Magical Inhibition.
Loki wanted to skip the history of magic class too since Professor Bins just read from the book, but the stories that Professor Binns narrated captured Loki's imagination.
All the historical stories behind the discovery of spells made him want to discover spells on his own.
The idea made him feel remarkably free as if he was a bird soaring in the skies, 'Wouldn't it be a thing worthy of bragging about? That you discovered a new spell that everyone uses?'
'Has the irresponsible headmmaster discovered any new spells?' Loki wondered. 'Surely the he has, otherwise wouldn't that make me better than him?'
Seeing the story that Professor Binns was reading was about the Lumos charm Loki began to pay close attention to it.
"The Lumos charm was discovered by a witch named, Levina Monkstanley. She first publicly used this spell in the Ministry of Magic in 1772 to look for a quill in a dark and dusty corner."
"When prompted to learn how she discovered the charm, she said it happened accidentally and that she did it while she was playing with her toddler."
"She was drawing circles in the air with her wand to distract her baby Lumina but when she randomly imagined a ball of light appearing at the tip of her wand it magically appeared."
"Waaa~~!" Loki exclaimed silently, although it didn't matter much since nearly everyone else was asleep.
"What do you think Mione?" Loki asked the only other student who was awake.
"I will find a charm like this too!" Hermione stated with a competitive spirit.
"I hope you share it with me when you do Mione.", Loki said excitedly.
He was going to try and discover a charm himself today he reasoned.
Once the classes for the day finished, Loki spent the rest of the evening having fun lying around after completing his homework, a foot-long parchment on the Lumos and the Nox charms and a parchment on the cure for boils potion.
Once it was time for detention, he moved through the corridors and ended up in the dungeons where he was about to knock on the door to Snape's office, but someone suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder, startling him.
Loki immediately turned around with his wand in his hand, ready to put up whatever resistance he could and bury the image of his attacker in his mind so that even if he lost he could have the last laugh by snitching on their identity to Snape.
He even primed his spirituality to be expelled for a delayed magic attack should he get knocked out.
But all his preparations were unneeded.
"Professor Snape?" Loki asked confused.
"Are you threatening violence Mr. Loki?" Snape asked sternly.
"Haha~ Professor Snape. Of course, you don't have to worry about anything! I was just doing a little foolish wand-waving."
"Your detention today is with Professor Flitwick."
"Oh..OH~! That's nice. I was getting bored sorting ingredients too anyway." Loki nodded.
"Follow me Loki." Snape said in an insufferable tone.
Loki happily walked with Snape and followed him to the Ravenclaw tower, where Fllitwick's office was.
*Knock* *Knock*
With a sharp rap on the door, Snape stood outside waiting for Professor Flitwick to give permission to enter and he did not have to wait long.
"You may come in." Loki heard Professor Flitwick's high-pitched voice and instantly became excited himself.
Snape opened the door and allowed Loki to come into full view.
"Ah~! Mr. Loki. I was waiting for you. Thank you Professor Snape." Flitwick jumped down from his high chair and came out to the front of his table.
Snape just nodded wordlessly and walked away.
"You're here Mr. Loki." Flitwick greeted Loki with a handshake.
"I'm glad to be in detention with you professor!" Loki smiled proudly.
"Haha~ That's not a thing I ever thought I would hear a student say Mr. Loki."
"What can I say professor, I am full of surprises." Loki bragged.
"Haha~ It is good that you have a lot of confidence Mr. Loki. I'm sure it'll help you with magic. Do you have any questions before we begin your detention Mr. Loki?" Flitwick asked.
"Ah! Yes! I have just the question for this occasion, Professor!"
"Fire away."
"I was wondering after Professor Binns's class today about wizards and witches discovering new magic. I wanted to know apart from the accidental discoveries like in the case of the Lumos charm, how do wizards go about discovering new magic?"
"Oh! What a coincidence. Do you know why I asked your detention be shifted to me today Mr. Loki?"
"Huh? You had a purpose?" Loki asked surprised since he hadn't expected such a thing.
"Well, I did and it was to not let you experiment with magic Mr. Loki."
"Oh? But why?"
"Because for example what you might not have heard during class are the failures of other wizards and witches who wanted to discover new magics on their own."
"Huh? Failures?"
"Yes. For example, the wand lighting charm, Lumos, if you turn the wand movement from a circle into an infinity and your intention is not fully crystalised, the tip of your wand explodes."
"*gasp*"
"Also if you've read about the Levitation charm, which I have no doubt you have since your steps are very silent, if the wand movement is changed from an 'N' to an 'M' with a little wrong intention, it causes the person's bones to break."
"Huh…what?" Loki was startled. 'Is this why Walburga had me practice all the spell movements with a random stick when I didn't have a wand?'
"What I mean Mr. Loki is that it is difficult to discover a charm on the first time unless of course, you have a large amount of luck on your side."
"But why did nothing happen to the students in class!? We were all practising things freely, weren't we? I'm sure other students weren't perfect while they tried casting the charms."
"A good point raised and noted. Do you know what the qualification for becoming a teacher in the wizarding world at least in Hogwarts is Mr. Loki?"
"Erm…you must have graduated with distinction in your chosen subject?"
"Haha~! Yes, although that is true, there is a more secret reason, and that reason is our sensitivity to magic."
"Sensitivity to magic?"
"Yes, sensitivity to magic. All the teachers in the wizarding world are masters of their subjects but are also sensitive to magic, which means that before anything wrong can happen they can arrive in time to stop it."
"...I see. So you were interrupting students who would cause themselves harm?"
"Yes, although embarrassingly Mr. Seamus from your class blew himself up in spite of that today."
"And is that why you didn't stop me? Because you knew I wouldn't blow myself up?"
"Precisely the reason. But also precisely why I've called for you to explain to you that it is dangerous to experiment with magic without having appropriate sensitivity or supervision from one that does."
"Is there no other way?"
"There is one other way but it is quite complicated and is a method that many do not find appealing. It is through Arithamancy."
"Math? Does that help? But then how does one gain such sensitivity that they can skip all the Math!?" Loki asked immediately.
"Although I cannot answer that question at this time since it involves a few secrets, I can say that there are ways to become closer to magic that are beyond your present means."
"Huh…"
'Is he talking about Beyonders? Are all teachers in the magical world Beyonders?'
"There is another way to experiment with magic and that is Ancient Runes, but I don't think you are ready for them right now, so please don't experiment with magic without direct supervision Mr. Loki."
"I understand." Loki said but then realised something and spoke quickly, "Professor!"
"What happened?" Flitwick asked.
"Professor you must also inform Hermione about this! She is competitive and also wanted to discover new charms with me!"
"Miss Granger?"
"Yes!"
"I see. Do not worry Mr. Loki. I will inform her about it as soon as possible tomorrow."
"Oh thank you."
"Now let us move on to your detention Mr. Loki."
"Detention?"
"Haha~ I had another reason to call you today Mr. Loki. I need you to help me tally mistakes and grade everyone's papers tonight since I need to return them by tomorrow!"
"Ha~~~I'm sworn to carry your burdens, Professor."