CHAPTER – 11 FROZEN FLAMES

"INCENDIO!"

A flickering tongue of flame shot out of Harry's wand, illuminating the stone pit that had been conjured to serve as a control medium for his spell-training. It wasn't exactly how he had envisioned spending his summer, with his godfather standing over his shoulder as he tirelessly poured magic through his wand, casting one spell after another. Still, it was unquestionably a vast improvement over being stuck at the Dursleys' dreadful house.

His spellcasting had shown noticeable improvement with the constant practice, and his spells were becoming less prone to turning into wild, unpredictable kamikaze attacks. Even so, Sirius had been steadfast in keeping him away from any and all transfiguration practice, insisting that he focus solely on mastering charms for the time being. According to Sirius, charms were all about altering specific attributes of an object while maintaining its fundamental structure, whereas transfiguration involved complete molecular rearrangement. Until Harry became proficient at the former, he wouldn't be allowed to delve into the complexities of the latter.

Over the past three weeks, Sirius had guided him through a comprehensive review of the charms he had studied during his four years at school. He often demonstrated how to tweak a particular charm or combine it with another to achieve advanced effects, all while emphasizing the importance of precise wand movements and incantation pronunciation. Say what you will about his godfather's otherwise carefree demeanor, Sirius was an uncompromising perfectionist when it came to teaching, setting the bar incredibly high and demanding nothing less than excellence. Harry, who had grown accustomed to having no one expect much from him, found this rigorous approach both challenging and exhilarating. He pushed himself to the limits, practicing until he couldn't even muster a simple Lumos.

And finally, after weeks of relentless effort, they were beginning to venture beyond the boundaries of basic charms.

Sirius watched Harry's progress with a satisfied nod. "That was a fine Incendio, Harry. Your control is getting better."

Harry allowed himself a brief smile, though he couldn't deny that the path to improvement had been strewn with frustration and countless botched spells. "Thanks, Sirius. It's been... hard work."

Sirius clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hard work is the key to success, my boy. Remember that. Now, let's move on to something a bit more challenging."

Harry nodded, eager to prove himself further. They continued their rigorous training regimen, Harry's determination driving him to new heights as he honed his magical skills under the guidance of his dedicated godfather.

Elemental Conjuration.

In Sirius's not-so-humble opinion, it served as the bridge between Charms and Transfiguration. Unlike Material Conjuration, a skill that only the most advanced Transfiguration students attempted, Elemental Conjuration was considerably more accessible and played a crucial role in reinforcing the fundamental principles of Transfiguration in a student's mind.

However, they had dived headfirst into Transfiguration as first-year students, bypassing the elemental conjuration step. Harry understood the reasoning behind it. Allowing first-years access to elemental conjuration would have likely led to results as successful as libraries equipped with flamethrowers.

"Keep trying," Sirius encouraged, his tone reassuring. "Mastering elemental charms takes some time."

Harry's brow furrowed. It wasn't that he doubted Sirius's expertise in the subject, but this was far from his first time attempting a fire spell. In fact, as a first-year student, he had successfully conjured bluebell flames with ease.

"You're making faces again, Harry."

"Sorry," Harry mumbled, looking like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "It's just... it's frustrating. My wand feels like it's resisting me."

"Resisting you? How so?"

"Whenever I try to cast the spell, it's as if my wand doesn't want to cooperate," Harry explained. He held up his wand and continued, "Earlier, I had to pour all my energy into it just to produce that thin stream of flame. It doesn't make any sense!"

Sirius contemplated this for a moment. "Maybe it's the wand itself," he suggested. "Different wands are better suited to different types of magic. And then there's your magical affinity to consider."

"Affinity?"

"Exactly," Sirius replied. "Each witch or wizard has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, I excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms, but I was hopeless when it came to runecraft. Lily, on the other hand, was our family's expert runesmith, but she struggled with Transfiguration. She had a knack for charms work, though."

"And my dad?" Harry inquired with a hint of hopefulness.

Sirius ruffled Harry's already disheveled hair with a warm smile. "Your father was a natural when it came to transfiguration. It runs in the Potter bloodline. You've got some of it in you too, don't you?"

