Chapter Text
After a lively lunch, Emma and the others made their way across the expansive grounds of Hogwarts, heading toward the Charms classroom. The castle buzzed with chatter as students compared their schedules, eager to share stories about their day so far. Emma felt a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling inside her, thrilled at the prospect of what lay ahead.
“Charms class is going to be amazing!” Eris exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “Professor Ronan is brilliant. He can make even the most mundane spells sound fascinating!”
“Plus, he has this way of explaining things that makes it easy to grasp,” Trish added, nudging Emma playfully. “You’re going to love it!”
As they approached the entrance to the Charms classroom, Emma noticed the colorful banners and floating objects that decorated the hallway. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of old parchment and the gentle hum of magic in the air. She felt a thrill at the thought of learning to master spells.
“Alright, let’s see what Professor Ronan has in store for us,” James said as they stepped inside the classroom.
Professor Ronan stood at the front, his eyes twinkling behind round spectacles. Dressed in a dark robe adorned with various charms and trinkets that sparkled in the light, he radiated an air of enthusiasm.
“Welcome, everyone!” he called out, his voice cheerful. “Today, we’ll explore the Summoning Charm, or Accio . You’ll learn how to summon objects toward you. Remember, the incantation is just as important as the movement of your wand!”
Emma took her seat beside Trish, eagerly watching as Professor Ronan animatedly demonstrated the proper wand movement. A distant book floated through the air, gliding smoothly into his outstretched hand, and the class erupted in gasps of wonder.
“Now, who would like to give it a try?” Professor Ronan asked, his gaze sweeping across the eager faces.
One by one, students stood to demonstrate their skills. Emma felt a rush of nerves as her turn approached. She observed her classmates as they successfully summoned their chosen objects, some with finesse, while others struggled.
“Just focus on the incantation and the swish,” Eris whispered, giving Emma an encouraging nudge.
Finally, it was Emma’s turn. She stood up, her heart pounding, and took a deep breath as she stepped forward. Channeling the confidence from her earlier duel, she focused on a nearby stack of books.
“ Accio! ” she called out, mimicking the wand movement Professor Ronan had shown them. To her delight, one of the books soared into the air and landed softly in her hands.
“Excellent work, Miss Rivera!” Professor Ronan praised, a broad smile on his face. “You’ve clearly got a knack for this. Who would like to follow?”
As the class continued, Emma felt more at ease, reveling in the magic around her. After a few rounds of practice, Professor Ronan clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“Now that you’ve all had a chance to practice, we’ll be having a little competition! We’re heading outside to play Summoner’s Court!”
The room buzzed with excitement as students gathered their things. Emma exchanged glances with Trish and Eris, her heart racing at the thought of being outdoors. The crisp air of early autumn awaited them, a vibrant canvas of color painted across the grounds.
As they stepped outside, Emma felt the fresh breeze against her skin. Professor Ronan led them to a grassy area that had been marked out with chalk. In the center stood several large circles, each one slightly elevated.
“Summoner’s Court is a fun way to practice your Summoning Charm while honing your precision and spell control,” Professor Ronan explained, gesturing to the circles. “You’ll take turns summoning various objects into the circles. Each successful summon earns points, but today, we’ll have a one-on-one match for the final round!”
Emma’s heart raced at the thought of competing directly against someone else. As her eyes scanned the crowd, they landed on a girl she didn’t recognize - a Gryffindor with dark skin and braids, who was animatedly chatting with a Ravenclaw girl.
“Let 's pair up!” Eris suggested, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “Who’s ready for a match?”
The Gryffindor girl turned, her bright smile lighting up her face as she approached. “Hi, I’m Natsai Onai,” she said, extending her hand. “How about we have a friendly duel in Summoner’s Court? I’d love to see how we stack up against each other.”
Emma felt a rush of nerves and excitement at the invitation. “Emma Rivera,” she replied, shaking Natsai’s hand. “Absolutely! Let’s do it!”
The two girls stepped onto the field, each taking their positions across from one another in front of a designated circle. Professor Ronan clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Alright, students! For this final round, Miss Rivera and Miss Onai will face off in a one-on-one match. The objective is to summon your objects into the circle; the one with the most successful summons wins. Ready? On the count of three!”
