Chapter Seven, The Worst Wizard

The morning sun slowly crept in through the dorm room window which caused Jayce to wake up with a gasp of surprise, semi-unaware of his surroundings. He had to quickly remind himself that he was at school and not at home. It was the first night he ever spent away from his family. He sat up in bed, adjusting his vision. The room looked quite different to what it did the night before. The gray brick walls of the room felt more 'homely' instead of intimidating.

He turned over and sat on the side of his bed trying to find any ounce of motivation to stand up. His moment of peaceful realization was rashly interrupted once Chester came bursting out of his personal bathroom, freshly showered, wearing nothing but the skin he was born with.

"Dear God!" Jayce said, shielding his eyes. That was the last thing he wanted to see that morning.

"What are you doing?" Chester asked, confused.

Jayce was dumbfounded, not knowing how to answer Chester's oblivious question, "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting dressed. You're acting like you've never seen another human being before."

"And you couldn't do that in your bathroom?!" Jayce practically shouted.

Chester raised his voice, "It's humid and damp! Why would I get dressed in the bathroom?"

"Could you at least put on some underwear before exiting?"

Chester scoffed, "Seriously? What are you so afraid of? You think by me not wearing something I'll suddenly attack you or something? Is this what no-maj are like, a bunch of prudes?"

Jayce didn't know how to answer that question. He turned his head away, praying to not get any more glimpses of Chester. He went into his bathroom and quickly shut the door, listening quietly, he waited for the main door of the dorm room to shut, indicating that Chester had left. Jayce quickly showered and brushed his teeth before putting on his school robes.

He noticed a new adorned yellow badge that was stitched onto the robe's chest. It depicted a simple art form of a Wampus cat. Jayce gazed at it for a moment, still thinking of the sorting from the night before. There was some odd sense of pride Jayce could feel, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He didn't know whether it was not being sorted in the same house as Chester or being sorted in the same house as the only two people he considered friends.

Once out the door of his dormitory Jayce noticed all of the first years were wandering around the common area. Some were sitting in chairs chatting, looking nervous while others paced back and forth. Ryan seemed to be among that group.

"Mornin'," Jayce said catching up to Ryan.

Ryan flinched, not expecting Jayce to be beside him, "Oh! Sorry, Jayce. It's just that the entire first year class is in a debacle right now."

"I can see that. Any idea what's going on?"

Tamara went up to join them, "The hallways changed paths. They're leading to the westside courtyard instead of the dining hall. Apparently all the older students know a way around it, but they never told the first years."

Jayce looked around towards the doorway and noticed no one was coming from the opposite direction.

"Where is everyone?" Jayce asked.

It was right when he asked that the hall outside the doorway started to change, like it morphed into a completely different hallway. Once finished the older students began filing towards the outside of the tower.

"Tamara-," Jayce said before she interrupted him.

"I don't know," she said, quickly understanding his question.

Tamara, Jayce, and Ryan waited as some of the first years started following the older students, Chester himself tried to get in between a few fifth years and mingle with them. Tamara caught Jean walking with one of his friends, a scrawny red afro boy with round glasses like her.

"Jean," Tamara said, quickly catching up to him.

"Tamara. I hope you rested well for your upcoming classes."

"I slept fine at the most, but Olivia snores like a Dugbog."

"At least yours just snores," Ryan said laughing along, "My roommate Glen was making these sharp snapping sounds all night."

"Snapping sounds?" Jayce asked.

"Yeah, it sounded like a whip. I don't know how he did it"

"I may have a theory," Jean said, "He was probably snapping his wand."

"Snapping it?" Jayce said.

"Yes," said Jean's friend, "If you move your wand in a certain direction very carefully it can cause a snap. It's not something people recommend as it can cause it to break."

Jayce looked at him in confusion to which he laughed, "Sorry to interrupt. Harold Gleeson."

He reached his hand out to Jayce which he shook.

"Jean and I hold tutoring sessions in the library," Harold added, "If you ever need help, especially with charms and astronomy, I'm your guy."

