Hogwarts Castle.
Small groups of friends chatted on the moving staircases, making their way back to their common rooms.
"Harry and Hermione are so lucky to get a C-Class Combat Spell!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique… the name sounds cool, but using it is even cooler! It's just so awesome!"
"The power is insane! Few ordinary spells can cause that much damage. And that's just C-Class!"
"I'm so jealous of them, especially Hermione. Getting Professor Jack teaching Combat Magic right in their first year, and gaining his approval to learn a C-Class spell."
"Yeah! Only a handful of first-years got the Great Fireball Technique. So lucky!"
"Harry and Hermione make sense, but who would've thought Neville Longbottom would secretly master the Doppelganger Charm? Unbelievable!"
"Hermione's always studying; I see her in the library all the time, super serious. Harry's a given 'Where there's smoke, there's fire,' and all that. But this Neville Longbottom… now that's a real surprise!"
"He looks a bit slow, but who knew he'd have a talent for Combat Magic!"
Ron listened to the praise, his expression sour. Of their trio, he was the only one who got nothing, while both Harry and Hermione had earned a C-Class Combat Spell.
He was happy for his friends, truly, but he couldn't help regretting not studying the Doppelganger Charm harder.
If he'd just played a few less games of Wizard's Chess, he might have been one of the recipients!
Harry noticed Ron's low spirits and clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't lose heart, Ron! Study Combat Magic properly. Next time, the reward might be yours!"
Ron forced a smile. "Right. Next time, we'll get a reward together! Speaking of which, you need to master that Great Fireball quickly and show us! The power is just… wow. I just wish Malfoy hadn't gotten it. Would've been perfect for putting that git in his place."
Harry glanced at Hermione. "With Hermione here, what does it matter if Malfoy learned it? She'll master it way faster than him!"
Ron's eyes lit up, remembering the top student in their midst the class representative for Professor Jack, the first to master the Transformation Jutsu.
"You're right! Hermione, you have to master the Great Fireball fast. Next time Malfoy bothers us, just hit him with one! That'll scare him silly! Haha!"
Hermione looked at their excited faces, reluctant to shatter their illusions. But they'd find out sooner or later.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I didn't get the Great Fireball Technique."
Harry and Ron's laughter died instantly. Hermione didn't get it? How was that possible?!
"Why not? Professor Jack thinks highly of you! Why wouldn't he teach you?"
"Yeah! He made you class rep, gave you the hand seals for the Three Jutsu early… why wouldn't he teach you the Great Fireball?"
Seeing their genuine concern warmed Hermione's heart.
"I didn't ask for it. I requested to exchange it for a different Combat Spell the Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Harry and Ron exchanged a confused look. Shadow Clone Jutsu? What was that?
The Doppelganger Charm? But they'd already learned that! Why trade a C-Class spell for an E-Class one?!
Ron reached out to feel Hermione's forehead. "No fever… so why are you being so daft? You're the top student! How could you make such a basic mistake trading a C-Class spell for an E-Class one!"
Hermione smacked his hand away, glaring. "You're the daft one! Who said the Shadow Clone Jutsu is E-Class? It's a B-Class Combat Spell!"
Ron, still shaking his stinging, red hand, froze mid-action at her words.
"B-Class?!" Ron and Harry exclaimed in perfect unison.
A B-Class Combat Spell! That was magic only Advanced Mages were supposed to learn!
The C-Class Great Fireball was already this powerful. A B-Class spell had to be even more incredible!
They immediately clapped their hands over their mouths. Everyone else got a C-Class spell, but Hermione got a B-Class… Professor Jack must have given his class rep some special treatment.
This was best kept quiet, something only they should know. Spreading it around wouldn't be good.
Ron leaned in close to Hermione, having completely forgotten his sore hand, and whispered like a conspirator, "How did you manage to get Professor Jack to give you a B-Class spell?! This Shadow Clone Jutsu must be stronger than the Great Fireball, right? What does it do? It sounds like the Doppelganger Charm. Are they related?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. So many questions at once. Which one should I even answer?
Seeing the intense curiosity burning in both Harry and Ron's eyes, she decided to tackle them one by one.
"Professor Jack was the one who offered it to me. Even though it's B-Class, this spell has no offensive power. It's a support spell."
"Basically, it's a clone technique, but far more practical than the Doppelganger Charm."
"The shadow clone can be used to attack enemies and can also be used for studying. It's like another, independent version of me."
"The Doppelganger Charm we learned before can only be used to confuse opponents, that's all."
Hermione described the Shadow Clone Jutsu's effects lightly, but Ron was even more baffled.
"Wait, doesn't the Doppelganger Charm let you attack, like it's another you?"
This time, Harry explained for her: "No, it doesn't. The Doppelganger can't attack. No wonder I couldn't get my clone to cast spells no matter how I tried. So it really is just for confusion."
"Then what Professor Jack said about clones being able to attack independently, exist physically, and have their own consciousness… that must be referring to the Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hermione nodded. "Yes and no. Above the Shadow Clone Jutsu, there's an A-Class Combat Spell the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, which lets you create many shadow clones."
"What Professor Jack used was probably the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. But that technique is very dangerous and difficult."
"Only a powerful wizard like Professor Jack can produce thousands of clones at once!"
A look of admiration flashed in Hermione's eyes. Thousands of independent versions of oneself… that was truly incredible!
Ron didn't fully understand, but he was greatly impressed. "So it's not an attack spell, but it sounds amazing! You have to learn it quickly and show us!"
At his words, Hermione's face fell. "Professor Jack told me to come see him after afternoon classes. He's probably still with the other professors, entertaining the Ministry people right now."
She wanted to learn it immediately, but the circumstances didn't allow it. She didn't even know the hand seals yet! How could she possibly learn it?
Damn the Ministry! Why did they have to come now, of all times?!
She could have learned it right away, but now it was pushed back to the afternoon!
Time is Galleons!
Hermione cursed the Ministry officials in her heart, unaware that Professor Jack had already sent them packing.
Ron sighed. "Ugh, why aren't I the Combat Magic class rep? Professor Jack is so good to you. I'm green with envy!"
Harry chimed in agreement. "Yeah, Hermione! Professor Jack is really great to you. If Professor Snape treated me even a ten-thousandth as well as Professor Jack treats you, I'd thank my lucky stars!"
Hermione nodded. She knew perfectly well how good Professor Jack was to her, and she was determined not to let him down. She would study Combat Magic diligently!
That afternoon, as soon as her last class ended, Hermione said a quick goodbye to Harry and Ron and hurried to Professor Jack's office.
Outside the office door, she saw someone she never expected to find there.
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