Chapter 216: Teaching Lily Protego
The first Friday of October brought perfect weather.
Sunlight slanted through the Library's tall windows, carving bright lines across the tabletops, warm where it touched skin.
Beyond the glass, the Black Lake shimmered. Students dotted the lakeside lawn, walking in pairs, sprawled on the grass talking, chasing each other with the careless energy of a free afternoon.
Regulus sat in his usual spot, the corner by the window, a heavy volume spread open before him.
Illustrated Guide to Magical Plants of Britain and Surrounding Areas.
He turned to the Whomping Willow entry, scanned a few lines, and flipped past.
Standard fare. Native range, physical characteristics, care requirements, danger classification. Year of discovery, known habitats, ideal growing conditions, what to watch for during an attack.
On magical properties, not a word.
That tracked.