Charms, Switching, Broomsticks and Patronus

Tuesday morning had blossomed, and the leaves were blowing outside of the Ravenclaw Tower. The sound of Blackberry tapping on the window woke Albus from his dream. He sighed depressingly and put on his round glasses. Albus blinked a couple of times, and then quickly opened the window. His black Owl soared in from the window and landed on his four-poster bed. A letter was tied to his foot, just like last night. Albus stroked Blackberry, and then opened the door of his cage. Albus took off the letter and his Owl flew into his cage and started to dip her beak into the water.

Albus slumped onto his bed and opened the envelope. He noticed it was his dad's writing,

Dear Albus,

I don't believe that you would think we would disown you. I'm very glad that you are happy to be in Ravenclaw. I really hope you'll make chaser. The Thunderbolt will be coming in at breakfast. And yes, today I am giving a talk in DADA, plus something rather special. I'll be at Hogwarts soon, and I'll be watching you at the Tryouts. Don't be nervous.

Love Always,

Dad

Albus smiled. His father had always been very kind to things like this. Albus went to re-read his letter again when Jackson Gilmore, one of his roommates had gotten up, said hello, and then started to get dressed. Albus then noticed that three other roommates of his; Jamie Meyers, Dean James and Harrison Do also were up and getting dressed. Albus, looking at his watch, reached into his trunk and put on his shirt, tie, jumper and pants. By the time Albus was finished dressing up everyone in the room had left and in the middle of the room, stood Rose.

'Rose! You're not allowed in the boy's Dormitory. What if the other boys were getting dressed?' Albus said. Rose rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, and pulled him down to the Common Room.

'Let's go down for breakfast. Then, we'll get our timetables, but of course I already know what we have.' Rose said. Albus nodded, and then both opened the door leading to the Grand Staircase and started to walk down. When they were just on the 7th stair, the Stairs started to move and ended up at where the Gryffindor Common Room is. Albus and Rose looked at the Portrait of Gryffindor which said,

'Such a pity, such a pity, I thought I'll be getting the lot. But, you two had to ruin it.' The fat lady said. Rose rolled her eyes, and then Albus's worst nightmare happened. The portrait had opened and out came James, Andy and Molly. They stopped immediately when they saw Rose and Albus right in front of them.

'What are you doing here bird-callers?' James said with anger.

'James! Don't be mean, It's not their fault they're in Ravenclaw. And actually Ravenclaw's not a bad house.' Molly said. Albus and Rose grinned at Molly and started down the Staircase and stopped in front of the two large oak doors. Rose pushed it open and then both Ravenclaw's walked in and sat at the Ravenclaw table. Lorcan and Lysander were sitting in front of them.

'Hey guy's, how were the beds?' Lorcan said, eating bacon and toast.

'It was great actually' Rose said, and then both started to fill their plates with food. The food was just as good as last night, and now all the teachers were filing in. Albus looked from left to right looking at the teachers; Professor Simpson teaches DADA; Professor Mercedes the new Charms Teacher; Professor Switchy the Transfiguration teacher; Professor Handsome the Potions teacher; Professor Longbottom the Herbology teacher; Professor McCoy the History of Magic teacher and Professor Powell the Astronomy teacher, all talking rather happily.

Albus was looking at the wooden table until Professor Switchy, the Head of Ravenclaw House, started handing out their timetables. Albus looked at his schedule for today:

Charms

Charms

Transfiguration

Flying Lesson

Lunch

Defence against the Dark Arts

Albus and Rose were very pleased with today's lessons. They looked at each other's and saw that they were in the same classes for everything. Professor Bill Weasley was going to let them go, when 3 packages with Owl's on them appeared in the Great Hall. Two of the packages went to the Ravenclaw table and the last one to Gryffindor. The first package landed in Albus's hand and the next in Rose's. Albus and Rose looked at the Gryffindor table to see the last package was in James's hand.

Slytherin and Hufflepuff jumped to the Ravenclaw table, telling Rose and Albus to open it. Rose looked at Albus, and then together, opened the package. Everyone gasped when they saw two Thunderbolts in the hands of Albus, Rose and James. Even the teachers were coming to look at the Thunderbolt.

'Now, now everyone, off to class you go!' Bill said loudly. Everyone groaned, but took their books and headed out. James looked at Albus in amazement, then took his broom and books and headed out. Albus and Rose looked at each other.

'I knew I was getting one, but you?' Albus said.

Rose frowned. 'I'm trying out for Chaser. I told dad last night, and he said he'll send me one.'

