Sean, who had been jotting notes to the side, thought: Not really.
*You have to flick and swish your wrist.
Pronouncing the incantation correctly is also very important never say "s" instead of "f."
It should be Wingardium Leviosa, and the "ga" should be long and clear.*
Satisfied with his notes, Sean tucked his quill away. As long as he capped it quickly enough, the ink wouldn't dry, and he could stretch its use a little longer.
"I practiced fifteen times, Hermione. I'm not the dumbest wizard alive, am I?"
Justin's voice carried a trace of worry. Facing unfamiliar magic, even his usual optimism wavered.
Sean, setting aside his notes, thought again: Not really.
"I don't know either. I can't judge with only myself as a reference…" Hermione frowned, then her eyes lit up.
"Sean you must know the Levitation Charm too, don't you?"
Put on the spot, Sean nodded. He flicked and swished his wrist.
"Wingar dium Leviosa!"
You have practiced the Levitation Charm to an introductory standard. Proficiency +3.
As the incantation left his lips, the feather lifted gracefully into the air once more.
"Cool!" Justin exclaimed. Compared to his own charm, which had only kept the feather aloft for a second, Sean's was clearly steadier.
"You must have learned it really quickly, right? I mean… for a wizard like you, from a wizarding family."
The words made Sean tilt his head, puzzled. His wide, questioning eyes made Justin falter.
"You're not from a wizarding family? Are you… a Muggle-born? That means you only started learning this summer… and in two months, you've already mastered Transfiguration?"
Sean nodded calmly.
"How does that saying go? Mer… Mer ?" Justin fumbled.
"Merlin's beard," Hermione supplied gently.
"Merlin's beard…" Justin echoed, his eyes warm as he looked at Sean.
"Hermione and I we're both Muggle-born too. Our parents aren't wizards. So that means all three of us in this compartment are Muggle-born. Isn't that wonderful? I've heard there are far more pure-blood wizards in the magical world."
As he spoke, the noise outside the compartment grew louder. A rhythmic clunking sound approached, not fading as the others had, but steadily increasing.
The door slid open. A plump witch in an apron appeared, pushing a trolley piled high with treats. Her dimples and warm smile made her look even more amiable.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Sean's eyes flicked to the dazzling array of goods, then quickly away.
By now, hunger gnawed at him. The Hogwarts Express would be travelling all day, from morning until evening. But he had brought no food; Caregiver Anna hadn't allowed him to take even a slice of toast.
Once I get to Hogwarts, it'll be fine, he thought.
"I'll take one no, two of each!" Justin said eagerly.
The witch's smile brightened even more.
"All right, dear. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands… That will be one Galleon and five Sickles."
She seemed cheerful as she listed them off, introducing each treat to Justin.
Hermione's eyes widened at the price. She had been about to urge caution only to stop short when she saw the glint of gold as Justin pulled out a Galleon.
Justin quickly paid, his cheeks tinged pink.
"This money was originally meant for me to go to Eton College. But the very next day, my Hogwarts letter arrived.
My mother thought Hogwarts couldn't compare to Eton, where I was supposed to go.
But really learning magic? That's far more tempting than becoming a lawyer or some business elite…"
When he finished, Justin tucked the rest of his Galleons into his trunk.
It was then Sean remembered who he was:
Justin Finch-Fletchley.
A sincere, kind Hufflepuff.
He had joined the Duelling Club and later Dumbledore's Army. And when he realized he had wrongfully suspected Harry of being the Heir of Slytherin, he had been one of the few who came forward to shake Harry's hand and apologise.
Braver and more earnest than most of the younger wizards who had simply pretended nothing had happened.
And unforgettable for another reason: he had turned down Eton College to attend Hogwarts.
In Britain, good marks alone didn't earn a place at Eton admission was reserved for the sons of nobility.
"My aunt's son's classmate's uncle's nephew got into Eton! Aren't you lot envious? Children like you shouldn't even dream of it."
Those had been Caregiver Anna's favourite words to mock them with, and they showed exactly what Eton represented.
In other words, Justin was Hogwarts' hidden rich kid.
Though by the looks of it, everyone assumed he was a pure-blood.
The trolley witch pushed her cart down the corridor, muttering cheerfully to herself, "Two generous young wizards today," as she moved on.
Inside the compartment, Justin piled the sweets onto the table.
"Help yourselves?"
The stack of treats rose into a small mountain, Justin's voice muffled behind it.
"I can't possibly eat it all please."
"You're being too obvious," Hermione said dryly, though she didn't hesitate to grab a Cauldron Cake.
"Shh."
Justin raised a finger to his lips, then exchanged a conspiratorial glance with her. Together, they stole a look at the boy across from them.
His robes were worn thin and pilled, the seams around the sleeves fraying.
Set against his pale but striking face, however, he still looked out of place like one of those unwanted children in an orphanage.
"Try this Chocolate Frog? I've heard young witches and wizards love them," Justin whispered, offering one.
Sean accepted it quickly.
"Thank you."
His voice was soft.
No difficulty can defeat me. But temptation? That's another matter.
He succumbed to the sugar-coating of capitalism.
"My Chocolate Frog!"
Justin had just torn open the wrapper when the enchanted frog wriggled free, bounding for the window.
"Wingar dium Leviosa!"
Sean's calm voice rang out. Anticipating the moment, he flicked his wand. The Chocolate Frog froze mid-leap and drifted neatly back into Justin's hands.
"Chocolate Frogs only jump once," Sean explained evenly.
Then, without fuss, he broke his own frog into bites, chewing slowly while opening One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
Outside, the sky deepened into twilight.