Chapter 28: The Prankster Sprite

The coursework at Hogwarts was quite relaxed; first-year young wizards would have no more than three classes per day.

On Thursdays, Ravenclaw students had a different set of three classes: Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration.

For a power like Charms, which provides immediate positive feedback, the young wizards had already demonstrated varying levels of progress after only a few days of school.

Most of them had mastered the Wand-Lighting Charm, though they could only produce a faint glimmer. Some were still waving their wands in a jerky, hesitant manner, chanting loudly, yet failing to make the tips of their wands glow at all.

As for Sheen, his practice with the Wand-Lighting Charm had already reached the [Proficient] level. The light he produced was not only brighter than that of the other young wizards but also more stable.

The logic of learning magic can always be explained this way: first, understanding. When you do not understand a spell, you cannot use it. Therefore, all other things being equal, the more spells a wizard knows, the stronger they are.

Once you understand a spell, you must then practice continuously to become more skilled. This is the second logic of a wizard's growth—the more proficient they are with their spells, the stronger they become.

There are many examples of this, such as the upcoming Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. His specialty, the Memory Charm, could even cause powerful wizards who feared nothing—not even vampires, werewolves, or trolls—to meet their downfall. Thus, constant practice is undoubtedly the path toward the essence of magic.

After reaching the entry level with the Wand-Lighting Charm, Sheen clearly perceived a deeper comprehension of the spell. His previously stiff gestures became fluid, and his pronunciation was no longer blurred but clear and forceful.

Sheen speculated that once his proficiency reached a certain level, he might not need to speak the incantation aloud; he could simply mutter it in his mind. *Standard Spells, Grade 1* mentioned that this was the non-verbal spell commonly used by advanced wizards.

As for the principle, *Magical Theory* provided a clear explanation: [Since an incantation is a specific word or phrase used to trigger or invoke magic, thinking it silently is equally effective, allowing it to be used under silent conditions.] This point would also be mentioned in Professor Snape's sixth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

"Very good! Very good! Significant progress! Many have learned the Wand-Lighting Charm. For the young wizards who have just learned it, continuous practice is vital, but for a few extra little fellows..."

Professor Flitwick's voice was high-pitched. As he spoke these words, he winked at Sheen, Hermione, and a few others. "I shall teach them another spell in advance. Come, those little fellows who learned the Wand-Lighting Charm last time can gather around. As for those who haven't learned it yet, do not worry. Remember my words: one stroke, one pause, and yearn for the light..."

Professor Flitwick was easy to "underestimate," but he was no amateur when it came to casting spells. Under his guidance, a few high-performing young wizards began practicing another spell: the Levitation Charm.

By the time class ended, Sheen's proficiency in the Levitation Charm had increased by a full 30 points under the professor's guidance, reaching (34/300).

Sheen walked out of the long corridor of the Charms classroom feeling satisfied. The young wizards had ten minutes to reach the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. This wasn't much time, so everyone hurried along in a bustling crowd, until they encountered an uninvited guest.

"Aha! First-year brats!"

Just as the young wizards were about to open a door, a ghost suddenly lunged from behind it, giving everyone a massive fright. It flipped a wastepaper basket over Seamus's head. Seamus yelled, "My head! Oh no! My eyes! Has it gone dark?"

The ghost's mischief clearly didn't stop there. It suddenly yanked the rug from under the young wizards' feet. Even Michael tripped; just as he was about to get up, his nose suddenly felt a sharp tug. It was that ghost, grabbing Michael's nose and screaming, "Got your nose!"

Anthony and Terry instinctively took a step back, then braced themselves and moved toward Michael. Sheen was the quickest to react. He shouted loudly, "Peeves! Bloody Baron is coming!"

The ghost let out a sudden shriek and vanished in a flash. Sheen and his two friends immediately helped the shaken Michael to his feet. The surrounding young wizards looked at Sheen with admiration.

"Oh, thank you, Sheen, that was a huge help. And you guys too..." Michael's face flushed red. He looked around to confirm Peeves had left, then quietly shuffled closer to Sheen. "Sheen, how did you know Peeves is afraid of the Bloody Baron?"

"Percy, the Gryffindor Prefect, said so." Sheen did not lie; Percy had indeed said those words, but how Sheen knew was another matter entirely.

On the spiral staircase, the frightened young wizards quickened their pace to leave the area. It wasn't until lights appeared in the corridor that everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The name "Peeves" was very fitting. He was mischievous and habitually flew through the corridors of Hogwarts screaming and playing all sorts of pranks. Although he had no physical form, could pass through walls, and was translucent like a ghost, he was not actually a ghost.

Sheen learned this while flipping through *Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense* in his Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

[In Hogwarts, Peeves is very noisy, but he is not a ghost; he is a poltergeist, also known as a prank spirit. A poltergeist is a form of psychological energy rather than a remnant left by the deceased. The ghosts of Hogwarts all acknowledge that Peeves is not one of them. Theorists generally believe that poltergeists are entities caused by subconscious behavior—especially the subconscious behavior of the oppressed. For centuries, Hogwarts students have endured considerable pressure; it is not surprising that a spirit like Peeves was born from such circumstances.]

This was the first time Sheen had seen such an explanation. He continued reading thoughtfully

[I advocate that young wizards should at least learn the following spells to deal with the darkest parts of magical power Green Sparks; Red Sparks; Knockback Jinx; Smokescreen Spell; Wand-Lighting Charm.]

Sheen read this section carefully, committing the first four spells to memory. By learning these four, his performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts should be able to reach an "Outstanding" level.

As for how to study, Sheen glanced at the stuttering and muddled Professor Quirrell. He let out a deep sigh and temporarily set the plan aside in his notebook. He had to face the question that made his heart race yet filled him with apprehension—practicing potion brewing in that place known as the forbidden zone, the dungeons guarded by Professor Snape.

(End of Chapter)