Jayce smiled slightly and nodded.

"I also may be the newest left defense on the Horned Serpent Quodpot team," Harold added sarcastically.

Jean tried to stifle a laugh, "Quodpot? You've been taking remedial flying lessons since the beginning of third year!"

Harold's cheeks turned pink, but kept an enthusiastic smile to hide his embarrassment.

The marbled hall they walked down seemed more lively than it was the night before. The sun shined through stained glass windows, illuminating the castle's unique interior.

"So what happened with the hallway? Why did it change?" Ryan asked.

Jean gave a slight smirk, "The hallway changes every night from the dining hall to the westside courtyard. It's because the library is near the courtyard so older students can make it back to their dorm more quickly. It changes back at around eight in the morning."

Ryan pondered for a moment, "Then why not just build the dorm tower next to the library instead of the dining hall?"

"You can't study on an empty stomach," Harold chimed in.

Jean laughed again, "Typical Horned Serpent behavior."

Once they entered the dining hall Harold went to join his fellow Horned Serpents while Jean turned to Tamara, who barely looked up from the ground.

"It's okay that you're in Wampus, Tamara. Francois and I don't love you any less. I don't know what dad would say though, but I'm sure he'll be proud of you as well."

"Please don't tell him yet!" Tamara pleaded.

Jean gave a reassuring smile before heading to the Pukwudgie table. Tamara looked at the table with a mixture of grief and envy, seeing her two brothers socializing with their fellow housemates to which she felt rightfully belonged. She kept staring while following Jayce and Ryan to the Wampus table.

"You're still really upset about the sorting aren't you?" Jayce wondered, taking his seat.

Tamara sat down, burying her face into her arms.

"It's just so frustrating!" she nearly screamed in a muffled voice, "The statues have to be wrong!"

"Is it really that big of a deal? What house you're in?" Ryan said, picking up his utensils.

Food magically appeared on the table. Buttered toast with hash browns, bacon, breakfast cereal, and scrambled eggs along with pitchers of orange juice, milk, and for older students, coffee.

Jayce and Ryan helped themselves to breakfast, but like the night before Tamara didn't even touch her plate.

"I don't know how much time I have left before my father finds out. What if he's disappointed? What if I get disowned?"

Jayce looked to Ryan, hoping he would be able to give some advice, but Ryan just shook his head.

"Why is your father so adamant on you being in Pukwudgie?" Jayce asked.

Tamara turned her face to the side, "He's a very proud and traditional man. In our family, ever since they began attending Ilvermorny were sorted into Pukwudgie. Both my brothers are in it, my mother was in it, and so were my grandparents on both sides of my family. I've broken everything that my family had stood for, for nearly three centuries. I don't feel like a Wampus. I'm nothing like a warrior. I should've never been sorted into this house."

Jayce swallowed a piece of toast, "That's honestly terrible. You shouldn't have to feel bad for what house you're sorted into."

"Yeah," Ryan said, "Maybe later tonight we can call your dad and explain your sorting."

"Call?" Tamara asked, "How? I don't own a two-way mirror and those are ridiculously expensive."

"Two-way mirror?" Ryan said, "I meant a phone. We can call him later tonight after class."

Jayce had to quickly explain that non-magical devices didn't work in Ilvermorny.

"Maybe once my owl Herman returns we can write a letter tonight," Jayce suggested.

Like a stroke of luck, the mentioning of Herman caused a wave of curiosity through the dining hall. There was a small hatch on top of the ceiling and through the hole came out tons of flying animals.

A majority of the animals were a variety of different colored owls, but some even stood out to Jayce's amazement. Besides owls there were bald eagles, a couple of hawks, and even a turkey vulture. All of them were holding packages of various sizes and dropping them to their respective owners. Both Jayce and Ryan flinched at every envelope and parcel dropped while Tamara barely moved.

"How do they do this without hitting anyone?" Jayce asked.

"Why would they hit anyone?" Tamara responded.

