Summary: Teaching students the darkest of spells is a specialty to Amycus. 1997/1998 School Year.
Rated: T
Genre: General
Warning Tag: N/A
Fyre Lesson
Amycus Carrow marched down the narrow aisle between the desks that barely cleared his torso in height. Once he reached the front of the classroom, the stocky wizard turned swiftly to face the seventh year students sitting before him. The room was deathly quiet, knowing it was the best method to stay out of trouble, yet very few made an effort to hide their fear behind stoic masks as they gave their professor their undivided attention.
Amycus gave them a crooked grin for their obedience.
"For today's lesson on the Dark Arts, I will demonstrate one of my personal favourite spells," he said.
He shifted to stand beside the table, where a large glass bottle, a piece of cloth, and a cork was laid out. Amycus grabbed the cloth and bottle. "Unfortunately all fire requires a fuel source. Ever-Burning Cloth works quite well."
The cloth fell into the bottle with ease, Amycus then placed the tip of his wand just inside of the bottle's neck. "Behold."
With an utter under his breath and quick movement and flick of his wand, fire slowly seeped from his wand and into the enchanted bottle. The flames twirled inside its cage a moment before Amycus ceased it's summoning and watched as a fiery snake formed inside. The creature let out a flaming hiss, circling the cloth before striking it. Had it been a real snake, the students would be witnessing the creature swallow the cloth, but instead its red-flamed body was fueled by it as it coiled around the life source.
The snake turned its flame-like head toward the exit then, sensing an escape. It hissed menacingly before striking at the bottle's neck. Amycus quickly corked the opening enough to contain the fiery beast, but enough to still allow air.
"Fiendfyre," he said, stroking the enchanted bottle delicately before looking back at his students. "It's a tricky spell to learn and control, yet it is a useful tool to unleash on the pathetic filth's homes and towns. Its cleansing strength is highly desirable. You will know if you are facing Fiendfyre by its ability to take the form of an animal like this one has."
Amycus pressed the cork further into the bottle, locking out all airflow to the near-molten snake inside. He knew the creature was attempting to generate more heat with the Ever-Burning Cloth in order to escape. The threatening hiss and attack from the snake were ineffective to the charmed items. "This fire is nearly impossible to distinguish once it gets ahold of a fuel source, though as it always needs a fuel source to continuously burn, if you cut off its air…"
The snake tried to attack the cork again, desperate to regain its airflow. The flames that licked over its back dulled, the embers that formed in its belly and around the cloth darkened to a deep red as the flames started to disperse from the coiling body. The students watched in silence as the sentient fire-snake slowly suffocated and simmered out before their eyes.
"As all fire lives and burns with those two energy sources, Fiendfyre behaves the same. Snuff out one, it will surely die out," Amycus explained, gesturing to the bottle with the slightly singed cloth only remaining behind.
The Slytherin students that sat in the front row were particularly interested in today's lesson, and two perked up and leaned forward with genuine interest. Amycus felt the corner of his lip twitch with delight.
"Now, who would like to practice first?"
Originally written for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Word Count: 585
Originally Written: April 2019