Emma felt the adrenaline rush through her as she readied her wand. She exchanged a determined glance with Natsai, both of them brimming with competitive energy. The crowd gathered around them, students forming a loose circle, eager to watch the duel unfold.
Professor Ronan raised his hand, his voice full of excitement. “One... Two... Three!”
“ Accio! ” Both girls shouted in unison, their wands flicking expertly in sync.
Natsai’s enchanted ball shot into the air like a comet, soaring in a perfect arc toward the nearest circle. Emma’s ball followed closely behind, but to her dismay, it wobbled slightly before dropping just short of the first circle. The crowd murmured in surprise.
Natsai’s ball landed cleanly in the circle, earning her a point. She grinned at Emma, her competitive spirit shining through. “Nice shot!” Emma called out, admiration tinged with determination. She wasn’t going to let this setback rattle her.
“Thanks!” Natsai responded, her smile warm but confident. “Your turn!”
Emma’s nerves started to calm as she took a deep breath. She could do this. She had dueled successfully in Defense Against the Dark Arts - this was just a different kind of challenge. She steadied her grip on her wand, her focus narrowing in on the next object, a bright blue ball hovering beside her.
With a flick of her wrist and a sharp “Accio!” the blue ball zipped through the air, this time sailing smoothly and landing perfectly within the first circle. The crowd burst into applause, and Emma allowed herself a small, proud smile.
“Excellent!” Professor Ronan called out. “That’s one point for each of you. The next round will be a bit more difficult. On to the second circle!”
The stakes were raised as the next objects, slightly larger and heavier, floated into view. Emma could feel her heart pounding, but she was determined to match Natsai’s precision. She exchanged another glance with her opponent, both of them smiling but clearly focused.
Natsai went first again. She held her wand out, eyes fixed on the second ring, which was further away and smaller than the first. “ Accio! ” she called with a confident swish, and the ball shot forward. It arched beautifully, spiraling down and landing just inside the second circle.
Another cheer erupted from the crowd.
Emma clenched her wand a little tighter, feeling the pressure build. “Okay,” she muttered to herself, “I can do this.” Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she visualized the ball landing in the next circle. The object floated in front of her, slightly bobbing as if it could feel her anxiety.
She took a steadying breath. “ Accio! ” she commanded, flicking her wrist with more determination this time.
The ball flew through the air, faster than she has expected. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched its trajectory. For a moment, she feared it would overshoot the circle, but then… thump! .. it landed perfectly within the ring, only inches from the edge.
The crowd erupted again, their cheers and claps filling the air.
“Well done, Miss Rivera!” Professor Ronan said, clearly pleased with both competitors. “We’re tied once more! This final round will decide the winner. For double points, you’ll aim for the smallest, farthest circle. May the best summoner win!”
The tension was palpable. Emma and Natsai exchanged a glance, and this time, their competitive smiles were tinged with mutual respect.
Professor Ronan gestured toward the smallest circle, a nearly impossible target at the far end of the field. The ball they would need to summon was heavier and enchanted to resist being easily moved.
Natsai was up first, and the crowd fell into a hushed silence. She raised her wand, every muscle in her body tense with concentration. “ Accio! ” she shouted, her wand slicing through the air. The ball zipped forward, spinning as it sailed across the field.
Emma held her breath, watching the ball soar, then descend. It was going to be close… But Natsai’s aim was true. The ball landed softly, perfectly centered within the smallest circle. The crowd erupted, some already whispering Natsai’s name in admiration.
Emma felt a surge of determination, though her heart pounded harder than ever. This was it. One chance to win. She steadied herself, eyes fixed on her target, the small circle seeming a world away. But she has practiced hard, and she wasn’t about to back down now.
She took a deep breath, raised her wand, and focused every ounce of magic within her. “Accio!” she shouted, her voice strong and clear, the words vibrating with intent.
The ball shot forward, the air buzzing with the tension of the spell. It seemed to glide faster than ever, its path true, but Emma couldn’t help the flutter of doubt as it sailed toward the farthest circle.
Her heart skipped a beat as the ball hovered on the edge… before dropping just outside the circle.
The crowd’s collective breath caught, then released in a mix of applause and sighs. Natsai had won, but the match had been so close. Emma couldn’t help but laugh at the excitement coursing through her.
