CHAPTER 20: CRAFTING A WIZARD'S PATH
It was thrilling to finally get my own wand—a slender, perfectly balanced tool that felt like an extension of my own hand. It hummed with energy when I held it, as though it was eager to join me on my journey as a wizard. I couldn't help but marvel at it. This wand would be my constant companion, the instrument through which I'd channel my magic, and with it, I'd grow stronger, more skilled. Every spell cast would be sharper, more precise. The thought alone made my heart race with excitement.
For the next month and a half, I practically buried myself in my schoolbooks. My room became a maze of parchment, quills, and ink pots as I worked through every charm, jinx, and curse I could find. No spell was too simple or too advanced—I was determined to master them all. The incantations were my language, and my wand the key.
"I'll learn them all," I'd mutter to myself, as I practiced flicking my wand in perfect arcs. But that wasn't enough for me. Once I'd nailed the basics, I pushed myself further—wandless magic. That was something few wizards could claim mastery over, but I knew I could do it. I just needed time.
It was intoxicating, feeling the magic build up within me, surging to my fingertips. The first time I made a feather float without touching my wand, I couldn't stop smiling for hours. There was something undeniably thrilling about working on my magic, and it wasn't just about the spells. It was about power—real, tangible power. Every spell I perfected was like another step closer to being someone who could stand tall in the wizarding world.
Of course, not everything went smoothly.
One evening, while practicing a particularly tricky jinx in the living room, Aunt Amelia stormed in, her eyes flashing.
"Ares! What have I told you about practicing spells indoors?" she snapped, her tone a mix of exasperation and sternness. "You nearly knocked over the bookshelf!"
"Sorry, Aunt Amelia," I mumbled, feeling sheepish. "I was just—"
"No excuses. You're talented, but that doesn't mean you get to be reckless. If you're going to practice, at least do it outside." She gestured toward the window, where the backyard stretched out under the twilight sky.
So, I had to drag my spell practice outdoors. I set up some makeshift dummies, old cushions stuffed into robes, and used them to practice my spells. It wasn't the same as inside, but at least I could experiment freely without risking another lecture—or worse, a real mess.
But it wasn't all hard work. When I wasn't devouring my schoolbooks or perfecting spells, I spent time on fun magic too. Little tricks and pranks that didn't require too much effort but always managed to bring a smile to Susan's face.
One afternoon, I had a sudden idea while sitting with Susan in the backyard. Grinning, I pulled out my wand and muttered, "Papyrus aeroplanus." A fleet of paper airplanes shot into the air, each one diving and twisting in perfect synchronicity, like miniature fighter jets.
Susan's eyes lit up with delight as she watched them zoom and whirl. "That's amazing!" she laughed, her face glowing with excitement. "Can you make them fight each other?"
"Watch this," I said with a wink, flicking my wand once more. The planes turned on each other, spiraling and swooping in a mock dogfight. Susan's laughter filled the yard as one plane took a nosedive into the grass, defeated.
It wasn't all fun and games, though. Tilly, our house-elf, had a gift for animating objects, something I couldn't resist learning from her. One evening, as the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the living room, Susan asked for a puppet show. Tilly and I took turns animating two puppets, mine awkward and jerky compared to her smooth, lifelike movements.
Susan giggled as Tilly's puppet effortlessly leaped across the stage. "You're getting better, Ares, but I think Tilly's got you beat," she teased, grinning mischievously.
I chuckled, not embarrassed at all. "Yeah, well, it's good practice for my control. And besides," I added with a wink, "killing two birds with one stone never hurt anyone."
Though I was constantly drawn to learning more and pushing my limits with magic, I never forgot how important my family was to me. It was easy to get lost in the hunger for power, for knowledge, but moments like those with Susan and Tilly kept me grounded.
Aunt Amelia, despite her stern demeanor, had a soft side that showed in unexpected ways. In the final two weeks before I was due to leave for Hogwarts, she made it a point to take us out on weekends. We visited muggle places, something I never thought a pure-blood witch like her would enjoy.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Susan said as we rode the Ferris wheel at the amusement park, her eyes wide as she looked down at the ground far below us.
"Yeah," I agreed, gripping the metal bar in front of me, not entirely sure if I trusted this contraption. "Why'd Aunt Amelia bring us here, anyway? I didn't think she liked muggle stuff."
"She didn't, at first," Susan replied, her voice thoughtful. "But she was really good friends with your mom. She told me once that your mom showed her how wonderful the muggle world could be. I think she likes coming here because it reminds her of those times."
I fell silent, gazing out over the park. It wasn't hard to imagine Aunt Amelia and my mother, laughing and enjoying these same rides years ago. Somehow, knowing that made the experience more meaningful.
The amusement park was a strange and chaotic place—loud, full of flashing lights, and people everywhere. Susan was torn between loving every second of it and being utterly horrified by some of the rides. After her first roller coaster, she stumbled off looking pale, but the moment her feet touched the ground, she broke into a wide grin.
"That was terrifying!" she exclaimed, clutching her chest dramatically. "But… I kind of want to do it again."
Aunt Amelia raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "I think we'll save that for another visit."
As the days passed, I found myself thinking more about Hogwarts. The excitement built up inside me, but so did a sense of nervousness. My last weeks at home were filled with moments of quiet reflection as I packed my things, practiced my magic, and spent time with Susan and Aunt Amelia.
"You're ready," Aunt Amelia said one evening, watching me as I carefully stowed away my textbooks. There was pride in her voice, something rare but deeply appreciated.
"I hope so," I replied, trying to hide the nervousness creeping into my chest.
