A/N I couldn't remember if the bouncing charm used on Malfoy was given a name so I pulled one of a English to Latin translator page. "Salirus!"
(A/N my spell levels, tentatively: incindio, incindios, infernio, inferius, incineratum [post-grad level])
Chapter six: Casting Duplicity
Darrin awoke the next day after a dreamless refreshing sleep. He was released from the nurses office after nurse Beckett had inspected his arm and was sure it was mended properly.
"Still seems a bit springy though, so be careful" she cautioned as he left for breakfast. He hurriedly stopped at his dorm to pick up his old wand, since as of yesterday his had gone AWOL, and continued on his way.
Darrin and Terth passed breakfast in the same way this morning, quietly and hurriedly reviewing Charms notes. Clarius was sitting quietly nearby languishing for attention.
His first class passed in a blur of nerves as he anticipated his dismal performance on his Charms test Darrin rarely did test well even though he studied just as hard as Terth did. Darrin never knew why he didn't test well; he could cast fairly complex magic at the drop of a hat (mugglus confundus!) It seemed somehow knowing he had to do it in advance made him nervous, he kept thinking about how he really shouldn't be able to do magic at all.
As it turned out the Charms test was fairly simple. Cast three separate charms on the test object, (a pillow) and be graded on how well the charms performed.
However making matters worse today's class was being observed by both Headmistress Saowynn and Instructor Torries, so both Terth and Darrin considered themselves doomed.
As luck would have it Terth was called upon first to take the test.
Charm one was a levitation charm, (Instructor Drake always seemed to throw in one basic spell but nobody knew why) this Terth managed only shakily, but it was enough to get him passing marks. The second charm was a hopping charm, Terth was almost in the clear but he later said he thought Instructor Torries smiled at him and the result was an odd pulsing effect that made the pillow look like a plush beating heart. By the third charm Terth's nerves were shot and even though it as a rather basic 2nd level fire charm his still pulsing pillow only managed to puff smoke with every beat.
Several other students went with varying degrees off success. Only Marvin Steinwick managed to produce a worse result than Terth. He performed the tasks so rapidly, that he managed to confuse their order and sent a flaming pillow bounding towards the headmistress. Much to Marvin's relief she merely sighed, pulled out her wand and gave it a dramatic flourish.
"Ater Fossis Phocus!" At which a strange bubble appeared around the flaming pillow and it simply winked out of existence- the space around it having covered it up like a blinking eyelid.
Small gasps issued from the students in the room, none of them had ever seen or even heard of that spell.
"Ah, quite impressive," praised instructor Drake "Class that was one of the ancient charms, one that due to its complexity is rarely ever seen anymore, at least below post-graduate studies"
"You're too kind instructor" Said Saowynn nodding politely.
"I only praise those who earn it, Marvin! Study harder! Ah, whose next? Darrin, you're up!" continued Drake not letting even the most impressive of ancient magics interrupt his testing.
Darrin moved forward clutching his old wand nervously. It had be almost a year since he had even touched it and he wondered if it still worked. He was worried if he could still use it, it had always been a bit touchy.
He thought for a minute whether he should mention the loss of his other wand to the instructor, then he remembered that the staff knew already. He would just look like a fool fishing for an excuse, so, steeling himself he approached the newly conjured pillow.
"Levioso" he said pointing the slightly dusty wand at the pillow. It floated gently into the air, Darrin sighed in relief. However before he could finish feeling relieved, a strange ripple flashed beneath the pillow and it shot up to twice the floating height as the others had managed.
"Good concentration Darrin!" congratulated Drake "Even the most basic spells can be made better by putting more mental push behind them" he explained to the class. "I bet some of you were wondering why I was testing you on such a simple spell in third year, I wanted to see if any of you could do just that" he said indicating the floating pillow "Take a spell you've known for so long and put more into it for better results!"
"Next Darrin," Drake said putting the pillow back onto the table with a flick, no, make that two flicks of his wand.
Darrin, somewhat more unnerved for the odd way his old wand seemed to be performing so much better, attempted the second charm.
"Salirus" The pillow leapt buoyantly into the air. Without warning though, at the top of its arc it seemed to gain a second wind, bouncing upward again from the middle of thin air. It continued this odd invisible staircase pattern for a moment before Drake spoke.
"Excellent Darrin!! I have never seen this spell taken to such a level!"
In fact even Saowynn looked impressed. Terth was watching open mouthed, but went back to staring red-faced at his feet when Instructor Torries glanced at him
"Continue please," Said Drake, and with some effort he subdued the boisterous cushion.
"Of course instructor" Darrin said not much caring why his spells happened to be coming out so well, perhaps his old wand had always been better and he just never realized.
"Incindios!" He commanded, the pillow popped into orange flame, and a second later, exploded into a fierce some fireball. (A/N down pillow, picture a duck getting hit with a rocket.)
"Good show!" Drake congratulated Darrin "And 20 points to Weirden ward!"
At that the bell sounded and the students filed out into the hall,, Terth jogging up to Darrin.
"How the heck did you cheat and why didn't you help me?!"
"Calm down Terth, I have no idea what I did different this time, it just happened that way"
"Right you're suddenly just the next Merlin…."
"I mean it!" He said drawing his old wand as they walked to Divination "Watch this, Lumos!"
And his wand tip glowed brightly for a second and then proceeded to put out more light than a road flare. Several nearby students groaned as they covered their eyes
"Show off!" yelled Marvin as he turned into the hallway that led to his ward room.
Divination went as boring as usual; Bosley's inhumanly monotone voice not helping matters. Only the anticipation of lunch kept students from dying of sheer boredom. Darrin and Terth met up with Clarius at lunch. After explaining the events of the day to Clarius the three went back to their dorm to test Darrin's new found skill.
They arrived discussing how to test Darrin best when they were interrupted for a moment by Clarius' eagle Lorre swooping in through the door as they entered.
"Reply from your marauders?" asked Terth.
"Sorta, my mom asked me to send one to her sister, this would be the thanks from my mom." He untied the note from his eagle's leg and told it to wait on his bedside perch for an eagle treat.
"You sent one to your own aunt?" Terth said unbelievingly.
"Yeah, she's the black sheep of the family and deserves it pretty well, besides who'd you send one to?" Clarius countered.
"Who told you I sent one?"
"Darrin told me you sent an anonymous eagle, it was obvious…"
"Darrin!" However Darrin had buried his face in a book as soon as they had walked into the room and was not listening to Terth's protest.
"Ah, good idea" said Clarius noticing the book in Darrin's hands "That should have something we can use as a test"
Darrin began speaking as if he had seen and heard nothing since walking in.
"All right each of you hex me, as strongly as you can, I'll cast uh… "He flipped through the pages of Clarius' Defense against the dark arts book "Protega, yeah that looks easy enough."
"Uh that's kinda tricky" said Clarius "you might want to try something else"
"Of course not "chirped Terth "remember he's the next Merlin!"
"Terth…" Darrin placated
"Anyway cast a hex you know the counter to just in case he does this right" said Clarius
"Why Clarius?" asked Terth.
"Trust me" asserted Clarius.
"Alright I think I got it, you guys ready?"
"Let's do this!" Said Clarius
Simultaneous cries of Protega, Wartus, and Petrificus filled the room. As the Sprays of sparks from his friends wands soared towards him Darrin saw a sort of glowing bubble appear around him, followed by a second layer. Terth's Wartus curse reflected off the first shield (which disappeared under the strain) and hit Terth in the chest knocking him onto a bed with a thump. Clarius' Petrificus bounced back at its caster but Clarius had been ready, he did a shoulder roll and the hex passed him by striking instead his Eagle Lorre on his perch. He froze instantly in place, until he swung around to hang upside down by his petrified feet.
"Well that was interesting." moaned Terth pointing his wand his chest and muttering an unsuccessful counter hex. "Better help Lorre, Clarius"
"No way, he'll peck me to death for sure after that, I'll take him to instructor Torries for help. Or maybe you could take him… She could help with those warts too. Or would you be too embarrassed to take of your shirt in front of her?"
"Can it Claire…" Terth threatened, using Clarius' least favorite nickname.
"Cut it out guys, what the heck happened there anyway?" Darrin interrupted.
"I dunno, did you mean to cast two shields?" asked Clarius.
"No, it just happened" Said Darrin Blankly.
"Exactly, it just happened twice, because you're holding two wands!" Came Clanker's explanation
"Hang on I think I have an idea" said Darrin out loud.
Clanker knowing this was his cue, continued his explanation "You see when you were in trouble with the muggle before, I er… tried to help and well I kinda…"
"Screwed up?" suggested Darrin
"You could say that, but it did work out, albeit with some side effects"
"You can say that again- but wait does this mean that… hold that thought Clank, watch this" he thought.
"Hmmm…" He said aloud again, placing his old wand down on a nightstand beside him. "Stand back"
He raised his empty hand, pointed to the book he was leafing through earlier and said:
"Levioso!" The book rose several inches in the air.
Terth and Clarius gaped, awestruck at the feat. Wand less magic was impossible, at least at their age and difficult for even the most wizened of wizards.
"Guys, I don't think I broke my arm after all …"
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Well whaddaya think? For the curious instructor Bosley is inspired by one of my history teachers (go figure.) The black sheep aunt is also inspired by a real person, whom I would send an MBM to if I had one. Clanker had attempted a similar spell to the one he botched upon his own death, but with less fatal results. Clarius nickname is obvious but it should still be annoying enough to make him twitch. Heh heh heh.