Professor Alonso stood at the front of his classroom, his expression thoughtful as he finished drawing out a series of diagrams that illustrated wand movements for precision spellwork. He turned back toward Carlos, who sat at the desk, cradling his right arm in its sling.

"Casting with your non-dominant hand isn't impossible," Fernando began, his tone calm and instructive. "But it requires patience and a different kind of focus. You won't have the muscle memory you're used to, so you'll need to rely more on visualisation."

Carlos sighed, tapping his wand absently against the desk. "It's not like I have a choice, do I?"

Fernando's eyes softened. "No, but I'll make sure you're prepared. There's no shame in adapting- it shows strength."

Carlos looked away, his jaw tightening. "Strength," he muttered. "Right."

The first attempts were rough. Carlos' left hand trembled as he tried to replicate the movements Fernando demonstrated. Simple charms like Lumos and Nox sputtered inconsistently, the light flickering weakly before dying out. He had realised that his skill at casting nonverbal skills were not going to help him. Therefore he had to revert back to saying them aloud.

"Again," he said gently, his hands clasped behind his back.

Carlos huffed in frustration but obeyed, raising his wand with an unsteady grip. "Lumos."

This time, the light flared brighter, though it still lacked the steadiness of his usual casting.

"Better," Fernando said, stepping closer. "But you're gripping the wand too tightly. Relax your hand- let the magic flow naturally."

Carlos shot him a skeptical look. "Easy for you to say."

Fernando crouched beside him, his voice dropping to a softer tone. "I know it's frustrating, but you're making progress. Focus on what you're trying to achieve, not on how it feels right now."

Carlos exhaled deeply, nodding. "Fine. One more time."

After several more attempts, Carlos finally managed to cast Lumos with a steady, bright glow. He stared at the light, a flicker of pride breaking through his usual guarded expression.

"There," Alonso said, smiling faintly. "I knew you could do it."

Carlos extinguished the light and flexed his fingers, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "It still feels wrong, though. Like... unnatural."

"That's because it is," he admitted. "But with practice, it'll become second nature. You've already proven you can adapt- this is just another challenge."

Carlos glanced at his sling and frowned. "What if my shoulder doesn't heal properly? What if I have to use my left hand forever?"

Fernando's gaze turned serious, and he crouched again to meet Carlos' eyes directly. "Then you'll still find a way to succeed. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Carlos swallowed hard, the words hitting deeper than he expected. "Gracias," he muttered, looking away.

After the lesson, Fernando lingered as Carlos packed up his things. "You know," he said, leaning casually against the desk, "I've had to adapt too. There was a time when I couldn't rely on my usual strengths. It was terrifying- but it taught me to think differently."

Carlos paused, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "What happened?"

"That's a story for another time. My point is, struggles like this don't define you- they refine you. And you're doing better than you realise."

Carlos didn't respond right away, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. "I'll keep that in mind," he said finally, his voice quieter.

The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows of the disused classroom, casting long beams of light onto the dusty floor. The room had clearly seen better days- desks and chairs were stacked haphazardly along the walls, and cobwebs dangled from the ceiling. Despite its state, it was private, quiet, and ideal for what they needed.

Lando stood in the center of the room, wand in hand, his expression caught between determination and unease. Across from him, Carlos paced, his own wand flicking idly in as he spoke.

"We need to be ready," Lando said, breaking the silence. "The Chamber tests us- mentally, emotionally, and physically. And if we wait too long, we'll lose momentum."

Carlos paused mid-step, glancing toward Lando with hesitation written all over his face. "I know," he replied, his voice quiet but firm. "But the last time nearly went sideways. You almost-" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "We weren't ready, Lando. I wasn't ready."

"That's why we're preparing now," Lando argued, his eyes searching Carlos'. "We've already come so far, and it's not just about me. You don't have to do this alone. Plus I don't really want to be doing anything whilst you're still in that sling."

