Chapter 97: Finite Incantatem
Transfiguration, the General Counter-Spell, and the Disillusionment Charm.
This was the practical magic "set" Sean had designed for himself, providing offense, defense, and stealth. Grinding the latter two charms to the 'Expert' level to enhance his combat readiness and unlock the 'Adept' Charms title was now one of his most critical tasks. He knew that after The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, the difficulty curve for Charms steepened dramatically. He needed to be prepared.
"An excellent choice," Professor Flitwick said, looking pleased. In the staff room, he directed Sean to the relevant page in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, which detailed the incantation and wand movement for Finite Incantatem.
"The General Counter-Spell is a foundational counter-charm in the Charms discipline. It is exceptionally effective at terminating low-level jinxes and control-based spells. Cast a charm, Mr. Green."
Sean silently cast an Aguamenti, taking note of the term 'counter-charm'. He knew some Dark Arts spells had specific counter-curses, like Snape's Sectumsempra. But a general-purpose charm like Finite that could neutralize a wide range of jinxes and hexes was incredibly useful. He had previously filed it under 'defense', but he now understood its mechanism wasn't shielding, but dismantling an incoming spell.
"Finite Incantatem!" Professor Flitwick flicked his wand, and the stream of water vanished instantly.
"Ah, did you feel that, Mr. Green?" the professor asked, crossing his arms and placing the spellbook back on a worn-out desk.
"The magic was... interrupted, Professor," Sean replied, recalling the sensation of his own magical flow being severed at the source.
"Precisely! A keen perception!" Flitwick paced excitedly on the desktop. "Now, you try. Focus on the intent. Termination. Disentanglement. Remember that, Mr. Green…"
"Finite Incantatem!" Sean mimicked the professor's gesture, visualizing the end of the spell, bringing his wand down in a sharp, cutting motion as Flitwick conjured another jet of water.
[You have practiced the General Counter-Spell once to the Novice standard. Proficiency +3]
The professor's stream of water dissipated into mist.
"A truly astonishing learning speed!"
In the hidden room, Hermione had been engrossed in An Easy Introduction to Ancient Runes for five days straight, her natural curiosity pulling her deep into the mysterious, powerful script. She had already checked out several related texts from the library.
Justin, meanwhile, had cheerfully volunteered to be Sean's sparring partner. After all, Sean couldn't very well practice a counter-spell on thin air.
[You have practiced the General Counter-Spell once to the Novice standard. Proficiency +3]
[You have practiced the General Counter-Spell once to the Novice standard. Proficiency +3]
The practice continued until Sean had fully unlocked the charm. The rest of the session was spent with Sean patiently tutoring an enthusiastic Justin. Neville's recent success in making his feather fly all over the classroom had inspired Justin, who wanted to master the spell so Neville wouldn't be afraid to practice levitating heavier objects. (Neville was terrified of losing control and dropping a wooden block on someone's head).
Sean had no idea his newly learned charm would be put to a real-world test so quickly.
As October progressed, the weather grew colder. The great mountains surrounding the school were often capped with a dusting of frost, and the lake's surface began to freeze over. Students now hurried through the corridors bundled in gloves and scarves, spending their free time huddled by the common room fireplaces.
Friday afternoon. Charms Classroom.
The room, lacking a fireplace, felt unusually cold. This, combined with Professor Flitwick's lesson on the Water-Making Spell, made the students particularly cautious, everyone terrified of drenching themselves in icy water.
Professor Flitwick demonstrated the wand movement again, a motion so fluid it looked like a winding stream drawn in the air. "The wrist must be supple, not stiff! The incantation is Aguamenti – it should sound like a clear, bubbling spring, not like you're smashing rocks…"
The room filled with whispers and the swish of wands. Justin, his face a mask of concentration, produced a tiny, weak trickle of water. It was pathetic, but at least it was water, and it went in the right direction. He let out a breath of relief.
He glanced over. Sean had conjured a steady arc of water, forming a perfect bridge, which he then promptly vanished with a silent counter-spell before it could even hit the floor.
"Whoa… brilliant," Justin murmured, a proud, second-hand grin spreading across his face.
"Excellent work, Mr. Green! Two points to Ravenclaw!" Professor Flitwick called out, beaming at Sean. "And good progress for you as well, Mr. Finch-Fletchley. One point to Hufflepuff!" Justin's smile widened.
Amidst the sea of blue/bronze and yellow/black, one flash of Gryffindor red stood out. Seamus Finnigan. After his series of unfortunate explosions, Professor Flitwick had assigned him extra practice, meaning he was now in this class and under the professor's particularly watchful eye. Flitwick's attention darted constantly between his two most notable students: Sean, for his brilliance, and Seamus, for his potential to self-destruct.
Seamus was frowning, his face a picture of grim determination. I can't fail again. Even if I fail, I can't blow anything up... He focused, remembering Flitwick's words – "power," "gushing" – telling himself he just needed to succeed once. He gripped his wand, not like a magical instrument, but like the reins of a wild horse.
"AGUAMENTI!" he roared, thrusting his wand forward with all his might.
It did not go as planned.
No clear spring water appeared. Not even a stray splash. Instead, with a deafening WHOOMPH, like a water balloon exploding under immense pressure, a thick, uncontrolled jet of water – less a stream, more an invisible buffalo – blasted from his wand tip.
Professor Flitwick, his back turned at that moment, heard the sound and spun around, just as the icy torrent shot straight for him.
Behind the deluge, a pair of green eyes flashed.
"Finite Incantatem!"
A pulse of light shot from Sean's wand. The massive column of water hit an invisible barrier, its momentum dissolving as it vanished mid-air.
[You have practiced the General Counter-Spell once to the Adept standard. Proficiency +10]
Sean lowered his wand as Professor Flitwick, now trembling with rage, shrieked, "Three points from Gryffindor!"
The professor calmed himself after a few seconds, but still assigned Seamus a hundred lines: I am a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a stick.
(End of Chapter)
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