Quirks in Wizarding World

________________________________________________________________________________

- Hogwarts Castle -

- September 4, 1991 – Midnight -

The Room of Requirement was silent except for the faint crackle of torches lining the stone walls. Arthav stood at the center of the dueling platform, his wand steady in his hand. This was his chance to test himself beyond the rigid confines of classroom lessons.

His mutated eyes, which he felt the need to name 'Astra Vision' yesterday after the idea came to him, allowed him to see the flow of magical energy. It provided insight into how spells formed and moved, giving him a deeper understanding of magic itself. His improved eyesight and dynamic vision also aided him in dueling, letting him track even the subtlest movements. However, he quickly realized that enhanced perception alone wasn't enough—he needed to adapt, to be unpredictable.

He started with the basics. The first spell that came to mind was 'Expelliarmus'. He had seen it mentioned multiple times in dueling texts. Raising his wand, he focused, flicking it in the precise motion described in the book. "Expelliarmus!" he called.

The spell shot forward, striking a training dummy. The force was weaker than he had hoped, barely making it shift. He frowned. Again. This time, he tightened his stance, adjusted his grip, and reinforced the intent behind his words. The red flash hit with more impact, knocking the wand from the dummy's grasp. Satisfied, he moved on.

A flick and a turn of his wrist brought forth 'Protego'. A shimmering barrier flared to life before him. He tested its strength by commanding a training dummy to fire 'Stupefy' at him. The shield held, but he felt the impact travel through his wand, a reminder that raw power wasn't everything—technique mattered just as much.

He pushed further, delving into the spells he had read in the library. 'Diffindo' shredded a wooden plank in half with a clean cut. 'Silencio' muted the dummy's attempted counterspells, proving useful in disrupting an opponent. He tried 'Glisseo' on the stone floor, making it smooth and slippery, then practiced regaining balance while moving on unstable ground.

Then came the 'Disillusionment Charm'. He had already used it to sneak through the castle, but now he wanted complete control. He cast it upon himself and moved, watching how his form blended into the background. The trick was adjusting his breathing and movements to maintain the illusion. He tried attacking while hidden, launching a silent 'Petrificus Totalus' at a dummy. The effect was instant—the figure stiffened, locked in place.

But it wasn't enough. Real combat wouldn't be against unresponsive training dummies. He needed movement, unpredictability.

"Give me an opponent," he muttered to the room.

The magic responded. A humanoid figure stepped forward, its wand raised. The duel began instantly.

The opponent fired a stunning spell. Arthav dodged, rolling to the side before countering with 'Expelliarmus'. The opponent deflected it with 'Protego' and retaliated with a rapid 'Rictusempra'. He barely evaded, feeling the edge of the spell graze his arm.

Speed. He needed to move faster.

He cast 'Avis', sending a flurry of conjured birds to distract his opponent before following up with 'Flipendo'. The impact knocked the opponent back, but not for long. A flash of blue signaled a 'Flipendo' in return. Arthav absorbed the hit with 'Protego' and countered with 'Stupefy'. The opponent staggered but did not fall.

Frustration flickered inside him. He needed something stronger.

Taking a deep breath, he remembered a spell from a third-year textbook. A risky choice, but worth testing. He raised his wand, visualizing the incantation's effect.

"Confringo!"

The blast of fire erupted from his wand, striking the opponent's shield and shattering it. The force sent it sprawling to the ground. The duel was over.

Arthav exhaled, lowering his wand. His heart pounded, but his mind was clear. He had improved—but not enough. There was always more to learn, more to master. He had to train more to adapt his body movements according to his enhanced eyesight as well as go further in silent casting and wandless magic to be unpredictable in complex and tense situations of the magical duels.

He stepped toward the bookshelves, pulling out another tome. The night was far from over.

-----------

- September 6, 1991 – Midnight -

The past few days had passed in a blur of activity, and now the week was coming to an end. Tomorrow was Saturday, bringing a much-needed break from classes. Arthav had continued to impress his teachers, earning more points for Ravenclaw through his knowledge and skill in magic. Whether it was his precise spellwork in Charms, his deep understanding of Transfiguration, or his quick thinking in Defense Against the Dark Arts, he left a mark on every lesson. He also enjoyed his time with friends, both in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, bonding over studies, shared meals, and the occasional late-night conversation.

