[Charms] Introduction

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan listened closely with a large smile on his face. He was so pleased that the students were all listening and working together. He had had visions of having first years running around throwing stink bombs at him. He was very happy he was wrong.

“Turning a Goblet into a rat is transfiguration Miss Leets, and indeed they are very similar subjects. 5 points to Ravenclaw. Now for those who could not hear Miss Ollivander’s murmurings, she argues that Charms is more the actual enchantment of the object itself, while Transfiguration is the art of turning one thing into something else. And I’m very pleased to hear that as it is indeed true. 5 points to Ravenclaw.”

The Professor’s gaze then fell on the older Hufflepuff.
“Now Mr Striker he gone into the depths I wanted. The power of magic which is involved with Charms is often classed as the weakest. But as Mr Striker said the power of the wand and person using it is vital. 10 points to Hufflepuff.”

Moving toward the front of the class again Dan summoned over a stool and placed it right in front of the board. He sat down and looked at everyone.
“Ok then. What is the difference between a curse and charm?”

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty looked around the class room. She had an idea but as no one else had answer she slowly raised her hand. With her arm up in the air she looked over at Professor Hubbles and started to answer his question.
“Well some curses are counted as Dark Mark. That is why we learn about them in Defence Against the Dark Arts. They are really at the different ends of the scale. Charms are silly little things, such as changing the colour of writing while Curses can do serious damage.”

Girty lowered her hand and looked at her brother. Hoping he would not take offence from calling Charms silly.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

As Girty spoke a smile appeared on Dan’s face. He loved getting into debates with people about magic and with the young minds of these students it could become fun.

“I shall give you 5 points for that answer Miss Hubbles but are you contradicting what Mr Striker and myself said? You said that that Charms can not be powerful?”

Dan grinned at the other students in the class, seeing there minds tick over as they thought about what was being said.
“Will anyone help Miss Hubbles, are Charms weak magic compared to Curses?”

[Loren Hayes]

Loren had been sitting quietly, observing and thinking. It had been so long since her last Charms lesson she was feeling the rust breaking away from the corners of her mind, and upon a silent moment in the classroom she choose to speak up. 'Charms aren't necessarily less powerful than curses. Jinxes and hexes for example are names given to spells that vary in degree of... erm... shall we say negativity? What a spell is classed as all depends on morals I suppose...' Loren knew she was going off topic, and perhaps not making any sense at all. 'Charms are just spells that are not intended to inflict damage, whereas curses are I suppose...'

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

A frown creased across the brow of Professor Hubbles as he thought about what Lorne had said. After running it through his mind a few times he gave a smile.
“Yes, Miss Hayes is right. Jinxes and Hexes are indeed seen as negative and the most evil curses do indeed inflict harm. 5 points to Ravenclaw.”

Dan shuffled in his chair and started to play with his hair spiking it up more at the front.
“But could you are that the Tickling charm is intent on negative affects. Students cast those spells on each other all the time. So would this would indeed bring up the whole issue of purpose and morals. For example.”

Dan raised his wand and pointed it at Girty. With a small flick a few sparks flew out of the end and soon the laughter coming from the Hufflepuff was getting louder.
“Is this spell good or bad? Am I right to be using it?”

[Emily Leets]

Emily watched with a somewhat look of amusement. This wasn't like a normal class, really!

"Well, your intentions aren't life-threatening, sir. And if she told you to, you would stop. So I guess it depends on what you intend to use the charm for." the Ravenclaw ventured out.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan clapped his hands and pulled his wand away from Girty letting her continue to laugh even thought the spell was over.
“You are indeed right Miss Leets. I do not intend to hurt Girty…Miss Hubbles. 5 points to Ravenclaw. But then what is the point of this spell? Is it simply for relatives to annoy each other or would you truly use this spell to defend yourself in a duel?”

The lesson had indeed strayed away from what he did plan near the start, but he like this, it was fluid and went along with everything the students thought.

