Wednesday's Special Charms

As always Wednesday was the first to arrive. She shrugged her long jacket off her peasant blouse and waved it over to the coat rack before stepping into the center of the room, the swishing and clomping of her long skirt and wooden clogs the only sound.

The tables were set up at the far end of the room, as she'd requested, and were currently bathed the light of the setting sun. It would be a simple lesson today--well, perhaps simple for some. Wednesday loved teaching Accio and Depulso, as she found them to be very useful charms to know and use. As 4th Year charms they shouldn't be difficult for most of her students--shouldn't being the operative word--

For she intended different levels of difficulty for all. For Harold's lesson, Wednesday would have him summon and banish using the "Intone and Point" method; no naming of names for him. Harmony, Elias, and Nadine would do it non-verbal. And since both charms should prove simple for Rivânia and Talis, there was no time like the present to have them begin doing charms without a wand....

And as for Krum and Malibey, she thought--

They were 1st Years and it was their first evening with the class. Wednesday had already seen them--remotely and recorded, unfortunately--performing 3rd and 4th Year charms, so this would be her first time to see them working live. She knew she was stacking a lot of pressure on them to perform, but then, each student in class had been--or was still--in that same position from time to time.

Then again, this is the Advanced Class, she though while looking over the chairs arranged in an open semi-circle. Wednesday knew it would be tough for them, but she remained confident they'd persevere.

Because they seem to want this so bad, she thought. So driven... and willing to suffer for it, too, it would seem.

Wednesday nodded to herself and the room. All was ready. All was good.

She smiled, ready to see some magic.

Harmony rolled up the stairs to the upstairs classroom and entered, seeing she was once again first save the instructor. "Hi, Wends!" she said, waving as she walked across the room to her usual chair. She set down her book bag and pulled down her fluffy sweater over her skirt while noticing something different: there were two additional chairs.

Oh, what's this? she thought while crossing one foot before the other. "We got new people coming in?" she asked. If there are they aren't coming in from my coven....

Wednesday turned and smiled. "Oooh, love your socks!" she said first, pointing to the multicolored knee socks rising out of the tops of her Sketchers boots. She then said, "Yes, we have two more joining us tonight." She checked the clock on the wall. "Knowing them, then should be showing soon."

There was the sudden sound of someone walking up the stairs. "Maybe that's them," Wednesday said, resisting the urge to move towards the entrance to great them.

Harold was having a crappy day, and it was his one wish that tonight he was gonna walk out of here feeling a lot better. Maybe Wednesday will have pity on us and take us to the Dinning Hall early, he thought as he strolled into the room and made a bee-line for the chairs.

"Hi, Wednesday; Harmony." He dropped his backpack behind the chairs, watching Harmony out of the corner of his eye. She's lookin' nice tonight, he thought as he straightened his heavy rugby shirt. "What's happenin'?"

He then saw the extra chairs and his look turned puzzled. New people? Who? He'd heard nothing around the Mórrígan Tower about anyone there getting moved to Advanced Charms, but that couldn't mean it didn't just happen . . . oh, jeez: what if it's that annoying girl who goes on all the time about dueling, the one rooming with Dementor Babe? It did no good to wonder; it was best to just hang out and relax and see who waked through the door.

Elias was up the steps in moments, really looking forward to class tonight. He'd seen Wednesday earlier in the day and asked about what they were going to learn ... yeah, it was gonna be cool tonight. Get this down and I can see being home for Christmas: 'Dad, can I have the potatoes? Oh, never mind'.

He was chuckling as he walked into the classroom moments later. "What's up, everyone?" he called out, waving as he checked out the room. Actually he was checking out Harold checking out Harmony, or at least trying to check her out without checking her out. "Dude ..." he whispered, hiding his smile. He liked Harmony but, at the same time, she was another Flower Child and that made her suspect right off away. Not to mention she's suppose to be rockin' Arithmancy, and anytime you're one of Deanna's Demented, you're gonna be considered a little whacked--

"So what's up tonight?" he asked, turning to face everyone.

Annie felt the knots in her stomach all afternoon leading up to their first advanced charms class. She picked at her dinner and when she returned to the coven to change, she spent a few extra moments in the shower, just breathing and letting the hot water fall over her body.

