Classes were dull. It's like we have already learned everything they have to teach us this year, so all we have left to do is keep practicing the same things over and over. This led to several people doing their own things during Charms and Transfiguration classes once we demonstrated our ability to perform the day's task. In potions class we simply had a random potion written next to our names written on the board before we even entered the classroom. History was an exceptionally drab affair with Binns going into painful detail on the exact numbers of irrelevant things like buttons on a jacket, rivets in a suit of armor, or the number of paintings hanging on someone's wall. I paid no attention to any of it, and just read through the textbook and supplements as I tried my hardest to tune out the drone of his voice. DADA was a recap on everything we had learned all year.
Detention with Professor Flitwick was by far the most enjoyable event of the week. I had one spell to tutor each day, starting with first year spells and working my way up. It was on Friday after my tutoring session ended earlier than expected that Professor Flitwick came up to me.
“Miss Potter, I must say I am very impressed with how well you have been performing in your role as teacher.”
“I learned from the best.” I replied.
“I can recognize natural talent when I see it. That isn't something I can teach, but I can help develop it.” There was a pause before he continued. “And on the topic of natural talent, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course, Professor.”
“Your first week here at Hogwarts, when you cast the Protego Duo with your back turned… Did you feel the attack before you heard the words?”
“That's probably the best way to explain it. I've brought it up casually to some of my friends and they have no idea what I'm talking about. And I can't quite put what I feel into words to find anything useful in the library.”
“It's not something you'll find in any of the books here, not until you have access to the restricted section anyways, but I want to try something if you have some time available.”
“Sure! Nobody is expecting me to be free until dinner.”
“Wonderful. Follow me, if you will.” We exited the charms classroom and walked past the dueling club door to the next room down. Professor Flitwick went through an even more complex unlocking routine than the one I'm used to seeing for the dueling club door which peaked my interests even more. “Only a handful of students have even been in this room during my tenure here.”
The room had twelve training dummies arranged in a circle about thirty feet in diameter, each pointing inwards and holding a wand. There was a circular platform in the center. It was about five feet in diameter and raised only a few inches off the ground. I had a feeling I knew what the purpose of this room was, which was confirmed by my teacher as he led me to the center platform.
“The dummies will channel whatever spell is cast. Your goal is to avoid getting hit. The dummies are only active while you are standing on the platform, so if you get overwhelmed just step off and everything stops.”
I took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform, my wand already in hand. As soon as both of my feet were on the platform I could feel the magical charge flowing through the room and watched as the dummies sprang to life. Professor Flitwick took his position in an elevated booth outside the ring of dummies.
“We will start off simple, with just a disarming charm so you can get a feel for things. Are you ready, Miss Potter?” I closed my eyes and took a few more deep breaths before nodding, my arms still at my side.
The first attack was defected easily enough. As were the next six, but the complete lack of sound and the random pace eventually got the better of me. I felt the surge pulse through me and travel to my hand, launching my wand from my grasp to clank on the stone floor next to one of the dummies.
“Very good, Miss Potter. Most people don't survive the first couple spells on their first attempt.” Professor Flitwick called down as I retrieved my wand. “I think one more round and you'll be ready for level two.”
“What's level two?” I asked.
“You do it blindfolded.”
“And how many levels are there?”
“It's not a set system, so we will make up new levels as we go.”
“Can we go ahead and try the blindfold now?”
Professor Flitwick chuckled. “If you think you are ready for it.” He pointed to the base of his booth, where a silk cloth was wrapped over a hook.
I summoned it to me and tied it securely around my head, adjusting it so that it blocked out all of the light.
“Ready?”
I took slow, deep breaths, letting my heart rate slow to the point that I could hear each one of my heartbeats. “Yes.”
It was different this time. It was almost as if my vision was looking down on myself from above. I saw a red light behind me, deflected. Two lights, one from the front and another from the right, a shield charm took care of both. A blue light this time along with three more red lights, one smooth motion of my wand blocked all four.
This carried on for several minutes, until the constant movement made me lose track of my position on the platform and I stepped off. Fortunately it's only elevated a few inches so I was able to stay on my feet.
I heard clapping. “Bravo, Miss Potter! Well done indeed.”
I pulled off my blindfold. “Thank you, Professor. It's hard to explain, but it was like I could see everything before it happened.”
Professor Flitwick had started walking down the steps to join me. I guess that means we're done for the day. “I think we can call this a successful session!” I think he saw my disappointment in my new training coming to an end. “We will do this again, I can promise you that, but this kind of training can be extremely straining, both physically and mentally. It's best to start small.”
“I understand.” I hung the cloth back on the hook and joined Professor Flitwick at the door. As he was re-engaging all of the locks and wards I asked, “Professor? What was the one spell you cast that was different?”
He paused. “How… how did you know I used another charm?”
“It looked different from the rest. It felt different as well.”
“My, my, Miss Potter. You certainly are a conundrum indeed. I think I'm going to have to consult some of my colleagues to figure out how to beat train you further. If it's even possible for me to train you further.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean, my dear, is that you might possess a rare gift that was more prevalent during the time of The Silver Spears but doesn't show up too often anymore. If I recall, the last student to possess this gift graduated the year before I took over as the Charms Professor. ”
I had read about The Silver Spears in several of my books about dueling. They were an elite order, dedicated to the art of the duel. It was rumored that kings would pay a small fortune to hire just one person from the order. “And what year was that?” I asked.
