Harry Potter : Bloodraven

Alchemy classroom.

Standing amidst the sea of quiet yet overly enthusiastic students, Maverick smiled faintly and began explaining the third step in basic alchemy. "We now move on to the final part of today's lesson, enchanting."

The students exchanged glances nodding excitedly to one another. It was common knowledge that alchemy required years of practice and dedication to produce even the simplest functional item. Yet here they were, about to complete their own projects. Even if it was just a basic item, the thought filled them with pride and excitement.

"This step," Maverick said as he started pacing slowly, "is what brings your creation to life. The rune you've carved and imbued forms the foundation of its structure. But a structure without purpose is lifeless, isn't it?"

Even though the joyous emotions from his Patronus still resonated with them, it didn't affect their ability to give their full attention to his explanation.

"Professor," called Hermione Granger from the front row, her hand shooting up. "Could you explain what you mean by the structure?"

Maverick smiled and walked over to her desk. He picked up the stone card she had been working on, the Luxis rune carved neatly into its surface. "The structure," he said, holding the card up for the class to see, "is represented by this card."

He returned to the center of the room with Hermione's work in hand.

Slowly, he levitated the card, raising it halfway to the ceiling. With a sharp snap of his fingers, he cast an enlarging spell.

The card grew steadily, reaching nearly two meters in height, hovering in the center of the classroom, large enough for everyone to clearly see the intricate details. He made it rotate slowly, halting when the carved rune faced the students.

"Ms. Granger," he glanced at Hermione who was now blushing slightly but still focused intently on his demonstration, "has done excellent work carving the Luxis rune precisely along the outline."

He gestured to the rune on the enlarged card. "The purpose of this alchemical creation is simple... to make a glowing magical item. This card has already been crafted into its shape before it was given to you. So, the first step was completed for you."

"Keep in mind, the structure doesn't have to be a card. It could be a ball, a cube, or even an irregular shape. What matters is how you want your creation to look and whether it's possible to carve runes on that particular shape."

The students listened carefully, absorbing the information.

"The second step," Maverick continued, "is adding runic instructions. In a simpler term, carving the rune. That step is also complete now, as you've all carved the Luxis rune onto your cards." He gestured to the enlarged card hovering above him.

"There are other runes hidden on your cards, but for now, don't worry about them. Think of the runes as pieces of a puzzle. The one you carved was the final piece that made it complete."

He paused again while scanning the room to see if anyone was having difficulty understanding. When he saw none, he nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Let's move on."

"The third step is adding a magical spell to provide energy to the structure. The charm activates the runes, allowing them to function as intended."

"However, it's not as simple as waving your wand and casting any spell. The charm must match the runic instructions. In other words, you can't use a levitation charm on an item designed to glow. The runes are specific... they have meaning and react to specific types of magic."

He paused, looking thoughtfully at the students to make sure they understood the meaning, then decided to emphasize the point once more, as it was the most crucial element of any enchantment.

"Remember children... runes are precise magical instructions. Each one has a purpose, and they respond to specific spells. The process of charming the runes requires focus and precision. You can't just wave your wand, cast some random spell, and expect it to work."

He paused again, scanning the room for any signs of confusion while tapping his wand lightly against his palm. The students seemed fully engrossed in the lesson, and there was no hint of confusion in their expressions. Even little Weasley was bobbing his head like a chicken, his face showing he understood. Although, that remained to be seen.

"The process of charming runes isn't as straightforward as casting a spell. To enchant this stone card," he gestured to the enlarged hovering card above him, "you'll need to focus on what the rune is meant to do. It's like having a conversation with your magic. The rune asks for guidance, and your charm provides the answer."

"If your focus wavers or your intent isn't clear, the enchantment might fail... no, it will fail."

The students watched intently as the card slowly descended, landing gently in front of the class. The elevated seating gave everyone a clear view of Maverick's demonstration.

"I'll use the Lumos Charm," he said, raising his wand. "But unlike casting it in the air, enchanting requires direct contact with the crafted item."

He held up the wand for emphasis. "Before I begin, I focus on the rune in my mind. I think about its meaning, its purpose, and what I want it to achieve. The Luxis rune represents illumination, so I concentrate on that idea. Then, I channel my intent into the spell."

He flicked his wand gently over the stone card, clearly enunciating, "Lumos!" as he tapped the rune.

Instead of the typical white light glowing from his wand, the students gasped as a soft, radiant glow spread across the card's surface. The light traced the lines of the Luxis rune, filling them in slowly until the entire shape gleamed brightly. Moments later, the glow faded from the rune itself, and the crystal embedded on the other side of the card began to emit a steady, brilliant light.

"And there you have it," he said, hovering the glowing card back into the air and turning it for the students to see. "The charm has activated the rune, and the card is now a functioning magical item. The runes instructed it to glow, and the charm made that possible."

He smiled at the wide-eyed students. "As you can see, the card is glowing much like a Lumos spell. Moreover, it will continue to do so for as long as the runes can draw ambient magic from the environment and stay powered. Even if you aren't holding it, as long as the item is in a magical area, it will continue to shine."

"But if you're in contact with it, the runes will prioritize drawing magic from you... but don't worry—it's negligible. Runes, especially in simple creations like this, are incredibly efficient. You could hold it all day and not feel a thing."

"That's because this, now-completed alchemical creation is the simplest of simple alchemy, with the most basic instructions."

"And these instructions can be transformed into anything because runes are just like a language. You can ask to do very complicated things by modifying the instructions."

