The Charms classroom was a little larger than most, with its arched ceilings and walls covered with charts and images of famous Charms Masters, including Rowena Ravenclaw. At the back of the room stood a large blackboard, and at its front, standing on a stack of books, Professor Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw and Charms Professor, began calling out the names of the children in the class.
Morgaine gave a small smile; the diminutive Professor's energy was infectious. Her classmates were literally bouncing in their seats, ready to do magic. Much like Professor McGonagall, after taking roll, he displayed his skills with some excellent Charm work. Flitwick worked his way through the First-year curriculum in a flash, then touched the third and fourth. Just a taste of the magic they were to learn in the coming years.
The young sorceress also approved of the first Charm he taught in class, Lumos, which lit the end of their wands in a soft light, then Nox, which extinguished it.
Morgaine, however, waited until someone lit their wand first before casting her own. The Professor shook his head, which she returned with a smile.
"Five Points, Miss Bones," he called out before walking among the other students. "If you would be so kind to help the others."
Morgaine did the same, turning in her seat to help the other Ravenclaws. As it was a simple charm, with little to no wand work, it was no surprise that everyone in class managed to cast both before the break.
Once they returned, the remaining time would be lecture; however, Professor Flitwick started with the Alarm Charm, something everyone needed to know if they expected to wake up on time.
"Miss Rheged, can you approach the front of the class and show how the Charm works? If you're unaware, class, Morgaine here is a Healer's apprentice. Which is quite an accomplishment for someone her age. However, before you object to her already knowing some magic, we Professors will be grading her at a higher standard. In fact, she will be given additional homework in certain classes like mine. And if I am not mistaken, she will also be working with Madam Pomfrey every Saturday morning."
Most of the class didn't look surprised at the mention of her being a healer; giving additional homework didn't seem to excite anyone, well, except for maybe some Ravenclaws. However, the thought of having to work every Saturday stamped down on what little jealousy remained.
"That's lovely," Flitwick commented as Morgain pulled a small silver pocket watch from her robe, looking at the time.
"Thank you. It was a gift from Healer Eloise, and although it already has an alarm enchantment, she insisted I know the Charm as we used it quite often when working at Diagon Alley."
The Professor nodded before looking around the room. "As you might have guessed, the Charm must be cast on an object. It can be a pocket watch, like Morgaine's, the lamp by your bed, or even your pillow if you are so inclined. You will find how to cast it in your book in Chapter One, and I expect at least a foot on its history and examples of how it can be used to be turned in next week. We will spend all of the next class learning to cast it."
Turning to the former Queen, he said. "Now, if you're ready? Let's set it for ten seconds."
"Yes, Professor." She then cast the Alarm Charm with expert wand movement; however, the incantation was not in the fake Latin they used earlier.
"There she goes again," Michael laughed.
"What language was that?" A Hufflepuff boy called out.
Another one replied. "Sounded Welsh, maybe."
Moments later, the pocket watch began to chime.
With a smile, Professor Flitwick raised his hand. "Settle down. Excellent Charm work, Miss Rheged; five points to Ravenclaw for the bit of cheek."
As the former Queen found her spot, the Professor continued. "The incantation, if I am not mistaken, was in Brythoneg. Which is a wonderful segue to what we will discuss for the rest of our time today. Since you have already attended Professor Cuthbert's new history class, you're well aware that ancient Witch and Wizards did not speak English, much less Latin. In fact, only in the Western world today is spellcasting done in Wizardry Latin. Now, if you open your book to Chapter Two, let's discuss Charm theory and how it changed throughout history."
"What's with the funny looks you were given the Raven, Terry?" Sue asked after they dropped off some of their books. The group had just finished Defense and had time to do something else before dinner.
"Don't trust it not to start speaking some ancient language none of us but little Miss Ravenclaw understands."