'Dad told me he was sending me one too. I never knew you were a good chaser?' He said.

Rose raised her eyebrows, and then both headed to Charm's class.

Rose and Albus ran towards the class and had just seen the class heading in. Albus and Rose made it in time and sat at the front next to a Hufflepuff boy Rose had blushed at. Professor Mercedes walked to the front of the class and said,

'Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Professor Mercedes, and I am your Charms teacher. Today we will be learning the levitation spell. Now ─ Scorpius Malfoy, listen or you'll be heading to your Head of House. Anyway get out you wands and practise the wand movements; just like this. Swish and flick.'

Albus, Rose and the rest of the glass reached into their pockets and pulled out their wands and started the wand movement. Swish and flick. Professor Mercedes walked around the classroom and stopped at Rose. She looked at Rose's wand and said, 'Good for Charms, am I right?'

Rose, whose face was as red as her hair, nodded. Albus looked to his right and saw Scorpius and his friends laughing. Albus frowned, but started the movements once again.

'Now this time we'll be actually levitating.' Professor Mercedes said, and then waved her wand. Suddenly, feathers appeared on each of their desks. Everyone looked at it in amazement, but turned to Professor Mercedes.

'The incantation for this is, "Wingardium Leviosa", The Charms teacher said, 'Well, go on, go on.'

Everyone turned to their feather and started to say the incantation, except Rose and Albus. No one had gotten it yet; Rose put up her hand.

'Yes, miss Weasley?' Professor Mercedes said.

'Are we going to learn something harder?' Rose said, batting her eyes.

Everyone in the class stopped and glared at Rose.

'Are we Professor?' Albus said, backing up Rose.

Professor Mercedes frowned; Scorpius and his friends laughed.

'Try it then!' Scorpius said, laughing still.

Albus and Rose pointed their wands at their feathers, and both at the same time said, 'Wingardium Leviosa.' Everyone smiled and looked into the air except Malfoy and his gang; two feathers were hovering above all.

'Well done Rose and Albus,' Professor Mercedes said, 'I guess we'll have to learn something harder when you're in this class.

Everyone was still looking up, until the bell sounded and Professor Mercedes waved her wand once again; the feathers had all dissapeared. The first years stood up and packed their books into their book bag.

Professor Mercedes let them go and the class stormed out. Albus and Rose were the last one's out and were smiling.

'So, that went well. What do we have next?' Albus said, still laughing at the look of Scorpius's face when they had levitated the feather.

'We have Transfiguration with Professor Switchy.' Rose said, glaring at her timetable.

'Excellent, like Ollivander said my wand is great for Transfiguration.' Albus said, staring at his wand. Rose, who wasn't listening, bumped into Dean James, one of Albus's roommates. For a second Albus thought Rose's face was on fire. Dean, himself was blushing. Dean's brown hair had been spiked up and is light skin made him look more like Uncle Ron.

'Hi. I've got to go Transfiguration.' Rose said and walked off. Dean, smiled, and then walked in the opposite direction. Albus caught up with Rose, and trying to hold it in, laughed. She frowned and hit him on the arm.

'Young love, eh Rose?' Albus mocked her. Rose blushed, and continued hitting Albus. They both walked into Transfiguration and sat in the middle, next to Jackson Gilmore. Professor Switchy walked in; he was a young man, blonde hair and tanned skin.

'Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm your Transfiguration teacher, and am the best out of all.' Professor Switchy said. Everyone had laughed, and continued listening.

By the end of the lesson, Albus was the only one to change a pin into a matchstick. Albus was feeling really pleased, but Rose was upset, because her pin had changed, but the matchstick still had the pointy end.

'That's so unfair. Your wand is made for Transfiguration. Plus, I changed it too. Well, except the pointy end, but who cares about that. Do you care? Because I don't think Professor Switchy cared. But who would care. No! How couldn't have I not be able to change a pin into a matchstick? It's so simple. But I was only behind you a little bit . . .' Rose had started to babble. Albus was trying to block his hears.

'. . . and really who cares if I couldn't ─' Rose continued.

'Rose shut up!' Albus said, getting rather angry. Rose looked down while they were walking towards their next class: Flying.

'I'm sorry Rose, but can you stop talking for about five minutes?' Albus said. Rose smiled, and then started to giggle. Albus had thought she was laughing because of his remark, but Dean and his friends had walked by. Albus rolled his eyes and opened the large doors out to the Quidditch Pitch. Broomsticks were placed on the floor, but they were much older than Albus had thought: Firebolts. Albus had remembered his dad telling him about in his old school days, and he had owned a Firebolt. They were the fastest brooms then.

