Iris had a thing for advanced magic. Okay, so maybe a disarming charm wasn't that advanced, but it was for a first year, and Iris was determined to figure it out. This wound up with her in the Ravenclaw common room, with several books spread out on a table. The whole thing was rather complicated - the spell involved a complicated spiraling movement near the end that Iris could never quite get. Occasionally she produced a weak, white spark, but nothing close to the jet of red light described in the textbook.

Iris sighed, stood up, and focused again on the image in her mind's eye of a shadowy opponent, coming toward her with wand raised. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and executed the movement as closely as she could.

"Expelliarmus!" she shouted, just as someone entered the common room.

Winona could easily remember her first year and all the adventures it had entailed for her. It was exciting, not as overwhelming for her as it was for other students. Being sorted into Ravenclaw had made her heart pound with pride. That had only meant she was truly what she wanted to be: intelligent. There was no way she would succumb to the Veela stereotype of a dumb, busty blonde. It was remarkable how fast time had flown and now here she was, one more year left and she would be thrust into the magical world as a legal adult.

As she answered the riddle to enter the Commonroom, Winona had only expected to set her bag down and get some studying in. But, a red, scraggly spell was shot at her only to hit the vase next to her. With a raise of an eyebrow, she scanned the room to see a short little first year, wand in hand. There on the ground was an open textbook, no doubt a DADA textbook. Winona set her knapsack down next to her, taking out her wand.

"What's this?" She asked, softly, a giggle smothered in her throat. Winona would've been angry if someone had laughed at her effot, so she would not laugh at this young girl. Her auburn hair was adorable and Winnie could only picture herself doing Second Year spells when she was a First Year. This girl was obviously trying to reach about certain expectations.

Taking slow steps to the girl, she raised her hands. "You- You're technique is off. And so is your aim." A smile widened on her face. "Look, try standing up straighter. Don't flick your wand, but instead act as if your throwing it at your opponent. But don't really let go of it.. That-- that would be quite pointless. Try again." Winona's voice was soft and she outstretched her right hand which held her wand. Nodding to her hand, she looked at the girl. "I'm coming at you about to hurt you really badly and you want to disarm me, try now. Get angry." She said, smiling.

As the distinct sound of shattering porcelain filled the air, Iris's eyes snapped open, a blush rising in her cheeks. She was glad she hadn't hurt whoever it was that walked in - a fourth year whom Iris didn't really know, but had been secretly admiring for a while. She was really good at... well, everything, as far as Iris could tell. The girl was called... Something with a W, or maybe just one U. Iris couldn't remember. Her face turned a darker shade of pink when she realized the girl was laughing at her - trying not to, but still.

She expected the girl to tease her, or maybe yell at her. She did not expect her to take out her wand and walk slowly over. I am not a frightened animal, Iris thought, wrinkling her brow, but she listened to what the older girl was saying.

"You- Your technique is off. And so is your aim. Look, try standing up straighter. Don't flick your wand, but instead act as if you're throwing it at your opponent."

"I don't need your help," Iris grumbled, but she followed the girl's advice anyways. Correcting her posture, she looked at the older girl for confirmation, taking her smile as a positive indicator. Her eyes widened a bit at the girl's next words .

 "I'm coming at you about to hurt you really badly and you want to disarm me. Get angry."

Was she actually telling Iris to attack her? Iris blinked a few times, then focused all her energy on getting the girl's wand out of her hand.

"Expelliarmus!" she said again, this time jabbing her own wand in the girl's direction at the end.

The girl's blush had easily signaled to Winona that she was getting upset. It was as if she were staring into a mirror. Winona smiled with an apologetic look. Her ears heard the sound of a snobby remark, something about she didn't need help. That really plastered a smirk on Winona's face. This little first year was so off that Winona felt like she'd be doing a favor to the rest of the school by fixing it.  Doing spells the wrong way could easily result in someone, even the user, in a bad way.

"Expelliarmus!"

Winona shut her eyes, bracing herself for the worst. She had expected to be hit square in the chest, or her arms. But, instead, her wand had flown out of her grip, flying behind her. Her blue eyes opened and she smiled widely. Folding her arms under her chest, she walked over and retrieved her wand from the ground. "Very, very nice," she complimented, smoothing her gray pleated skirt down.

