Having caught up and without further interruptions, he found himself, almost unconsciously, heading toward the mansion's library. However, when he was just a few steps away, he stopped.
'Forget it, I've already read too much, I'd better practice my magic.'
Turning around, he changed his destination toward his room. He had expanded his repertoire, so it was time to focus again on his magical control.
More specifically, wandless magic.
Crossing the door to his room, he was greeted by a spacious and well-lit chamber. The walls, covered in white, were lined with dark oak paneling, and a fine crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. To his right was the dressing table, followed by a wardrobe filled with jackets and coats.
In front of him stood his bed, large and decorated with a purple canopy. A bit further away, there was a door leading to the bathroom, where his main wardrobe was also located. Finally, at the far end, a large window offered a view of the mansion's backyard.
[img]
After entering, he left his coat on the rack and loosened his clothes slightly, just enough to feel more comfortable.
His last experience had almost made him reconsider the comfort of the clothing he had used in China compared to English or French magical fashion. But in the end, what was familiar prevailed, giving him a sense of security more in line with his identity.
Almost immediately, a colorful figure flew out from his pocket, fluttering before landing on his shoulder.
Bloom: "Your house is very beautiful."
Extimum: "Well, the witches in the family haven't been that outdated when it comes to design," he replied naturally, sitting on the bed, taking off his shoes, and adopting the lotus position.
He gazed at the empty space in front of him, focusing on his magic. The invisible and metaphysical flow guided by his will, his core, and his soul began to condense in his outstretched left hand.
Since he started practicing, he had always used his left hand for magic and his right for the sword. A casual decision turned into a preference, and then into a habit.
'Water.'
The amorphous mass, invisible to anyone but his eyes, stirred in his palm. It began to spin, and then out of nowhere, a drop of water condensed, followed by another, until a sphere of considerable size formed, floating above his hand.
The summoned water was unstable, slightly wavering as if threatening to spill over. But by concentrating more, he managed to stabilize it into a perfect spherical shape.
'Ice.'
A second thought arose, and the temperature dropped sharply. Frosty wisps escaped from the sphere as it began to solidify.
In barely two seconds, the sphere froze completely.
"I've improved a bit compared to before the trip. It was three seconds faster."
Of course, if he simply cast Aguamenti, he could summon far more than a simple ball of water and much faster, followed by a Glacius to freeze it. But this was different: he wasn't following a predefined spell, he was summoning water in a controlled way, keeping it afloat above his hand, shaping it, and then changing its state with nothing but his will and magic.
Bloom: "Not bad, but why not try something more challenging? Freezing water isn't that difficult, but maintaining two opposing states in harmony is far more interesting. For example… can you create fire inside the ice? Of course, without letting it go out after a few seconds, or letting the fire melt the ice."
Extimum: "Hmm… like this?"
With a thought, the inside of the ice sphere hollowed out, and from its center, a spark of fire ignited, no larger than a candle, flickering weakly before stabilizing.
Drops of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The manifestation seemed simple, but its conception was complicated.
Focusing, he tried to feed the flame, to make it grow larger, but then…
** Fush **
The spark of fire surged, burning fiercely and turning the sphere of ice into a spectacle of light, while droplets of water began to slide across its surface and cracks appeared in its structure.
He hurried to suppress the fire and reinforce the ice before it shattered, and only after several minutes of intense concentration did he achieve balance.
A pale, frozen sphere, with a burning core contained within.
Bloom: "Wow! Not bad, you did it very quickly. Though maybe it's not as much of a challenge for you as it was for me."
Extimum: "What kind of magic do you specialize in?"
Bloom: "Well, my abilities lean more toward fire, so if I wanted to make water, it would take me a bit more effort. However, my fire is very versatile."
As she spoke, a small ball of fire appeared in her hand, rapidly growing before drifting away and taking the shape of a dragon about 20 cm tall and 50 cm long.
Bloom: "Don't be fooled by its size. A normal human wouldn't last more than ten seconds before turning to ashes if struck by it. If it's a magical creature… well, it would depend on its natural resistance, but it wouldn't be much better. And this is just a basic fire spell."
Even though that was assuming the target did not defend itself.
"My magic focuses on fire, but it doesn't just burn and destroy… it can also heal… sometimes."
Extimum: "Can you change the dragon's size?"
Bloom: "Of course, this was just for show, look."
