Okay, I said that I would be doing some updates. I also have some notes for everyone.

So. Life is getting hectic as time moves forward. I have had a few arguments with my partner, which have taken up a lot of time. Ultimately, I was giving a lot of my time to support her, and I was not receiving support in return. This led to me missing many of my college assignments, and I have now dropped out. Of course, this is just one of those rocks in the road. We've argued about it, emotions have been high, and now we're settling back in. We've both agreed to counseling to make sure that we know what we can do for one another. So that is that.
My daughter and son are growing. Too fast, in my opinion. A lot of my time recently has been going towards teaching my son basics. He can read his first book, and he can count to 10. I am very proud.
In terms of everything else. I am moving forward in my treatment. Despite the current climate when it comes to transgender individuals, I intend to make sure that I am my own person. I know who I am, and I refuse to let someone take that away from me. So now, with my partner by my side, I am scheduling the first consultations before we schedule bottom surgery.
I hope that this has covered enough to tell everyone why I had vanished. A lot of my breaks come like this. I don't intend for it to happen, but life finds a way to divide my time even more.
Thank you all for being patient with me.
Now let's get on with things.

—0—

"Miss Norris!"

"Miss Norris?"

He walked alongside Slytherin students, following everyone as they walked closer and closer to the distraught voice.

"Miss Norris!"

He felt confusion as he reached the backs of a few older students, all clamoring to get a look at what was going on. If only he had… There! He could look from the top of those stairs!

As he pushed his way through the students, he caught more distraught shouts from Filch, the nasty caretaker of Hogwarts. The angry yelling turned to wails of sorrow as the headmaster spoke quietly.

"I'm sorry Argus."

He finally made it to the stairs, his confusion turning to a mix of glee and slight fear as he sw the message on the wall, spelled out in blood.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED… ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE!

"Enemies of the heir beware? Watch out mudbloods, you're next!"

He felt disgust as he used the horrid word. But that quickly melted away as he was patted on the back by classmates, each snickering and feeding into his ego.

"That will be quite enough Mr. Malfoy-"

The sound was drowned out as he saw Miss Norris, stiff and glassy eyes in Filch's grasp. The man was disgusting sure, but this?

As Filch turned and began to walk through the parting crowd of students, he saw the pain on the mans face. The frozen eyes of the ratty cat in his arms shone with a judgement of the dark. She wasn't dead… but that face was gaunt enough…

Even for a cat.

Draco shot up from his desk, panting. Many of the students in class turned to him, and Professor Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Are you quite alright, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco nodded, wetting his dry lips as his hands shook. "Y-yes… yeah, I uh… Yeah."

Snape strode across the room and looked Draco in the eye. His gaze softened after some moments, and he shook his head. "You seem unwell. Most likely from the fumes that have lingered in here since yesterday's first-year class… Somebody take Mr Malfoy to Madam Pomfrey, the rest of you, assist me in clearing the classroom."

Neville Longbottom stood and gave a bow, before silently taking Draco along with him. The fact that Draco was being accompanied by the two faced boy did little to soothe him.

Then again… anything was better than seeing Ms. Norris's dead eyes…

—0—

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome, every one of you!"

The students all beamed as they sat down with Professor Flitwick, who was juggling textbooks with a jovial example of the levitation charm. After each student had taken their seats, he flicked his wand, causing the books to drop onto their desks.

"It has been quite some time since I pulled these off of the shelves… yes. Now that we are done with review, I find it prudent that- er. Yes, Miss Brown?"

Lavender Brown lowered her hand with a blink. "I erm. I'm a bit puzzled professor. Did we not already purchase our books?"

Flitwick grinned. "Indeed! Though, these are a bit different. Why don't you look at the title, and the publication date?"

There were rustles as the students followed the half goblins instructions. Several read the title and date aloud, with a bit of confusion, while others faces lit up with excitement.

"I see several of you understand." Flitwick nodded. "That our major topic this year, will be the art of spell development."

Excited chatter broke out through the classroom, only silenced as Flitwick raised his hands. "Now, this is definitely very exciting. Yes, but it is also extremely dangerous. I have had many a student destroyed by the improper teaching of this craft, and so I will not stand for any tomfoolery. Is that understood?"

When nobody answered, Flitwick nodded. "Good. Now, to begin, we will be looking into the histories of each charm we learn. We have done this before, of course, only now, we will look into the spells precursors. Yes Miss Granger?"

Hermione Granger, looking… particularly well-kept, smiled a smile that was unusual for her. Not one that Fillius remembered from her first year, but nevertheless.