Everyone stood next to one, when everyone gasped except Rose and Albus.

'Look its Harry Potter! . . . Is he going to be teaching us?' squealed a small mousy-haired girl. Albus turned and like the girl said, his father was strutting down the oval and stood facing them.

'Dad, are you . . . are you teaching Flying?' Albus asked in hoping breaths.

Harry smiled at him and said, 'Hello son, and yes only for this year. Your Uncle Bill couldn't find one since Madam Hooch had retired last year.'

Harry came forward and hugged Albus. Rose cleared her throat and said, 'Hey Uncle Harry. Can't believe you're teaching flying. I think dad would have told you ─'

'Can we start the lesson or not!' Scorpius Malfoy said. He was laughing with his friends once again.

Harry looked up and shook his head slowly. He bent down to Albus and said, 'Don't worry about him.'

Albus nodded. Harry then stood up and walked in front of the class.

'Welcome to your first flying lesson. I'm Professor Potter, or just call me Harry since I'm only here for a year. Anyway, stick your right hand over your broom and say UP!' Harry said in exhausting breath.

Everyone did as he said and only Rose, Albus and Scorpius had their brooms fly up to them. By half-an-hour in the lesson, everyone's broom had been caught. Harry had told them to kick up from the floor, hover for a moment, and then touch back down.

Everyone had managed to do that except Jackson Gilmore who had rose a couple of inches and went back down. Just as Harry had told them to go a little higher, the bell sounded and made Harry grunt. Everyone pointed forwards on the broom and touched back down. They placed the brooms on the floor and said goodbye. Albus and Rose stayed behind, waiting for Harry, with his wand, made all the brooms vanish. He turned around and saw the two there.

'How are you son? Did you like the lesson. I think you both did very well and I know you's will get into the Quidditch Team. And now that I am referee, I can watch every game.' Albus's father said.

'Dad why are you the teacher? I thought you were an Auror?' said Albus.

'Of course I am, I'm doing both. I asked to do this job so I can watch you for this year, and to watch your games.' Harry said.

Albus and Rose nodded and gave Harry a hug. They walked off to eat lunch and to get ready for tryouts.

When Albus and Rose finished eating up, they both, with Albus's father, walked down to the Quidditch Pitch and saw a great deal of students in Blue and Bronze. Harry told them he will be in the stands watching.

Both Albus and Rose walked to the group of Ravenclaws and started to talk when a girl with blonde hair and white skin said, 'Hello fellow Ravenclaws, I m Rebecca White. I am your Quidditch Captain, and will be putting you in a few drills to see who will be our three chasers, two beaters and a seeker. Of course I am the keeper on this team. Anyway I want the people who will be trying out for Beater come forth and mount your broomsticks.'

Most of the students stepped forward and mounted their broomsticks. Albus and Rose gripped their Thunderbolts standing in the back. On the whistle that Rebecca blew, the students flew up into the air, holding bats and hitting the bludger. Half-an-hour later, Rebecca blew her whistle one more time and they came soaring down and stood up, sweating.

'I have declared the two beaters: Lorcan and Lysander Scamander.' Rebecca said pleased at having two very good beaters. Lorcan and Lysander stayed, while the other tryouts left. Next was to find the seeker. In the end it was their Prefect, Joseph Padalecki.

There was only seven people left, who of course would be trying out for chaser. Rebecca told them to mount their broom, Rose and Albus with their Thunderbolts. On the whistle Albus, Rose and many others kicked off the ground and flew into the air. The wind on both of their faces was brilliant. Albus and Rose where smiling at each other until the Quaffle bounced and landed into Rose's hands. Rose speeded off, with Albus on her side and scored through the hoops which were guarded by Rebecca.

Albus, seeing other people heading for the Quaffle zoomed downwards and just caught the Quaffle. Albus pulled his the Thunderbolt up and headed for the Goalposts. Aiming with the Quaffle he threw it right at the goals. Rebecca, with her broomstick, zoomed up. She thought she would of blocked it, but by inches the Quaffle got in. Albus could hear the cheers of his dad from the large stadium, and Rose who was flying past people with the Quaffle.

'Albus, CATCH!' Rose yelled. Albus turned his broomstick and saw the leather, scarlet Quaffle soaring through the sky and landed in his hands. Albus turned his broomstick and flew off towards the goalposts. He threw the Quaffle with his strength and once again the Quaffle got in. He smiled widely, when Rebecca blew her whistle and everyone pushed their broomsticks down and landed with care onto the green grass. Harry was cheering and so Lysander and Lorcan. Rebecca turned towards the try outing chasers and said,

'Well done everyone,' Rebecca turned to Rose and Albus with amazement, 'I have never seen such great flying. The new chasers are Rose Weasley, Albus Potter and Zac Montack.'

