I memorized the book just before dinner time but just knowing what it said wasn't enough. I'd need a few more books and even personal experience to truly understand it's contents. Not surprising really since it was a higher year book most likely. Mike and Terry met me on the way to the great hall and we walked together the rest of the way.
"You ready for your classes on monday?" Mike asked curiously.
"It's Herbology and Charms right? I shouldn't have any trouble with those." I said confidently.
"Herbology can be a bit tiring since it's literally hands on work mostly but charms is not bad if you follow the directions. Most of us have even started to get the hang of the wand lighting spell." Terry said and Mike nodded.
"I already mastered all the spells in the first year spell book over the summer. Don't have any practical experience with herbology besides identifying plants though." I said honestly and they both froze.
"Are you joking mate? The whole book?" Mike asked in disbelief.
"Well and about half of next years book too. Once you figure out the trick to it most spells in the things are pretty easy." I said with a shrug.
"What trick?" Terry asked eagerly.
"Intent, precision and uniqueness. You need to be able to understand the right mindset for each spell. You need to understand precisely how the spell is pronounced and finally you need to adjust your wand movement to suit your own body. It took me a whole afternoon to figure out that last one." I said seriously.
"Adjust to your body? What do you mean?" Mike asked confused.
"Everyone's body is different. Here put your palm against mine." I said holding up my right hand.
He looked confused but did as I asked.
"You see how your fingers are longer and narrower than mine? That's what I mean. They best way for you to move your wand is different than the way I should move my wand as a result. For you it might be a slightly smaller movement while mine would be slightly larger. Get it?" I said and they both looked enlightened.
"Blimey mate how'd you figure that out!?" Terry asked amazed.
"Practice. I repeated the spells over and over again following the instructions precisely but the effect was less than perfect so I started messing up intentionally to figure out if it was me making a mistake or the instructions being flawed. I repeated this with the other spells and soon figured out the problem. The author of the book wrote out their own experience casting the spells. We aren't them however, our bodies are different so our movements must also be slightly different." I explained honestly.
"Lumos." Mike said attempting the wand lighting charm slightly differently following the advice I gave him.
Immediately a weak but steady glow manifested from the tip of his wand.
"Bloody hell! It worked!" Terry exclaimed in excitement.
"Your wand movement was good but from the glow I think your intent is off. What are you thinking when you cast the spell?" I asked calmly.
"Er, about the wand lighting up?" Mike said confused.
"No wonder it's so weak. Now imagine you are locked in a room that's pitch black. Imagine how much you'd want a light. Once you have this image try the spell again." I suggested helpfully.
He furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to imagine the thing I told him to and then flicked his wand gently.
"Lumos." he said and a bright steady light burst to life at the tip of his wand.
"Incredible! Five points to Ravenclaw for the wonderful use of the wand lighting charm!" A small familiar voice said from behind us.
"How long have you been there!?" I asked horrified as we quickly turned to face Flitwick.
"I arrived behind you just in time to hear you mention your little trick to your friends. I must admit I hadn't expected a first year to understand spell work at that level, much less before school even started. Truly your talent leaves me in awe!" The kindly little professor said with a wide smile.
"I'm flattered you say so but i'm more concerned about how I didn't notice you walk up to begin with." I said seriously.
"A modified notice me not charm young Alex. Your unusual perception technique is impressive but not flawless. A normal notice me not likely wouldn't work on your technique but I modified mine to create a false perception rather than push all perception away, an illusion if you will." He explained pleased with himself.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or horrified that you created a modification of that spell just to slip by my perception." I said with a hint of bitterness.
"What perception technique?" Terry asked confused.
"I suppose theres no use hiding it. I have a way to sort of project my perception around me a distance in every direction. Think of it like an extra sense. I've been using it nearly constantly." I said with a sigh.
"Indeed! It's quite the novel thing though for those of us rather sensitive perceptions it's rather uncomfortable. Like being stared at by thousands of eyes in every direction." Flitwick said cheerfully.
"That sounds brilliant! Can we learn how to do that?" Mike asked eagerly.
"Probably not? It's.... a feeling. Hard to describe really." I said unsure if it was even possible to learn haki without the ability stone in this world.
"It's spiritual in nature Mr. Boot. Anything related to the soul is rare and difficult matter to learn without high talent in like Alex clearly possesses." Flitwick said saving me from trying to explain how it even worked to say no to teaching them.