Carlos sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. "I know. It's just-" He faltered, his words trailing off as he looked down at his wand. "Fine. But if we're going to do this, we're going to do it properly. And that means you need to learn more than just the basics."

Lando blinked, tilting his head. "What do you mean? I can hold my own."

Carlos let out a small laugh, though it lacked its usual humor. "Sure, if 'holding your own' means stumbling through Expelliarmus and praying for the best."

"Hey!" Lando retorted, mock-offended. "I'm better than that."

"Right," Carlos replied, smirking faintly. "Show me then."

They started simple, with Carlos calling out spells and Lando attempting to cast them. The first hour passed with a mix of frustration, laughter, and determination as Lando struggled with precision while Carlos alternated between stern corrections and amused remarks.

"Protego!" Lando exclaimed, his wand movements sharp but slightly off-target. A weak shield shimmered into existence before dissipating almost instantly.

"Close, but not enough to stop a decent hex," Carlos said, stepping forward to adjust Lando's grip. "You're holding it too stiffly. Relax."

Lando exhaled, adjusting his stance. "Easier said than done. You make this look effortless."

"That's because I've been doing this since before I could tie my shoes, we had different childhoods," Carlos replied, smirking. "Now, again."

After several attempts, Lando managed to conjure a proper shield, earning an approving nod from Carlos. But just as he was starting to feel confident, Carlos raised the stakes.

"Now try it in Spanish," Carlos said suddenly.

Lando blinked. "What?"

"Protego in Spanish," Carlos repeated. "If you're serious about wanting to learn, this is as good a time as any."

Lando groaned. "I barely got it in English!"

"You'll thank me later," Caros replied, his smirk widening. "Besides, I've noticed you staring at me every time I switch languages mid-spell. You want to know what I'm saying, right?"

Caught off guard, Lando flushed slightly but didn't deny it. "Fine," he muttered. "How do you say it?"

"Protego," Carlos began slowly, "Is the same. But if you're combining it with a direction or intention, you'd say something like 'Protego contra él.' It means 'Shield against him.'"

Lando furrowed his brow. "And if I want to shield you?"

Carlos' expression softened for a brief moment, but he quickly masked it with his usual nonchalance. "Protego para él," he said, his voice quieter. "Shield for him."

Lando repeated the phrase under his breath, trying to commit it to memory. "Protego para él," he said aloud, his wand movements deliberate.

A faint shield flickered into life, this one stronger than before. Carlos' eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, genuine pride shone in his gaze.

"Not bad," he admitted. "Maybe there's hope for you yet."

As they continued practicing, the spells became more advanced, and the Spanish phrases more frequent. Lando stumbled over the pronunciations at first, but Carlos was patient, correcting him with gentle teasing.

"I swear you're doing this just to mess with me," Lando said after his fourth failed attempt at a particularly tricky phrase.

Carlos laughed- a real, unguarded laugh that lit up his tired features. "Maybe a little," he admitted. "But it's good for you. Besides, it's nice to teach someone who actually listens for once."

Lando looked at him curiously. "You don't teach anyone else?"

"Not like this," Carlos replied, his tone more serious now. "Most people... they don't bother to ask. Or care."

There was a pause as Lando processed his words. "Well, I care," he said simply. "And I'm glad you're teaching me."

Carlos' expression softened, but he quickly covered it with a playful smirk. "You're just saying that because you want to sound cool shouting spells in Spanish."

"Guilty," Lando admitted with a grin.

The practice session began to wind down; they both sat on the floor, catching their breath. The room was quiet now, save for the faint hum of magic lingering in the air.

"You're getting better," Carlos said after a while, his tone genuine. "I mean it."

"Thanks," Lando replied, glancing at him. "But what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You've been teaching me all afternoon, but you're the one who's always carrying the weight. Are you ready for what's coming?"

