Harry potter and the stone

The morning sun streamed through the high windows of the Gryffindor common room, painting the scarlet and gold furnishings in warm light. Harry woke early, his mind abuzz with the possibilities of the day ahead. Charms was their first lesson, and he couldn't wait to see what kind of magic they'd be learning.

After quickly dressing, Harry made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Ron was already there, wolfing down a plate of eggs and toast, while Hermione sat nearby with her nose buried in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1.

"Morning," Harry said, sliding into a seat and grabbing some toast.

Hermione barely glanced up. "You should practice your wand movements before class. Professor Flitwick is said to be very precise."

Ron groaned. "Give it a rest, Hermione. It's the first Charms lesson. It's not like we're going to be dueling dark wizards."

Hermione huffed, and Harry smothered a grin behind his goblet of pumpkin juice.

The Charms classroom was airy and bright, with sunlight streaming in through tall windows. Rows of desks were arranged neatly in front of a raised platform where a diminutive professor stood atop a stack of books. Professor Flitwick's cheerful demeanor was evident as he greeted each student warmly as they entered.

"Good morning, everyone!" he chirped, his voice high and excited. "Welcome to Charms! I am Professor Flitwick, and I am delighted to guide you through the wonders of magic this year."

When the last student had filed in, Flitwick clapped his hands, and the classroom door closed with a soft hum of magic.

"Now, to begin, we will start with a spell you'll find incredibly useful: the Wand-Lighting Charm, Lumos!" Flitwick announced, writing the spell's name on the blackboard with a flick of his wand. The letters glowed briefly before settling into chalk.

"The Wand-Lighting Charm is a fundamental spell, perfect for illuminating dark spaces or signaling in an emergency. While it may seem simple, it requires focus, clarity, and intent. Don't underestimate it!"

He demonstrated the spell, holding up his wand. "Lumos!" A bright, white light appeared at the tip of his wand, casting a warm glow over the classroom. He waved it gently, the light illuminating the faces of the students. With a flick of his wrist, he extinguished the light.

"To extinguish the light, we use Nox," he added, showing the counter-spell with a flourish.

Harry leaned forward in his seat, intrigued. He had read about Lumos in Hogwarts: A History, but seeing it in action was something else entirely.

The students paired off to practice. Harry found himself partnered with Neville, who looked both nervous and eager. Each desk had a set of unlit candles to help the students gauge the strength of their spell.

"Let's try together," Harry said encouragingly.

He raised his wand, focusing on the tip. He imagined a small, steady flame, bright but controlled.

"Lumos," Harry said clearly.

A faint flicker of light appeared at the tip of his wand, then sputtered out. Harry frowned, going over the spell's mechanics in his head.

"You almost had it!" Neville said, giving him a hopeful smile.

Harry tried again, adjusting his grip on the wand and concentrating harder.

"Lumos."

This time, the light burst into existence, bright and steady. Harry grinned as the glow illuminated the table in front of him.

"Excellent, Mr. Potter!" Flitwick exclaimed, appearing beside him. "Ten points to Gryffindor! Very well done!"

Neville clapped his hands in excitement. "Let me try!"

Neville's first few attempts were unsuccessful, but with Harry's guidance, he eventually managed a small, flickering light. Across the room, students were at varying stages of success. Hermione's wand was glowing brightly, while Ron's was producing only faint sparks.

As Harry practiced extinguishing and relighting his wand, he couldn't help but notice Draco Malfoy a few tables away. Malfoy's light was strong and steady, but his smug expression made it clear he thought himself superior.

"Looks like Potter's finally figured out how to hold a wand," Draco drawled as he walked past Harry's table.

Harry ignored him, focusing instead on perfecting his control of the light. He had read in his textbooks that maintaining focus was crucial for spellcasting, and he wasn't about to let Malfoy distract him.

"You're just jealous because he got it faster than you," Neville muttered under his breath, surprising Harry.

Draco sneered but didn't reply, instead returning to his own table with a swish of his robes.

By the end of the lesson, nearly every student had managed to cast Lumos at least once, though some were more consistent than others. Flitwick praised the class for their efforts and reminded them to practice regularly.

As they left the classroom, Harry felt a sense of accomplishment. The Wand-Lighting Charm might have been simple, but it was a tangible step into the world of magic.

"You did really well," Neville said as they walked down the corridor.

"Thanks," Harry replied. "You weren't so bad yourself."

Neville beamed, and Harry felt a flicker of warmth. For the first time, he felt like he was starting to belong in this strange, magical world.