🍛 When in Doubt, Add Curry
It was a rainy Thursday at Hogwarts. The kind of grey, gloomy day where everything smelled slightly like damp socks and dragon dung. Most students dragged themselves to Charms class, sleepy-eyed and miserable.
Not Aarav.
He strolled in wearing a freshly pressed kurta, humming a remix of the Harry Potter theme on his bansuri. Behind him, a self-levitating tiffin carrier floated politely, radiating the scent of hot parathas and masala chai.
"Are you bringing lunch to class?" asked Hermione, bewildered.
"Yup. Can't charm on an empty stomach, yaara," Aarav winked.
---
🧙♂️ Flitwick's Charm Challenge
Professor Flitwick, standing on his usual stack of books, clapped his tiny hands.
"Today, class, we'll be practicing Leviosa! Objects off the desk, everyone!"
Students got to work. Ron made his quill hover (barely). Hermione's feather floated gracefully. Draco's wand sparked like a broken tube light.
Aarav yawned. He hadn't even taken his wand out yet.
"Mr. Aarav," Flitwick squeaked, "would you like to—"
"Sure," Aarav interrupted. He opened his tiffin.
Inside: three rotis, paneer butter masala, green chutney, and gulab jamuns.
He tapped the tiffin. "Ud jaa, mithrā."
Everything rose into the air — spinning slowly like a solar system of Indian food. The roti circled the gulab jamuns. The chutney pulsed like a floating green moon.
"MERLIN'S BEARD!" cried Seamus.
"I call it... Roti-Patra Orbit Spell," Aarav announced. "Patent pending."
---
🍽️ Food-Fight, But Make It Magical
Draco, clearly annoyed by the spectacle, sneered, "I suppose you think you're clever, making a joke out of Charms?"
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "No joke. Watch this."
He flicked his fingers — no wand, just divine energy — and suddenly the chutney formed into glowing green missiles.
"Chutney Chakram Mode: Activated."
Before Draco could duck, one chutney-ball zipped toward him, spun around his head, and gently smacked his nose.
"ACK—what IS this?!" he gagged.
"Green chilli with mint. Cleans sinuses. You're welcome."
Even Flitwick chuckled, wiping chutney off his spectacles. "Well… it is an impressive control of trajectory…"
---
🌪️ Roti Shields and Curry Cloaks
To show off further, Aarav summoned a roti shield midair, spinning it like Captain America's disc.
"Deflecting hexes with food? Genius," Dean muttered.
Then, with a dramatic flair, Aarav conjured a Paneer Defense Cloak, made of floating golden cubes that orbited him, radiating buttery protection.
Lavender Brown gasped, "He's like a food-based superhero!"
"He's Curry Potter," Seamus whispered.
"More like Paneer Paladin," added Neville.
---
📚 Hermione Gets Sassy
Hermione, arms crossed, challenged him. "You're just showing off! There's no actual academic application of this culinary conjuring."
"Oh, you want academics?"
Aarav snapped his fingers. A floating projection screen appeared in midair, and a magical PowerPoint began.
Slide 1: "The Physics of Floating Flatbreads"
Slide 2: "Chutney as a Velocity-Based Impact Hex"
Slide 3: "Paneer Particles and Magical Defense Theory"
Hermione blinked. "Okay. I… I actually want a copy of that."
---
🪔 Flitwick's Approval
Professor Flitwick, now clapping enthusiastically, beamed.
"Mr. Aarav, I've taught charms for decades, and I've never seen anyone combine domestic charmwork, cultural magic, and battlefield utility quite like this. Marvelous!"
Aarav bowed dramatically. "It's all in the wrist. And the tadka."
Flitwick smiled. "You've earned five points for Gryffindor. And a recipe."
---
🧑🏽🍳 The Aarav Effect
By the next day, Charms class looked more like a desi kitchen than a classroom. Inspired by Aarav:
Dean tried to make flying samosas (they exploded).
Luna Lovegood arrived with floating gobi and claimed they whispered secrets.
Even Flitwick tried to charm a jalebi (it got stuck in his beard).
Meanwhile, Aarav had moved on to new innovations:
Butter Naan Boomerangs.
Lassi Bombs (non-lethal, very sticky).
And a singing rice ball choir (still in beta).
---
📜 The Prophet Can't Keep Up
The Daily Prophet now had a new column titled:
> "Desi Magic Chronicles: Food, Fun, and Floating Flavors"
Rita Skeeter, now permanently stationed outside Hogwarts, wrote:
> "In a world full of dark lords and deadly curses, young Aarav shows us that sometimes, the strongest spell… is a perfectly spiced paneer cube."
---
🔮 Whisper from the Divine
That night, as Aarav sat under the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, sipping spiced hot milk, a small golden thread shimmered in the air. It whispered in an ancient tongue, only he could hear:
> "Your magic brings joy, not fear. The gods smile upon your nonsense."
Aarav winked at the sky. "Tell them to try my mithai next."