31

Chapter 31: Padma

"To be honest, when I first saw that giant, I thought we were done for!" Padma clung to Hermione's arm, speaking earnestly. "Hermione, you were so brave."

Hermione blushed modestly, saying, "I didn't have any other ideas at the time. All I could think of was the Levitation Charm. I consider myself really lucky—I've only made textbooks levitate before!"

"Wade, your Glissare Plana spell was amazing!" Michael waved his wand enthusiastically. "It's not mediocre at all! You have to teach me next time during self-study!"

"No problem," Wade replied, turning to Harry. "And Harry, don't pay attention to Professor Snape's comments. Using a bucket was a smart move. A typical spell cast on a troll would have been like getting bitten by a mosquito."

"No wonder Michael's Petrification Charm didn't work earlier—none of you used spells to directly attack the troll afterward," Harry pondered aloud. "But I don't recall seeing the ones you used in 'Standard Spells: Basic.' Two spells, right?"

"Wade has already self-studied 'Standard Spells: Level 3' in addition to his classwork," Michael said proudly. "He's been spending all day in the library and study rooms, learning more spells than all of us combined—even though it's only been two months since the school year started."

Harry felt a twinge of shame and inadequacy. If Ron, Michael, or even Malfoy had mastered more spells than him, he could console himself by thinking they had learned them at home. But Wade and Hermione had never been exposed to magic before school, yet they were the top students among the first-years.

Was he slacking in his studies?

Joining in the lively conversation, even Harry found himself naturally engaging. Ron tried to interject but couldn't find a way in, making his presence awkward as they walked.

Soon they reached a junction, parting ways. Harry, Hermione, and Ron headed towards Gryffindor Tower. Without Michael and the others to keep the mood light, tension immediately settled among the three of them, hastening their steps back to the common room.

...

On their way to Ravenclaw Tower, Padma casually glanced ahead and said, "Wade, could I also learn that Glissare Plana spell of yours? It seems really interesting."

"Of course," Wade replied. "There's no morning class tomorrow, so I can teach you."

"Well—maybe practicing in the common room isn't convenient. I heard—" Padma quickly glanced at Michael and continued, "Do you have a dedicated place for spell practice?"

At only eleven years old, she tried to hint subtly without being too direct.

Wade understood. After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll need to get everyone's approval, but I don't think anyone would object to you joining."

"Of course—welcome!" Michael chimed in with a smile.

"That's great!" Padma couldn't help but jump a bit, blushing. She quickly composed herself, adjusted her clothes, and said, "I'm honored."

Outside the common room door, the eagle-shaped knocker posed its riddle: "O, T, T, F, F, S, S, E, N, what comes next?"

"Um..." Michael wasn't particularly adept at riddles, especially Ravenclaw-style ones. He rubbed his chin, pretending to ponder, but after three seconds gave up and turned to Wade. "What do you think it is, Wade?"

"It's 'T,'" Padma answered.

"Correct," sang the knocker, and the door swung open.

"Why 'T'?" Michael asked as they entered. "Is it for 'Troll'? Does the knocker know we defeated the troll today?"

He winked, exaggerating, which prompted Padma to laugh. "It's the first letters of the sequence: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."

The common room was bustling, filled with Ravenclaws enjoying their second Halloween here, arguably better than in the Great Hall since there were no professors to enforce restrictions.

Wade noticed even the usually reserved students chose to stay in the common room, some now dressed in Halloween costumes. A towering skeleton roamed, eliciting occasional screams, while students in skull masks occasionally let out ghostly howls.

"Would you like a bloody lollipop?" Terry eagerly offered Lisa.

Wade bypassed the throng and headed straight for the dormitory—the troll's stench still lingered, dampening his appetite for the moment.

Padma watched him go, turning to Michael with concern. "Didn't Wade eat dinner? Why didn't he join us?"

"Don't worry, it's not because of you. Wade just doesn't like crowded places," Michael reassured her casually, focusing on filling his plate with food.

Padma breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a pang of hunger herself. Once they'd filled themselves to about seventy or eighty percent, they resumed their conversation.

"Oh, and please put in a good word for me when Wade seeks opinions tomorrow!" Padma reminded him earnestly.

"Okay, okay, I promise I'll do my best!" Michael raised his hand with a smile.

Seeking opinions?

Michael knew well that as long as Wade agreed, the others would have no objections.

Theo and Ryan were laid-back and wouldn't reject their partners' suggestions; Neville was compliant, with little temper or opinion. The only potential challenge might be Hermione, but Padma had recently struck up a good friendship with her.

When Michael proposed that "new members must be unanimously approved," what he really meant was "If Wade doesn't agree, you can't bring others in." The restriction applied to the other four.

He understood the SSC appeared to be a mutual aid group, but in reality, it was Wade who contributed the most—his meticulously organized notes clarified obscure texts, his essay-writing techniques enabled high-quality work in minimal time, and his spell tutoring accelerated their learning.

Anyone joining the group quickly realized its benefits.

Both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were enthusiastic—thinking this place was excellent, they might invite their friends without hesitation, viewing it as contributing to the group. In truth, it would only burden Wade, and the SSC wouldn't last.

One day, Wade would quietly vanish from their gatherings, retreating to a quiet and solitary space, just as he was now.

Hence Michael's need for rules—to gently discourage Gryffindor and Hufflepuff from being too "enthusiastic" and tactfully refuse those seeking entry through him. The exception was Wade—since he was the linchpin, he had every right to choose whom to assist.

Michael kept these calculations to himself. Facing Padma's request, he simply nodded with a smile, promising to do his utmost to persuade the others.

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