Natsai turned to her, her smile radiant with victory. “That was incredible, Emma! You were amazing!”
Emma grinned, giving her a high-five. “You too! I thought I had you for a second there!”
Professor Ronan stepped forward, clapping enthusiastically. “That was a spectacular display of charm work, both of you! Miss Onai is the winner, but both students have shown exceptional promise today. Well done!”
The crowd cheered once more as the tension dissipated, replaced with laughter and congratulatory chatter.
As the students began heading back to the castle, Emma walked alongside Trish and Eris, her spirits still high despite losing the match. The cool breeze of autumn played through their robes as the late afternoon sun bathed the grounds in a warm, golden glow.
“You were so close!” Eris said, nudging Emma gently, her eyes bright with excitement.
“That was awesome,” Trish added with a wide grin. “You almost had her, Emma! I thought that the last one was going to make it.”
Emma smiled, a mixture of pride and determination bubbling up inside her. “Natsai is incredible. I’m definitely going to practice more for the next match.”
“You’ll get her next time for sure,” Eris said with a wink.
As they approached the castle’s entrance, Emma noticed Elizabeth walking a few paces behind them, her arms crossed, looking as though she was caught in her own thoughts. She hadn’t participated in their conversation during the match, but Emma had caught her watching, though Elizabeth had quickly averted her gaze whenever Emma had looked back.
Elizabeth seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally catching up to the group. Her amber eyes briefly flickered toward Emma, but she quickly looked away, maintaining her usual distant demeanor.
“You played well, ginger” Elizabeth remarked, her tone neutral, though there was a hint of sincerity in her voice. “Almost had her in that last round.”
Emma smiled, though Elizabeth’s compliment felt more like a formality than genuine praise. “Thanks, Elizabeth. It was a tough match, but fun.”
Elizabeth nodded curtly, her expression unreadable. She fell into step beside them, keeping a slight distance, as if unsure of whether to fully engage with the group.
Eris, ever the enthusiastic one, shot Elizabeth a bright smile. “You should’ve joined us, Liz! Summoner’s Court is a blast - you’d be great at it.”
Elizabeth’s posture stiffened slightly, and she gave a small, polite shrug. “I don’t see much point in it. It’s just a game.”
Eris blinked, taken aback by the dismissive response, but she recovered quickly, her smile determined. “Well, maybe next time. We’ll convince you eventually!”
Elizabeth didn’t respond, her eyes briefly meeting Emma’s before looking away again. There was a guardedness about her that made Emma wonder if something deeper was at play, though she didn’t press.
As the group continued toward the castle, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Trish, sensing the tension, decided to break the silence. “You guys up for something later? I was thinking we could sneak into the kitchens before dinner, grab something sweet.”
Eris’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That sounds perfect! We deserve some snacks after a day like this.”
Emma laughed softly, the idea of sneaking into the kitchens definitely appealing after the day’s events. “I’m in. What about you, Elizabeth?”
For a moment, Elizabeth hesitated. She looked at them, her expression hard to read, but there was something vulnerable beneath her cool exterior. “I…I think I’ll pass. I’ve got some things to do.” Her voice was softer than usual, almost as though she were retreating back into herself.
Trish let out a soft, playful sigh, her tone teasing yet gentle. “Honestly, Liz, you’re impossible to read sometimes.”
Elizabeth didn’t reply, but there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips before it quickly vanished. Emma noticed it, and for the first time, she wondered if Elizabeth’s coldness was more of a defense than anything else.
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where we’ll be,” Eris said cheerfully, her voice brightening the mood
The conversation drifted to lighter topics as they crossed the threshold of the grand entrance. The warmth and chatter of the castle enveloped them, a comforting contrast to the crisp air outside. As they passed through the corridors, the group’s laughter echoed off the stone walls, but Elizabeth lingered at the back, her expression thoughtful and distant.
Though she remained reserved, Emma couldn’t help but feel like she had glimpsed a small crack in Elizabeth’s armor. It was fleeting, but there was something there, something deeper beneath the surface that Emma couldn’t quite place.
As they made their way toward the common rooms, Emma cast a glance over her shoulder at Elizabeth. She didn’t say anything, but she hoped that, with time, Elizabeth would come to trust her - just as she trusts Eris and Trish.