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Soon enough, the bell rang.
Professor Flitwick strode briskly into the classroom and nimbly hopped up onto the central stone platform, drawing the attention of every student in the room.
"Good morning, young wizards!"
"Good morning, Professor Flitwick!"
As the students chorused their replies, one overly enthusiastic Gryffindor lion actually shouted, "Professor Flitwick, you're looking younger than ever!"
Flitwick was one of the few genuinely warm and approachable professors at Hogwarts. Not only did he never scream at his students, but he also regularly joked around with them during lectures. Because of that, the atmosphere in his class was always incredibly relaxed.
"Ho ho! Thank you for the compliment." Flitwick smiled warmly toward the corner of the room. "And to repay your kindness, Mr. Robert, you can be the very first one to take the stage today."
Hearing that, Robert froze completely stiff. A second later, his face crumpled into an absolute mask of agony. "Professor..."
The Gryffindors around him immediately started patting his shoulder in deep sympathy.
"Haha, I'm only joking."
Flitwick's follow-up instantly saved Robert from a panic attack.
It wasn't that Robert didn't know the spells; he was just terrified of going first. Stepping up onto that platform and taking the test while forty other students stared at you? Hardly anyone had the nerves for that. If you messed up your spellwork under that kind of pressure, the humiliation would be unbearable!
"Alright, everyone. Eyes up here, please." Flitwick clapped his hands, and the students quickly gathered around the platform.
"Just in case anyone has forgotten, let me reiterate exactly what we are doing today." Flitwick's tone shifted slightly. "As you all know, a mountain troll managed to breach the castle this Halloween. I don't know exactly how it got in, but thankfully, it didn't cause any irreversible damage."
As he spoke, Flitwick's eyes drifted briefly to Richie in the crowd. Richie caught the look and gave a subtle nod.
Flitwick offered a small smile and continued. "However, no one can rely on luck forever. You never know when an emergency will strike. If you ever find yourself face-to-face with a troll in the castle corridors, I want you to be able to do more than just stand there and scream..."
"I want you to raise your wands!"
Flitwick looked around the room, his expression turning entirely serious. "Therefore, I plan to integrate fundamental combat and dueling techniques into our Charms curriculum so you can be prepared."
The young wizards' eyes instantly lit up. But naturally...
"However, there is a prerequisite." Flitwick paused. "And that is exactly what today's practical test is for. So... I hope you've all prepared."
With that, Flitwick drew his wand and gave it a light flick. Three objects flew out from his robes, seamlessly expanding to their normal size as they landed on the platform.
A single feather. A shattered vase. And a solid wooden door.
"Over the past month, I have taught you five foundational spells: the Levitation Charm, the Wand-Lighting Charm, the Locking Charm, the Unlocking Charm, and the Mending Charm."
"Now, you will come up one by one and be tested on them." Flitwick gestured to the open floor. "Who would like to go first?"
Terry nudged Richie. "Hey, Richie, why don't you go first and show everyone how it's done?"
Richie just shook his head, his eyes already locked onto the Gryffindor side of the room. At the exact same moment, Hermione turned to look at Neville, who was currently hyperventilating a few feet away.
Haa... haa...
Neville felt completely numb. It was a chaotic mix of emotions. The opportunity to finally prove himself was sitting right there, fueling his desperate hope, but the sheer terror of public failure was paralyzing him.
Can I... actually do this?
In a daze, Neville looked up and immediately met Richie and Hermione's expectant eyes.
You've got this! Hermione mouthed, giving him an encouraging thumbs-up. Richie just gave him a firm, reassuring nod.
Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Neville took a step forward.
Then a second step. Then a third...
Before he even fully processed what he was doing, Neville had walked straight past the crowd and stopped dead center in front of the stone platform.
"Oh! Mr. Longbottom! Stepping up to be the first one tested." Flitwick looked at the boy—whose face was flushed bright red with adrenaline—and looked genuinely surprised.
A moment later, the professor nodded in deep approval. "Courage truly is the anthem of Gryffindor, Mr. Longbottom. Please, step up."
By the time Neville actually snapped out of his daze, it was too late.
He looked back at the crowd, desperately wanting to retreat. But the Gryffindors behind him completely misread the look, assuming Neville was just asking for help getting up onto the high platform. A few of the taller lions eagerly stepped forward and physically hoisted him up onto the stone stage.
"O-oh... oh."
Neville stumbled, barely catching his balance, and stared blankly at the three objects sitting in front of him.
His heart was hammering so violently against his ribs that Professor Flitwick could literally hear it from a few feet away.
Flitwick raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything to pressure him. He just offered a gentle reminder. "Your wand, Mr. Longbottom."
Neville swallowed hard. His hand was shaking uncontrollably as he slowly drew his wand from his robes.
And then... he completely froze.
The rest of the world seemed to instantly fade to black, leaving only Neville and the three objects in a suffocating void.
The sound of his own heartbeat. The sound of his frantic breathing. Even the faint crackle of the candles burning on the walls.
Who am I... Where am I... What am I supposed to be doing...
Neville's mind went completely blank. He couldn't remember what he was supposed to do, how he was supposed to move his wand, or what words he was supposed to say.
Right then, Richie's voice echoed faintly in his mind:
"Hey, Neville. All you have to do is believe in yourself."
Believe in myself...
All I have to do is believe in myself...
Believe... in myself!
After what felt like an eternity, Neville forcefully steadied his breathing.
The world slowly snapped back into focus.
#### The Five Spells
"What is Longbottom doing?"
"Did he literally forget how to cast the Levitation Charm?"
"Wait, look! He's moving!"
Just as the crowd started whispering, wondering why Neville was just standing there like a statue, Neville finally raised his wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
His voice rang out, steady and clear.
Under the watchful eyes of every student in the room, the feather on the platform smoothly floated into the air.
"Oh! An excellent Levitation Charm." Professor Flitwick beamed, his smile extending far beyond just the quality of the spellwork.
Neville didn't stop. He immediately transitioned to the second spell.
"Lumos!"
A brilliant, steady sphere of light ignited at the tip of his wand.
"As bright as the morning sun, warm and completely stable," Flitwick praised, nodding in satisfaction.
Neville took a step forward, stopping in front of the shattered vase.
"Reparo!"
A flash of white light enveloped the shards. It looked exactly like a video playing in reverse; the broken pieces seamlessly knitted themselves back together until the vase was completely flawless.
Without waiting for Flitwick's evaluation, Neville pivoted toward the wooden door and rapidly fired off the final two spells in quick succession.
"Colloportus!"
"Alohomora!"
The distinct, heavy click of a deadbolt locking echoed through the room, followed instantly by the sharp clack of the door unlocking and swinging open.
Having successfully executed all five spells, Neville finally exhaled, desperately gasping for air.
He had intentionally held his breath the entire time—it was the only way he could force himself to stay calm and not panic between spells.
"Oh, an absolutely outstanding performance!" Flitwick announced, his voice booming across the room. "Mr. Longbottom, for your immense courage in stepping up first, and for an utterly flawless practical exam... five points to Gryffindor!"
The classroom was dead silent for a fraction of a second before completely erupting into thunderous applause.
"Hell yeah, Longbottom!"
"Let's go, Neville!"
"Woo! That's how Gryffindor does it!"
The young lions went absolutely crazy cheering for him. Even Ron was clapping.
Standing on the platform, Neville turned around and looked at the cheering crowd. His eyes locked onto Richie, who was smiling and clapping right along with everyone else.
Neville gripped his wand tightly, his face flushed with pure joy.
Thank you, Richie.
Neville said it silently in his heart.