As Ted sang, the music and lights grew increasingly surreal, twisting and blooming with color and rhythm.
That heart-thumping pulse of power returned again, washing over the room like a spell.
Ted's voice wasn't just heard—it reached into people, stirring something deep inside.
It tugged at heartstrings and sparked smiles, emotions bubbling up until students found themselves humming along or simply dancing without thinking.
Applause broke out naturally, feet tapping without control.
The room came alive.
Especially when the song reached its climax on the enchanted stage.
The melodic beat synchronized with soft romantic lights in sync.
Little witches and wizards linked arms, spinning and dancing in wide circles across the Great Hall.
For that brief, magical moment, nothing else mattered—just music in the air and the glowing faces all around.
It felt like an endless, enchanted feast.
Ted grinned and pulled out a [Transformation Candy (Green)]—a reward from a previous magical festival quest.
Instantly, his friends dove in to grab one.
Only ten pieces, but each one turned someone into something hilariously strange.
Now a handful of oddly-shaped students spun among the dancers, heightening the wild magic of the evening.
Pirate captains, birdfolk, skeleton knights, bunny-eared girls... they all held hands and danced together like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Then Ted waved his wand and cast [Fire Dragon Fireworks (Green)].
A shimmering dragon made of sparkling flames soared above the hall, circling the ceiling and trailing bursts of light, drawing gasps and cheers.
He followed that up with the conjuring of a [Swinging Tiger (Green)].
The enchanted tiger—half mount, half amusement park ride—swayed to the beat. Little wizards queued eagerly, laughing as they rode it back and forth.
Laughter and singing wove together, a magical harmony that made this early-spring Valentine's Day one that would live in their memories for years.
...
---
[Heartbeat Fireworks (Green)]
Item Card
When activated, these fireworks burst into a massive pink heart shape in the sky. Everyone who sees it feels a sudden, magical flutter in their chest.
Uses: 1/1
Note: Honey, that's love~
---
Ted considered it.
Festival reward cards always seemed like silly fun—but this one? Could be useful in the right moment.
Just one use... so best to save it for a critical situation.
He chuckled to himself, imagining casting it during a duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort to distract them with feelings of sudden affection.
He shuddered at the mental image. Yeah, no thanks.
Valentine's Day had been teetering on disaster, but Ted turned it into a triumph.
Afterward, Lockhart didn't cause much more trouble. He grew quiet. Maybe he'd finally accepted his fate.
-Lockhart POV--
They say small fame comes from praise, but great fame is destined. Maybe Hogwarts just wasn't meant for me.
I tried to make myself famous again—wrote hundreds of fake love letters to myself this Valentine's Day, hoping to stir up some heat. Got caught, got mocked. Figures.
Thought I could ride the coattails of the Girl Who Survived, but she's more of a dirt-covered greenhouse troll than a shining hero. Harley Potter... what a mess.
Maybe it's time to leave. No one lasts long in this Defense Against the Dark Arts post anyway.
Even if Dumbledore begged me, I wouldn't stay!
--END POV--
Before they knew it, January turned to February.
Kids are forgetful, especially when the past is covered in glittering memories.
No one talked about the petrifications. What they remembered was that dreamy, surreal Valentine's Day.
A night under soft violet moonlight where joy and fantasy danced side by side.
---
"Ding~ The talent [Knowledge of Other Worlds (Gold)] is triggered.
New object detected: [Other World Reincarnated Slime (Green)]."
[Other World Reincarnated Slime (Green)] records the life and evolution of an otaku who dies, reincarnates into a slime in another magical world, and rises to lead an entire tribe of monsters.
Cost to redeem: 300 experience points.
---
Reincarnated slime? Evolution paths?
Everyone's destiny takes wild turns~
A slime training manual? Don't mind if I do.
As Ted spent the experience points, a small, translucent blue slime appeared in his mind's eye.
It started as a squishy blob barely the size of a fist... and within years, it had become a formidable leader, guiding others through war and peace.
During this time, Ted had gone through all kinds of experiments—some useful, some ridiculous, some wildly successful, and others... not so much.
He could definitely say one thing: experience? He had plenty.
