CHAPTER THREE - A DIFFERENT KIND OF MAGIC
Hermione groaned.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry looked at her as they sat for breakfast.
"It's just the schedule. We're still with Slytherin for Care of Magical Creatures and Potions." Sighing, she put her schedule away. "Oh yeah, and Ron? Our very first class, to be held in exactly one hour, is Defense Against the Dark Arts. " Ron merely nodded as he tucked into another heap of sausages.
"With all the trouble we get into, you'd think we wouldn't need to take this subject." Harry joked as they made their way up the stairs to class.
"I wouldn't say that, Harry. What with Voldemort back and ." Hermione trailed off as Harry looked at her pointedly. "It was a joke, Hermione. As if we need reminding of the fact the most evil wizard alive has returned and is probably going to wreak more havoc than he did before. But it's not gonna do any good if we obsess on it, now, is it?"
In a very small voice, Hermione apologized. "Sorry, Harry. I guess I get too serious about everything all the time. "
"I'm sorry, too, Hermione. I didn't mean to snap at you. I know you're worried. So am I, so is everybody. But it won't do any good to get worked up about something we can't fix. If and when the time comes to do something, we will. "
Ron piped in, "And if you two don't get a move on, we're gonna be late for class."
"Omigosh! Ron Weasley worried about being late! Quick, Harry, call up Mungo's, he's finally cracked!"
"Very funny, Hermione." Ron tried looking stern but with Harry and Hermione looking at him as if he had really gone mad, he couldn't help laughing. Their laughter rang in the corridors all the way to class, while passerby's looked on, amused.
Professor Seraphim walked in, clad in rather form-fitting crimson robes. Her hair was piled on top of her head with little curls escaping from the sides, simple, unaffected but still very, very attractive. She wished them a good morning then proceeded to read out their names from a register.
"Nothing like Snape, is she, Harry?" Ron whispered while his eyes remained glued to the front.
As he compared Seraphim's calm, yet cheerful demeanor with Snape's sour and often foul, moody countenance, he had to agree. Yet there was some sort of resemblance in the jet-blackness of their hair and eyes, the slight hook in Seraphim's nose wasn't as pronounced as in Snape's but it was there and their self-assuredness, the almost serpentine grace in her movements, fluid, sleek yet rather, Harry couldn't think of a better word to describe it, slinky. Brother and sister had things in common but they weren't easy to spot.
"So as not to confuse me with my brother, you may address me as Professor Seraphim. It would get confusing to have two professor Snape's." Her eyes were full of merriment as she spoke though her face was unsmiling.
" Well, from what I've gathered, you've learnt a good deal about defense against dangerous creatures and even, forbidden curses? Not conventional in any syllabus but good common sense on the part of Dumbledore. It's best you're prepared to deal with anything and I am here to teach you a branch of magic that is considered dangerous in some quarters."
Intrigued by her last sentence, the class was silent in anticipation of what she would say next.
"I am here to teach you to cast spells, hexes, thing you'd normally do with wands but with one thing missing. Your wands themselves."
Hermione shot up her hand.
"Professor, if we can do magic without them, why do we have wands in the first place?"
Seraphim cocked her head to one side, looking appraisingly at her.
"Very good question, Miss Granger. Excellent, even."
Hermione was trying hard not to look pleased but failed miserably. Instead, she listened eagerly for Seraphim's answer.
"Now, contrary to what some in the magical community would have you believe, all of us, even who you consider absolutely non-magic, meaning Muggles, have some sparks of magic. What makes a wizard or witch is a natural ability to channel the magic that we have into actual physical reality. Wands help us focus that channel on a precise point, object or person."
Walking right up to Ron, she picked his wand up from his desk and handed it to him.
"Put this away. All of you, do so with your wands. At least for this lesson, Mr. Weasley. I assure you, you won't be needing it." As she turned away, Harry noticed Ron's ears threatening to turn as red as his hair. He wouldn't have been surprised if Ron vowed later never to clean his wand again.