"You have the skill. It's the concentration and aim you need. Get that down, and learning spells for you will be a breeze." Winona tucked a lock behind her ear. "I'm Winona, or you can call me Winnie. I accept either or." Her smiled widened and she tilted her head at the young girl. "And who are you?" She asked.

Iris was honestly quite surprised that nothing had broken. Instead, the older girl's wand had flown across the room, just like the book said it would. Iris smiled proudly. She, a first-year, had successfully disarmed an older student! She watched as the girl retrieved her wand from the floor behind her, nodding thankfully at her praise.

"I'm Winona, or you can call me Winnie. I accept either or. And who are you?"

Winona was still smiling, in such an infectious manner that Iris couldn't help but smile back. She was still embarrassed about having broken the vase, and generally being not that great at aiming her spells, but she felt a rising sense of satisfaction in her chest.

 "I'm Iris," she said. "It's nice to meet you. And, um, thanks, I guess, for teaching me."

Seeing the younger girl smile widely, with such a look of satisfaction, Winona nodded some. That nod was more intended for herself as her own pat on the back, but she was very happy she had successfully taught a first year a level 2 disarming spell. A crazy thought came to mind as she thought of something. A club perhaps to start training younger students to prepare for their O.W.L's during their 5th year... Winona mentally stored that thought and she returned to the scenario at hand.

"I'm Iris. It's nice to meet you. And, um, thanks, I guess, for teaching me."

Winona gave a shrug, and a wide smile. "No problem, Iris." Her blue eyes went to the textbook open on the ground. "You see, textbooks aren't really good for teaching spells, considering spells are more hands-on then anything." She had a good point. "It's best to have someone show you, and then to help with posture, flicking, motions.. all of that stuff." Running a hand through her brown hair, she smirked. "How many Level 2 spells have you been trying to do tonight? It certainly can't be just one you're attempting."

Iris watched Winona's face carefully. Accepting help was never easy, and thanking people for it was just as bad. She could see a thought pass over the older girl's face, but it left quickly, and Iris wondered what Winona could be thinking about.

"You see, textbooks aren't really good for teaching spells, considering spells are more hands-on than anything."

"Yeah," Iris shrugged. "I guess not everything can be learned from a book. Like flying." She had, in fact, attempted to learn the technique behind flying out of a book, but anything she gained from it was impossible to apply when actually on a broom. Could spells be the same way? She stored that thought for later contemplation.

"How many Level 2 spells have you been trying to do tonight?"

"Well..." Iris hadn't really been counting. "I was looking through the textbook, just the Standard Book of Spells, and sort of trying to visualize the motions and all that, and trying out the simpler ones. So, maybe four others? Just the ones I could understand. I couldn't get any of them to work well, though."

"I guess not everything can be learned from a book. Like flying."

Winona chuckled and she walked back by the common room door to get her knapsack. Slinging it over her shoulder, she walked back to where Iris was standing, setting it down on the coffee table near her. Little flashbacks rang throughout Winnie's mind. She could see, pretty vividly, a first year version of herself. There was a wand in her hand that seemed maybe too big for her at the time. Her brown hair was much shorter and curlier, always tied into pigtails with navy blue and golden ribbons. Winona had wished there were someone to teach her how to do things correctly. Unfortunately, Atticus didn't step foot into her life until the beginning of her third year.

Coming back to the present situation, Winona walked to the textbook, picking it up. She held it as she fingered through the pages, typical spells in a Standard book.

"I was looking through the textbook, just the Standard Book of Spells, and sort of trying to visualize the motions and all that, and trying out the simpler ones. So, maybe four others? Just the ones I could understand. I couldn't get any of them to work well, though."

Winona nodded, basically acknowledging that she heard what the young one had said. "Well, drawings of motions in a book are pretty hard to get down. Motions could range from anything and a few arrows don't really help." She giggled and kept flipping through the pages, a nostalgic feeling running through her body. It felt like just yesterday she was in Iris' shoes.

