Stopping Time Prodigal Learner Finished

Immobulus. The Freezing Charm. What could it freeze? Well, just about anything, really. Anything animate, according to the entry in the book of spells. That made sense. A spell that froze only inanimate objects could never exist, as it would be impossible to prove its existence. After all, an immobile apple would keep the doctor away just as well as a fully unrestrained fruit. Freddie and the nightlight would not serve a purpose here - neither one moved unless you moved it, and he was fairly certain that only a Slowing Charm could stop them mid-flight. He needed an animate object.

Jake had argued to George's satisfaction that he was not even an object, and thus could be discounted as a potential test subject, so George set off to Hogsmeade in search of a lab rat. He found one quicker than anticipated, and in an unexpected place - the muggle artefact shop. It was some kind of ancient alarm clock that ran on a little spring or summat that you had to wind up on its backside. There was a little dial you could use to set a time for the alarm to go off, but that wasn't important. What George wanted was to make the thing stop its incessant tick-tick-ticking. He found it infuriating, but it motivated him to study harder, so it was quite beneficial.

He left it in the dorm while he went out to the library to study his books. Once again, theory was less important than practice in the student's mind. All he could hear in his head as he read down the pages was that nagging ticking at the back of his head, the taunting of that mechanical demon that was waiting for him back inside his dorm room.

The boy walked back to the Common Room in a fury, his wand already in hand as he entered the dorm - making a few of his peers nervous as he approached his bunk, aiming down at the alarm clock that had been ticking away in there all day long. He had memorized the movements and incantation - by now, he was getting quite good at performing them just based on the readings - and he did the appropriate motions as he pointed at the clock. The motion looked sort of like a mountain, the way it was drawn out in the book - two peaks and a swooshy bottom.

What happened next was exactly what he reproduced for Professor Vernatis in the charms classroom, demonstrating his prowess for his favourite professor. Favourite by virtue of teaching his favourite subject, but favourite nonetheless. The alarm clock was set, and he waved his wand, shouting "Immobulus!" as he finally pointed at the clock.

For a moment, it seemed as though nothing had happened, but George lifted a finger, shushing the teacher to get his attention. The follow up proved his point - he pointed to the clock again, casting another spell. "Finite incantatem!" And as he did, the ticking of the clock resumed. He bowed to the professor, quite pleased with his performance...

Words: 517 for the Freezing Charm, Immobulus