Chereads / Thick Of It / Chapter 15 - Charms Done

Chapter 15 - Charms Done

Lucifer_Dragneel

hiatus

thanks for power stone .

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Jason sat at a polished wooden desk in the Hogwarts library, his fingers lightly tracing the cover of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk. The quiet hum of the library surrounded him—the gentle rustle of pages being turned, the occasional cough, and Madam Pince's hawklike gaze sweeping over the students.

He sighed, closing the book with a soft thud. This is the second time I've gone through the charms book for first-years, he thought, leaning back in his chair.

His eyes wandered over the magical light filtering through the library's tall, arched windows as he mentally reviewed the spells listed in the book.

Jason's Mental Notes of all the spell of year 1 of charms

Wingardium Leviosa – Levitation Charm. He smiled, remembering the amused look on Flitwick's face when he'd mastered it on the first try.

Lumos and Nox – The Illumination and Extinguishing Charms. Useful for sneaking around the castle when he couldn't rely on the inconsistent lighting in the hallways.

Reparo – Minor Repair Charm. A spell he'd used to fix a chipped teacup he'd accidentally knocked off a desk in the common room.

Locomotor Mortis – The Leg-Locker Curse. He'd seen its potential in dueling scenarios but hadn't had a reason to use it yet.

Rictusempra – The Tickling Charm. A good one for distraction, but honestly, it more like a prank than anything else.

Confundo – The Confusion Charm. A spell Jason was particularly keen to master. He could think of numerous scenarios where confusing someone could turn the tide in his favor.

Metelojinx – The Jelly-Legs Jinx. Not particularly intimidating, but practical for slowing someone down.

Obscuro – The Minor Darkening Charm. He had plans to test this one later, thinking about its utility in hiding his location or masking an area during a skirmish.

Periculum – The Minor Fire-Making Charm. A flicker of fire to alert or distract—a simple yet elegant spell.

Jason leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. This list might seem short to someone from my old world, he mused, where students crammed textbooks with hundreds of pages just to pass their exams. But Charms? This is different. It's practical, hands-on. Each spell is like a experiment, requiring precision and understanding of magical flow.

He sighed again, tapping the book with his index finger. And then there's the danger of practicing magic unsupervised. For a child, it's like handling a loaded wand with no safety switch. But I'm not a child. I have the advantage of an adult's discipline and comprehension.

Jason stood, stretching slightly. The library chair wasn't uncomfortable, but he'd been sitting for far too long.

That's enough studying for now. Time to live a little.

Jason tucked the book under his arm, walking toward the library's exit. As he passed rows of towering shelves, he caught snippets of hushed conversations.

"…think Gryffindor will win?"

"…heard Harry's a natural. Youngest Seeker in a century…"

Jason smiled faintly. The castle was abuzz with excitement for the day's Quidditch match—Gryffindor versus Slytherin. He had no particular loyalty to either team but couldn't resist the allure of watching Harry's debut as Seeker.

Time to see if all the hype is deserved, he thought, making his way out of the library and toward the Quidditch pitch.

The halls were alive with the sound of students heading the same way, their laughter and chatter filling the space. Jason fell into step behind a seniour group of Ravenclaws, listening to their predictions about the game.

"Ten galleons on Gryffindor," one boy whispered to his friend.

"I wouldn't count Slytherin out," the other replied. "Slytherin Seeker, and I hear he's been practicing like mad."

Jason chuckled to himself, slipping his hands into his pockets as he followed the crowd. Let's see if Harry can really snatch the snitch this time—or if Slytherin will swoop in to steal the spotlight.

As he stepped onto the open grounds, the roar of the crowd reached his ears. Students were already piling into the stands, their house colors waving proudly in the crisp autumn air. Jason quickened his pace, eager to find a good seat.

Jason climbed up the rickety wooden stairs of the Ravenclaw stands, Simon and Tobi close behind him. The Quidditch pitch stretched out before them, a breathtaking sight: towering hoops gleaming under the bright autumn sun, banners of scarlet and emerald rippling in the wind, and a buzz of excitement electrifying the air.

"Over here," Simon called, nudging Jason toward an open spot. They settled onto the wooden benches, surrounded by a mix of Ravenclaws, some waving blue-and-bronze flags despite their house not being part of the match.

Tobi leaned forward, scanning the field. "Do you think Harry's any good? Youngest Seeker in a century and all that—it's a lot of pressure."

Jason shrugged, resting his elbows on his knees. "We'll find out soon enough. He's either a natural or he'll crumble due to nerves. Either way, it'll be a good show."

Madam Hooch's whistle pierced the air, and fourteen players kicked off from the ground, their brooms soaring skyward in an instant. Jason's eyes flicked to Harry, easily spotting the scarlet-clad first-year hovering nervously near Gryffindor's goalposts.

"He looks tense," Simon commented, squinting against the sunlight.

Jason nodded. "Nerves. It's natural. Let's see if he settles."

