It was the first day of classes, and I was trying to follow the herd to blend into the crowd. The only problem was that almost all of the new years were wanting to follow my direction instead. While eating breakfast in the Great Hall, many of them were trying to strike up conversations with me. Thankfully, Pansy was keeping them at bay while sitting in the spot next to mine.
After breakfast was over, I checked my schedule and map to see where my next class would be. It wasn't difficult to have a general understanding, but the staircases were a bit confusing. Some skipped floors, so you had to know which staircase you really wanted to get on. Luckily, I made no mistakes, having planned my route ahead of time. However, that only made the other new years praise my sense of direction.
"Wow!"
"Glad I followed him!"
"I would've gotten lost so easily!"
"I can't believe this is his first time through this maze of a castle!"
I held back my words of disbelief at them all, shocked at their praise.
'What? No! This isn't that hard! They told us where to go yesterday in the common room. Just keep your head down to avoid getting lost and make the turns they described.'
Pansy was still watching Lucas carefully, making sure not to miss a single move he would try to hide. She noticed he would still stash food up his sleeve for some reason. She also observed the way he moved through the halls without looking at all the wondrous sights inside the castle—almost as if he had been here before and had already seen it all.
'You don't like to talk to expose yourself, but I can see through you already.'
Me leading the first years to the History of Magic class got the teacher's attention as we entered his classroom first.
"I see we have a sense of leadership already," he chuckled, letting us sit wherever we wished.
Class didn't run long. It mostly explained historical wizards and their accomplishments. There were a few stories of fighting mythical beasts and the like. However, I didn't think the stories were all that accurate. All the beasts I had met felt intelligent. Sure, I had to imagine there would be a few bad apples, but I had a feeling that humans provoked them without even realizing it—then proceeded to kill them and be regarded as heroes.
'People always make their own assumptions before giving these creatures a chance…'
I frowned as we exited the class and walked at a faster pace to help keep my emotions in check. I didn't want another accident.
"I'm glad that boring class is over. We just sat the whole time! I'm bored!" Val complained, slithering under my robes and tickling me slightly, causing a smirk to creep onto my face. I felt my emotions calm with my new pet's presence.
"Sorry, but I think the next class is just more spells for me," I said in a sadder tone.
The halls were crowded with others making their way to their classes. I knew I could get away with doing it here.
"Here. Since you were such a good boy, here's a treat," I said, giving him his favorite snack I had made last night.
"Yay! We should give more of this to our friend in the water!"
I bottled the cap and quickly continued on my way.
"We'll see her at lunch."
"Yay!!"
I chuckled a bit while Val cheered inside my robe, his tail flailing about in excitement.
I entered the Charms room and quickly tried to find a corner spot away from the others, who were closer from their previous classes. The only problem was that the teacher had arranged the seats on opposite ends of the room, and they were closer to choir stands rather than normal desks. To make matters worse, all of the higher seats had already been taken by other students.
I sighed and decided to find a seat with fewer people around. I spotted one near the front, close to the edge, and took it without a second thought. The rest of the Slytherins followed behind me and took seats around the area I had picked. Pansy, I noticed, took the spot right beside mine at blazing speed, not allowing anyone else to snatch it first. I gave her a nod and took out my book of spells for the class.
"Ugh!" someone beside me groaned.
I glanced over to see Hermione glaring at me, along with a red-headed boy in a worn-out robe.
'The most famous redheads in the school are Weasleys. Good chance he's one. I guess that makes sense. They undoubtedly hate Slytherins. Not that I can blame them.'
I decided not to engage and instead focused on the first spell in the book before class began.
However, the rest of the students saw this in the worst light possible.
"Hah! You don't even deserve his time!"
"Lucas is much higher than either of you!"
I sighed at the slander and held the book closer to my face, hoping to evade their new, harsher glares.
"Everyone! Everyone, class is beginning!"
All voices stopped as a small man in a suit and glasses stepped up to a podium between the seats and did roll call.
Once finished, the teacher gave a basic explanation of magic and spells, then quickly had us test out a spell from the second chapter.
"Alright, students! Let's all try our first spell, alright? Everyone take out your wands!"
I did just that and stared at the beauty and craftsmanship of the blended wood. The types of wood almost seemed to move, swirling about as I held it.
"What kind of wand is that?!"
I snapped my gaze to Pansy, who was pointing at my wand and whisper-yelling.
I sighed, thinking about the extinct creatures that helped make it, and shook my head.
"Personally made by Ollivander. Hopefully the last that will be made," I said with a somber tone before refocusing on class.
However, without my knowing, my vague description only confused Pansy further, her curiosity flaring.
'What does that mean!?' she thought, staring at the swirling wand.
By this point, the teacher had described the spell and was letting us have a go at it. Plenty of other students had varying degrees of success, but I felt the teacher's gaze on me, urging me to make an attempt.
"Lumos!" I yelled, feeling the warm embrace of energy focusing on the tip of my wand.
'This kind of reminds me of that lifting charm,' I thought, staring at the small amount of light my wand was emitting.
I frowned at the dim light but had a thought.
'Is there a limit? The Wingardium Leviosa charm had a limit on how much energy it could take from me. I could feel that when I tried using it on myself on the train ride.'
I glanced at the book, using the light to illuminate the page better. There was some good information about using the spell to ward off ghosts and spirits, along with anything that disliked bright lights, but nothing about a set limit, unlike Wingardium Leviosa.
I tried putting more energy into the wand's tip, and the light flickered with power. I felt the spell's limit as the light grew brighter, but when I moved my arm away from the book, I noticed the spell suddenly allowed for more energy in that split second.
I stared at the bright light and smirked, moving the wand back and forth, feeling the resistance lessen.
I gave my wand one last flick while chanting the spell with the others.
"Lumos!"
The class was suddenly bathed in a massive, stunning brightness. Startled by the intensity, I was relieved when the spell sputtered out a second later, returning to its normal light level.
I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly searched the page for the counter-charm.
'Why don't they have that before the spell!?'
"Nox!" I yelled, giving one last push to stop the spell.
The room fell strangely silent. I frowned, already knowing why.
I glanced around to see all eyes firmly glued to me.
"I say, young man, may I ask what you were thinking?!" the professor yelled from across the room.
I sighed inwardly, keeping my composure.
"I noticed I could make it brighter if I moved my wand while casting," I said concisely, ignoring the butterflies in my stomach.
The teacher adjusted his glasses and placed a hand over his mouth, mumbling to himself.
"That hurt my eyes!" Val complained, slithering around my right arm. Luckily, I had cast with my left, sparing him most of the blow.
"Sorry, Val…" I whispered as I stowed my wand, while the professor nodded, seemingly reaching a conclusion.