"These spells, are spells like the fire charm, correct sir?"

"Almost!" Fillius smiled. "Why don't we begin there? All spells are derived from the natural elements. Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Those elements can further be split into different categories. Light, spirit, substance, heat, emotion, concentration, and force are the main seven. Yes, miss Patil?"

"What about other categories, like darkness and sound?"

Flitwick nodded. "A good question with several answers. Darkness is simply the absence of light. For example, when we use the Lumos charm, we are working with a balance of light and dark. 'lumos' is derived from 'lumen' which is a measurement of light. By invoking the root word, we invoke the concept of light, and call it into being." As an example, the professor flicked his wand, lighting the tip with the spell's pale glow. "Now, in order to snuff out the light, we use the incantation 'nox'. This is derived from 'noct' meaning 'night'. In using this incantation we invoke the absence of light, and cancel out the spell." With another flick of his wand- along with the incantation- the light went out.

"Now. That is simply darkness. But what about sound? Can anyone tell me? Ah, Mr… what was your name again?"

"Unimportant." The black haired boy shrugged, before he blushed. "Er… Sorry sir. You can um… Ronald Sir. I'm in a bit of a bind with my family and so I'd prefer to go by my first name."

Flitwick nodded in understanding. "Why don't you see me after class and we can try to speak with the headmaster to clear that up. But for now, what is your answer?"

"Sound is a composite of Force and Concentration professor. A lot of magicals would believe force and concentration would lead to blasts of energy, but no. The result is sound."

"Indeed!" Flitwick smiled. "Five points to Gryffindor. You see everyone, sound works on a spectrum of frequencies. Lower frequencies produce lower tones, and higher frequencies produce higher tones. By taking the invocation of force and using concentration to make it thicker, we can generate, or enhance sounds. The opposite is also true. In order to silence something with magic, we use a composite of concepts which are the absence of force and or concentration. With all of this in mind… who can tell me what fire is a composite of? Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Light and Heat. Of course, one could add a few additional concepts to change the fire. Such as using force to create a heatwave charm."

"Brilliant! Five points to Ravenclaw my dear." Flitwick smiled. "Yes! Fire is produced with invocations for light and heat. Now, spell creation gets all the more complicated as we continue through invocations, simply because as we progress through spell development, we find shortcuts to invoke spell components easier than spelling out the composites ourselves. For example. Incendio! And now. Lumen Calor! Who can tell me the difference between these two spells?"

Many of the students stared. The professor held in front of him, contained in two lanterns, balls of fire that were of equal size, heat, and brightness. None of them could spot the difference.

"Not one difference, hm? That is because these two spells are the same, but just different versions from the past and present." Flitwick smiled. "Creating fire is one thing. But there are other spells that are much more complex. The lightning charm, for example. Fulgur, generates a powerful bolt of lightning. Do not attempt it, you may fry your body and be reduced to feed for Hagrids beasts. Fulgur is the invocation for lightning. But, in order to create lightning from base invocations, one would have to repeat five lines of overlapping words, drawing from light, heat, force, and substance. Obviously, Fulgur is much easier, and quicker. So, keep that in mind."

Flitwick smiled over his full classroom, watching as each of his students paid attention to his every word.

"Now, we have roughly half of class left. Try to come up with some composites on your own, and we can see how they work! Take a few minutes, and then I'll call on you."

Flitwick hopped down from his stack of books and began summoning various objects from the classroom. A few candles, a bronze contraption that many of the second years had never seen, and a few bowls.

Once he had set up, he turned back to his class. "Well? Anyone? Mr Thomas?"

The boy nodded. "A composite of Heat and Spirit."

Flitwick nodded. "That would be the simple base behind what is now the sacred flame charm. It is an easy charm to do, one which we will cover in a few weeks time. The composite is expiravit Calor."

With a flourish of his wand, the room was bathed in eerie white fire. The flames latched onto one of the candles and stuck, burning in place.

"Anyone else? Miss Patil?"

"What is the composite for the levitation charm, professor?"

Flitwick grinned. "Always a favorite! Wingardium Leviosa is a composite of force, force, and force. Odd, isn't it? Well, almost. You see, in order to explain this we have to learn about planes and dimension. Our realm has three dimensions, and so the levitation charm uses force to move an object on the first plane, force for the second plane, and force for the third plane. Once you have all three, you can move anything anywhere. Now Vi… Vi… Vi!"

One of the bowls drifted up into the air and hovered wherever Flitwick directed. "Simple as that, though a bit complicated when it comes to practice. Anyone else?"