"With wands, wizards are more or less equal. Anyone can perform a spell but what makes a person quicker to grasp the mastery of it is only by the difference in personal attributes such as intelligence or sheer, dogged repetition. Even those who call themselves Squibs can learn to do spells and usually do once they've acquired the confidence or the willingness to make the extra effort. Take the wands away, then you've got the true measure of a wizard."
She paused as she spoke, looking at each one in turn. Harry felt cold as she looked at him, as if she could look right down deep into his soul and see everything he thought and every emotion besides.
"Now don't be afraid. I'm not here to judge you. It's a fact of life that there are some wizards more powerful than others, like some are taller, shorter, skinnier - accept that. Just believe that all of you have some ability to do enough magic to protect yourself if you were to be caught without a wand or have it lost or broken. I wasn't chosen to go to Hogwarts early because I was particularly smart but because my magic abilities had come too soon, too quick and I had to learn to reign it in before I hurt myself or anyone else."
A sort of sadness passed quickly over her face. It was over so fast that he might have missed it but Harry recognized that look, a look of deep and utter sorrow. He knew it because that was the same way he felt every time he thought of his parents, knowing that he would never see them alive. Now, however, her face was grave yet calm, betraying no emotion.
"Let's get started now, shall we. We'll start with the disarming spell. No, no wands here either. Pair up, one of you holding any object except a wand. Your partner will try to disarm you with the spell without a wand. It will feel unusual at first but persevere and you will get it. I will observe but feel free to ask questions as you try this out."
Harry and Ron teamed up while Hermione paired with Neville. Looking at Ron, Harry asked, "So, who first?" Ron shrugged. "I'll give it a go." Grabbing a book, Harry stood at the ready in front of Ron.
"Expelliarmus!"
Ron stared in disbelief as the book flew right out of Harry's hand, almost hitting Seamus in the head.
"Harry? Are you sure you didn't will that book out of your hand or something?"
Harry shook his head. He hadn't had a chance to even think of doing anything.
"That was too easy." Ron still couldn't believe that he had done it without feeling as if he hadn't put in any effort. It didn't stop him from trying it a couple more times, both having the same result but with a little more precision, the book only hitting Seamus when Ron willed it to the second time.
Harry gave it a go and found it just as easy as Ron though he decidedly had a little less control as to aim. Hermione wasn't finding it such an easy go. She had made five attempts, so far unsuccessful. Neville asked to have a turn, intending to give Hermione a rest. She (and a very, very, surprised Neville) watched as his first attempt saw the book sail out of her hand swiftly and land neatly on top of the teachers' desk.
"Well done, Mr. Longbottom!" Seraphim clapped excitedly. Neville stammered out a thank you, blushing all the while. Hermione, however, looked completely and utterly dejected. Noticing her disappointment, Seraphim walked over to Hermione, talking with her in a low voice and Harry saw the girl's expression change to one of mirth.
"C'mon, Neville, I need a partner." Resolutely, Hermione faced him.
Smiling, Neville picked up a small notebook. "No, Neville, hold this one." He was rather nonplussed when she passed him her thick Arithmancy textbook. "Expelliarmus!" Later, Harry mused that it was quite spectacular when the book shot up out of Neville's hands like a rocket, circling the classroom before landing with a loud thump on Ron's head.
"OWWWWWWWW! Her - Mi - O -Ne Granger, what the absolute heck did you do that for???"
"I think that's all for today's lesson, class." He may not have seen the laugh but Harry could hear it loud and clear in Professor Seraphim's voice.
Leaving the classroom, Harry and Ron pestered Hermione, curious to know what Seraphim had told her to prompt such a 'performance'.
"Well, she told me that when she started she had problems performing the spell as well and her brother a.k.a Snape was her partner so he was being such a git she imagined the chopstick he was holding up his nose. Let's just say he didn't find Chinese food very attractive after that session."
"Snape with a chopstick up his.that is priceless, Hermione." Harry had to take his glasses off to wipe his eyes, he had been laughing so hard.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind not doing so great in class if she shared such wonderful family stories with me." Ron chortled.
They then parted ways, Harry and Ron off to Divination while Hermione scooted off to Arithmancy, all feeling they had had a good start to the day.
