The days flew by for Ginny. Homework piled up inside her book bag, earning disapproving looks from Hermione. Their classwork became even harder but Ginny enjoyed it. Except for one class, that is.
"Alright class, today we will be practicing nonverbal spells. You are not allowed to speak during this time unless you have successfully completed the spell. Now, who wants to go first?" Professor Dingelberry asked with a large smile on her face. She glanced around hopefully but no one stepped forward. Slightly flustered, she finally began pointing to random students.
"You, yes you. No, the one behind you. Hmm, you'll do," she murmured to herself as she positioned the unlucky Gryffindors in front of a table. There was a single empty teacup in front of each student. "Okay, what I want you to do is try to transfigure your cup into a small bird without speaking," she instructed.
They were supposed to have learned this in their sixth year but practicing advanced magic had been forbidden because Voldemort had feared that they would use it against his Death Eaters. He was right to take such precautions because many of the students would have gladly put their studies to use in the fight against him.
The woman motioned for them to begin. Faces turning slightly purple, they concentrated hard on the spell, their wands pointed towards the cup. A few accidentally let slip the words from their mouths, causing Dingelberry to correct them sternly.
After quite some time, and still no one having achieved what she desired, the professor waved the first group away. "Well, anyone else want to have a go at it?" Ginny groaned as, once again, no one stepped forward. Dingelberry sighed and pulled a few Gryffindors out from the crowd. When she reached Ginny, the woman nodded with a smile. "Yes, I think you might try it now," she stated pleasantly.
Ginny grumbled under her breath but moved towards the table. Once the professor had a full table again, she instructed the new students to try the spell. Ginny could see her fellow housemates struggling to force the magic out and she swallowed hard. Well, here goes nothing.
Turning her full attention towards the innocent-looking cup, she aimed her wand and tried to visualize the spell in her mind.
Avifors.
The cup remained a cup. The Gryffindor frowned and tried again. This time, she imagined it transforming into a small blue bird.
Avifors!
Again and again she directed the spell towards the white cup but nothing seemed to happen. Her frustration now fully peaked and her face red from exertion, she mentally shouted the words and put all her might behind the spell. The teacup exploded on the table, sending shards of porcelain shooting everywhere.
Professor Dingelberry hastily drew out her wand. "Aresto Momentum!" The small, broken pieces stopped in midair, inches away from another student's face. He jumped back with a curse, shooting daggers at Ginny. The professor waved her wand again. "Reparo!" The small shards flew back together, forming a seamless cup once more.
"I think that's a good place to end class today. Your homework is to practice some nonverbal spells!" Dingelberry called over the sound of the ringing bell.
As Ginny heaved her bag onto her shoulder, she sent a dirty look towards the white teacup. I'll be seeing you later.
On her way out the door, Dingelberry stopped her to comment on her "accident."
"It's a nice start. It shows that you at least have the potential to harness your energy and direct it towards an object. Just work on controlling it some more, hmm? That's all. Hurry along now." Ginny smiled at her and hurried on, but inside she was sighing sadly.
You know this is advanced magic, so why are you so upset? she asked herself. Sure, Hermione figured it out after only a few tries during her own sixth year, but Hermione's the best at everything! Brightest Witch of her Time, she is. Nothing anyone else accomplishes can hope to compare to her record, save for Harry of course. She's always the first to do everything.
Stop it already, she suddenly scolded herself angrily. A pity party won't help you learn nonverbal spells any faster, so shut up and start studying. Besides, I think I'm late for Charms class.
Later that night, Ginny sat on the couch in front of the crackling fire in the common room. In her lap was her copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration. She had been practicing nonverbal spells the entire afternoon but had not improved in the slightest.
As much as I hate to admit it, I could really use Hermione's help right about now, she thought with a sigh. If only she wasn't holed up in the Head Boy and Girl's room. She mastered this stuff two years ago, so surely she would know what I'm doing wrong. Hmm, I wonder if I've gotten any better at Disillusionment charms.
With a mischievous grin, she slammed the book closed and placed it on the cushion beside her. Springing up, she pulled out her wand and twirled it around herself. The feeling of cold egg yolks flowed down over her skin. Shuddering in disgust, she held out her hands in front of her and examined them critically. Only the faintest outline could be seen when she wiggled her fingers. Pleased with herself, Ginny tucked her wand into her robe before dashing out of the common room.
It was silent in the deserted corridor and bitterly cold. I should have grabbed a thicker robe, she thought with a shiver. Rubbing her transparent arms, the Gryffindor glanced down the hall. Nothing but thick, solid blackness met her curious gaze.
To be honest, all the stillness was making her uneasy. Growing up with six older brothers had made her virtually immune to ear-shattering noise but it had also made her more vulnerable to quietness. Add in the memory if being all alone in a dank, moldy chamber, and Ginny had the perfect recipe for a phobia of the dark. That was why she thrived on being in the thick of things. There was no room for loneliness there.
There was no one with her now, though.
"I don't need anyone," she whispered to herself. "All I have to do is stroll on over to the Head Boy and Girl's dorm. I'm sure Hermonie will walk back with me. Nothing to fear. Nothing at all." Her confidence bolstered by that little pep talk, Ginny pointed her wand at the darkness and gave it a flick.
"Lumos."
The tip glowed silver-white, casting long shadows ahead of her. It was strange seeing the light abruptly appear out of supposedly no where. Swallowing hard, the Gryffindor began to shuffle forward.
Before long, she was cursing transfiguration, Hermione, little white teacups, and everything else under the sun. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered under her breath. Pausing to lean against a portrait of a snoring old man sitting at a table, Ginny imagined the teacup exploding again and again. If she focused all her anger and frustration on it, there would be no time to feel the tiniest bit scared—or so she told herself.
It's only Hogwarts after all, she thought with a strained laugh that echoed down the hall. What could happen here? Certainly nothing that involves Petrifying basilisks, rampaging Death Eaters, creepy Dementors, howling werewolves, or mischievous poltergeists, she answered herself wryly.