Ron raised his hand. "I read about it in an advanced charms book this summer sir. Fiendfyre?"

Flitwick winced, but nodded nevertheless. "I won't say much about that curse. It's only use is killing wizards. Just like the killing curse, it is unforgiveable."

The professor flexed a hand and raised his wand, before muttering quietly and conjuring a tiny butterfly made of burning red flames.

"Now, it may look small right now," The professor spoke, sweat gathering on his brow. "But understand that I am keeping it this way for the sake of control. Even with a bit this small-"

The professor flicked his wand, launching the butterfly out of the classroom window, causing the glass to shatter spectacularly.

"It is quite potent."

Flitwick signed and sat down in a conjured chair.

"Are you alright professor?" One of the students asked.

"Quite alright my boy… The charm is just a difficult one." The small man shook his head and stood back up, levelling a stare over the entire room. "I urge you not to practice that charm. If I was not strong enough, it would have turned and killed us all. Fiendfyre is a deadly curse. It burns anything it comes into contact with, including magic. The only one I know in this school that has mastered the charm is Professor Snape, which should tell you just how rigid you must be to use it."

The classroom was silent and Flitwick shook his head.

"Now, we only have a few minutes left. For homework, a paragraph on two magical components, and what effects they generate. How many basic spells can you rediscover? You are only to experiment practically when with another student or under my watchful eye, and you should only work with two invocation words per spell. Anymore, and you could risk some haywire effect and lose a limb, or worse, your life. Please exercise caution. I'm putting my faith in you, don't make me regret it."

Flitwick levelled another stare over his collected students, who all sat at attention. There was something special about this year of students. He felt it.

"You're all dismissed."

—0—

Merlot huffed as Madam Pomfrey ran around her medical cot.

"Really, I said I was fine."

The mediwitch scoffed along with Hannah, who shook her head. "You were screaming, Merlot. And bleeding. Sorry, the last nightmare that did something like that was kind of a case for Saint Mungos."

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Your friend is correct. I know that your medical history is quite addled, with many of your records sealed and held by the goblin nation… but I am the one who is here and I am telling you that this isn't normal. What kind of dream did you have anyway?"

Merlot sighed. "Just… remembering something."

Madam Pomfrey huffed. "Memories don't trigger in sleep seizures dear. Your hand is still shaking."

"Erm, ma'am. Merlot has tremors from erm… last year."

The mediwitch blinked at Hannah, before turning back to Merlot. "Oh… I see. So… the effects were-"

"Permanent, yes. That's not important. What is important is that I am-"

Hannah stood up and stomped. "Merlot Scortwit! You are not okay! You need something to help you with whatever nightmares you are having!"

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "I can give you a dreamless sleep potion… but, I caution against regular use. It's an addictive substance."

Merlot huffed. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to try…"

The mediwitch nodded and walked away from the cot for a moment, before coming back with two bottles of a purple potion. "One small glass should do the trick. Pour it out before you take it, so you don't overdose. Other than that… only take it when you have the need. If you wake up from one of these nightmares, take a dose and try to go back to sleep. That's all I can do for now…"

Merlot begrudgingly took the potions and nodded. "Thank you madam Pomfrey…"

"No problem dear. Worry not, I will send a letter to your caretakers at Gringotts. They were quite upset with my treatment without their knowledge last year."

Merlot nodded. "Spearmint is gonna kill me…"

"I'm sure she'll just be cross, dear. Remember, only take when needed. You'll be fine to go to class."

Merlot stood up and nodded. "Thank you. Hannah?"

"Come on then, you've got defense next." The girl replied.

Merlot shook her head and took her cane. "You do too."

"Last I checked, someone had a super special defense teacher." Hannah waggled her eyebrows. "Looks like you'll miss out on the Dreamy Professor Lockheart."

Merlot rolled her eyes as they walked out of the hospital wing.

"Bite me."

—0—

Alright, another chapter down. Next up will be defense. I have some stuff in store for that one.

It'll be a little different because we'll have both class, and training with Moody. So that'll take up two thirds of the update. But anyways, that's not why I'm writing now.

I have updated the resurrection stone. When I made it, it wasn't what I wanted it to be, so I fixed a lot of it. It's posted down below, along with the next item, The Elder Wand.
Next up will be any fixes to both, and then the invisibility cloak. Then we can move onto some fun items like the sword of Gryffindor, time turners, the foe glass
Oh yeah. Anyways. Enjoy the homebrews, and see you in the next chapter.
Adios.