Professor Flitwick's eyes sparkled with encouragement as he beamed up at Char. "You don't need to worry about a thing, Char. as long as it's within my abilities—I'll help you. That's the reward you've earned, and you deserve nothing less!"
His voice was full of confidence, and he gave Char a wink. "It can be anything you like—something flashy, like a fireworks spell that blasts your name across the sky in shimmering sparks. Or maybe a little charm to make your life easier—something to help you find your socks or keep your parchment from blowing away. Or, if you want something a bit more exciting, I could even design a duel-winning spell for you. Don't let my size fool you—I was a dueling champion in my day, you know!"
Char listened politely, but none of those ideas quite matched what he had in mind. Instead, he reached into his bag and pulled out a thick, well-worn notebook. "Actually, Professor, I've been thinking about this for a while. I have some notes here about the kind of spell I'd like. Would you mind taking a look?"
Professor Flitwick's eyebrows shot up. He took the notebook with both hands, clearly surprised that Char had prepared so thoroughly. "My, my! You've really thought this through, haven't you? Were you so sure you'd win a place in the final?"
He opened the notebook and began to flip through the pages. His expression shifted as he read—sometimes thoughtful, sometimes puzzled, sometimes nodding in understanding. The notebook was filled with sketches, diagrams, and detailed descriptions of magical light frequencies and their possible effects on plant growth.
After a while, Professor Flitwick closed the book and looked up at Char. "Ah, I see what you're after. You want a Lumos charm that can be adjusted—a spell that lets you change the frequency or quality of the light, right?"
Char nodded, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face. "Yes, Professor. That's what I'm hoping for. If different magical plants respond best to different kinds of light, then being able to adjust the Lumos spell could really help them grow better."
Professor Flitwick's expression grew serious. "I can't promise anything yet," he said slowly. "This is a very novel idea. I've never heard of anyone trying to modify the Lumos charm in this way. It's not going to be easy."
Char's heart sank a little. Maybe it was too much to ask.
But then Professor Flitwick suddenly grinned, his eyes twinkling. "That's why it's going to take me about two weeks. Come to my office on Saturday in two weeks, Char, and I'll have your spell ready for you."
Char's face lit up with relief and joy. He'd almost thought his idea was impossible—but Professor Flitwick, the Master of Charms, had just promised to make it real. "Thank you, Professor! That's amazing."
Professor Flitwick chuckled. "You've earned it, Char. Now, go enjoy your prize—and don't forget to tell me how your plants like the new spell when it's ready!"
After Charms class, the castle buzzed with excitement and gossip. Word had spread quickly about how the Slytherins had used a special potion to boost their Lumos spells. Many students, especially the Gryffindors, were outraged.
"That's not fair!" Ron grumbled, scowling at the Slytherin table. "No wonder Crabbe and Goyle did so well. They were cheating!"
"It's not cheating," Malfoy sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Potions are a Slytherin tradition. If you don't like it, you should learn to brew them yourselves."
The Gryffindors huffed and puffed, but the Slytherins just laughed. "What's the matter? Jealous because you can't keep up?"
Malfoy, still smarting from his loss to Char, refused to accept defeat. "Char only won because Professor Sprout must have given him some magical plant or potion," he insisted, his face red with frustration. "There's no way he could beat me otherwise."
The Hufflepuffs, usually so mild-mannered, were quick to defend their friend. "Char worked harder than anyone," Hannah said firmly. "He practices his spells every night, even when everyone else is asleep."
"Yeah, and he never takes shortcuts," Susan added, crossing her arms. "If you want to win, maybe you should try working as hard as he does."
The argument raged on, filling the corridors with chatter and laughter. Even at dinner, the rivalry was still going strong. Students from different houses glared at each other across the Great Hall, their rivalry as fierce as ever.
But Char, the center of all this attention, was nowhere to be found. He had no interest in the squabbles and gossip. For him, the real reward wasn't the praise or the points—it was the chance to help his plants grow even better.
Late that evening, Char slipped away to the old broom warehouse next to the Quidditch pitch. Tonight, he wasn't there to trim brooms—he had a new prize to test: the Deluminator Dumbledore had given him.
He stood in the dusty, dimly lit warehouse, the only sound the soft rustle of old brooms and the occasional hoot of an owl outside. He raised his wand and began to cast the Lumos charm, over and over again, filling the air with bright, warm light.
With each spell, he pressed the Deluminator. Click. The light from his wand was sucked into the device, stored away for later. Char repeated the process, casting and storing, until he was satisfied he had enough light saved up.
Then, with anticipation bubbling in his chest, he hurried to the greenhouse. The last batch of glow mushrooms had been harvested, and a new batch of mycelium had just been planted. They needed the Lumos charm to thrive, and normally, Char would spend the whole night casting spells to help them grow.
But tonight was different. Tonight, he had the Deluminator.
He stepped into the greenhouse, the cool night air tinged with the earthy scent of soil and growing things. The glow mushroom mycelium stretched before him, pale and delicate in the dark. Char took a deep breath and pressed the Deluminator.
Click.
The stored light burst forth, floating above the experimental field in shimmering orbs. The gentle glow filled the greenhouse, bathing the mycelium in warm, magical light. Almost immediately, the tiny tendrils began to stir, reaching eagerly toward the light.
Char watched, a smile spreading across his face. The Deluminator worked perfectly. The light it released was just as effective as the spells he cast himself, and the reward orbs above the mycelium began to grow, pulsing with energy.
He felt a rush of excitement. With the Deluminator, he could save hours of work every night—time he could use to tend to other plants, or to rest, or even to try something new.
Char's mind raced with possibilities. "Maybe now I can try growing another kind of magical herb," he murmured to himself. "Something that needs special care, or a different kind of light."
He spent the rest of the evening observing the glow mushrooms, making notes in his ever-present notebook. The Deluminator's light held steady, and the mycelium thrived. Char felt a deep sense of satisfaction. All his hard work was paying off, and now, with Professor Flitwick's help, he would have a new spell to help his plants grow even better.
As he left the greenhouse, the stars twinkling overhead, Char felt a quiet happiness.
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