Hermione groaned.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry looked at her as they sat for breakfast.
"It's just the schedule. We're still with Slytherin for Care of Magical Creatures and Potions." Sighing, she put her schedule away. "Oh yeah, and Ron? Our very first class, to be held in exactly one hour, is Defense Against the Dark Arts. " Ron merely nodded as he tucked into another heap of sausages.
"With all the trouble we get into, you'd think we wouldn't need to take this subject." Harry joked as they made their way up the stairs to class.
"I wouldn't say that, Harry. What with Voldemort back and ." Hermione trailed off as Harry looked at her pointedly. "It was a joke, Hermione. As if we need reminding of the fact the most evil wizard alive has returned and is probably going to wreak more havoc than he did before. But it's not gonna do any good if we obsess on it, now, is it?"
In a very small voice, Hermione apologized. "Sorry, Harry. I guess I get too serious about everything all the time. "
"I'm sorry, too, Hermione. I didn't mean to snap at you. I know you're worried. So am I, so is everybody. But it won't do any good to get worked up about something we can't fix. If and when the time comes to do something, we will. "
Ron piped in, "And if you two don't get a move on, we're gonna be late for class."
"Omigosh! Ron Weasley worried about being late! Quick, Harry, call up Mungo's, he's finally cracked!"
"Very funny, Hermione." Ron tried looking stern but with Harry and Hermione looking at him as if he had really gone mad, he couldn't help laughing. Their laughter rang in the corridors all the way to class, while passerby's looked on, amused.
Professor Seraphim walked in, clad in rather form-fitting crimson robes. Her hair was piled on top of her head with little curls escaping from the sides, simple, unaffected but still very, very attractive. She wished them a good morning then proceeded to read out their names from a register.
"Nothing like Snape, is she, Harry?" Ron whispered while his eyes remained glued to the front.
As he compared Seraphim's calm, yet cheerful demeanor with Snape's sour and often foul, moody countenance, he had to agree. Yet there was some sort of resemblance in the jet-blackness of their hair and eyes, the slight hook in Seraphim's nose wasn't as pronounced as in Snape's but it was there and their self-assuredness, the almost serpentine grace in her movements, fluid, sleek yet rather, Harry couldn't think of a better word to describe it, slinky. Brother and sister had things in common but they weren't easy to spot.
"So as not to confuse me with my brother, you may address me as Professor Seraphim. It would get confusing to have two professor Snape's." Her eyes were full of merriment as she spoke though her face was unsmiling.
" Well, from what I've gathered, you've learnt a good deal about defense against dangerous creatures and even, forbidden curses? Not conventional in any syllabus but good common sense on the part of Dumbledore. It's best you're prepared to deal with anything and I am here to teach you a branch of magic that is considered dangerous in some quarters."
Intrigued by her last sentence, the class was silent in anticipation of what she would say next.
"I am here to teach you to cast spells, hexes, thing you'd normally do with wands but with one thing missing. Your wands themselves."
Hermione shot up her hand.
"Professor, if we can do magic without them, why do we have wands in the first place?"
Seraphim cocked her head to one side, looking appraisingly at her.
"Very good question, Miss Granger. Excellent, even."
Hermione was trying hard not to look pleased but failed miserably. Instead, she listened eagerly for Seraphim's answer.
"Now, contrary to what some in the magical community would have you believe, all of us, even who you consider absolutely non-magic, meaning Muggles, have some sparks of magic. What makes a wizard or witch is a natural ability to channel the magic that we have into actual physical reality. Wands help us focus that channel on a precise point, object or person."
Walking right up to Ron, she picked his wand up from his desk and handed it to him.
"Put this away. All of you, do so with your wands. At least for this lesson, Mr. Weasley. I assure you, you won't be needing it." As she turned away, Harry noticed Ron's ears threatening to turn as red as his hair. He wouldn't have been surprised if Ron vowed later never to clean his wand again.