The fire dragon stirred and began to expand rapidly, until it covered almost the entire space of the room. If not for her excellent control, a single misstep could have set the curtains or anything nearby ablaze.
Extimum: "Interesting. Also, I feel that what you're invoking isn't normal fire… it feels somewhat particular… though also different from cursed fire."
The nature of elements, generally, did not vary. No matter how a spell was modified, its effects or complexity, fire, in essence, was always fire.
Even the most mystical flames, like eternal fire or Fiendfyre, presented changes in their properties that altered their nature… but not their essence.
And the fire before him felt like fire… but also like something more.
There was something warm, alive, and vibrant… but also fierce and destructive.
Bloom: "Mmm… my fire magic is, in fact, uncommon. I remember that even among fire fairies, there wasn't anyone who could use this type of fire like I do."
Extimum observed Bloom's magical creation. Her control was remarkable: the dragon had scales, horns, and a detailed shape that, although not alive, simulated constant movement. Moreover, she did not use a wand, only a few hand movements, not even incantations.
Bloom flew around Extimum, waiting for his opinion.
Extimum: 'In a direct clash of raw power… hmm… I think it doesn't lose to any of my current best spells.'
Purely in terms of raw power, that dragon surpassed what he could face. And that was without considering Bloom's real limits, especially given that she had not yet fully recovered.
He briefly considered some strategies, but his odds were not favorable.
Just as he was about to give his opinion, he stopped.
** tap tap **
A familiar sound of heels striking the floor reached his ears.
** Plap **
With a clap, the magic in the room stirred, dispersing the dragon and all manifestations. Thanks to the contract, it was not difficult for him to influence Bloom's magic.
** Toc toc **
Extimum: "Come in".
The door opened almost immediately after his response, casting doubt on whether the one entering had actually intended to wait or was simply too eager to do so.
A tall and slender woman entered the room, wearing a long black dress that accentuated her figure and her beautiful green hair. It was Ava.
Ava: "I see you've returned… and… you brought a pet."
The woman's scrutinizing and cold gaze almost made Bloom jump. However, she quickly composed herself, floating calmly beside Extimum.
"Make sure to let me know next time you wish to go out and do your things. Even for us, there are dangers out there."
Her voice was measured, devoid of any hint of emotion.
Extimum: "I will take it into consideration, mother. On the other hand, will we attend the next family gathering?"
Ava: "Hmm? I didn't think you would be aware, but yes. It is tradition, after all."
Despite Lian Hua's request, he did not intend to mention her other doubts. That would directly expose what he had been doing and, with little investigation, even where he had been. It was enough to know that they would attend the family gathering.
Ava scrutinized him for a few seconds before shifting her attention around the room, with barely veiled judgment, and then turned to head for the exit.
She stopped right at the door.
"I have heard that you are fraternizing with Mr. Potter… I will only remind you… do not forget how the Enoch family does things."
With those words, she did not linger any longer. She left the room and closed the door behind her.
Bloom: "Is that your mother?"
Extimum: "Yes."
Bloom: "What a cold woman… I almost shivered under her gaze. She didn't even ask about you… uh, I mean, she is very beautiful, hehe."
Extimum: "Hmp, don't worry. I'm used to it, she has been like that for as long as I can remember. Let's continue practicing magic."
.
In the following days, Extimum visited Snaglok.
The business had been well established and they already had some clients. They were not many, but it was a start. Some of Extimum's designs proved especially popular among Muggle-born wizards who wanted to decorate their homes.
He took advantage of his visit to add more designs, inspired by his trip to China, to the book.
The profits were good, even if they were not too many. Depending on what the client requested, the service could cost from ten galleons for a simple remodeling, up to fifty for something more elaborate, or even more if they were particularly demanding.
It became particularly popular because many wizards did not know how to cast protection charms or specialized barriers for their homes. That knowledge was usually reserved for large families or experienced wizards.
In just one month, he had already recovered the initial investment and earned 500 galleons.
With that money, he could begin to focus on other ideas to generate income. Perhaps selling enchanted artifacts; there were some ideas that could be viable when applied with magic and that did not currently exist on the market.
On the other hand, he devoted part of his time to researching blood curses. However, it turned out to be much more complicated than he expected. There were several spells capable of cursing a bloodline, each with different methods to get rid of them. Additionally, he had to find the catalyst that maintained the curse, which implied obtaining blood from the current victim, among other details.