"And it's understandable why you couldn't have gotten them to work well. First years doing Second year spells don't usually succeed... But, with the right person, they could easily get the simple Level Two skills down pact." Winona looked up from the doodled on the ragged book pages up to Iris. "Which also goes to say, you're just like when I was in your shoes.. I stood right where you were, 5 years ago. But, no one helped me. I did it on my own," she said, shutting the book and tossing it on the couch behind her. "It's nice to meet someone who is trying to overachieve.. especially so young."

Iris found it surprisingly hard to admit that she was having trouble learning some things from textbooks, but she found it felt like a weight was lifted off her chest once she said it. She giggled a little at that. She was unaccustomed to feeling good about not learning easily. This new feeling was nice. She stored this information in her mental filing-cabinet, making a note to try to ask for help more often.

Winona got that look again, like her attention was somewhere far away. Iris wondered again, just what the girl could be thinking about. The look passed, though, and Iris soon got some explanation:

"You're just like when I was in your shoes.. I stood right where you were, 5 years ago."

So, Winona was remembering her own first year, then? Iris blushed a bit, not sure if she should feel complimented or not. Being compared to the older girl was certainly something that made Iris feel sunny inside, but she knew that people often thought poorly of their past-selves. She settled with it being a good thing.

"So, someday, I could be as good at magic as you are?" she asked, eyes widening at the prospect of becoming as accomplished as Winona.

The giggle from the girl made Winona smile even wider. It felt nice to make a young kid smile. Winona didn't really fancy being around younger children, as they made her a bit antsy. But, Iris seemed to be different. Maybe it was the level head on the girl's shoulders that made her appealing to Winnie. The look on Iris' face made it known to Winona that this girl wasn't big on admitting she needed assistance. It was a look of relief; relief to admit that to someone who has been in their shoes years ago.

"So, someday, I could be as good at magic as you are?"

Winona's eyebrows went up and she burst into giggles. A blush of appreciation came over her cheeks and she bit on her lip some. This younger girl must've heard about her and well, it was nice that someone besides Atticus or Elian acknowledge her skill.

"Maybe," she said, her smile fixated on her lips. The way Iris had her eyes all wide with intuition was certainly quite adorable. Her eyes held the look of determination and the thirst for achievement. "You certainly look like you have the brains. Maybe it's the execution. Execution is everything when it comes to spells, especially Charms and Defense spells." Winona's hands went to her hips, fingers tapping on her skirt some.  "Tell me, Iris. What's your favorite subject?"

The question would let Winona know where Iris was with her wants and what her intentions were.

Hearing Winona giggle was a pleasant experience, like hearing water over rocks. Iris was pleased to have evoked this reaction, and the accompanying blush. She couldn't tell if Winona was embarrassed or ashamed or any other number of blush-inducing emotions, but based on the smile and giggles, she assumed it was a positive feeling.

"Maybe. You certainly have the brains."

This made Iris blush even harder. She knew she was smart, and a quick learner, but to hear someone (and not just anyone, but a Ravenclaw, and someone older than her!) say it still made her cheeks color and her chest swell with pride.

"Tell me, Iris. What's your favorite subject?"

Iris's eyes went wide as saucers. Her immediate response was to say that everything was her favorite, but she bit that back, knowing it wasn't particularly useful, as answers go. She loved Charms. Defense was fun and practical. She wasn't fond of Jinxes, but still wanted to know some. She was positively fascinated by Transfiguration, too.

After a long, thoughtful pause, she said,  "Well, Charms, I suppose. But really, I want to be good at everything."

The blush that was painted across Iris' cheeks was absolutely adorable. Maybe she'd have kids one day... It would be beyond rewarding for Winona to teach them and see them react this way. Pride was obviously swelling the kids heart, head, and body so much Winona thought the poor girl would burst open from so much happiness.

The way her eyes widened at her questions made Winona laugh out loud. "Don't think too hard," she advised, truly thinking that if the small girl felt way too many emotions, she really would burst. Slowing down her laughs, she let her think about it. It was definitely a thought picking question. Not to mention, she was only a first year.. Winona could only think of how her favorite class would most likely change after O.W.L's.

