Courtyard Practice PV Sifr Ounkour

-Previously-
After being sorted to Hufflepuff, Sifr sat at his table. He carefully observed his comerades. They were good lads, but they all looked foreward to going to their dorms and socializing: living the Hogwarts life. Not Sifr. He needed to learn. And he knew with them it won't go far. They were probably good hardworking people, but they had no pressure to go far. So he looked around. Gryffindor? Pridefull. Not in a bad sense. But they needed to show to people that they progressed. Not the kind Sifr was looking for. Slytherin? They seemed very motivated to reach high height, bt man the politics. He did not want to constently watch his back with a bunch of... well snakes. Ravenclaw? Yeah... Seems right. But they also do seem like a backstabing bunch. But way less than Slytherin.

Sifr looked around the second years of Ravenclaw. he needed someone driven to learn. But not too haughty, not to tight in his shoes. Oh? There was one ravenclaw reading while others where speaking. So he went to him to try his luck. Bingo! It was Emmanuel (Em). A wizard born. He gre up around magic. And the small detail that made the difference: his tie was croocked. Given his lineage, he was probably driven by excelence, but really trying for it rather than just appearances. And Em already knew a few spells. So he presented himself. Asked for a partner and kind of mentor for the moment, untill he catched up. Turns out they have a lot of goals in common. So they agreed to both train and exchange knowledge.

They set a meeting for a few days later.

-meeting day-
Oof. What a weather. Will Em still be there.Let's see. If he is still there, then I would have made the right choice. Learning even if it is uncomfortable. That would mean he will be reliable.

And he was there waiting for him. Sifr went to the corner he was sitting. Sifr crossed the yard, drenched. He saw Em the first, dry. Obviously Sifr would be if he knew spells.

"Glad to see you there. I have made you wait enough. What should we start with?"

@Sifr Ounkour

Em turned around to see the Hufflepuff boy soaked by the pouring rain. His buzzed black hair glistening, but his dark eyes were piercing. Em could feel his determination radiating from him; the same way her felt when Sifr approached him during the start of term feast. In the days that had passed, Em had wondered whether the sorting hat makes mistakes; as this boy seemed to have the ambition of a Slytherin, or the boldness of a Gryffindor.

Em let an empathetic smile cross his face, as the boy demanded his tutoring to begin. With no desire for Sifr to catch a cold so early in term, Em pulled out his aspen wand and flicked it at the boy; muttering the incantation "Aer Calidus!" Warm air billowed from the tip of his wand, vapor becoming visible in the cool air; while the sound of a hairdryer buzzed in harmony with the rain.

"Well, now that you're dry, I suppose it would be good to just jump into it!" Em said, walking back to his rucksack, and pulling out a few of his school books. "Where exactly did you want to start, Sifr? I feel like I have the best handle on charms, but if you wanted something more practical, we could try something to help you stay dry when you go back into the school?"

Em had been curious about the boy's motivation. He figured it most likely the boy did not grow up around magic, and was eager to excel. Perhaps it was determination to show that he really belongs here; or perhaps it was just a desire to be the best tin his year. Emmanuel could sympathize with either circumstance, for Em wanted to be a great wizard too.

@Emmanuel Bourne

"Thank you" -said Sifr.

-Kindness. Offering help, drying me without me having asked for help. That's good and rare in a person.-

Warm and cozy, that's better for thinking. Being able to go from all wet to all dry from a simple spell a few words. Otherwise he would have to dry it by hanging his clothes. It is strange how even a drying machine is not allowed in the school premises, or any other useful, non-threatening technologies. But they do use a train to travel to Hogwarts, they don't use magic boxes. What a contradiction. Regardless, the spell was useful. Stopping the rain. Magic can be used that way.

Sifr was thinking: I usually though magic as changing something else, not applying it to myself. I couldn't even stop the rain. Magic is not to be messed around. We don't want to be losing limbs now are we. -I should learn to defend myself.-

"For now I won't cast anything I haven't fully grasped. I am here more to discuss ideas. But thanks for your offer. Can you protect yourself from more than rain?

Protection. I have been reading about the spell's curriculum. They say defense is better than offense. Do you think they are right? The most known spell is protego, but it is only taught in year four. For year one, I am mostly thinking about disorienting my opponent. Spells like Wingardium Leviosa, Flipendo or Fumos. As for year two, I don't know yet. How would you use these spells? Are there other defensive spells that could be of help in my first year?

If you do know any spells you could show me maybe?"

Sifr was thinking of many combinations but also limitations. Though better to learn from someone who maybe learned those spells. Show them to him. Then discuss about it, rather than speculate. He was all ears. Full focus. The weather or time of the day didn't matter anymore. It was time to learn.

Reducio

WC: 331

@Sifr Ounkour

Emmanuel took a few moments to ponder his magical repertoire. The Hufflepuff was correct, attempting a spell he wasn't ready for was surely a recipe for disaster; not to mention a chance for detention should they get caught doing something somewhat dangerous. Em himself had a certain aptitude and appreciation for charm work, he had a desire to advance in transfiguration, but it seemed that defensive magic was Sifr's main concentration.

"Well, I would say now is the best time to try a spell you feel most comfortable with, just so I can gauge a baseline of your abilities. That being said, I would be happy to demonstrate some defensive magic I have been working on," He suggested, raising his wand at the ready.

Em did a quick flourish with his wand, and spoke the incantation "Fumos" A cloud of smoke billowed from the wand tip, creating a barrier of sorts, limiting the visibility around Emmanuel. Em stepped forward through the smoke, "You are perfectly correct, something like the Smokescreen charm is particularly helpful; especially if you want to get more into dueling."

