It might seem strange for a witch and wizard, but Petrus and Sarrha Kernewek could never imagine the magic that came into their lives.
Petrus was a distinguished magi-environmentalist at the Ministry of Magic, where he specialized in magical ecosystem preservation. He was a tall, lean man with sun-weathered skin from countless hours working outdoors, and warm brown eyes that sparkled with curiosity. Sarrha was a celebrated author whose works bridged both magical and muggle worlds, with short auburn hair and an ever-present notebook floating beside her. The Kerneweks lived in their ancestral home, The Wells, and to anyone who knew them, there couldn't be a more perfectly matched pair of magical minds anywhere.
The Kerneweks had a wonderful life in The Wells, but they also had an extraordinary secret, and their greatest wonder was how to handle it. They weren't sure how to explain to anyone, even their closest magical friends, about young Jack's remarkable abilities. While all magical children showed early signs of power, Jack's abilities were beyond anything recorded in wizarding history. His metamorphmagus talents had manifested almost from birth, and his natural command of magic was astonishing. Sarrha's sister, who worked in the Department of Mysteries, had visited once and left speechless at Jack's capabilities. The Kerneweks carefully managed who they allowed to witness the full extent of Jack's powers, not out of shame but out of protection - they knew their son was special even by magical standards. They'd heard whispers at the Ministry about powerful children being "monitored," and they were determined to let Jack grow up without that kind of scrutiny. For now, they kept their son's extraordinary talents between themselves, allowing him to develop naturally within the safety of The Wells.
Jack was born at The Wells on a night when the air crackled with possibility. The ancient magic of the house seemed to pulse as Sarrha went into labor, and outside, stars blazed brilliantly in the clear sky. The midwife, a trusted witch from the local magical community, was the first to witness something extraordinary. Within hours of his birth, as he lay in Sarrha's arms beside the crackling fireplace, Jack's tiny tuft of hair had cycled through every color of the rainbow, and his eyes would shift from his natural blue to match whoever was holding him. The midwife, who had delivered hundreds of magical babies in her career, had to call in a specialist from St. Mungo's just to confirm what they were seeing - a metamorphmagus ability so strong and so early was unprecedented.
The Wells itself seemed to celebrate Jack's arrival. The ancient fireplace in their sitting room became something of a mood indicator for the infant - whenever Jack laughed, which was often, the flames would dance and shift through brilliant shades of blue, purple, and gold. His parents quickly learned to gauge his moods by the fire's behavior, knowing that pink flames meant contentment, while green usually preceded a cry for feeding.
The gardens of The Wells seemed to recognize something special in Jack as well. The gnomes, usually mischievous and prone to causing chaos, would stop their antics and watch curiously whenever Sarrha carried him through the vegetable patches. Birds would perch closer than usual, their songs gentler when he was near. Even the more skittish magical creatures that inhabited the grounds - the bowtruckles in the older trees and the occasional visiting hippogriff - appeared unusually calm in his presence.
By his first birthday, Jack had developed an uncanny ability to mimic the creatures he saw. His parents would often find him sporting perfectly formed owl wings or fox ears, not just approximate shapes but anatomically correct transformations that should have been impossible for someone so young. Petrus documented everything meticulously in his private journals, knowing that someday these observations might help understand their son's unique gifts.
The ambient magic of The Wells itself seemed to respond to Jack's presence. Flowers would bloom out of season when he crawled past them, and the ancient protective wards around the property would pulse with warm light whenever he was particularly happy. The Kerneweks' collection of magical artifacts, usually kept safely locked away, would hum and vibrate when Jack was nearby, as if recognizing a kindred magical force.
As Jack grew into his toddler years, his magical abilities only became more pronounced. The family's magical greenhouse became his favorite place to play, where young magical plants would bend toward him like sunflowers tracking the sun. Sarrha once found him having what appeared to be a detailed conversation with a young Venomous Tentacula, the usually aggressive plant gently patting his head with its vines while he babbled happily in baby-talk.
Among Jack's most treasured possessions was his first toy broomstick, a birthday gift that quickly became inseparable from the toddler. Though it hovered mere inches from the ground - a safety feature that did little to dampen Jack's enthusiasm - he treated it like a professional racing broom. From sunrise to sunset, the sound of his delighted giggles could be heard as he zoomed through The Wells' corridors, weaved between the kitchen chairs, and explored every corner of the extensive gardens.
Sarrha had enchanted several cushioning charms around the house's corners after Jack's first few excited crashes, though his metamorphmagus abilities meant any bumps or bruises disappeared almost instantly. Petrus would often find himself adjusting his morning routine to include "broom inspection" - making sure the charms were still strong and the twigs were neat, as Jack insisted on proper broom maintenance even at such a young age.