"Well, Charms, I suppose. But really, I want to be good at everything."

That answer really surprised her. It was the right answer, because that was almost as closest Winona's answer was whenever someone asked her when she was younger. Just change Charms to DADA.

"Good at everything, huh? What a smart answer," she praised. "I love Charms, but I think DADA is my strong suit." Winona took her wand back out of her pocket and pointed it to the empty space in the classroom. A pure happy thought came to her mind and with that, she let out a nice and strong: "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Springing from the tip of her wand, a blue misty otter flitted around the empty space on it's back, squeaking. It flew around Iris, blowing a soft breeze through her red hair and then disappearing next to Winnie.

"Being well rounded is a very nice skill. No one can surprise you and you'll be ready for almost anything," she said, cocking a smile at the girl in front of her.

Iris was filled to the brim with feelings. She honestly wasn't sure how to process them all at once, and heeded Winona's advice:

"Don't think too hard."

She had picked Charms as her favorite class, though it was hardly a fair question. Iris knew full well there were electives she wouldn't be able to take until third or fourth year. How could she be expected to pick a favorite when she hadn't even seen some classes yet? But she loved Charms, loved the way they were learning to make feathers float and all manner of useless things, because it was fun.

"I love Charms, but I think DADA is my strong suit."

Iris definitely appreciated Defense Against the Dark Arts, but some of the things they learned about were scary. She knew how important it was to be able to defend herself, but she didn't like thinking about the fact that there scenarios where she would actually have to.

Winona cast a spell that Iris didn't recognize. Blue mist poured out of the tip of her wand, forming itself into an otter. Iris watched with wide eyes as it swam through the air, and then around her head, her red-brown hair caught in a momentary, isolated breeze. All of a sudden, it disappeared.

"Woah," Iris breathed, "What was that?"

Iris' reaction to the Patronus spell gave it away that she didn't know what a Patronus was or what it did. A smirk passed over Winona's lips as she titled her head at the girl's surprised and awe-filled reaction. Winona knew what a Patronus was before she even started school. Of course, she had to thank the vast amount of textbooks and books she had that helped her along the way.

"Woah, what was that?"

Winona smiled and didn't answer her questions. "Avis." She whispered, pointing her wand up. Three, fat canaries appeared, flittering around Winona's head. One landed on her shoulder and the other two flew to Iris, one on each shoulder.

"That blue spell, the one with the otter, is called a Patronus spell." Winona gently petted the top of the fat canaries head which was on  her head. Her blue eyes looked funny as she tried to look up. Her blue eyes went back the surprised first year. "It's a defense spells against Dementors. Dementors are creatures that suck the happiness out of you, so to speak." She shrugged and then the canary flew and landed on the Winona's wand she had perched for it. "You'll learn more about them later on. It's a hard spell to grasp, and when it's perfected, it takes the shape of an animal that describes you. Mine, as you saw, was an otter."

Taking a breath, she thought some more. "This is a more Charms spell. It's simple for most 4th years, and well, it's nice to enjoy the true beauty of spells, y'know?"

Based on Winona's smirk, Iris assumed that she had already mastered (or at least known) the spell in her first year. Iris had no way of knowing, though; before coming to Hogwarts, her only way to learn about magic was to ask her father, and he never mentioned anything about blue otters made of smoke.

The next spell Winona used was one Iris recognized, though she couldn't cast it; her father had told her stories of being attacked by flocks of Charmed canaries back in his Hogwarts days. These ones seemed much nicer though. She petted the one on her left shoulder absentmindedly.

Oh, so that's why her father never told her about the otter spell; his must not have been an otter! Still, the Patronus Charm never came up in her conversations at home. She knew about Dementors, though. "Dementors, they're the guards for Azkaban Prison, right?" she asked, eager to show that she had some knowledge of the wizarding world. "I heard they're like Grim Reapers, only worse because they just take your soul and don't even kill you."

"And, the canaries, they do whatever the caster wants, right? My father was attacked by them when he was at Hogwarts, only they can't be naturally aggressive because these-" she indicated the birds perched on her shoulders, "-are so calm."