No, the title is not misspelled
This is a work of fiction, I own none of it. All claim belongs to J. K. Rowling
I left the bank richer, which I know is rare, with a memory of a bumpy terrifying mine cart ride, an expanding pouch full of one hundred galleons and two copies of the document now guarded in Gringotts archives, one of the most secure vault's in the whole establishment. So, it turns out I was a pureblood all along, well sort of, because I'm pretty sure bastard are looked down in an aristocratic society as treys. The one million galleon question, whose bastard I'm, the most probably candidate is an old Black dog Padfoot, the time frame checks out, winter holiday of 1977, the womanizer personality of my memories about him supports this. Then there is his death eater brother, a year younger, but that hardly counts with some aging potion or something. Arcturus and Orion black Sirius's dad and granddad, plus Pollux and Cygnus black from the side branch, according to Gringotts trey were all alive at the time but Arcturus and Pollux probably were too old in trey late seventies to count, although you can never know with magic and incestuous noble families. Too much candidate to really know by the simple test, and any other would require the permission of the head of family or a sample of blood. Shit, now my Middle name makes much more sense, my mother probably suspected if not knew my true parentage on the male side of things.
As this will not do me any good, I paused the pondering and went to complete the second part of my mission. Acquire proof for my knowledge and get detailed instructions on magic. So, I went down the alley unit the bookstore on the left side, the Flourish and Blotts. The store itself was unassuming outside, like any old antiquaries, with its large red framed front window. The door was closed, to keep out the summer heat, after entering I could feel the cold air with the oh so lovely smell of books with a tint of spiciness within it. The books were stacked everywhere, on shelves, tables and on the self in large stacks reaching for the heavens like wobbly little towers of Babel. All in all lovely, magical but horrible if you want to find anything, as the legendary disagreement between wizard kind and common sense showed itself. At first, I did a quick scouting run, but after finding all sorts of bizarre titles none helpful, I swallowed my pride and asked one of the employees for help in the guise of a fresh graduate wanting to revisit the basics, half forgotten.
Lizzie was quite helpful in locating books on magical theory, history, and beginners guides. Unfortunately there was nothing on the mind arts, metamorph magic or reincarnation. The sole shop has the feel of vanilla despite the supposed fountain of arcane knowledge. After I asked where could I find the more exotic books I got the practiced answer which is that most of the ministry approved books are within the catalog, which is a shame, but not unexpected considering of the supposed thing's trey will do in the near future and past. After five galleons under the table, Lizzie's memory improved quite remarkably, allowing her to remember the name of some establishments in Knockturn Alley where the books on some of those subjects deemed I appropriate but not outright banned or banned but not tightly enforce could be found. Then I brought the Hogwarts the History, History of Magic, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, Magical Theory, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One and some others in theory like How to cast a Spell and Proper pronunciation for Proper wizards and witches a book for younger children, I thanked the staff and the staff thanked the almost 30 galleons I spent, with that I left. As I could not go around with a dozen books in my hand every here, I zeroed on the shop with large old-school trunks in its front window. From there I purchased a small five times expandable suitcase with a maximum weight canceling capacity of a hundred kilos. For 62 galleons, it's a steal if you ask me. But after asking the teller of the price, he said it takes a lot of time and effort to enchant space in this way which to be honest after seeing the fact as a little unassuming black leather-bound suitcase makes general relativity its bitch sounds understandable. Nearly exhausting my funds and seeing as the sun starts to set I hopped in to Florean Fortescue's for two spoons of butter beer and pistachio flavored ice-cream, and it was worth it, it's good to be ten again. Exiting the alley was way easier, pull the lever and bum, you are in mundane London. I chatted a few words with Tom in a company of some pumpkin juice which is better than it sounds, mostly pleasantries with some tidbits about the going on's of Magic land like the recent meteoric rise of the new star Conman Lock hearth and slow consolidation of the conservative party that fell apart after the 'civil' war. He seemed to close up a little after I asked about its events, wanting to not really talk about it, which is understandable. I apologized as to not part in your taste I inquired about the Cauldrons notable events through his career, richer with some fun stories one about Rubeus Hagrid and a goat I said my farewell and exited.
