Lesson One: Third years

Freya tried to catch her breath as she strolled into the Charms classroom that was on the third floor. Why on earth hadn't she just moved it closer to her office? This would become her routine just like it was last year. She would run all the way down from her office, which was on a high tower on the seventh floor, after being buried in paperwork, not even noticing the time. Half of the time, Freya would get lucky and be there before the class. On the other half.. let's just say she was notorious for being there after everyone else was. But who was anything to say anything? She was the Headmistress of the school after all.

After surveying the classroom and noticed that only a few students were in there, the former model sighed with relief. She was just on time. Making her way to her desk, she noticed there were some paper work on it. Why was there some on her desk in her classroom and not in her desk in her office? Of course. It was paperwork that she was supposed to do that she had given Stabler, her Deputy Headmaster to do. Damn that Stabler. There really wasn't anyway around doing this one, was there? As her green hues were glued to the paperwork, looking it over, she flicked her wand once towards the blackboard, the chalk levitating and writing down on the board:

Charms
Level Three
Professor Littlefield

Eyeing the class every once in a while to check if everyone was there while she read the paperwork, she patiently awaited the arrival of the entire class so she could finally start the third years' first lesson of the 2030-2031 school year.

Hazel wandered into Charms class, looked up to see Professor Littlefield and took her seat in the fourth row. That way she could see but didn't have the awkwardness of being in the front. She set out her books and wand and crossed her right leg up over her left and pulled out a book to wait. She knew Lizzie was in this class and eagerly awaited the arrival of her friend.

Lizzie entered the classroom and looked around to find a spare seat, smiling when she saw one next to Hazel in the fourth row. She walked over to her friend and sat down next to her.

"Hey" she whispered as she pulled out her books and wand and placed them on the desk in front of her. She grinned excitedly at Hazel, hardly believing they were in their third year, and then turned to look at the Headmistress and Charms Professor who had written the class information on the board. Lizzie waited as patiently as she could for class to begin. Charms had always been one of her favourite subjects, and she couldn't wait to see what she could learn from it in third year!

The tall blond looked up once everyone was in their seats, her first class of the year had just officially began. Getting out of her seat leisurely, she moved to in front of her desk and sat on it.

"Welcome back everyone, hope your holidays were well. Just as a reminder, it's Professor Littlefield or just Headmistress." Letting out a sigh, she tried to forget the weird incidences with what students called her from last year. "Today, I will be showing you how to use the Cheering Charm. Now, it wasn't required for anyone to read the course book, The Standard Book of Spells Grade 3, over the summer. But can anyone tell me what the Cheering Charm is?" As she questioned, her eyes surveyed the room, looking for a raised hand.

Lizzie blushed a little when the Professor told the class they didn't need to have read the textbook. She had done exactly that, and not just with Charms! All her subject texts had been read at least once during the holidays, with the exception of History of Magic. It was something to do, and she wanted good grades. So what if it wasn't required? Having done so, she immediately put her hand in the air when Professor Littlefield asked if anyone could tell her what a Cheering Charm was.

"It's a charm which makes the person it's cast on really happy!" She replied. "It cheers them up!"

"It's a charm which makes the person it's cast on really happy! It cheers them up!"

"Correct. Five points for Ravenclaw." Tucking a strand behind her ear, she looked at the other students. "Of course, this can be overdone. If the person you practice it on, which I know this will happen.. a lot, they will be overcome with hysterical laughter. So I expect it to get quite loud in here.

"The spell incantation is diffuno. Not to be confused with diffindo which is the severing charm. Make sure to pronounce it correctly, I don't want any of the students getting cut. Also, that student will lose House points and receive a detention." She let out a sigh, there would always be that one student to mix them up.

"Diffuno is derived from Latin, which means to cheer up or to gladden. The wand movement is a simple circular motion as so," right after saying that, she moved her wand in the proper movement. "Is there any questions before we move on?"

Hazel smiled at Lizzie as she answered the question correctly. She'd always been a fan of Charms and had skimmed over the books over summer but she'd also been really busy, with avoiding Andy and all the other demanding no-school activities.

She watched carefully as their Headmistress preformed the wand motion for them and set about copying it under the table, using her finger instead of the wand. If there was one class she wanted to ace this year, it was going to be Charms. She didn't do all that bad in the rest of her classes but... she had to work at them, that was for sure.

"Are there any questions before we move on?"

Hazel shook her head, ready to get to try this out. And... quite possibly, be laughing for the next hour or so.

Lizzie grinned as she got awarded 5 points for her correct answer, and nodded as Professor Littlefield went on to explain the effects of the spell being overdone. It was going to be a fun lesson, that was for sure! Finally, it was time for the class to have a go. Lizzie turned to Hazel next to her and got her wand ready.

"Diffuno!" she muttered, but nothing happened. She sighed in frustration. She loved Charms, but sometimes it took her a few attempts for a spell to work. She shrugged at Hazel. "Do you want to try before I attempt it again?" she offered.

Freya blinked the students had paired up and started practising the spell before she had even said to. Her brows furred slightly as she blinked. "Erm.. right then.. Just wait for my instructions next time to start."

She let out a sigh before returning to her desk chair and plopping down on it. After scribbling down a few of the signatures that the papers needed, the Headmistress of the school realized that she probably should have read the papers before signing them. Oh well, she knew her Deputy Headmaster would read them before sending them out. As she read the papers, she kept her ears open for anyone performing the wrong spell and glanced up every once in a while.

Hazel shrugged, waving her wand in a circle and announcing, "Diffuno" Nothing happened and she blushed, realizing she'd rushed over the spell name. Taking a few deep breaths she glanced quickly over at their headmistress but she seemed to be too focused on her paperwork. Shuffling over she whispered to Lizzie, "We have to talk about the tournament after class. I'm so excited." She cracked a smile and added, a bit louder. "You can go next."

Lumen sat close to the girls, but not close enough to scoot over to them a bit without the Headmistress noticing it. Sighing, she leaned over the desk and tapped each on the shoulder. "Would you two like some help?" She offered with a shy smile.