Jayce nearly jumped out of his seat when a giant box landed on the Thunderbird table behind him.

"Aren't you afraid of getting bird poop on your head?" Ryan said, shielding his hair.

Tamara looked almost offended, "In what world would birds do such a despicable act?"

Jayce realized that he would not get any clear answers with Tamara about the mailing system of Ilvermorny, but as he kept looking up he suddenly noticed a familiar sight. A brown figure flying down with an envelope in its beak and a rolled up paper in its claws.

"Herman!" Jayce shouted.

The owl carefully dropped the two items and landed on the table beside Jayce. Ryan's eyes were as wide as opals observing the wild animal.

"Guys, this is Herman. He's my owl. Herman, this is Ryan and Tamara."

Herman gave them one quick hoot before taking off towards the ceiling hatch.

Jayce took a look at what Herman left him and was surprised at what he got. It was a letter from his family back home and a copy of The Daily Ghost. He decided to take a look at the letter from his family which he could tell was clearly written by his mother.

Jayce Grafton

Illvermoreknee

He smirked at the misspelling before opening it up.

Jayce,

Thank you for writing back as soon as you could. It took a while to figure out how to send this to you. Luckily Herman was smart enough to take care of it. I waited all evening for you to write us back, and I hope you get this response soon enough. I wish I could talk to you over the phone.

Ed was gracious enough to explain the school houses and what they meant, and I think you were sorted into the right one. You have the mind of a warrior, but sometimes you can be too cocky for your own good.

I hope this letter gets to you quickly and please write back when you can. I look forward to hearing about your time at school.

Love, Mom, Dad, Greg, and Ed.

"At least your parents are proud of the house you're sorted into," Tamara said looking over the letter.

Jayce didn't know how to respond to that. He quickly turned his attention away to the letter and to the newspaper which had a small card attached to it.

Each owl purchased from Oswald's Owl Outlet receives a free one year subscription to The Daily Ghost.

Jayce unrolled the newspaper even though he wasn't into news, but knowing that there was an entire secret world hidden under his nose his entire life made him feel more intrigued to read it.

He was so intrigued by all the interesting articles and moving photos that whipped across the paper. Articles such as Albanian Man Detained for Illegal Transportation of Peruvian Vipertooth Eggs, Mysterious Charm Advancements Bypass Anti-Cheating Quills for ARK Students, or Ghanian Healer Uses Controversial Illegal Voodoo Methods Raises Controversy Despite Rapid Success regularly showed up across the many pages.

He placed the front page of the paper flat onto the table and was immediately bombarded with large words in all capital letters.

LAM STRIKES AGAIN!

In the moving photo below the title was a very attractive muscular man wearing long black robes and smiling very charismatically, waving as the flashes of multiple cameras were capturing his charming looks.

Polls during the past few weeks are showing nearly a twenty percent approval increase for MACUSA presidential candidate Silas Lam. Lam, the lead head of The Department of No-Maj Relationships, has been running a tough campaign against current president Maureen Synger, who is running for a third term. With his help in capturing a rogue rougarou near Thibodaux Louisiana, Lam was able to attract new voters through his public service. Synger is still ahead by thirteen points, but there's great predictability that Lam could surpass Synger by the June election.

"Election? That seems pretty exciting," Jayce said.

"What do you mean? They happen every four years and it's usually the incumbent every time. It shouldn't be that different from no-maj politics," Tamara said, "It's just democracy."

Before Jayce could read more of the article a small parchment of paper appeared in front of him. Not only him, but the rest of the other students.

"Our class schedule," said Ryan, turning the paper around.

Jayce turned his around and along with it, looked at Ryan and Tamara's as well. They all had the same classes. Very typical for all first years.

"Looks like our first lesson is Transfiguration with Professor Royal," Ryan said, just before the bell for class rang.

All the students got up and began exiting the dining hall. The one thing that stood out was the same thing that stood out in the common area. All of the first years just stood confused.

"Do they just expect us to know where everything is?" Jayce asked Tamara and Ryan.