He was not particularly adept at magic related to blood and lineages either, so it would require quite a bit of study and research. Even so, he had time. As he remembered, he would have close to twenty years or more before Astoria died.
Curiously, his mother began visiting him more frequently. On one occasion, even his father came as well.
--Flashback--
Seated at the large dining table, he was lost in his thoughts, waiting for everything to be arranged for lunch, when he noticed Bob placing tableware and cutlery for two more seats.
The scene made him freeze for a moment.
Bloom: "What's wrong?"
Extimum: "There are two more plates…"
Bloom: "And…?"
Extimum: "The last time I saw this was when I was four years old and had to attend a meeting of local magical families… and that can only mean one thing. We won't be dining alone."
Bloom: "Will your mother and father come?"
There was no need to respond. Shortly after, a couple entered the dining room.
The man was tall, approximately 1.85 m, with a slightly broad build. He had black, somewhat long hair, gray eyes, a stone-like face with a hint of pride, and a cold, intimidating gaze. He wore an elegant black suit with a cloak and a glove of the same color on one of his hands.
His mere presence emanated a dark and oppressive aura, though that did not diminish his attractiveness.
Callum Enoch
[img]
At his side was Ava, walking slightly behind him. Both took their seats in the places prepared near Extimum.
As he sat down, the man's gaze fell upon him.
An invisible weight seemed to fall over his shoulders, making even breathing somewhat difficult. The air in the dining room seemed to drop several degrees under the intensity of his gaze.
Extimum swallowed weakly, but did not look away. He held it for what felt like centuries… though it was probably only a few seconds.
Finally, the man shifted his gaze toward Bloom, who had her own miniature seat beside Extimum, before withdrawing it completely when the dishes were served.
The meal proceeded in complete silence. No words were exchanged. Not even the clinking of cutlery or glasses could be heard.
Bloom: 'Your father is a bit terrifying…'
She commented through the mental link, making an effort to eat carefully so as not to make noise.
Extimum: 'Hmm… his aura is quite oppressive, perhaps more than I remember. Maybe he has grown stronger? Though it's not like I see him very often.'
When lunch ended, both left with the same silence with which they had entered. The loudest moment of all had been when Bob began to clear the table.
As he watched his back walk away, Extimum could not help but wonder:
'Is it really that difficult to say a word?'
He did not usually think about it, mainly because there was no occasion. But when it happened, certain wild thoughts crossed his mind.
Was he really his father?
Did he hate him?
Did he look down on him?
Did he care about him and simply not show it?
Damn… was he shy?
He could not say that it did not affect him. And it was not as if he had never tried to change the situation. He had, when he was younger, but he was almost always ignored. And when he insisted too much… he stopped coming to the house.
Many times, he felt the temptation to ask him directly:
Why do you ignore me?
But he did not dare.
He feared the answer… until it simply stopped mattering.
On the few occasions he came, even his mother would pull him away or reprimand him for bothering him.
So, he stopped trying.
Just as he stopped seeing him.
Extimum did not hate him. It was difficult to hate someone you barely know… or perhaps not, but he did not bother to do so. Besides, if one ignored certain traits inherited from his mother and his lineage, the physical resemblance between them was undeniable.
Even so, although the question lost its value, the answer still sparked his curiosity.
If they hated him… should he leave?
He could have done so.
His family was extensive. He could have taken refuge in another branch, in another country, attended another school. Sweden and France were not far. He could have gone even farther.
He would not be free of difficulties, but it was possible.
Other branches would probably offer him kinder treatment. His experience in the Chinese branch proved it.
But he did not want to leave.
He liked this place.
Even if he did not have much to hold on to, something seemed to hammer in his mind, telling him not to leave.
As for his mother… it was complicated.
She had raised him, at least in part, during his early years. Memories that felt distant, though they were not that far away. Somewhere deep within him, he truly considered her his mother.
She was a cold woman. One should not expect hugs, kisses, or even a good night.
But when you have no one else in such a large mansion, and the only comparison is an indifferent father… it is difficult not to develop a certain appreciation.
Besides, perhaps because she was a woman, he had occasionally noticed something different in her.
It was not obvious. It never was.
But sometimes… there were gestures.
Small actions. Almost imperceptible.
Things that, only after thinking about them carefully, seemed to be more than what they showed at first glance.
Or perhaps he was simply overthinking.
It was hard to know.
A simple lunch shook his entire mental state, something perceptible to Bloom, who approached his shoulder with concern, looking at him with bright eyes while gently caressing his face in a comforting manner with her small hand, pulling him out of such thoughts.
