Chapter 389: Harry’s Blushing Heartbeat
Faced with Kyle's suggestion and the hopeful looks of his students, Professor Lupin hesitated before nodding in agreement. "I'll give it a try—if the headmaster approves."
Kyle was right; learning an extra Charm was always beneficial, and he had no real reason to refuse. Besides, Harry had come to see him about the Patronus Charm just before class today. Teaching one student wasn't much different from teaching a group. And the Charm had another advantage: the light it produced created a happiness boost for everyone nearby. In other words, the more people who practiced together, the easier it would be for everyone to learn.
"But..." Before the students could start cheering, Professor Lupin raised his voice and added, "This all depends on whether the Headmaster agrees. And time-wise, we'd need to start next term. I have a lot to finish up before the holidays."
The students didn't mind the wait. Christmas break was only a month away, and they were thrilled just to have the opportunity on the horizon. They left the classroom cheering, eager to spread the word as quickly as possible.
"This is brilliant!" Cedric said excitedly over lunch. "I tried learning the Patronus Charm before, but all I could ever manage was a puff of smoke. I was thinking of asking Professor Lupin for help, but now I don't need to! A month isn't so long to wait."
Cedric wasn't the only one thrilled. For the rest of the term, the students looked forward to Christmas even more, not just for the holiday but also for the upcoming Patronus Charm Club.
As November drew to a close, the second Quidditch match of the season began. Since Harry's broom was still out of commission, Gryffindor's rematch against Slytherin had been rescheduled for the following term. This time, the original schedule stood: Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw.
With several new players replacing half of the old lineup, Hufflepuff's hopes of winning the Quidditch Cup had dwindled. This was evident in the stands, which were noticeably lopsided in support. From his broom, Kyle took a quick glance around. Before the match, yellow flags representing Hufflepuff had filled more than half of the stands, but now their section was just a small island in a vast sea of blue.
Ravenclaw had the opposite experience. The addition of two highly skilled Chasers last year had completed their lineup, and after a year of practice and matches, they were a well-coordinated team with serious championship potential. Over in the Gryffindor section, Fred and George were enthusiastically waving a large blue Ravenclaw flag. Noticing Kyle's gaze, they quickly pulled out a yellow Hufflepuff flag and started waving it, too—though its scrappy appearance, like an old bed sheet, showed a clear difference in allegiance.