"With wands, wizards are more or less equal. Anyone can perform a spell but what makes a person quicker to grasp the mastery of it is only by the difference in personal attributes such as intelligence or sheer, dogged repetition. Even those who call themselves Squibs can learn to do spells and usually do once they've acquired the confidence or the willingness to make the extra effort. Take the wands away, then you've got the true measure of a wizard."
She paused as she spoke, looking at each one in turn. Harry felt cold as she looked at him, as if she could look right down deep into his soul and see everything he thought and every emotion besides.
"Now don't be afraid. I'm not here to judge you. It's a fact of life that there are some wizards more powerful than others, like some are taller, shorter, skinnier - accept that. Just believe that all of you have some ability to do enough magic to protect yourself if you were to be caught without a wand or have it lost or broken. I wasn't chosen to go to Hogwarts early because I was particularly smart but because my magic abilities had come too soon, too quick and I had to learn to reign it in before I hurt myself or anyone else."
A sort of sadness passed quickly over her face. It was over so fast that he might have missed it but Harry recognized that look, a look of deep and utter sorrow. He knew it because that was the same way he felt every time he thought of his parents, knowing that he would never see them alive. Now, however, her face was grave yet calm, betraying no emotion.
"Let's get started now, shall we. We'll start with the disarming spell. No, no wands here either. Pair up, one of you holding any object except a wand. Your partner will try to disarm you with the spell without a wand. It will feel unusual at first but persevere and you will get it. I will observe but feel free to ask questions as you try this out."
Harry and Ron teamed up while Hermione paired with Neville. Looking at Ron, Harry asked, "So, who first?" Ron shrugged. "I'll give it a go." Grabbing a book, Harry stood at the ready in front of Ron.
"Expelliarmus!"
Ron stared in disbelief as the book flew right out of Harry's hand, almost hitting Seamus in the head.
"Harry? Are you sure you didn't will that book out of your hand or something?"
Harry shook his head. He hadn't had a chance to even think of doing anything.
"That was too easy." Ron still couldn't believe that he had done it without feeling as if he hadn't put in any effort. It didn't stop him from trying it a couple more times, both having the same result but with a little more precision, the book only hitting Seamus when Ron willed it to the second time.
Harry gave it a go and found it just as easy as Ron though he decidedly had a little less control as to aim. Hermione wasn't finding it such an easy go. She had made five attempts, so far unsuccessful. Neville asked to have a turn, intending to give Hermione a rest. She (and a very, very, surprised Neville) watched as his first attempt saw the book sail out of her hand swiftly and land neatly on top of the teachers' desk.
"Well done, Mr. Longbottom!" Seraphim clapped excitedly. Neville stammered out a thank you, blushing all the while. Hermione, however, looked completely and utterly dejected. Noticing her disappointment, Seraphim walked over to Hermione, talking with her in a low voice and Harry saw the girl's expression change to one of mirth.
"C'mon, Neville, I need a partner." Resolutely, Hermione faced him.
Smiling, Neville picked up a small notebook. "No, Neville, hold this one." He was rather nonplussed when she passed him her thick Arithmancy textbook. "Expelliarmus!" Later, Harry mused that it was quite spectacular when the book shot up out of Neville's hands like a rocket, circling the classroom before landing with a loud thump on Ron's head.
"OWWWWWWWW! Her - Mi - O -Ne Granger, what the absolute heck did you do that for???"
"I think that's all for today's lesson, class." He may not have seen the laugh but Harry could hear it loud and clear in Professor Seraphim's voice.
Leaving the classroom, Harry and Ron pestered Hermione, curious to know what Seraphim had told her to prompt such a 'performance'.
"Well, she told me that when she started she had problems performing the spell as well and her brother a.k.a Snape was her partner so he was being such a git she imagined the chopstick he was holding up his nose. Let's just say he didn't find Chinese food very attractive after that session."
"Snape with a chopstick up his.that is priceless, Hermione." Harry had to take his glasses off to wipe his eyes, he had been laughing so hard.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind not doing so great in class if she shared such wonderful family stories with me." Ron chortled.
They then parted ways, Harry and Ron off to Divination while Hermione scooted off to Arithmancy, all feeling they had had a good start to the day.
