I DID IT. I DIDN'T THINK I COULD DO IT BUT I DID.

Sorry, minor freak out there.

/ahem/

Written for...

Charms over at Hogwarts!

Words without AN: 500

I know it was the limit. (we've got an overachiever over here, people)

.,.,.,.,.,.

Rose held him by the wrist as she practically stormed into the thickly populated classroom. Albus had long since conceded to her forceful grip, and was thus dragged along.

Not a second had they been there, they were approached by Alice, a fragile-looking girl who they'd known since childhood. She tugged at her flaxen hair, eyeing them with wide blue eyes.

"Where have you guys been?"

Rose gave her a tight smile. "Got a little bit off track on our way here, no problem."

"Well, at least you weren't late on the first day of school." she whispered, returning to her seat with an almost startling quickness as if her feet scarcely touched the floor.

They both took seat at the front, Rose sternly directing him to her left so she didn't have to sit next to the blond boy who didn't even bother to spare them a glance.

"All right students, I am Professor Regan and today..." the dark-cloaked witch went off on a long speech about opportunities and the importance of Charms in everyday wizarding life. Albus almost missed when she finally said, "Now, we'll begin with a simple spell. Wingardium Leviosa, the levitation spell."

Rose grinned, her wand already out. Her eyes were fixated on the professor. "I read about this— you just need to..."

"Swish and flick." they both said at once, grinning madly.

Albus, on the other hand, turned a ghastly white. He hadn't been expecting them to do magic on the first day!

The bubbly professor waved them on frantically.

Rose, though she claimed to have read about it, had a difficult time with it. Her carmine locks fell into her eyes, but she didn't give any notice. The spindly wand trembled in her grip as her knuckles paled.

If she had a hard time with it, his attempts were sure to be disastrous. "I—I can't do it!" he sputtered, staring at the single white feather laid on the tabletop.

"You haven't even tried," she snapped, blowing the curl hanging infront of her right eye with a sharp puff.

"But... but—"

"It's the first day of school, if you fail, nothing's stopping you from trying it again." she assured him, still focused on the feather that refused to budge.

He wasn't comforted. "You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" he squeaked, swallowing in an attempt to dislodge the lump in his throat.

When she didn't respond, his focus returned to the feather, his wand trembling in his less-than-firm grip.

"Win—wingardium...Wingardium Levio—sa!" he croaked, slashing his wand downward.

The whole class was escorted outside quickly, coughing as the thick smoke filled their lungs. The professor turned to him slowly, a brittle smile on her thin lips.

"Well, you know what they say— if at first you don't succeed, try try again. Right?" she nodded curtly, not waiting for an answer. "All right, let's get you all to the hospital wing. You too, Longbottom."