Emmanuel took another stance, wielding the rod of wood almost as a sword. "But just because I personally prefer defensive magic, that doesn't mean I don't have a hex or two under my belt!" He smiled, the air of a trickster evident in his eyes.

@Emmanuel Bourne

A fascinating experience. Smoke from a wand. The same unnatural experience from five years ago. But Em was controlling it. This is exactly what Sifr was searching for. The ability to control the unexpected call magic. To expect it. Now he may even go further and use it.

Not only that, but the unknown can be made. By words. By hand movement. By feeling. More nuanced and less predictable than the physical world. But still, understandable.

"It is sure that the ability to combine spells is crucial. Duelling huh... I guess the smoke spell could also be used in other situations, like escaping. Imagine breaking the foundation of a building and casting smoke to add to the confusion. Maybe drawing attention to yourself. An opponent may think you are trying to run away, directing his attention to you. Or another way to use it would be by creating smoke when entering a stage for a speech." Sifr paused. "Or revealing the movements of someone who is casting an invisibility spell. Think about it, the smoke does reduce visibility but is not as thick as to completely conceal movement. What about you, what other scenarios do you think smoke would be useful."

Sifr was thrilled. His grip tightened on his wand. His eyes still following the remnants of the smoke. That is exactly what he was hoping for. It will definitely serve him well in the future. That type of exchange is what makes future grand wizarding experts.

Reducio

WC: 247

@Sifr Ouncour

Emmanuel watched the Hufflepuff as he spoke so enthusiastically about the spell he just preformed. Sifr went on about the other applications the smokescreen spell could be used for. The first year’s inspiration was palpable in the cold, rainy air.

Sheepishly, Em let his eyes trace the length of his wand, and took a moment to contemplate its ability to preform a wide range of powerful magic. However, a bud of anxiety started to bloom in his overthinking mind; what if the limitations he would experience would come from himself? What if he was not powerful enough to explore a wide range of magic? Here he was, watching a fresh first year contemplate different uses of this simple spell that Emmanuel had yet to contemplate on his own. A rosiness began to appear on his cheeks, that Em tried to pass off as just the cold.

“Erhm, yeah. I guess it could be helpful in something like that. If you wanted to really be invisible, using an invisibility cloak or a disillusionment charm could be less obvious,” Em suggested, thinking about the demiguise at home, whose species hair is often woven into invisibility cloaks. “I suppose it’s important to say that your first year is mostly about mastering basics, like Wingardium Leviosa!”

Em gave his wand a swish and a flick, making a book of charms levitate out of his rucksack on the floor. “You’ll also be introduced to beginner spells that could be used for combat, I suppose. Like Incendio!” Em gave his wand a practiced flourish, as a stream of fire erupted from the end, engulfing the book in flame, scorching the edges, and falling to the ground with a splitting thud.

“But, spells like that can clearly leave things damaged in their wake. You’ll also learn how to fix the things you do damage, sort of a way to restore balance. Reparo,” El gave his wand another twirl, as he did so, the book twisted around on the ground; shrugging off the ash and soot inflicted upon it by the fire spell. As it went still on the stone ground, it looked good as new.

@Emmanuel Bourne

Sifr noticed the blush on Em's face. But he decided to keep it to himself. What Em told is true. The basics are very important. And these spells can indeed be used in combat. Making your opponent levitate can give you an edge and confuse them.

Incendio!

An attack spell. The basic for offense in duelling. Powerful enough to give a good knockback given how the book fell. For Sifr a balance of both was really important. The more tools the better. This knowledge may give him an edge on other first years. But for Sifr that was not the goal. It was to have the tools for self defense. For no magical harm can reach him.

Sifr was looking with intention and attention to details. How the spell worked, how it manifested and how it interacted with the environment. All of that was important to him.

Reparo

Useful... But intriguing.

Em what can we fix with Reparo? Is there a limit to it? Can we fix only non-living things or also the living?

Em's answer will not only give him an insight on the spell, but also on the nature of a spell. Can a spell be cast without intention? Are wands necessary? If both are possible, then what is magic? Intention manifested? So many questions. So many things to discover. So many unknown, thus so many angles of attack and so many dangers. And for Sifr, that was not good. His mind while learning from his companion was running full speed.

Reducio

WC: 270

@Sifr Ounkour

Em's eyes lingered on the repaired book on the ground, as he contemplated that Hufflepuff's question. He took a few steps forward and grabbed the book from the damp, cold stone ground and returned it to his rucksack. He contemplated what spell to cast next, as he began to answer Sifr's question.

"Oh, no, the mending charm cannot be used to treat wounds or broken bones. It can really only be used on objects, but even then it has its limitations. Some stuff that is magical in nature, like wands for example, cannot be mended by Reparo." Em leaned on the stone wall casually, twirling his wand in his fingers.

"Healing magic is its own branch of study. There is a wizard hospital, it's called Saint Mungos. There they can treat all sorts of injuries and ailments, but I don't really know any healing charms yet. I have gone with my Mum to Saint Mungos. We dropped off a few different draughts and tonics; she is a potioneer. Last time I saw a bald, bearded man with a purple pustule that was the size of a quaffle growing from his head. It was disgusting!" Em laughed, gesturing around his head with his free hand to show the size.

"Are you interested in learning some healing spells? I'll bet we can find a book in the library. But, what about you? What spells are you most confident with?" He asked, eager to see the first year try something out, if he was able.