Harry blushed, pleased by the compliment.

"But enough about that," Sirius continued. "How about you try my wand?"

Harry blinked in surprise. "Your wand?"

"Yes," Sirius confirmed, drawing his own wand and offering it to Harry. "It's made of blackthorn and dragon heartstring. Dragons are creatures of fire, and if nothing else, my wand excels in producing flames."

Harry hesitated for a moment, eyeing Sirius's wand. Then, he took it gingerly, feeling the unfamiliar warmth of the wood against his skin.

"Go on," Sirius encouraged. "Give it a wave."

With a determined look, Harry held the wand as if it were the hilt of a sword and flicked it downward toward the stone pit.

"Incendio!"

The wand emitted a thin cloud of embers that flickered and died out before reaching the bottom of the shallow stone pit.

Sirius arched an eyebrow. "Well, that didn't work," he commented, reclaiming his wand. "It's not a wand issue. Why don't you try again and pay attention to where it's going wrong?"

Harry nodded with a determined smile. This was something he could work with. He had always been a kinesthetic learner, preferring to learn through practice rather than theory. Unlike Hermione, who could write extensive essays on magical theory and how spells were crafted, Harry relied on instinct and hands-on experience. He could feel when a spell was cast correctly, and when it wasn't, he would channel more power through his wand until it was.

"It's simple," he began, "I'm imagining the flames emerging from the tip of my wand."

Sirius winced slightly. "That's where you might be going wrong. This is charms work, Harry, not conjuration. What you're attempting is to conjure fire from nothing. Remember, magic involves manipulating the world around you according to your will, but that manipulation is still bound by natural laws."

Harry furrowed his brows, genuinely intrigued. "What exactly do you mean?"

Sirius tilted his head thoughtfully. "Let me ask you, Harry, what goes through your mind when you transform something, like a pin into a needle?"

Harry considered the question. Transfiguration theory had never been his strong suit, which was more in Hermione's realm of expertise. "I suppose I just picture the needle in my mind?"

Sirius nodded, understanding the misconception. "That's not quite enough," he explained. "When you're transfiguring an object, such as a pin into a needle, it's not just about imagining the end result. You need to think about the details – the hardness of the steel, the sharpness of the tip, the sleekness of the needle's shaft. Essentially, you're visualizing the entire transformation process."

Harry found himself nodding in agreement. It did make sense when he thought about it that way.

"Let's try another example," Sirius continued. "When you levitate a feather, what's going through your mind?"

Harry answered easily, "I imagine it becoming lighter and floating upwards."

Sirius's approving smile told Harry he was on the right track. "Exactly. With charms, it's all about visualizing the process – the mechanism, if you will. You focus on the journey, the steps involved in making the magic happen."

Harry was beginning to see the fundamental distinction between charms and transfiguration. "But what about the Patronus?" he asked, curious. "I always thought it was about immersing yourself in a happy memory and conjuring the warmth to drive away the dementor."

Sirius chuckled, clearly pleased with Harry's inquisitiveness. "You've got it partially right," he confirmed. "With Patronus casting, it's about connecting to that happy memory, feeling the warmth and positivity it brings, but it's also about visualizing your Patronus as a shield – a guardian against the dementor's darkness."

"Interesting," Harry mused, absorbing the new insights.

Sirius, always the hands-on teacher, decided it was time for a practical demonstration. He pointed his wand toward the stone pit, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"You understand the concept of matter and how heating solids causes them to melt and change, right?" Sirius asked with a patient tone, making sure Harry was following along.

Harry nodded attentively.

"Good, now let's break it down. Step one: Focus on the air right in front of you. It may be invisible, but it's composed of tiny particles, molecules of gas. Believe in that reality because your belief fuels your magic. Trust in it."

Harry hung on every word, captivated by the lesson.

"Step two: Channel your magic and cast the spell. Allow that pure energy within you to flow out." Sirius inhaled deeply and then exhaled while keeping his eyes locked on the stone pit. "Step three: Push your magic into the air, heating it up."

With a flick of his wand, Sirius chanted, "Incendio!"