She slipped her favorite white lace dress over her head, letting it drop into place before securing it with a coffee colored belt. Before she went any further, she returned her silver locket to its home around her neck. It rested in the center of her chest, glinting back at her in the mirror. You're a lucky girl, Annie.

Her mind wandered as she finished dressing--pulling on her black tights, deep purple flats, and her comfy denim jacket. Mostly, she thought about the grove...

It was that thought which she held tightly in her mind until she was face to face with the entrance to their advanced charms classroom. A smile spread over her face.

Just as she did in the grove, yielding her very being to Kerry—she crossed the threshold and surrendered. Stepping into the classroom, Annie was fired up to see exactly what she might be able to achieve.

The whole transition today . . . going to Potions, then Herbology, then dinner, and now--

Kerry was dressed and waiting in the commons for Annie. He felt her nervousness in the Dinning Hall, and he'd have been lying if he said he didn't feel it himself. It was a big deal, from his standpoint, to be singled out and told, "You're something special". It was a recognition that Kerry had wanted for a long time, and now . . . it was here.

They'd spent all day with the people that they'd shared the first month of Charms with, and in a very unusual way, he didn't seem bothered by leaving them behind. Oh, sure, he'd miss being able to mess with The Penny Dredfuls, but really--why wait time with them? There was so much more involved now.

The moment Annie was down--looking wonderful in her casualness--they started strolling towards class. Kerry was dressed in usual casual: tennies, khakis and a tee shirt with a pull over hoodie. And his backpack with books, because he really didn't know what sort of material they needed. He was certain they'd find out tonight.

The charms building was a little dark. The sun was still setting, and while there were a few lights on in the building they didn't really shine through. There were only a few people out and around here; once the sun started going down most everyone stuck close to the Pentagon. They entered the building and mounted the stairs slowly.

Walking in, Kerry began scanning the room. Professor Douglas was there, dressed . . . well, not like in class. She was speaking with another girl who was obviously a student. There were a couple of other boys in the room, both seemingly older. And there were chairs; sort of easy chairs arranged in a semi-circle. And a lot of space to do things.

Annie and he walked to the far end of the circle and picked out two chairs side-by-side. He took the backpack from his shoulder and set it next to the last chair. Turning, back to the center of the room, he said, "Evening, Professor Douglas."

Turning to Kerry, Wednesday said, "Good evening, Kerry." She stepped closer to him and Annie and said to them in a confidential tone, "Just so you know, when we're in this class, you don't have to address me as 'Professor Douglas'. It's easier if we're all on a first-name basis, so you can call me 'Wednesday', or even, 'Wends', which is what a lot of my friends call me."

She stepped back, raising her voice. "We'll make introductions as soon as the others are here, then start in." She rubbed her hands together excitedly as she looked around the room. "We're going to have fun tonight, aren't we?"

Wends, Annie thought with the smile still plastered on her face. Already this class was better than any other one they'd yet experienced.

"I spent the afternoon mostly wondering how we would keep up," she glanced at the rest of the students in the room. The fact that they were the only first years was obvious, still she couldn't help but wonder if that might change as the year progressed. "But I think we're both up for the challenge...and we are very grateful for the opportunity--Wends." Annie giggled as her professors name slid past her lips.

Wednesday poo-pooed Annie's concerns. "Oh, I think you're going to fit in just nicely, both of you." She looked at Kerry--who was obviously a bit startled by the idea of a teaching telling a student it was okay to address her by her given name--and grinned. "Kerry, take a cue from your girlfriend and relax." She winked then said, "Welcome to the real world," before walking off, he clogs clomping across the floor.

Kerry sat back and did just as--Wednesday said to do: relax. He reached over to take Annie's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Yeah, this is the real world, isn't it?" It was just as Annie had been telling him: this is normal. Get used to it.

He turned his attention to the door to see who was going to arrive next.

Rivânia raced down the walkway to the Charms Building, clutching her fedora tightly to her head. She'd gotten wind of what was going to happened tonight and she was plenty excited.--not because she thought she might actually do the spell right away, but . . . it's gonna be like when you're an adult! she thought. Or even better, like some super witch!

She bolted through the door and up the stairs, her Converse sneakers loud on the wooden steps. She felt so comfortable tonight--her best flared jeans and blue pullover, her black vest . . . yeah, Rivânia, you gotta look your best when you wanna do your best, right?

