A Surprise Start

"You don't think he was messing with us, do you?" Lavender asked.

A few days later, Harry and Lavender had gone to the classroom that the Household Charms parchment listed. They were the only ones there and had sat there for a few minutes without anyone else arriving.

"I don't think so," Harry said slowly. "Did we get the time and date wrong?"

Lavender looked in her calendar book. "No, we didn't."

"I guess it got cancelled and we didn't know," Harry said. "Sorry."

"Not your fault," Lavender said. "I guess we can go and try to find another one." The sound of running feet made them pause and they looked at the door.

"Wait! Wait!" Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw and Charms professor came dashing in. "I'm terribly sorry," he said, wheezing and holding his side. "I do apologize for my tardiness!"

"It's okay," Harry said, sharing an amused glance with Lavender. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Flitwick said, still gasping for breath. "This is the first time I have had anyone show interest in Household Charms in years! I had thought no one signed up and did not think to check the sheet. I was in my office when the Headmaster asked if you two had changed your mind and once I realized you did sign up, came running!"

He rose to his full height, which was not much. He was shorter than either of the first year students but he seemed to have more energy than both of them put together. Once recovered from his run, he was bouncing on his feet with glee. "I think I'll allow you each one free tardy excuse to my class in the future to make up for mine today."

"That sounds good, Sir," Harry smiled and Lavender giggled in agreement.

"Splendid! Now, in the past I had a loose syllabus of what I hoped to go over and learn together for this club but since you two are the only members, I rather know what you are hoping to learn and go from there." He looked at them expectantly.

"Well, I like to cook," Harry said. "And I was hoping to learn spells and charms that would help with cooking."

"And I like to sew," Lavender said. "I'd like to learn spells that would be good for making things like that."

"Very good! That sounds like a lot of fun," Flitwick gushed.

"Do you know spells for those things?" Harry asked, impressed.

"Not really!"

The two students looked at each other in confusion.

Flitwick's smile was broad and infectious. "That means I get to learn with you! I do know a few charms that could be used of course in either realm but I don't know any specific spells but that's half the fun of the club, we get to learn together."

"I thought professors knew everything," Lavender said slowly and shyly.

"Allow me to let you in on a very deep secret," Flitwick said, his merry features becoming solemn. "Professors do not know everything." His smile reappeared. "We know a lot and are happy to teach, admittedly in varying degrees but that's neither here nor there, but we are also constantly learning. A professor that refuses to learn and improve is a very poor one."

"How will we learn new charms?" Harry asked, growing excited.

"Together of course! I have many reference and spell books and we can always delve into other ones in the library or elsewhere. I always learn better by doing and we can do that together as well." He looked around the empty classroom. "Which means we can use some appropriate material here. Inky?"

Inky appeared with a pop. "Hello Professor Flitwick!" she said brightly. When she saw Harry, she smiled wide. "Mister Harry! Hello!"

"Hi Inky!"

"You two are acquainted already?" Flitwick asked, surprised and delighted.

"Yes Sir. The Headmaster took me to the kitchens once and I met her there."

"He did? No wonder he suggested that Inky would be able to assist us. Wonderful. Inky, could we have a stove and some kitchen things here and then some fabric and needles and thread? Things for sewing? I'm going to run back to my office for a few books. Oh actually, Mister Potter, what do you like to cook?"

"How about biscuits again?" Harry smiled when Lavender and Inky nodded excitedly.

"Biscuits are always welcome," Flitwick said. "Okay then! I'll run off and be back soon!" He ran out of the classroom while Inky popped away.

"I'm glad he's the instructor for the club," Lavender said. "He's the nicest professor."

"He's also really enthusiastic too which is great," Harry agreed.

In a short time, Flitwick returned, his books floating alongside him. Inky had popped in and out of the room, bringing the stove as well as the ingredients and things that Harry had asked for. She also brought over a large pile of different kinds of fabrics of all sorts of material and colors as well as shears and needle and thread.

"Lovely," Flitwick said as he arranged the books on the main desk. "I grabbed some of my older books with an emphasis on household things. Ah here we are." He blew off a bit of dust. "A bit dated as you can see but sometimes the older magic is the more potent! Why don't you go ahead and start cooking, Mister Potter, and then we can see what spells will work with what you do."