Slimes, as it turned out, were incredibly adaptable. Flexible beyond belief.
But right now, for Ted, the slime project wasn't all that practical.
At best, it helped expand his magical creature transformation studies—something that Professor Quirrell had never really touched on.
So, Ted turned his attention to something more urgent. Something way more dangerous.
The basilisk.
First rule? Don't look it in the eyes.
It made Sharingan look like a child's toy.
So how do you fight a monster that can kill you with a glance?
Ted had a plan: enchanted glasses.
He combined knowledge from different worlds—[Overwatch Soldier 76 Tactical Goggle Wreckage (Green)], a blueprint from Azeroth's Shadow Engineering Guild, and a few of his own tweaks.
He'd tried making a prototype before.
Not great.
But he was close now. Really close.
All that remained was merging the best bits of each design into one final prototype and testing it against controlled magical illusions.
He was crafting the key tool to survive this next stage, and every second counted.
Meanwhile, his friends weren't exactly lounging around.
Especially Harley.
On Valentine's Day, she noticed something off about Malfoy. He was acting... weird.
So she did what any responsible Gryffindor would do—grabbed her Invisibility Cloak and followed him like a shadow.
She tracked him for days, disguising herself as a background student, loitering in hallways and slipping into side corridors.
Finally, she decided it was time to act.
Sneaking up behind him in a quiet corridor, Harley aimed her wand.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
Malfoy's legs buckled like overcooked spaghetti, and he crashed to the floor with a yelp.
To make matters worse, his usual bodyguards weren't around.
Harley stepped out from behind a suit of armor with a confident smirk.
Malfoy, seeing her, exhaled with weird relief. Of all people, at least it was her. He was used to being humiliated by Harley Potter.
Before he could say anything, she pointed an accusing finger.
"Malfoy! You snuck into the girls' bathroom two nights ago! What were you plotting?"
Malfoy's jaw dropped. "I didn't! How dare you accuse me of something so—"
"You did!"
"Did not!"
"Did! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"I... I didn't..." Malfoy's voice wavered. Her conviction made him second-guess himself. Did he? No—wait. No! Right?
Just then, Jerry came strolling down the hallway, completely unaware.
Seeing the two familiar figures mid-confrontation, he lit up.
"Oh, Merlin's beard! Someone actually hexed our precious Young Master Malfoy? Are they not terrified of his daddy's lawyers?"
Malfoy glared and muttered, "You'll regret this!"
The Leg Locker Curse wore off, and he bolted upright and sprinted away down the hall, robes flapping behind him.
"I'll have my revenge!"
Harley rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Boring. He used to put up more of a fight."
Back in the day, Harley and Sirius had a tradition of teasing Malfoy and his father.
Draco would always rise to the bait and get himself flattened in a duel or a prank.
But lately, Draco had changed tactics. He was less reactive, less fun to mess with.
The thrill was fading.
Everyone was busy lately anyway.
Harley kept tailing Malfoy.
Jerry was off sneaking through the castle, solving magical puzzles like a midnight archaeologist.
Hermione? Already self-studying her third-year textbooks, naturally.
And Neville?
Neville had basically moved into the greenhouse.
He and Professor Sprout were nurturing a new batch of experimental seeds brought back from Gufu Oasis. The sprouts had emerged, and Neville monitored them like a proud dad.
He was obsessed with herbology now. Deeply invested.
In the dorm, he shared his latest findings with Jerry.
"Did you know Croton Essence is a ridiculously strong laxative? One drop and you're in the loo all day!"
Jerry blinked. "I didn't... but now I absolutely do. Got any?"
Neville ignored him. "But when you add spotted chickpeas, it turns into this intense fart-inducing potion. It's powerful!"
Jerry's eyes gleamed. "This is exactly what I need! I'm putting this in Lockhart's tea."
Ron, meanwhile, slumped in a nearby chair, eyes ringed with shadows.
Jerry poked him gently. "Ron, mate, you okay? Want some cheese?"
Ron gave a tired smile. "Thanks... I'm just... it's been a rough week."
"Pressure getting to you?"
"You have no idea..."
_______________________________
Word count: 1448
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