The game began in earnest, with the Gryffindor Chasers weaving through the air, passing the Quaffle back and forth. Angelina Johnson broke through the Slytherin defense, scoring the first ten points for Gryffindor. The Gryffindor stands erupted in cheers, red and gold banners waving frantically.

"Nice play," Tobi said, clapping.

"Yeah," Simon added, "but look at Slytherin—they're not taking that lying down."

True to form, the Slytherin Chasers retaliated with aggressive precision, their passes tight and calculated. Adrian Pucey scored moments later, tying the game.

Jason's gaze flicked back to Harry, who seemed to be gripping his broom tightly, his eyes darting around the field. "He's not looking for the Snitch," Jason muttered.

Simon looked puzzled. "What's he doing then?"

"Trying not to mess up," Jason replied calmly. "Give him time. First games are about finding your footing."

Minutes ticked by, the Quaffle exchanging hands rapidly as the score climbed on both sides. Gryffindor was ahead by twenty points when Harry's posture shifted. Jason noticed it immediately—the way Harry's grip on his broom loosened, the way his head tilted slightly, scanning the air with purpose.

"There we go," Jason said, leaning back. "He's in the game now."

Tobi grinned. "You think he's spotted the Snitch?"

"Not yet," Jason said. "But he's looking for it. Big difference."

Suddenly, the Slytherin Seeker, dove sharply. The crowd gasped, craning their necks to follow him.

"Slytherin seeker seen it!" Simon shouted.

But Jason shook his head. "No, he hasn't. That's a feint."

As if on cue, seeker pulled up from the dive with a smirk, laughing at Harry, who had instinctively followed. Jason chuckled under his breath. "Classic Slytherin move. He's trying to rattle him."

To his credit, Harry didn't seem deterred. Instead, he adjusted his position, his green eyes scanning the sky with renewed focus.

The game continued at a breakneck pace, the Gryffindor and Slytherin Chasers battling fiercely for control of the Quaffle. Harry suddenly froze midair, his gaze locked onto something near the Slytherin goalposts.

Jason's heart quickened as he followed Harry's line of sight. A glint of gold darted near the hoops—the Golden Snitch.

"There it is," Jason said, sitting up straighter.

Harry leaned forward, his Nimbus 2000 responding instantly as he shot through the air like an arrow. Malfoy noticed a split second later and gave chase, his green robes billowing behind him.

"Go, Harry!" Tobi yelled, joining the cheers erupting from the Gryffindor stands.

The Snitch darted left, then right, weaving unpredictably through the players. Harry and Malfoy were neck and neck, their hands outstretched as they raced closer to the elusive prize.

"He's got to time it perfectly," Jason murmured, his eyes narrowing.

The Snitch suddenly veered upward, and Harry followed without hesitation. seeker hesitated for the briefest moment, and it was enough for Harry to gain the lead. The crowd roared as Harry stretched out his hand, fingers brushing against the tiny golden ball.

Jason held his breath.

But just as Harry closed his fingers around the Snitch, his broom jerked violently to the side. He wobbled precariously, clutching the handle to steady himself.

"What was that?" Simon asked, alarmed.

"Sabotage," Jason said flatly, his eyes scanning the pitch. His gaze landed on Snape or quirell ,both who was staring intently at Harry, their lips moving silently.

"Snape," Jason muttered.

Jason didn't answer. His attention was locked on Hermione, who had noticed Snape too. She nudged Ron, and the two of them hurried off, disappearing into the stands.

Meanwhile, Harry regained control of his broom, his determination undeterred. The Snitch was still within reach, hovering just ahead of him. With a final burst of speed, he lunged forward and clasped the Snitch tightly in his hand.

The Gryffindor stands erupted in deafening cheers as Harry raised his hand triumphantly, the Snitch glinting in the sunlight.

"He did it!" Simon yelled, clapping Tobi on the back.

Jason smiled faintly, his hands in his pockets as he watched Harry land. The Gryffindor team surrounded him, lifting him onto their shoulders in celebration.

"Well," Jason said, standing up and stretching, "he's proven himself. Youngest Seeker in a century, and he caught the Snitch in his first game. Not bad."

Simon grinned. "Not bad? That was incredible! Did you see the way he pulled out of that dive?"

Tobi nodded enthusiastically. "And the way he stayed calm even when his broom went berserk. That was impressive."

Jason gave a small shrug, though he couldn't hide the glint of admiration in his eyes. "Yeah, I'll give it to him. The kid's got talent."

As the three of them made their way out of the stands, Simon turned to Jason. "Think Ravenclaw's got a chance against Gryffindor?"

Jason smirked. "Maybe not this time , Not unless we find someone like Harry for our team. But who knows? Maybe one of us will step up."

Tobi laughed. "Maybe it'll be you, Jason."

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "Not likely. I'm better at passing than chasing. "

The three boys headed back toward the castle, the excitement of the match still buzzing in the air.