As I headed home paranoia came over me, it was too easy, I just waltzed in the pub and after a few worlds I was let in, no question asked?, a Whole count s worth of magician can't be so trusting, some hiding spells one friendly bartender and that's it. It's probably the same endemic lack of any sort of common sense but still I went home in an alternate route using many types of mass transit including the tube, busses, trams, inner city train even a taxi. Fortunately I did not see anybody following me in a bright red clothing resembling any uniform or magical trench coat my anxiety went down considerably, it was still a pain in the ass, as I went back way too late, and I was busted as we are not supposed to leave, my back cheeks suffered for it, and one week semi solidary, that's the eighties' strictness for ya. I was in luck still as my minions did the work and provided me a solid alibi for most of the day, it only costs me five quid a week.
I couldn't be happier with the opportunity to study my new collection and my free time is severely limited with school, morphing and magic practice and maintaining the Tom persona with Bobbie and the business. It took three months to get through everything with sufficient understanding, and I had to say it's a mess. First there isn't nearly enough market pressure in magic land for to generate an enjoyable experience, most of the books are dry and overly complicated for primer and beguines guides almost like trey were intentionally made as stale and boring while maintaining any sort of chance for plausible deniability. Second, trey don't really know about how really magic works, there are mostly working model with a lot of speculations and hypothesizes but nothing concrete. Similarly to the case of Newtonian physics, it works from atomic to planetary scale, but in case of any bigger or smaller interaction the results will be flawed. I mean sure, it's a decent work if you use an Age of Enlightenment methods and the natural force called magic seems to be exceptional as its rules are not universal, there are back doors and exceptions, or the more likely is that something is missing from the current model if not it's not wrong in its entirety. As it stands, according to the most preferred model, which I'm subscribed to, the caster with sufficient willpower, knowledge, mental image, magical strength and focus on theory could achieve anything. Only the person responsible for its limitations.
To these builds the whole business with wands, it is not really sentient, the choosing part it's a closely guarded algorithmic rune array designed to help find the closest match. It does that by examining the user's magical core, and its so-called frequency, if it matches closely then there is a resonance effect between the wand and user which helps in coaxing magic and casting stable spells. The wand, as it designed for ease of use built around an effect in which certain environmental phenomena or anything minute really, changes the outcome of magic, movements, sounds and the rhythm of the two were selected to help coax different magical phenomena, it's a self-contained easy to use and learn ritual. In old times ritual dances were necessary for grander spells, avatar style, this is what the entire wester system is based on. This is why in modern times the pig Latin spells are still used is because the roman inventors mapped out what emphasis on the pronounced syllables works best with the magical shape of the desired effect, reinforcing and stabilizing it, the same with wand movement. This is why you can cast silent with enough practice and talent, if you can pull the right amount of power in a right amount of way in a shape subconsciously molded similar to one with sound and movement, with a clear image of what you desire then you don't need anything else, boom wandless silent magic. It's extremely difficult to learn, and mostly weaker, without conditioning with deliberate self-mutilation at a young age.
In a positive note all historical accounts check out as far as I can tell, rose two movies with the Danish girl actor, albino Jack Sparrow and Jude Law Dumbledore, even the scarce flashback from the series. The war ended in 1981 with Harry parent's sacrifice, a bunch of low level Nazis were jailed, but the influential ringleaders and financial backers not, Sirius declared as the traitor and Peter was never see again. All looks to be the same, but then again, me only will know for sure once I checked on the rat.
Oh, and I turned eleven, and with that because of my sliding school year birth the counting down to Hogwarts was started. My first order of business was to finish my learning to a level comparative to a 16 years old, in case of the slim chance that I will be forced back to a mundane life I will not be in a disadvantage. In order to achieve that, I have to finish two years' worth of classes in this year, no matter how much I wanted to fly under the radar. Not that it mattered now, I resigned to my fate as a kid not worth adopting, and my caretakers wasn't a fond of me, there is so much weirdness you can conceal before it bubbles up at the seams. It's frustrating, and deep inside it hurts, but as long do not acknowledge it, it can't affect me too much.
The second thing was Bobbie, I grown genuinely close to that bloke over the two years and did not want him to stay on this path, in part because of my guild as I led him into the door of illegal business. I started to tutor him in school things, and asked him what he wanted to be, it turns out he really likes to fiddle in one of his other friend's dads garage, he even was good in it, and as a car mechanic is training he was on track if his other grades can be kept in the acceptable level, so I helped while I cut back on the business slowly lessening it.