The family's cats learned to keep a watchful eye out for the zooming toddler, though they seemed to find his antics more amusing than bothersome. They would often perch on windowsills and furniture, their heads moving back and forth as they tracked his progress around the house. On more than one occasion, Sarrha caught Jack trying to convince the cats to ride along with him, his hair unconsciously shifting to match their fur patterns as he pleaded his case.
By the time Jack turned four, his magical abilities had developed far beyond what the Kerneweks had expected, even given his extraordinary start. While most magical children showed occasional bursts of uncontrolled magic, Jack demonstrated a remarkable level of intentional control. He could summon toys, books, and especially treats from high shelves with a mere thought, the objects floating gracefully into his waiting hands.
His metamorphmagus abilities had also evolved significantly. Where once his transformations had been largely reactive and emotional, now he could consciously alter his appearance at will. During his garden adventures, he would transform parts of himself to match the creatures he encountered - sprouting whiskers to communicate with field mice, or changing his eyes to match an owl's to better understand their perspective. Other times, he would transform entirely into one creature or other, like an animagus with limitless options.
Petrus and Sarrha would often watch from the kitchen window as their son played what he called "animal friends" in the garden. One moment he would be sporting rabbit ears to better hear the approaching footsteps of garden creatures, the next he would have perfect miniature fox paws as he carefully dug alongside the rabbits in the vegetable patch. What amazed them most wasn't just the transformations themselves, but the anatomical accuracy - each feature was perfectly formed, something that usually took years of study and practice for adult metamorphmagi to achieve.
The local magical wildlife seemed to sense something special about Jack. Bowtruckles would emerge from their trees to wave at him as he passed, and even the normally shy nifflers that occasionally visited their garden would pause their treasure hunting to interact with him. On one memorable afternoon, Sarrha found Jack sitting cross-legged in the garden, sporting perfect golden phoenix feathers along his arms as he conducted what appeared to be a serious conversation with a group of fascinated garden gnomes.
Sarrha had shared with Petrus her family's connection to the Gaunt line early in their marriage. It was a closely guarded secret, passed down through generations of her maternal ancestors. The Ominis branch had deliberately separated itself from the main Gaunt family centuries ago, wanting nothing to do with their increasing obsession with blood purity and dark magic. They had changed their name and scattered across Britain, eventually settling in Cornwall. The Kerneweks kept this knowledge private, sharing it with no one outside their immediate family.
As she watched Jack practicing his transformations in the garden, Sarrha couldn't help but wonder if this extraordinary magical ability was somehow connected to that ancient lineage. The Gaunts were known for their powerful magic, being descendants of Salazar Slytherin himself, but nothing in their documented history suggested abilities like Jack's. Even the most talented among them had shown nothing close to this level of innate magical control, especially at such a young age.
Petrus had his own theories about Jack's abilities. As a magi-environmentalist, he had studied magical inheritance patterns in various magical creatures and plants. He suspected that sometimes, magical ability could lie dormant for generations before manifesting in unprecedented ways, like a recessive trait suddenly expressing itself. But even this scientific approach couldn't fully explain the scope of Jack's powers.
Together, they pored over ancient texts and magical genealogy records, searching for any precedent of similar abilities. While metamorphmagi were rare but documented, and powerful magical children occasionally appeared throughout history, the combination and strength of Jack's various talents remained unique. Sarrha knew she should perhaps share what she knew about their family history, but generations of secrecy made her hesitate. The Ominis Gaunts, now called the Mallons, had survived by remaining hidden, and old habits died hard.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, a researcher bent over her desk, quill scratching rapidly across parchment:
To: [REDACTED]
Department of Mysteries
Ministry of Magic
Re: Surveillance of Exceptional Magical Youth
Another month of investigation has yielded nothing beyond standard magical development. The Larson child's supposed ability to speak with dragons was merely an enchanted translation pendant. The Bakar twins' "synchronized spell casting" is well within normal parameters for magical siblings. The rumors from Cornwall remain unsubstantiated - local talk of extraordinary magic appears to be nothing more than typical proud parent exaggeration. No subjects matching the criteria have been identified. Will continue monitoring as per instructions, though I question whether we're searching for something that exists. The prophecy's mention of "power beyond measure" may be metaphorical rather than literal. Await your response.[REDACTED]
Research Division
St. Mungo's Hospital
The response came two days later, delivered by a nondescript ministry owl in the dead of night:
Continue your surveillance. Our master is certain. The signs align - a child of extraordinary power will emerge, one whose abilities eclipse all others. The prophecy speaks of magic that "breaks the bounds of nature itself." Your position at St. Mungo's is crucial. Monitor all incoming cases of accidental magic. Pay particular attention to any reports of metamorphic abilities or unusual control over magical elements. Remember: discretion is paramount. We cannot risk alerting the families we observe.[REDACTED]
Department of Mysteries
Both letters would eventually be burned, their ashes scattered to the winds. Neither correspondent would ever know how close they had come to discovering exactly what they sought, or how fortunate the Kerneweks had been in their careful guardianship of their son's secret.