Firsecond Year Defence PV Prodigal

The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall, arched windows of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Marcus stood in the centre of the room, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. The room was empty, save for the old wooden desks and the occasional flutter of pages from a nearby open book.

Marcus had always been fascinated by the Disarming Spell, Expelliarmus. It was a spell his father had often spoken about with an enormous amount of reverence. "It's not just about disarming your opponent," his father had said. "It's about choosing to defend without doing harm, to end a conflict peacefully. That's true power."

Michael had gone over the basics of the charm with him a week ago, so, determined to master the spell, Marcus decided to use his free time to practice. He had set up a makeshift target: an old, worn-out book balanced precariously on a chair. Taking a deep breath, Marcus raised his wand, his blue eyes focused with intense concentration.

"Expelliarmus!" he shouted, flicking his wand in the precise motion his father had taught him.

A thin, scarlet beam of light shot from his wand, but it merely grazed the book, causing it to wobble slightly before settling back into place. Marcus frowned, frustration already creeping in. He knew he had the potential; he just needed to channel it correctly.

He stepped back and closed his eyes, recalling his father's words about the importance of intent and focus. He envisioned his father practicing in their training room, every movement precise and filled with purpose. Marcus took a deep breath, opening his eyes with renewed determination.

"Expelliarmus!" he said again, this time with more confidence.

The red beam hit the book squarely, sending it flying off the chair and across the room. Marcus's face broke into a triumphant smile, but he quickly reminded himself that consistency was key. He retrieved the book and set it back on the chair.

Marcus practiced tirelessly for the next hour. Each attempt brought him closer to perfecting the spell, which would be his first. He tried different angles, adjusting his stance and focusing on the intent behind the spell. His mind replayed his father's advice, and with each attempt, he felt more connected to the magic coursing through him—thrumming through his body—as well as the castle around him.

Marcus nodded his head in satisfaction, his heart swelling with pride at his first significant accomplishment.

'Dad always said this spell was important,' he thought as he finished propping the book up on its recently acquired home on the chair. He turned around and began making his way back to the front of the room. Once he reached the professor's desk, he pivoted quickly.

"Expelliarmus!" Marcus exclaimed once more, and this time the spell was flawless. The book soared across the room, landing neatly on the floor by his feet.