My days filed by with school, boxing, the things with Bobbie, magical practice, morphing and the meager social life that I have left after years of ineptitude, and the older kids slowly getting out of here. I even went back to Diagon alley for a more advanced book, and before I realized the school year ended. After a grueling trial I finished my secondary with my grades above average but not perfect as I could not muster the mental strength to it with the approaching summer distracting me, not even with the street guitarist stunts I performed for stress relief. Nothing else left to do I called a meeting in a Friday with Robert now working as a mechanic. Arriving as an unkempt looking Tom, I could see the question in his gaze.
"It's over man, it's over" I started half hysterically.
Calm down mate, what's, over? What happened?" Bobbie asked with worry.
"I put a wrong wood into the fire, I wanted to hop into the green business, to break out, you see, but I was greedy and disrespectful to blokes you should never cross, the real deal, you know. I'm such a fool, I'm sorry mate but I messed up big time" I do not have to pretend my anguish but because of a different cause.
"Are you completely mental, why did you do that? Tom you newer were sane, I knew it the moment you waked down info the club but this just bonkers. So how you gonna fix this because I know the guys you are talking about, trey will come after you if you cross them" the concern anger and fear clearly visible in his tone and stance now.
"I know man, I know, but I'm smarter than them, you know, I will disappear before trey throw me into the Thames. I tried to bring some manic up tone into it, to sell my eccentric state, and if worked.
"Yes Tom, I know, you were always the smarter. But maybe if I help out like you did to me this all can be solved, I have some money put away, with yours it put together enough to buy mercy, it's worth a shot." it hurts me to deceive him, as I can tell the sincerity in his voice. The willingness to part of his meager savings put away for a car he wanted for ages.
Thanks mate, really, it's good of you to look out for your buddy, but I'm afraid that not an option. I already tried, that's the problem, trey said it was disrespectful and all. So, I had to bolt, I already packed my things and all. His face turned sorrowful, hearing that.
"It's not the end of the world old pal, I will still sometimes visit, incognito like a spy ad it's not for forever, a few years, and it will blow over." I said hopefully.
"So when do you go, and where?" he asked, resigned.
"First thing in the morning, Glasgow or another city up north, that would be a good place I recon." I said, and he smiled.
"So, that means you have time for a pint or two, for a last time for a while, I even pay the first two rounds" he said mischievously.
"Oh, I feared you'd never ask "I replied similarly.
And we went, drank, played darts and pool and had fun. Reminisced about old times and the regular stuff. All night long, at the crack of dawn Bobbie and I went to the station, hugged and said goodbyes as brothers do, I hopped on the train to Glasgow and went. Then the next station morphed back, departed the train and hopped onto the next one back to London. It was deceitful to do this, and if felt like a real git, but it was necessary as a cautionary tale for Bobbi not to return to the life of crime and to be ridden of the negative influence of the Tom persona.
From the next day, as I was tired and hungover that day, I practiced magic, mostly my control of my tricks, and the academic knowledge about charms, transfiguration and potions. I spent the first month of summer in my room to the disapproval of the institution's staff. Until one day I had a visitor. It was a hot July morning, I woke at seven as I usually did. Just after breakfast, miss Simons the caretaker came up to me and said.
"William, your presence is requested by the director, please follow me." She said in the overly formal tone she always uses with me.
So we went up the stairs to the director's office, and from the outside I could feel the faint sense of warmth, a mage was on the other side. Even though I know the reason of its presence, I could not help it, I was nervous. Then miss Simons knocked on the door.
"Please send in Mister Taylor" come Mister Withworth the director's voice.
"Go in then" my caretaker said as she prodded me in the opening door. In the inside there were two occupants, one was our aging balding director with a jovial face, old-style suit and a respectable gut, yet the other occupant enjoyed my full attention. I already knew the stern looking woman in her elegant if outdated dark green robes. Aren't these peoples trying to not be noticed or something. A bit different from the movies, the actresses face the same but considerably younger looking, probably because of magical people longevity, with slightly graying brunette hair. Bit of a Milf, if not for the cold exterior.
"Ah, William, good to see you my boy, let me introduce to you to Professor McGonagall, she is here to tell you about an extraordinary opportunity for you" he said with his characteristic good-natured way.
Good day to you, Professor McGonagall "I said with unusual shyness.