She bounced into the room, smiling. "Todo o mundo," she said to the room then looked over to Wednesday and said, "Oi, Wends!" before plopping her self down in a chair two over from--oh, we have new kids?

Nadine watched Rivânia blow by her and smiled. Girl sure does love her charms, she thought as she walked slow and steady. It hadn't been the best of days for Nadine: she'd started her period last night, and this morning she got knocked off her broom during quidditch practice and twisted her ankle. It still hurt a bit even after Nurse Coraline fixed her up with potions and TLC, so she gave the laces of her Doc Martins a little extra tug--just in case she needed the ankle support tonight.

She shook out her red suede coat as she climbed the stairs. She loved being relaxed, and getting into this advanced class last year was one of the best things to keep her mellow. She's always known she was smart and could do this work--and Wends truly believed in her which made it even better. And she was certain Wends had put in the word that got her moved into Sladen's Advanced Potions class, too.

Nadine slipped off her coat as she entered the room, paring down to her low cut black tank and her pleated burgundy skirt and gray leggings. "Peeps," she said as she headed for the empty seat between Rivânia and what appeared to be a new kid on the Charms Block--

As usual, Talia appeared to be the last to class. She saw Nadine entered the Charms Building as she was exiting the covered walkway, and she knew Nadine was never in a hurry to get to class early.

Talia's tummy was knotting bad. She'd been getting into non-verbal charms of late, and it wasn't going as well as she liked. She had a lot of "rattlers" as her dad called them, and it was pissing her off because she hated being so ... nervous. Just get calm, she thought as she entered the building and ascended the stairs. It's gonna be good tonight; get to your center and stay there.

Turning into the classroom she was Wednesday nod at her. "Hi, Wednesday," she said softly. The heels of her Mary Janes were muted on the hard wood floor as she headed toward the empty chair between Elias and Rivânia. She saw Harmony between Elias and Harold and . . . wow, new blood! Two new kids, both looking younger than Harold. At least the girl dresses nice, she thought, since she was always comparing other outfits to her own sense of style.

She flopped down and turned to Rivânia as she wrapped her long sweater vest around her. "Let's bring the pain, shall we?" she said, smirking.

With everyone in place, Wednesday decided to start class. Waving a hand she closed the door before turning to her students. "Hi, everyone. Before we get started, some introductions are in order." She indicated the far chairs to her left. "This is Kerry and Annie, and they are joining us as of tonight. I have watched their work since the start of the school year and have been most impressed--just as I have done with each of you.

"Now, so you both know who everyone is--" She started pointing out students. "That's Nadine to your left, Annie, and Rivânia next to her. Then we have Talia--" The girl waved. "Elias, Harmony and Harold."

Wednesday took a few steps to her right. "You'll notice I didn't mention covens or school years. That's because here, in this room, it's not really that important. Sure, you'll learn all that--" She turned and smiled. "But you'll learn it through interaction, and not because the teacher made a point of it.

"And one last thing--" She face changed, her look indicating something along the lines of concern. "You can be hard on yourself, but you are never hard on anyone else in here. If you are going to critique someone, it's done with the intention of pointing out a poor technique, or verbalizing a charm directly--but it's done to help." Wednesday shook her head. "Never to tell someone they suck or blow or some crap like that. We're above that here."

She rubbed her hands together again. "So, we ready to push our limits tonight?"

Annie could hardly wait to begin. The energy pouring out from the few students in the room was overwhelming and infectious. These are the kind of students we'll both do well to hang around and learn from, she thought, taking a look around the room at each of the kids in their class.

She wondered about their magical abilities and what exactly they might be learning tonight in class. Pushing limits was something Annie had become all too familiar with in the last couple of days. She glanced at Kerry while stroking her locket.

As Wednesday wrapped up her introductions, Annie focused her attention back to their professor and nodded.

"So, tonight, two of my favorite charms--" She stepped away from the students and set back on her clogged heels. "Accio and Depulso: Summoning and Banishing." She chuckled. "When you absolutely need to get or get rid of something, accept no substitute."

