Chapter 45 — A Big Mess
"By the way, Professor Corvey, I found a spell in one of the library books. Could you take a look and see if anything's wrong with it?"
Russell then described the spell he had learned from Morgan.
Professor Corvey pondered for a moment, then successfully cast it.
An invisible field enveloped him.
Even if Russell stomped loudly or shouted right next to him, not a single sound reached Corvey's ears.
"Clear enough—there's nothing wrong with it."
Corvey's expression grew complicated.
"I thought I'd be the one teaching you spells. I didn't expect you to hand me a surprise like this."
"If I'd had this charm during my past adventures, I might've avoided quite a few close calls.
Thank you, Fythorne."
He suddenly remembered something and hastily asked,
"Do you recall the name of that book?"
"I don't. I only had time to note down this spell before Madam Pince confiscated the book."
Russell sighed with genuine regret.
"I see…"
Corvey looked just as disappointed.
---
After finishing his practice, Russell retrieved his diary from the Room of Requirement and was on his way back when a sudden meow sounded behind him.
He turned—and saw a strange-looking cat.
Large bulbous eyes, bony frame, dull gray fur.
He recognized it immediately.
Besides Filch's beloved pet—the infamous tattletale Mrs. Norris—who else could it be?
Russell didn't acknowledge her and simply quickened his pace.
He was just about to enter the tower that housed the Ravenclaw common room when an oil lamp suddenly thrust itself out from the shadows.
"Aha! Got you, you sneaking little night-wanderer!"
Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker, had somehow planted himself right in Russell's path.
Hunched, gaunt, sallow-faced with sagging cheeks and bulging pale eyes, Filch looked like he'd stepped straight out of a horror film.
"Get ready for detention," he hissed with a twisted grin—
though that grin quickly froze on his face.
"I just came from Professor Corvey's office. Here's the note he gave me."
Russell reached into his pocket and handed him a slip of parchment.
Filch's smile froze.
He snatched the note from Russell's hand and squinted at it under the dim oil lamp.
"Lucky brat," he muttered, tossing the parchment back before disappearing into the darkness.
A pitiful man, Russell thought—but a pitiful man still capable of being hateful.
Unable to learn magic himself, Filch had twisted that frustration into resentment toward every child who could.
Russell honestly had no idea how to judge him.
---
Back in the common room, Russell lay on the sofa and opened his diary.
After a moment's thought, he wrote a single line:
"Miss Morgan, let's make a deal."
The terms were simple:
Morgan would grant him knowledge, and when he became powerful enough, Russell would free her from her seal.
He agreed without hesitation.
Morgan originally wanted a formal magical contract, but Russell refused—there was no telling what hidden traps she might plant in the fine print.
Helpless but eager, she accepted.
After all, finding a suitable student was rare. If she let this chance slip, she had no idea how long it would be before someone spoke to her again.
Still, Russell was curious:
Who had the power to seal her in the first place?
Could it have been Merlin himself?
He asked her—but Morgan refused to speak of it, and he had no choice but to drop the matter.
---
"Russell, do you have many classes today?" Cedric asked.
The two boys were side by side at the edge of the Black Lake, practicing the Banishing Charm.
"Look at the size of the fish I blasted out!" Cedric declared proudly.
"I'm taking it to the kitchens later—Bobby can turn it into fish and chips."
"Mate… using a fish this fresh for fried fish is borderline sacrilegious," Russell replied, comparing his own catch with Cedric's. He swung his wand harder—he wanted a few fish for Snowball to try.
A moment later, a dark shape flew out of the lake and landed right in front of Cedric.
"Haha! Another big one!" he bragged.
But when he got a clear look, his expression warped into horror.
"What… what is that?"
Russell turned—and his face twisted as well.
Cedric had blasted up a mermaid.
"Cedric," Russell said solemnly, patting his shoulder,
"I acknowledge your victory. I concede this round."
"Don't joke like that—tell me what I'm looking at!" Cedric stammered, visibly panicking.
"You really don't know? She's a merperson from the Black Lake," Russell said, puzzled.
"Of course I don't! I've never seen anything like—like that."
Cedric stopped himself just before saying "ugly."
"What do we do now? Put her back?"
He stared at Russell with desperate hope.
"Hold on. Let me check first."
Russell gripped his wand and approached.
It was a female mermaid, hair far longer than the common ones.
Her eyes were shut tight, pale foam bubbling from her lips.
But her chest rose and fell—she wasn't in danger, merely unconscious.
The Banishing Charm caused no lasting harm beyond blunt force.
"Let's return her to the lake," Russell said, clapping his hands and motioning for Cedric to help.
"Is that really okay? Shouldn't we call a professor?" Cedric hesitated.
"If that's what you insist on, fine. Professors probably won't deduct points—not for an accident."
Russell shrugged.
"I'll stay here. You go get a professor," Cedric said after thinking it over.
He was clearly afraid Russell would toss the mermaid back the moment he left.
If Russell knew what Cedric was thinking, he would have been deeply offended.
Slander. Pure slander.
"I'll be quick," Russell said, sprinting toward the castle.
Full speed—activated.
---
"What a lovely morning," Professor Corvey murmured.
Wearing loose pajamas, he stood by his dormitory window, savoring the pleasant sunlight warming his skin.
He bit into a piece of bread—but before chewing, he noticed a tiny figure sprinting across the grounds toward the castle.
A small wizard.