Everything about magic was fresh and fascinating to Sean, even the History of Magic classes that had other first-years groaning. He loved diving into the past of vampire hunters, exploring the missteps of those wizards who specialized in tracking vampires, and uncovering why the twelfth clause of the Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans outlawed their profession. History captivated him, and his focus lingered well into the evening.
Lying on his four-poster bed, Sean's mind wandered to the tale of Gifford Ollerton, the famed giant-slayer who became a local hero for killing the giant Hengist of Upper Barnton. He was even featured on a Chocolate Frog card. In Ollerton's fifteenth century, giants roamed far more numerously than today, and wizards like him were needed to keep their numbers in check, protecting the wizarding world.
Werewolves, vampires, goblins, hags, trolls… Sean's imagination spun epic tales of wizards wielding wands, chanting spells, and embarking on grand adventures across a land steeped in magic. His breathing steadied as a gentle Hogwarts breeze, like an invisible hand, flipped open his copy of A History of Magic to a page covered in his notes:
Miranda Goshawk, a witch who studied at Hogwarts, struggled with the outdated textbooks of her time. As the youngest in her family, her sisters loved to tease her. Frustrated that no one took her seriously, this fiery young witch invented the Bat-Bogey Hex. She used it on her sisters and vowed to write an accurate, accessible book.
Bathilda Bagshot's annotation: Magic always embraces a wizard's conviction. It is so generous to those who meet its conditions, allowing any wizard to create such miracles.
Sean's notes, revised and scratched out multiple times, boiled down to three bold words: Magic, Infinite Possibilities.
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Sean had often fantasized about what he'd do if a miracle like magic came his way. His answer? I'd learn the heck out of it.
Emerging from the library yet again, the weekend had slipped away. Sean clutched a towering stack of books, the moonlight as beautiful as the night he received his Hogwarts letter. He understood why Hermione was always lugging around so many books—there was just so much to learn. But his time was limited to a fleeting weekend, barely enough to skim through magical history.
Astronomy, with its dazzling scope, offered only a glimpse of its secrets through history. Divination and prophecy caught his attention. This led him to skim through thirteen astronomy books, finally finding a clue in an ancient volume Madam Pince had handed him with great care:
Wizards use astronomy to connect themselves to the universe, finding inspiration for magic. The magic they most yearn to explore always returns to the vastness of the cosmos—prophecy, fate, time… all sinking into the radiant galaxy.
Sean's passion spilled over as he read, his thoughts blazing like the flames in the Great Hall's fireplace. In the Forbidden Forest, centaur tribes read the stars to foresee the future. Far away in Azkaban, Sirius Black clung to life with regret, his name—Sirius, the "Dog Star"—mirroring his Animagus form and revealing his loyalty and reliability.
Sean had a nagging theory: magic's power wasn't confined to flashing spells, simmering cauldrons, or magical creatures. It had existed longer than wizarding history itself. Astronomy, one of magic's deepest branches, was profound enough to intertwine with words like fate.
Carefully tucked in Sean's bag was that ancient book. In every spare moment, he shuttled between the practice room and the library, returning to it most often. His only frustration? He couldn't fully understand it. Waiting for the centaur professor's lessons felt agonizing, and Sean even wondered if he could meet him early.
Meanwhile, Snape had spent the entire weekend in the dungeons, leaving Sean no chance to brew potions. But every loss came with a gain. His spell proficiency had reached a new milestone:
- Levitation Charm: Beginner (21/900)
- Wand-Lighting Charm: Beginner (19/900)
- Scouring Charm: Apprentice (297/300)
- Advanced: Three Beginner-level charms unlock the Beginner Charms Mastery title
- Charm Talent: Green
Sean pulled his wand from his bag, his energy restored. With a sliver of time before curfew, he reached the entrance to the hidden room. The moment the owl portrait appeared, it squawked noisily: "Clever little wizard! Answer my question!"
Sean waited calmly. Though Justin's earlier attempt to answer had failed, the owl portrait now turned a blind eye to their comings and goings, letting Sean enter even without a correct answer.
"By the tranquil riverside walked the wise and beautiful Ravenclaw. Where is this riverside?" the white owl asked, tucking a parchment under its claw and eyeing Sean confidently through tiny pince-nez glasses.
"The Scottish Highland Valley," Sean replied after a moment's thought.
"How did you—" The owl's glasses slipped, its wings freezing mid-flap as the sky-blue door materialized.
"Thank you," Sean said softly before the portrait vanished.
Ravenclaw's legacy went beyond her famous diadem. Hogwarts' location, its name, even its moving staircases, were tied to the brilliant witch. Her wisdom and ideals were woven into the castle, so a quirky owl portrait didn't surprise Sean at all.
"We heard you, Sean!" Justin and Hermione greeted him as he entered the practice room, their magical lanterns glowing. Sean was surprised they'd stayed so late, but their eager looks said it all.
"Alright, this is a story about the four founders…" Sean began, his voice steady.
Justin let out a "Cool," lit his wand, and sat near Sean. Hermione followed, lighting her wand too. They sat upright, their breathing soft and expectant.
"Godric Gryffindor, it's believed, was born over a thousand years ago in a moor in western England, later named Godric's Hollow after him. Helga Hufflepuff, most agree, hailed from the broad valleys of Wales, known for food-related charms. As for Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw…"
---please vote this story to motivate me post 2ch/day