FOR MORE CHAPTER
patreon.com/Jackssparrow
"What? These people were transformed from stone statues?"
Professor Flitwick was visibly surprised.
Devereux nodded with a smile.
"Yes, Professor. Didn't a Dark Wizard attack last week? Professor McGonagall arranged this as a precaution—just like she arranged for you to open the Duelling Club."
After hearing Devereux's explanation, Flitwick shook his head with a wry smile.
"Oh, so that's what it was. I thought it was Poppy... er, Pomfrey. I figured she thought the students were being too noisy and wanted to scare them a little, hahaha."
As he spoke, Flitwick patted Devereux on the shoulder.
Devereux's mouth twitched slightly.
He had to admit—that was indeed something Madam Pomfrey might do.
At that moment, Professor Flitwick walked to the door and cautiously poked his head out, seemingly inspecting the two knights stationed outside.
He then turned to Devereux and asked,
"So, these knights were conjured by Minerva, right?"
Devereux was just about to explain the spell innovation he and Professor McGonagall had been working on when—
Bang!
The door was suddenly flung open with great force.
Professor Flitwick nearly toppled over, but Devereux reacted quickly, stepping forward to support him.
"Oh! Sorry, Filius, I didn't see you there," said a hurried voice.
It was none other than Minerva McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House.
McGonagall quickly helped Flitwick stand upright before turning her frown toward Devereux.
"Devereux, why are you out of bed? After magical depletion, you need as much rest as possible. It may take two days to fully recover."
Without giving Devereux a chance to protest, McGonagall swiftly lifted him by his armpits and carried him back to bed.
Devereux scratched his head awkwardly.
He felt that with a half-hour of Zen meditation, he could recover seventy to eighty percent of his strength—but there was no way he could explain that to Professor McGonagall.
Just then—
"Hey! Devereux, are you okay?"
Three small heads peeked in through the door: Harry, Hermione, and Neville, smiling brightly at him.
Devereux smiled and waved at them.
McGonagall sighed and shook her head.
"I told them you were hospitalized, but they insisted on visiting. Alright, come in—but be quiet," she said.
The three Gryffindors immediately ran to Devereux's bedside, cheerful and concerned.
"Devereux, the professor said you had magical depletion. How are you feeling?" Hermione asked softly, her eyes filled with worry.
"He can get out of bed and looks pretty normal. He should be fine," Harry reassured her, sounding quite experienced with hospital stays himself.
"Phew, that's a relief. Devereux, guess what? There are knights all over the castle! I even saw them patrolling the meadow. Their horses are massive! So cool!" Neville said excitedly.
"Yeah! They look like the chess pieces in Wizard's Chess," Harry added.
Seeing them so animated, Devereux couldn't help but feel happy.
Then he glanced around and asked,
"Eh? Where's Ron?"
At this, Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance—and burst out laughing.
"Professor McGonagall had them retake the test. Only Neville passed. Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle have to take it again," Harry explained between chuckles.
Devereux smiled wryly but looked at Neville with newfound admiration.
He hadn't expected Neville to pass.
Neville scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
Both McGonagall and Flitwick watched the lively group with soft smiles.
"Minerva," Flitwick said, turning to McGonagall, "those knights patrolling the school—did you animate them with the Animation Charm?"
"Really? Professor McGonagall, did you use Transfiguration to conjure all those knights?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"That's amazing! There are a hundred of them!" she added, eyes sparkling.
"I remember from class that the Animation Charm needs constant magical reinforcement. It's incredible you can maintain so many at once!"
McGonagall shook her head with a helpless smile.
"No, I didn't animate them with the Animation Charm. Although I did arrange their patrols."
"Oh, then it must have been the Headmaster. Only Dumbledore could manage that much Transfiguration," Flitwick guessed.
To his surprise, McGonagall shook her head again.
"No, it wasn't the Headmaster either. Actually, Devereux is the one who animated the soldiers—using a new method. That's also why he ended up hospitalized."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Nobody had expected that the knights outside were Devereux's creation.
"Heavens!" Hermione gasped, turning to Devereux with wide, excited eyes.
"Devereux, how did you do it?!"
Neville and Harry also leaned in, bombarding Devereux with questions.
Devereux could only smile wryly, unsure how to explain.
Flitwick stared at Devereux in amazement, muttering under his breath,
"Heavens... that means Devereux isn't just a spell and potion genius, but a Transfiguration genius too?"
McGonagall nodded with a helpless look.
"It seems that way. Honestly, I don't know how to deal with him anymore."
At that moment—
"Hey! My patients need rest! All of you, out!"
Madam Pomfrey suddenly burst into the room, furious.
Everyone immediately quieted down.
Even Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were shooed away by Madam Pomfrey.
Once alone, Devereux sat back on the bed.
He adjusted his breathing, preparing to enter Zen meditation to rapidly restore his magic.
Tomorrow was Quirrell's Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
According to the schedule, they would be learning and practicing the Three Unforgivable Curses.
Devereux didn't want to miss it.
Gradually, as his breathing slowed and his mind focused inward, a mist-like aura began to envelop him.
This time, Devereux didn't resist the mist.
Over the past few days, he had discovered that by concentrating entirely on himself, his magic would recover much faster.
Time passed quietly.
Devereux's magical energy slowly grew fuller and stronger.
The afternoon sunlight faded, and the school infirmary was soon bathed in moonlight.
Dong!
A sudden knock snapped Devereux out of his meditation.
Clutching his head, he groggily looked toward the door—
—and saw the last person he wanted to see: a man in a black robe, hair messily framing his face.
Severus Snape.
"Have you had enough sleep?" Snape asked curtly.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked toward the corridor.
"Come."
Snape disappeared into the hallway without looking back.
Devereux groaned internally, nearly in tears.
He had forgotten—he was supposed to report to Snape every night now.
Sighing, he slipped on his shoes and, making sure Madam Pomfrey wasn't paying attention, quietly left the infirmary to follow Snape.
(
FOR MORE CHAPTER
patreon.com/Jackssparrow