flowers and kittens and nothing exploding ((closed, Rory and A))

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory was settling in, more or less. He and Amy and the Doctor had all found the Gryffindor dormitories eventually (the staircases moved, why would you build staircases that moved?) and there'd been a good few days of not having to run for their lives from anything, which left him more able to share their enthusiasm.

So here he was, out for a walk in the grounds. Someone was singing in the distance, and not having any other destination in mind, he followed the sound until it led him to a garden.

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Your index finger should be straight," A corrected in an absentminded tone. "But yes, that, that's how it's done. Would you like to practice it?"

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory hesitated, as it occurred to him that there'd only be one way to know he was getting it right. "...do you mean on you?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A smiled and resisted a residual urge to giggle. "There are spells you can cast on yourself, but that isn't really one of them."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

"True, yeah, I just - it's no fun to have done to you. But if you're okay with it..." He took a breath and aimed, making sure his finger was straight this time. "Ready? Petrificus totalus."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

There was a brush of energy against A's skin, but it fizzled out harmlessly.

"You can't hesitate on the downstroke," he said, demonstrating the gesture again. "It needs to be a smooth motion."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory nodded. "Right." He could see what he'd done wrong when A showed him, and, yeah, he was being too hesitant. Worried that he'd turn one of them into a frog, or blow up the gazebo or something.

He tried again. "Petrificus totalus!"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Much better; A stiffened into instant immobility. He was able to force himself to be calm by reminding himself he had seeds for all manner of vines and thorns. He wouldn't have to move to coax one of them to sprout, or to use the tendrils to bring the situation under control.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked, gazing at his wand hand with a vaguely stunned expression. "That was... actual magic. Er..." Actual magic which A would appreciate more when he could move again, of course. For an awful moment, Rory couldn't remember how to end the spell, but then it came back to him. "Finite incantatem."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Relaxing out of the spell's grip, A took a deep breath before answering. "That is a very useful spell to know, and to be aware that others might know."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

"Definitely, yeah. Are you all right?" It had to have been unpleasant, even if A had been expecting it and wasn't also dangled in mid-air.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I, when I learned it, it was very important to know. It's good to be able to protect yourself."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory frowned, thoughtful. "Is it possible for someone to do this without the wand, or would they have to be using something else, like, some kind of telekinesis?" He was sure Leather Trousers hadn't had a wand - couldn't remember whether he'd even said anything, although Rory was prepared to admit he might just not have been listening by that point. But the description of the spell had been familiar...

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Some people can learn to cast spells without wands, but I think they still need to learn them with a wand first." Of course, he realized, that only applied to the magic native to Hogwarts. "And some people have other abilities before even getting here."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory nodded. "I know about that. I met a demon, a vampire and a talking octopus just on my first day here." Not to mention the Hat. "But why I'm asking is... do you know a young man who dresses all in black leather? Massive scar down here..." He indicated the side of his face.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Mello?" There might be others fitting the description, but that was the only one A knew. "I, yes, I know him."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked. "Is that... He doesn't exactly live up to his name, does he?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A was still just enough under the influence to find that uproariously funny. He tried to answer, but kept breaking down into undignified laughter.

"It's not spelled the same," he got out finally. "There's no w."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

The laughter was contagious, even though Rory had been sticking to the satsuma-apricot cookies. He tried to stop himself, but that just led to even-more-undignified snorting. "Right, I'll remember that."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I, when, I, he made me angry once and I hexed him." Amazing, how long ago it seemed now.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory calmed down again, giving A a rueful half-smile. "Yeah. Somehow that doesn't surprise me."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"He's not very polite sometimes." It felt a bit disloyal to talk about a friend behind his back, but it was true. "But he knows a lot of things and isn't afraid of bad people."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

This made what Rory had been about to say rather more awkward, but he'd have to explain why he'd brought the subject up now. "...and he can do that spell without a wand, can't he?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A shrugged, then nodded. "Probably. I, I never tried to learn to cast spells without a wand." Not that he intended to tell everyone he met that he had a pretty useful alternative ability.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

"I've - sort of got first-hand experience," Rory admitted. "He was at my Sorting. I didn't realise you knew him."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I don't know everyone," A said thoughtfully, "but I meet people. And I talk to them, and learn things. I've been here a while, so I've met a lot of people."