That afternoon, once Remus and Tonks turned up - again, together - Harry had them think of all the main charms, hexes and curses they used in combat. Then had them write them down in list form.
"Just the names, please," he said.
Once they'd done that, with Tonks and Sirius taking the longer times due to their own ongoing self teaching on Sirius's part and auror training on Tonks's part, he asked if they'd finished.
"Actually, it doesn't matter if you've listed them all, just yet," he corrected himself. "Just as many of the ones you're likely to use as possible."
When they nodded back he said, "Now, I want you to think of each one and see if you can think of a one syllable word you'd use in place of the incantation you already use. And write down next to the each spell on your list what that word would be.
"But, remember, you can't use the same word twice.
"While also doing that, try to not use a word that ends in a soft sound; such as 'shhh' or 'sssss' or 'fffff' or a 'double-u' unlessit's for a charm that you have to continue to pump magic into, such as a summoning charm. As a secondary task, try to choose a word that also doesn't start with that sound... though it's not really necessary."
"Errr..." said Tonks. "Any examples?"
He nodded and said, "'Shoot' starts with a soft sound, but is still alright to use. However, 'fish' ends with the same soft sound and isn't."
"Whoever would use 'fish' as an incantation?" muttered Sirius. "It's just an example, Sirius," said Harry.
"What do you use, Harry?" asked Remus.
Harry thought for a moment before he replied, "For the Expelliarmus - five syllables, there - I used to use 'Pull'. However, the double-ells make it a soft finish. So, I switched it to 'Yank'.
"'Yank' starts somewhat soft with the 'Yuh' sound, but ends with a hard 'kay'.
"However, I use 'Come' for the Accio - three syllables - summoning charm, which has a soft 'mmm' sound to finish, but that charm requires the continued pumping of magic until the summoned item reaches you, anyway; so it's neither here nor there.
"Further, the two new incantations, 'Yank' and 'Come' can be linked when you want to rip something out of someone's hand and immediately summon it to yourself so they can't get it again; such as their wand 'Yank-Come'." All of them immediately wrote that down.
"Remember," he warned. "That's what I use. You might find... and are welcome to... find better words to use."
"How about I tell you each of what we use and you tell me what word you use, Harry?" asked Tonks. "There's no need to reinvent the wheel, is there?"
Harry gave a shrug and replied, "Why not. Still, you're free to pick a word that better suits the way you think if my choice doesn't suit you."
She nodded and said, "Expelliarmus is Yank, right?"
"Yep," he replied. "And Accio is Come."
"Stupefy?"
"Stun. I know it starts with the sibillant 'sss' and finishes with the soft 'nnn', but I came up with that one before I set my personal rules for what should and should not be used for sounds in words."
"What would you otherwise use?" asked Sirius. Harry gave a slight shrug and said, "Probably something along the lines of... 'Out', for 'out cold'... or 'Stub', to give it a hard end... something like that."
"Incarcerous?" asked Remus, after they'd written that down.
"Rope."
"Cutting Curse?" "Cut."
"Duh!" said Sirius.
Harry just grinned.
Undeterred she asked, "Piercing Curse?" "Stab."
"Protego?" "Stop."
The Confractus shield breaker?" "Break."
"Banishing Charm?" "Push," he replied. "Yes, it has a soft finish, but think about how you have to keep pumping magic through your wand as you incant 'Depulso'. As such, the soft finish helps."
All four nodded.
"The Blasting Curse?" "Bang."
"Ummm... The Confundus Charm?" "Dope."
"Conjunctivitis Curse?" "Blind; but I don't often use it."
"Hurling Hex?" "Chuck."
"Stinging Hex?" "Stig, for sting."
"Flagrante Curse?" "Burn. Soft finish, I know; but needed to continue the flames going."
"Reductor?" "Boom. Same."
"Incinerate?" "Ig. Short for 'Ignite'."
"Fire Whip?" "Whip," he replied. "A favourite of mine against the Jaffa. Scared the crap out of them." That had Sirius and Remus chuckle.
"Try these ones," said Tonks. "Silencing charm." "Zip!" he happily replied.
"Zip?" asked Remus.
"As in, 'Zip it shut, fool; I'm talking'," he replied.
That earned him a quick few laughs. "Petrifier?" asked Tonks, still continuing. "Hold."
"Leg-locker?" "Leg," he replied. "You'll also notice I didn't use the plural. That would mean adding the 'Ess' on the end. The sibilant finish is my incantation unforgivable."
More nods.
"Dancing Feet?" "The Tarantallegra?" he asked. "Actually, I didn't use that one. If I was to create an incantation for it, I'd use 'Feet'. That's not otherwise used."
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