7 Chapter-7: Hogwarts express

Six months later,

At the back of the villa, Theo is seen standing in an open field while closing his eyes.

In front of him is some stones and logs of different sizes. He then opened his eyes and slowly lifted his hand, and a few moments later, a strange thing happened.

The stones, logs, etc. started to flow on-air, dancing, and revolving around Theo.

Then he took out his wand with his opposite hand and with a flick stone and logs transfigured into a spear, then with a wave of his hand the spears flew in a fast speed and hit the dummies in front.

He suddenly heard a clap from his back.

"Ha…ha… bravo Theo what a splendid performance. It seems your hard work has paid off.

With this your training ends here, for now, that is. But don't forget to train in Hogwarts. But before that, let me see how you fare in a match."

Then Blake took out his wand and said,

"So, my dear grandson, what to have a match?"

"You're on grandpa," said Theo with a smile and tighten his grip on his wand.

While both Theo and Blake stood opposite of each other with their wands ready, the field was cleaned up instantaneously.

After a looking contest for a few seconds, Theo started casting spells one after another.

While Blake was deflecting them, counter or shielding them with ease either by using shield charm, using counterspell, or simply moving left or right.

Theo only has been studying and using magic for six months. Whether he learned all spells up to 4th year of Hogwarts including a few thought by Blake. Or the ability to use spells up to 2nd-year chant-less or first-year wandless, he is still no match for Blake.

So, after a few minutes passed with Theo sending a barrage of spells at Blake, he said,

"That was impressive, but now it's my turn."

Saying that Blake unleashed his barrage of spells, Theo saved himself either by jumping away, moving left or right, or using the shield spell.

This went on for some time until Blake played enough and was satisfied with Theos dodging skills.

So, he ended the match with a quick flick of his wand, making Theo stunned on the ground.

After Theo came back to his senses he said with a defeated tone,

"I still hate losing to you, Grandpa."

"Then study and practice harder," said Blake.

He is quite satisfied with this grandson of his. Because he is not only a prodigy but also very hardworking.

It reflects how much Theo improved over these six months. Other than learning everything his book offers up to the fourth year of Hogwarts.

He studied all types of levitation spells and spells used to move objects from afar to the point where he can cast them wand-less.

Other than that, he studied Runes up to his 5th year of Hogwarts, so much so that he could get outstanding in O.W.L.S.

What was hard for most people, he could learn it easily, all thanks to his all-speak ability and photographic memory.

Thanks to his strong memory capability, he also learned potions up to 5th year and a few alchemy.

After Runes and Potions, what he found most fascinating was the transfiguration spells. He has learned transfiguration, up to 5th year as well.

He also learned to block his mind as well as read surface thoughts by learning occlumency and legilimency. Balke especially urged him to learn occlumency to the point where his surface thoughts are safe from reading.

But his greatest accomplishment was mage sight. Thanks to sensing and observing magic daily helped Theo to develop it or activate it.

When Blake found about it, he was surprised beyond word. The reason being, it is one of the rarest among rare magical gifts.

Listening to Blake, Theo squeezed his wand tightly in his hand and declared with strong determination,

"You bet, I will. I will defeat you one day, grandpa."

"I am looking forward to it boy," said Blake with a prideful smile while going back to the villa, leaving Theo behind.

In a blink of an eye, it was the time for Hogwarts would officially start his semester.

Due to Theos urging, his parents and Blake saw him off at the King's Cross station. Even though Anna was worried, but Theo's stubborn urging kept her at bay.

Theo's parents came to meet him at the villa a week before the start of Hogwarts. They stayed there for the week.

Then everyone came back to Theo's parent's house, a few hours before going to the Kings Cross station.

During their stay, they were amazed again and again seeing magic happening around them or blake performing magic. What spoked them the most was the house-elves.

After entering the station, Theo came to where platform 9 and platform 10 are.

He was carrying two things, a knapsack with several stretching charms woven into it at his back and a suitcase charmed to have many compartments like a wardrobe.

Then on his right shoulder, Theo touched Linda and rubbed her feathers.

As a result of his all-speak ability, Theo had formed a deeper connection with Linda.

The connection was so strong to the point that she no longer need a cage to be cooped up in and can communicate just by looking at each other.

Theo sucked in a deep breath before looking in between the ticketing station of Platform 9 and Platform 10.

Walking casually, Theo went closer to the wall. After coming closer to it he put his hand on the wall.

He thought he will touch the wall but instead, his hand had passed through it. So, he went in, and past the wall, the entire scenery around him had changed.

A single red steam locomotive could be seen with countless passengers by the side. Written on the train were the words: Hogwarts Express, 11 O'clock.

Theo turned his head around–the original ticketing station he had gone through had transformed into an iron archway with a sign that said, "Platform 9 and ¾."

Smoke from the steam locomotive drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd with cats of every color darted here and there between their legs.

The station is filled with the buzzing chattering of the people. Including that, the sound of suitcases being pulled, as well as several owls, hooted out loud in a disgruntled manner could also be heard.

Several carriages were already filled with students, some of them leaning out of the windows to speak with their families, while others were seated with their friends.

Theo slowly stalked forward in an attempt to find an empty spot.

As he walked forward, a round-faced boy spoke,

"Gran, I've lost my toad again."

"Oh, Neville…" He heard the old lady sigh.

A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd.

"Give us a look, Lee, go on." The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg.

Theo pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train and sat down.

Looking outside the window, he saw a family of red-heads came in. They were chatting with themselves. He also saw a boy with black hair with round spectacles heading inside the train.

But what caught Theo's eyes was a beautiful snow white owl with him.

Not too long after, a whistle sounded.

Theo watched as three of the children quickly scrambled onto the train and then stick their heads out the window to bid farewell to their parents. He could even hear their younger sister start to cry.

The train had begun to move. Smiling, Theo turned away from the windows.

Taking out a piece of beef jerky from his knapsack, he fed Linda and then took out ancient-looking books on magical runes and begun to read them with gusto.

He didn't know when, but the doors to the compartment had suddenly opened as a single girl came in panting.

"Is there anyone sitting here?"

The voice of the girl had caused Theo to tear his eyes away from his book and lift his head, only to see lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.

"Come in then, there's nobody here," Theo replied.

Hearing his response, the girl began to lift her heavy trunk,

"Let me help you with that!"

Before the girl could even respond, Theo waved his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

Theo muttered.

Suddenly, the trunk began to float up into the air before Theo levitated it onto the luggage rack overhead.

"Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. What a beautiful Levitation Charm!"

"That's correct, your memory is amazing!" Theo exclaimed in praise.

Quite the memory, but the way it was delivered it is a clear symbol of a know-it-all girl. Theo thought while keeping up his appearances as he extending his hand, "Theodore Arthur Augustus."

"Hermione Granger." The girl reached out to shake his own hand.

Theo gave a nod in response and then, he took the book in his hands and resumed reading.