[William Harris]

Having been incredibly busy sorting out an important issue; involving a disagreement between two of his friends, Will was now exceedingly late for Charms. Why he had chosen to take Charms to NEWT level he wasn't quite sure, for sure his teacher hadn't been the compelling force towards this strange choice, rather his natural ability and wit. According to his timetable the teacher was in fact new, a welcome surprise to Will who hadn't got on famously with his last teacher.
Determined to make a good impression regardless of his lateness Will knew exactly how to handle a new teacher, planning to have this unlucky new bloke wrapped around his finger within moments he sighed as it was always easier when the teacher was female. Chuckling to himself at some of the rather disgraceful antics of his over the years he now rapped loudly upon the oaken door of the classroom.
Entering swiftly he strode purposefully towards the nearest available seat, at the back where he could do plenty of mischief when he inevitably got bored.
"Hey Sir!" he called cheerily "how are ye? Sorry about bein late and all that I had some rather urgent business to attend to." Will rambled on with his long and previously planned excuse containing a disagreement between Sophie and himself, which had actually happened, though it had ocured some weeks ago.
"Well ya see Soph was real upset about something, and o' course I couldn't just leave her too it, so I had to sort it all out, we had a long chat, got everything out in the open. But you'll be glad to hear it's all sorted now, so we're all happy bunnies."
With a dashing smile Will asked with a loud carrying voice
"no matter, where were we?"

[Emily Leets]

Emily turned to see the new arrival. She noted a few things. He seemed rather confident of himself, although he was late. He also seemed very cheerful. Turning back to the professor, she raised her hand, but spoke anyways.

"You might use it in a duel if it was completely necessary, but I don't see why it would be. After all, the Tickling charm is next to harmless."

[William Harris]

"Ha!" roared Will, "I don't think so, you should have seen this one guy I had to jinx, right big bugger he was, but you know what got him down in the end; ypu u guessed it, a tickling spell, worked a charm, beg the pun there sir," he said laughing and smiling broadly at his fellow students.
"Mind you this wasn't no random fight or nothing, twas self defence of Dax actually, yeah you know the blighter, we've helped each other out of a few tight spots," he chuckled then looked sweetly up at the teacher.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

As Dan looked around the class he heard a loud knock on the door. As it opened there stood another student. Feeling rather happy to see a Gryffindor finally, Dan bowed towards him as he sat down and mentioned about why he was late.
With a rather pleased expression he walked closer to the boy cutting into his excuse.

“Well then young Sir as everyone in the class you too will have to cast a charm. It may make up for you being late. Like everyone else you will do a summoning charm but yours will have to be done mentally. So please if you note the hourglass on the shelf can you please summon that over to the table.”

With a smile he waited and folded his arms wanting to see how the boy did, but he started talking to other students across the room.
"Now please Mr…erm…can you please cast the spell and then we can hear about your story afterwards.”

Dan looked over at Miss Leets and nodded in agreement to her answer.
“And you indeed right, Tickling Charms are rather useless rather then a bit of fun. 5 points to Ravenclaw.”

[William Harris]

Grinning happily at the professor who seemed like a decent sort of guy. He chuckled to himself as his old teacher though had said if he remembered rightly that
"That bloomin Will Harris is a dab hand at Charms, though I don't like to admit it, he's a right little..." thankfully Will hadn't eavesdropped on the final part of the whispered conversation between two of his old teachers.
"Hourglass over ere? Yeah sure," he said flicking his wand seemingly idly the hourglass floated serenely across the room landing lightly upon the table. In reality Will had used pure concentration, retreating to his inner happy place, sweat had nearly broken out across his brow too, he had thought furiously accio happy hourglass, accio. On the outside he had seemed totally cool and calm, he now grinned happily and asked with a hint of smugness "was that what ya wanted?"

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

With a laugh Dan watched the hourglasses float over onto the table. He seemed to be rather skilled at Charms but also had a rather happy go lucky attitude about him. Giving the boy a small nod of the head he moved towards the bard again throwing the hour glass in his hands.
“Well done there….you still have not told me your name, but o well you can have 10 points for the spell but your 5 points for attendance will not be given. However you could gain the points back if…you tell the class how you managed to do that spell so coolly.”

With a smug smile Dan looked over at the Gryffindor waiting for him to replay.

[William Harris]

Will twiddled his thumbs idly as the professor moved off, he smiled at the points given to him knowing his house was in dire need of them, then in response to the teachers question he answered
"well I'm Will Harris, your predeccesor has probably filled you in about me," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"Years of practice is what you want me to say I'm sure, and I suppose tis that, but mainly it's just concentration, and knowing with certainty that you can do it, then it just happens." Will said sagely grinning at the class.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

“Well done Mr Harris. Practise is important, and as you process through the years your magic will become stronger, as shown today with everyone being able to do the same spell but in different ways. However concentration is important too as if you do not concentrate you can not cast a successful spell. 5 points to Gryffindor”

Dan smiled and sat back on his stole looking out over the class.
“So we have established what Charms are and who they differ from your other subjects, but how can we apply them to the real wizarding world?”