HPS 116

Chapter 116: The Halloween Plan

For a long time leading up to it, Sean was planning for one specific event.

That was the approaching Halloween.

Early in the morning, Sean smelled the sweet, tempting aroma of roasted pumpkin wafting through the corridor.

He looked out the stained-glass window; the Quidditch pitch looked exceptionally empty under the grey sky.

An extraordinarily large figure was crossing the withered lawn, like a moving small hill. He was clutching a huge pumpkin—the gourd was astonishingly large, and a grinning ghost face had already been carved into its orange-yellow skin, the hollow eye sockets revealing his furry mole-skin coat behind it.

Few people know that the source of the Jack-o'-Lanterns at Hogwarts' Halloween are the pumpkins Hagrid grows, each one as big as a small shed.

The Hope Room

The room had already been adorned with bat decorations, and Justin was busy making some candy, a faint scent of milk emanating from the tabletop.

The room door opened gently, but no one was visible, so the door closed again.

Hermione was trying hard to practice the Non-Verbal Levitation Charm, but whenever she had to cast a spell without speaking, she always couldn't help but get distracted.

This distraction soon made her notice the trembling Neville, who was nervously watching the doorway and shaking, his lips quivering as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Sean!"

"Sean?"

Hermione and Justin spoke simultaneously, and Sean appeared in his seat as if he had shed an Invisibility Cloak.

His slightly curious gaze turned towards the two of them, seemingly waiting for something.

"The smell, Sean, the scent on you is easy to recognize."

Justin said with a smile, looking up while molding the soft sugar paste.

"The light, Sean, I definitely wouldn't have noticed you at night."

Hermione frowned, a little disbelieving,

"Is that... a Disillusionment Charm?"

Sean nodded.

"It really is—I thought it was some kind of magical artifact... that's a spell only a high-grade wizard should be able to learn! I've only seen it in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6..."

Hermione exclaimed in awe, then she looked at the feather she still couldn't float non-verbally, and then at Sean, appearing a little troubled.

She hadn't even finished the The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 in her hand, let alone The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6. There were two whole books separating them!

The constantly quivering Neville instantly stopped shaking, relaxing the moment he saw Sean:

"Oh, it's Sean..."

This small interlude quickly ended.

Sean gazed at the Bouncing Bulb on the table, which always liked to make a "squeaking" sound, faithfully accompanying Sean's practice of the Muffliato Charm.

Today, Sean's proficiency in the Muffliato Charm was about to advance.

【You have practiced the Muffliato Charm with Expert Level Skill. Proficiency +50】

【A new Spell Field Title has been unlocked】

Sean opened the panel with anticipation:

【Title: Spell Journeyman】

【Greatly increases your perceptual ability regarding spellcraft; greatly enhances your spellcraft talent】

'Increased perceptual ability?'

Sean profoundly felt the effect of the increased perception during his afternoon practice of the Disillusionment Charm:

With stronger perception, Sean could better sense the intensity changes when casting a spell and adjust his pronunciation and wand movement accordingly.

Therefore, he quickly reached the Beginner-Level.

Opening the panel again, it now showed a strength that was somewhat visible to the naked eye:

【Name: Sean Green】

【Status: Wizard】

【Title: Spell Journeyman】

【Proficiency】

【Levitation Charm: Expert-Level (600/9000)】

【Finite Incantatem: Expert-Level (120/9000)】

【Muffliato Charm: Expert-Level (10/9000)】

【Disillusionment Charm: Beginner-Level (6/300)】

...

【Advancement: Twelve Expert-Level Spells or Five Master-Level Spells are required to unlock the Spell Field Expert-Level Title】

'How many?'

Sean thought he had read it wrong.

He silently closed the panel and reopened it, feeling as if he wasn't opening it correctly.

【Advancement: Twelve Expert-Level Spells or Five Master-Level Spells are required to unlock the Spellcraft Field Expert-Level Title】

Sean now saw it clearly and accepted it calmly.

He had profoundly grasped the words of Madam Miranada in Magical Theory:

"One fact of learning magic is to master as many spells as possible, including many ancient magics. The more magic you know, the more you can do;

Another fact is that after mastering a spell, you must continuously practice it to achieve proficiency. There is clearly a huge difference between proficient and clumsy spellcasting."

Simply put:

The more a wizard knows, the stronger they are;

The more proficient a wizard is with their spells, the stronger they are.

The Spellcraft advancement on the panel combined these two points.

However, it seemed that becoming a Spell Expert was no easy feat.

Based on previous analysis:

【Journeyman】 is the spell level of some high-grade students and adult wizards;【Expert】 likely corresponds to the level of an Auror.

In that case,【Master】 should be the level of a Professor.

As for the ranks beyond Master, Sean was completely clueless.

...

In front of the Bouncing Bulb.

Sean sipped his hot pumpkin juice, the Quick-Quotes Quill scribbling away.

It wouldn't be long until Halloween.

For young wizards, this festive holiday was another time for wild fun, but for Sean, it meant that change was coming.

On Halloween Eve, Professor Quirrell would release the Troll to cover his theft of the Philosopher's Stone, and Hermione would face great danger in the girls' bathroom.

At the same time, the Troll's arrival would kick off the official second showdown between Harry and Voldemort.

The Boy Who Lived, the Greatest White Wizard, the Dark Lord, the Two-Faced Man... would be uncontrollably drawn into this drama.

Just as the prophecy described: one must die at the hand of the other, because neither can live while the other survives.

And for Sean,

The stability of the plot line was most beneficial to him, meaning he could learn magic under relatively safe conditions.

In the original story, the arrival of the Troll and Harry's group overcoming the challenges in the fourth-floor room was the main plot of the first year.

Logically, everything should be under Dumbledore's control, but Sean couldn't help but wonder, 'There wasn't a wizard named Sean Green in the original, what if my arrival adds a new variable?'

'Will Hermione really be in danger, and will others be in danger?'

So, Sean came up with a new plan—to master everything as much as possible.

If he could avoid Voldemort and cleverly observe the Troll from the shadows at all times, even if variables appeared, he would know in time.

In this plan, the Disillusionment Charm and Sean's own practical combat ability were the most crucial elements.