"Yeah, why don't we get out and let Janice change into her robes? We'll wait in the common room for you." Landy said.
Murmuring in agreement, they quickly filed out of the room. Tiredly, Janice began to change into her robes and pack her school bag for the day. Just as she was about to leave the dormitory, one of the ladies in the painting shouted "Be careful, darling!"
Muttering 'I will be very careful' back, she rushed down to the common room to meet the gang.
"Sorry guys, I'm late. " Janice apologised.
"Never mind, what are you waiting for? Let's go to the hospital wing now," said Boon Kee, standing up.
"Hospital Wing?" Janice repeated.
"Yeah, to make sure that you are really all right. We're not going to take any chances." Landy chirped.
"Look guys-" Janice started, but before she could finish, Landy was already dragging her by the arm and leading her out of the Portrait hole.
"Look, guys, I'm really okay. REALLY!" Janice protested, when she saw the look of disbelief on their faces.
"We're not going to take any chances. We're just playing safe, that's all." Boon Kee explained.
Sulking, she trudged along with the gang to the hospital wing.
The hospital wing was located right at the top of the West tower, which was
overlooking the lake. The hospital wing had huge, comfortable beds and lots
of cheerful paintings hung around. In Janice's opinion, it resembled a holiday
chalet she had visited a few years ago. Just as they entered the hospital wing,
they met a large and beefy woman, who was attending to a student with celery
sticks sprouting out of his nose.
"Yes?" She said, after treating the boy, who now had celery sprouts instead of sticks coming out of his nose.
"My friend... well, has a purple mark on her wrist after waking up from a dream. Professor Lim told us to come here." Landy explained, while showing Madam Wong the marks on Janice's wrist.
"Why, dear, marks like these are very common...don't worry, I know how to deal with them." Madam Wong said, after examining Janice's wrist. With that, she went inside her office and took out her wand. She began to twiddle her wand around Janice's wrist a few times but still, the marks were there.
"Why, if this spell doesn't work, I have to consult the Charms Professor then. Gimme a minute, I'll be right back." She said crisply. With that, she rushed out of the hospital wing. A few minutes later, she returned with a lady beside her. Janice recognised her as the woman who yelled at them the previous night for staying out late.
"She's the one?" the professor said, after closing the door behind her.
"Yep, Geraldine."
"I'll see what I can do with it. Have you tried the Anti-Bruise charm?" The Professor said, after examining the marks.
"I tried it a few times, but the marks just won't go away. That's why I asked you for help."
"Since that doesn't work, we'll have to use the Unbruise charm." The Professor said crisply. With that, she mumbled something under her breath and the marks were gone.
"Thanks...err..." Janice mumbled.
"Professor Ting." The Professor said, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank You Professor Ting." Janice said sincerely.
"Now, classes are starting in fifteen minutes time. Go and have your breakfast now!" Madam Wong said, after checking her pocket watch.
With that, they made a dash to the hall and hastily ate their breakfast. Even
Landy, who usually ate her meals very slowly, was bolting down her breakfast.
After eating their breakfast, they quickly dashed to the Charms classrooms,
which was quite a distance away. They managed to reach the classroom before
the bell rang. They hastily took out their copy of An Idiot-Proof Guide to Standard
Spells by Lee Swee Hock, their quills and parchment. Just as they were wondering
when the teacher would arrive, Professor Ting walked in. Unlike Professor Flitwick,
she was tall for her age. Her hair tied into a french braid and she was dressed
in deep blue robes.
"I'm Professor Ting. I'll be your Charms teacher for the next six years. As Charms will be one of the important subjects in you curriculum, I expect everyone to pay attention to my lessons. Any fooling around and you shall be sorry for it." She said in a serious tone.
"Well, class, take out your textbooks now and turn to page three. We'll be learning a very simple Charm today. It's the Light Charm. Never underestimate this Charm, as it is not only very useful but also still highly used even today. The incantation is ' lampu'. Just swish and flick your wand and it will work. For the counter spell, the incantation is ' Matikan'. Now, I want everyone of you to try it out now." She said, this time, in a lighter and more casual tone.
As they tried the Charm, Janice realised that it was a lot more difficult than
expected. For a while, Janice only managed to produce tiny flickers of light
from her wand.
"Its not that hard," Landy said, when she saw Janice struggling
with the Charm. "Concentrate. Just focus, and you will succeed." Landy
said. Landy was the only one in class who was able to perform the Charm perfectly,
thus adding ten points to CuiHua.
"Easier said than done, woman." Janice mumbled. This time, she focused
really hard and when she tried it, there was a huge blast of light coming from
Janice's wand, causing the others to drop their wands and receiving tons of
curses from the other students due to the sudden blast of light.
"Wonderful, Miss Chan! Fifteen Points to CuiHua!" Professor Ting announced.
Janice, for a moment, was lost for words. Just as she was about to perform the
Charm again, the bell rang. Charms was over.
"Class, I want you to complete an essay on the usefulness of this Charm.
Hand in the essay next Monday." Professor Ting announced while the students
hastily packed their bags and dashed off to the next class.
"What's next?" Janice asked.
"Potions." Landy said, after checking her timetable. With that, they
headed towards a flight of staircase that led then to the dungeons.
"Which dungeon are our lessons held at? " Janice squeaked. When they
reached the bottom of the staircase, Janice realised that there were about six
of them. Just then, they could hear someone shouting from one of the dungeons.
"First Years! Come to Dungeon One please!"
Relieved, they entered Dungeon One, where a man in his mid-twenties was sitting
at his desk, writing something on his parchment. They quickly settled down and
took out their books.
After their teacher had finished his work, he began to introduce himself. His
name was Professor Teo. Somehow, Janice was reminded of James Potter, Harry's
father, with his super untidy hair with round glasses. When he had finished
introducing himself, he started to explain to them the properties of some common
ingredients used in Potion-making. He later put them in pairs to make a simple
potion to cure headaches. Even though it was a simple potion, it wasn't really
easy. The ingredients had to be added at five-minute intervals and stirred properly.
They were very thankful when the lesson was finally over, but Professor Teo
had bombarded them with homework on the importance of the Bezoar, Monkshood
and the Lalang seeds used in Potion making. Ashen faced, they rushed out of
the dungeons, grateful for the fresh air that greeted them when they stepped
out of the dungeons. They quickly dashed to the greenhouses, where their Herbology
lesson would be held.
