32

Chapter 32: The Wisest Decision

Wade returned to the dormitory to find an unexpected visitor—a house-elf wearing a tea towel stood in the middle of the room, staring at him with big gray-green eyes that startled him.

Almost casting a spell reflexively, Wade sighed in relief upon recognizing her. "Zoe? What brings you here?"

House-elves typically considered it an honor not to appear before their masters unless necessary, so Wade had never seen the school's house-elves besides those in the kitchen.

Zoe twisted her slender fingers, clearly embarrassed. She spoke softly, "Master Wade Grey didn't have dinner, and Zoe was worried. Zoe knows she shouldn't have come, but she did anyway. Zoe wishes to inquire about Master Wade Grey's well-being."

"I'm fine," Wade half-sat down, saying, "It's just that the troll's stench put me off my appetite."

Zoe said earnestly, "But not eating is not good for the body. Master Wade Grey gave Zoe a gift that she cherishes. Zoe also cares about Master Wade Grey's health and wishes him not to go hungry."

House-elves spoke in a unique manner, using the third person even when addressing themselves or others directly.

Wade looked at Zoe, who still had a small pumpkin carriage hanging from her waist, the lantern light flickering softly.

"Alright," he sighed, "Please bring me some fruit, fresh ones. No jams or puddings, just plain fruit. I'll have some after a bath and then head to bed."

"Yes, sir!" Zoe nodded happily and vanished from the room with a soft "pop."

Stepping out of the bathroom, surrounded by steam, Wade spotted a basket of fruits on the table—apples, pears, bananas, a few strawberries, and a bunch of green grapes, all washed clean with water droplets glistening.

Wade picked up an apple and took a bite. It was juicy and refreshing, a gesture that touched him deeply.

In his previous life, his mother had insisted on maintaining health, believing in a diet comprising twelve different foods daily for adequate nutrition. Vegetables and fruits were prioritized, sometimes varying by the month.

After being reborn, despite Hogwarts offering a richer variety of food than his home, it mostly consisted of barbecues and desserts. There were few vegetables, and the cooking methods were rather monotonous. Fresh fruits were never seen on the long dining tables.

At that moment, Wade made a firm decision: after graduation, he wanted to explore the East—magic might be the wings of miracles, but the future lay in the East.

In this world, too, there were mystical powers, and perhaps he could witness more wondrous sights.

...

Padma's integration into the SSC went smoothly, with no objections raised. After all, she wasn't just intelligent and generous but also exceptionally beautiful. Her deep-set eyes and gentle demeanor made Theo and others blush involuntarily.

Hermione dedicated more time to studying, feeling the pressure Wade inadvertently placed on her. In their recent Transfiguration class, Wade successfully transformed a mouse into a delicate teapot, its fine lines resembling a piece of crafted art newly displayed on a shelf. Professor McGonagall praised Wade's Transfiguration skills, predicting he could earn an "Outstanding" in the final exam.

Meanwhile, Hermione learned that Wade's owl had brought him the complete sets of "Standard Spells" and "Intermediate Transfiguration" from Diagon Alley. Though Hermione was already Gryffindor's top first-year student, she felt she was lagging. Frustrated, she clashed with Ron several times. Since she'd knocked out the troll, Ron had refrained from complaining or gossiping behind her back.

Now, Ron eagerly awaited Hermione's guidance, realizing her points were valid. Hermione, in turn, amended her habit of lecturing. She tried overlooking Gryffindor rule-breaking, boosting her popularity among the house, especially with Harry—they were almost friends.

Nearly every day, Wade overheard Hermione's grievances. "I had a whole weekend to finish my essay, but all I managed was the title! I don't know how I'll manage to submit it on time—Hermione, please let me copy your homework!"

"Did you let him copy?" Wade asked as he wrote.

"No!" Hermione wrinkled her nose disdainfully. "What's the benefit in letting him copy? But I did promise to help check it once he's done!"

"But Hermione—" Padma asked, puzzled. "Won't that just cause you more trouble?"

Hermione looked at her incredulously. "It's the only way to truly learn!"

The two girls exchanged a glance, tacitly deciding to move on from the topic.

With her homework complete, Padma noticed Neville still nibbling his pen, diligently at work. She tucked her parchment into her schoolbag and briskly circled around the partition wall. Recently added by Wade to the Umbrella Room, the sky-blue partition separated the space into two sections, with a 1:3 ratio, equipped with a silencing charm to shield study sessions from spell practice.

On the opposite side, two rows of targets awaited. Most were well-worn, beyond repair spells' aid, though it didn't impede their use. At the far end, a mirrored wall was installed, handy for real-time posture corrections, as Wade had explained.

Michael alternated between setting his target ablaze with [Incendio] . Theo experimented on his target with [Shatter] and [Repair] spells in succession. Hermione charmed a spider into a dance, its slender legs gyrating mid-air.

Ryan chanted at a gray mouse before him, its twitchy movements stilled. "Petrificus Totalus!"

The mouse froze, tail swaying faintly. A moment later, it hurdled and transformed mid-air into a small branch with a resounding "crack."

"Petrificus Totalus. Focus on the wrist when tracing the circle, swift and precise turns."

Wade waved his wand, the branch levitating. A flick of his wand tip, and the branch reverted to a mouse.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The mouse's limbs and tail stiffened, its dark eyes betraying fear. It fell to the ground with a thud, as rigid as a stone.

Releasing the spell, Wade allowed Ryan to continue practicing and turned to Padma. "Would you like to start with Glissare Plana or work on another spell first?"

"Um," Padma hesitated, embarrassed. "Actually, I sometimes struggle with the Repair Charm—"

Expecting Wade's concerned expression, she was surprised when he simply tapped the target beside him with his wand, causing the wooden figure to crack neatly in half.

"Let's begin with the Repair Charm. I'll assess your proficiency first."

As Padma raised her wand, her arms trembled slightly.

—It suddenly struck her that this might be the best decision she'd made since starting school.

Here, she would learn so much!

—Reparo!