"There has to be a map somewhere," Ryan asked, "A place this big always has to have a map."

The three of them left the dining hall to find a fifth year Thunderbird student leader named Omar White to lead them. Omar took them to a part of the castle which they haven't been to. It was a tower on the westside with multiple floors full of moving paintings, the library was just attached to the ground floor.

"Welcome to Ilvermorny," said one man in a painting, wearing long purple robes and caressing an orange cat.

"I swear the first years get smaller and smaller each year," said another painting, an older plump woman in a bonnet churning butter with her wand.

Jayce felt awkward about the painting's endearing comments.

Once they reached the fourth floor through a spiral stone staircase Omar left the three of them to their own devices. Jayce noticed some other students found their way on their own while a majority of them were also led by student leaders.

The classroom was almost like any other regular school classroom. There were rows of slim wooden desks and a larger desk in front. A green chalkboard hung on the back wall while the gray brick walls on the side housed a row of torches.

Jayce sat down somewhere in the middle of the room with Tamara and Ryan following him. He noticed some familiar faces from the sorting, but the one thing that did catch his eye was Chester Daly sitting alone in the back corner across from him. Jayce found that as a bit weird because he was sitting with a bunch of older students on the train.

A bit lost without your older cronies, Jayce thought to himself.

It wasn't long until Professor Royal came through the door, adorned with a bright orange suit with a matching top hat.

"Mornin', class," Professor Royal said in his familiar drawl.

The whole class didn't say anything. Professor Royal walked slowly, his brown shoes loudly clapped against the stone floor. Some students were in awe while others, especially Chester, seemed disinterested.

"Now. I know you're all nervous. This is your first class at Ilvermorny. In fact, I still remember my first class here, but that's not the point. My point is…"

Professor Royal took out his wand and flicked it at the chalkboard causing the chalk to write by themselves.

"There's lots to learn and it's okay to be overwhelmed, but just remember to take it day-by-day and you will succeed."

The entire class kept quiet while Professor Royal went on, "As I'm sure you all have seen from your class schedule this class is called transfiguration. It is one of the most complex and dangerous forms of magic you will learn here at Ilvermorny. And by saying that, it means that if you fail to follow any of my instructions or not take them seriously, you will receive an N on your SCORN card and not be allowed in my class for the rest of the year. Am I making myself clear?"

"SCORN?" Jayce whispered to Tamara.

Tamara seemed a little irritated at his question, "It's the grading scale used here. Seriously, Jayce, I'm trying to listen."

"Sorry," Jayce whispered back a little sarcastically. He was a bit annoyed by her irritance, but did understand her frustration and decided not to bother her any longer.

Professor Royal cleared his throat, "Excuse me."

Jayce shook in surprise as the professor was looking right at him.

"Is there a reason you're whispering to Miss Badette, Mister Grafton?"

Jayce's eyes widened, the entire class was looking at him with gazes of annoyance and mundaneness. Chester in back rested his hand on his chin, glaring at him with an egotistical smile. He then turned to Ryan who was just as bug-eyed as Tamara.

Jayce felt a pit in his stomach, but quickly came to his senses to get what message he wanted to get across.

"I'm sorry, Professor Royal. It's just that the SCORN grading system is a bit confusing to someone like me who went to a no-maj school."

There were a few laughs in the room, which caused the pit in Jayce's stomach to get deeper. He felt that there was some knowledge being withheld to him, and only him.

"I see," Professor Royal said, "The SCORN grading system has been used at this school since the 1820s when MACUSA passed the Federal Academic Scale Act. The S is the highest grade you can receive at Ilvermorny while N is the lowest, which results in being placed in a remedial class. Your final grade must be above R to move onto the next class."

There was a moment of silence, "Now please save your questions for when I have time to answer them. We're on a tight schedule for the upcoming semester."

Jayce opened one of his notebooks, excited to learn anything when it comes to magic. But as time went on he quickly realized that there's more to magic than he thought. It wasn't just waving your wand and saying incantations, it was actually a complex scientific method.

