Summoning Charm

Summoning Charm

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

The Lumos Charm was one of the greatest magical inventions of the eighteenth century, and it was also one of the simplest and most practical spells.

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

"Lumos," everyone repeated in unison.

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

"All right, why not give it a try now?"

The classroom immediately filled with the sound of incantations. Albert naturally put on a show of practicing the Lumos Charm as well. Although he had already mastered it, he could hardly stand aside and watch while everyone else practiced. That would be far too unsociable. "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. With so many eyes fixed on him, Albert felt a little uncomfortable. He turned his head and shot Lee Jordan a glare as the latter vigorously patted his shoulder.

In fact, quite a few students lit their wands right away. They simply could not maintain it for long, and the light on their wands soon went out.

The Twins and Lee Jordan still failed to fully master the spell before class ended. 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, causing flames to burst from its tip and set the robes of one of the unlucky ones in front of him on fire.

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

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

"I simply 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, adding, "You need to stay calm and focus your attention."

Before class ended, Professor Flitwick assigned them homework.

"Your homework is to practice the Lumos Charm. In the next lesson, we will continue learning this spell, as well as its counterspell."

Naturally, 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 producing an umbrella from a wand.

"Mr. Anderson, you used the Duplication Charm quite well." 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 spell."

"What spell?"

"How can I produce an umbrella from my wand?" Albert voiced his question, intending to use this opportunity to learn that magic.

"Produce an umbrella?" Professor Flitwick looked puzzled. "Why do you want to produce an umbrella from your wand?"

"Ahem, it's because it kept raining these past few days. I thought that if I could produce an umbrella, I wouldn't have to worry about getting wet in the rain!" Albert said with a straight face.

Professor Flitwick could not help laughing. Some people learned spells simply for convenience, 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 particular object or creature a specific property." Albert recited the Charm Theory he had just learned in class. In other words, producing an umbrella from a wand did not belong to Charms? "It seems you already understand." Professor Flitwick nodded. "What you described, producing an umbrella from your wand, is actually a branch of Transfiguration known as the Summoning Charm."

"Summoning Charm?" Albert had only heard of the Summoning Charm.

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

"This is the Summoning Charm. It does not create things out of nothing. No one can create something out of nothing." Flitwick handed the nameless flower to Albert and continued, "I merely summoned the flower here from somewhere else."

"Mm, I think I understand. It's like the Scouring Charm—it merely moves things away? They have not truly vanished, only disappeared from before our eyes."

"That's right. It seems you prepared the textbook well." Flitwick was pleased that Albert understood. He added, "The Summoning Charm is O.W.L.-level knowledge. Its counterpart is the Vanishing Spell, which is somewhat simpler. If you want to learn more about this, I suggest you ask 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 another question."

Professor Flitwick said nothing, waiting for Albert to continue.

"Can we store the light from the Lumos Charm? I mean, could we take it out and use it without casting magic?" Albert raised another question. He believed 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 had raised such a question. "I am curious, why did you have this idea?"

"In the Muggle world, there is something called a flashlight. A flashlight is like the Lumos Charm. You can turn its light on or off as you wish."

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

Magic Lamp Inventor.

As a young man, you seem to have accidentally touched upon a certain field. Why not carry your idea forward? Research and create a Magic Lamp.

Reward: 3,000 experience points, Lumos Charm level +1, Extinguishing Charm level +1, title: Magic Lamp Inventor.

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

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

"And?"

"Professor Flitwick said that was O.W.L.-level Transfiguration knowledge." Albert felt a little depressed. He wondered whether he should find some way to learn the Summoning Charm.

"Looks like you won't be producing umbrellas anytime soon." Fred could not help laughing.

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