Observing the motionless diary, Luke narrowed his eyes.
Looks like Tom is stirring up something.
"Let's head out first; Lockhart's Dark Magic Defense class is coming up."
"Dark Magic Defense, our favorite!" George and Fred exchanged a grin.
"Don't you find his classes dreadfully dull?" Hermione frowned, "Plus, he's a narcissist, reciting passages from his autobiography every single day."
"Bored?" Fred chuckled, pulling out a witch card from his pocket.
"The two of us never get bored, especially since Lockhart couldn't care less about what we do."
A holographic image appeared on the witch card, smiling warmly at Luke and Hermione, dressed in their Hogwarts robes.
It was only in Lockhart's class that they could tinker with gadgets and create cards without reprimand.
Professors like McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick wouldn't tolerate such distractions.
After exchanging farewells, Luke and Hermione made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.
Their afternoon class was Herbology, so Hermione reluctantly parted ways with Luke, heading towards the designated classroom.
Mrs. Sprout had been noticeably tense since Harry and Ronald's escapade with the Whomping Willow.
Hermione had confided in Luke that both Harry and Ronald had kept their heads down during Herbology, avoiding Mrs. Sprout's gaze at all costs.
Herbology's challenges mainly stemmed from understanding each plant's properties and how to handle potentially lethal specimens.
As a skilled potion master, Luke had already committed the effects of various herbs to memory.
It was the foundation of mastering potions.
In the wizarding world, while there were many adept spellcasters, true potion masters were rare.
So far, only Snape had been introduced to and contacted by Luke.
"The Herbaceous is known to bloom around Christmas and is a key ingredient in softening potions!"
Luke responded to Mrs. Sprout's question with a wide smile.
"Perfect answer. It seems your Potions class is going well," Mrs. Sprout remarked, extending a finger. "Ten points to Slytherin."
"Mainly thanks to Professor Snape's excellent teaching," Luke replied modestly.
Indeed, without the notes Snape had provided him, Luke's potion-making skills would have been mediocre at best. He would have spent a lot of time searching for errors in the textbook, which was filled with mistakes. Recognizing this, Snape had foregone the textbook entirely and opted for direct lectures instead.
"Severus?" Mrs. Sprout muttered softly. As a fellow professor, she was well aware of Snape's reputation. Among all the courses, Potions was the least favored by young wizards.
"Clean up!" Mrs. Sprout called out as a gentle breeze swept across the green lawn, prompting Luke to stow away his wand.
"Take a seat and rest for a while," she instructed.
Hermione, her forehead glistening with sweat, set down her practice wand. While she had made progress with the Shen Feng Wu Ying spell, she still showed signs of inexperience.
Grabbing their respective house robes, Hermione settled down on the grass next to Luke.
It was a day off, and the sun was shining brightly, attracting numerous wizards who were either playing or enjoying some leisure time.
In the sky, Quidditch players soared on brooms during their training, including Wood and Cedric. The Weasley twins, accompanied by dark circles under their eyes from training and mischief, trailed behind Wood, while Harry kept a watchful eye on Cedric.
Meanwhile, Slytherin's team trained on the Quidditch field and avoided the lawn altogether. With Snape as the head of Slytherin, they were granted certain privileges, including access to the Quidditch field.
"Isn't it too hot to be wearing robes?" Luke asked Hermione with a grin.
Luke noticed Luna's gaze shifting towards the Gryffindor robes beside him. He followed her line of sight and realized she was curious about them.
"They belong to Hermione," Luke explained, picking up the robes and holding them out for Luna to see. "She left them with me while she went to the bathroom."
Luna's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the robes, her fingers gently tracing the fabric.
"I see," Luna murmured softly, her gaze drifting back to the sky where the Thestrals had disappeared. "It's fascinating how everyone sees the world differently, isn't it?"
Luke nodded in agreement, intrigued by Luna's unique perspective on the world.
"Yeah, it is," he replied, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Everyone has their own experiences and perceptions that shape how they see things."
Luna smiled dreamily, her gaze wandering back to the horizon. "Exactly. It's like seeing the world through different lenses."
As they sat together on the grass, watching the clouds drift by, Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of connection with Luna. Despite their differences, they shared a mutual understanding and appreciation for the mysteries of the world around them.
...
Join my exclusive P@treon community for 60+ thrilling chapters!
Free members get two or more advanced chapters for FREE.
Don't miss out, join now!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)