Seated in his regular seat down the back with James, Andy was particularly excited for the Charms lesson to begin. They were told that this lesson would be a practical one, and though Andy did enjoy getting information out of textbooks, nothing was quite as good as hands on experience. Today they would be learning the Levitation charm, Wingardium Leviosa.
Listening to instructions carefully from Professor Smith, Andy went up to the front of the class to retrieve a feather for both himself and James. He placed the feather on the table in front of him, and picked up his wand. He wouldn't say that he was competitive but he sure wanted to master this charm before anyone else. He blamed that particular trait on being a Ravenclaw.
Andy repeated the phrase, swish and flick like a mantra in his mind as he concentrated on the task at hand.
Swish and Flick, Swish and Flick, he thought, practicing this wand movement as he internalised the action. Sensing that he was doing the wand technique correctly, Andy decided to practice the incantation.
"Wingardium Lev.." Andy scrunched up his face and turned to James. "How do you pronounce it again?" he asked the Gryffindor. James shrugged, far more interested in drawing on a scrap of parchment than attempting to practice the incantation.
"Hopeless, you are," Andy said with a grin. James always did have the ability to completely daze off during class but still managed to get good grades; somethings just weren't fair.
Andy listened to other students around him and figured that he'd just try it as they were and adjust accordingly if he didn't manage to make his feather levitate.
Practicing the wand movement once more, Andy then focused his mind, "Wingardium Leviosa," he incanted, with the swish and flick movement. Nothing. Andy sighed, and hearing a chuckle from beside him, glared at James.
"You try it then, smart arse," he said, turning his attention back to his own feather and not to James who looked like he'd rather eat bubotuber pus than actually do work in a class.
Anthony tried the incantation alone, sounding out the 'O' sound in Leviosa, instead of placing emphasise on the 'sa' sound.
Getting a nod of approval from Professor Smith as he walked around, Andy felt ready to try again.
... Once, twice, three times ... nothing.
Andy was getting fed up with the charm, but his Ravenclaw resolve to never give up steeled him in his decision to try again. He just had to get this thing to work!
With his wand movement down pat, Andy spoke the incantation firmly, and watched with mirth as his feather rose from the table, hesitantly, but from the table nonetheless.
Andy nearly fist-pumped the air he was so happy. He let the feather fall back down to the table, entirely pleased with his efforts.
"Did ya see that!?" Andy exclaimed to his Gryffindor best friend, who, judging from his reaction to being almost screamed at, had not.
"Do it again," James said, paying attention this time. Andy repeated the action, letting the feather levitate a good metre in the air, before controlling it back down to the table. Andy placed a smug smile on his face, and was rather pleased to see James shrug in a nonchalance way.
"So.. Anyone can do it,' James scoffed.
Andy rolled his eyes at James' comment. He looked around and saw that other students had their feathers levitating, and realised that he because he was paying attention so intently to his own feather, he wasn't sure if he was first to do it or not. Andy shrugged. He was just happy that he managed to successfully make his feather soar... and before James was just the icing on an already awesome cake.
((GM permission from James Wilson))