Lisa giggled. "I haven't heard it speak anything but English. But Morgaine did tell me that the couple of times she approached alone, it changed languages. She complains it reminds her too much of her own familiar."
"Speaking of," Michael nodded down the hall.
Morgaine stood off to the side, and it would be hard to disagree with Terry's nickname. Standing there, with her familiar on her shoulder, she looked like a miniature version of their house's founder. Even more so, as she was surrounded by the Slytherin girls, almost as if holding court.
"The charm work, I have been told, isn't too difficult; you just need to ensure that the person doing it knows what they are doing. Unless you want to see your things suddenly explode all over the hallway."
"You didn't do the enchantment yourself?" Pansy asked as if half expecting a first-year to know a NEWT-level charm.
"The embroidery is mine; however, Tracey's cousin did the charm work," Morgaine explained as all the girls looked over the former Queen's book bag.
"Charlene, really?"
Daphne leaned forward. "Oh, that's some beautiful chain stitching."
"Merlin, what's that?" Tracey asked, pointing at a flower.
"Woven wheel stitch," Pansy murmured, appreciating the work.
"My mom wants me to learn, insisting that every witch should know how to embroider. However, I'm pants at it with my fat fingers," Mellicent complained.
"If Tracey can do it, Milly, then you can too," Daphne insisted, earning her a squawk from her best friend. "Between Morgain, Pansy, and myself, I'm sure we can teach anyone interested in learning."
The two other girls nodded in agreement.
"And on that note, we're out of here," Antony announced, looking at the other Ravenclaw boys who agreed.
"Oh, hello all. You're not joining us?" Morgaine asked, returning her book bag to her shoulder. The group was planning on heading to the library to do their homework.
Terry shook his head. "One of the Griffs has a football; I figure we would kick it around before dinner."
As they watched the Ravenclaw boys leave, Daphne said, "Draco and the others are talking Quidditch in our common room,"
"Football sounds better than Quidditch," Tracey said.
"You can catch up to them if you want; won't hurt my feelings," Daphne said.
"I'll only play if Pansy joins in," she said with a grin.
"Not bloody likely," Milly giggled.
Finding a table at the back of the library, Padma asked, "So, how was the new potions professor?"
"Bloody brilliant. As we were just telling, Morgaine, much better than Snape. The first thing Professor Andromeda did was discuss safety," Tracey explained.
"Without McGonagall's threat of expulsion," Milly added.
Which caused Tracy to grin before continuing. "Afterward, she discussed what seasonal changes need to be made to some potions. Moon and sun positions, that sort of thing, plus dozens of others that the books don't mention or explain well. Couldn't believe how much we learned for our first class."
"And we're not expected to brew at least for another week, then it's going to be the Belfrey Elixir," Daphne said, setting down her books.
"Good choice." Morgaine nodded.
There were similar elixirs in her time which would extend the shelf life of certain potions. However, it was considered a neutral recipe; the worst that could happen would be a cauldron full of sludge.
"What do you expect." Pansy sniffed. "She's one of the famous Black sisters."
Morag tilted her head. "I have heard of the Black family, of course, but not the sisters."
Pansy listed them. "Andromeda, Narcissa, and Bellatrix. All three went to school during my mother's time at Hogwarts. All three Slytherin witches, of course."
"Narcissa's Draco's mom," Tracey pointed out.
Morag made a face. "Ahh that Bellatrix."
Morgaine listened quietly. Beyond her reading, the goblins had given her a thorough education of the history of Wizardry Britain for the last decade and a half, which included politics and a list of important individuals involved with the conflict on both sides.
As a former Queen, she had little sympathy for those who sided with Voldemort. In her time, such an insurrection would have been brutally put down, with all of those captured executed. From what she learned from the goblins about Azkaban, that would have been merciful.
"Yes, well, even if the Professor married a mu…," Pansy coughed, looking embarrassed. "A Muggleborn, she's brilliant."
