HP: The Boy who Planted

Char's eyes sparkled as he studied the two spells: the Hanging Golden Bell Curse and the Divine Edge Shadowless Curse. These were spells that had left a lasting impression in the original books, and now, with the Half-Blood Prince's textbook in hand, he could finally learn them for himself.

Until now, Char's repertoire had been limited: the Pruning Spell, the Loosening Spell, and the Glowing Charm. None of them were suited for combat. The arrival of the Hanging Bell and Shadowless Spell would finally give him some magical firepower—a deterrent, if nothing else. Even though Char preferred a quiet life of tending magical plants, having a way to defend himself was essential.

He took a deep breath, steadying his excitement, and focused first on the Hanging Golden Bell Curse. This spell, which lifted its target upside down and kept them suspended unless released by the counter-spell, was clearly inspired by some mischievous prank. Snape's youthful sense of humor, it seemed, had found its way into magical invention.

But as Char read Snape's notes, his surprise grew. The spell was far more advanced than he'd imagined. It could be cast silently and even without a wand, if the caster's magical perception and strength were sufficient. The full incantation—"Levicorpus!"—unleashed the spell's maximum power, but in a pinch, a simple gesture could trigger a weaker version. Char recalled Harry's first use of the spell in the original story, hanging Ron upside down with just a flick of his wrist. That kind of casual mastery was rare—most wizards couldn't manage a wandless, silent spell at all.

"If it were just a prank spell, any older student could probably invent something similar," Char mused. "But to make it silent and wandless? That's something else entirely." Snape's talent was undeniable.

Eager to try it out, Char pointed his wand at a classroom desk. "Levicorpus!" he intoned, making a sharp upward motion. Magic surged from his wand, and the desk jerked upward, flipping upside down and hanging from the ceiling. Char watched, fascinated, as the desk remained suspended, defying gravity. Even after ten minutes, it showed no sign of falling.

"Magic really is a cheat in this world," Char thought, amused. "A Muggle physicist would have a heart attack if he saw this." With a flick of his wand and a muttered "Levicorpus!" he released the spell. The desk righted itself and landed with a thud.

Char then tried casting the spell silently, without speaking the incantation. The desk lifted again, but not as high—just a few feet off the ground. The effect was weaker, but still impressive. "If my magic were as strong as Harry's," he mused, "I could probably do a lot more." Still, he was pleased. The spell's versatility and reliability made it a valuable addition to his arsenal.

On his system panel, the words [Levicorpus Curse (Black Iron Level)] appeared. Char smiled. As he practiced and improved, the spell's power would only grow.

He turned his attention to the Sectumsempura Curse. Unlike the Levicorpus this was no prank—it was a true combat spell, bordering on dark magic. In the original story, its destructive power was second only to the Unforgivable Curses. But what made it especially appealing was its low requirement for negative emotion. Harry had nearly killed Malfoy the first time he used it, without truly intending harm.

Char's heart pounded as he prepared to cast it. He concentrated, moving his wand in a sharp, slashing motion. "Sectumsempra!" he whispered.

He felt a strange, sharp magic gather within him, flowing into his wand. But nothing happened. The spell fizzled out. Char frowned and tried again, certain his pronunciation and gestures were correct. Still, the spell refused to manifest.

After several attempts, Char realized the problem: his magical power was simply too weak. Even with perfect technique, he couldn't reach the threshold needed to trigger the Sectumsempura curse. The gap between his abilities and those of a prodigy like Harry was stark.

But Char wasn't discouraged. He checked his system panel. The half-formed words [Sectumsempura Curse (Black Iron Level)] appeared, indicating that while he had learned the spell, he couldn't yet use it in practice. That was fine—he could continue to improve his understanding and technique.

"There's still time," he told himself. The Sprout family greenhouse was filled with marigolds, all maturing steadily. In another two months, by Christmas, they would be ready to harvest. With the rewards from those plants, his magical power would surge. The gold level—or even higher—was within reach.

He practiced the Sectumsempura Curse a few more times, feeling the sharp, dangerous magic each time. It was worlds apart from the gentle, nurturing magic of the Pruning Spell. The difference was stark, and it made Char appreciate the complexity and variety of magical energy.

As he prepared to leave the classroom, a sudden thought struck him. The levicorpus Curse had been inspired by prank spells, but the sectumsempura… Had Snape drawn on his mastery of cutting spells like the Pruning Charm? The system's rating for his Pruning Spell had jumped noticeably after just a few attempts with the Sectumsempura Curse. Amid the silver glow, a hint of gold was now visible.

Char's heart lifted. The two spells were connected, and practicing one would strengthen the other. With this realization, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. His path was clear: keep practicing, keep growing. By the time the marigolds were ready, he would be strong enough to wield the Sectumsempura Curse with confidence.

With a final glance at the classroom, Char stepped out into the corridor, his mind already racing ahead to the next challenge. The world of magic was vast and unpredictable, but with hard work and patience, he knew he could carve out his own place within it.

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