Which spells should I learn?
These were Nicci's thoughts as she read the introduction of Advanced Magical Theory. According to the book, a mage could only truly master up to fifteen spells before having to learn a mental discipline, known as Occulemency, that could organize a mind enough to where the witch could potentially learn hundreds or thousands.
Unfortunately, Occulemency took years to master. Nicci needed to figure out which spells to learn in the meantime.
Let's start with a practical one from the first year charms curriculum. I will be starting school soon, regardless, but the teacher can only show me how to work the spell. He cannot master it for me.
The charm she had in mind was the incendious curse from Standard Book of Spells Grade One.
Pulling out her wand, Nicci took a deep breath before starting to repetitiously practice the appropriately flame shaped wand movement. She did this a hundred times.
Taking another deep breath, she steadied her hand and visualized the flame rune in her mind's eye. Focusing her intent, she pointed at a scrap piece of parchment on the desk in front of her.
"Incendio!" She refused to use the wand movement as a crutch. The practice before had soley been to aid in her visualization.
It worked, the spare parchment incinerated with barely a trace left behind.
It was now official, Narcissa "Nicci" Victoria Malfoy had serious reading to do.
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The wards alerted Lucius to a fire spell being used on the premises.
Of course there is a fire spell being used, I have two children going into first year. I honestly thought that they would be trying the incendious curse sooner. Oh well, better make sure that the manor's not burning down like it nearly did the first time I used that spell.
With that thought, Lucius left his study to find his children.
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Narcissa Malfoy Nee Black was not Lady Malfoy without reason.
By the time Lucius had even climbed one set of stairs from where his study was located, Narcissa had stopped him.
"Why are you in such a hurry, dear," Narcissa smirked, having already investigated the alert from the wards by the time she heard Lucius leave his office.
"The wards alerted me to the use of a fire spell. The kids must be trying the incendious. Gotta make sure that they don't burn the manor down like I almost did that one time," Lucius rambled.
"Honestly, Lucius. I am a warding mistress. I felt the warning far before you did. I was the one who cast these wards, remember?" Narcissa reminded him.
"You'd think that after all the times that Draco set off the accidental magic wards and you had already assessed the situation and dealt with it by the time I even left whatever room I was in, that I'd remember that." Lucius chuckled sheepishly.
"You would think," Narcissa sighed dramatically.
"So who was it?" Lucius asked.
"Nicci, she said it was a test to see if she could use the methods described in Advanced Magical Theory to master all the spells that she can before she has to get 'cracking on occulemency'."
"If I remember correctly, a non-occulemens can master up to fifteen spells," Lucius said.
"You remember correctly, that's what she said the book told her," Narcissa confirmed.
"Tell her to hold off until I get up there," said Lucius, "I have some spells that I need to teach her. She needs to master them before any others."
"I don't need to," Narcissa smirked, "she's sitting on the third stair in the stair case behind me. I swear, men must be selectively blind or something!"
As if to prove her mother's point, Nicci spoke up. "Hello Father."
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A/N
Fair warning, if you want to have any input on the other fourteen spells that Nicci will learn before getting cracking on Occulemency, speak up soon or forever hold your piece.
Most will be common dueling spells such as disarming, shielding, stunning, etc.
Five will be dark and one will be an unforgivable.
A fair few will be in a foreign language like Romanian, Italian, or Spanish.
Some will be in Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew.
Most will be in Latin or Aramaic like in cannon.