"Good day to you Mister Taylor, as Director Withworth already said I do indeed here to offer you the opportunity to attend a very special school for special children like you. But before any further discussion, I would like to talk with Mister Taylor in private for a few minutes, as I requested earlier. She said in a tone not dissimilar to other teachers that I heard before, as I, kindly but firmly.
"Yes, of course, this way." At that, the director led us to a side room, then left us on our own.
"Now, that we are alone, Hogwarts, the school I was talking about earlier, is special in a way that it teaches magic. Before you ask yes, magic is quite real, and it's a privilege to have it, I could demonstrate have you wish for an evidence." I nodded, and with that she turned the chair into a peacock, then back in a few moments later.
"I can do things like that too, see Professor" and before she can continue or protest I lifted a mug from the desk with practiced ease the made it chill until the moisture from the air froze to its surface, the heat it until it steamed. I can see her momentary stunned face before she can regain her bearing, "OH my, that's quite remarkable at this young age, can you tell me what else you can do?" she asked with genuine interest.
"I can lift things up, push or pull on them, squish them, open or close locks, make things freeze over or catch on fire, slow myself if I fall down somewhere, see in people's eyes if they lie, oh, and I can change myself to look different, Can the Professor change too" I said in the cheerful childishly proud voice as I morphed my hair into what I can remember as Gryffindor red.
I decided a while ago to not hide some of my talent, as it would make me an exceptional student, worth the extra tutoring and attention, even on the price of spotlight and unfortunate similarity to Moldy. What I did not tell is the scope, I can lift around half a ton for short periods of time, push and pull similar weights or considerably faster small objects. I still can't levitate myself but I Almost the whole Jedi package, I can't seem to do mind tricks no matter how much magic I lace my voice, something's missing. I can glide somewhat by my slow falling and push/pull at the same time. Furthermore, I can discern people's moods, strong motives and if they tell truth or lies. Oh, and can morph into any human shape, some inhuman shape, and can grow knock-off wolverine claws myself if the need arises. Speed up my reaction time, I'm even working on modifying my senses to work sharper, but it's complicated. After my beating, the need for offensive tricks led my training path. The old cat lady froze in surprise for a moment, I could almost see as she reboots.
" Extraordinary, such a talent, in a muggle orphanage and unfortunately no, it's a quiet rare ability that only a handful witch and wizard possesses, and may I ask how long can you do things like that? " Her looks were entirely on me, filled with surprise and genuine curiosity.
"Since I can remember with the changing, I could do the other ones since I was around four, I practice them when nobody looks because they would think is weird, trey tend to not like me much. Can I ask a question?" she nods. "What's a muggle and how come some peoples can use magic?" I act a childlike and innocent.
"Muggles are people who can't do magic, it's a quiet rare gift. Yet sometimes it can appear in muggle families. The magicians born in normal families called muggle born and non-magicians born in magical families called squibs, but that's a bit complicated. "She replied with routine ease. Then she hands me the letter, millions waited futilely back on the other side.
"This is your Hogwarts acceptance letter, we usually deliver it personally to places where there is no adult guardian to receive it" she said it in a somber voice, smiling gently. As I took the envelope with slightly shaking hands. It's the real deal with the red wax stamp, my name and address and all, I open it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards
Dear Mr. Taylor,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"Within it, you will find a list of the required garment and equipment for the first years, should you accept we can go right away to acquire for you and don't worry there is a fund that covers the expenses and provides a modest pension for you." she said wile danced around of my status as an orphan with a slightly uncomfortable tone.
" Thank you Professor, but before I accept or decline, I would like to hear if there is any reason against accepting, what's it like to be a wizard, is there any danger, what's with his muggle world, it does not sound very nice, would I be tossed aside like here? " I said in my smart kid ™ voice.
"A Wizards' life is much similar to any others, except for using magic. There are always dangers in life, and it's true that there is more than otherwise it would be for us, yet I strongly recommend you attend as being an untrained magic user even as a talented one such as you carries a risk of the loss of control which is usually catastrophic. Besides, being a witch or a wizard is an unparalleled opportunity to achieve your dreams. Secondly it is true that the world muggle is quite old and as such its meaning had a negative side to it, but nowadays, those sensibilities are lessened greatly." if I didn't know better I would completely believe her, the way she fazed this, but I do, so I'm a bit surprised by her bold faced lie, I mean sure you house won't be raided by death squads nowadays but still, it's not much better than any other recently dethroned racist ideology, it lingers plus it's not really dead, just hibernates. So thanks for this slight misinformation Professor furball, the funny thing is I can't see deception on her eyes.
