It was eleven o'clock in the morning on November 9th, and this was the first time Harry had represented Gryffindor in a Quidditch match. His exceptional talent on the broomstick brought Gryffindor their first victory of the year. Victory was sweet, but what happened on the field left several young wizards uneasy. Someone had clearly tried to harm Harry.
After the match, Harry and Ron were discussing the incident before dinner, while Hermione, true to her nature, had already begun planning her study session for the evening. Even though it was Saturday, a day without classes, Hermione wouldn't waste a single moment of study time. She had also enlisted Neville's help to prepare.
Because Solim was present, Hermione and the others were not as close as usual. Solim, on the other hand, didn't seem particularly interested in watching Quidditch. First-year students had free time on Saturdays and Sundays, but after second grade, their schedules filled up with new courses and electives, leaving little room for free days.
After dinner, Hermione brought Neville and Solim together. The first thing she said was: "Solim, you know what happened on the pitch today."
"If you mean Potter being jinxed, yes, I know. Draco told me about it at dinner. But what exactly happened?" Solim asked. During dinner, Draco had whispered to him about Harry's near fall, lamenting that it was a pity he hadn't actually fallen.
"I saw Snape curse Harry with my own eyes," Hermione said seriously, looking at Solim.
"Interfering spells, whether casting or countering them, require incantations. Professor Snape would have had to chant to cast or break a spell," Solim responded calmly.
"But we all know the history between Snape and Harry…" Hermione trailed off.
"Usually, Hermione, you are a smart girl. Why do you think Professor Snape wants to harm Potter?" Solim asked. Even without knowing the full plot, he could see there was something odd about the incident on the pitch.
"Everyone knows Snape dislikes Gryffindor and Potter intensely," Hermione said.
Solim shook his head lightly. "Analyzing this situation requires rationality and objectivity, not assumptions."
He decided to teach the young wizards how to approach such problems logically.
"Hermione, do you think Professor Snape is a fool?" he asked.
Hermione shook her head. She had never considered Snape to be unintelligent. She knew him to be a highly capable wizard. Having spent time with Solim, Hermione was arguably the Gryffindor student who understood Snape best.
"Since he isn't foolish, would he try to kill a student in front of almost the entire school?" Solim continued.
He addressed the group methodically: "From your description, the spell targeted the broom under Potter, not Potter himself. Even if the spell succeeded, what then? Would Potter just fall and die instantly?"
Solim glanced at Neville and Draco. "Do you really think a student could fall from a broom and die instantly in front of senior students and professors?"
Before they could answer, Solim continued like a rapid-fire lecture:
"Potter wouldn't die unless every wizard present was wandless. Even without wands, a wandless levitation spell isn't difficult for Professor Flitwick. Even if all forgot such a spell, Potter still wouldn't die instantly; Madam Pomfrey could revive him."
"If someone wanted Potter dead, there would have been countless opportunities: hallways, lounges, even toilets. Yet this person chose a stadium full of witnesses. Do you think that's wise?"
"The spell targeted Potter's broom, not him directly. If they truly wanted to kill him, they would have chosen a different time or place."
"Even this 'attacker' sat calmly in the stands, chanting spells, with no concern for those around them."
"Now tell me, Hermione—do you still believe Professor Snape tried to kill Potter?" Solim asked, folding his arms and studying Hermione. She looked bewildered, having never considered these aspects.
"Of course, it doesn't necessarily mean someone wanted to kill Potter," he added. "Maybe they only wanted to interfere with the match. Some senior Slytherins might do this. Though, honestly, it's a rather foolish method."
Solim turned to Draco. "Draco, have you heard any gossip in the courtyard?"
"No. I'll go ask around," Draco replied. He wanted to know if any senior students had really targeted Harry.
"And if not?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"If someone really wanted to kill Potter and chose that moment, their goal wasn't actually to kill. They wanted to send a message: someone in the school is dangerous and alert the professors," Solim explained.
"Why not just inform the professors directly?" Hermione asked.
Solim raised an eyebrow. "Think it through, Hermione. If you want to excel in magic, you must learn to use your brain. Wizards without brains don't survive long."
Having finished the discussion, Solim shifted focus to the trio's mastery of the Disarming Charm. Among them, Draco performed best, while Neville struggled.
"Too slow," Solim said. "You all cast the Disarming Charm too slowly. But I understand—combat magic requires speed. To improve, you must practice constantly until it becomes instinct."
Solim shared his own rigorous practice methods: holding a wand while sleeping, practicing while walking, even during squatting exercises. "In a duel, being faster than your opponent is everything. A stun spell can lay down even the strongest wizard. Master this, and your skill will protect you."
"The Disarming Curse is foundational for practical magic. If you cannot master it, you have no place here. My requirement is simple: silent spells, cast in under one second. Even better if you can cast without a wand."
The trio fell silent.
"Draco, show me your skills," Solim instructed. "Neville, step aside."
Draco raised his wand quickly, but before he could cast, Solim's hand waved. Draco's wand flew from his hand and returned to Solim's.
"No wand, no sound, within a second. In a real battle, you'd already be down," Solim said.
He then revealed the scars on his back by sliding his robes down to his waist. His left shoulder blade to waist bore a jagged, blackened scar resembling charred wood, with ribs faintly visible through the marks. Small depressions and wax-like circles punctuated the area, evidence of a violent magical assault.
"Remember this lesson: hold your wand tightly," Solim said.
Draco trembled. "What… happened to you?"
Solim looked at Neville. "Rubeus told you?"
Neville nodded silently. He had always feared Solim because of Rubeus's stories. Most wizards who knew Solim's past referred to him as a "little monster" or "madman," names that had stuck since he was ten.
"Keep this lesson in mind," Solim said, clapping his hands. "Practice diligently. There are no shortcuts, no wasted motion. Do you think I achieved this level without hard work?"
Hermione's hands fell from her mouth, finally able to speak. "Can we really reach this level with practice? Even casting without a wand?"
She hesitated, then gestured to Solim's back. "And… what about the scar?"
"Nothing is off-limits to discuss," Solim said calmly. "I was hit repeatedly, my wand confiscated. They couldn't kill me due to certain rules, so they left me with a memorable mark."
"Can't scars be removed?" Hermione asked. "Albert can remove scars at St. Mungo's…"
"There is currently no way to repair scars from the Corrosive Charm," Solim interrupted. "At least, not yet."
"Enough discussion. Focus on improving yourselves," Solim said, turning his attention back to their practice. "I've explained the Disarming Curse. How much you practice is up to you. Hermione, make sure Neville doesn't slack off. Draco, you know what to do."
Solim sat down with his notes, watching the trio practice. They were young, but he was curious how far they could progress under his guidance.