Memory Charms

It was Harry's first day coming from Christmas vacation with the Weasley family. The Dursleys made the decision to allow him this privilege, as they had planned a Christmas party for coworkers from Mr. Dursley's job and were very concerned with public appearances in front of Muggles. In Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Muggles were a common term used to describe non-magical folk.

He looked forward to his second term. He received twelve owls during his previous year and was looking forward to many of his new classes. He hoped to become an Auror, one who helped capture dark wizards. He previously created an organization known as Dumbledore's Army, a group of students practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts. In the beginning of his experience with Hogwarts, Defense Against the Dark Arts was not necessarily a favorite class. He had some unfortunate experiences with less than knowledgeable teachers, including a teacher possessed by the Dark Lord Voldemort, and a fraud who was known for performing Memory Charms on those he deemed to be more successful wizards than himself.

His next class was actually Advanced Charms. Even though he was looking forward to the class he shared with his close friend, Hermione, he missed taking classes with some of his other friends, Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom. They would be taking Advanced Herbology.

He entered the classroom and sat down next to Hermione, who was already there, taking out books and quills, looking forward to her studies.

"Welcome, welcome... we will be learning some very interesting things in this class. I imagine some of you are familiar with Memory Charms," said Professor Flitwick in a high-pitched voice. Harry exchanged a curious look with Hermione, even though she was not there at the time; she remembered the close encounter Harry and Ron experienced with Professor Lockhart. If Professor Lockhart had not been using the broken wand belonging to Ron, both he and his close friend would have been cursed with amnesia. As it happened, Lockhart received the curse and was currently residing in St. Mungo's with a lost memory.

"Memory charms are a very useful charm in the world outside of Hogwarts: a world that you will soon be entering in a year and a half," explained Flitwick. "The Ministry of Magic uses Memory Charms when Muggles see or experience something magical they do not understand. As some of us are Muggle-born and some of us half-Muggle with Muggle friends and family, it is important for us to be able to have relationships with them without them knowing too much the things that they may not be able to understand."

Harry had some unfortunate experiences with Muggles who did not understand. His aunt, uncle, and cousin were Muggles. He had been sent to live with them when he was only a year old, when the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents.

He sometimes believed it would be best for Muggles to have their memories of magic lost because of the awkward moments that upset his family and those whose opinions they deemed important. Other times, he believed being a practicing wizard would be much easier, if relationships with Muggles were more common. He knew this was unlikely in the current day and time in history. Many changes were happening in the wizard community and the Muggles were frightened and confused. Those who were working with the Ministry of Magic were very busy doing their best to hide the dangers of the wizard community from the Muggles. It was dangerous enough with dark wizards being enemies.

The last thing the Ministry of Magic desired would be the prevention of magic from those who could possibly be unsupportive. This was quite a change from their previous position, as there was a time when they had been quite unsupportive, causing restrictive rules and regulations against the classes that were being taught in the school that Harry had come to love so much.

Harry glanced at Hermione, the clever young witch who would most likely be his partner in the class. Even though she was Muggle-born, she was a very talented witch who was often a teacher's favorite, and one who has helped him through many challenging situations. Even though he was doubtful of Memory Charms and the class work ahead of him, he believed that his close friend would bring no harm.