Charms

"I never would have guessed you'd be sorted into Slytherin. Honestly, I thought you'd be in the same House as us. Even if not, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would both suit you well. Of course, I'm not saying Slytherin is bad. You know, those people in Slytherin are a little..."

"A little arrogant." Lynn finished the thought for whichever of George and Fred had been speaking.

"Yes." The other Weasley said, "We've only just met you too, but you don't seem like someone who only looks down on others."

Lynn tilted his head in thought. "You can't really call them arrogant. They're just a bit tsundere. They just have a different way of making friends."

He smiled at the Weasley brothers. "What is it? Don't tell me you're going to cut ties with me because I joined Slytherin?"

The twins exchanged a glance, then looked at Lynn together and declared loudly, "Of course not! Don't forget, Mum told us before we left to look after you at school."

Lynn shrugged. "That's why I don't see why you care so much about which House I was sorted into. As long as we get along, we can still be friends."

"You're right. We should apologize for what we said earlier." The Weasley brothers said this while pulling faces, without a hint of sincerity in their apology.

They had classes that morning as well, so they did not chat any longer. After agreeing to explore Hogwarts Castle together another time, they parted ways.

Lynn sat down at the Slytherin table. Several older students had already arrived, and they greeted him when they saw him. After all, they had met at last night's welcome feast.

Betty, the female prefect, frowned. "You're the earliest of all the new students today. I wonder how many people will be late for Charms later. Professor Flitwick is usually good-tempered, but he hates students who aren't punctual most of all."

Breakfast was certainly not as lavish as last night's feast, but Lynn found the oatmeal very much to his liking.

"They should know better. Give it another week or two, and they'll probably get used to waking up early."

Prefects at Hogwarts were not little wizards' nannies. They had no responsibility to fuss over every detail of the new students' lives. After complaining once, Betty did not nag any further. Instead, she glanced at the bowl of oatmeal in Lynn's hand and said casually:

"It seems Hogwarts's house-elves have changed the menu recently. I've never seen this kind of porridge at breakfast before."

As she spoke, Lynn had already finished every last drop from his bowl.

"Really? Then they're quite good at cooking. This tastes almost as good as something I'd make myself."

Betty rolled her eyes. It was her first time witnessing just how thick Lynn's skin was.

The prefect's words soon came true.

In the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick stood atop a towering stack of books, his expression unpleasant as his fingertip tapped repeatedly against the lectern.

Three minutes had already passed since class was supposed to begin, yet five little wizards still had not arrived.

The Slytherin and Ravenclaw students who had made it to class hunched their heads down and sat at their desks like quails.

Everyone could tell that Professor Flitwick was in a very bad mood.

Just as the professor's last shred of patience was about to run out, four Slytherin first-years and one Ravenclaw first-year rushed into the classroom in a panic.

"P-Professor, we had actually worked out the time already. It was the stairs when we were going upstairs—they were messing with us..."

One of the new students tried to explain, but Professor Flitwick glared at them irritably.

"Quiet! You have already wasted three minutes of everyone's time. Return to your seats immediately. Whether it is my class or another professor's, I do not wish to see this happen again!"

The lack of punishment beyond a scolding made the five feel as though they had been granted a pardon. They hurried to find seats and sit down.

Once Professor Flitwick saw that they were all seated, he cleared his throat and began the first Charms lesson.

"Wizarding magic has developed over thousands of years. By now, the number of known spells is impossible to count. Yet no matter how magic develops, it cannot escape the two major categories of charms and Transfiguration spells.

Before we begin studying charms in detail, I must first teach you how to distinguish charms from Transfiguration spells. While this will not affect your casting, it is fundamental theory that every wizard must know.

Now then, who can tell me the difference between charms and Transfiguration spells, based on what you know?"

Almost the instant Professor Flitwick finished speaking, Lynn raised his hand high.

The professor, who was said to have goblin blood, looked somewhat surprised. He had expected this question to be met with silence among the first-years.

"Then, Mr. Belloc, you may answer."

Lynn rose from his seat. "A charm gives a specific attribute to an object or creature, while a Transfiguration spell turns it into something entirely different."

Professor Flitwick appeared greatly surprised by Lynn's answer.

"Very good. That is the most standard answer. You even finished reading the excerpts in the book?"

"Yes, Professor." Lynn showed no trace of pride, because as far as he knew, among the little wizards currently sitting here was someone even more diligent than him, someone who had read the entire Charms textbook: the Ravenclaw first-year he had met on the train.

It was just that he had not raised his hand and had no intention of answering.

Lynn continued calmly.

"I remember the excerpts also explained that hexes, jinxes, and curses are also charms, but are collectively called Dark spells. The Standard Book of Spells series does not cover such spells."

"Excellent." Professor Flitwick praised him. "You are the first first-year I have met who has carefully read the entire book before class without even skipping the excerpts. Five points to Slytherin."

You have received sincere praise from the Charms professor—Filius Flitwick. General Spells talent +1, General Spells effect +1.

Your outstanding performance in Charms has earned points for your House from the Charms professor—Filius Flitwick. General Spells talent +1, General Spells effect +1.

The two consecutive system notifications left Lynn completely stunned.

So it was not just praise. Earning points for his House could also increase his magical talent.

"You may sit down, Mr. Belloc."

Only when Professor Flitwick urged him did Lynn come back to his senses and return to his seat.

After the enormous surprise, he quickly calmed down as well.

Increasing magical talent could not possibly be so easy. After all, the overall limit was only 10. If a single compliment and a single point award could each earn one point, would he not become a magical prodigy in less than a month after school began?

Sure enough, Lynn's guess was correct.

After Professor Flitwick officially began teaching them the Levitation Charm, Lynn once again drew his attention through his outstanding performance and received another round of lavish praise.

But this time, the system did not sound again to announce an increase in magical talent.

This proved that each professor's praise and point-awarding rewards were one-time only. In other words, he could earn at most two points of talent from the professors of each subject.