Extimum: "I'm fine, let's go back."
--End Flashback--.
His time became very busy. There was too much to study and practice.
Spatial magic, blood magic and blood curses, runes to improve his magical house redesign artifact, runes to try to recreate certain magical artifacts to sell, practicing fencing, training his body, improving his Occlumency and perfecting his wandless magic.
He got tired, and sometimes bored, but everything was so fascinating and varied that he always found something else to delve into, especially when putting it into practice.
With Bloom's arrival in his life, besides studying, he also made time to play or simply chat with her.
Bloom stayed by his side almost all the time, even accompanying him while he studied. Though, most of the time, she limited herself to being lazy, sleeping on his shoulder or his head.
With so much to do, he did not find time to visit Malfoy, deciding to leave it for the next holidays.
.
Time passed quickly, and with his mind occupied and his hands full, he forgot to do his shopping for the second year, leaving everything for the last moment. Most people did the same, but he did not like it; there was too much crowding.
'But it's what I brought upon myself.'
Extimum: "Alright, let's go, Bloom. We're heading to Diagon Alley."
Bloom: "I'm coming, I'm coming! I was finishing fixing my hair."
She quickly flew from the dressing table to Extimum, then slipped into the pocket of his jacket.
Bloom: ""Alright, let's go!". she said, raising her fist enthusiastically.
Her body had fully recovered during that time, and her mind seemed to have done so as well. Although she still lacked memories of her past, everything related to her identity had returned.
She had a cheerful and enthusiastic personality, perhaps a bit reckless and clumsy at times, but pleasant.
Since her recovery, she hardly separated from Extimum at any moment. Given that they basically slept, ate, and spent time together, their relationship had become very close, beyond the effects of the contract.
With everything ready, they headed toward the mansion's fireplace. They would travel by Floo.
Previously, the access had been closed, so he always depended on Bob to go out. But since Callum's last visit, it remained open.
Since it was not aesthetic to have a large fireplace in the middle of the room, its exterior appearance was small and refined. However, when approaching it with the intention of using it, the upper bricks shifted, revealing a spacious interior along with a compartment where the Floo powder was stored.
Extimum: "Diagon Alley."
A green flame enveloped them, and they disappeared.
** Fosh **
Although Floo travel only allows transporting one person at a time, in a strange way, Extimum could travel together with Bloom.
They discovered it on one occasion when Extimum was going to visit Snaglok. Despite having explained to her that she could not accompany him, since they would have to travel separately and there was a risk of arriving at different places, Bloom jumped toward him just before the fire enveloped him.
The event took Extimum by surprise, who did not know what might happen. He feared that, as with Apparition, deformations or something worse could occur.
However, to his relief, both arrived perfectly fine.
In a later attempt, and taking certain precautions, they confirmed that they could indeed travel together.
.
They appeared in a public fireplace in Diagon Alley.
Extimum: 'Ugh… too many people.'
Bloom: 'Then you shouldn't have focused on reading so many books.'
Extimum: 'Hmm… but it was worth it.'
The first stop was Madame Malkin's shop. With his constant training and physical development, he had grown several centimeters, so he needed new robes for Hogwarts.
Although he could magically enlarge the ones he already had, he preferred to avoid it unless it was absolutely necessary.
His funds were now much larger thanks to the small success of his business. Even so, he did not need to use his own money for that kind of purchase; at home, they had already left him his stipend for the new school year.
After the clothes, he bought various materials and ingredients for Potions class, leaving him finally with only the task of acquiring his books.
While checking the list, he could not help but notice certain titles that, more than instructive, seemed like stories. Upon seeing the author's name, he could not help but complain mentally.
'Ugh… should I try to get him expelled from Hogwarts?... No, his fate isn't bad either and he has his usefulness… Ah, I'll just ignore him.'
Gilderoy Lockhart
Bloom: 'Who is he?'
Extimum: 'A useless charlatan… well, maybe he's good for something. As a clown. You'll see him later.'
On the way to Flourish and Blotts, he made a stop to buy himself an ice cream at Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor.
Despite his usually stoic demeanor, Extimum quite enjoyed magical sweets. Besides, with magic, problems like cavities practically did not exist… except for wizards too lazy to fix their teeth.
Any wizard could solve a minor issue with a simple spell, though complex cases were left in the hands of specialists. Even so, hygiene was not a common concern; medieval culture still weighed more than aesthetics, except for public figures.