"As you probably know, this is absolutly needed when you require something from a long ways off, or . . ." Wednesday started walking towards the tables at one end, "even from within a room." She started pulling out things from under the table; a peach-color throw pillow and several plushies. Kerry instantly recognized the Hello Kitty doll, but on of them--

Wednesday walked back clutching Hello Kitty in her arms. "You may ask, 'Why not use Locomotor in here, Wends?' and that is a very good question." She stopped before Elias and pushed the Kitty doll closer to him. "Isn't she cute, Elias? Give her a hug!" He fake fought off the doll's advances for a few moments, giving everyone a chance to laugh. Wednesday stepped back and continued. "With Locomotor you have to direct where you want something, which usually means picking it up and putting it somewhere. Accio is different because you are bringing something to you--and often from a some distance away.

"Depulso does just the opposite. You want to get rid of something quickly, you banish and get it the hell out of your hair." She put the Kitty plushie back and returned to her spot before the students. "If it's something that's been moved recently, you'll banish it back to that location--otherwise . . ." She smiled, and it was both cute and evil. "It might just go anywhere."

Wednesday began to explain the different movements needs to do both charms. She discussed how both could be used as "stand alone" charms, meaning you only had to point at an object and banish it with a simple utterance of the charm, or--if you needed to get something--visualize the item and bring it to you with a simple summons. She talked about being able to summon and banish groups of things. And how, most importantly, neither charm worked with anything living.

Finally getting to the heart of the lesson, Wednesday began laying out the plan. "Since we have varying levels of age here, it only makes sense that each of us will do variations of each charm. Now, Kerry and Annie--" She looked to them. "As they have never done either, I only expect them to perform the charms tonight. Harold, you'll be doing a simple sommons with 'Accio' only--the ol' point and grap method. "She looked over the older students. "Elias, Harmony, and Nadine: you'll be doing it non-verbal, but with a wand." Nadine exhaled, seemingly relieved. "And Riv and Talia--" They seemed to know what was coming. "Wandless with verbalization." While Rivânia seemed excited, Talia's face said otherwise.

She looked about the room, smiling. "As usual the elves will bring in refreshments in about 15 minutes. So . . . who would like to go first?"

OOC: Rules for charms casting.


It's going to be very simple. Really.

First, in order to "get" your charm--aka, know it and used is regularly--you need to get a certain number of successes with the charm over a certain number of attempts. The next chart says it all:

1st Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 5 attempts, you have 3 successes
2nd Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 5 attempts, you have 3 successes
3rd Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 6 attempts, you have 4 successes
4th Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 6 attempts, you have 5 successes
5th Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 8 attempts, you have 6 successes
6th Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 9 attempts, you have 7 successes
7th Year Spell/Charm/Hex:	Out of 10 attempts, you have 8 successes

Base success for any charm attempted that is at your year level is 50+. So for 1st Year students doing 1st Year charms, base is 50+. For every Charm Year above the student's School Year there is a +5 modifier added to the base--so 1st Year students doing 2nd Year charms have a base of 55+; doing 3rd Year charms a base of 60+, and so on. Adult and Healing charms had an additional +10 added to the base, which is why these are usually attempted by 6th and 7th Year students.

For every Charm Year below the student's School Year there is a -5 modifier added to the base--so 3rd Year students doing 1st Year charms have a base of 40+; a 5th Year doing 2ed Year charms a base of 35+, and so on.

It is very possible that you won't "get" the charm right off the bat. It is very possible it will take several attempts to get it right. One can "reset" their attempts and try again; it's usually assumed that 20 to 30 minutes pass from the end of one set of attempts to the start of another, allowing the wizard/witch to relax and get their wits about them again.

It is also possible to "push your attempts" trying to get a charm down, particularly if they feel they are close to total success (like one success away from getting it). For each "push" beyond the total number of tries, +5 is added to the base. Note that the base can not ever exceed 100; after that, one should take an hour of rest before trying again.

One should really not try to attempt the same charm more than three times in a day due to the amount of stress one will experience trying to learn it. For every set of attempts tried after three, +5 is added to the base of each try. And this modify is accumulative--so for 1st Years trying a 1st Year charm, if they are on their fifth attempt trying to learn it, their base is 60+ for all tries.

Any time a wizard/witch has a success of 90 to 99 that success "carries over" if additional attempts are required. Getting a 100 results in 2 success being carried over. Note that any time modifier dice are used and the result is a roll of 100+, that will only count as 1 success that is carried over--a 100 must be rolled straight up on the D100. However, anytime a 100 and the maximum that can be rolled on a modifier dice is rolled (a 10 on a D10, for example), that will count as 3 successes that can be carried over.

