The morning sun rose over Selwyn Manor, light filtering into a small room with a desk and a few shelves. Zain stood in the center, dressed in his tunic, a worn spellbook open on the desk. After the success with the girls yesterday, his magical power had surged to a fourth-year Hogwarts level, and he felt eager to test it. He had convinced Tiberius to let him use this room for practice, away from prying eyes.
Zain flipped through the spellbook, its pages yellowed but filled with basic incantations. He decided to start with simple spells—Lumos for light, Alohomora for unlocking, and Wingardium Leviosa for levitation—before trying others. Mastering these felt like a good way to understand his new abilities.
He pointed his wand at a candle on the desk, his voice steady.
"Lumos."
A faint glow flickered at the wand's tip, then steadied into a bright light. Zain felt the magic flow through him, smoother than before, his control sharper. He smiled, pleased with the result, and extinguished it with a quiet "Nox."
Tiberius entered, his presence stern but curious. He carried a small box of practice items, setting it on the desk.
"Good to see you starting, Zain. Try these—a locked box, a feather, and a small stone. Test your limits."
Zain nodded, his tone respectful.
"Thank you, Grandfather. I'll begin now."
Tiberius left, closing the door behind him. Zain turned to the locked box, its clasp rusted but secure. He aimed his wand, his voice clear.
"Alohomora."
The clasp clicked open, the lid lifting slightly. Zain opened it fully, revealing a folded parchment inside. He set it aside, impressed by the ease of the spell, his power responding without strain.
Next, he picked up the feather, holding it in the air. He focused, his wand steady.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
The feather rose, hovering a foot above the desk. Zain guided it in a slow circle, feeling the magic bend to his will. He lowered it gently, his control precise, a stark contrast to his earlier struggles.
Eleanor knocked and stepped in, her voice warm.
"Zain, you're doing well. Thaddeus wants to watch later—don't overdo it."
Zain smiled, his tone light.
"I won't, Mother. I'm just getting started."
She left, and Zain turned to the stone, a smooth pebble from the box. He wanted to push further, testing a spell beyond the basics. He recalled a levitation variation from the book—Depulso, the Banishing Charm. He aimed at the stone, his voice firm.
"Depulso."
The stone shot across the room, hitting the wall with a soft thud. Zain felt a surge of energy, his power exceeding his expectations. He retrieved the stone, noting the slight dent it left, a sign of his growing strength.
Thaddeus entered, his smirk faint, his tone challenging.
"Not bad, Zain. Try something harder. How about Incendio? But aim at the fireplace—don't burn the house down."
Zain nodded, turning to the fireplace. He raised his wand, his focus sharp.
"Incendio."
A burst of flame erupted, lighting the logs in the fireplace. The fire danced briefly, then settled into a steady burn. Zain felt the heat of the magic, his control holding steady, though the effort left a slight tremble in his hand.
Thaddeus clapped, his voice approving.
"Good control for a beginner. Keep practicing."
He left, and Zain sat at the desk, catching his breath. The spells were working, but he sensed his power had limits he needed to explore. He decided to try a defensive spell, Protego, to shield himself. He stood, wand ready, and cast it silently in his mind, imagining a barrier.
A faint shimmer appeared before him, deflecting a practice dart Thaddeus had left in the box. Zain grinned, the shield holding for a moment before fading. His magical reserves felt taxed, but the success encouraged him.
Eleanor returned with a tray of bread and water, her tone gentle.
"Take a break, Zain. You've been at it for hours."
Zain accepted the tray, his voice grateful.
"Thank you, Mother. I'll rest a bit."
He ate slowly, his mind reviewing the spells. The power increase was real, but he needed to refine his technique. He thought of the girls—Hannah, Ginny, Daphne, and Pansy—and how their bonds had boosted him. Strengthening those relationships would be key to improving further.
After eating, Zain returned to practice. He tried Lumos Maxima, a brighter version of the light spell. His wand glowed intensely, filling the room with light, but the effort drained him quickly. He canceled it, panting slightly, and noted the need for stamina.
Tiberius came back, his voice a low rumble.
"You're progressing fast, Zain. Try Accio—summon the stone from the corner."
Zain aimed at the stone, his voice steady.
"Accio."
The stone flew into his hand, the pull smooth and controlled. He felt a thrill, his power responding with precision. Tiberius nodded, his expression pleased.
"Well done. Rest now—magic takes time to master."
Zain sat again, his mind settling. He had spent the morning testing his abilities, and the results were promising. The spells showed his growth, and he felt ready to take on more with practice.
Thaddeus returned, his smirk returning, his tone teasing.
"Heard you lit a fire, Zain. Show me Incendio again."
Zain stood, aiming at the fireplace, his voice confident.
"Incendio."
The logs flared up, the fire stronger than before. Thaddeus laughed, his approval evident.
"Not bad at all. You're a natural."
They sat together, Thaddeus sharing tips on wand movement and focus. Zain listened, absorbing the advice, his mind reflecting on the day's efforts.
Zain focused inward, addressing the system.
"Show me my current magical power level."
The system responded, its interface appearing in his mind.
System: Current Magical Power Level—Equivalent to a fourth-year Hogwarts student.
System: No relationship threshold breakthroughs detected. No rewards available.
Zain nodded to himself. The confirmation matched his experience, his power a tool to develop. He felt a sense of accomplishment as the afternoon light softened in the room.
Thaddeus stood, his voice firm.
"Enough for today. We'll train more tomorrow."
Zain inclined his head, his tone respectful.
"Yes, Father. I'll be ready."
Thaddeus left, and Zain remained in the room, the afternoon quiet. He put the spellbook away, feeling the day's work had strengthened his skills. Sitting at the desk, he let his mind rest, content with his progress.