Snape explained, "As you saw, it cleans all sorts of filth—even dragon blood is no match for it."
Dumbledore hummed thoughtfully. "When was this spell completed? Did you have a hand in teaching him?"
"No," Snape replied with a curt shake of his head. "The knowledge behind composite magic actually came from Quirrell—though his lessons are more miserable than a Draught of Despair."
"But when he tutors Wyzett one-on-one, he shows the standard you'd expect from a Ravenclaw—at least, his theory is solid."
"He's only a first-year!" Dumbledore marveled. "To invent a composite spell at that age—remarkable!"
Snape shot him a cold look. "Don't get any ideas. If you're hoping I'll take on Harry Potter as a special project, forget it."
"Rest assured," Dumbledore said with a helpless chuckle, waving his hand in surrender.
This composite spell wasn't especially complicated, but it brimmed with creativity, cleverly blending the strengths of two different charms.
Curious, Dumbledore mimicked Snape's wand movements and easily reproduced the spell himself.
He closed his eyes, trying to sense its workings, but still couldn't fathom why such a simple household charm could suppress an Obscurus.
He did, however, know someone with deep expertise on the subject—he made a mental note to write for advice later.
Snape grew impatient. "Now that Voldemort has his eye on Wyzett, are you going to tell the boy?"
Dumbledore lowered his voice, "I'm considering it—how much to reveal, and how."
"Hiding the truth is your usual move," Snape sneered. "If you want my advice, just tell him everything."
"You trust him that much?" Dumbledore sounded genuinely surprised. "That's unlike you."
Snape pressed his lips into a thin line, said nothing more, and limped away down the corridor.
"Wyzett, take this."
In the corridor, Flitwick pressed something into Wyzett's hands—a large parcel of Honeydukes' Finest Chocolate.
"Go on, eat up!" Flitwick encouraged, beaming. "You missed the Halloween feast, you must be starving. Have some chocolate to tide you over."
It was no wonder Ravenclaw students adored their Head of House. Besides the fun and relaxed atmosphere of Charms class, Flitwick's kindness was legendary.
He always seemed to have snacks hidden in his robes, ready to slip a treat and a word of encouragement to any downcast Ravenclaw.
According to Penelope, if you were ever feeling blue, you could visit Flitwick's office and watch him wave his wand, making pastries dance a cowboy jig just to cheer you up.
Honeydukes' Finest Chocolate lived up to its name—so much richer and silkier than a Chocolate Frog, with a flavor that was deep, sweet, and impossibly smooth.
After two pieces, Wyzett felt warmth blooming in his chest, body and spirit both revived.
Flitwick led him down a corridor, stopping at the end before a massive statue—a fierce-looking gargoyle, wings spread, crouched atop its stone pedestal. It looked so lifelike, Wyzett half-expected it to leap at him.
Flitwick called out the password, "Jelly Slugs!"
The gargoyle seemed to come alive, stretching, folding its bat-like wings, then nimbly hopping aside.
Behind it, a brightly-lit passage was revealed, with a spiral staircase slowly turning upward.
Riding the spiral staircase felt oddly familiar to Wyzett—like an escalator from his previous life: smooth, steady, and best of all, no need to climb.
. . .
Thanks to Flitwick's affable nature and the practical value of Charms, he was the most sought-after professor for advice.
As they ascended, Wyzett seized the moment to pepper him with questions about spellwork.
Just as Wyzett suspected, none of the Hogwarts professors were simple. Each was erudite and wise, always able to unravel his magical puzzles with ease.
"Gestures, incantation tone, and a relaxed mind—remember those three, and your spellwork will improve by leaps and bounds," Flitwick said, slipping effortlessly into teacher mode, his eyes sparkling.
"For beginners, these are even more critical. Especially gestures and tone—they shape the final outcome of your magic. Lay a strong foundation, and you'll be ready for more advanced techniques."
"More advanced techniques?" Wyzett blinked, curiosity burning. "Professor, could you give me an example?"
"Wandless magic and nonverbal spells, for instance—those are both considered advanced." Flitwick raised three slender fingers. "Let me show you."
He snapped his fingers. A clear spring of water bubbled up from his fingertip.
With his other hand, he traced a gentle arc in the air. Instantly, the water froze into a delicate blossom of ice.
Flitwick handed the ice flower to Wyzett, grinning. "Water-Making Spell plus Freezing Charm—performed wandlessly and without a word. That's the effect."
"As the name suggests, nonverbal spells mean producing magic without speaking—or at least, without speaking aloud."
Wyzett nodded, pulling out his ever-present notebook to jot it down.
He didn't get bogged down in the 'not speaking at all' part—just casting without loudly chanting was already a challenge.
From what he'd learned so far, proper intonation was key to making magic work at all.
"Taking notes is good, but building a solid foundation is the most important thing," Flitwick said with a satisfied smile.
"And honestly, I have every confidence in you. Your pronunciation and tone are both excellent."
That was what Flitwick admired most about Wyzett—not only was his foundation strong, he was always ready to learn.
"Once you've passed your O.W.L.s and reached sixth year, I'll teach you all this technique myself."
Wyzett looked up, "Professor, will we learn wandless magic in sixth year, too?"
Flitwick shook his head. "Hogwarts doesn't offer formal training in that. European wizards have relied on wands for centuries, so wandless magic is much harder here."
"Without a wand to channel it, magic becomes unpredictable—less precise, more prone to accidents. I believe African wizards are quite talented at it, though."
The spiral staircase delivered them to a corridor ending at a beautifully carved wooden door.
Wyzett tucked his notebook away, smiling with satisfaction. "I feel like I've learned so much again."
"Learning never ends, but don't forget to relax now and then," Flitwick said kindly. "That's part of why I encouraged you to join the Quidditch team—to help you find a bit of balance."
[No new terminology for this chapter. All spells and magical items referenced are canonical or previously established in the glossary.]
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!
Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!
��patreon.com/GoldenLong