Shortly after, he arrived at Flourish and Blotts.
The bookstore was located on the north side of Diagon Alley. Although its entrance was small, the interior was spacious and had two floors, filled with shelves packed with books up to the ceiling.
[img]
The place was crowded with people, especially fanatic witches across a wide range of ages. Everyone seemed amazed, watching the man of the moment and his "opportunity" for more fame alongside him.
The man was attractive, with wavy blond hair, bright white teeth, blue eyes, and fair skin. He wore robes of striking colors and maintained a proud and charismatic attitude.
But the most remarkable thing about him was, without a doubt, his enormous narcissism.
Gilderoy Lockhart, in person, holding Harry with one arm while posing for the camera.
"Over here, Lockhart!".
"One more photo!".
"Just one signature!"
The atmosphere was filled with excitement and noise. Several witches subtly pushed against each other to get closer, extending books and parchments in search of an autograph.
As he observed the place, someone slowly approached until standing beside him.
Draco: "Disgusting, isn't it?"
Extimum: "Which part exactly? The charlatan or your rival's fame?"
Draco: "So it really is Potter? I had my doubts, but his scar is clearly visible. On the other hand, I think both. And how have you been, Extimum?"
Extimum: "Quite well, thank you. And you?"
Draco: "Good, although it's a shame your trip lasted so long, I had planned some interesting things in case you came to visit."
Extimum: "Don't worry, although I couldn't come this time, I will visit during the next holidays."
Draco: "Then I hope so."
He had come up with a casual excuse in his letters to Draco, arguing that his "family trip" had taken longer than expected and, therefore, he had not been able to visit him.
Shortly after, Harry, along with the Weasleys, came out of the large crowd, finding themselves face to face with Extimum and Malfoy.
Draco: "You really love it, don't you, Potter? Being the center of attention, the fame… now you even change your appearance to stand out more."
Extimum blinked slightly, finding it amusing how Malfoy kept coming up with new arguments, although the real cause of the change was himself.
Harry had not only changed greatly in appearance and experience, but he now even stood out among the Weasleys, wearing clothes appropriate to his status thanks to having access to the money in his vault. And, oh, there was the detail that his clothes were not dirty.
As he remembered, it was on this occasion where his inexperience and nervousness with the Floo network had caused him to end up traveling to a random fireplace in the Knockturn Alley area.
Harry: "It's hard to say, Malfoy, I think we all enjoy fame a little, don't you think?"
Surprisingly, Harry defended himself. His trip to China seemed to have made him mature in several aspects, and among them, his newfound confidence was the most visible.
In fact, the Weasleys and Hermione had been quite surprised when they saw him for the first time. If it hadn't been because Ron had gone to visit him, they wouldn't have believed it was Harry, although his lightning-shaped scar still remained his most distinctive feature.
Lucius: "Ah, wise words, Potter, we all truly enjoy fame. It is, after all, the recognition of our achievements. Lucius Malfoy, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
While everyone looked at Harry, surprised by his newfound confidence, Lucius arrived from the entrance of the shop. With his usual elegant mannerisms, he introduced himself and offered to shake Harry's hand.
Harry did not hesitate and shook his hand as well.
Lucius: "Your scar is truly legendary… like the wizard who gave it to you."
Since Harry's scar was visible with his hair now less messy, Lucius could see it clearly.
Harry: "Voldemort is just a murderer, there's no need to glorify him."
Harry stepped back and pulled his hand away from the handshake upon hearing his words.
Lucius: "You must be very brave, Potter, to mention his name or… very foolish."
Lucius seemed disturbed by his casual mention of the name.
While this was happening, Hermione had also come out from within the large crowd, only to hear Lucius's words, igniting her temper, which would not allow her friends to be attacked.
Hermione: "-"
However, before Hermione could speak, she was interrupted by Extimum, who covered her mouth. He was not particularly pleased with her at the moment, not after having seen her among the fanatics.
Extimum: "It is more a matter of being cautious with such delicate matters, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Malfoy?"
Extimum received a piercing glare from Hermione, but he ignored it, while Bloom went unnoticed as a pocket ornament and watched the entire conversation with interest.
Lucius: "Ah, Extimum, forgive my lack of manners for not greeting you. Meeting Mr. Potter has been quite an… experience."
Lucius said as he removed his gaze from Hermione, who had managed to catch his attention, and focused on Extimum for a moment.
