Finished with my classes for the day, I headed toward the Gryffindor common room to relax and finish the assigned homework.
"Mate, fancy a game of chess?" Ron asked as I entered the common room.
"Sorry, I want to finish my homework right now. Maybe after I'm done," I replied.
Ron gave me a look that clearly said, Have you gone mad? You just finished your classes.
"The sooner I'm done with my work, the more free time I'll have," I told him as I settled down by the fire.
After resting for a few minutes, I started my homework, which wasn't much since it was only the first day. I was done in under an hour. Then, I headed to my dormitory to put my books and homework in my trunk.
Taking my study journal, I made my way toward the seventh floor in search of the fabled Room of Requirement. Soon, I arrived in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy—the man who had attempted to train trolls for the ballet.
I need a room to study magic. I need a room to study magic. I need a room to study magic, I thought, pacing past the wall opposite the tapestry three times.
Suddenly, a door appeared. I quickly entered. On the other side was a spacious room with practice dummies and shelves lined with books and tomes on either side. There were books on charms, transfiguration, the Dark Arts—even books from the Restricted Section. I also saw volumes on elemental magic, illusions, alchemy, rituals, and other obscure branches of magic.
I decided to practice first- to third-year spells nonverbally, honing my ability to cast them silently for challenging situations. After about an hour of practice, I turned my attention to the books on elemental magic, a branch of magic that had always intrigued me.
--Silent Casting skill raised by 3 levels--
--Silent Casting(Novice): 0 -> 3--
Elemental magic, as its name suggests, deals with the manipulation of natural elements—fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning—through magic. Unlike most spells taught at Hogwarts, elemental magic isn't something you can master just by memorizing incantations or wand movements. It's all about the caster's ability to control and shape an element, which takes a lot of practice and a strong connection with the element itself.
There's no standard spellbook for elemental magic. It's more of an advanced art that's learned through experience, old scrolls, or notes from powerful wizards who've studied it before. Some spells, like Fiendfyre, can technically be cast by anyone who knows the incantation, but only a wizard who's truly skilled in controlling fire can actually manage it without it turning on them.
Each element has its own strengths and challenges. Fire is powerful and destructive, but also tricky to control—it wants to spread and consume everything. Water is more adaptable, but it can be just as dangerous if it gets out of hand. Earth is solid and steady, but it's harder to move unless you really know what you're doing. Wind is unpredictable and fast, while lightning is pure, raw energy that's hard to catch and even harder to direct.
Most wizards have an innate affinity toward one or two elements. This makes it easier for them to learn spells related to those elements. I'd always felt that fire and wind came more naturally to me. Spells involving those elements always seemed easier, like my magic just flowed in that direction.
Elemental magic, I realized, is about more than just learning a spell. It's about building a connection with the element itself—understanding its nature and learning to guide it rather than forcing it to obey. That's why so few wizards study it seriously. It's draining, takes an incredible amount of concentration, and requires you to work with the element rather than against it.
Finishing my reading, I decided to start with fire, my strongest element. From what I knew about wand lore, phoenix feather wands had a natural affinity for fire magic. I conjured flames, attempting to shape them into a fireball using my magic.
It took me about half an hour just to get the flame to hold a spherical shape. Now I understood why few wizards pursued elemental magic—it was draining and required absolute concentration to control. After a short rest, I continued my practice.
After finally forming a stable fireball, I realized how long it had taken. I then focused on increasing the speed at which I could turn flames into a fireball. After long practice, I was able to do it almost instantaneously.
--Elemental Magic(Fire) raised by 4%--
--Elemental Magic(Fire): 3% -> 7%--
Casting a quick Tempus charm, I saw that dinner would begin soon. Gathering my belongings, I made my way toward Gryffindor Tower to meet Ron and Hermione.
"Harry, where have you been? I've been looking for you for so long—even Ron didn't know where you were," Hermione said quickly, worry evident on her face. "With everything going on—Sirius Black, Dementors—I was afraid something bad happened."
"Relax, Hermione," I said with a smile. "I was just practicing spells in an abandoned classroom and lost track of time. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"Hey Harry, where were you, mate? Anyway, let's go to the Great Hall—I'm starving," Ron said, leaving the common room before I could even respond.
I followed Hermione as we made our way to the Great Hall.