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The moment Hodge Blackthorn stepped into the Charms classroom, he noticed several Slytherin students—Charms was a joint class with Ravenclaw and Slytherin—pointing and whispering about him. Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, stood together in a cluster. As Hodge entered, Draco's silver-gray eyes narrowed sharply.
"Hodge, over here!" Terry called from the back row. When Hodge sat beside him, Terry leaned in and whispered, "Ignore them. They were talking about you before you even got here!"
"What're they saying?" Hodge asked thoughtfully. Snape's favoritism toward his own house had apparently earned Hodge some notoriety.
Terry hesitated. "They're calling you the next Longbottom. Don't listen to them—your potions are solid."
Just then, tiny Professor Flitwick appeared from behind the lectern, standing as usual on a stack of thick books to reach the desk.
The classroom fell silent.
"Please open your textbooks," Flitwick said cheerfully. "Today, we'll be learning the Unlocking Charm, a simple little spell. I suspect you'll master it in just a few tries."
He smiled broadly. "The origins of the Unlocking Charm are unclear, but it's believed that in the early 17th century, a British wizard named Eldon Etherick learned it from an elderly African wizard. When Etherick returned to London, he discovered its rather… colorful uses—some even called it the 'Thief's Friend.'"
A murmur rippled through the students.
"He became a thief?" a Slytherin student asked.
"Indeed, Mr. Zabini," Flitwick replied. "The spell's early days in Britain weren't exactly noble. Etherick paid the price for his thievery, of course. But, students, this charm isn't just for opening locked doors or windows unprotected by magic—it can also unlock cabinets, boxes, and the like. If you've forgotten your key, this spell is a lifesaver."
"We've previously studied the Locking Charm, which seals doors or similar objects. You may have noticed that these two spells are opposites—the Unlocking Charm is the counter-spell to the Locking Charm…"
Flitwick launched into an explanation of the Unlocking Charm's principles, incantation, and wand movements.
He then vanished briefly, returning with a wooden door framed and floating behind him. With a quiet incantation, the door anchored itself to the floor with a thud, followed by a distinct "click" as it locked. Flitwick instructed the students to line up and take turns casting the Unlocking Charm to open it.
Hodge stood behind Michael Corner. Being seated at the back, they were near the end of the line. He tilted his body slightly, watching Flitwick's movements closely.
"Miss Greengrass," Flitwick called, standing by the door.
A Slytherin girl gripped her wand nervously and said, "Alohomora!" The door shuddered slightly.
"Oh, a bit more decisiveness in your wand movement. Try again," Flitwick said patiently. "Everyone, pay attention."
She cast the spell again, this time successfully. Flitwick clapped enthusiastically. "Excellent, Miss Greengrass! Well done. You may step down. Mr. Goldstein, your turn."
Hodge, standing in line, mentally rehearsed the spell, cross-referencing Flitwick's public guidance. He grew more confident. Flitwick was right—this spell was simple. Even the weakest students managed it after seven or eight tries.
When the line was half gone, Hodge felt a sharp bump against his shoulder.
It was Goyle—stocky, with thick hair and arms like a gorilla's. When Hodge glanced over, Goyle grinned maliciously. Behind him stood Draco Malfoy, with Crabbe looming at his side, making Draco look like he was suspended between two hulks.
Draco smirked smugly. "Oh, sorry, Goyle accidentally bumped you."
"No worries," Hodge said lightly, turning to Goyle. "As long as he learns to apologize himself next time. You're a quick learner, aren't you? Everyone says you're great at this."
Goyle, caught off guard by the compliment, broke into a goofy grin.
"Shut up, Goyle," Draco snapped.
"Your mother must be so proud," Hodge drawled softly as he turned away. "Oh, yes, I know her—Blackthorn family, caused quite the stir. A Squib, such a shame. But lucky her, I suppose. If she'd stayed at home, the Dark Lord would've finished her off too."
Hodge whipped around, his eyes locking onto Draco's neatly combed platinum-blond hair. Slowly, he said, "If I had a Death Eater for a father, I'd die of shame."
Draco's face darkened instantly.
With a glance, he signaled Goyle, who dutifully grabbed Hodge's arm—only to yelp and let go as if shocked, grimacing in pain. The next moment, Flitwick appeared at Hodge's elbow height.
"I hope you boys aren't fighting?" Flitwick asked in his high-pitched voice.
"Hodge hexed Goyle with a Stinging Jinx," Draco accused immediately, as if he'd rehearsed it.
Flitwick blinked, glancing at Hodge, who held out his hands innocently. He then inspected Goyle's hand—slightly red, but otherwise fine. "Alright, Mr. Malfoy, and the rest of you, focus on the lesson." He returned to teaching.
"Seems you're pretty confident in your spells," Draco hissed once Flitwick was out of earshot. "How about we settle this one-on-one? Just you and me. Bring a second if you want. Tonight, in the Trophy Room. What do you say?"
Hodge initially ignored him—he wasn't fazed by such childish ploys—but the more he listened, the stranger it felt. This scene was oddly familiar, like something he'd heard about before…
Then it clicked. Draco had pulled this same trick on Harry, back when Hodge wasn't even at Hogwarts.
Hodge sized Draco up, as if seeing him anew. Draco squirmed under the scrutiny.
"Well?" Draco pressed, feigning confidence.
"I pass," Hodge said flatly.
But Draco, like a persistent pest, kept muttering behind him. Soon, Flitwick called Hodge forward. He stepped up, cast the spell perfectly on his first try, and earned five points for Ravenclaw.
The bell rang, and the students filed out.
Hodge trailed behind Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle at a leisurely pace. With two of them being so conspicuous, there was no chance of losing them. They strutted arrogantly toward the Slytherin common room in the dungeons.
Soon, the maze-like underground corridors were nearly empty. Hodge quickened his steps, letting his footsteps echo loudly.
Draco and his goons stopped, turning to see Hodge slip into an abandoned classroom.
"Let's check it out," Draco said. Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles excitedly.
Draco approached the classroom door, cautiously drawing his wand before shoving it open. Only one person was inside. A triumphant grin spread across Draco's face. "What are you doing here? I thought you were a Ravenclaw. Well, no matter. You need a lesson in respecting pure-blood families." He shut the door behind him.
Hodge spoke slowly. "I've been thinking, and you're right."
"What—"
A spell shot past Draco's cheek, slamming into the wall behind him. A wave of heat exploded, knocking all three Slytherins to the floor. Draco scrambled up, looking utterly disheveled—his pristine hair a mess, sticking to his forehead, his robes singed and reeking of scorch marks.
As Hodge approached, wand raised, Draco panicked, stammering worse than Quirrell. "Y-you can't… M-my father… h-he's a governor!"
Hodge kindly helped Draco to his feet.
"Relax," he said. "I just want to talk. Seems you've got the wrong idea about me. Maybe we could be friends! And as friends, why don't you tell me everything you know about the Blackthorn family?" He turned to Crabbe and Goyle, who were cowering like frightened quails as they picked themselves up. "You two! Stand guard outside."
Crabbe and Goyle bolted out the door, practically tripping over each other.
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