In the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick stood atop a stack of books, his squeaky voice ringing out. "In this lesson, we'll be learning the Levitation Charm. The incantation is Wing-GAR-dium Lev-i-O-sa (Wingardium Leviosa). It's a swish and flick. You must not mispronounce the spell, otherwise..."
Hermione found herself paired with Ron, much to her dismay. She was a rule-abiding student through and through, while Harry and Ron were troublemakers who'd broken countless rules. From the start of term until now, they'd lost who-knows-how-many points for Gryffindor.
The situation only worsened after Harry received the broomstick Professor McGonagall sent him. Since then, both boys paid even less attention to school rules. Hermione found herself speaking to them less and less.
Her eyes drifted toward Leonardo. She felt he was a student who genuinely loved learning and followed the rules, completely unlike their boisterous peers.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Ron swung his wand and rushed through the incantation. The feather barely moved. At least his wand was no longer tattered; the unicorn hair was finally tucked safely inside.
A few days earlier, Leo had fixed it for him, but he also reminded Ron that he still needed to get a wand that truly suited him. Using someone else's wand would never be quite right.
Hearing Ron's repeated attempts and loud recitations, Hermione grew impatient. "It's Wing-GAR-dium Lev-i-O-sa. The 'gar' should be pronounced longer. You're saying it too short and slurring the syllables."
Hermione's somewhat commanding tone rubbed Ron the wrong way, but he tried again anyway. This time, the feather lifted a few centimeters off the desk before falling back down. Then Ron continued practicing in silence, refusing to engage further with her.
While practicing, Ron couldn't help glancing in Leo's direction. Compared to his "teacher's" strict instruction and rigorous standards, Hermione's approach was child's play. Thinking of Leo's demanding lectures, massive homework assignments, and challenging exams, Ron felt the urge to cry.
Fortunately, Leo's constant reminder that hard work pays off was proving true. Ron could now create simple alchemical mechanical creations—small frogs that hopped around or tiny turtles that paddled through water. He'd decided to show the mechanical animals to Percy so his brother could tell Mum he was actually studying hard with Leo and learning something useful from his friend!
Seeing Ron wouldn't respond, Hermione didn't press the matter and attempted the Levitation Charm on her own. She quickly made the feather float, holding it steady in midair.
But Professor Flitwick neither praised her nor awarded any house points. Hermione was used to this by now. When she looked over at Leo, she saw that the two feathers in front of him were already dancing together in perfect time.
Professor Flitwick waved his wand with a smile, adding a bit of music to the scene. Whenever they had class with Ravenclaw, Leonardo was always the first to master the spell and win points for his house, no matter the subject.
Hermione had long since accepted this reality. Although she worked tirelessly to catch up, studying diligently in private, she simply couldn't keep pace with Leo's progress.
She also kept a close eye on the House scoreboards. Gryffindor's points went up and down like a yo-yo. Slytherin stayed in first place, while Hufflepuff remained at the bottom, though the Hufflepuffs didn't seem worried. They were always so relaxed.
Meanwhile, Ravenclaw's score kept climbing. Hermione thought this was partly because they had fewer students, most of whom quietly studied and rarely lost points. But there was also Leonardo, who seemed to rack up points for his house nonstop.
BOOM!
A rather loud explosion erupted in the classroom, snapping Hermione from her thoughts. Everyone's attention focused on the explosion's source—a small boy with a soot-blackened face and hair standing on end.
Everyone looked shocked, but many were trying not to laugh. Leonardo stayed calm, thinking, 'Ah, the explosion prodigy strikes again.'
Seamus Finnigan was famous for his explosions, or at least for how often they happened. After all, it took a special kind of talent to turn a Levitation Charm into a blast.
After Professor Flitwick jumped in fright, he quickly hopped down from his book-stack to check whether Seamus was injured.
The dismissal bell rang. Young wizards paired off and rushed toward the Great Hall in clusters. Today was Halloween Eve!
Inside the Great Hall, enormous pumpkins had been hollowed out and carved into ghoulish jack-o'-lanterns. Each grotesque face held multiple candles flickering brightly within, their flames casting dancing shadows across the enchanted ceiling.
The charmed pumpkins floated overhead, bobbing gently and rotating slowly, their carved grins seeming to leer at every student who passed beneath them. Magically conjured storm clouds drifted through the Hall, and countless bats of all sizes swooped out from the darkness.
Leo sat at the long table, watching the bats. He guessed this was Transfiguration, probably Professor McGonagall's work. If Dumbledore had done it, the bats would likely be carrying jars of candy or even be made of sweets themselves.
"Hoot hoot!"
An ordinary-looking brown owl flew before Leonardo, delivering a letter. After nuzzling Leo's hair and receiving a pumpkin pastry as payment, the owl reluctantly departed.
Leo opened the letter and read it. As he expected, it was from Newt with instructions on how to care for Nifflers. He needed to watch for the Niffler trying to steal things and make sure to give it different kinds of valuable items, not just one type of metal.
Leonardo had maintained regular correspondence with Newt. When he later began researching magical creature transformation, he'd definitely need numerous subjects for observation. Newt was the most qualified person in the world to provide such opportunities.
This time, Newt had sent advance instructions via owl, explaining care methods for Nifflers and various other magical creatures. Leo could also later borrow some from Newt to raise and observe personally.
As Leonardo read, Harry collapsed across from him, sprawling exhaustedly on the table with a lifeless mutter. "Three evenings a week for Quidditch training, plus mountains of homework from all these classes..."
What Harry didn't mention were the assignments from studying Potions with Leo—practical work, memorization, exercises, exams... He'd never been this occupied in his entire life.
Ron, beside him, grabbed a fried chicken wing, devouring it while his other hand adjusted a green mechanical frog on the table. After lightly tapping it with his wand and channeling magical power, the frog croaked. Though its jumping motion was lopsided—always one side higher than the other.
Ron said through a mouthful of food, "If you think you're tired, I'll trade with you. I'll play Quidditch, you draw my diagrams."
Harry glanced at Ron with complete disbelief. "Yeah, right."
Watching these two troublemakers, Hermione genuinely couldn't understand. Over this past month, Harry's Potions skills and Ron's Transfiguration abilities had both improved remarkably. Now Ron had even tinkered out that little contraption in his hand.
Hermione couldn't believe these two would voluntarily study hard—they absolutely weren't the type to chase teachers with questions. Yet occasionally she'd spot them trailing behind Leonardo. Every time Hermione saw Harry and Ron afterward, their moods varied wildly—sometimes excited, sometimes utterly dejected...
Hermione studied Leonardo carefully. This handsome youth sat quietly reading his letter, completely focused. Curiosity and puzzlement flickered in her eyes.