Zac, Rose and Albus grinned, but the bell rang, ending the Tryouts. Rebecca and the new Quidditch players walked into ht change rooms, leaving Rose, Albus and Harry on the Quidditch Pitch.

'Well done, the both of you! That was some of the best flying I've seen. Better than your mum, Albus. But don't tell her that.' Harry said.

'Thankyou Uncle Harry. Well, we better get ready for class. Are you in Defence today?' said Rose while tying up her flaming red hair back.

'No, not today, but my next flying lesson with you is on Thursday. And don't bother looking for me, because I don't stay here.' Harry continued, and then bent down and kissed both children on the cheek and left the Quidditch Pitch. Albus and Rose walked into the change rooms, and returned to their normal Hogwarts clothes.

Defence against the Dark Arts is next, and then Potions.' Rose said kindly in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Both had got their spellbooks, and were heading out the door, and to the third floor.

Students were lingering around every corridor; sixth years who have free periods. Albus and Rose were talking about Quidditch when Albus knocked into his beautiful Veela cousin, Victoire.

'Oh! I'm sorry Albus,' Victoire said, her Violet eyes scanning their faces, 'how is school going?'

'Great, well we're going to be late for our DADA lesson. See you around.' Albus said, and then trotted off with Rose up the stairs and opened the door to the Defence against the Dark Arts lesson.

Albus and Rose looked around in such amazement. The place was beautiful; dragon bones on the walls, pixies and what-not in cages, and many more stuff were filled up in the room. Their fellow Ravenclaws and the first years that were in Slytherin were already sitting in their seats listening to Professor Simpson. Once they walked in, everyone had glared at them. Rose and Albus, blushing, walked over to two free seats at the front.

'Well, you's must be Rose and Albus, am I right? Well of course, who wouldn't know what a Weasley or Potter look like, eh? Well like I was saying ─' Professor Simpson started, but the Charms teacher, Professor Mercedes, had walked inside. She glared at Professor Simpson and took something from the table next to the door. Before she left Professor Simpson said,

'Today we're going to learn about Pixies─ actually no; today we're going to learn about Dementors.' Suddenly, Professor Mercedes stopped her long hair flying behind her. She turned her face and glared at Professor Simpson and frowned. All the students turned around to look at her, but Professor Mercedes had stomped off out the door, slamming it behind her.

Professor Simpson smiled, but looked back started at the class again.

'Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself; soul-less and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.' Professor Simpson said, squinting when talking about a Dementor.

Everyone in the room was shaking; even Scorpius and his gang.

'I know never has a first year produced a charm to repel a Dementor. The Patronus charm is a misty, white light that makes the Dementors flee. A corporeal Patronus, which is a Patronus that takes the shape of an animal, will chase down a Dementor and make it flee. But an incorporeal Patronus is just a white light which only slows down the Dementor. I am teaching you this because . . .' Professor Simpson said, but was looking at the door where Professor Mercedes had been.

'What's wrong Professor? What's with Professor Mercedes?' asked Damian Patil, the talkative boy in Gryffindor.

'She is sum─' Professor Simpson said, but dots had appeared on his palm. He stopped and suddenly they dissapeared.

'What was that Professor?!' Damian interrupted again.

'N-nothing Mr Patil, anyway whoever wants to learn the charm, and I'm telling you, you should or else─,' Professor Simpson started, but this time the dots were larger.

'Just come to my office at eight at night every Tuesdays, which means tonight, and we'll learn defence. Please come.' The professor said, but the bell had rung, and Professor Simpson put up a piece of parchment on the door. On the way out, nobody had signed, looking at the Professor as though he was psycho. Rose was about to leave when Albus pulled her to the paper. On the Parchment, every single one of their cousins (and Albus's brother) had signed the paper. Albus glared at Rose, and then both signed their names.

'You won't be sorry. They'll be here soon─' Professor Simpson started, but he had started to look pale and he ran up stairs and dropped to the floor with a thud. Rose and Albus looked at each other weirdly, and stalked out of the classroom. Once they put their spellbooks away, both of them went down to the Great Hall and, instead of going to the Ravenclaw table, walked to the Gryffindor and started at their cousins who were all in one group.

'We signed to learn defence tonight.' Rose said, while everyone at Gryffindor looked astonished at them.