Extimum: "You are very courteous, Mr. Malfoy, there is no need to worry about such trivialities."
Lucius nodded slightly in agreement and then looked more carefully at the people around.
Lucius: "Let's see, red hair, distracted look and… ah, books… second-hand. You must be the Weasleys."
Lucius said with a disdainful gaze as he took in each of their features, including the book Ginny carried in her cauldron, picking it up to emphasize the point.
An act that did not go unnoticed and immediately drew the attention of Arthur Weasley, who was at the far end of the shop, speaking with Hermione's parents.
Arthur: "Children, you should not remain here. Do not let the atmosphere be spoiled by the presence of such unpleasant people."
Lucius: "Well, well, if it isn't Arthur Weasley"
Arthur: "Lucius…"
Arthur seemed to wear the same expression of displeasure upon encountering Lucius and slowly approached until standing in front of his children, facing him.
Lucius: "Busy at the Ministry? With all those raids, I hope they're paying you a bit more, though judging by this… I suppose not. What's the point of disgracing a wizard's name if you're not even paid properly for it?"
Arthur: "We have very different ideas about what it means to disgrace a wizard's name, Malfoy."
Lucius: "Of course… associating with Muggles. I thought your family couldn't sink any lower."
Lucius could not hide his strong disgust and contempt as he looked at several Muggles inside the shop, returning the books he had taken to Ginny's cauldron.
Lucius: "We'll see each other again. Ah, Extimum, be careful not to stay too close to them. Fraternizing is fine, but it would be a shame if you ended up contaminated by their kind."
Extimum simply remained silent.
Speaking too much in the confrontation between both sides would be counterproductive, eventually forcing him to choose a side, and that was not something he was willing to do. Much less would he risk having problems at home, not when it was one of the few rules that had been taught to him repeatedly—unless it was a situation serious enough to demand it or affect him directly, of course.
Draco: "See you later, Extimum… and Potter…"
Draco smiled slightly as he said goodbye to Extimum, but shifted to a smug expression when looking at Harry.
Bloom: 'Wow, how exciting, I almost saw sparks in that exchange of looks between them.'
The tension between Lucius and Arthur had been almost palpable; one wrong step and they might have started fighting.
[Looking into it, I found out they actually fought physically, I didn't even know, since it doesn't appear in the movie]
Extimum: "Alright, setting aside the bad atmosphere, how is everyone?"
Extimum tried to lighten the mood and spoke a bit more cheerfully than usual, sounding somewhat unusual coming from him, but that very oddness seemed to ease everyone's spirits.
Arthur: "Ah, Extimum, my boy, it's good to see you in such fine shape. I see you didn't waste your holidays; if it weren't for Harry's transformation, you would have been the most outstanding for this coming year. Come, why don't we go somewhere else and talk for a while?"
Arthur said in a lively tone, patting Extimum's arm before turning to address everyone.
Extimum: "I'd love to, but I still need to buy my books, so I'll meet up with you in a moment."
Harry: "Alright, we'll wait for you outside."
Everyone else left the shop afterward, and Extimum went to gather the books he needed for this year, not without giving a few discreet glances at the second book in Ginny's cauldron before walking away.
His book purchase did not take long, even less so since the ones he mainly needed were just those Lockhart stories, so he left the shop to meet the others shortly after.
They went to Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor, though this time only to drink some milkshakes and share some time together.
All the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry, and Extimum.
Casually approaching Harry, Extimum whispered:
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention that Bloom can talk."
Harry simply nodded slightly without looking at him; he seemed to have gained a bit more discretion.
Harry recounted the problems he had with a house-elf that had entered his home. It was fortunate that the "new" Dursleys did not take it too badly.
Dobby had entered his house, but due to the improvements Extimum had made, he had not been able to enter his room; however, that did not stop him from causing chaos and disorder, bringing trouble upon Harry for not being able to stop him. Vernon's business dinner was ruined, but the punishment was somewhat lighter for Harry.
On the other hand, Ron still had to go pick him up in the flying car because Dobby had stolen the mail and they did not know how to properly use the telephone, so Harry spent the last days of his holidays at the Weasleys' house.
The conversation continued, and at some point, Hermione noticed something peculiar.
Hermione: "That's a very lovely ornament you have there, but I didn't know you liked dolls…"
Extimum: "Oh, she's not a doll, she just pretends so she can mess with everyone later. Bloom, say hello to my friends."
