During class today, we discussed the Severing Charm and the
Softening Charm. First, though, I wanted to continue practicing the spells we
learned at the previous lesson. I went back into the same courtyard I was in
last time, and placed the candle in front of me again. I quickly reviewed the
wand movement and the incantation before trying it out on the candle. I again
received a puff of smoke for my efforts. I concentrated again, visualizing a
small thread of flame going from my wand to the candle and lighting it. I
closed my eyes this time to help keep the visualization in my head and keep me
from getting distracted. I performed the spell, and when I opened my eyes, a
small flame was burning on the candle wick! I smiled and watched the flame for
a time, hoping that this study would help me replicate the results in the
future. I blew the candle out, and in the process, broke the wick. This was an
easy fix though as I used the Mending Charm on the wick and it was repaired, as
good as new. After using the Locomotion Charm to put the candle back in my bag,
I turned my attention to the new spells we learned today.

First was the Severing Charm. Fortunately, just outside the
courtyard was a field of grass where I could practice cutting and nothing would
get hurt. I took my bag and set it beside me in the grass as I sat down again.
I took out a piece of paper and set it on the grass in front of me to practice
with. First I practiced the wand movement, the V shape and swish towards the
paper. I then practiced the incantation, Diffindo.
It did not take long before I felt I had that under control as well, and so now
it was time to put them together. I visualized cutting the corner off of the
piece of paper, and attempted the spell. The corner I had visualized was
partially cut, but not entirely. I lifted the paper and noticed also that the
grass underneath had also been cut. I used the Mending Charm to repair the cut
in the paper, and attempted the Severing Charm again, trying to visualize only
the paper being cut. This time, the cut went entirely through the corner of the
paper, and I smiled and placed the paper back in my bag after repairing it
again using the Mending Charm.

Lastly was the Softening Charm. We had also been introduced
to this charm in our Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and so I had a bit of
practice with it already. I quickly reviewed the incantation, Spongify, as well as the wand movement.
This time I placed the candle in front of me again, before casting the
Softening Charm on it. Its appearance did not change, although I found that I
could prod it with my finger and it was more malleable then it had been. I
picked it up, dropping it on the ground and it bounced a couple of times before
coming to a rest on the grass. I then placed the candle back in my bag and
headed off to my next class.