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Chapter 17 – Showing Off
🕑 Added 2025-02-10 12:12:53 +0000 UTC
“What’s going on?”
Evan and the others were stunned as they watched Noah walk off.
Was he seriously going after that blasted troll?
That didn’t seem right. Noah had never been the type to show off. When they first met, he had been incredibly low-key. If it hadn’t been for that moment in Charms when he accidentally spaced out—leading Professor Flitwick to notice him—he might have stayed that way.
To be honest, they were all rather grateful to Flitwick for calling Noah out. Without that, they wouldn’t be where they were now.
They didn’t blame Noah for keeping his talents hidden before. It wasn’t easy to share such things. But he had chosen to trust them, and in doing so, he had given them the opportunity to improve alongside him. For that, they were thankful.
It had to be said—students raised in well-educated families had much better manners than those brats who strutted around acting like they ruled the world.
“Guys… should we go after him?” Evan finally asked after a long pause, just as Noah was about to disappear around the corner.
“Reason tells me we shouldn’t,” Kenn muttered, running a hand through his slightly curled hair. “If we get caught, we’ll lose points for Ravenclaw.”
He sighed and shrugged helplessly.
“But Noah’s our roommate, our friend… and the head of the Mage League. So, I’m going.”
“Rubbish! I know Noah best,” Evan scoffed with a grin. “And I was the one who suggested it first!”
“Shut up! He’s getting away!” Lance snapped. “I’d rather not have to cast some tracking charm to sniff him out like a bloody hound. Merlin’s beard, I don’t want to breathe in the stale air of Hogwarts any more than necessary!”
With that, he broke into a run, chasing after Noah.
Evan and Kenn exchanged amused glances before following suit. Their dormitory was clearly a tight-knit group.
---
Noah, who had been quietly tailing Harry and Ron, suddenly heard footsteps behind him. The sound made him tense for a moment, but when he turned around, he found himself both exasperated and amused.
“What are you lot doing here?” he asked.
“Helping you, obviously,” Evan replied matter-of-factly. “We live in the same dormitory, don’t we?”
“I wasn’t going after the troll, you know. I was just checking on the situation,” Noah said, sighing. “But fine, since you’re here, stay quiet.”
“What exactly are you doing?” Kenn asked, glancing at Harry and Ron ahead of them, who were sneaking toward the girls’ bathroom. He frowned.
“Are you worried about those two reckless Gryffindors?”
“Something like that,” Noah admitted. “They’re too nosy for their own good. I happened to notice them sneaking off, and since there weren’t any professors around, I thought I should make sure they don’t do anything suicidal. We don’t want anyone dying tonight.”
“Nonsense, of course not—even if it were a Slytherin,” Kenn said with a smirk.
“Exactly.”
Noah smiled, but he knew that the sentiment would only last so long. The school was safe for now, but in the future, when Death Eaters emerged and tensions rose, friendships would crumble.
Just look at Draco Malfoy.
His thoughts were interrupted when Evan suddenly tugged at his sleeve and pointed ahead.
Noah snapped back to the present and quickly noticed the massive figure lumbering toward the girls’ bathroom.
“Well, at least we don’t have to do anything,” Lance yawned. “If Potter has any sense, he’ll lock the door behind him, and there’ll be no problem.”
But before he could finish speaking, they heard something heavy smash against the walls—followed by a shrill scream.
Lance, Evan, and Kenn stiffened.
Someone else was in there.
Noah reacted the fastest. Without hesitation, he drew his wand and bolted forward.
He caught up with Harry and Ron just as they were about to rush into the bathroom. Lance and the others followed close behind, wands at the ready.
“What are you doing here?” Harry and Ron looked utterly bewildered to see four of Ravenclaw’s top students suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
There was no time for questions.
“You two stay here,” Noah ordered, glancing at Kenn, Lance, and Evan. “Keep an eye on them. If anyone else goes in now, they’re dead. I’ll handle this. Who’s coming with me? There’s someone inside.”
“I’ll go,” Kenn volunteered immediately. “Lance, Evan, keep these two in check.”
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? That’s a troll in there!” Ron hissed.
“Yes, just a troll,” Evan said flatly, still annoyed that he wasn’t the one going in.
Harry and Ron gaped at him.
Before they could argue further, Noah and Kenn pushed open the door.
---
Inside, the scene was chaotic. The troll was swinging its massive club, smashing the bathroom stalls to pieces. Hermione was curled up in the corner, trapped and terrified.
“Expelliarmus!”
Noah flicked his wand, sending a surge of magic at the troll.
He still found it annoying to have to say spell names out loud—silent casting was far more dignified—but his current skill level wasn’t quite there yet.
The troll gave a grunt of surprise as its club flew from its hands.
Kenn seized the opportunity and cast Protego around Hermione, shielding her from debris.
“Nice work,” Noah muttered, impressed. “When did you learn that?”
“You’ve been learning spells beyond your year—why shouldn’t I? Lance and Evan have been picking up some fifth-year spells too,” Kenn said smugly, though he looked a little pale from the effort.
“Show-off,” Noah snorted. “I was hoping you’d cast Wingardium Leviosa after I took it down to keep it from crashing on top of anyone. But whatever, I’ll handle it.”
Noah stepped forward, focusing his magic.
It was time to put some of his more advanced spells to the test.
Raising his wand, he channeled his power and spoke the incantation clearly:
“Sectumsempra!”
