read: the second wizard stepped up to face the third and conjured massive storm clouds in the sky, drenching his opponent in freezing rain and forcing him to dodge bolts of lightning.
The third wizard had an idea and conjured a powerful whirlwind that not only blew away the storm, but also flung the judges, most of the audience, and several trees clean out of the arena.
That kind of magic had enormous impact — just like the Material Transfiguration Sean was learning now.
Following Professor McGonagall's lead, Sean had to study Ancient Runes and spend a long time preparing to cast that sort of transfiguration.
Even though she called it "flashy but impractical magic," for Sean it would be a huge help when fighting the basilisk.
If he could actually pick up a mountain and drop it on the basilisk's head, one of the major problems in developing basilisk cookies would be solved.
And so, while he planned and schemed, the summer quietly slipped by.
During that time, Fairy Tale Workshop officially announced the new "Three-Headed Dog" series, and the news once again set the wizarding world on fire. Number 77 Diagon Alley — that little shop barely anyone had ever been inside — was turning into a legend.
Reporters from Witch Weekly staked it out day after day, desperate to catch some earth-shattering photo, but always went home empty-handed; aside from its single opening day each month, the shop might as well have been "dead."
September 1st.
All the young witches and wizards were heading to King's Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express.
Leaving home was always a little sad and unsettling, but the moment they thought about the friends waiting on the train, their expressions brightened up remarkably fast.
It was what they were supposed to do every year on September 1st — but this year, there was an exception.
"I'm going too, Hagrid?"
Sean walked behind Hagrid as the two of them stepped out of the castle.
Lately Sean had been researching the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. His memory of it was a bit fuzzy — he only clearly remembered Myrtle and the girls' bathroom.
As for the actual entrance, he had a few guesses, and finding it would be one of his top priorities once school started.
"Why wouldn't yeh go? Yeh've never ridden the Thestral carriages before — trust me, that's somethin' ter experience—"
Hagrid boomed cheerfully as he led Sean down the slope outside the castle, heading toward the Forbidden Forest. More precisely, toward the Thestrals.
They were going to bring the Thestrals to Hogsmeade Station to pick up the returning students from second year and up.
After all, first-years got to cross the lake in little boats — they couldn't exactly make the older students swim back from the station.
…
Dusk was setting in, the sun hanging on the treetops like a ripe orange.
Hogsmeade Station was already buzzing. Not far off, the train was slowly braking. Justin, Hermione, and Neville could hear the noise all around them as everyone scrambled to gather luggage and pets, getting ready to disembark.
Dragging their heavy feet out of the compartment, they merged into the corridor crowd, feeling the long-lost sting of night air on their faces. As they shuffled toward the door, they caught the scent of pine trees lining the path down to the lake.
Stepping onto the platform and looking around, they pricked up their ears for that familiar voice:
"Firs' years this way… Firs' years…"
The voice was very familiar, but also strangely different. When they focused, they realized it was a student gathering up the first-years.
"Sean?"
Hermione froze. Had Hogwarts really given Hagrid's job to Sean?
He was only a— second-year.
While Hermione was still stunned, Justin and Neville were already helping corral first-years who were charging around with their heads down.
Once they finally got all the new students together, Hermione had a chance to ask the question on her mind:
"Where's Hagrid, Sean? Why are you here?"
She frowned.
"Lost a Thestral. Hagrid went after it. He'll be back soon."
Sean answered calmly. Whenever Hagrid was with him, the half-giant seemed to get a little less reliable — he'd even had the brilliant idea of leaving Sean alone to lead ten Thestrals at once.
Completely forgetting Sean was still just a kid.
"Thestrals, is that… never mind, now's not the time. Have you seen Harry and Ron? We couldn't find them anywhere on the train — did they go back early?"
Hermione asked.
Justin and Neville lifted their heads then, listening anxiously for Sean's reply.
Sean had a good idea what was about to happen. He murmured, "They'll be fine," and Hermione let out a long breath.
"Oh. Then… I mean, how do we get back to the castle?"
She stared curiously at the row of carriages. Around the shafts, roughly a hundred horseless carriages were parked in place.
"Don't worry."
Sean had just spoken when a completely unfamiliar voice rang out in front of them — a woman's voice that sounded like she was singing:
"You're using Thestrals to pull the carriages?"
Before they could react, the voice drew closer:
It belonged to a very "odd" witch.
She had waist-length, tangled, grimy blonde hair, eyebrows so pale they were barely visible, and bulging eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look.
Everything about her radiated a dreamy sort of madness. Maybe it was the wand tucked behind her left ear; maybe it was the necklace made of butterbeer corks around her neck; or maybe it was the magazine she was reading — upside-down.
"Nice to meet you. You can see the Thestrals too? Apparently not… looks like only you and I can."
Luna peered over the upside-down magazine at them — the title on it was The Quibbler. She didn't seem to need to blink much; she just stared straight at Sean, unblinking.
"Yeah."
Sean replied.
"She's a bit… odd."
Hermione said, staring into Luna's eyes.
"Maybe?"
Justin didn't mind; he answered mildly.
"It's like with Thestrals. People used to think there were no such things as Wrackspurts or Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, you know?"
Her thoughts jumped at lightning speed. She must've heard Hermione, because she raised her voice slightly.
"There really aren't any such things as Wrackspurts or Crumple-Horned Snorkacks."
Hermione felt her irritation rising — especially when she saw Sean seriously considering it like an idiot.