'Us too, we all think something's going to happen at Hogwarts, and it will be to do with Dementors.' Louis said, eating the pork as though he's never eaten before.

'Uncle Harry, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron can do a corporeal Patronus. That will be awesome. I can't wait to see what animal mine is.' Molly said, looking at the bread rolls which looked very tempting.

'Don't get your hopes up. This is very tricky; I've only learned how to do an incorporeal Patronus. It takes a lot of energy.' Victoire said playing with her food.

'Sit here with us Rose and Albus.' Dominique said, but both had declined and walked off to Ravenclaw table.

Once they had eaten as much as they could, they, with their family, walked up to the third floor and into the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom. Inside was very mysterious and quiet. No one else had signed up to learn defence, so it was only the Potter and Weasley family.

Professor Simpson had came in from his office and walked down to the waiting clan.

'Welcome, welcome. Well, let's get started.' He said, and then flicked his wand and the entire table and chairs had vanished, giving them a much larger space.

'This spell is very tricky and I hadn't even learnt it 'till this year. But I know all of you's are very smart, yes indeed. Anyway, a Patronus is a kind of positive force, and for the wizard who can conjure one, it works something like a shield, with the Dementor feeding on it, rather than him. In order for it to work, you need to think of a memory. Not just any memory, a very happy memory, a very powerful memory… Allow it to fill you up... lose yourself in it... then speak the incantation "Expecto Patronum". Remember, make it a powerful memory, the happiest you can remember. Allow it to fill you up… Just remember, your Patronus can only protect you as long as you stay focused… Think of the happiest thing you can.' The Professor said in breath-taking words.

Everyone closed their eyes for a couple of seconds and on the count of three they all shouted, "Expecto Patronum".

None of them had an animal Patronus, but Victoire, Dominique and Fred were the only ones who had an incorporeal Patronus burst from their wands for a couple of seconds. Most of them had looked down and frowned.

'That was good, but try and think of something better. Much happier than you would ever dream.' Professor Simpson said.

Albus and Rose thought of when all of the family were together and of Quidditch. Once again on the count of three everyone shouted, "Expecto Patronum!".

This time an incorporeal Patronus burst from all of their wands except Victoire's. Everyone's light died down except Victoire's, which was an actual Corporeal Patronus. The white Bottle-Nose Dolphin jumped around the whole classroom.

'Oh my god, it's so cute!' Molly said and went to stoke the Patronus, but it too dissapeared.

'Well done Victoire! That was a very good, and cute, Patronus. Now one more time and then that's it for tonight.' Professor Simpson said and this time blew his whistle, but no one had raised their wands. They were out of energy from the last one, but Albus who was getting annoyed stepped forward raised his wand and shouted, 'EXPECTO PATRONUM.'

Everyone looked up to see a beautiful, white Raven burst from Albus's wand and fly around the classroom. Everyone smiled, and Victoire joined Albus saying, 'Expecto Patronum.'

The classroom was filled with a Raven and Dolphin dancing around in the air until Albus and Victoire had lost all of their energy and fell down.

'In any of my lifetime I have never seen an eleven year old boy produce a Corporeal Patronus and last for that long. Fifty points to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, just excellent, this will be good for when the D─' Professor Simpson said, but large boils appeared on his well-shaven face. He ran up to his office and screamed out, 'Goodnight.'

The Weasley's and Potters looked at the door Professor Simpson was, but looked at Albus who was smiling.

'You produced a Patronus! And it suits you, a Raven! Oh, you are so good I wish I could.' Roxanne said.

'I didn't know I could do it. I just thought of us all together . . . and then this happened.' Albus said pointing at the last remaining of the Patronus lingering.

'Well, you are very good. We should be going off to bed. Rose, Albus I heard you made Ravenclaw Quidditch Team. James and Molly have made it too. We'll see you on Tuesday. And I can't wait to beat you at Quidditch since I'm the Captain, and Head Girl.' Victoire said, and all left and went to their Common Rooms. On the way there, Rose didn't speak to Albus once and rushed off to the Girls Dormitory. Albus, who had lost a lot of energy by producing that Patronus, dressed into his PJ's and took out his wand. He pointed it and said, 'Expecto Patronum.' But nothing happened, not even a mist of white. He was probably out of energy. Albus looked around at the Boy's Dormitory and smiled. How could he have been scared to go to Hogwarts? This is one of the best places he has been. Albus took off his glasses and slipped into bed. The boy's dormitory faded away, and instead a white Raven was flying around singing perfectly in his dreams.