That evening, Alan dressed with particular care before heading out; it was time for his first meeting of Professor Flitwick's Charms Club.
Following the directions on the parchment invitation, Alan arrived before a specific mural on the eighth floor of the West Tower. The location was chosen for its proximity to the Ravenclaw Head of House's personal office.
"Password?" the painted knight in the mural demanded, peering down at Alan.
"Unicorn," Alan replied, reading from the bottom of his invitation.
"As you wish." The knight gave a stiff nod and the portrait swung outward to reveal a hidden door.
The room beyond was arranged like a classroom, but the walls were lined with towering bookshelves, giving it the dense, scholarly atmosphere of a private library. A dozen velvet-upholstered chairs were gathered around matching tables, and the deep blue carpets and heavy curtains lent the space a distinctly Ravenclaw aesthetic.
A small group of students had already gathered, their voices low as they conversed in pairs.
"Alan? What are you doing here?" Vanessa Greengrass looked up, her expression one of pure shock. She had been invited to the club in her third year—a feat she took great pride in, as almost no one joined before their third or fourth year. Being scouted by Flitwick as a third-year was considered a high honor.
"This isn't a place you can just wander into," Vanessa whispered urgently, stepping toward him. She clearly assumed he had accidentally followed someone through the portrait hole. "You should leave before the Professor arrives, or you'll be in serious trouble."
Alan blinked, momentarily taken aback by her intensity, then offered a calm smile. "Prefect Greengrass, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Professor Flitwick invited me personally."
He reached into his pocket and produced the formal invitation, holding it out for her to see.
Vanessa stared at the parchment, her confusion deepening. First and second-year students were supposed to be struggling with basic wand movements and theory; how could someone who had been at the school for less than a week be here?
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low caution. "Perhaps the Professor has a specific reason for bringing you along, but understand that this isn't a normal class. You don't just sit and listen. You're expected to complete independent research and contribute to academic debates. You might even have to assist the Professor with his own experimental work."
"Don't worry," Alan interrupted gently. "The Professor explained the expectations to me when he gave me the letter. I have no intention of falling behind."
He had done his homework on the Charms Club. It functioned more like a research fellowship than a standard elective. Flitwick's teaching was essentially divided into three tiers: the general curriculum for all students; the advanced N.E.W.T. level classes for those who achieved high marks in their fifth year; and finally, this club. This room was reserved for those whose talent for Charms was exceptional, often tasking them with magic that went far beyond what appeared on any Ministry exam.
Seeing Alan's composure, Vanessa realized she wouldn't be able to talk him out of it. She sighed and gestured to an empty chair. "Very well. Sit down and wait for the start."
Moments later, Professor Flitwick squeaked into the room. Spotting Alan, he beamed. "Alan! Splendid to see you. Our discussion the other day gave me a wealth of new perspectives to consider."
The other students turned in unison, their curiosity piqued by the sight of their Professor greeting a younger boy with such warmth.
Alan usually preferred to stay under the radar, especially when outnumbered by older students, but he couldn't ignore the Professor's enthusiasm. He stood and offered a polite nod. "The honor is mine, Professor. Your guidance cleared up several points I had been struggling with."
Flitwick nodded happily and scrambled up onto his specially designed high chair behind the podium. He looked around the room, eyes sparkling. "It seems we are all accounted for. Let us begin the first meeting of the Charms Club for this academic year."
"First, let us welcome our new members. Shirley Lenster, a fourth-year from Hufflepuff."
A girl stood up and gave a modest nod. The room broke into polite, welcoming applause.
"Next, Quirinus Quirrell, a fifth-year from Ravenclaw."
A young Quirrell stood up, looking remarkably twitchy. He rubbed his hands nervously against his trousers and gave a stiff, jerky bow as the others gave him encouraging applause.
"And finally, I am delighted to introduce Alan Wilson, a first-year from Slytherin."
The room went deathly silent. After the introductions of a fourth and fifth-year, the reality of Alan's presence finally hit home. The upperclassmen stared at him in utter bewilderment. *A first-year? He's been here three days. Is he Flitwick's secret nephew?*
The silence stretched long enough to become awkward. Professor Flitwick was the first to start clapping, which snapped the others out of their trance. They joined in, though their applause was tentative and muffled by whispered questions.
Flitwick moved straight to business, ignoring the tension. He cleared his throat and tapped his wand against a large whiteboard. Ink began to flow across the surface, forming a list.
"As this is our first gathering, I want our new members to find their footing quickly. Here are the research priorities for this year:"
1. Non-Verbal Casting: Refining techniques for the rapid mastery of silent spells.
2. Wandless Theory: Methodologies for developing basic magical output without a focus tool.
3. Thermodynamic Charms: Research into the stabilization of extreme temperature control.
4. Acoustics and Resonance: The application and evolution of sound-based magic.
5. Etymological Evolution: Tracing spell incantations back to Ancient Runes and comparing international variations.
6. The Extension Charm: Identifying high-durability materials for Traceless Stretching (Ongoing; current lead: Goblin Urim Steel).
7. Magical Sensitivity: Techniques for the quantification and heightening of environmental magic perception.