"I understand and accept it, Professor McGonagall." The cat lady smiled at me, hearing that.
"That's an excellent decision Mister Taylor, we will depart shortly then." with that we left the office, professor Fluffy informed the suspiciously docile director of our departure before we left. Outside the orphanage, McGonagall stopped abruptly and turned to me.
"Mister Taylor, would you be so kind to take my hand, and hang onto it strongly" I do as she asked me, dreading what comes next. She spun us around her heel, and we here pushed through a straw. Arriving in front of the Cauldron, I threw up my breakfast beans and egg into a modern art installation.
"There, there, Mister Taylor it's all right, few people have this extreme reaction to apparition, but there is nothing to be ashamed of." she flicked her wand and vanished my modern art piece after I stopped dry heaving.
After my body calmed down from turning into spaghetti, the back, we entered the cauldron. I tuned out the little small talk of Minnie and Tom, old schoolmates. Then we went through the brick wall into Diagon Alley, Tom was right you can't really get use to the sight and more so to the feel, as I opened my eyes Prof Cat observed me with a contemplating look, shit my sensory abilities I wanted to keep a secret, stupid breathtaking alley.
Our first stop was Madam Malkins, where McGonagall left me to get me a trunk and the books. There was no meeting with others from the cast as I hoped, my measurements were taken the time Minnie returned with a shrunken down trunk. The size adjusted robes were finished within ten minutes by Missus Malkins herself, we expressed our gratitude then left for Olivanders. I was left alone again after her put seven galleons into my hand, with that my guardian left to acquire the rest of my needed school equipment. Sure she told me where the shops are and where can I find what, but it all felt a bit rushed, she must have many responsibilities with the Headmaster running that many full time jobs by himself, still a letdown. So, I entered alone, and the chaotically swirling magic in the room felt like a kick in the chest. Now, where would I jump out if I was a bored old wand maker intent in frightening children?
"Ah Mr. Taylor, good day to you, expected you" he did the all appearing behind me, but as I knew his tricks I was less than phased, he did not seem disappointed.
"You expected me, what do you mean? And how come you know my name?" I asked calmly, if a bit annoyed, those are personal info's.
"Ah, you see I know that you will come, the ministry hands down the number of enrolling children each year, as for your name, I sold the wands of your mother and father" he seemed a bit saddened saying that.
You know my patents?" I asked excited as I know little about my would be mother and step farther and craved to know them, to know what could have been.
"I'm sorry, but alas no, not really young man, I only sold trey wands, rosewood with unicorns hair chore eleven inches and chestnut with phoenix feather thirteen inches by the way. I only them a few times in the alley, unfortunately the war claimed them, the whole family, almost. My sincerest condolences." he was honest, I can tell by his eyes.
"So, let's see what kind of wand will choose you, please lift your wand hand or dominant hand as the muggles call it." I did as he said, lifting my left as he went to search in his shop. As he did, I felt the faintest feeling as I was observed on my right. As I turned to a shelf full of small long boxes, the feeling got stronger, there was a pull to the shelf stepping to it, I could pinpoint to one dusty worn black box, as if it shined in the storm of colors that raged in the shop. I carefully pulled it out, watching out not to destabilize the many boxes piled on top of it. Now I concentrate on the box as I opened it, within it lie a bone white wand with black spider web like lines, similar to marble. Intricately carved with a checkered handle and small geometric patterns and strange runic symbols along its length and in concentric rings. It is beautiful, elegant, and regal, and it sings to me, it calls to me. I reach out and pick it up, the feeling sharp and fuzzily as a lighting strike yet warm and satisfying when a perfect piece slips into in a perfect place in a metal jigsaw puzzle, perfect complete, a gold-silver aura surrounds me crackling in its corona and generating smallish swirls of wind picking up paper and parchment. It abides within a few second while I stood there completely absorbed by it.
"It is rare, that my expertises are not required and in such a spectacular way. Please tell Mr. Taylor, do you hear them sing, yes, I can tell by your face, it is a rare gift which needed for any exceptional artificer, especially wand makers. If you ever wish to tread that path, it will do you great service, among other uses." I jumped as he sneaked behind me before he spoke, god-damn it Olivander, you were lucky some children with weak hearth did not get a new wand from you so far, as surely he or she would faint or worse for this much.
