The soft autumn light filtered through the tall stained-glass windows of Beauxbâtons' Charms Hall, casting rippling patterns of gold and blue across the polished floor. The room smelled faintly of old parchment, honeyed wood polish, and the odd wisp of magical residue from yesterday's enchantments. Eira entered with her books hugged close to her chest, her white hair tied neatly behind her with a silver ribbon. Marin was right beside her, humming under his breath and occasionally glancing around as if hoping the desks might start flying for fun.
"Second year," he sighed dramatically. "Twice the workload, half the sleep, and an ever-increasing chance that something explodes in your face."
"Sounds like Potions class," Eira murmured dryly.
The students settled into their seats, a soft chatter filling the air until a sudden click-clack of wood on stone silenced them.
Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
The door opened, and in strutted Professor Eric Chamberlain—cloak billowing behind him, his dark green vest glittering faintly with embroidered stars, and his hair slicked back with the kind of care only someone born to theatrics would attempt. He leaned heavily on an ornate cane topped with a polished obsidian orb. His walk was uneven, but his swagger was theatrical.
"Ah, my delightful, dazzling, dangerously intelligent second-years!" he called out, raising his free hand as if addressing an adoring theatre crowd. "I see you all remembered to bring your wands… and hopefully your brains!"
The class chuckled as Professor Chamberlain made his way to the front. He twirled the cane once, pointed it at the blackboard, and with a flick, words burst forth in curling golden letters:
Lesson One: The Jovialis Charm (The Happiness Enchantment)
Lesson Two: Vellicare (The Tickle Jinx)
"Now," he said, propping himself up on the edge of his desk with exaggerated flair, "tell me, class, what do we use Jovialis for? And, more importantly, what happens if you cast it on someone who's already laughing?"
A few students looked at one another uncertainly.
Eira raised her hand confidently.
"Miss White," Chamberlain beamed, tipping his cane in her direction, "our diamond in the rough! Dazzle us with your intellect."
Eira stood, voice calm but clear. "The Jovialis charm is categorized as a light emotional enchantment, developed in 1743 by Isadora Joyeux, a French enchantress known for using magic in therapeutic settings. The charm was originally created to ease melancholy and lift mild depressive states. It emits a soft golden aura and creates a sense of warmth and joy. Casting it repeatedly on someone already laughing might cause them to enter a euphoric state—or in rare cases, burst into uncontrollable giggles."
Professor Chamberlain placed a hand dramatically on his heart. "One star to Ombrelune ! Brilliant, Miss White. If Isadora could hear you now, she'd be smiling in her grave—well, laughing, more likely."
Marin leaned over and whispered, "You even make historical witches sound like noble queens."
Eira shot him a look. "Stop flirting with the curriculum."
Professor Chamberlain, meanwhile, began to pace—his cane tapping rhythmically. "Today we learn two charms. Jovialis, the happiness charm. And its mischievous cousin, Vellicare, the tickle jinx. Jovialis is excellent for cheering up a glum friend. Vellicare… well, it's perfect if someone steals your favorite quill."
The students laughed again.
"Now, I shall demonstrate!" He pulled out his wand, raised it to his heart, and called, "Jovialis!"
A soft golden light erupted from his wand, bathing him in a warm glow. A moment later, he let out a little chuckle. "I suddenly feel like forgiving all of last year's homework mistakes," he declared. "But I won't. Don't get excited."
He waved the spell away.
"And now—Vellicare!"
The orb on his cane began to twitch as sparks fizzled from his wand and zipped toward the desk. A burst of pale blue light struck the leg of a chair, which immediately began to shudder, then rock violently as if it were laughing. Professor Chamberlain leaned forward with glee.
"That, my charming young spellcasters, is the joy of harmless chaos."
He tapped the board. "Now, one by one, up you go! Each of you will try Jovialis, and then Vellicare. Keep your targets light. No aiming at your professor. I have very ticklish knees."
One by one, students rose and practiced. Some got it on the first try; others only made their wands buzz or sputter. When it was Eira's turn, she stepped up with focus, her voice calm.
"Jovialis!"
A perfect golden ring pulsed from her wand and surrounded Marin, who was watching from the desk. The charm hit him gently—and immediately, Marin's eyes widened, and he burst into a fit of delighted laughter.
"Oh no," he gasped between laughs. "Why does everything feel like cotton candy and compliments?! Eira, I hate how well you do this."
"Stop complaining," Eira said, suppressing a smile. "You needed cheering up."
"I was fine! Now I feel like I'm going to float out the window."
She raised her wand again. "Want to try Vellicare?"
"Absolutely not."
Too late. She cast it.
"Vellicare!"
Blue sparks zipped out and hit him squarely in the side. Marin yelped and nearly fell off the bench, clutching his ribs and laughing uncontrollably.
"Eira! This is abuse! This is a magical assault!"
Professor Chamberlain called out from across the room, "A lovely casting, Miss White! And Mr. Marin, thank you for demonstrating how hilariously effective these charms can be."
As Marin slumped back into his seat, breathless and wiping tears of laughter, he muttered, "Remind me never to get on your bad side. Or your good side. I'm not sure which is more dangerous."
Eira rolled her eyes fondly. "You're such a baby."
"Don't scold me," he said, still wheezing. "You literally just turned me into a giggling disaster."
"You've always been a giggling disaster."
"Rude. But fair."
As the lesson continued, the room buzzed with joy and giggles as students took turns. Professor Chamberlain occasionally tossed in jokes or exaggerated gasps of delight whenever a spell went particularly wrong or spectacularly right.
Near the end of class, he leaned on his cane and looked over the group. "Now remember—magic is not only might and mystery. It is emotion. Joy. Mischief. Laughter. You can learn a thousand defensive spells, but if you cannot make someone smile… you haven't truly mastered enchantment."
The bell rang softly from the end of the corridor.
As students began to gather their things, Marin slumped over dramatically. "Well, that was emotionally exhausting. I feel like I've been hugged by fifty nuns and smacked by a bluebird."
Eira smirked. "I think the charm fixed your brain."
"Doubt it," he muttered. "Not even Chamberlain's cane could fix that."
The two walked out of the classroom side by side, still laughing softly. Outside, the Beauxbâtons sun was shining again, and the air felt lighter.