Harry Potter and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 20: Year 4 Part 1

Readjusting Reality
Durmstrang Ship, Nov. 3rd

"Tighten your wand movement a little," Calypso instructed, again demonstrating the proper form. "And pronounce the incantation clearly. It's Vee-cer-oh."

"Vicero," Harry said, sounding out the spell properly.

Calypso nodded approvingly. "Sounds good, Harry. Do you want to practice the spell or just pick it up here tomorrow?"

"I think I'll give it a try today." Turning his wand on a nearby desk, Harry quickly transfigured a small goat. The animal looked around the magically expanded room with complete confusion. The few other students in the room were all shouting or silently casting spells, causing various objects and animals to be enchanted, bewitched, or cursed.

Before the goat could run away, Harry hit its feet with a sticking charm, keeping it in place.

"Make sure you keep your distance," Calypso warned. "This spell can get messy."

Harry took a step away from the transfigured animal while practicing the necessary wand movements. Sensing that he had a firm enough grasp on the spell, he snapped his wand across his body and said, "Vicero."

The orange and purple spell shot out of his wand and quickly impacted the stuck goat. The animal let out a screeching sound as a large vertical cut sliced down the center of its torso. Blood ran down the animal's chest as it struggled wildly against the sticking charm.

"Not bad for a first try," Calypso commented. "I don't think I managed to draw blood when I first cast it."

"Any idea what I did wrong?" Harry asked.

"Envision the effect you want the spell to have." Calypso advised. "The higher level dark arts while emotionally charged, require a certain amount of visualization. You know what the spell will do, but you need to both want and envision the spell to have that effect."

Pushing aside his reservations, Harry simply nodded before turning his cold eyes back onto the animal. As his wand made the necessary movements, he kept his emotions and his thoughts on eviscerating the transfigured animal in front of him. Jabbing his wand forward, he snapped out, "Vicero."

This time when the spell struck the goat, the animal let out a booming shriek. The cut down its torso split open and the skin, muscle, and bone peeled back across its lower body, allowing the internal organs to fall to the floor. The goat's eyes grew misty and it staggered slightly before collapsing to the floor in a heap.

Wrinkling her nose, Calypso said, "Good job. Please transfigure that back to a desk though, it's starting to smell."

Flicking his wand at the barely living goat, Harry transfigured the animal back into a desk.

"Nasty spell."

Turning slightly, Harry and Calypso nodded to Viktor as he walked over to them.

"Yes, but an evisceration spell can penetrate the hide of all but the strongest magical animals," Harry said seriously. "Since the only places we can work on our final projects for the Dark Arts are here in this practical room, in our cabins, or in the forbidden forest, I need to brush up on some intimidating spells."

Looking at his friend in confusion, Viktor asked, "Why?

"Well, I have no desire to show everyone what I'm working on for my final projects, at least until next semester, so the practical room is out," Harry said packing up his books. "Obviously, I don't want to mess up a spell and damage my room, so the cabin is out."