Lucky Charm

Hogwarts Subject for Puddlemere United: Charms

Task for Beater 1 (me): Write about someone's passion for the subject

For the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition, Round 2 for Puddlemere United.

Word Count without A/N's: 1,496

Prompts:

(word) light

(word) articulate

(quote) "The starting point of all achievement is desire." - Napoleon Hill

Tiny fifth year Ravenclaw Filius Flitwick knocked on Ravenclaw Head and Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Merrythought's door twice for his Career Advice Appointment.

"Come in!" Professor Merrythought said crisply. Her hair was greying and she was planning on retiring soon.

"Have you had any thought of what you would like to be when you graduate, Mr. Flitwick?" Professor Merrythought asked him kindly when he sat. "I have noticed your high aptitude in Charms. Perhaps an experimental charms worker?"

"I don't think I'd like a Ministry job, Professor." Filius said.

"Why not?" Professor Merrythought raised an eyebrow. "You'd be very successful."

"Professor, I've tutored someone in Charms for about three years now. I've always enjoyed the look on her face once she mastered the spells." Filius blinked tears from his face. "When she had that 'aha' moment, it made me feel proud. Do you think there are any opportunities for me to possibly teach Charms in the future?"

Professor Merrythought pursed her lips. "You did help Miss Meadows of Gryffindor, who made significant progress under your tutelage. Shame, what happened to the poor girl…she had lots of potential in my class, that one."

Amelia Meadows.

It was breakfast hour in the Great Hall, and a small redheaded girl wearing a Gryffindor tie approached second year Filius Flitwick at breakfast. He never had many friends. People would insult him because of his bookish tendencies and how short he was compared to everyone else. Most of the first years managed to tower over him. "Hello," She said shyly. "I saw your fliers around the school. So you're a tutor?"

Filius nodded. "I help people in Charms." He said. "What's your name?" He asked the girl.

"My name is Amelia," The girl introduced. "Amelia Meadows. I'm a first year. None of the charms work for me when I try them. The other girls call me a Squib…"

"You have to have some sort of magic to be accepted here, right?" He asked Amelia.

"Well, yeah I guess. I'm muggleborn, you see." She explained. "This is all rather new to me. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to even be here," She whispered quietly.

"Now, I'm sure that's not true. Professor Foresburn doesn't work with students one-on-one. He also expects them to get the spell on their first try, so no wonder you're doing so poorly. Do you know where the abandoned classroom next to Professor Dumbledore's is?" He asked her.

Amelia nodded, her red curls bouncing as she did so.

"Meet me there tomorrow at six o'clock, and we'll see what we can do," Filius told her.

"Thank you so much," Amelia said sincerely. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"Of course," Filius said.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Amelia tried for the tenth time that night. She let out a frustrated scream when nothing happened.

"It's all about being articulate," Filius told her. "Try it like this. Win-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa. Don't forget to swish and flick." (1).

"Okay, if this doesn't work, I'm done. Win-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa," Amelia said. "Swish, and flick!"

To Amelia's surprise and Filius's happiness, the feather slowly lifted into the air.

"I did it! I did it!" She squealed.

"I told you you'd get it eventually," Filius told her. He'd loved Charms ever since he was little, and he especially loved teaching people and helping them enjoy what he enjoyed.

Filius Flitwick and Amelia Meadows became the best of friends over time, despite their House difference and the fact that they shared no classes together. He found a method that she learned easily with, and he gradually helped her so she was in the top ten of her year in Charms.

His father taught him all that he knew, and he was happy to pass it on to Amelia.

His passion for the subject was burning. He cared for three things in his life: his family, Amelia, and Charms.

"You have to concentrate, 'Melia." Filius instructed. "Concentrate on what you want to summon. Accio," He said.

"Accio," She repeated, waving her wand with a flourish. "It didn't work." She said dejectedly.

"You shouldn't flourish it too much," He instructed her. "You'll get it soon, don't worry. You're getting so much better!"

"Accio!" She tried again, and Filius beamed when the pillow came soaring forward.

"What do you think you're going to do for Christmas, Filius?" Amelia beamed at him.

They were sitting at a booth in the newly made pub, the Three Broomsticks, simply talking and having a good time.

