Talent.. Talent is a measured rigid quantity in the magical world. Everyone’s magic is unique- if we speak strictly- but predictable. There never was a wizard who could perform rituals as well as he could cast charms, nor was there a wand that favored both of those magical branches. The nature of our magic and how it affects our talent is quite complex. In layman's terms, if you are a master in Transfiguration, then I would bet a fortune on the odds that you aren’t a master in curses.

Now, your childhood tales, such as Barry the foolish Hexer who can’t use a simple Lumos to save his skin, do seem truer, don’t they? Wizards and Witches like those are rare, but they exist.

-Chapter 7, Wands and Rules by Augusta Milere.

………………….

When Leon woke up, the girls were still talking, Hannah was explaining to Susan how Malfoy was the reason why Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup, with Hufflepuff coming in third.

While his house was disappointed, they were still excited as Hufflepuff was leading the house cup.

‘I guess Malfoy feels inferior to ‘Harry’ in this universe too. I saw him play, he gets easily riled up by Rose and loses focus.’ Rose, unlike the good old Harry, took advantage of Malfoy’s volatile emotions. That coupled with new brooms, which Black gifted the Gryffindor in response to Malfoy doing the same, Slytherin was thoroughly defeated.

“Shall we go inside?” He stared at Hogwarts Castle as it shone in the rays of the setting sun. “It’s getting dark,” he muttered, standing up and patting his dress.

The girls nodded and copied Leon, removing the errant grass and some dust.

“Which is the exam you are most afraid of, Han-”

“History of Magic!” Hannah blurted out without any hesitation, not even letting him finish his question.

“So, all the sleeping in the class didn’t help you, huh!” Leon teased the timid Hufflepuff, making her blush and move close to Susan.

“I begged you to stay awake, didn’t I?” Susan looked at her disapprovingly.

As Hannah wilted under her gaze, Susan broke into a grin and hugged her.

“Don’t worry, we studied for it! You are just nervous,” Susan reassured her, giggling.

“I, for one, am afraid of Potions. And Snape isn’t exactly the type to pass us even if we only needed one more mark to pass,” Leon muttered, thinking back on his potion’s classes.

“There won’t be any fairness in the world if you are best at every subject, Leon.” Susan punched his shoulder, smiling at him.

“You are too young to know, Ms Bones. But there is no fairness in the world, and I am the best in potions, too. I just was downplaying my awesome talents so as not to make our classmates jealous.” Leon flipped his nonexistent long hair and gave Susan an arrogant smirk.

“Really? I didn’t know that Forgetfulness potion is supposed to look like water. It looked like someone forgot to use their magical ingredients.” Susan gave a smirk of her own as Hannah snickered.

“Please, anything I touch becomes magical.” Leon flourished his magical hand before grinning.

“Anyways, you aren’t as bad as you think, Leon. You are just average in potions.” Susan assured him.

“I know. I know,” he smiled at her. “I am not worried.”

…………………..

“I did good,” Hannah squealed and hugged Susan as they came out of the History of Magic exam.

…………

“Meh! Theory isn’t the problem; my potion was less viscous than yours, but I won’t fail.” Leon shrugged as his friends accosted him after the potion’s exam.

……………..

“Professor Quirrel looked surprised at the ease I was using the silent and point casting.” Susan let out a beaming smile as her DADA practice bore fruit.

“I did good, too.” Hannah chimed in.

…………………..

“Well! Mr Leon. I would have asked you to make this pineapple dance, but I heard that you are learning your family spells. How about a demonstration for extra credits?” Flitwick’s cheerful voice greeted Leon as he entered the charms professor’s office for the exam.

“I always wanted to experience the spell you cast on Mr Smith and the young Centaur in the forbidden forest.”

“Hmm! Ok. Feel free to resist - but not too much- and use your hand to show some numbers behind your back, professor.”

With a swish of his wand, Leon started his demonstration nah performance.

….

Flitwick felt someone tap on his shoulder, making him crane his neck back. Not seeing anyone, he turned towards Leon, only to see a 7ft(2.1m) demon made of darkness stare at him with lava-filled eyes.

Smoke wafted off its serrated maw as it spoke.

“3! Do it again!”

Slow music started to fill the room as Flitwick and the demon played ‘Guess the Number.’

The Demon grew more corporeal with each correct guess, its form solidifying, even the floor beneath it darkened and sizzled as lava coursed through its glowing veins.

The smile on Flitwick's face became a little strained as the music slowly invaded his mind, pressing on him like he was being punished for losing the game.

“You mortals are truly gullible fools. See you later, professor.” The Demon’s voice echoed in the room as it grinned at him before exploding into smoke and disappearing from the room.

Just as Flitwick thought the demonstration ended, the shadows in his room became darker. Whispers started to emanate from them; they were enticing him to reach them, touch the shadows, leave the world of pain and emotions, and be eternal.

The whispers grew as Flitwick hesitated. Madness started to knock onto Flitwick’s lowered mind shield, making him snap it into place.