Carlos hesitated, his gaze flickering to the wand in his hand. "I don't know," he admitted softly. "But I have to be. For you. For all of this. It's nothing I can fix any time soon, so I'll have to be ready."

Lando reached out, placing a hand on Carlos' shoulder. "You're not alone, Chili. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."

For a moment, Carlos didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Gracias," he said quietly. "That... means more than you know."

The two sat in comfortable silence after that, the bond between them growing stronger with each shared moment.

The old classroom became their sanctuary over the next few days, a place where they could escape the pressures of school and the looming danger of the Chamber. Carlos was relentless in his instruction, determined to make sure Lando could handle anything they might face. But the lessons weren't just about spells- they were about building trust and understanding between them.

"Alright, let's step it up," he announced one afternoon, pacing in front of Lando as he would as Quidditch Captain. "You're good at the basics, but if we're dealing with the kind of magic the Chamber threw at us last time, you'll need more than just shields and disarming spells."

Lando groaned, already sweating from the last hour of practice. "You mean I'll need to duel like you?"

"Exactly," Carlos replied, smirking. "Which means speed, precision, and creativity. Think on your feet."

"And in Spanish, apparently," Lando muttered under his breath.

He laughed, but his expression turned serious. "Magic isn't about the language you use; it's about intent. Words are just a tool to focus your mind. But if you can focus in another language, you'll have an edge. It's how I was taught when I was a child: in Spanish first, then Italian, finally in English."

Lando frowned, processing the idea. "So, what are you teaching me next?"

Carlos' grin widened. "Something fun. Confringo."

Lando blinked. "You're teaching me the Blasting Curse? I swear that's like- illegal in this building."

"Controlled blasting," Carlos corrected, emphasising the first word. "The goal isn't to blow up everything in sight- just what you need to. I cleared it with Nando before you worry. Watch."

He raised his left arm, wand in hand, and aimed at a stack of old chairs in the corner. "Confringo." The spell erupted from his wand, sending a targeted blast that shattered the top chair but left the others untouched.

Lando whistled, impressed. "That's... intense."

"It's useful," Carlos said, turning back to him. "But it requires focus. You can't let your emotions get the better of you, or it'll backfire. Literally. I speak from experience."

Lando's first few attempts were predictably chaotic. The first blast hit the wrong target, the second fizzled out, and the third nearly knocked him off his feet.

"Focus!" Carlos stepped forward to steady him. "Don't just aim- see the target. Picture the spell hitting exactly where you want it to go."

Lando sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "This is harder than it looks."

"It's supposed to be," Carlos said, his tone softening. "But you're getting there."

"What age did you learn this?"

"You don't want to know, you'd be shocked. Try again."

Taking a deep breath, Lando raised his wand again, narrowing his eyes at the target. He pictured the spell in his mind, visualising the exact moment it would connect. "Confringo!" he shouted, and this time, the spell struck true, demolishing the intended target with precision.

Carlos grinned, clapping him on the back. "De eso es de lo que estoy hablando."

As they cleaned up the classroom, Lando couldn't help but notice how much lighter Carlos seemed during these sessions. It was a stark contrast to the guarded, heavy demeanor he usually carried.

"You're enjoying this," Lando said, watching him wave his wand to repair a broken chair.

Carlos glanced at him, smirking. "What gave it away?"

"You're smiling," Lando pointed out. "Like, genuinely smiling. It's... nice."

Carlos hesitated, his smile fading slightly. "It's easy to forget, sometimes," he admitted. "That there's more to life than... everything else."

"Like the Chamber?" Lando asked gently.

"Like the Chamber," he agreed. "And everything that comes with it."

Lando nodded, sensing there was more Carlos wasn't saying. "Well, for what it's worth, I think you're a great teacher."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're just saying that because I haven't hexed you yet."

"Maybe," Lando teased. "But I mean it. You've got a way of pushing people to be better."

Carlos didn't respond, but the faintest hint of gratitude flickered in his eyes.