"You know it's OWL year for me, 'Melia," Filius sighed. "Study, study, study."

"Surely you can't just study all Christmas," Amelia pressed, drinking some of her Butterbeer.

Filius smirked at her. "It's what makes me a Ravenclaw and you a Gryffindor."

"I want to be an Auror someday," Amelia said to him. "Grindelwald won't defeat himself. I want to help in the battle. I want to be out in the front."

"You know I'll be worrying like crazy about you," Filius said to her.

Amelia laughed. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine, I promise."

Filius's heart raced as Amelia leaned towards him. Was she going to kiss him? He knew more about Charms than he ever would about romance. He was so short in height, he thought no one would ever even look at him. Amelia pressed his lips softly to his. He kissed her back gently. He was probably horrid at it. When she finally pulled away, she smiled. "I just had to do that. I have to use the bathroom. I'll be back in a flash."

Filius watched Amelia as she went, not believing what happened mere moments ago. He heard a crash. He looked around alarmingly, and noticed many other people did so.

The doors to the shop opened, and chaos broke loose. Filius didn't have to be a Ravenclaw to know that those men coming in wore Grindelwald's mark.

People were screaming and grabbing their family and friends. People who were of age grabbed their underage loved ones and Disapparated on the spot.

"AMELIA!" Filius yelled, making his way to the bathrooms.

Years of Charms practice helped him today. He sent fierce spells at any of Grindelwald's soldiers that got in his path to Amelia.

He knew his passion for Charms would come in handy.

It wasn't good enough.

"Oh my god, are those Grindelwald's soldiers?" Amelia's frantic voice called as she stepped out of the bathroom, whipping out her wand in fear.

"Amelia, you need to come with me, we need to get out," Filius breathed, relieved to see her safe and sound.

"We can't just leave everyone else here to suffer, Filius. We have to help them." Amelia said to him. "We have to…"

Those were the last words said by one Amelia Meadows as a green light hit her square in the chest. (2).

"AMELIA!"

'HOGWARTS FOURTH-YEAR MUGGLEBORN AMELIA MEADOWS KILLED IN HOGSMEADE ATTACK' was the header of the Daily Prophet the next day.

Amelia was the only Hogwarts student killed. The rest of the students managed to escape. She had a circle of friends in Gryffindor, but Filius was the one hit the hardest, as he knew her best.

She kissed him before the attack. He would never feel her soft lips ever again.

The attack changed his career plans. Filius was thinking of a Ministry Career in Charms, but now he realized he loved teaching.

He didn't want his last memory of teaching Charms to be a sad one. He loved the subject dearly.

He didn't want it to be Amelia.

He always enjoyed the look on her face when she mastered the charm. He wanted more people to have that look on her face, but he knew he couldn't get too close to them.

Amelia was his mistake. She was his lucky charm.

He secured his plan.

Professor Merrythought pursed her lips. "Professor Foresburn is getting a little old, Mr. Flitwick," She finally said. "You will have to take a teacher internship course, but it is very much possible that you can potentially be Hogwarts' new Charms Professor."

"Really?" Filius squeaked in excitement as this was now something he really wanted to do.

"Remember," Professor Merrythought said. "The starting point of all achievement is desire. Is this something you want to do?" (3).

"More than anything," Filius confirmed.

Professor Merrythought smiled. "In that case, I'm not quite too worried about your grades. You have an absolutely perfect score in Charms. I say go for it."

"Thank you, Professor." Filius said.

"Mr. Flitwick?" Professor Merrythought called.

"Yes?" Filius asked her.

"She was a great girl, Miss Meadows." Professor Merrythought said.

Filius nodded, a sad smile on his face. "She was. That's why I intend to honor her by passing down my knowledge and interest to future Hogwarts students."

"You'll do well," Professor Merrythought whispered as Filius closed the door.

A/N: That's a wrap for Round 2 :) I hope you enjoyed it! I admit Amelia is of my own creation, but I love playing with characters that aren't really expanded upon in canon such as Filius Flitwick xD Thanks to our team's wonderful Beater 2, Pete (petethehotdog), and our lovely Seeker, Lin (Marvelgeek42) for looking over my story :)

Footnotes: two, one for each prompt used.

Please R&R :)

-Ana