Potential
"Is it magic?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"What do you think?" she replied in a rather tart tone. Neville couldn't remember her name; she was another of his grandmother's countless friends who he was expected to visit without complaining, boy, and if you wanted more free time you might have worked harder at school.
He stroked the large shining instrument that had made such beautiful sounds, music that had left him breathless and excited and close to tears.
"It must be. It was wonderful."
"Well then it must be. A fine young man from such good magical stock must know what magic is."
Neville squirmed uncomfortably; he had strayed away in search of the source of the music and his grandmother would be searching for him soon.
"I'm not really much good at magic…"
"Nonsense. Define magic." Her eyes hardened; she clearly would not let him off her challenge.
"Well, it's spells and charms and jinxes; stuff we learn at Hogwarts…"
"That's rather vague, young man. A little clearer, if you don't mind."
"It's stuff that doesn't happen in the natural world, stuff that a wizard or witch had to make happen."
"Better. Still wrong, but better. Now watch." She placed her hands on the black-white teeth of the instrument and slowly moves her fingers, conjuring the heavenly notes that he had heard before. Then she beckons him closer and links her fingers with hers, and suddenly the magic is coming out of him, and yet it doesn't feel like accidental magic at all.
"You see; no wands, no chant. All that is needed is to know the secret."
"I don't understand."
"It's called a piano. Made by Muggles. Metal strings trap the sounds from the air and set them free when you press the right key."
"But that's not magic."
"You thought it was magic. I think you were right. I think it's a damn sight more impressive than most of the spells you're taught at school. So let's try again; what is magic?"
This time Neville stopped to think. "It's a way to make things happen. The less people understand it, the more magical it is."
The old witch smiled. "Perfect, almost. There is one more thing, also the most important. Is the music still magical even when you know how it works?"
"I think so. How could it not be? It was brilliant."
"Yes. Yes. The greatest gift is to see magic wherever you look, to find magic in the wind and earth and sun. Even when you know the secret, you never know the whole secret; there is always more hidden, an infinite universe. Do you understand?"
Neville nodded dumbly.
"Good. You're a talented boy. When your friends are running around casting silly jinxes, you'll be discovering things of real value in the world; a new star, or maybe a new plant. Far more useful."
"Thank you, Ma'am. You're very kind."
"Not at all. We'll hear no more of this no good at magic tripe."
A/N: Set in the Christmas of first year. Some inspiration from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".