With a look, Flitwick dispersed the shadows and their siren calls; the room returned to normal.

The uncertainty on the professor’s face vanished like it was a lie.

“Very well! Done, Mr Leon. Marvellous, simply marvelous, I see the traces of so many standard but higher-level charms in your performance.” He congratulated his favorite student, who was standing in the same spot as he started in, with a cheerful smile.

“What is the name of this book?”

……………….

“Mastering the Senses.” Leon didn’t see why he shouldn’t answer a simple question of his favorite teacher.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

‘Hmm! But with the 3rd-floor tour, Professor Sprout jumped so many levels in my favorite list.’

“Good, Good, never lose interest in charms and that active imagination of yours, Mr Leon, you will go far!” With that, the professor sent him off.

Leon was trying illusion101 on his professor, making him doubt whether he was truly in an illusion. He didn’t know if there were demons out there, but if there were, he wouldn’t be surprised.

…………….

Hogwarts celebrated the end of the exams (for first years only) with a fat-filled and greasy feast, unlike the healthier food they were fed during the exams.

“Oh! How I missed these diabetes-filled desserts,” Leon muttered with a grin. He didn’t know how it worked, but wizards don’t get diabetes, so he was going to stuff himself into a coma.

“Don’t worry, this feast will continue until the end of the year- 3 more days,” Tonks suddenly decided to put him in a headlock as he eyed the desserts, trying to decide what to eat.

“I am certainly not going to miss your penchant for violence,” Leon muttered.

“What was that, firstie?”

“Nothing! I was just saying how Hogwarts won’t be the same without you,” Leon innocently smiled at the 7th year.

“I believe you won’t make it boring. But don’t get addicted to breaking rules like you do with the curfew. Otherwise, a genius auror like me would arrest you before you can blink when you do the same as an adult.”

Sending a glare towards Susan, Leon responded.

“Please! Are you seriously saying that after running around scaring first years while looking like Snape? Not to mention, sometimes you use your talent to even fool patrolling prefects.”

Cedric smiled at that.

“He got you there, Tonks.” The kind Hufflepuff said, nudging her.

“These days firsties have too much spunk, they don’t know how to butter up their seniors,” she mumbled.

The days went by as older students continued to attend their exams.

At dinner, two days after the completion of the first year’s exam, Leon saw Rose and her two friends slipping away from the great hall.

He quickly turned towards the professor’s table, only to see Hagrid, Filch, and other young professors- house heads and the headmaster were conspicuously absent.

‘Now that I think about it, Professor Sprout didn’t remind me about my ‘not detention’ today. That’s unlike her.’

Leon stood up and followed the trio stealthily. With the help of the far eye charm, keeping track of them wasn’t difficult.

His charm creates a floating semi-tangible and invisible eyeball that sends feedback to his normal eye. He loved it the moment he came across the spell.

The trio hurriedly went to McGonagall’s office and retreated with the same hurriedness.

He followed them as they checked each of the House head offices, ignoring Snape’s.

Leon stayed back as they stopped in front of the Hogwarts moving staircase, having a heated argument before Rose pulled a cloak and covered everyone in it.

‘Hmm! I thought James would have kept the cloak with him, seeing he needs it more as an auror. Or is the one in Rose’s hand a cheap knockoff?’

Leon peeked from the pillar he was hiding behind and strained his eyes, trying to find the trio.

Cursing at his ineptness of not being able to check the authenticity of the legendary cloak, Leon followed them, staying quite a distance from the trio as he didn’t bring his e-item to scale the roof.

‘Damn! They are really going towards the third floor.’ He thought as the trio became visible as they slid down a rope to the third floor from a moving staircase.

After hearing the sound of a door opening and music, Leon quickly entered the third floor just in time to hear the sound of the trapdoor closing shut.

Leon didn’t think he could use his far eye charm, the new spell from M.T.S book, to watch the trio anymore.

Hogwarts wards don’t allow him to peek into rooms. The spell only works in the corridors.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’ Leon didn’t believe the trio was going to face the original obstacles- the vines that smother Fiendfyre or brooms that move fast enough not to be seen, or the tribe of Trolls decked with enchanted gear.

‘Maybe the professors are watching them? I wouldn’t put it past Dumbledore to nudge fate and test what happens when the prophecized meet.’

Leon was in a dilemma: should he follow them down or search for the House heads? It didn’t take him much time to decide, though.

As he didn’t see any benefits in following the trio into the trials, he turned around to check if the House heads were really absent.

“Did you forget about our meeting, Mr Astraeus?” he heard Professor Sprout calling for him as soon as he entered the second floor.

Turning around, Leon stared at the plump professor with mixed feelings.

“Chop! Chop! Get moving.” She herded Leon to the greenhouse, where they resumed their work.

After his exams, he was helping the professor in a magical mutation study, while it sounded grand, he just helped her in planting stuff and watched her mumble and wave her wand endlessly.

The professor didn’t even let him keep up his schedule the last two days, stating that some downtime would help him.

………………………………………..