The pit suddenly erupted in bright crimson flames, and a satisfied grin spread across Sirius's face. "There you have it. Now, it's your turn."

Harry nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He concentrated on the air at the tip of his wand. He could feel the surge of energy running down his arm, but he remained focused.

Focus on the particles. Heat them up.

"Incendio!"

A thin whip of flame shot out from his wand, briefly illuminating the pit. The power was there, and he could sense the heat from the flames. Yet, it faded quickly.

Sirius encouraged him, "Try again."

Harry waved his wand once more, pouring a bit more power into it. Again, a thin tongue of flame shot out, illuminating the pit. But once more, it flickered out and died.

"Incendio!"

He tried repeatedly, but it seemed like something within him was resisting, something that didn't want to cast the Fire spell.

"INCENDIO! INCENDIO! INCENDIO!"

No matter how hard he tried, it was the same outcome every time. The spell either produced a brief, thin stream of fire or a slightly thicker burst that lasted even shorter. There was an undeniable struggle within him, something that prevented him from casting the spell properly.

"Harry!" Sirius's voice broke through his frustration.

"INCENDIO!" Harry continued to shout, his anger and disappointment building.

It felt like a never-ending cycle of misery. First, the issues with his wand, then the traumatic events at the graveyard, and now his inability to cast even a simple fire spell properly. Ollivander might have said his wand was powerful, but what good was that power if he couldn't even cast a basic fire spell? He could already imagine seeing the dreadful grade "DREADFUL" written across the top of his OWLs, crushing his dreams of becoming an Auror. It was all so frustrating.

"HARRY!"

"What?!" Harry snapped back, his frustration evident.

Sirius's tone softened, and his eyes filled with concern. "You're shaking," he gently pointed out.

Harry blinked, his anger momentarily replaced by bewilderment. He looked down at his trembling hands, and everything around him seemed to flicker between grayscale and normal. It was as if he was aware of their presence, yet they felt distant, almost unreal. It was disorienting, like he was teetering on the edge of something he couldn't quite grasp.

His voice came out hoarse as he questioned, "What's... what's happening to me?"

"Breathe," Sirius whispered, keeping a cautious distance but remaining close enough to provide support. "You need to maintain a calm mind."

Calm, Harry repeated in his head. Yes, calm. I can do this. I'll filter out everything else.

The next few moments passed in silence, save for the sound of their deep breaths.

"Do you think you can continue?" Sirius finally asked, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Harry nodded slowly, finding his composure again. "Yeah, I think I can."

"Good, but let's not push too hard," Sirius advised, concern still etched on his face.

Harry chuckled, a genuine smile breaking through his earlier frustration. Sirius had a way of putting things into perspective and motivating him like no one else could. It was a reminder that despite the challenges he faced, he had the strength and support to overcome them.

"You're right, Sirius," Harry replied with newfound determination. "I won't let a few setbacks define me. I'll keep working at it until I get it right."

Sirius grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! Now, let's see if you can control that ice magic a bit better. Try creating a controlled gust of cold wind this time."

With renewed enthusiasm, Harry focused on the Glacius charm once more. He visualized the sensation of cold, the chill in the air, and the gathering of frosty energy. He pointed his wand towards a nearby pile of leaves, imagining a controlled burst of cold wind sweeping through them.

"GLACIUS!"

A rush of icy wind burst forth from his wand, swirling through the leaves and causing them to rustle and shiver. It was far more controlled than his earlier attempt, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

Sirius nodded in approval. "Well done, Harry! You're getting the hang of it. Keep practicing, and you'll master this in no time."

Over the next few days, Harry continued to work on his ice magic, gradually gaining better control and precision. He practiced different variations of the Glacius charm, from creating delicate frost patterns on windows to freezing small puddles of water. Each day brought progress, and Harry felt a growing sense of confidence in his abilities.

As he continued his training with Sirius, he couldn't help but reflect on how much he had grown since his days as a young wizard just starting his journey at Hogwarts. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead, he knew he had the strength and determination to face them head-on.

And with his godfather's unwavering support, there was no doubt that he could achieve anything he set his mind to.

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