She placed a hand on my shoulder. "You'll do great things, Ares. I have no doubt."
And with that, I knew that whatever awaited me at Hogwarts, I would be ready for it.
The last couple of weeks at home had been a whirlwind of preparation, excitement, and a few bittersweet moments. Between the spells I practiced, the books I crammed in every spare second, and the fun outings with Aunt Amelia and Susan, time flew by faster than I expected.
September 1st, 1988
"Alright, Ares, time to go! The car is here!" Aunt Amelia's voice rang from downstairs, echoing through the house.
I took one last look around my room, making sure I hadn't forgotten anything important. My trunk, cleverly shrunk and attached to a necklace around my neck, hung comfortably, and Artemis, my owl, rested quietly in her cage. My wand was securely strapped to my forearm, along with the small knife Aunt Amelia insisted I keep "just in case," tucked away in its sheath on my other arm. Glasses perched on my nose, I was ready.
I took a deep breath before heading down the stairs. Everything was about to change.
"You could've just had Tilly take me on the Knight Bus, Aunt Amelia," I said when I reached the bottom of the staircase. "I know how busy you are. No need to make a fuss."
Amelia raised her eyebrows at me, her expression softening but still retaining that stern edge she often carried. "Don't be ridiculous, Ares. My nephew is heading off to Hogwarts for the first time. I wouldn't miss this for anything. I'll make time for it every year, no matter how busy work gets."
Her tone was final, leaving no room for argument. I smiled slightly. Aunt Amelia could be strict, but moments like this reminded me just how much she cared.
Before I could respond, I felt a tug at my sleeve. Susan was standing next to me, her eyes wide and already filling with unshed tears. "Do you really have to go?" she asked, her voice shaky and small. "I really don't want you to."
The sight of her like that tugged at my heart. I bent down to her level, giving her a soft smile. "Yeah, I do, Susie. I'm going to miss you loads too, but this is something every witch and wizard has to do. And hey—it's not forever. In three years, you'll be joining me there. We'll be at Hogwarts together."
Her lip quivered for a second, but then her expression hardened with determination. "Then you have to write lots!" she demanded, a little spark of stubbornness in her eyes.
"I promise," I said, sealing it with a playful ruffle of her hair. "You won't be able to get rid of me. I'll write so often you'll get sick of my letters."
She giggled through her sniffles, swiping at her eyes.
"Alright, alright, let's get going before we miss the train!" Aunt Amelia cut in, her tone brisk but not without affection. She ushered us toward the door, her hand gently pushing us along. "No dawdling."
Outside, a sleek black 1960 Bentley S2 awaited us. The car, one of the Ministry's enhanced vehicles, was a classic, with its shiny, tinted windows and expanded interior that looked nothing like its modest exterior. The moment I saw it, I knew it wasn't just any old car—it had been magically upgraded in ways only the Ministry could manage. It was the perfect blend of muggle and magical worlds, understated yet undeniably special.
We piled in, with Susan immediately hopping into the seat next to me. She was all wide-eyed wonder as she gazed out the window, her brown hair swishing around her face as she craned her neck to see everything. The sight made me smile. Aunt Amelia, sitting up front near the driver, leaned in to give him instructions.
"You can take off now," she said, her tone all business as usual. Then, settling back into her seat, she turned slightly to watch Susan and me in the rearview mirror, a small, content smile tugging at her lips.
I couldn't help but be amused as Susan kept glancing at every passing car, every building, her head swiveling with excitement. She hadn't been in the ministry car that often, so the expanded interior and enchanted windows probably felt like a whole new adventure to her.
"Do you think the other kids at Hogwarts will be nice?" Susan suddenly asked, breaking the comfortable silence. She turned to me, her expression a mix of curiosity and nerves.
"Some will," I replied, glancing out the window before looking back at her. "Some might not. But don't worry. If they aren't, I'll hex them into next week."
Susan's eyes widened. "You wouldn't really…"
I grinned. "Maybe not. But they'll know not to mess with you, Susie. I'll make sure of it."
She laughed, the sound light and carefree. Aunt Amelia gave me a warning look from the front, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.
The drive passed quicker than I expected, and before long, we arrived at King's Cross Station. We were an hour early, giving us plenty of time to get through the barrier to Platform 9¾. As we stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath, adjusting the straps of Artemis's cage as we made our way through the bustling station.
The station was a strange mix of muggle chaos and magical anticipation. People hurried past us, completely oblivious to the world of magic happening right under their noses. The familiar sound of train whistles echoed in the air, and for a moment, the reality of it all hit me. I was really going to Hogwarts.
"Right, Ares, Susan—stick close," Aunt Amelia instructed, her hand gently resting on Susan's shoulder as we navigated through the crowds. We approached the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, and she gave me a firm nod.
"You remember how to do this?" she asked.
I nodded. "Run straight at the barrier. No hesitation."
"Exactly," she said. "I'll go first with Susan, then you follow."
Susan looked up at the brick wall with wide eyes, as if unsure whether to trust it. I gave her a reassuring smile, and with a slight push from Aunt Amelia, they both slipped through the barrier, vanishing from sight.
I took a deep breath. My heart thudded in my chest, but I felt a thrill of excitement too. Gripping the handle of Artemis's cage a little tighter, I squared my shoulders and strode toward the barrier, not slowing as I passed through the solid wall as if it wasn't there at all.
And then, there it was—the scarlet Hogwarts Express, gleaming in the sunlight, a plume of steam rising from its engine. Wizards and witches bustled about, luggage being loaded, cats and owls meowing and hooting in their cages, and students eagerly chatting with their friends.
This was it. The adventure was really beginning.
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