(Dumbledore’s POV)

“Mr Astraeus is such a curious child, don’t you think, Filius?” Dumbledore smiled as he watched his student drag his feet while following Pomona.

“Yes, he is. I dare say he is as talented as you, Albus.” Flitwick's high-pitched voice resounded in the headmaster’s office as an odd group of people were once again staring at the big puddle of water on the ground.

“Really? That’s high praise; I don’t believe he is more talented than my Rose.” Sirius Black raised his eyebrow at the professors. “You should see Rose duel. I bet she can even wipe the floor with most fourth years.”

Just as Snape was about to retort, James Potter cut in.

“It doesn’t matter. We aren’t gathered here for him.”

The Girl-Who-lived’s father met the headmaster’s eyes and asked. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Albus?”

Dumbledore’s smile vanished.

“I wrote to friends across the world and even perused the Black Library. But I didn’t find any magic that would help Voldemort possess a Wizard for a whole year.. not without some horrible and volatile rituals to maintain the possession, and that’s when I didn’t account for him being dead.” The room became silent at that.

The occupants turned their heads towards the magical puddle as Weasley loudly directed the chess game.

“Voldemort was always above norms when it came to magic. I need more information to properly handle him, James.” A somber atmosphere enveloped the room as the century-old beacon of hope and might admitted to his helplessness.

“With us watching, Rose will be the safest student in Hogwarts even if Voldemort was at his full power, not to mention his current pitiful state. This is Hogwarts, after all.”

“As Dumbledore said before, we need to understand more about the prophecy too. This is the safest way we can accomplish all our goals.” McGonagall muttered like she was trying to convince herself.

“We can’t let him return to full power.” Her eyes hardened as she looked at her protégé.

‘How are you doing this, Tom? The Egyptian body-snatching method always mutates the target's head into something close to that of an animal. Turning into a Preta- a being made of hunger- drives the possessed mad. Herpo the foul didn’t concern himself with possession.’

Dumbledore needed time to find a method that would allow the caster to possess a Wizard for multiple months. He was hoping that would give a clue on how Voldemort evaded death.

Even with him being in his prime, his foreign friends were rightly cautious about sharing the methods - the ones their family members witnessed or experimented with- of cheating death with him.

After all, almost all of these methods are dark, and it won’t be the first time in history that a wizard has lost his way as his death became inevitable.

Snap snorted derisively as he watched Weasley talk about sacrificing himself.

“Hmm! That’s called Camaraderie, Snape. Not something you have seen much with your pals, I bet.” Sirius glared at the potion’s professor.

“Please, the boy knows what he’s doing. He saw where another Knight piece was hit and is talking about sacrifice when he knows the chess pieces will attack the Horse, not him.”

Just as Snape predicted, the Queen’s staff didn’t touch the red-headed boy, but the boy fainted all the same. They were trying to get Rose and Voldemort in the same room, after all. The other kids being present would complicate the plan.

“Your mind is a really sad place, isn’t it?” Sirius muttered, watching the boy collapse.

Time passed as the students went through another trail.

Leaving Hermoine behind, Rose entered the final chamber, the chamber where the Philosopher's Stone was stored.

James, who was fidgeting in his chair the whole time, stood up as they saw Voldemort on the back of Quirrel’s head.

“Oh, Quirinus,” McGonagall gasped in shock. They knew Quirrel gave himself to the dark lord, but it didn’t register how far he was gone until they saw a head on his back.

Dumbledore grabbed James' shoulder as he looked ready to apparate. “I spent most of the year enchanting the final chamber to help in my confrontation with Voldemort’s spy or Voldemort himself. Right now, Rose is the safest person in Hogwarts. Don’t be hasty.”

“Leaving her alone with that.. creature, it’s not right.”

Quirrel started to scream, jerking his hands away from Rose.

The young Potter grabbed onto his face, making his scream echo in the empty chamber.

With a swish of his wand, Dumbledore cast a spell on Rose, deciding to mitigate the trauma as best as he could.

“I believe that’s Lily’s protective charm on dear Rose coming into play.”

‘I didn’t know her magic actively extended to harm Voldemort. What a bright girl!’

Dumbledore intently watched Quirrel turn to Ash and disappear as Tom’s spirit flew away.

As the Girl-Who-Lived collapsed, Dumbledore started to cast every spell he knew, trying to contain the spirit, but the result met his prediction.

He couldn’t stop Tom.

The headmaster didn’t know what magic was used, even stalking Quirrel after the Unicorn incident, and carefully testing his magic didn’t yield results, nor did his venture into the dusty tomes.

The headmaster looked his age as he came to terms with his failure, he felt the Dark Spirit slip through every ward - ancient or not- of Hogwarts with ease.

Dumbledore disappeared and returned to his office with Rose in tow.

“She is fine; I just knocked her out.”

James took his daughter into his arms and hugged her after ascertaining her health by casting some spells.

“Sorry for being such a useless father, Rose.” He muttered, tightly hugging his little girl to his chest.

……………

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