"For example... to stop glowing at certain times, glow in different colors, or blink at different intervals. You can do anything once you begin to understand the beautiful language of alchemists."

He smiled brightly at the eager rows of children. "Imagination will be the only thing that can hinder a dedicated alchemist. And I have confidence in all of you to reach apprentice level before your OWLs."

The students murmured excitedly, their fascination clear as they exchanged eager glances, barely able to contain themselves, itching to try it on their own.

"Now," Maverick said with a quiet chuckle, looking at their expressions as he brought the card down, "it's your turn. Take your wands, focus on your rune, and picture its purpose. Speak the incantation clearly, and let your magic flow into the stone. If you're not familiar with the Lumos spell, raise your hand, and I'll assist you."

A ripple of movement followed as students reached for their wands, their faces a blend of excitement and nervousness. The room buzzed with whispered incantations and concentrated energy as they began their attempts.

The Lumos spell was one of the simplest spells, so basic that even Muggle-born students could often learn it just by reading the instructions in their textbooks. With nearly a month between purchasing their supplies and arriving at Hogwarts, most Muggle-born students had already mastered the spell before even stepping foot in the castle.

As for the young witches and wizards from magical families, knowing how to cast Lumos was practically a given—it was a spell they learned early, often taught by parents or older siblings.

Therefore, only a handful of students raised their hands, struggling with the charm itself. Even for them, it was quickly grasped once Maverick provided one-on-one instructions.

Time passed slowly as the classroom filled with focused murmurs and occasional flickers of light. To Maverick's surprise, the first to succeed wasn't Miss Know-it-all, or a Ravenclaw, but Neville Longbottom. The shy Gryffindor's card began to glow softly, filling him with visible confidence.

"Well done, Mr. Longbottom!" Maverick approached his desk, clapping his hands and offering an approving smile to the boy. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

"Thank you, Professor," Neville replied, brimming with pride.

This wasn't due to the effect of the Patronus on his mind—no, this was Neville's own talent. The Patronus had simply allowed him to relax by keeping his mind from dwelling on depressing thoughts, and with that, Neville was able to succeed.

The other students turned toward Neville, some surprised, others envious, but above all else, they felt inspired.

Not long after, Hermione Granger's card began to glow brightly. Maverick had reset her card after the demonstration, removing his earlier enchantment, so this success was entirely her own.

"Excellent work, Miss Granger," Maverick nodded approvingly, approaching her desk. "Very impressive of you to achieve a near perfect harmony between the rune's purpose and your intent with the Lumos spell."

Hermione beamed at the praise. Though she didn't quite grasp the technical terms, she knew it meant something good.

"Let's see..." Maverick hummed, chuckling at the expectant girl. "Another ten points for the Lions."

Meanwhile, Ron Weasley, sitting not far from Hermione, muttered his spell with such intensity that his card sputtered like a bulb short-circuiting.

"Easy, Mr. Weasley," Maverick advised as he passed by. "Relax your grip and focus on the rune's meaning." He had to give it to the kid—Ron was clearly trying his best, from what Maverick could see.

The Potter orphan, on the other hand, was the fifth fastest of nearly a hundred students to manage the enchantment. It was clear the boy was exceptionally talented, and the only thing that had held him back until now was his unfortunate upbringing, lack of magical knowledge, or magic itself.

As the minutes went by, more students succeeded. Tracy Davis let out a delighted squeal when her card lit up, while Daphne Greengrass nodded in satisfaction, trying her best to maintain a calm expression but failing miserably as a smug smirk tugged at her lips.

Maverick moved among the rows, offering guidance where needed. "Steady now… Remember your intent… That's it, just like that."

Eventually, every student managed to produce at least a faint glow on their card. Maverick returned to the front of the room, clapping his hands lightly to draw their attention.

"Well done," he said warmly. "You've all taken your first step toward becoming alchemists. It's not an easy path, but you've done remarkably well for your first attempt."

He let his eyes sweep across the classroom, taking in the proud smiles and the way many students still stared at their glowing cards with a mix of wonder and pride.

"Remember, enchanting isn't about rushing or forcing the process. It's about creating a connection—between you, your magic, and the object you're working with. The better that connection, the better your results will be."

While the students excitedly chatted and exchanged proud glances, Maverick glanced at the watch on his wrist and saw that the class was nearly over.

He allowed himself a smile as well, then gave the students a moment to enjoy their sense of accomplishment.

When it was almost time to mark the end of the class, he cleared his throat and gave one last look at the students.

"Alright, everyone, that's all for today. Well done. Remember, this is just the beginning. If you have any doubtsabout runes, you can alwaysfind me in my office..."

As the students gathered their things and filed out of the classroom, many of them stopped to thank him, their voices filled with genuine appreciation.

They didn't even realize that he had already canceled the Patronus charm that had spread across the class. Their genuine feelings of accomplishment and joy were enough to sustain the positive emotions, making them oblivious to its disappearance.

"Thank you, Professor!" Tracy Davis and Daphne Greengrass said, one smiling politely while the other grinned widely as they walked up to the front before heading out.

Neville approached as well, giving him a grateful look. "Thank you again, Professor," he said with a voice filled with appreciation.

Maverick nodded to all the students, offering a smile of his own and a few kind words to those who personally came up to his desk before they made their way out.

The last few students trickled out, leaving Maverick standing leaning at his desk, satisfied with the day's progress.

—————————

Author's Note:

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 114 is already available on P AT r30n!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic