Well, it could be about Harry exploring traditional or ancient magic methods, perhaps things that were long forgotten in the wizarding world. Maybe he discovers old spells, or ways of divination that were practiced ages ago.
The 'harry learns the old ways fanfic' is likely centered around Harry's exploration of archaic knowledge or practices. It could be that he discovers an old library filled with dusty tomes that hold the secrets of the old ways. As he reads and learns from these, he might start to incorporate these old ways into his daily life in Hogwarts or his battles against the dark forces. He could learn things like how wizards used to communicate without wands, or ancient forms of defensive magic that have been long forgotten by most in the modern wizarding world.
Well, Harry is surely a main character. There could be some other characters like Hermione and Ron who might be involved in his journey to learn the old ways. They could be helping him research in the library or having discussions about the old magic. Also, there could be some old ghosts in Hogwarts who have knowledge of the old ways and they play a role in this fanfiction as well.
It's possible that the old ways are related to the understanding of ancient magical artifacts. Bill might have knowledge about certain artifacts that have been around for centuries. He could teach Harry how to decipher the inscriptions on them, how to unlock their powers, or how to use them in a way that has been lost to most modern wizards. This knowledge would be very valuable for Harry in his adventures.
Since it's about Harry learning the old ways, Harry Potter is surely one of the main characters. There might also be some old - time wizards or witches who teach him the old ways.
In such a fanfiction, Harry might discover ancient spells that give him an edge in battles. For example, he could learn old defensive magic that can protect Hogwarts in a more powerful way than the existing spells. He might also use old magic to communicate with long - lost magical creatures that hold secrets of the wizarding world.
A reader can learn about a story through the plot development. As the events unfold, the reader gets to know more about the story. Also, character development is important. How the characters change over time tells a lot about the story.
He might learn about hidden magical talents in his family. For example, perhaps there were ancestors who could communicate with magical creatures in a unique way that was lost over time.
Maybe it could be an ancient magical being like a centaur. Centaurs are known for their knowledge of the stars and ancient magic. They might take Harry under their wing and teach him old magic that has been passed down through their generations.
One interesting thing could be how Harry discovers and masters Parselmagic in unique ways different from the original story. It might show his internal struggle with using a form of magic that has such a dark reputation.
In this kind of fanfiction, one revelation could be that Dumbledore hid the true nature of certain magical artifacts from Harry. For example, he might have concealed the real powers or the dark secrets associated with an object like the Marauder's Map.