Bloom: 'Traitor.'
Bloom stopped playing and flew across the table where they were all seated, waving her hand in greeting. Of course, she did not speak, but she made the distinctive buzzing sound of fairies.
Arthur: "Well now, you have a fairy… these days they're quite rare to see unless you search carefully in certain magical creature shops."
Hermione: "A real fairy!"
Her eyes shone with delight as she watched Bloom flutter with her iridescent wings, just like in the fairy tales she had read, but more beautiful.
Ron: "Blimey, so she's your pet then? What can she do?"
Extimum blinked slightly. The way he referred to her made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. His mother had also used it, but he simply could not be bothered to deal with her, nor was it necessary for her to know of Bloom's importance. However, hearing Ron say it, he felt it was better to clarify, especially because his tone made it sound as if Bloom were a toy.
Extimum: "Well, she's not my pet. I'd say she's more like a companion, and it would be best not to underestimate her. She can do some very interesting things with fire. Perhaps you'll see it another time."
His comment silenced everyone momentarily; that clarification carried weight, coming from someone like Extimum.
Ron: "Fire? Not bad."
Noticing the seriousness, for once, he dropped the subject with a casual remark.
They talked about various things, such as what they did during the holidays, what had happened to Harry, the trip to China—excluding certain details—among other things. They talked for a little over an hour and then said their goodbyes.
The next day, they would see each other at the station to go to Hogwarts anyway.
.
Early in the morning, Extimum took a bath and got dressed; then he reorganized all his belongings into his expandable bag. He did not want it too cluttered with things he did not need.
Sword – Ready
Books for this year – Ready
Materials and ingredients – Ready
Self-study books – Ready
Artifact prototypes – Ready
Clothes – Ready
Various useful items – Ready
Extimum: "Alright, I think I have everything. Let's go, Bloom."
Bloom: "Bloom - Ready."
Bloom shouted as she settled into the pocket of Extimum's suit jacket.
Extimum: "Good. Bob!"
Bob: "Does Master Extimum wish to depart for the station now?"
Bob did not take long to arrive after being called.
Extimum: "Yes."
Upon hearing his answer, Bob approached and took hold of the hem of his clothing, and they disappeared with a * Pop *
.
Platform 9¾.
Bob: "Bob wishes Master and Bloom a pleasant journey."
Bob bowed and bid them farewell before disappearing shortly after.
What others could not notice at first glance, Bob had perceived with some observation, so he held Bloom in high regard—not only because he recognized her importance to Extimum, but also due to the purity of lineage he sensed in her.
They had arrived early, as usual. Extimum boarded the train and headed toward the second-year section, taking a seat in an empty compartment.
He used this time to read a new subject he had not had the opportunity to review before, while Bloom sat on his shoulder accompanying him. It was a book on magical anatomy.
After going to the infirmary the previous year, he had wanted to learn medical magic, but had not found the time for it, so now he started with the basics: understanding the anatomy of wizards and their differences with certain magical beings and creatures.
The anatomy of wizards was not really that different from that of non-magical people, beyond aspects such as genes and lineage, physically visible in hair color, eyes, and physical and mental capabilities. The real difference lay in a more metaphysical field, such as the soul and a wizard's core.
The book provided a simple and detailed explanation of the important aspects to take into account.
The soul, in particular, proved to be a rather complex subject, at least within the English magical community. However, according to some family books he had read, this topic was studied in other foreign communities where this branch of magic had more history.
Of course, it was not an unfamiliar topic in his library; it was only a matter of time. He could not stress too much: there were too many subjects to learn, too much magic to research and practice.
The path to becoming a great wizard was long, but he had time. At some point, he might find ways to learn faster; everything is possible in this world, one only needs the right key. And although magic is complex, it is the perfect tool to find solutions to such problems.
…
After half an hour, the compartment door opened.
Hermione: "So this is where you were. I've been looking for you for a while, but I couldn't find you."
Extimum: "Hmm? I'm not sure, I've been sitting here reading all this time. Did you notice anything, Bloom?"
Bloom: 'Hmm, well, while you were reading, I saw you release a wave of magic, but I thought you did it on purpose.'
Bloom replied through their link, while outwardly she only nodded.
Extimum: 'How strange.'
As he thought, Hermione took a seat beside him.
Hermione: "Oh, now you're reading about magical anatomy, that's wonderful, but have you already gone through this year's books? Especially the-"