Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model Wizard

Chapter 389: Harry’s Blushing Heartbeat

Faced with Kyleʼs suggestion and the hopeful looks of his students, Professor Lupin hesitated before nodding in agreement. ”Iʼll give it a try—if the headmaster approves.”

Kyle was right; learning an extra Charm was always beneficial, and he had no real reason to refuse. Besides, Harry had come to see him about the Patronus Charm just before class today. Teaching one student wasnʼt much different from teaching a group. And the Charm had another advantage: the light it produced created a happiness boost for everyone nearby. In other words, the more people who practiced together, the easier it would be for everyone to learn.

”But…” Before the students could start cheering, Professor Lupin raised his voice and added, ”This all depends on whether the Headmaster agrees. And time-wise, we’d need to start next term. I have a lot to finish up before the holidays.”

The students didn’t mind the wait. Christmas break was only a month away, and they were thrilled just to have the opportunity on the horizon. They left the classroom cheering, eager to spread the word as quickly as possible.

”This is brilliant!” Cedric said excitedly over lunch. ”I tried learning the Patronus Charm before, but all I could ever manage was a puff of smoke. I was thinking of asking Professor Lupin for help, but now I don’t need to! A month isn’t so long to wait.”

Cedric wasn’t the only one thrilled. For the rest of the term, the students looked forward to Christmas even more, not just for the holiday but also for the upcoming Patronus Charm Club.

As November drew to a close, the second Quidditch match of the season began. Since Harry’s broom was still out of commission, Gryffindor’s rematch against Slytherin had been rescheduled for the following term. This time, the original schedule stood: Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw.

With several new players replacing half of the old lineup, Hufflepuff’s hopes of winning the Quidditch Cup had dwindled. This was evident in the stands, which were noticeably lopsided in support. From his broom, Kyle took a quick glance around. Before the match, yellow flags representing Hufflepuff had filled more than half of the stands, but now their section was just a small island in a vast sea of blue.

Ravenclaw had the opposite experience. The addition of two highly skilled Chasers last year had completed their lineup, and after a year of practice and matches, they were a well-coordinated team with serious championship potential. Over in the Gryffindor section, Fred and George were enthusiastically waving a large blue Ravenclaw flag. Noticing Kyle’s gaze, they quickly pulled out a yellow Hufflepuff flag and started waving it, too—though its scrappy appearance, like an old bed sheet, showed a clear difference in allegiance.

Kyle smirked at the less-than-subtle favoritism, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He caught the Quaffle from a teammate and shot off toward the Ravenclaw goal, weaving through the opposing Chasers as the game began in earnest.

...

This time, the Dementors didn’t show up to cause trouble, but the game didn’t last long regardless. Just twenty minutes in, Cedric managed to catch the Golden Snidget before Cho, his superior cornering speed sealing Hufflepuff’s victory. The stands erupted with cheers.

“You see, Harry, cornering speed is the only real speed!” Wood exclaimed, punching the air. “After our rematch, we’ll face Hufflepuff, so that’s what we need to focus on in training…”

Harry nodded absently, his gaze fixed elsewhere. Her name is Cho Chang, I think… What a charming girl… He felt his heart pounding. Watching her gracefully dodge a Bludger earlier, executing a clean starfish maneuver, had him completely captivated. His face flushed, and he suddenly found himself desperate for an excuse to talk to her, maybe even trade Seeker tips.

“When are we playing Ravenclaw?” he asked Wood.

“Not for a while,” Wood replied. “In March, actually. I have to say, Ravenclaw’s looking strong this year, with their Chasers…”

Wood continued his analysis, but Harry barely heard him. Even Ron’s gentle tug on his sleeve couldn’t break his reverie. “March… that’s a long time,” Harry murmured, thinking. He realized that Cho and Kyle were friends. Maybe he could find a reason to talk to them before the match… Buying something could work. Kyle always had interesting gadgets, usually through Fred and George, but it wouldn’t hurt to go directly to the source this time.

On the pitch, Cedric shook Cho’s hand but felt a strange twinge of unease, glancing up instinctively. He scanned the sky, half-expecting Dementors, but there was nothing. Just nerves, he thought.

“What are you looking at?” Cho asked.

“Nothing…” Cedric shook his head quickly.

Cho let go of his hand with a smile. “You won this time, but I won’t lose next time.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Cedric replied with a grin. “Your team’s really strong this year.”

It wasn’t just polite praise. Hufflepuff may have won, but they only led Ravenclaw by a hundred points. Ravenclaw had stayed ahead on basic scores until Cedric caught the Snidget, a first for Hufflepuff. Since their strongest Chaser, Harris, had graduated, their two replacements hadn’t yet caught up to Kyle’s level, leaving him to shoulder most of the scoring alone. Consequently, he had been the prime target for Bludgers the entire game, just as Harris had been.

Afterward, they headed back to the changing rooms, then made their way toward the castle together. Walking slightly behind, Cedric hesitated before asking Cho, “By the way, the next Hogsmeade trip is coming up. Would you like to go to Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop? I’ve never been there before.”

“Sure,” Cho said with a bright smile. “Let’s ask Kyle and Kanna to join us too…”

Cedric murmured, “Kyle doesn’t like tea. He only drinks lemonade.”

“What was that?” Kyle, walking ahead of them, heard his name and turned back curiously.

“We were just talking about plans for the next Hogsmeade trip,” Cho explained. “Do you know when it’ll be?”

“Probably around Christmas,” Kyle answered, glancing at Cedric, whose expression seemed slightly tense. His instincts told him there was something weighing on his friend’s mind.