The start of term at Hogwarts was September 1st. This meant Harry still had nearly a month of summer vacation left.
Alaric Thorn naturally arranged some learning tasks for Harry during this period. However, he wasn't inclined to make the boy spend every waking hour working. After all, children need proper play, don't they? The only pity was that Harry didn't seem to have any friends—at least, Alaric had never seen any.
On the first Sunday of August, Harry was helping Alaric process the harvested Dittany into Essence of Dittany as usual. While carefully pouring the liquid into vials, Harry looked up and asked cautiously, "Teacher, when can you start teaching me spells?"
Alaric was checking the quality of the essence Harry had produced. Hearing this, his hand paused, and he looked up at the boy.
"I recall mentioning that only after your eleventh birthday could you..."
At that moment, Alaric realized Harry had indeed passed his eleventh birthday.
"Time truly does fly," Alaric mused.
Harry watched him nervously, his fingers tightening slightly around the vial, fearing a refusal.
"Of course," Alaric said, setting down the potion bottle and speaking thoughtfully. "Since you are now eleven, you are indeed eligible to begin formal magical training. Though, strictly speaking, you should wait until you reach Hogwarts to cast spells, which is only a few weeks away."
Seeing that Alaric hadn't refused, Harry broke into a delighted grin. "I can't wait, Teacher!"
Rarely seeing Harry so eager to learn, Alaric wasn't about to dampen his spirits. No wonder he had noticed Harry carrying his new wand when he arrived today; the boy had planned this all along.
"Hagrid took you to Diagon Alley to buy your textbooks, correct?" Alaric asked.
Harry nodded.
"Then I assume you've pre-read your new textbook, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1," Alaric said matter-of-factly. "I believe that's the title; my memory is a bit fuzzy."
"...Not exactly, Teacher."
Harry replied somewhat awkwardly. That book was currently shoved under his bed. Since returning from Diagon Alley, he had spent most of his time foolishly waving his wand around or playing with Hedwig.
Books? Harry wasn't very well-acquainted with them yet.
"..."
Alaric was silent for a moment. He had assumed all children were like he had been; he remembered nearly wearing out the pages of his Hogwarts texts the summer he got them. Clearly, Harry did not belong to the scholarly camp.
"Should I go home and get it?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"No need." Alaric waved a hand and stood up, heading toward the back storage area. "I believe my old school copy is still around here somewhere."
Because of the Undetectable Extension Charm, Alaric's warehouse was massive, and since he lacked the habit of organizing, things were notoriously difficult to find. Eventually, however, he unearthed a school-era textbook from a cardboard box in the corner.
A few minutes later, Alaric emerged from the warehouse with a thick layer of dust on his robes, clutching a worn copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. When Harry took the book, the dust cloud made him choke.
"Cough—thank you."
Coughing, he flipped open Alaric's old book. The pages were slightly yellowed, but the text remained clear. What surprised Harry was that nearly every page was filled with meticulous notes, proving the previous owner had been a serious student.
However, it was odd—there were two distinctly different styles of handwriting. Perhaps this book had passed through two owners before him. Who could the second person have been?
Harry quickly pushed the thought aside; he was too eager to begin. "Where should I start, Teacher?" Harry set the book down and gripped his wand.
Alaric chuckled at Harry's impatience and patted the cover of the textbook. "The spells in this book are designed specifically for beginners," Alaric said, sitting back and gesturing lazily. "Pick one that interests you and give it a try."
Harry flipped through the pages for a while but couldn't decide.
"How about the Wand-Lighting Charm?" Alaric suggested, raising an eyebrow. "It's a solid choice."
With that, Alaric gave his wand a slight flick.
"Lumos."
Harry watched in awe as a small, soft orb of light appeared at the tip of Alaric's wand.
"Now, you try, Harry," Alaric said, waving his wand again to extinguish the light. "Concentrate. And look at the book; I should have recorded all the key points in the margins."
The Wand-Lighting Charm was simple, but it required focus. If the caster's mind wandered, they could accidentally set their wand on fire, causing irreversible damage. As Miranda Goshawk, author of the Standard Book of Spells series, once wrote: If you have any doubt about your ability, you would be better off buying a magical lantern.
For the next hour, Alaric guided Harry's practice while continuing to brew his potions.
"Raise your arm a bit higher, Harry."
"Flick the wand faster."
"The incantation? Don't forget to speak!"
After half an hour of practice, the tip of Harry's wand finally flickered to life. Harry stared at the small spark of light, unable to hide his excitement. Though it only lasted for a moment, it was enough to make him ecstatic.
"I did it!" he cried.
Alaric smiled, leaning back in his chair. When he had cast his first spell, he had reacted much like Harry.
"It's only a start," Alaric said, clapping his hands. "But you did very well."
Harry was beaming, clutching his wand tight. "Teacher, what do we learn next?"
Alaric offered a mysterious smile and, under Harry's expectant gaze, uttered two words: "Potions."
"..."
Harry's excited expression froze instantly.