Read my heart, not my mind

4. The First Lesson

I grunted as I moved the empty desks around the dusty and deserted floor, trying to make room for our experiments today. I was a little surprised that a room this frequently passed by dozens of students and teachers could be this dirty. It wasn't my usual hiding spot when I didn't want to be in the dorm or the library but it was easier to find. I hoped Hoseok wasn't allergic to dust.

If he even showed up.

I eyed the door for what felt like the twentieth time before I shook my head and turned my back on it. The windows against the wall over looked the Forbidden Forest and lake. I wanted to smell the fall air and sunshine so I marched over resolutely and opened several of the windows. The breeze was strong as it gusted into the small room but that only made me smile. I loved autumn and the smells and colors it brought to my nose.

Even if Hoseok didn't come, I would just sit down and read until the sun set and I was forced to sneak back up to my room. I pulled my wand from my hair and pursed my lips as I attempted to cast the Scouring Charm nonverbally. I was slightly annoyed and exasperated with myself because it appeared I was only successful at nonverbal magic if it was a spell or charm I cast often.

So the water summoning spell I tried after finishing my book yesterday was unsuccessful whereas my summoning charm nearly always worked. It was all a matter of perseverance and I had that in spades. And time, which I appeared to have a great deal of as well. I pointed my wand at the gathered dust and chanted the incantation in my mind, annoyed that only a small wisp had flown up after the fifth time.

I jumped when I heard the door open behind me, I'd been so consumed in my task that I quite forgot what I was doing there. Instead of turning to see if it was Hoseok or someone else accidently finding me, I tried again. "Why won't it work?" I muttered, biting my lip.

"What won't work?" Hoseok asked, coming to stand close behind my left shoulder.

I shied slightly away from him instinctively as I wasn't used to people invading my personal space. Even if I heard that was a word that most Hufflepuff's weren't aware of. "I thought maybe you were allergic to dust and I've been trying to cast the Scouring charm without speaking for the last like twenty minutes but it won't work. I'm a little disappointed in myself because I can't do it but I think if I just try harder it will work."

Hoseok chuckled, making the small hairs that fell from my messy up-do tickle across my shoulder as he moved slightly closer. "But I know you can do nonverbal magic, I saw you summon your notes yesterday." He tried to make me feel better.

I snorted into a light laugh as he just repeated the words I'd used to make myself feel better moments before. "I think that is because I use Accio all the time. It is harder when I haven't used a spell before, or often." I felt my brow furrow in concentration as I tried one more time. "Stupid messy room." I complained when nothing happened.

Hoseok laughed and I could feel him shaking his head as he stepped away and deposited a bag onto a nearby chair. "Well, I'm not really allergic to dust but why is it so cold in here?" He asked, wrapping his arms around himself as he stepped back into my view.

Today I noticed he was wearing khaki shorts and a long sleeved, button down shirt that was mixed green and blue. I saw the goose flesh pop up along his bare legs and I couldn't help but giggle a little at him. Why was he wearing shorts if he was cold? "I like the way fall smells and it was a bit stuffy in here. You'll be fine."

"If you say so, Sunbaenim." He chuckled and shivered.

"This may sound a little silly," I said as I walked around him and pulled a match out of my pocket and set it on the lone desk in the middle of the room, "but I want you to show me how you change that into a needle."