Chapter 12

Lacartes

Harry decided that he's going to ask professor McGonagall after class, if he could get permission from her. Therefore, he endured the lesson, until the bell rang. Ron and Hermione headed for the door but then they realized that Harry wasn't with them.

"Harry? Aren't you coming?" Ron asked, looking at Harry who was standing next to the door and waiting for the class to empty. "No…I have to talk to McGonagall," he whispered to them, so they both headed to lunch. Professor McGonagall started writing on a piece of parchment; she didn't notice someone was still there. Harry cleared his throat, and she looked up.

"Oh…Mr. Potter…is there something wrong?" She asked, frowning at him. He walked to her desk and stood facing her.

"I…I was wondering if I could get a permission from you…to enter the restricted section" Harry felt he knew the answer, but he's going to fight her. "The restricted section? And why is that?" she said, still frowning. "Well…there's a book that I want to read…but I can't get it without permission," he said, just praying that she would say yes. "But I can't just give it to you, Mr. Potter" she said, "it would be inappropriate," "but professor…" Harry said, "I need it…what can I do so you would give me the permission?" he asked. "Well…I shall have to take some information about the book that you want" she looked at him, he looked back, he knew that his face showed what he was feeling now. He wasn't going to tell her anything about the ring, nor about the book. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, sensing the anger a bit. "No" he said, stressing it. He turned around and walked quickly towards his bag; he picked it up and headed for the door. "Mr. Potter…are you…?" she was saying, but Harry said, "Thank you very much" he whispered, as he walked faster and ran out of the classroom. He had a better idea to get permission.

"Come on Harry…we'll be late for class" Hermione said, as she and Ron waited next to the portrait hole. "Alright" Harry followed them as they headed for their potions class. Harry wasn't in the mood for Snape's lessons, but he had to endure the double-hour of potions. Everyone was waiting outside the door, apparently, Snape isn't there yet. "I wish he wouldn't come at all," Ron said, as he looked hopefully around. However, his spirits went down as soon as they saw Snape coming, ushering them all inside. "I want you all to write the ingredients down in your parchments, and start working on the Sungrease potion, you will find all the ingredients you need inside the store as usual" Snape sat down after these words, and all the class started to work.

The lesson was as awful as ever, Harry's potion was wrong (although Hermione tried to help him under her breath), and Harry had to endure Snape's comments to the class about him. Next, they had professor Deacon, who was waiting for them all to file in. "well…" he said, as soon as they all settled down. "Today we'll be practicing the Lacartes spell, who knows…uh, yes Hermione," he said, looking at Hermione, who raised her hand. "the Lacartes spell is one of the most advanced spells in the history of magic" she said, "it's believed to make the victim blind for a moment…until the spell is left off". Professor Deacon clapped for her, and soon the class followed. "Thank you Hermione…that was an excellent definition" he smiled at her. "Now" he continued, "who could tell me the exact word that we should say, when we want to cast that spell?" he asked, no one raised his hand except Hermione. However, Deacon didn't want to let her answer again, because he was looking on the other direction. "Who could tell me…maybe you Draco?" he said, as Malfoy jumped, surprised that he asked him. "Me?" Malfoy seemed to be confused, he didn't know the answer. "Well…um…Lacartes?" he said, uncertainly. "Correct" Deacon said, clapping to him too, and the class followed suit. Malfoy smiled, and Harry never seen him smile honestly before. "Thanks" he said, and then he sat down, feeling good. "Well then…now we all know what the spell does and the words too, and the last thing is the movement" he took his wand which was sitting on the desk and held it a little high so everyone could see it. He waved it a full circle anti-clockwise and then he jabbed it hard in the air. "of course you should say the words, but I'm just showing you all how to use it…now I want the class to be divided into pairs …come on" there was a mess, as everyone went to his friend or partner, or some were standing in the middle without any partners. When everyone had a partner, Deacon walked between the lines of pairs standing next to each others and holding their wands. "Now I don't want anyone to be scared…if anyone used this spell on you…you should know how to deal with it," he continued walking until he arrived to Hermione. "Will you try it with me please?" he said, as Hermione nodded and they both stood in front of the class. "now many students would scream or shout or faint because it's going to be a bit scary…you know…losing your sight in a matter of seconds" he smiled at them all, "but don't be scared, there's a spell that could bring your sight back, ok?" the class all said 'ok'. "right…now Hermione I'll cast the spell on you…then I'll explain how to bring it back and then I'll bring it back to you…so don't be scared if I didn't do it straight" Hermione nodded, bracing herself. "Ok" he raised his wand. "Lacartes" he said, as he waved the way he showed them moments ago. A jet of black light came out of the wand and hit Hermione in the eyes. When the light was gone, everyone stood and waited. Hermione had closed her eyes as he cast the spell. "Open your eyes Hermione" Deacon said, as Hermione stood there without moving. "Yes sir" she said, her voice shaking a bit. She slowly opened her eyes and then she screamed, "I can't see" she was extending her hands in front of her blindly. Parvati caught her and held her in her place. "It's ok Hermione…" Deacon said, "as you all have seen, you can't prevent your self from being scared no matter how much you embraced yourself..." the class stood silent, looking at Hermione, who was silent too. "Ok…now there's a simple way to restore her sight back to normal" he walked to where Hermione was and led her in front of the class again. "you will say the same spell and the same pronunciation…but you will do the wave clockwise, not like before" they all lessoned, he went next to Hermione and said, "Lacartes" but he waved his wand this time, clockwise. Hermione gasped and covered her eyes from the sudden sight. "So now, I want you all to try it in the class…but there's only one thing left…" they all turned to look at him. "I don't want you using that spell in the corridors, nor in other classes…because it's difficult and you might not be able to restore the sight" they all nodded and went to work.

Professor Deacon was right; Harry couldn't even make Ron's vision blurry. "come on" Ron said, as he started to get bored, "can't you concentrate on it" but it was too difficult, but surprisingly when he tried to concentrate on the move more than the spell itself, he managed to do it, or at least he knew from Ron's sudden scream. "Well done Harry" Deacon said, smiling and clapping for Harry, he and Hermione were the only ones who actually done the spell properly. "Can I have my sight back, please?" Ron asked, calming down. "Sure" Harry laughed as he did the counter spell and Ron got his sight back. "Thanks" he said, rubbing his eyes, and looking around as though he had never seen the class before. At that moment, the bell rang, and everyone filed out of the class, except Harry. He decided that he's going to ask for the permission from professor Deacon.

"Come on Harry" Ron said, "I'll be with you in a moment" Harry said, "I have to tell professor Deacon something" e