Jason and Simon sat together near the middle of the Charms classroom, the polished desks arranged neatly in rows. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm patterns on the wooden floor. The Ravenclaw first-years chatted softly among themselves, waiting for the lesson to begin.
Jason's gaze drifted to the doorway as the Hufflepuff students began filing in. One of them caught Simon's attention—a tall, confident boy with a wide grin.
Simon perked up, waving enthusiastically. "JJ! Over here! Sit with us!"
The boy approached, his robes slightly askew but his energy infectious. He grinned at Simon before turning to Jason.
"Hey," JJ said, his voice deep and friendly. "I'm Olajide Olatunji, but you can call me JJ."
Jason extended his hand for a handshake. "Jason Bourne. Nice to meet you."
As JJ took the seat beside Simon, Jason asked, "So, how do you two know each other?"
JJ leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Oh, Simon and I grew up in the same magical community. Our families have been neighbors forever."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty cool. So, you're from Nigeria originally?"
"Yeah," JJ said proudly. "My parents moved here years ago, but we keep a lot of our Nigerian traditions alive. It's important, you know?"
Jason nodded, intrigued, but their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Professor Flitwick.
The small, excitable Professor Flitwick stood on a stack of books at the front of the classroom, beaming at the gathered students.
"Welcome, welcome, first-years!" he began, his high-pitched voice carrying easily through the room. "I am Professor Flitwick, and I have the great honor of teaching you the wonderful art of Charms. Charms are an essential part of any wizard or witch's magical repertoire. They allow us to interact with the world in extraordinary ways—from levitating objects to lighting dark spaces, and even producing protective enchantments."
He flicked his wand, and a soft blue light illuminated the tip. "This, for example, is the Lumos charm—one of the most basic spells we'll cover. And yet, even the simplest charms can have incredible utility."
With a flourish, Flitwick gestured at a stack of books on his desk. "But today, we'll start with something a bit more fun—levitation!"
The books floated into the air, forming a neat circle around him before gently returning to the desk. The students gasped and murmured in excitement.
"Now," Flitwick said, clapping his hands, "you'll each find a feather on your desk. The charm we'll be practicing is Wingardium Leviosa. Remember—swish and flick! And don't forget to enunciate the incantation clearly."
Jason picked up his wand and studied the feather on his desk. Alright, he thought, visualization is key. He imagined a soft gust of wind lifting the feather into the air.
He took a breath, flicked his wand with precision, and said firmly, "Wingardium Leviosa."
The feather trembled, then gracefully floated into the air.
"Marvelous!" Flitwick exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Excellent work, Mr. Bourne! Ravenclaw earns its first point of the year!"
The class turned to look at Jason with awe, their expressions ranging from admiration to envy. JJ and Simon, sitting beside him, leaned in.
"How'd you do that?" JJ asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Jason smiled. "It's all about association. Imagine something that helps you connect with the spell—like a breeze lifting the feather. It makes the magic flow more naturally i think."
Simon nodded, giving it another try. His feather wobbled, then rose steadily into the air. "I did it!" he whispered excitedly.
JJ furrowed his brow, focusing intently. After a few attempts, his feather floated too, though a bit unsteadily. "Yes!" he exclaimed, grinning at Jason. "Thanks for the tip, mate!"
Meanwhile, Vik, sitting at the front of the room, turned and sighed. "Should've sat with Jason," he muttered under his breath.
Jason chuckled quietly, observing the rest of the class. Hannah Abbott's feather wobbled and flopped, though she seemed determined. Susan Bones managed to get hers halfway off the desk before it plopped back down. Two boys sitting together—one clearly struggling—drew Jason's attention. The second boy gently encouraged his friend, whose movements were stiffer, almost hesitant. Jason realized the boy might be autistic and made a mental note to offer help if needed.
After Charms, the first-years made their way to the greenhouses for Herbology. The group, led by Talia, Padma, and Freya, chatted excitedly about their first successful spells. Jason walked near the back, deep in thought, when Simon sidled up to him.
The greenhouse smelled of damp earth and greenery, the air thick with the aroma of magical plants. Professor Sprout, a cheerful and robust witch with dirt-streaked robes, greeted the students with a warm smile.
"Welcome, welcome, first-years! I'm Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House and your Herbology teacher. Herbology is all about the magical plants that enrich our world—plants that can heal, protect, and sometimes… well, bite."
The students chuckled nervously.
"Today," Sprout continued, gesturing to a table covered in vibrant, bulbous plants, "we'll be working with Puffapods. These fascinating plants release their seeds in a dazzling display when dropped. But remember—handle them gently!"
She demonstrated by holding a Puffapod delicately before letting it fall. The plant burst into a cloud of shimmering, multicolored seeds that floated gently to the ground.
Jason and the others watched in awe as they paired up to practice. He worked with Simon and JJ, carefully handling the delicate plants.
By the end of the lesson, the greenhouse floor was covered in sparkling seeds, and the students left with wide smiles and newfound appreciation for the wonders of Herbology.
The day had been long and eventful, filled with lessons, laughter, and the excitement of being at Hogwarts. After a hearty dinner in the Great Hall, Jason and Vik trudged up the spiraling staircases of Ravenclaw Tower, their legs weary but their minds still buzzing with the day's events.
As they reached their dormitory, Jason stretched and let out a contented sigh. "Goodnight, mate," he said, pulling the curtains around his bed.
"Goodnight, Jason," Vik replied, his voice muffled as he flopped onto his own bed.
Jason lay back against the soft pillows, staring at the canopy above him. The quiet of the dormitory was broken only by the faint snores of their roommates and the gentle crackling of the enchanted fireplace in the common room below.
But Jason's mind was far from rest. I can't waste time, he thought, his brow furrowing. I can't limit myself to the basics given to first-years. If I want to thrive in the next war that's coming, I have to push beyond the limits of this curriculum. I need to go... beyond plus ultra.
Jason's thoughts turned to the subjects he'd begun that day, analyzing each one with the precision of someone planning for survival rather than academic success.
Transfiguration: Useful in combat, but I've only seen it used as support in movies. Maybe... if I can learn something deeper, like soul magic, I could become someone like Mahito from JJK. Now that would be overpowered at its best.
Charms: This will probably cover the bread-and-butter spells for offense and defense. Essential for anyone without access to a family's private spellbook collection. I'll need to excel here.
Potions: Snape… that man has a troubled past, but he's a master. If I can survive his temper, I might actually learn enough to save my life someday. Potions could be a lifesaver in a duel—or worse.
History of Magic: Jason snorted softly. Useless. I don't care about history when I'll be living in a time where history's being made. I'll just learn enough to pass. Movies already gave me the useful bits.
Defence Against the Dark Arts: This one's practically being taught by Voldemort himself. If Quirrell's stutter doesn't drive me mad, I could theoretically learn straight from the Dark Lord how to stop dark magic. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—or a death wish.
Astronomy: Jason's thoughts wandered briefly. Meh. Maybe it'll be interesting when I'm older, but for now, I'll just aim to pass.
Herbology: Mostly a support class for potions. Useful, but secondary.
Flying Lessons: Jason's eyes narrowed. Flying is critical. If I don't figure out how Voldemort can fly without a broom, I'll need to develop my own method—or master a spell to match his.
Jason took a deep breath, organizing his immediate goals. Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Those are the big ones. If I can master OWL-level knowledge in these by the end of the first year, I'll be leagues ahead of my peers.
He smirked to himself. Immediate goal: OWL-level mastery. Long-term goal: survival.
The firelight flickered faintly on the walls as Jason closed his eyes, his determination burning brighter than ever. The road ahead was long, but he was ready to tackle it—one spell at a time.