Hogwarts' classes were very relaxed; first-year students never had more than three lessons a day.
On Thursdays, Ravenclaw had three different lessons: Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration.
For spells like Charms, which provide immediate positive feedback, first-year students showed varying levels of progress within just a few days of enrollment.
Most students could make their wands flicker with light, but only weakly.
Some were still waving their wands awkwardly, chanting loudly, yet could not make the tip of their wand emit even a faint glow.
As for Sean, his practice with the Lumos spell had already reached Expert level.
The light he produced was not only brighter than that of other students but also much steadier.
The logic behind learning magic can always be explained like this:
First, understanding.
If you don't understand a spell, you cannot use it.
So, all else being equal, the more spells a wizard knows, the stronger they are.
Once you understand a spell, you must continue practicing to become more Expert— this is the second logic of a wizard growing stronger:
The more skilled a wizard is with a spell, the stronger they become.
There are many examples of this. Take Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, who would arrive next year. His specialty, the Memory Charm, could make even powerful wizards who feared neither vampires, werewolves, nor trolls falter completely.
Thus, consistent practice is a path to the very essence of magic.
After mastering the basics of Lumos, Sean could clearly feel a deeper understanding of the spell.
His formerly stiff gestures became fluid, and his pronunciation was no longer muddled but clear and strong.
Sean guessed that when he reached a certain level of proficiency with a spell, he might not even need to speak it aloud, merely think it in his mind.
Standard Spells: Beginner mentioned that this is what higher-level wizards call silent spells.
As for the principle, Magical Theory provides a clear explanation:
Since a spell is a specific word or phrase used to trigger or invoke magic, silent recitation is equally effective, allowing the spell to be used without vocalization.
This would also be mentioned in Professor Snape's sixth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
"Excellent! Excellent! Significant progress. Many have learned Lumos, and for those just starting out, continuous practice is very important.
But for a few of the extra little ones…"
Professor Flitwick's voice was high-pitched, and as he spoke, he winked at Sean, Hermione, and a few others.
"I will teach them another spell in advance. Come on, those who learned Lumos last time, gather around. And for those who haven't, don't worry—remember my words: one flick, one pause, desire the light…"
Flitwick was easy to underestimate, but when he cast a spell, he was precise and meticulous.
A small number of exceptional students began practicing another spell under his guidance.
It was the Levitation Charm.
By the end of the lesson, Sean had increased his proficiency in the Levitation Charm by 30 points under the professor's instruction, bringing it to (34/300).
Satisfied, Sean walked down the long corridor of the Charms classroom. Students had ten minutes to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts, which wasn't much time, so everyone hurried along quickly.
Until an unexpected visitor appeared.
"Aha! First-year little rascals!"
As the students reached for a door, a ghost suddenly sprang out from behind it, startling everyone.
It dropped a wastebasket onto Simo's head. Simo shouted,
"My head! Oh no! My eyes! Is it dark already?"
The ghost's mischief didn't stop there. It yanked the carpet out from under the students' feet.
Even Michael fell, and just as he was getting up, he suddenly felt a pinch on his nose—it was the ghost again. It grabbed his nose and screamed,
"I've got your nose!"
Anthony and Terry instinctively took a step back, then, mustering courage, edged toward Michael.
Sean reacted fastest, shouting, "Peeves! Bloody Baron is here!"
The ghost screamed and vanished in a flash.
Sean and the others quickly helped the still-shaken Michael to his feet.
The other students watched Sean with admiration.
"Oh, thank you, Sean, that was a huge help. And you all…"
Michael blushed, looking around to ensure Peeves had gone, then quietly moved closer to Sean.
"Sean, how did you know Peeves is afraid of Bloody Baron?"
"It was said by Percy, the Gryffindor prefect."
Sean didn't lie—Percy had indeed said that, but how Sean knew… that was another matter.
On the spiral staircase, frightened students hurried away.
Only when they reached the hallway lit by torches did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Peeves was aptly named. Mischievous and noisy, he always shrieked while flying through Hogwarts' corridors, pulling pranks.
Though incorporeal, able to pass through walls, and semi-transparent like a ghost, he was not actually a ghost.
Sean learned this while browsing The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
[At Hogwarts, Peeves is noisy, but he is not a ghost; he is a poltergeist, also called a prank spirit.
Poltergeists are manifestations of psychic energy, not impressions left by the dead.
All Hogwarts ghosts acknowledge Peeves is not one of them.
Theorists generally believe poltergeists are spirits caused by subconscious actions—especially those of oppressed individuals.
Over centuries, Hogwarts students have endured considerable pressure; it is no surprise that Peeves came into being this way.]
Seeing this explanation for the first time, Sean thoughtfully continued reading:
'I recommend that students at least learn the following spells to cope with the darkest aspects of magical power:
Green Sparks
Red Sparks
Knockback Jinx
Smokescreen Spell(Fumos)
Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)'
Sean carefully read this section, memorizing the first four spells.
If he mastered these four, his Defense Against the Dark Arts grade should be excellent.
As for how to learn them, Sean glanced at the stammering, unclear Professor Quirrell,
sighing deeply, and temporarily set the plan aside in his notebook.
He had to face the thrilling yet worrisome challenge:
Practicing potion brewing
in the so-called forbidden dungeon, guarded by Professor Snape.
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