Lys fingered the labradorite bracelet through her sleeve, feeling a pleasant surprise. Her mother had noticed what she liked and bought it for her.
The feeling of being noticed—it was simply wonderful.
Three days later, the new term began. Lys packed two trunks of books and half a trunk of clothes and miscellaneous items before boarding the Hogwarts Express. This time, Senna lingered on the platform for a while, giving Lys a cold look before leaving.
In the train compartment, Lys clenched her fists and waved them in the air to vent her excitement.
Even during the opening feast, she appeared spirited and enthusiastic. Compared to her previous sullen, irritable demeanor, this self-assured exuberance seemed almost peculiar.
That night, Lys had to cast an Engorgement Charm on her blanket because covering her head left her feet exposed.
She also conjured a magical fire in a cauldron, which would burn as long as she supplied it with magic. The ethereal blue flames were both tranquil and warm.
In the cool September dungeons, enjoying the underground chill while basking in the warmth of the flames was utterly delightful.
It wasn't until the next morning, when she saw her nearly full timetable, that she sobered up a bit from her holiday mood.
This year, she had dropped Divination—it was a complete waste of her time. As a fourth-year, she could now take Ancient Runes, which would aid her alchemical studies, so she chose it instead.
Looking at her packed schedule, Lys took a deep breath, rubbing the ammolite ring on her index finger. Her father expected better grades, and her mother wanted her to master at least one skill.
After marking her key subjects, Lys carried a gift for Madam Pomfrey to the hospital wing, thanking her for the book The Curious Cases of St. Mungo's. Without it, Senna's leg would have been left with a permanent scar!
A puzzled Madam Pomfrey handed Lys a stack of magical stabilizers in return, praising her for no longer looking alarmingly thin and for the improvement in her dark circles.
However, her magic was still unstable. Madam Pomfrey suggested that if the issue persisted after her period of rapid magical growth, Lys should visit St. Mungo's. After all, magic was the foundation of every wizard's existence.
Bidding farewell to Madam Pomfrey, Lys headed to her first Charms class.
"Oh, my dear children, it brings me such joy to see you again after the holidays. Last term, we mastered…"
After summarizing the previous term's lessons, Professor Flitwick emphasized the difficulty of this term's content. "This term, we'll delve into the magic of emotions. Magic, targets, emotions—emotions are the most elusive aspect of magic. The spell that represents this is the Patronus Charm, which requires wizards to channel their emotions into the casting process."
Steadying himself atop a stack of books, Flitwick continued, "While other spells don't demand the same intense emotions as the Patronus Charm, emotions are still indispensable."
With a wave of his wand, Flitwick silently cast a Levitation Charm, causing the books of the first-row students to float into the air. A pile of cookie crumbs fell from a Hufflepuff boy's book.
"Magic is the arm, the target is the eye, and emotions are part of the control. Do you want to levitate one book? Or all of them? The stronger and purer the emotion, the greater the power it unleashes."
After lowering the books and deducting a point from Hufflepuff, Flitwick continued, "In ancient times, there was even a type of magic known as the Magic of Love. I don't know much about it, but I speculate it involved genuine sacrifice. The protective and offensive capabilities it unleashed were nearly unparalleled."
"Of course, it's long lost. Perhaps pure emotions are too rare, or perhaps the knowledge itself is even rarer…"
The sentimental professor sighed. "I digress… I digress. This term, we'll focus on casting our spells faster, better, and stronger."
"While you may find it difficult to summon the emotions required for a Patronus Charm, think back to your childhood magical outbursts. Young wizards often experience massive magical surges due to unexpressed emotions. Recall those moments…"
Noticing some students blushing, Flitwick made a lighthearted joke. "Remember that time you wet your pants as a child? Just kidding. After three years of learning control, I now need you to learn how to lose control—controlled chaos, if you will."
Brushing more cookie crumbs off the Hufflepuff boy's book, Flitwick quipped, "Last year, your vase kept muttering about chicken legs. What is it now, biscuits?"
"I know this might seem strange and difficult, but children, this is the turning point in mastering charms: controlling magic, harnessing emotions, understanding spells…"
With a flick of his wand, Flitwick conjured a roaring, flame-spewing three-headed dog that filled half the classroom. He then transformed it into a drooping, melancholic daffodil, which sent ripples of water to extinguish the fiery dog. The resulting steam radiated scorching heat.
"This is your future, children," Flitwick declared, clearly pleased with the awe-struck expressions of the young wizards below.
Nowadays, most parents used their wands for mundane tasks like summoning water or doing chores, which had dulled their children's enthusiasm for the intricacies of spellcasting.
Lys, inspired by Flitwick's words, attempted to cast a spell on a pear in front of her, channeling her longing to be noticed and her hope for success.
To her surprise, the pear started rolling around the table at once. "Excellent! Five points to Slytherin. I suppose I should be generous at the start of term, shouldn't I? Control—controlled release, and make your target clearer, child."
Flitwick emphasized control again, as Lys's pear excitedly rolled onto another table, colliding with a pear that had a bite taken out of it by the same Hufflepuff boy.
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