The Spell Class is always the best class for talking because after Professor Flitwick teaches everyone a new spell, he always lets everyone wave their magic wands and try it out, so the classroom is very lively, and the chances of others overhearing whispers are slim.
Today, the room was full of croaking frogs and cawing crows, and the pouring rain was pounding on the windows. Harry, Ron, and Hermione's whispers went unheard.
Each of them had a crow and a frog in front of them. This class wasn't just about reinforcing the Summoning Charm but also learning the new Silencing Spell.
Now Professor Flitwick had finished teaching the Silencing Spell, and their goal was to successfully perform it.
The frog was obviously an easier target, but the crow was a bit harder. Many students could successfully silence the frog, but the crow would always caw loudly after the spell was cast, seemingly mocking them.
Hermione deeply despised Umbridge, and whenever she thought of the bad things Umbridge had done at Hogwarts, she couldn't help but clench her fists.
"I suggest you take it easy," Harry said to Hermione. "Look at your frog, let it go; it's not Umbridge."
Hermione looked down to see that she had been holding the frog too tightly, and its eyes were popping out. She hurriedly placed it on the table and gently patted its back.
But the frog didn't seem to be getting better, even with Hermione's touch. It lay motionless on the table, its little tummy heaving intensely.
"Poor frog," Ron commented, shaking his head at Hermione. "Look at what you've done to it, poor thing."
Ironically, Ron's frog next to him started croaking loudly.
"Silencio!" Hermione quickly pointed her magic wand at Ron's frog, and it fell silent.
The crow beside them started cawing as if lamenting its kind.
"I think you should try to quiet your crow," Hermione turned and said to Ron, "Don't always wait for others to help you—"
"Oh? I thought you just got the wrong frog," Ron shrugged and pointed at the ugly crow, "Silencio!"
The big ugly crow in front of him cawed mockingly.
"Silencing Spell! Silencing Spell!"
The crow cawed even louder.
"Your wand movement isn't right," Hermione looked at Ron with a critical eye, just as she corrected his Floating Spell in the first year, "Don't wave it around; you don't want to poke anyone's eye out, do you? You should jab quickly."
"Crows are harder than frogs," Ron gritted his teeth, "and my frog has already been silenced by you!"
"Alright, let's swap," Hermione grabbed Ron's crow, replacing it with her slightly recovered fat frog, "Silencio!"
The crow's sharp mouth opened and closed, but it made no sound.
"Very good, Miss Granger!" Professor Flitwick's high-pitched voice exclaimed, startling Hermione and Ron. "Now I'll watch you practice, Mr. Weasley!"
"Wh-what? Oh—oh, okay," Ron said nervously, "Uh—Silencio!"
Fortunately, Ron's spell finally worked. The frog quickly fell silent, staring blankly ahead as if pondering why it couldn't make a sound.
"Very well done, Mr. Weasley!" Professor Flitwick was even happier. "Five points to Gryffindor!"
"I swear," Ron said quietly after Professor Flitwick left, "he definitely noticed us whispering. If I hadn't successfully cast the spell, Professor Flitwick would have given us a ton of homework!"
"Fortunately, you succeeded and earned points for Gryffindor," Hermione looked at Ron with a 'that's my boy' expression.
"Then," Ron turned and glanced at Harry, "why didn't Professor Flitwick have Harry cast the spell?"
"Because he knows Harry definitely knows this spell," Hermione rolled her eyes.
Since it was raining, they could stay indoors during break.
They found a seat in a noisy second-floor classroom where Peeves dreamily floated near the chandelier, occasionally blowing ink droplets onto someone's head.
As soon as they sat down, Angelina squeezed over from the crowds of chatting students.
"I've got permission!" she said excitedly, "We can reform the Quidditch team! I've got permission!"
"That's great!" Ron was equally excited.
"Yes," Angelina beamed, "I went to Professor McGonagall, and I don't know who she talked to, probably Professor Dumbledore?—Anyway, Umbridge had to give in. Ha! So I'm asking you to come to the field at seven tonight, okay? We need to make up the time. Do you realize there's only three weeks until the first match?"
She squeezed past them, narrowly avoiding Peeves' blown ink droplets, which landed on a nearby first-year student.
"Could it be Dumbledore?" Hermione asked curiously, "I heard that Dumbledore seems to be not at the school?"
"It must be Miss Swedding!" Ron said confidently, "She's a governor, and only a governor can counter Umbridge's evil forces on this. I bet my guess is right! Haha... Bringing back Miss Swedding was indeed a good move, right, Harry?"
"You're absolutely right," Harry nodded.
At that moment, Annie also walked over.