Mandy gave the young girl a sympathetic smile, then pulled a newspaper from her bag. "So, did you see that Morgaine made the Prophet?"
"Not quite."
"Your family, but close enough we know it was you. It's on the third page, nicely written," she grinned, passing the paper to the Slytherin girls.
"Obviously not Skeeter then," Daphne commented. "On, you're the one paying for new brooms."
Tracey snorted, and Pansy began to grumble.
"We're missing something, aren't we?" Padma asked, looking around the table.
"When the older years mentioned getting new Quidditch brooms yesterday, Draco more or less admitted that it was his father who paid for them," Daphne chuckled.
"Can we borrow the paper, Mandy? Maybe we can leave it in our Common room."
"How Slytherin of you, Milly," Tracy said approvingly.
With everyone working on the homework, it didn't take all that long to finish. The Ravenclaws admitted that they would probably revise it after dinner, but for the most part, they were done.
"How did you know so much about the history of the Alarm Charm, Morgaine?" Sue asked.
"Healer Eloise, the one who gave me my watch, enjoys reading about history and doled out little bits of trivia while we worked. So, when we talked about the added enchantments, she explained how much the Charm had changed throughout the years, especially with the invention of the watch, which happened sometime in the 1500s, well before the Statue of Secrecy was enacted."
"I bet she knew you were going to be learning that Charm the first week," she pointed out.
Morgaine nodded in agreement. "Most likely."
"So, what are we doing tomorrow?" Padma asked while putting her books away.
"Sleeping," Mandy smiled.
"Working with Madam Pomfrey until lunch," Morgaine said.
"Afterward?" Tracey asked, looking at Daphne, who shrugged.
"How about a walk around the lake? Take a peek into the Forbidden Forest; spend some time outside." Morgaine asked the others. "The Wind tells me it's going to be a nice weekend."
"The wind," the group could hear a disdained snort from several tables away.
"What do you mean by that, Granger?" Morag challenged surprisingly with some heat.
The young Muggleborn looked embarrassed. "Err, sorry. I mean, it's just listening to the wind to tell the forecast. "
"It's an ancient form of Divination, Granger," Daphne explained.
"Not so ancient," Morag insisted. "All the farmers where I live come to my grandma when they want to know when it's going to rain. She's closer to the spirit world than most, a touch of the fey my mum says. Gran might not be right all of the time, but better than most. And considering Morgaine's family, it's no surprise she might have some of that gift."
Lisa, who felt sorry for the girl and had never heard of it before, said, "It's not like they can turn on the telly, Granger."
"Sorry," Hermione whispered and started to put her things away.
Ignoring the Gryffindor witch, Mandy asked. "Doesn't that Gillian, what's her name on WWN, give weather reports? She's usually on right before my mom heads to the ministry."
"Woman's a hack," Morag grumbled.
Padma smiled. "We have similar ways at home, my sister's quite enamored with divination. She would know better than me."
"My mum speaks to Old Boothe around harvest time," Daphne explained. "A lot of the apples you eat are from our orchards."
"Lots of apples," Travey chirped happily.
Morgaine watched Hermione leave the library as if the furies were chasing her.
"Bit of a twit, that one," Pansy said. "And it's not because she's a Muggleborn."
"My sister thinks she's trying too hard." Padma, too, watched the girl flee. "Most of her house treats her rather poorly."
"We've only been here a week," Lisa said, surprised.
Tracey sighed. "She's a bit of a know-it-all. I mean, she earns them a lot of points in class, but still."
Morgaine then suggested, "We should invite her tomorrow when we walk around the lake,"
"Really?" Pansy asked, shocked.
"She's new to our world. Plus, she looks lonely. If you haven't noticed, she's been sitting by herself every time we've been in the library together."
Millicent nodded. "I agree."
Pandy then spun around.
"I hate bullies, you know that." Milly insisted, crossing her arms.
"But she a Gryffindor," Pansy whined.