"You are quiet indeed to be chosen by that wand, Holly with dragon's heartstrings, thirteen inches slightly bendy, the core is from a particularly old dragon, strong yet temperamental. And the Holly was struck by lightning, essence of the truest fire, yet survived, carrying within it that essence. This wand powerful and temperamental as fire, and it requires a strong, determined wielder." he said the characteristics.
"Thank you, mister Olivander, I would like to buy a holster for it too if you have some in your stock" hearing that he nodded then disappeared in the maze of box piles, returning after a few seconds with a black leather body holster. Charmed to be unbreakable with water and humidity resistance.
"It will be twenty-five galleons, seven for the wand, the rest for the holster." I paid the rest with my own secret stash of money.
"Thank you for your buy, and good luck in your journey as a wizard, you will surely will need It." he said as we parted. A bit ominous and mysterious, probably part of the Olivander experience since 382 BC.
After that, the rest of the trip when quickly, the deputy headmistress explained some other things like where and how can I enter Diagon alley and King's Cross station secret platform. After turning into a spaghetti and back, which I fared much better than the previous one, we were back in the institute. The strangely indifferent staff did not eve question where it was, trey probably were hexed, but it's not muggle baiting as the book says, if the goodies do it, right. Most of the new books I already had and read them, even the second year ones too so nothing really exciting only the herbology and astronomy remained and none of those interested me. Instead, I pulled out my wand to play with it a bit, no not that one, as it was never told me explicitly not to use my wand and I directly did not ask, plausible deniability and all. So I casted a Lumos, and in the sixth time it worked. I did it two more times, and because next day nobody came to bring me in, nice, so for the rest of the month I practiced first year spells like Lumos, Reparo, Wingardium Leviosa even Diffindo from the second year book, not all of them, I strived to do ten effortlessly rather than twenty with half the efficiency. I did this and my other project, like buying markers,A4 paper, different color ink and pen setts, a steel tipped quill with ergonomic handle and a fountain pen, hoping that it's allowed, then I brought in bulk for a possible in school trade. Oh, and sweet too, as many as I could cram into my trunk. Soon the first of September, the date of my departure, arrived.
QA
First, I like to address the debated gold problem. My solution is simple, magic. Yeah real original, so, galleons are marked by goblins with magic, it's perfect but better than mundane money security. Secondly, gold is generally not rare. It's only rare on the surface, where do goblins live, underground. As an underground society trey magic must be pretty good to build trey living space and advanced metallurgy, then it's not farfetched to assume trey can extract some rare elements directly for under the mantle where gold is much more abundant and because this is a secret closely guarded goblin government project the market will not be flooded with gold. Therefore, it's only chosen as a base for currency because before the secrecy muggle economy was based on it, and it cannot be created by magic, one dude doesn't count, and its relative abundance and high regulation keeps the exchange rate stable and low around 5 quid.
Making reaction time marginally faster has little to do with the brain, within the brain it's almost instantaneous, and you rightly assume MC would not mess with his brain. The slowest part of the process is the travel time of the impulse in the nerves, it's not the speed of light not even the same order of magnitude and the muscle reaction. With modified muscle composition and better insulated stronger pulsing nerves the reaction time can be slower, but we're talking about, fraction of a second not instantaneous superhero reflexes. I really should explain my shit better next time, this was on me.
Wizards and witches are not stupid, just lack the sense of practical viewpoint ad live in a society of good enough, because trey whole society is built around a fundamentally alien force that seemingly defies any logic, and it makes most routine things easy to do but hard to really invent something new. Plus MC is an orphan child with the bias o that age group plus two decades of half-forgotten memories, it's the perfect example of unreliable narrator.
Magical cores of each person are only marginally different, there is inborn difference in strength, but it means little if you fail to develop yourself, just like in the real world, MC lived in a life without magic, so he can better sense this alien thing inside him, this, the metamorphic powers and his grown up perspective his only advantages, it's still would seem a bit op, for now.
Thanks for the reviews, I will try my best to write a somewhat decent story, but be warned, this is mostly an experimental and meant to be fun for me. So more mistakes will be made. Bye