Summoning Charm

Professor Flitwick had extensive teaching experience. He knew that most students had limited patience, so after teaching Charms Theory for a while, he began showing them how to use magic. The first spell the new students learned was Lumos.

Lumos was one of the greatest magical inventions of the eighteenth century, and one of the simplest and most practical spells there was.

"Come on, repeat after me: Lumos!" Professor Flitwick sounded as though he were teaching kindergarten children how to read.

"Lumos," everyone repeated.

"Very good. Just raise your wand, give it a light tap, and say the incantation, Lumos." Professor Flitwick demonstrated it for the entire class, then repeated, "Remember, the wand movement and correct pronunciation of the incantation are very important."

"All right, why don't you give it a try now?"

The classroom immediately filled with the sound of incantations. Albert naturally put on a show of practicing Lumos as well. Though he had already mastered the spell, he could hardly stand by and watch while everyone else practiced. That would be far too antisocial.

"Everyone, look! Mr. Anderson has succeeded. He has already mastered the spell," Professor Flitwick called out. "Excellent, five points to Gryffindor."

Everyone turned to look at him. Under so many stares, Albert felt a little uncomfortable. He turned his head and glared at Lee Jordan, who was vigorously patting him on the shoulder.

In fact, quite a few students had managed to light their wands right away. They simply could not maintain it for long before the light on their wands went out.

The twins and Lee Jordan still had not fully mastered the spell by the end of class. Diggory had also successfully lit his wand, but it went out shortly afterward.

Of course, there was a small accident in the Charms classroom. A Hufflepuff student swung his wand too hard, and flames burst from its tip, setting the robe of the unlucky student in front of him on fire.

That fellow was punished by Professor Flitwick and made to copy a sentence: I am a wizard, not a baboon waving a stick around.

Shanna, who had spoken with Albert that morning, was not doing well either. After several unsuccessful attempts, her wand actually began spewing choking black smoke. Professor Flitwick had to use magic to sweep the smoke out of the classroom.

"I just can't learn it." Shanna looked utterly despairing.

"Don't worry. Everyone still has time to master this magic." Professor Flitwick comforted the students who had failed to light their wands, then continued, "You need to stay calm and focus your attention."

Before class ended, Professor Flitwick assigned them homework.

"Your homework is to practice Lumos. Next class, we will continue learning this spell, along with its counter-spell."

Of course, Albert had already finished his homework.

After class, Albert deliberately hung back at the end of the line. He intended to ask Professor Flitwick a few questions.

Well, about the magic for conjuring an umbrella from a wand.

"Mr. Anderson, your Copy Charm is quite good." Professor Flitwick smiled as he examined the student before him. "You have a great talent for Charms."

"Thank you for the compliment, Professor Flitwick." Albert gladly accepted the praise. "I would like to ask you about a type of magic."

"What kind of magic?"

"How can I conjure an umbrella from my wand?" Albert asked, intending to take this opportunity to learn the magic.

"Conjure an umbrella?" Professor Flitwick looked puzzled. "Why would you want to conjure an umbrella from your wand?"

"Ahem, well, it had been raining constantly these past few days. I thought that if I could conjure an umbrella, I wouldn't have to worry about getting soaked when it rained!" Albert said solemnly.

Professor Flitwick could not help laughing. Some people learned spells simply to "save themselves trouble," and Mr. Anderson before him was undoubtedly one of them.

"Mr. Anderson, do you know what a charm is?" Professor Flitwick asked with a smile.

"A charm is a spell that gives a specific property to an object or living creature." Albert recited the Charms Theory he had just learned in class. In other words, conjuring an umbrella from his wand did not fall under Charms?

"It seems you understand already." Professor Flitwick nodded. "What you described, conjuring an umbrella from your wand, is actually a branch of Transfiguration known as the Summoning Charm."

"The Summoning Charm?" Albert had only heard of Accio.

Flitwick raised his wand and conjured a flower out of thin air.

"This is the Summoning Charm. The spell does not create things from nothing. No one can create things from nothing." Flitwick handed the unidentified flower to Albert and continued, "I merely summoned the flower here from somewhere else."

"Mm, I think I understand. Like the Scouring Charm, it only transfers things away? They have not truly vanished, only disappeared from in front of us."

"That's right. It seems you studied the textbook carefully in advance." Flitwick was pleased that Albert understood. He added, "The Summoning Charm is O.W.L.-level knowledge. Its counterpart is the Vanishment Charm, which is somewhat simpler. If you want to learn more about these subjects, I suggest asking Professor McGonagall. She will certainly be happy to teach you."

"Of course, if there is anything you do not understand about Charms, you may ask me as well." Flitwick raised a hand and pointed at the three people waiting by the door. "You have another class next, don't you? Don't be late."

"Professor, I have one more question."

Professor Flitwick said nothing, waiting for Albert to continue.

"Can we store the light produced by Lumos? I mean, take it out and use it without casting magic." Albert threw out another question. He thought it might be related to the principle behind Dumbledore's Deluminator.

"That is a very interesting idea. As far as I know, it should be possible, but it is still rather difficult for you, because it involves many things." Professor Flitwick was amazed that Albert would ask such a question. "I am curious. Why did you have that idea?"

"In the Muggle world, there is something called a flashlight. A flashlight is like Lumos—you can turn its light on or off whenever you want."

At that point, Albert paused, because he noticed that the panel had issued another new task.

Inventor of Magical Lamp

It seemed that young you had inadvertently touched upon a certain field. Why not carry your idea forward?

Research and create a magical lamp.

Reward: 3,000 experience points, Lumos level +1, Nox level +1, title: Inventor of Magical Lamp.

After Albert left the classroom, George hurried over and asked curiously, "What did you ask Flitwick about?"

"What? Of course, how to conjure an umbrella from a wand."

"And?"

"Professor Flitwick said it was O.W.L.-level Transfiguration knowledge." Albert felt a little depressed. Should I find a way to learn the Summoning Charm?

"Looks like you will not be conjuring an umbrella anytime soon." Fred could not help laughing.

The four of them headed together toward the History of Magic classroom on the second floor.