Char had just finished speaking, and for a moment, everyone around him was stunned into silence.
Then, Malfoy's face turned a deep shade of red, his anger boiling over. His head buzzed with humiliation, and the glare he shot at Char was so intense it looked as if he wanted to bite him.
"You! How dare you?!" Malfoy sputtered.
Char just sneered, his tone cool and dismissive. "You dare to make up stories about the Sprout family's bloodline. Why should I be afraid?"
Malfoy gritted his teeth, but before he could spit out another insult, the other kids finally caught on to Char's meaning. Laughter erupted among them, echoing down the corridor. Crabbe and Goyle, who had been standing dumbly by Malfoy's side, suddenly seemed to get the joke too. They doubled over, laughing so hard they nearly fell over.
"Malfoy, Char means he's your dad!" Crabbe howled, and the sound of their laughter carried far down the hallway, drawing curious glances from passing students.
Malfoy's humiliation only deepened. He glared at Crabbe and Goyle. "Don't talk! You're not allowed to laugh either!" But even they couldn't suppress their giggles, their faces flushed with mirth.
Just as Malfoy was about to pull out his wand in frustration, Professor Flitwick's voice rang out, cutting through the commotion. "Class is about to start. What are you all doing here?"
The arrival of Professor Flitwick put an end to the brewing conflict, and the crowd quickly dispersed. Malfoy, still burning with embarrassment, shot Char a venomous look and muttered under his breath, "Slytherin and Hufflepuff are having Charms class together today. Just wait. I've already checked—giant blood gives brute strength, but half-giants can't learn the levitation spell. I'll be watching you. No matter how hard you try to hide it, you'll be exposed soon. Then you'll be kicked out of Hogwarts. Oh, and maybe you can join the half-giant in the hunting grounds to keep each other warm!"
With that, Malfoy strode into the classroom, trying to regain some dignity.
Char just blinked, genuinely puzzled. "A levitation spell? I learned it from the Half-Blood Prince's textbook last night. My proficiency is already at bronze level." He shrugged. "There's no point trying to understand Malfoy's logic. If I did, I'd be stooping to his level."
He let the little farce go, focusing instead on the upcoming lesson. After all, arguing with a self-important brat like Malfoy would only waste his time, while attending class could actually help him grow.
Soon, Char and his classmates were seated in the Charms classroom as the bell rang. Professor Flitwick beamed at them. "For a long time, we've been working on the Luminescent Charm and some basic spells. I know you're eager to learn something new. I'm sure you've heard that before Halloween, Gryffindor students learned the Levitation Charm. Starting today, you'll learn how to make objects float."
Excitement lit up every face in the room. The levitation spell was much cooler than the glowing spell—after all, most students' Luminescent Charms were barely brighter than a flashlight, but the levitation spell was pure magic, impossible to replicate by any other means.
Even the sleepiest students perked up, their anticipation palpable. Professor Flitwick smiled, clearly pleased, and began his lesson.
"We'll start with the history of the Levitation Spell, its significance, and some key events in magical history where the spell played a role. We'll also discuss the wizards who contributed to its creation and development. And at the end of class, you'll have time to practice the spell yourselves."
A collective groan rippled through the class at the mention of theory first, but Professor Flitwick's engaging storytelling soon drew them in. Char felt a flicker of admiration; Flitwick had a way of weaving deep magical principles into his stories, making even the most complex ideas memorable for everyone, no matter their skill level.
Char found himself reflecting on the difference between Flitwick's teaching and Snape's. If Snape were here, his lectures would be so advanced that most students would be lost—and Snape himself would likely lose his temper.
As Flitwick spoke, Char mentally compared the Levitation Spell to the Upside-Down Bell Spell. "They're fundamentally different," he realized. "The Inverted Golden Bell Spell creates an upward force, pulling the object up. The Levitation Spell, though, makes the object lighter, almost feather-like, so it can float."
An idea sparked in his mind. "If I cast the Levitation Spell first to lighten an object, then use the Upside-Down Bell Spell, I could lift much heavier things. The height of the suspension would be incredible. And if I combine the levitation spell, the hanging golden bell, and the falling golden bell, I could suspend an enemy, then drop them at full weight. Even iron would shatter!"
But he quickly realized the practical limitations. "To hit an enemy with both spells in succession… that's a lot to ask. Why not just use the baseball bat? It might be more effective!"
He smiled to himself, deciding to let the idea rest for now. "There's no need to obsess over something beyond my current skill level. My real focus is on growing magical plants, not casting curses."
Meanwhile, Malfoy, watching Char's thoughtful expression, felt a surge of excitement. "I knew it! Char must be a half-giant—he can't understand the levitation spell!" Malfoy relished the idea of finally having a chance to outshine Char.
But Professor Flitwick interrupted Malfoy's daydream with a gentle flick of his wand, sending a piece of chalk to tap Malfoy's forehead. "Malfoy, is the blackboard in the direction you're looking?"
The class erupted in laughter, and Malfoy flushed, clenching his fists in frustration. "Why is everything going wrong today?" he thought bitterly.
Flitwick soon brought the focus back to the lesson. "That's enough theory for now. But remember, although the most famous user of the levitation spell was Baruffio—who made a mistake and ended up with a wild bull on his chest—the spell was actually invented by Sir Elber. He was inspired by a magical plant that now bears his name. It's important to remember that."
He held up a transparent bottle, inside of which floated a strange little tree, suspended upside down in midair.
"This is the Elber tree, the plant that inspired Sir Elber's levitation spell. It's incredibly rare—almost extinct. I happened to acquire one on my travels, and I've kept it ever since. Professor Sprout has tried to persuade me to part with it, but I've always refused. However, today, if anyone can be the first to master the levitation spell in this class, I'll give them this precious Elber tree."
The class gasped. All eyes fixed on the floating Elber tree, their excitement palpable.
Char's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the magical plant. "What kind of reward is this?!" he thought, his heart pounding with anticipation.