Alex watched the S Hat—an old, scruffy thing—as it judged each student one by one. For some reason, he always felt it stared back at him. Shaking his head, he scowled at it. "Just a hat," he reminded himself, though the thought felt oddly unfortable.

  Ohe ceremony ended, Dumbledore rose, his gaze both calm and pierg as he addressed the school. “As we begin another year, I’d like to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor,” he announced. “Sadly, Professor Robb, who taught you st year, passed away over the summer due to his age.”

  Alex frowned, recalling the frail, trembling professor. He’d often worried the old man might colpse mid-lesson, and it seemed his s weren’t far off.

  “Please wele Professar Bones,” Dumbledore tinued, gesturing toward a tall man with a rugged beard he staff table.

  Alex blinked in surprise. He reized Bones as one of the founding members of the Order of the Phoenix. Lily had spoken highly of him, ofteioning his talent for spellwork and runes. Bones oward Alex with a faint smile, which Alex returned with aed grin.

  That night, Alex’s first Defense Against the Dark Arts css with Bones was unlike any he’d had before. Professor Bones had a deep, booming void a humor that quickly put everyo ease. His lessons were clear and practical, uhe old professor’s, and by the end of the css, Alex was fasated.

  After css, Professor Bones called him over. Up close, Bones looked intimidating, with his thick beard and strong jaw, but his voice was warm and encing.

  “Alex, I met Lily before I arrived. She mentioned you’re talented with spells and have a strong i in runes. Is that right?”

  Alex nodded modestly, though excitement bubbled up. “Yes, sir. I’ve been w on some rune ideas tely, but… I’m a bit stuck.”

  Bones’ eyebrows rose. “Creating your own? Impressive! Why don’t you e by my offietime? I’m no expert, but I think I share a thing or two.”

  Alex’s heart raced with excitement as he accepted the offer, his mind already buzzing with ideas.

  That evening, Alex found himself standing outside Professor Bones' office, his hand raised to knock. When the door swung open, Boood there, holding a tray with a half-eaten meal. He chuckled at the sight of Alex, clearly amused by his enthusiasm.

  “You’re a bit early!” Bones greeted him with a warm grin. “I haven’t even finished dinner yet, so you might have to wait a few minutes.”

  Alex’s face flushed, and he scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, Professor Bones. I just… couldn’t wait to get started.”

  Bones ughed, waving him in. "o apologize, Alex. e on in and make yourself fortable.”

  Alex stepped inside, his eyes immediately sing the room. Shelves filled with a books lihe walls, their spines worn with age. In one er, a polished rune workbench gleamed uhe mplight, with rows of crystals and tools carefully arranged.

  With a smile, Bones gestured for Alex to sit nearby. Alex’s gaze wandered around the office, stopping on a rge, polished rune workben the er. It was far more advahan the o Lily’s house, plete with rows of crystals for testing magic. The setup was clearly state-of-the-art and likely very expensive.

  Notig Alex’s i, Bones raised an eyebrow. “Yhat workbench?”

  Alex nodded, impressed. “Yes, I saw something simir at Lily’s house st Christmas. I started learning ruhere, but yours seems more advanced.”

  “Ah, that expins a lot,” Bones replied thoughtfully, seeing that Alex’s knowledge was beyond most sed-year students. “So, how are you studying runes now?”

  Alex reached into his bag and pulled out a rune disk he always kept with him. “I’m using this. James and Lily gave it to me along with a book on basies. I’ve been learning from that, and now I’m trying to uand a runes and even experimenting with bining them.”

  Bones looked genuinely impressed. “You’re already w on a ruhat’s usually beyond third-year level. And you’re experimenting too?”

  Alex shrugged, modest but eager. Bones his with admiration, seeing a rare passion in the young wizard. Quickly finishing his meal, Bourned his full attention to Alex.

  “Alright, let’s try something,” Bones said, raising his hand to summon a small orb of light. With a gentle push, the glowing orb floated toward Alex.

  Alex instinctively reached out, fog his magic as the light settled in his hand, pulsing faintly. He sehe orb held strong magic, though its glow was dimmer than a typical Lumos spell. Intrigued, he studied it closely.

  Boilted his head, notig Alex’s rea. “What’s on your mind? Does something seem different?”

  “Yes,” Alex replied thoughtfully. “This orb has more magic, but the light is dimmer than usual. It feels… heavier somehow.”

  “ you actually sehe magi it?” Bones asked, more curious now.

  To test this, Bones jured a sed orb—this one much brighter, but with less magic. “Try with this one.”

  Alex took the brighter orb, examining it before looking up in surprise. “This one has less magic, but it’s a lhter. How does that work?”

  ‘How indeed,’ Bohought, hiding his astonishment.

  He’d meant for a simple test but now looked at Alex with a mix of disbelief and admiration. Alex was sensing magi ways no sed-year student should. Bones marveled at the young wizard’s rare sensitivity, w if Alex might surpass some adult wizards he knew.

  Unaware of Bones’ amazement, Alex tiudying the orbs, trag his fingers around them. He experimented by eling his own magito the orbs, adjusting their bahe brighter one flickered a out in his hand, while the dimmer oed longer before fading.

  “So,” Alex mused, “if there’s more magic, it’s dimmer but sts longer, and if there’s less, it’s brighter but burns out faster.”

  “Alex, let’s sit and talk.” Bones gestured to a small table, and they both took a seat.

  “Do you know why I had you hold those orbs?” Bones asked, leaning forward.

  Alex thought carefully before answering. “You wao see my uanding of magitrol. I noticed that the oh more magic was steadier but dimmer, while the other had less power and was brighter but less stable.”