However, not all interactions were as enjoyable. A number of Slytherin students, with a few exceptions like Daphne Greengrass, seemed determined to make things difficult for him, as well as for Harry and his friends. Draco Malfoy, in particular, never missed a chance to sneer or make snide comments. Arthav mostly ignored their childish antics, responding with sharp, intelligent remarks that left them speechless more often than not. But their persistence was becoming increasingly irritating.

On a brighter note, he had also met Fred and George Weasley, and they had instantly clicked. When he casually mentioned a few prank ideas, the twins were delighted. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and Arthav found himself drawn into their world of mischief. He knew that with their help, some well-placed pranks would soon be in order—especially for a certain group of Slytherins.

Now, in the quiet of midnight on Friday, he found himself in the Room of Requirement once more, this time focusing on potion-making and enchanting. The dimly lit space was filled with the scent of various herbs and ingredients as he worked on refining and experimenting with different recipes. He was testing out the idea of replacing standard ingredients with more potent or culturally distinct alternatives—especially some of the spices he had brought from India. His Astra Vision proved invaluable in detecting and preventing potential disasters before they got out of hand, as some of his experiments teetered on the edge of becoming outright catastrophes.

One particularly amusing result came from a potion he had altered with a mix of Indian spices. When a rat he had prepared for testing sipped it, the tiny creature suddenly let out a puff of fire—like a miniature dragon. Another potion, which he had attempted to modify for a different effect, caused the rat's skin to turn a glowing shade of yellow before fading after a few minutes. However, not all his experiments were amusing—one failure resulted in an overwhelmingly foul smell that lingered in the air, forcing him to conjure several air-purifying charms just to clear the room.

Enchanting had yielded better success. One particular creation had turned out even more entertaining than he had expected—an enchanted parchment scroll that looked like an ordinary set of study notes. However, when unrolled, it would begin a lively conversation in the voice of the last person who had written on it. The chatter was harmless but filled with playful banter and humorous remarks, making it the perfect tool for classroom distractions.

Looking at his growing collection of amusing but harmless magical creations, Arthav smirked. He had just the people in mind who would appreciate these: Fred and George. Tomorrow, with their help, some well-planned pranks would find their way into the Slytherin common room, and he was very much looking forward to the chaos that would follow.

-----------

- September 7, 1991 – Morning -

The next morning at breakfast, Arthav made his way to the Gryffindor table, spotting the Weasley twins chatting animatedly with their usual mischievous glint. Sliding onto the bench beside them, he leaned in and casually mentioned his idea for pranking the Slytherin students. The twins' eyes sparkled with interest as he detailed the enchanted candies, tablets, and balloons infused with his experimental potions.

Fred grinned. "You've got quite the devious mind, mate. I like it."

George chuckled. "Brilliant. What sort of effects are we talking about?"

Arthav smirked. "A little fire-breathing action, some glowing skin, and perhaps a few… fragrant mishaps."

Their whispered discussion soon drew the attention of a few others. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, sitting nearby, shifted closer, curiosity piqued. "What are you three up to?" Hermione asked, eyeing them with mild suspicion.

Padma and Parvati, who had just arrived, exchanged glances before joining in. "Something tells me this isn't just about breakfast," Padma noted with a knowing look.

Arthav chuckled. "Let's just say today's going to be an interesting day for certain Slytherins."

Ron snickered. "If it's Draco, I'm all for it."

The group huddled closer, discussing the details in hushed voices. Ideas flew back and forth, and the excitement grew as they refined the plan. The twins, always the masters of mischief, suggested strategic placements, while Hermione, though hesitant, couldn't help but admire the cleverness behind the enchantments.

By the time breakfast ended, they had their plan in motion. Today would be a day to remember.

________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading 🙏 🙏.

If you are liking this story so far please support this novel through the power stones and let me know your thoughts in the comments and please review this novel as ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ if you deem it worthwhile.