A Brief History of Spell Evolution and Harry's Suspicions

Will had no idea what was happening in the Gryffindor Common Room. He went on enjoying his carefree days.

Ever since his clash with Yaxley and the others in the Common Room, he had had a dormitory to himself. No one called him "Ravenclaw's spy" anymore, at least not to his face, and he couldn't be bothered worrying about what they said behind his back.

As for the families behind them, they had no influence within Hogwarts, just as he had expected.

One day after Charms class, Will approached Professor Flitwick.

"Will, how come Miss Lestrange isn't with you today?" Professor Flitwick teased. The two had grown familiar, and the professor liked this polite, modest young wizard with his thirst for knowledge.

"I wanted to ask you a few things, so I told her to go spend time with her friends." Will handed Professor Flitwick his notebook. "Professor, I'd like to know how Runes developed into the spell system we use today."

Professor Flitwick gave Will a surprised look. "Will, Runes aren't covered until third year. You don't need to study them yet."

"Professor, I'm not trying to study Runes themselves. I just want to know why wizards went from using Runes to using spells, and how the two are connected," Will explained. "It would help me understand today's spell system. When you visited my home, you only explained the connection between emotions and spells."

"All right." Professor Flitwick cast a Levitation Charm on his stack of books. "Let's go to my office."

Will followed Professor Flitwick to his office.

"No one knows who created Runes or when. Some say it was Merlin, others Odin, and still others Jesus Christ, but those are only legends. Ancient wizards did use Runes to cast magic. By arranging different Runes in specific structures, they could produce astonishing effects: light, fire, summoned monsters, even a distortion of the boundary between life and death.

"Runic spellcasting was also quite stable, and once mastered, the structures could be assembled very quickly. Its one problem was the difficulty."

"Take this, for example." Professor Flitwick drew an intricate, twisting pattern in the air with his wand. "Do you recognize it?"

"Sowilo. The sun. It can also mean light or brightness." Will pronounced the Rune in a strange, awkward tone that hardly sounded human.

"You've actually started studying Runes?" Professor Flitwick was surprised by Will's progress, but he continued. "Every Rune in its original form is difficult for wizards to master. They aren't ordinary syllables or words. They're special characters that truly contain magic. That's why ancient wizards were powerful, but few in number."

"Then, through generations of wizards 'improving' them, the sounds of Runes were simplified into incantations. That's why wizards speak when they cast spells. As for the structure of Runes..."

Will caught on at once. "The way Runes were arranged became the wand movements wizards use today!?"

"Exactly. That's why I emphasize pronunciation and wand movements when teaching young wizards spells: so you can learn them more accurately and quickly." Professor Flitwick paused. "The classic example is the wizard Baruffio. While casting the Levitation Charm, he said [S] instead of [F] and found himself lying on the floor with a buffalo standing on his chest. His pronunciation caused an error in the spell's structure. In runic terms, he used the wrong arrangement of Runes."

[You gained new knowledge of spells. Charms experience +22]

[You gained new knowledge of Runes. Runes experience +7]

At that moment, Will knew he had to take Runes as an elective.

"Thank you, Professor Flitwick. If possible, could I come to you after class to study spells?" Will knew a good opportunity when he saw one. Professor Flitwick always helped him gain plenty of experience, so asking him for guidance could only benefit him.

"Of course. Once or twice a week, in the afternoon or evening, if you like. How does that sound?" Professor Flitwick always made time for students who loved learning.

"Thank you very much, Professor Flitwick."

One afternoon some time later, Neville asked Will for help with the Summoning Charm again. Neville had the basics down and only needed to fix a few small flaws. Before long, they left the Room of Requirement and parted outside the Dining Room. Will went straight in, while Neville headed back to the Common Room. Harry and Ron happened to see them.

"What do you think that bloke's using Neville for? Some evil experiment?" Ron asked Harry in the Dining Room, frowning as he watched Will.

Harry scratched his head. "I don't know. But I get the feeling he really is helping Neville."

"Harry, George and the others told me they keep running into him when they're out wandering at night. Think about it. A Slytherin who's always sneaking around after dark—what does that tell you?" Ron lowered his voice.

"That he can't sleep?"

"Couldn't he be looking for that thing too? Neville saw that dog with us, remember? Maybe he's trying to force Neville to tell him something." Ron didn't notice the holes in his theory.

Harry knew what Ron meant: the thing guarded by that terrifying three-headed dog, the thing beneath the Trapdoor.

"Surely not..." Harry's instincts told him Will wasn't a bad person, but Snape's favoritism toward Will had made him a little suspicious too.

Harry's gaze followed Will as he walked over to Snape. They exchanged a few words, then Snape suddenly looked Harry's way and stared him in the eyes. The scar on Harry's forehead began to ache faintly.

He pressed a hand to his forehead and lowered his head. Ron reached out to steady him.

"What's wrong, Harry? Is your scar hurting again?"

"It must... It must be Snape."

"He found out we're suspicious of the little Dark Wizard under his wing, so he's warning you off!" Ron quickly pieced together the "cause and effect," speaking through gritted teeth.

Harry said nothing, still clutching his forehead. Ron helped him back to the Common Room. Neither of them noticed the young man at the professors' table, his head wrapped in a large purple turban, watching them the entire time.

Will had no idea Harry and Ron suspected him. He had just received a note granting him permission to borrow books on Runes from the Restricted Section.

"Thank you very much, Professor Snape."