Any time a wizard/witch achieves 4 90+s, or 2 90+s and a roll of 100 in one or more attempt sessions, they "get" the charm, even if the charm year level in question requires them to achieve more successes.

Any time a understood charm is worked in a different fashion, the wizard witch will attempt that charm as if they are learning is anew. Trying a modified version of a charm, or doing it non-verbally, or without a wand, all constitute doing a known charm in a different fashion. When this happens the base attempt for the charm reverts to 50+, along with any modifiers added by the new difficulty:

Modified version of charm (doing Accio without specifying the object, for example)	+5 to Base
Non-verbal	+10 to Base
Wandless	+25 to Base

Note that if you are attempting these with lower year charms the base can never drop below 50+, but when attempting with high year charms the modifier to the base is in effect.

Once a charm is relearned in the new fashion, the modifier used to learn that version is not used again if the wizard/witch tries to relearn the charm in another fashion. For example, if a 3rd Year witch is learning Accio, a 4th Year charm, to learn it "modified" results in a base of 50 + 5 (for year) + 5 (for type modifier) = 60. Once they learn Accio this way, if they later want to learn it in a non-verbal form, the base is 50 + 5 (for year) + 10 (for non-verbal modifier) = 65; they don't need to re-add the original modifier again. This is why when re-learning variations of charms it's best to "get" one type before moving on to another.

Okay, that's it! Lets work!


Oh, last thing: there are five items with which to test. The are a throw pillow (Accio Pillow), a Hello Kitty doll (Accio Hello Kitty, or Kitty), a Facehugger pillow (Accio Facehugger), a Companion Cube plushie (Accio Companion Cube) and a a Cthulhu plushie (Accio Cthulhu). They're nice and soft, so it won't hurt if you get hit.


End OOC

Nadine didn't want to wait. She was up on her booted feet in an instance. "Okay, Wends," she said, "let do this."

They spent about five minutes going though what Nadine needed to do. It was all very simple other than she needed to "project" her thought when she should be saying it for the charm name. It should be easy, she thought. Should being very subjective....

She pointed her wand at the companion cube and thought very hard, Accio Companion Cube.



Bringing the Cube non-verbal 1 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

35

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

3

Nadine wasn't a happy girl. Cramping, now this. She stabbed her wand at the table. "Okay, you bitch, c'ome on."

She did the quick point and thought, Accio Companion Cube.



Bringing the Cube non-verbal 2 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

74

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

2

The cube flew off the table and popped into her hand--well, she caught it, but same thing. Only now....

Now I got to put it back, she thought while Wednesday and a few others applauded. No point in being able to summon it if I can't banish it.

She gave the cube in her hand a good stare, then pointed her wand at it and thought, Depulso.



Sendin' the Cube Back non-verbal 1 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

35

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

4

Sighing loudly, Nadine let her shoulders slump just a bit. She held the cube up, palm open, and eyed it hard. You don't want to piss me off, she thought. Today is not the day....

"Not to worry," she said aloud, then turned back to the cube. She flicked her wand down on the cube and thought, Depulso.



Sendin' the Cube Back non-verbal 2 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

85

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

8

Now the excitement was getting to Nadine. She might not nail this tonight, but she felt the power in that last banishment and she knew it would help later.

"Oh, you're next, Kittah," she said, grinning evilly, hoping everyone was enjoying the show. She pointed her wand at the table and issued the thought, Accio Hello Kitty.



Bringin' the Kitty non-verbal 3 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

8

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

6

Stomping her good foot Nadine shouted out a loud, "Shit!", causing a few people--Wends among them--to laugh. "Yeah, just wait until you're up here," she said, not really pissed because that's they way they were: better than the rest and willing to work hard to get there.

She nodded at the table and pointed her wand: Accio Hello Kitty.



Bringin' the Kitty non-verbal 4 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

78

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

1

Kitty came flying across the room and Nadine caught it, then gave it a big, dramatic kiss, curling back one food and going up on your good toes. She turned to the students, the one boy in particular that Wednesday had teased. "You want in on this, Elias?" she said, holding the plushie out and twisting it. He quickly flipped her off, eliciting another round of laughs.

She nodded, then held the plushie by one foot. Depulso.



Sendin' Kitty Back non-verbal 3 of 6.
Base 60
Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

40

Nadine Woodley carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

9