Finally, it's Charms day again and we're
learning the Severing Charm today! This is actually pretty neat, as I
don't really like tearing up stuff just to practice repairing it again.
Now I'll be able to destroy my parchment by magic before mending it -
beware of the paper-cutting monster that you have just created!

The Severing Charm

• Incantation: Diffindo (‘deef-IN-doe’)
• Wand Movement: “V-Shaped down and up, ending with a swish in the direction to cut.”
• Focus: The place to cut and the depth of the slice.
• Willpower: Low
• Concentration: None

Well,
here we go. It's time to put my focus exercises into practice when it
comes to a new spell. Trying it with those we already learned worked
pretty well, at least I had the impression that I was able to make the
spells work more quickly. But now we'll be dealing with something
completely new, so it's a new visualisation that I need to find. But
cutting something, especially paper, should not be too hard. I mean to
say, I have done handicrafts before, so I needed to cut paper more often
than I can count. This should be an advantage, somewhat. Taking my
piece of paper into my hands, I feel its smoothness, imagining how a
tear would feel. I almost hear the scissors working, cutting the paper
into two parts. Yes, this is an image I should be able to work with.

Getting
to work, I am immediately distracted again. How on earth is it possible
to have that paper catch fire? This should not happen. But it is not
the burnt piece of paper that I should focus on. Conciously I try to
pull away from this thought, stacking it deep into a corner of
unneccessary information. It is only the paper that counts at this very
moment. It is in the spotlight that is linked to my core, slowly tearing
up, being cut into two. Diffindo! And in fact, the paper starts being
cut, just like with an invisible pair of scissors. Looking at it in
wonder, I am amazed that I got it to work that easily. Well, the cut
isn't too perfect yet. The edges are rough, and I didn't manage to stay
on my imagined line. And I'm missing the last bit of paper. But it is
cut! Mending it, I am yet again amazed of the mending charm. It is
unbelievable that the tear just starts repairing itself, leading to a
complete piece of parchment again. Holding it up against the light, I
cannot spot a single difference between the two halves that became one
again. Fascinating. I'll keep practicing. It's just too much fun!

As
we finally come to an end with the severing charm - which is too bad,
it's simply amusing to try and cut certain forms with just one
application of the spell, the best I managed yet was a heart shape - it
is time for the next charm on our list. The softening charm.

I
must admit that I definitely needed to look it up in my notes again.
The softening charm didn't sound too useful when I first read about it,
so I didn't bother to remember all the details. I can't imagine what I
would do without my sticky notes. I'd be lost for sure! Well, there's
the appropriate passage of the textbook:

The Softening Charm

• Incantation: Spongify (‘SPUHN-jee-fye’)
• Wand Movement: “S-Shaped with a small swish half-way through”
• Focus: The target object
• Willpower: Moderate
• Concentration: None

Reading
the description of the wand movement, I remember another reason why I
did not remember the spell: I just didn't get the description with
regards to how to move my wand. S-shaped with a swish - whatever is this
supposed to be? Asking about it (and feeling very self-concious about
it, I just don't like asking for help), I finally get a look at the most
comprehensive illustration.

Well,
at least this does not look too complicated. I just did not understand
where to put the swish. But this seems rather comprehensive. On we go.
It seems to work. At least, the objects are getting softer. I would
never describe them as sponge-like though. I actually imagined to spell
my book and then to be able to use it as a pillow, but that wouldn't be
too comfortable. But it's so much fun to drop these things and watch
them bounce! My very own bouncy superball ... eh, superbook. I wonder
what would happen if you spelled your boots, it would certainly be
funny! Best to try it though when no one is around to see it, the
experience could be embarrassing.

This
week's charms actually made me feel quite confident. They actually
worked pretty well, so either there is some random factor that leads to
be becoming better in charms (which would be appreciated anyways), or
there is some sense in these focus exercises. I would not have believed
it possible that I would ever find some sense in that yoga stuff mum
loves, but don't go and look a gift horse in the mouth. It works, that's
what counts!

N.B.: Putting a
softening charm on your shoes is not a good idea when you're clumsy
anyway. Never try it again! I've still the bruises to prove it!

Excerpts about the charms are taken from Quintessential Magic: An Introduction to Charms (2nd Ed.), Chapter 15.