Professor Royal started off the lesson by drawing a mathematical equation on the chalkboard to which Jayce was completely lost. Math was one of his worst subjects in no-maj school and the math he was being presented with was much more advanced than the stuff he was ever taught.

They talked about the weight and properties of certain objects and how transforming them could affect not only the object, but the universe around them.

Once Professor Royal was finished with his lecture he took out a box which contained shirt buttons of many different colors.

"For your first practical lesson we will be taking these buttons and transfiguring their colors."

Some students gasped in surprise, others moaned in disappointment.

"I know," Professor Royal said, "I know some of you are upset but it's your first lesson, but hopefully by the end of the year you will be able to turn a wombat into a pair of shoes which will be your final exam."

"Wombat into shoes?" shouted a random girl across from Jayce.

He looked over to see Michelle Baan who had a disgusted look on their face.

"Yes, Miss Baan. That will be your final exam."

She scoffed, "How awful! In whose mind is it okay to put an animal through that torture?"

Professor Royal sighed like he had this conversation before, "Miss Baan, the animals subjected to this exam live good lives at a nearby sanctuary and do not feel pain once under a transfiguration spell. They don't even remember being under the spell because their brains and the property of their bodies have changed."

She stammered, almost in tears, "How do you know that? You don't know that! You can't speak for them! I refuse to do anything like that to an animal!"

"Ms. Baan!" Professor Royal boomed, "I understand you're upset, but now is not the time for this. You can talk to me about this after class but I can't have you interrupting the lesson any longer. I think we both know no one likes serving detention on the first day."

Michelle didn't say anything. She sat back and barely kept her composure while everyone else got in line to get a button from Professor Royal.

Jayce retrieved his button and headed back to his desk, trying to follow Professor Royal's instructions as well as possible. He had to point his wand at the button, imagine the color in his head, and say the incantation, "Colovaria."

Nothing happened to Jayce's disappointment. A mixture of students repeated the incantation filled the entire classroom. He noticed some students, including Tamara, having instant success in changing the color of their buttons.

"Colovaria," said Ryan, and to his excitement of surprise watched as his button faded from white to purple.

Jayce tried multiple times to change the color of his button, but the incantation and no matter how hard he tried it just wasn't changing.

"How are you guys doing this?" Jayce asked Tamara and Ryan.

Tamara looked over, noticing that Jayce's blue button had not changed from the moment he got it.

"Show me how you do it first and we'll work from there," Tamara said.

"Okay," Jayce responded.

Jayce took a deep breath, he imagined the color that he wanted in his head. He wanted to change the button from blue to orange, his favorite color because it reminded him of basketball. He imagined a blank canvas of the color in his head and directly pointed the tip of his wand at the button.

"Colovaria!" Jayce demanded.

Not a single tint of color changed.

"I can't see you doing anything wrong with your posture and pronunciation, are you thinking of the color you want clearly?"

Jayce tried not to shout in frustration as he attempted to use the spell two more times with no effective results. Everyone else in the class had pretty much succeeded in casting it and were all waiting for the bell to ring to go to their next class.

"Ugh! This sucks!" Jayce exclaimed, "Colovaria Colovaria Colovaria!"

He kept repeating and repeating, getting angrier and angrier. Professor Royal tried to come to stop him, but it was too late as Jayce's careless wand-waving caused the button to explode in a fiery mess. Within his frustration of watching the button dissipate the class bell rang.

"Jayce," said Professor Royal with a bit of frustration and concern. He waited for the entire class to leave.

Jayce kept staring at the leftover ashes of the button, "Why couldn't I do it? I've casted a spell before. What made this one more difficult?"

"Jayce," Professor Royal repeated, "You come from a no-maj family, correct?"

Jayce nodded, not saying anything.

"This is sometimes common with students new to the wizarding world. You're in a new environment so it's more difficult for you to cast spells here."

Jayce almost shouted, "But how was Ryan able to do it so easily? He's also no-maj."

