The classroom was quiet when Professor Tobias Blade arrived that morning, as it always was before the students began to trickle in. He'd been in well before dawn—habit, mostly. Old habits tend to root themselves deep after enough years and enough disappointment. He had taken a moment to clean the chalkboards himself—though he could’ve charmed it away with a flick of his wand—and had even organized the desks into neat rows that, with luck, might survive the first fifteen minutes of class. His desk was, as always, tidy: a mug of black tea cooling beside a copy of the curriculum, along with the day’s lesson notes written in sharp, practiced handwriting. He didn’t decorate. Flowers were lovely things, but they never lasted long under his watch. The only personal touch was a framed sketch of a dog that no longer lived and a set of brass reading spectacles he never actually used.
As the second-years began filing in, Blade stayed seated for a moment longer than usual, watching the students with a quiet, steady gaze. They were louder this year, some of them taller, others more tired than they should’ve been at their age. He could tell which ones hadn’t slept the night before—the anxiety of returning, of expectations, of new spells and old insecurities. He understood. Eventually, he stood and moved toward the front of the class, his robes trailing behind him, the fabric worn in places from years of movement. He clapped his hands together once—firm but not harsh—and the room fell into that familiar silence of expectation.
"Morning," he began, voice low but with a thread of warmth hidden in its gravel. "I see most of you remembered your uniforms, your wands, and how to find your way back here without setting anything on fire. So far, so good." A flick of his wand and the board filled with text behind him, written in a slow, methodical script: Cleaning Charm – Scourgify. He turned back to the students, expression unreadable but not unfriendly. "Today’s lesson is simple, but don’t mistake simple for unimportant. The spell we’re covering today is Scourgify—the Cleaning Charm. It does exactly what it sounds like it does. You’ll use this one more than you think—on robes, on cauldrons, on dormitory disasters. It won’t solve everything, but it’ll save you from more than one angry matron or suspicious parent."
He raised his wand, slow and deliberate, demonstrating the motion twice: clean, controlled arcs. No flair. No theatrics. "Repeat after me—Scourgify." He repeated the movement again and again, turning to ensure all sides of the room could see it properly. Then, with a wave of his hand, mismatched and very much unwashed dishes appeared on the desks in front of each student, clinking softly into place. The smell from a few of them was... specific. He ignored it. "There you go. A practical example. Don’t worry, I already cast a charm to make sure nothing’s actually dangerous. Just unpleasant."
He gave the room another once-over, arms folded now across his chest. "Today I want you to read the assigned chapter—on the board behind me—and begin practicing the charm right here in class. If your dish explodes, that’s on you. If it starts talking, that’s on me—and I’ll admit I’d be curious to see how you managed that." The corner of his mouth twitched, almost—but not quite—a smile.
"If you’ve got questions, I’m here. Ask. If you need help, raise your hand. I know some of you prefer to struggle in silence—I did too, when I was your age. Trust me, it doesn’t get you far." He returned to his desk, sitting down with a soft grunt and lifting his tea, frowning at the temperature before sipping it anyway. "If you’re the sort that likes extra credit, there’s an optional task. Write a short essay—nothing dramatic, no more than a hundred words—on how and where this charm might be used. Real-world examples, creative ones, I don’t mind. Just show me you’ve thought about it."
A list appeared on the board behind him, added with a wave of his wand. The parchment version sat stacked at the front of his desk. "Take a copy before you leave. My office is open after breakfast until dinner, every day. You’re welcome anytime—whether it’s for questions, help, or just a quiet place to sit for a while." He leaned back, eyes watching the students as they began to shift into motion. There was that familiar noise again—the clatter of nervous energy, of quiet confidence, of magic just waiting to be shaped. And in that moment, though he would never admit it out loud, he was proud of them already.
Blackboard:
- Cleaning Charm
- Locking Charm
- Unlocking Charm
- Repairing Charm
- Repelling Charm
- Homenum Revelio
OOC Notes:
To receive full marks, please roleplay your character’s participation in the lesson—attempting the charm, interacting with Professor Blade, or struggling with the task.
Optional Extra Credit: Write a short (100 words max) in-character essay on what the Cleaning Charm could be used for in real life. Earn yourself 5 bonus house points for effort and creativity.
To receive full marks, please roleplay your character’s participation in the lesson—attempting the charm, interacting with Professor Blade, or struggling with the task.
Optional Extra Credit: Write a short (100 words max) in-character essay on what the Cleaning Charm could be used for in real life. Earn yourself 5 bonus house points for effort and creativity.