Violet Summer: The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 9: Levitation and Trolls

 Halloween had finally arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The students were buzzing with excitement, eagerly anticipating the grand Halloween feast. Classes were in session, but an underlying restlessness permeated the air as everyone eagerly awaited the night's adventure.

In the Charms classroom, Gryffindors and Slytherins sat side by side, engrossed in Professor Flitwick's lesson on the levitation spell. Ron and Hermione's murmurs could be heard from the row behind Toni. Sitting patiently, Toni softly muttered the incantation under her breath, her wand poised before a large feather. Harry sat beside her, with Seamus Finnigan on his other side, and Dean Thomas beside Toni. The four of them enunciated their spells clearly, their voices echoing through the room. Wingardium Leviosa.

A few students faltered in their incantations, causing the feather to jerk or remain stationary on their desks. Toni had mastered this spell on her sixth birthday, but she deliberately stumbled over her words, employing a self-imposed technique to be seen as an equal by her classmates. She knew this tactic wouldn't work as well once they began Defense Against the Dark Arts. She waved her wand without the correct movements, slurred her incantation, and occasionally observed the other students.

Across the room, she noticed Draco and his Slytherin friends attempting the spell, but with no success. Draco had been distant and evasive towards her since their encounter in the library. He often avoided eye contact and deliberately kept his distance from her and the others. Toni wondered how long this would continue. Strangely, she found herself not entirely disliking his absence. It left a void, an odd sensation she couldn't quite explain.

"No, no. You're saying it wrong," Hermione's voice chimed in. Toni turned to glance back at Ron and Hermione. "It's lev-i-O-sa, not levio-SA."

"Well, you do it then, if you're so clever," Ron retorted, his tone dripping with irritation.

Hermione sighed and raised her wand. "Wingardium lev-i-O-sa."

The feather began to float in the air, rising higher as Hermione's wand held it steadily, causing the feather to drift even further. All the students stopped and gazed in amazement at Hermione's successful spell. Ron sat there, glaring displeased and irritated. Professor Flitwick quickly applauded with enthusiasm.

"Well done, Miss Granger! Ten points to Gryffindor!" he cheered.

After Charms class ended, the students filed out of the classroom. Toni hurriedly made her way through the crowd, catching up with Harry, Ron, Seamus, and Dean. Lost in conversation about the intricacies of the levitation spell with Harry, none of them noticed Hermione trailing close behind. Ron's sourness over Hermione's correction and flawless incantation lingered, and he began venting his frustrations to the others.

"It's lev-i-O-sa, not levio-SA," Ron mocked, accompanied by chuckles from Seamus and Dean. "She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she doesn't have any friends."

Ron's words hung in the air as Hermione abruptly rushed past the group, tears streaming down her face. The five of them stood there, realizing that she had overheard Ron's hurtful comments. The sound of sobbing reached their ears as Hermione hurriedly made her way across the courtyard, disappearing from their sight. Harry and Toni exchanged a knowing look before turning their attention back to Ron, who instantly regretted his words.

"You don't think she heard that, do you?" Ron asked, his guilt evident. Toni let out a sigh.

"I think she did," Harry replied. Without wasting any time, Toni swiftly maneuvered through the crowded corridors, heading in the direction Hermione had gone.

Navigating through the bustling halls of the castle, Toni caught glimpses of Hermione's curly brown hair ahead. She pushed through the dense crowd, encountering few students who bothered to make way for her. Aggressively shoving past, she reached an open space beyond the students and searched for Hermione. She caught sight of a fraction of Hermione's figure turning into another hallway.