"Of course," the bookshop owner said with a nod.
Rock headed straight for the shelves and started browsing. It didn't take long before he found a rune anthology he hadn't seen before. He pulled it down and carried it over to a quiet corner to read.
Theo and the others were still picking out their textbooks. Hermione wandered over after a few minutes and dropped into the seat beside him. When she saw the book in his hands, she blinked in surprise.
"You're studying alchemy?"
Rock looked up, pulled from his thoughts, and didn't bother denying it. "I've been curious about it lately."
Hermione gave him a strange look but didn't push. She just settled in beside him.
A little while later the bookshop owner came over, carrying a stack of books. "Everything's ready at the counter. And as a bonus, here's a free set of this year's second-year textbooks."
He winked as he said it.
Rock let out a quiet laugh. He already knew the second-year list was loaded with Lockhart's books. He had a few copies at home already.
"Thanks. Could you pack everything to this address?" Rock stood, settled the bill, and gave the man the manor's delivery details.
"No trouble at all. Happy to help." The owner beamed. Another big sale always put him in a good mood.
"Rock, you got anything else going on today?" Theo asked as he walked over with his own stack of books.
"Come over to my place if you want," Adam offered. "I was thinking about getting out for a bit anyway."
Rock shook his head. "Can't. I need to head to my grandparents' place."
The holidays were winding down fast. Spending the last of them with his grandmother felt more important than anything else right now.
"That's a shame," Adam said, looking genuinely disappointed. "My parents were hoping to meet some of my friends."
"It's not a big deal," Theo said, throwing an arm around Adam's shoulders. "I've got time."
"I'll come too!" Michael jumped in. "Theo keeps saying your house is massive. I want to see it for myself."
"Then it's settled," Adam said, grinning.
In the end, only Padma and Hermione passed. The rest of the group followed Adam out of the shop.
"Well then, ladies," Rock said with a small smile. "See you after the break."
He said his goodbyes and headed toward the clothing store.
The rest of the holidays passed quietly at the manor. Rock spent most of his time with Newt and Tina, occasionally working through rune sequences in the evenings. He picked Newt's brain whenever he got stuck. The old suitcase was a masterclass in alchemy on its own, and Newt had seen more unusual magical craftsmanship than most people alive.
Theseus had also started taking a more active hand in his training this summer. That had been unexpected.
A week before term started, Theseus led Rock down into Newt's basement workshop.
"Come on then, little Rock." Theseus drew his wand. "Satisfy me and I might just teach you the Patronus Charm."
Newt looked up from his workbench, eyebrows raised.
"You'd better not go back on that," Rock said, a grin tugging at his mouth. He was learning that charm one way or another.
"Only if you earn it," Theseus replied, raising an eyebrow.
Rock drew his own wand and gave a proper dueling salute.
Theseus chuckled. The moment they both dropped into stance, Rock moved first.
"Expelliarmus!"
A vivid red jet of light streaked across the room. Theseus raised his hand without a word and a silent Protego flared into existence, deflecting the spell cleanly.
Silent casting really was convenient.
Rock didn't give him time to breathe. "Rictusempra!"
"Little Rock, if you don't start taking this seriously, you're going to run out of chances very quickly." Theseus blocked the tickling charm with another casual flick and began closing the distance. "Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
Rock threw up a shield just in time. Theseus was getting close now. Rock snapped his wrist sideways. "Ventus!"
A sharp vortex of wind burst from the edge of his shield and forced Theseus back half a step.
"Not bad," Theseus said, sounding genuinely approving. "You know how to use a spell to buy yourself space."
"Incendio!"
A controlled ribbon of flame lashed toward him. Rock answered immediately. "Aguamenti!"
Water met fire with a violent hiss. Steam exploded between them, thick and blinding.
Rock used the cover without hesitation. He whispered the Disillusionment Charm over himself and faded into the background. Newt, watching from the side, gave a quiet laugh.
At least the boy wasn't panicking.
Theseus went still, listening. Then he pointed sharply toward a shadowed corner. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Rock rolled hard under the Disillusionment, breaking the charm as he came up.
"Spells aren't everything, little Rock. Reading the room matters too."
Rock stood, breathing hard. Regular spells weren't going to cut it against an ex-Auror with decades of experience. His eyes narrowed. "Serpensortia!"
A black snake shot from his wand and landed hissing in front of Theseus. While the snake drew attention, Rock layered a Confundus Charm right behind it.
Theseus didn't waste time on the snake. He pointed at the ground. "Glacius!"
Ice raced across the floor and froze the serpent solid. At the same time he muttered a quick counter-charm that shattered the Confundus.
"Obvious intent," Theseus said, already moving forward again. "Even with two spells layered—"
A massive translucent hand materialized out of nowhere and slammed toward him from the side.
Theseus's eyes widened. He twisted away at the last second. Rock directed the Volaris hand after him without mercy.
"Compound spells," Theseus muttered. "Always a headache."
He flicked his wand. The giant hand shattered into glittering fragments. "Little Rock can pay for that later," he added dryly to Newt.
Rock didn't have time to argue. Another Protego barely held against the next spell Theseus sent. The force drove him backward. Theseus pointed past him. Something heavy scraped across the floor behind Rock.
The tall cabinet was flying straight at him under a Summoning Charm.
"Diffindo!"
Rock dropped the shield and rolled, blasting the cabinet apart mid-air. Materials and broken wood rained down around them.
"That's enough," Theseus said from right behind him.
Rock's mouth curved. "Says who?"
"Epulso!"
A sharp concussive blast erupted at their feet. The shockwave threw both of them stumbling backward through the settling dust.
Theseus straightened slowly, brushing debris from his robes. He studied Rock for a long moment, then gave a single, satisfied nod.
"Not bad at all, little Rock. Not bad at all."