Thursday's
Charms class was led by Professor Flitwick, a former dueling champion.
His goblin ancestry made him barely over a meter tall, and in his simple grey wizard robe, he resembled a small, white-haired old man.
To reach the desk, he stood on a stack of books.When he called the roll and reached Harry's name, he let out an excited squeak, toppled off his pile of books, and vanished from sight, prompting giggles from the young wizards.
Hermione and Damon were the exceptions. Charms was Damon's forte, and Hermione, knowing this, had prepared extensively. Damon, however, respected and admired Professor Flitwick.
The professor was highly skilled yet approachable, treating all students fairly, without favoritism or prejudice.
His classes allowed freedom of movement, and students could even joke with him.As for learning Charms? Damon's expert-level spellcasting made him doubt he'd learn much in a beginner's class unless Flitwick offered private lessons.
That wasn't out of the question, though.Spells aren't just complex incantations, Professor Flitwick began. They're an art, a reflection of mind and will. Today, we'll learn Lumos, one of the most basic and practical spells. It can light up dark places, serve as a signal, decorate, or even act as a distress call in emergencies.The young wizards focused on their wand tips and waved them, chanting, Lumos!The classroom burst into a array of lights—some as faint as stars, others blazing like flames. Damon didn't rush to cast.
Instead, he helped Neville, whose light was a dim flicker, until it reached an average glow. When Neville asked, Why haven't you cast yet? Damon smiled faintly.Lumos, he said.
A warm, radiant orb appeared, like a small sun hovering above his wand. It was gentle yet powerful, casting a comforting glow across the room. The students gasped.Merlin's beard! Five points to Gryffindor for your extraordinary Lumos! Professor Flitwick leapt off his desk, nearly bouncing with excitement as he approached Damon.
Malfoy stared at the glowing orb, his face twisting with jealousy and unease.
This is Lumos? he thought. Even Lumos Solem doesn't look like that. How can an orphan like Damon have such powerful magic?
Malfoy's Slytherin classmates, who usually respected him because of his father's influence, glared at him. A rumor had spread in Slytherin: Damon White didn't join their house because Malfoy had insulted him, calling him a Mudblood on the train.
Damon, believing Mudbloods weren't welcome in Slytherin, had chosen Gryffindor instead.In other words, Slytherin had lost a brilliant wizard to their rival house, Gryffindor, because of Malfoy's arrogance. How could they not be furious? If not for Malfoy's father being a school governor, their whispers would have turned into outright scorn.
Malfoy's expression soured further, but he hadn't yet grasped the full weight of his mistake. As Damon's talents shone brighter, outshining his peers, Malfoy's troubles would only grow.Damon's performance sparked murmurs of awe.
His five-point gain in one go made Hermione feel a pang of rivalry—she was now only one point ahead of him. Professor Flitwick encouraged the other students but, to keep things fair, didn't award more points to Gryffindor, leaving Hermione frustrated at her inability to widen the gap.Ron and Seamus became Damon's instant fans, their faces lit with excitement as they shot smug glances at the Slytherins.
Seamus's next Lumos inexplicably sparked with faint electric flickers, unnoticed amid the glowing chaos.Harry, however, stared at his own modest light with a hint of loneliness.
He'd known Damon's spellcasting was exceptional, but seeing it firsthand stung. This was just Lumos, the simplest spell, yet the gap between them felt vast. Overhearing whispers about the Savior's light being no match for Damon's,
Harry's cheeks burned with embarrassment. He disliked the "Savior" title already, and this only made it worse.He felt he should be better.
Reflecting on the past few days, he realized he'd been goofing off with Ron, neglecting homework and skipping textbook prep, unlike Hermione.
Catching her eye, he saw the same determination in her gaze, drawing them closer in their shared resolve.After class, Professor Flitwick called Damon aside. With Transfiguration class next, Damon couldn't stay long. Flitwick, learning of Damon's background, praised his magical talent with restraint and urged him not to waste it.
He also assigned special homework: transform Lumos into seven colors of light.Take your time, Flitwick said. When you're ready,
visit my office on the eighth floor.Got it, Professor, Damon replied.They parted quickly, Damon hurrying to Professor McGonagall's class.
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(End of this chapter)