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At 6:15 the next morning, Ryan got up early, washed up, and went to the common room. There, Hermione was already waiting with her schoolbag. She had asked Ryan to teach her some combat techniques, inspired by her desire to protect her parents after realizing over the summer how unfriendly the wizarding world could be to Muggles.
The two of them made their way to an empty classroom on the second floor. Once inside, Ryan closed the door and began, "Since you want to learn how to fight, I'll share my experience with you."
Hermione pulled out a couple of books: the standard Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook, Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense, and an extracurricular book, The Curse of Self-Defense.
"If we're going to learn, we should start with the basics," Hermione said. "Even though these spells might be simple and not very powerful, they're safe to practice and can still be useful."
Ryan nodded in agreement and opened the book. Pointing to a specific page, he said, "Let's begin with the Disarming Charm. It's one of the most basic yet effective spells. Of course, it wouldn't be useful against African wizards, who cast spells without wands. But here in the UK, it's very effective."
Handing the book to Hermione, Ryan watched as she read the instructions carefully, her lips moving silently as she practiced the incantation. After a while, she stopped and said, "I think I understand the theory. But spells aren't just about reading words—they need practice."
"I agree," Ryan said, drawing his wand. He was impressed by Hermione's quick grasp of the spell; he had needed 20% more time than her to learn it.
Standing about ten paces apart, Ryan raised his wand and announced, "I'll count to three, and then we'll begin. One, two, three."
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted as soon as Ryan finished speaking. A red beam of light shot from her wand towards him. But because it was her first attempt, the spell didn't work quite right—it merely made Ryan's hair stand on end. In contrast, Ryan's counterattack easily sent Hermione's wand spinning through the air.
"Why didn't my spell work?" Hermione asked, confused.
"That's the downside of learning from textbooks alone," Ryan explained. "The books cover the incantation and theory, but the practical aspects are meant to be taught by a teacher. Luckily, The Curse of Self-Defense explains the key details."
Ryan showed her the relevant section. "Oh, I see! I need to emphasize the 'p' sound," Hermione realized.
Determined to master the spell, Hermione resumed practicing. Now that she understood the proper pronunciation, her progress was rapid. In no time, she managed to disarm Ryan successfully.
"I think I've got it! Can we move on to the next spell?" Hermione asked, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Are you sure you've mastered it?" Ryan challenged. "You need to understand that in real combat, your opponent won't just stand still and wait to be disarmed. At your current level, I could beat you without even using magic."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you. You haven't been practicing these spells for much longer than I have. You can't be that far ahead."
They resumed practice, again standing ten steps apart. This time, Hermione cast her spell at Ryan repeatedly. However, he dodged each one effortlessly, using classroom desks as cover. Finally, Ryan leapt over several tables, dodged another spell, and closed the distance between them, pointing his wand at Hermione before she could react.
"How did you do that?" Hermione asked, astonished. "It looked like parkour! But it actually makes sense to use that kind of movement in combat."
Ryan grinned. "I'm surprised you know about parkour. It's mostly popular in France right now. I learned it from a sailor who'd traveled around the world."
Hermione explained, "I have a French relative who told me about it. Apparently, my distant cousin broke his leg trying it out."
Ryan laughed. "Extreme sports are always risky. But my point is that you haven't truly mastered the Disarming Charm. Knowing the spell is one thing; using it effectively in battle is another. That's the real challenge of combat magic."
Hermione nodded. "I see your point. But you've clearly been practicing parkour for years. I don't think I can move as fluidly as you."
"You don't have to be as agile as me," Ryan replied. "But physical fitness is important. Many spells are hard to block, but they all require aiming. If you can move quickly, you can dodge them. Even the Killing Curse can't harm you if it doesn't hit you."
Ryan then shared some training exercises from the legacy of the Assassins to help Hermione improve her agility and overall fitness. "Besides, while magic can cure most common illnesses, it's better to avoid them. Madam Pomfrey's potions taste terrible, so staying healthy is definitely worth the effort."
Hermione grimaced at the memory. "I caught a cold last winter and had to take her potion. It was awful—my ears steamed for hours!"
Ryan laughed, then took some small balls from his pocket, using the Levitation Charm to make them float. "Let's make this more challenging. Use the Disarming Charm on these moving targets."
Hermione's aim improved steadily as she practiced on the floating balls. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was 7:15. They packed up the classroom and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.
On the way, Hermione asked, "When can we practice again? I think I'll need regular sessions to really get the hang of this."
Ryan thought for a moment. "Let's aim for Saturdays or Sundays. We'll let each other know when we're free. Today's session was good, but before-breakfast practices are a bit rushed."
They continued to discuss strategies for the Disarming Charm and how to counter spells while dodging. Their conversation lasted until they reached the entrance to the Great Hall, where they parted ways and headed to Gryffindor's table for breakfast.
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