CHAPTER 32 - QUIRRELL
There were over a hundred staircases at Hogwarts, very few of which acted at all normal. Luckily for Harry, Neville and Hermione, Cedric's first class wasn't far from theirs and he gladly showed them the way while explaining this and many other eccentricities of the castle. Cedric left them outside the Charms classroom.
Professor Flitwick was of small stature that highlighted his goblin heritage. To even see over his desk, he had stood on a pile of books. At the start of class he took roll call, when he reached Harry, he let out an excited squeak and fell out of sight. Most the class laughed but Harry just calmly reminded him, "It's Harry Oliver, sir."
It took a moment for Flitwick to regain his place, longer to regain order, but once he finished roll call and began the lecture, his baring was very professional.
"Welcome everyone. Now, before I can begin to teach you any charms, we must first know what is a charm and how does this differ from what you will learn in, say, Defense or Transfiguration," Flitwick began his lecture. "Charms are a type of spell concerned with enchanting an object or person to behave in a way that isn't normal for them, yet does not actually change the object or person. Transfiguration changes the inherent nature of the object. Defense focuses on jinxes, curses, and hexes. You will also learn that many of the charms you will learn here can be useful in defense, and I tended to work rather closely with past Defense Professors on lesson plans. Don't be surprised if you find yourself called upon to use a charm I've taught you during your Defense lessons.
"Now, who can tell me the most important aspects of casting a spell? Miss Granger?"
"Pronunciation and wand movement, sir."
"Both are very important, yes," Flitwick agreed. "Five points, Miss Granger. But there is one more that is even more important. Mr. Po... Oliver?"
"Will, or intention anyway," Harry responded.
"Precisely, Mr. Potter. Oliver. Five points. The words and wand movements are to focus our will on our intentions. You can use perfect pronunciation and wand movements, it is nothing without the intention behind it. That is one reason why it is important to always know what a spell is meant to do before casting it. While you can receive adequate results from most basic spells simply by performing the correct wand movements and using the correct pronunciation without knowing the theory behind the spell, your results will always be better and easier with a true understanding. Also, the more advanced the spell, the less likely you are to have any success at casting without that understanding. You will also find that if the intent behind a spell is in direct conflict to your will, you will not be able to cast the spell. For example, if the intent of a spell is to cause harm and you are fundamentally against that, even if you try to cast in a fit of emotion, it will not work for you. Conversely, if you truly wish someone only harm and yet you try to protect them by casting a shield charm you've used uncountable times in your own defense, it will still fail over your lack of will.
"Now that I've given you something to think about, we will practice a simple color changing charm today. This is a good introductory charm as all you have to do is tap the object you wish to change, think of the color you want, and say Reformabit Hutesium." Professor Flitwick waved his wand and blocks of wood floated out of a cabinet and one landed before each student.
'Sounds easy enough,' Harry thought as he lifted his wand and tapped the wood block. "Reformabit Hutesium," he whispered without truly thinking about it, his mind more on Flitwick's lecture and comparing it to they styles he'd learned as a Ranger. His block turned white, matching his Ranger color. So did his desk, Hermione and Neville's blocks and desks, the floor around them, their robes... Their hair. Hermione and Neville were looking at him in shock. Harry did his best not to even smile at how humorous they looked with white hair. "Oops?"
Hermione laughed, Neville and then Harry followed. Soon the whole classroom filled with laughter. Professor Flitwick came over and cancelled the charm, returning them to normal and quieted the room. Once everyone else had returned to their work, Flitwick told Harry, "It seems you will need to work on limiting your spell work, Mr. Oliver."
Harry smiled, mostly at Flitwick getting his name right this time. "Sorry sir. I was thinking more on your lecture than the actual spell, just pictured the color instead of what I wanted that color."
"It is always good when someone can see their own mistakes. Do try again."
Harry focused this time and turned the block of wood, and only the wood, white.
"Well done, Mr. Oliver. Five points to Gryffindor. Do try other colors for the rest of class."
Harry made a face once Professor Flitwick turned away. He knew any other color would be more difficult for him since all Rangers was so connected to their own color.
Hermione got hers on her second try, turning her block a bright green.
"Hey, great job, Hermione," Harry said when he saw this. Hermione blushed as she looked into Harry's sincere green eyes - the same exact shade of green she'd just accomplished. After a few more tries, Harry managed the green of Tommy's armor. Seeing Neville still having trouble, Harry said, "Neville, what's your favorite color?"
"Favorite... I don't know," Neville responded.
"What's your favorite place to be then? Where you feel safest, the most comfortable."
"The greenhouses," Neville answered without hesitation this time.
Professor Flitwick looked over, started to call them on talking but stopped when Harry met his eyes and winked at him. Harry said, "Cool. You have a favorite spot in there, or favorite plant?"
"I like them all. But I planted belladonna last. This was the first year I got to see it bloom, and the black berries it produces. It came out so good, the apothecary is buying from us!"
Harry interrupted the description. "Can you picture those berries now, Nev? That deep, shiny black?"
Neville looked surprised for a moment, then nodded. At Harry's prompting, he took his wand and tapped his block. "Reformabit Hutesium," he said, speaking the words with confidence for the first time. The block turned glossy black. "Yes! I did it!"
"You did. Congrats, Nev."
"Thanks to you. You're a good teacher."
Harry smiled. Thinking of Tommy, he said, "I learned from the best."
"That's all for today," Professor Flitwick said, drawing everyone's attention. "Read chapter one and a scroll on the different color changing charms."
As they left the classroom, Neville asked, "What's next?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione answered.
Harry said, "Cedric said it's this way."
They quickly found the classroom and claimed their seats together. Harry was rather disappointed when Professor Quirrell began the lesson. Not only was it difficult to follow his stammering speech, that was obviously faked, the man wasn't even saying anything worthwhile. Instead, he was going on about how this would be his first year teaching defense and how he'd taught 'Muggle Studies' for years beforehand. He spent the rest of the class explaining what he used to teach!
Harry sighed in annoyance. Quirrell turned and met Harry's eyes, and Harry felt an immense stab of pain in his head. Not showing any sign of the pain, Harry shifted his gaze to break the eye contact, knowing enough from Rangering and mage studies to know eye contact increased power in many magicks. The pain lost intensity but didn't fade away for the remainder of class. Harry remained silent for the rest of class.
"That was ... an interesting insight on the wizardry world's ideas of muggle life," Hermione said as the headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
"His class was worthless," Harry murmured. "Don't ever meet his eyes."
Neville and Hermione stopped and looked at him questioningly.
"There's something wrong there," Harry warned seriously. "Just don't meet his eyes and don't every be alone with him."
Neville took in Harry's serious demeanor and immediately agreed.
"I'm sure he's fine, Harry," Hermione began. "Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't let him work here if he wasn't perfectly safe."
"He's not fine, he's not safe. I know. The Headmaster is just as human and as fallible as anyone else, Hermione. Even if he has the best of intentions, he can miss something just as easily as anyone else. Perhaps easier, if he's as convinced of his superiority as the authors seem to be."
When Hermione started to argue more, Harry smiled and said, "Please, Hermione? Even if I'm wrong, it won't hurt anything to be careful."
"Well, that's true. I'll be careful," she agreed, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
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