"See, that's one problem," Professor Royal pointed out, "You shouldn't refer to yourselves as no-maj. Sure, you're both of non-magical ancestry, but you're both wizards as well. You were probably able to cast that spell more easily because you were at home. It's different here with all the teachers, students, and academic pressure. I know I may have given a tough first impression, but remember, it is only the first day and you can only get better from now on."

Jayce felt a little bit better after that, "Thanks, Professor Royal."

"Now, get on to your next class. I'm sure your friends are waiting for you."

Jayce took off outside the classroom, surprised to see that Tamara and Ryan were still waiting for him, but also in the distance, appearing like an unwanted shadow was Chester sneering.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe you are the worm."

Jayce scoffed, "No one asked you."

"I can't believe you got outperformed by one of the ditziest kids here."

Jayce turned to Ryan who looked sullen at Cheter's comment.

"You know you got a big mouth for someone who hides behind older students' backs."

Chester tried to come up with a comeback, but only said, "Whatever. No one cares what you think."

He took off towards their next class.

"You alright, Ryan," Jayce asked.

"Fine," Ryan said, "You?"

Jayce sighed, "For the most part. I tried everything that I could with that spell. I don't know what's wrong with me."

The three didn't say anything on their way to their next class which was Magic History of the New World a few corridors over. This class was taught by a woman named Professor Knight. A young blonde girl who was way too ecstatic about certain dates and how Native Americans applied their magic before European colonization.

The class was boring, but it was easier than having to do universal equations or practical magic exercises.

"I'm exhausted," Ryan said as the three of them entered the first year common area.

"I can't believe we have to write a three page essay on the Brazilian Dragon Coup of 1822," Jayce added, "That will probably be the most easiest thing I've done here."

They all sat down on a large purple sofa which was facing a fireplace. The three of them were relaxing, trying to take the stress off the first day which included Transfiguration, Magical History, and Botany.

Jayce then turned to Tamara, "Do you want to write that letter and tell your dad the news?"

Tamara didn't look at him, the flames of the fireplace danced in the reflection of her glasses.

"I don't know if it's the right time yet. He'll have to know sooner or later."

Jayce shrugged, "Why not now? I'm sure Herman would be glad to deliver it."

"It probably won't be Herman," Tamara slightly laughed, "He'll give it to another bird. Owls aren't particularly fond of flying over water."

There was a moment of silence before Tamara spoke up, "Okay, I guess we wrote the letter."

Jayce smiled and took out his pen and a sheet of notebook paper. As Tamara described her feelings Jayce wrote it down to the best of his abilities.

"Does this look good?" Jayce asked.

Tamara re-read the letter at least three times before handing it back to him.

"Perfect. I just hope my dad isn't too upset."

"Look, whatever he says, we'll have your back," Jayce said, gesturing to himself and Ryan.

He took the paper and folded it neatly, walking into his dorm room where he saw Chester starting on his essay. Jayce completely forgot throughout the day that she shared a room with him.

"You know one day your words alone won't be able to protect you," Chester said, "After what I've seen today you don't have any place here."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jayce quickly said, trying to ignore him.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Remember? Going insane? Cut off from the magical world? Stuck inside a box? It's you. At first I thought it was the ditz Chen who wouldn't make it, but he has more potential than you. I can't imagine you lasting more than a month here before you're dragged away."

Jayce then turned around and said, "I feel like you're hiding something from me, Chester. You're insecure about something and it's eating you alive, so that's why you're coming after Ryan and me."

"Me?" Chester said, "Insecure? Take a look at yourself. If I failed like you today I wouldn't even bother showing my face to the entire school."

"Yet I still do," Jayce retorted, "It's only one day and I can try again tomorrow."

"It's only because you and Chen are nothing but a couple of Mudbloods. You don't know how things work around here."

Jayce felt a chill down his spine. There was something about the word Mudblood that bothered him.

"You're nothing but insane," Jayce said back, handing the letter to Herman before taking off into the night, "And how about you find people your own age to bother."