“I took over the post in, oh, the ’71 school year.”
“And she graduated in 1970…” I mumbled to myself.
“What was that?”
“Oh! Nothing Professor. Just thinking to myself out loud. So when can we do this again? It was fun.”
Professor Flitwick chuckled. “Quite eager, I see. But I guess the answer to that depends on what leniency you get from your professors during detention. As long as your punishment is over by 5:30 we can do this again on Wednesday or Friday.”
I sighed. “Ok. Thank you again, Professor.”
“It was my pleasure, Miss Potter.”
I departed the Charms corridor with a smile on my face and a pep in my step. I still had close to forty minutes before dinner started. Hermione might be in the library. Susan could be in any number of places. I stopped and pulled out a parchment and quill and wrote a note to Susan telling her I finished early and am heading to our spot by the lake. I also wrote a note to Hermione asking if she'd care to join us. I pulled out two of my little stone messenger snakes and watched them slither away in separate directions after I gave them their notes to deliver and their recipients and telling them to come back to me after their delivery was made. I put my quill and parchment back in my bag and headed down to the lake.
Susan was already waiting for me when I got there. “Hey. I was just on my way to the Charms room when your little messenger found me.” She said, as I sat next to her on the bench. She gave me a quick kiss and then laid down on the beach with her head in my lap.
“They are handy. I invited Hermione to join us, too.”
“Of course you did. So how did everything go with your tutoring?”
“All of them were in the dueling club with me, so it went pretty smooth.”
“So it didn't bother you to help your opponents?”
“Why would it? It was actually refreshing teaching people that have more skill.”
“So what, not like all those times you've helped me?”
“I didn't say that. And it's not like I mind helping you, or anyone else for that matter. It was just easier, that's all. And Professor Flitwick introduced me to a new training after my tutees left.”
“Oh?” Susan sat up and turned to face me.
I spent the next few minutes telling her everything about it, from the room to seeing the colors when I was blindfolded.
“Can you show me?”
“Umm. Can you cast jinxes or curses silently all of a sudden? It's not much of a challenge if I hear it coming.”
There had been a tension building between the two of us that I could feel but now it was written on her face. She smacked my arm rather hard. “Gee, thanks.”
“Ow.” I said as I rubbed my arm.
Susan stood up. “You know I can't! For the record, I was asking to see the room, or for you to invite me to watch the next time. But I guess that never even crossed your mind.”
“It's not like I had time to come find you, it just happened! And I'm telling you about it now, aren't I!?” I shot back, hurt that I was being attacked by the one person I had always felt the safest with.
“You weren't telling me, you were bragging to me. Admit it, you're happy leaving me trailing behind, so I'll make it easy for you.” She turned and stormed off in the direction of the castle.
“Susan! Wait!” I was on my feet and chasing after her. “I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry!” She didn't respond so I grabbed her shoulder but she shrugged off my hand. “Susan!” I knew I shouldn't but I pulled out my wand and pointed it at her. “Immobulus!”
I quickly walked in front of her. “Where is all of this coming from all of a sudden!?” I could see her body fighting against the spell and I didn't want to keep her immobilized so I raised my wand. “Finite!” Her forward momentum continued when I ended the spell but she wasn't ready for it. I saw her trip so I reached out to catch her and got her back to an upright position only to be met with a slap, one that reminded me of being at the Dursley’s and getting into trouble. My cheek stung and my eyes were tearing.
“How dare you! And this isn't all of a sudden! All year I've been watching you slowly outpace everyone in our class! I've watched all year as you've slowly been outgrowing me, us! I've stood by you time and time again, even though I seem to be the last person you want to be alone with. And this is how you repay me!?”
“Susan, I…”
“Save it, Holly. I don't want to hear it. Goodbye!” She stormed past me, leaving me standing there holding my cheek and crying.
I only made it about halfway to the castle when I saw Hermione walking my way. “She's all yours now.” I said as I walked past her.
“What?” Hermione asked, but I kept walking. “Susan!”
I looked back to see her just standing there. Good. She's not following me. I thought to myself. I had been looking forward to dinner, but now I wasn't hungry and just wanted to be alone.
I made my way straight to my dorm. A few people said hi or some other generic greeting but I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. When I finally got to my room I dove onto my bed and started crying uncontrollably with my face in my pillow. What did I just do!? I thought to myself.
“Holly!?” Hermione called, still a ways away.
I turned around to look, but she hadn't rounded the bend yet so she was still out of sight. “Over here!” I called.
“There you are.” Hermione was still a ways off and I was sat on the bench looking out over the lake with the path behind me. “What's up with Susan? I just passed her on my way… Oh My Gosh! Holly, what happened!?”
Hermione was sitting next to me now. I'm sure my cheek was still red, possibly even swollen, and definitely tear stained. My eyes were certainly still watery. She hugged me tightly and the crying started in full force. She ended the hug and guided my head to her lap and just ran her fingers through my hair over and over until I cried myself to sleep.
