Gideon Drake and the Fire Within (Harry Potter Sequel/Spinoff)

Chapter Nineteen: DADA

'So, Mr Maxwell, we're going to ask you to perform a series of actions using these objects,' explained Professor Long, gesturing to a blank sheet of parchment and an apple on Professor Voronov's desk. 'You'll then attempt to do so using any spells you can think of. Just do the best you can. Do you have any questions?'

Gideon shook his head meekly in reply. Then, Professor Long pulled a wand from her robes and used it to conjure a pair of simple but attractive, black, lacquered chairs for the two teachers to sit on. Gideon reached into his robe pocket and pulled out his second-hand wand. This was it, the moment of truth.

'Okay, then. Please make the parchment fly,' said Professor Long.

The Levitation Charm was the one spell Gideon knew he could perform. Unfortunately, with the teachers watching so closely, he didn't dare try using the channelling rod in his other pocket. He would have to try the normal way.

He knew how, of course, and hoped that alone would earn him some points. Gideon cleared his throat, stepped up to the desk and pointed his wand at the parchment. He gave it the recommended swish and flick, and uttered, 'Wingardium Leviosa.'

The parchment did not move.

Gideon cleared his throat and tried again, sure to accentuate the hard 'g' and 'o', 'Wingardium Leviosa!'

The parchment did not move.

Gideon looked nervously in the teachers' direction.

Professor Long merely said, 'Please move the parchment.'

Gideon supposed that should be easier than making it fly, but it wasn't all that different a request for someone without magic. Still, he thought about Mr Middling's last words to him and figured it was worth going through the motions to show he at least had the knowledge.

'Locomotor Parchment,' he said.

The parchment did not move.

It occurred to Gideon, that the teachers had not specified which spells to use for a reason. He had an opportunity here to show off a little, even if he couldn't actually achieve the desired result.

'Ventus! Fumos! Fumus! Flipendo!' Gideon recited one after the other.

He tried to blow the parchment away with air, smoke, steam and even the Knockback Jinx. The parchment did not move. However, Gideon noticed that one of Professor Voronov's eyebrows had.

'Please burn the parchment,' said Professor Long this time.

Again, Gideon used the opportunity to show the teachers what he knew, if not what he could do. He recited spells with different effects that may theoretically burn the parchment, being sure to get the wand movements and pronunciations for each correct.

'Incendio! Vermillious! Flagrate!' he commanded to no avail.

'Please cut the apple,' asked Professor Voronov.

Unfortunately, Gideon could only think of one spell from his first- and second-year books that could achieve this, but he tried it nonetheless, 'Diffindo!'

This time the professor asked, 'Please transform the apple.'

There were a few spells that could work if Gideon interpreted "transform" in the simplest sense of the word. So, he sounded off, 'Reducio! Engorgio! Colovario! Spongify! Pomi Verto!'

He had attempted spells to transform the apple's size, colour, consistency, and form. Nothing happened, of course, but he felt sure he had done Middling Academy proud.

'Thank you, I think that will do,' said the man. He turned to his fellow teacher, and she gave him a subtle nod. 'I must commend you for your efforts, Mr Maxwell. However—'