126 Chapter 126: Absurd Fairytale

"Anticipating the pudding," Hermione responded when Harry and Ron remained silent. The Ravenclaw table exchanged confused glances. "It's not typical for you to be so keen on pudding, is it?" As she spoke, an assortment of desserts materialised on the table, including a tantalising mango-flavoured pudding before Harry and his friends. Their gazes were filled with incredulous awe.

"You were spot on, Hermione!" Ron yelled, his voice echoing through the hall and making even the Slytherin students flinch. Malfoy, his arm wrapped in a bandage, shot back with a smirk, "Did a Dementor pop in for a visit, Weasley?" Laughter rippled through the Slytherin table.

Ignoring the taunting, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were hypnotized by the pudding, regarding it as if it were an uncommon treasure. "They've lost their minds," muttered Pavarti, moving her chair to a safe distance from the animated trio.

Harry cautiously scooped up a spoonful of the mango pudding and sampled it. "It really is pudding!" On his confirmation, Ron and Hermione sank back onto their chairs, noticeably relieved.

"With this, we can safely ascertain one thing," Hermione stated, "Professor Forester's jinx stops functioning when he realizes he's being tested!"

"The presence of pudding as dessert, was always unsure, so typically, if the Professor mentioned the serving of pudding, it wouldn't appear," Hermione mused, "Though it's plausible that the pudding was prepared before his prophecy which would mean the probability for pudding was too high, making his jinx incapable of altering that. It's a minor probability, we'll just have to see the results of the other tests."

The likelihood was minimal, yet it was not to be undervalued. The focus quickly shifted to the upcoming Charms class and the changing weather.

Upon departing from the Great Hall, Harry, Ron, and Hermione unusually shirked their common room hangout, opting to venture to the Charms classroom an hour early. Selecting a seat by the window, they observed the sky. The bleak morning weather had notably improved. The sun was high and radiant, an expected sunny day as predicted by Professor Forester that morning. However, it wasn't yet one o'clock, a tad early for any accurate afternoon weather deductions.

Having spent the entire day sequestered in the Charms classroom, they eagerly awaited the commencement of the class. Professor Flitwick instructed them to turn their 'Standard Book of Spells: Grade 3' to the page elucidating the Repairing Charm.

"The Repairing Charm, a staple in any wizard's everyday life," he lectured, "can fix non-magical or slightly magical damaged items. Some of you may have already mastered it during the first or second year, but today we officially tackle its study. The incantation is 'Reparo'! Now remember that the success of the spell lies in its accurate pronunciation..."

The Repairing Charm is indeed a straightforward spell. Hermione had been well-versed in it since her first year while Harry and Ron had managed to grasp it at the onset of their second year. They were all familiar with it, though they were quite sure that Seamus wasn't.

Just five days ago, he'd accidentally shattered his tea cup, which Ron had obligingly restored for him.

Hence, when Professor Flitwick completed imparting the charm and permitted the students to practice independently, instead of practicing it themselves, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat watching Seamus intently. The Irish boy, keenly aware of their gazes, turned and questioned, "Why do you keep staring at me? Bugger off!"

Harry dismissively waved his hand. "Oh, just admiring your remarkable appearance today, Seamus."

Seamus accepted this with a preening smile, proudly running his fingers through his hair. "Really? Did you notice I've even put on some of Mrs. Selwyn's moisturizer today?"

Harry had no interest in Seamus' skincare regimen. Rather, his concern was whether Seamus would initiate an accidental disaster in their class.

"Of course, Seamus," agreed Harry, "You're appearing as dapper as Professor Forester now. I bet you're as skilled as him too, I see no reason for you to struggle with mastering the repairing charm."

Elated by Harry's flattery, Seamus replied without a tone of hesitation, "Easy, just watch me."

Hermione, pale as ever, observed as Seamus repeatedly shredded and mended his parchment, muttering, "Perhaps he needs a bit more of a challenge."

Without unnecessary delay, she shifted to sit alongside Seamus, startling both Harry and Ron. Seamus also appeared taken aback. "Everything okay, Hermione?" he asked.

"I'm fine thank you," she replied with an unusual smile, "I couldn't help noticing that you're performing exceptionally well today."

Seamus shrugged, his confidence oozing. "My results speak for themselves."

"Well, allow me to introduce you to another spell. Do you reckon you could grasp it and utilise it right off the bat?" Hermione proposed.

Harry, Ron, and everyone else caught on to Hermione's intentions. They collectively admired her audacity. If Seamus were to attempt a previously unattempted spell and caused another explosion, Hermione would be first in the firing line.

However, the confident Seamus was up for the challenge. He felt he was in top form today, unlike any other day. Without an iota of apprehension, he agreed.

Hermione taught Seamus a complex spell, "The Bubble-Head Charm," she explained, "It allows a wizard to stay underwater for far longer by creating a bubble of air over one's head. It maintains a supply of breathable air."

To everyone's collective surprise, Seamus was game and began his first attempt with gusto. Harry and Ron, cautious of possible mishaps, distanced themselves and drew Hermione away as well.

But to their astonishment, instead of the anticipated explosion, Seamus easily replicated Hermione's demonstration. He successfully mastered the fifth-year spell on his first attempt. The resultant air bubble forming around his head was cause for his further swelling pride. He kept shredding his parchment and repairing it again, casting bubbles on his head and performing any other spell he was challenged to perform.

Harry, Ron and Hermione watched the smug Seamus in wide-eyed disbelief. Even Professor Flitwick, passing by that moment, noticed Seamus's faultless execution. "Excellent execution, Mr. Finnigan. It's a first to have a lesson completely without your usually explosive mishaps of your spell attempts," he extolled.

"Those were all flukes, Professor. Today's performance is the real Seamus, get used to it," Seamus replied without a shred of modesty.

Harry, Ron and Hermione shared a skeptical sentiment. Seamus demonstrating a new spell on his first try? The entire Gryffindor house maintained a safe distance from him when he was learning spells or concocting potions because it never worked out, it would always need a few explosions before Seamus saw any success, everyone knew that. Indeed, the entire Charms class was devoid of anyone sitting alongside Seamus, bar Harry's fractionally removed group behind him.

"First the pudding, now this," Ron started, his voice shaky.

"Doesn't this prove our theory?" Ron asked, visibly shaken.

The usually verbose Hermione was rendered mute. She stared at the piece of parchment seamlessly repaired by Seamus in shock.

Just a moment ago they watched as Seamus mastered the Bubble-Head charm on his first attempt, flaunting his newfound ability to Harry and the others. Their expectations had been subverted dramatically, paralleling the situation Harry encountered in France.

It seemed as if Professor Forester had not only shed his jinx curse but had acquired a a blessing of prophecy..