NOVEL WEB Chapter 97: Relaxing Time
Two weeks passed after the big mess in the Slytherin common room. The professors asked questions, acted like they were investigating, but in the end, no one was punished. Maybe they found out, maybe they didn't. Either way, life at Hogwarts went back to normal — or as normal as Hogwarts ever got.
Hermione was out of the Hospital Wing, already walking around with books in her arms, acting like she had never left. The castle was quiet again. No Slytherins causing trouble, no Gryffindors sneaking around for revenge. Even going outside the castle was off-limits for now, but Cael didn't care much. He spent his time like always — going to class, practicing spells in the Room of Requirement, and taking naps by the Black Lake.
But today was different.
It was September, and September meant one thing: Quidditch tryouts.
Katie Bell found him by the lake, standing over him with a grin. "Come on," she said, nudging his leg with her foot. "Today's my tryout. You should come with me — maybe even try for the team yourself."
Cael groaned but got up, brushing grass off his robes. "You want me to watch you fail?"
Katie rolled her eyes, smirking. "I'm not going to fail. At worst, I'll do great — and you'll be jealous."
They made their way to the Quidditch pitch. Loads of students were already there, carrying brooms and looking nervous. Harry Potter stood with Ron, both of them watching the group. Since Harry had already been picked as Seeker, Wood made him show up to every practice.
Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor captain, stood in the middle of the pitch, looking proud and full of energy.
"Listen up!" Oliver shouted, clapping his hands. "Quidditch isn't just a game — it's pride, it's house points, it's everything!"
"—A completely unhealthy obsession," muttered Fred Weasley, twirling his broom lazily.
"—A love story, really," George added with a grin.
Oliver ignored them, though his glare could've scared a mountain troll. Today was serious. They needed new players.
Katie bounced on her toes, gripping her broom tighter. Her cheeks were pink from excitement.
"You're sure you're not flying today?" Katie asked Cael, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "You could at least pretend you're trying out. We're down a Chaser, maybe down two if Oliver combusts mid-speech."
Cael smiled, pulling his scarf around his neck. "I came to watch you make a fool of yourself, not get knocked out by Bludgers."
Oliver's voice cut across the field again.
"Oi, you lot!" Oliver's voice snapped their attention back. "Bell! You're first up. Show me you can catch, pass, and not fumble like a Hufflepuff at their first Butterbeer party."
Katie smirked at Cael, her eyes shining. "Watch and learn, pretty boy."
She kicked off from the ground, shooting into the air. Oliver tossed the Quaffle high, and Katie caught it cleanly, one hand, no wobble. Cael saw Oliver's shoulders relax for the first time all morning.
"She's got it," Harry whispered beside Ron, who watched with wide eyes, clearly dreaming of the day his name got called.
Katie flew through the hoops with ease, fast and sharp. Even Fred and George paused their jokes to whistle.
When she landed, Oliver barely waited.
"You're on the team," he said, scribbling her name onto his clipboard. "We'll work on your posture — you fly a bit wide — and your grip on the Quaffle needs to be stronger. But good enough for now."
Katie beamed, spinning around to grin at Cael. "Told you," she said proudly. "Now you're stuck watching me at every practice."
Fred leaned over, whispering to Cael, "Practices with Wood? You'll wish you were playing instead."
"Yeah," George added, patting Cael's shoulder. "At least on the team, you've got an excuse for being yelled at."
Oliver shouted something about teamwork, already back to pacing the field.
Cael shook his head, slipping away once the tryouts were done. He went back to the Gryffindor common room, dropping into his favorite chair by the fireplace.
"System," he muttered, quiet enough so no one heard, "show me my stats."
A faint sound dinged in his head as the numbers appeared in front of him:
[System Interface – Cael Vale]
Designation: Reincarnated Host
Age: 12
Race: Human
Class: Young Wizard
Titles: [Model Student, Cabbage Slayer (don't ask), Star Boy, Mister Precise, The Avenger]
Stats:
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 31
Charisma: 29
Magic Power: 33
Cael studied the numbers, feeling satisfied. His intelligence and magic power were climbing fast — faster than most other students. It was working.
A quiet sound nearby pulled his attention away. Hermione Granger stood by the fireplace , holding a stack of books like she was scared to drop them.
Cael smiled lightly. "You look like you've got about three questions ready to explode. You okay?"
Hermione hesitated, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as her fingers tugged at the corner of her sleeve. "I'm fine, I just… well, I have questions. Obviously." She glanced away for a moment, her voice softer now, laced with frustration. "I tried the library, but there's just never enough time to look through everything properly."
She bit her lip, clearly battling with herself over whether to say more. Then, with a determined little breath, she looked up. "I was wondering… would you mind answering a few of them? Everyone keeps saying 'you'll figure it out'—but I'd rather know things properly."
Cael watched her for a second, surprised. Hermione Granger, nervous? That was new. Maybe it was the first time she'd asked help from someone her own age, he thought. Either way, the nervousness didn't quite suit the Hermione he'd seen answering every question in class without hesitation.
Cael's smile grew. "Ask me, then."
Hermione's shoulders dropped, just a little. She sat cross-legged on the rug, setting her books beside her.
"Okay," she began. "First — how does the portrait hole open? I know it's magic, but how does it tell who belongs? And… do people really get lost in the staircases? And is Quidditch as dangerous as it looks?"
Cael chuckled quietly, leaning forward. "One at a time," he teased, but his tone was kind. "The portrait hole listens for the password, yeah? But it also remembers faces—well, the Fat Lady does, mostly. She's chatty, once you get to know her. So strangers get a hard time even if they overhear the password."
Hermione scribbled notes in a tiny notebook. "She ignored me when I asked her that in my first week of studies."
"She's not fully… alive," Cael explained. "Think of it like a painting with some memory. Like a video — it shows what's recorded, but doesn't think for itself."
Hermione's eyes brightened. "So, portraits are like copies of the real person. But only parts of them."
"Exactly," Cael said with a small nod.
"And the staircases?"
"They move when they feel like it. You'll get lost sooner or later. Usually you end up outside the kitchens or somewhere weird."
Hermione smiled now, her nerves fading. "And Quidditch?"
Cael laughed. "It's dangerous. But it's brilliant. You should come watch — Katie made it to the team today and it's a fun game to watch ."
Her eyebrows lifted. "Katie Bell? I met her sometime ago —she seems nice."
"Nicest you'll meet," Cael agreed. "She'll have you watching from the stands in no time."
Hermione hugged her knees to her chest, smiling faintly now. "Thank you… most of the older students have been a bit… intimidating."
Cael shrugged modestly, eyes gentle. "First year's overwhelming enough without everyone acting like they invented magic, yeah? If you've got questions, just ask me."
Hermione's face brightened at the offer. "I will. Promise."
They sat in lounge and talked to each other well mostly Hermione Asking and Cael patiently answering .