Chapter 19: Charms Class

“Thank you, Mrs. Grey.”

Sean thanked her sincerely.

The confused young wizards watched as the ghost drifted away and the staircase settled into place, before they surged forward like a rising tide.

“Sean, how did you do that?”

Amidst the chatter, Michael’s voice rang in Sean’s ear. Anthony and Terry also pricked up their ears.

“Hogwarts Castle was built in the tenth century, and the spiral staircases within the castle were designed by Lady Rowena Ravenclaw...”

As Sean spoke, the three of them understood.

But in such a frantic situation, who could have thought of that!

More importantly, regarding the request for help from a ghost—Michael had thought it was just a joke played by a prefect.

“But how did you know Mrs. Grey could definitely influence the spiral staircase?” Michael asked in a low voice.

“I didn't know, but trying is better than doing nothing,” Sean replied.

...

They still managed to reach the Charms classroom just as the bell rang after they entered.

The young wizards took their seats, their faces flushed.

The seating arrangement in the Charms classroom was quite unique: a central aisle with four rows of connected seats scattered on either side.

Sean found the nearest available seat, right next to Hermione, who had her head buried in a book.

No one was beside her until Sean sat down, followed by Michael, Terry, and Anthony.

“You almost late,” Hermione’s muffled voice drifted from behind her book.

Sean nodded and turned his gaze toward the pile of books at the end of the aisle.

The professor teaching Charms was an extraordinarily small wizard, Professor Flitwick. He had just appeared from behind the first row of seats, immediately drawing the attention of all the young wizards.

Everyone stared curiously at the professor, who was barely a meter tall, at his fluffy white hair and beard.

They watched as he turned around and climbed, step by step, to the very top of the book pile.

It was a jaw-dropping sight.

Once he stood steady, the young wizards couldn't help but giggle.

“Alright, alright, a little laughter isn't a bad thing, is it?”

Professor Flitwick seemed entirely unbothered. He straightened his collar and continued in a lighthearted voice, “Charms are a skill every wizard should master. If a wizard cannot cast charms, what right do they have to be called a wizard?”

As he spoke, he waved his wand. Without even an incantation, the books began to fly. They swayed under the command of Professor Flitwick’s wand, sometimes growing as large as desks, sometimes shrinking to the size of a fingernail.

With a gentle flick from Professor Flitwick, they actually duplicated into dozens of copies, before finally transforming into various animals that ran and jumped about.

Hermione looked curiously at a rabbit that ran up to her desk.

With a sudden *bang*, the animals all turned into fireworks and vanished.

“Cool!”

“Whoa!”

Excited and surprised shouts erupted from the students below.

Professor Flitwick nodded with a smile.

The Charms lesson began in this atmosphere of excitement.

Just as Sean remembered, Professor Flitwick explained the theory of charms in a way that was both profound and easy to understand. Subsequently, he began teaching the simplest charm—the Wand-Lighting Charm.

“The key to *Lumos* lies in the movement of the wrist; that pause must be decisive...”

Professor Flitwick’s voice echoed through the classroom.

Everyone tried their best, and most were successful.

[You practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm at an introductory level, Proficiency +3]

[You practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm at an introductory level, Proficiency +3]

...

The tip of Sean’s wand glowed continuously.

“I did it!”

After three attempts, Michael’s wand tip flickered with light. He turned around excitedly, only to see that Terry’s wand tip was also emitting a glow.

As for Anthony, he seemed to have learned it beforehand, as he succeeded on his first try.

“Fine, fine,” Michael muttered, turning to find another student.

“Sean?”

[You practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm at an introductory level, Proficiency +3]

“Sean?”

[You practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm at an intermediate level, Proficiency +10]

“Hmm? Sean, did you hear me?” Michael leaned in, tilting his head.

But Sean’s mind only held Professor Flitwick’s voice—

“If you cannot seem to release the light, you should try a method: imagine yourself in total darkness, longing for light... ah, how desperately you long for the light...”

“Longing...”

Sean murmured to himself. He remembered the nights at the orphanage, in rooms where the electricity was cut early and there wasn't even a candle flame. London back then still hid fugitives; the wind and snow lashed against the drafty windows with a crackling sound.

Lying in his hospital bed, Sean wasn't afraid, but the longing for light was persistent.

“I have a wand now,” Sean said.

“*Lumos!*”

[You practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm at a master level, Proficiency +300]

“Merlin’s beard! Everyone, look at Mr. Sean Green!”

Professor Flitwick ran down from the book pile in excitement.

The entire classroom was enveloped in a soft glow. The young wizards held their breath, staring at the orb of light that was at least ten times larger than normal, and at the young wizard holding his wand, his hair shimmering with a silvery-white light.

“A perfect *Lumos*! I shall award ten points to Ravenclaw!” the students heard Professor Flitwick say.

...

“Sean, Sean, how did you do it? Teach me, I really want to learn this.”

Michael was chattering incessantly in his ear.

“It’s emotion,” Sean said seriously. “Magic is something a wizard possesses inherently. Its strength depends on the wizard's emotions or mental strength.”

“Emotion?”

Michael repeated, while Anthony, Terry, and Hermione, who were eavesdropping behind him, also fell into thought.

In the moment they were dazed, Sean had already turned into the Great Hall.

Justin sat down beside him as if equipped with radar; he always managed to find Sean.

Sean was curiously poking at a kidney pudding, wondering what kind of mindset British wizards had when they invented such a dish.

He thought as he ate.

*Magic Theory* emphasized mental strength and emotion several times, with phrases such as: “Once you have mastered a spell, to truly exert its maximum power, you also need sufficient mental strength,” appearing repeatedly in the book.

Sean thought that mental strength was likely a collective concept, encompassing both a wizard's mental level and their emotions. Mental level was likely something like willpower, while emotion was not difficult to understand.

Combined, these two were the key to advancing the "Power of I Think."

The influence of emotion on magic was significant; this was perhaps the most idealistic aspect of magic.

Molly Weasley, who had lost a child and was trying to protect another, was provoked by Bellatrix by the death of Fred during the final battle. In a fit of rage, Mrs. Weasley screamed

“NOT—ANY—MORE—YOU—TOUCH—MY—CHILDREN!”

Immediately after, five silent spells turned the tide, taking down Bellatrix.

Harry, by the edge of the Black Lake in the Forbidden Forest, shouted to protect his godfather Black's life

“*Ex—pec—to—Pa—tro—num!*”

The next moment, he manifested an incredibly powerful Patronus, driving away hundreds of Dementors.

These examples made Sean realize just how powerful the role of emotion was in magic.

“If the emotion for the Wand-Lighting Charm is longing, then what is the emotion for the Scouring Charm?”

As Sean pondered this, he subconsciously bid Justin farewell and headed toward the greenhouses.

Wait?

Justin?

Sean looked back at Justin once more.