A while later
Ace was sitting in the library, reading more books in the candlelight. These books were quite insightful as they were basically an entirely new system that Ace had never seen before. He went over the Charms and Hexes portion of his studies before going to call it a night.
As he left the library, he noticed Hermione sitting at a table and reading. Her stack of books was similar to his own!
Ace walked over and knocked on the table, smiling "Studying at this time?" as he checked his watch, Hermione looked up at him and froze, asking softly "Is it late?" Ace chuckled and replied "Much later than you think. I'll send you to your dorm, let's go."
Hermione looked at her books and hesitated with an ugly face, Ace looked at her and turned his head to see the librarian sleeping at the desk. He picked up her books and covered them in a cloth before slapping the cloth flat.
He winked at Hermione and walked out of the library as she followed him with a stunned gaze.
As they walked back to Gryffindor's Dormitories, Hermione asked "Mr. Brand, are you a teacher?" Ace looked at her for a moment before turning back to the everchanging stairways as he shook his head, replying "Nope! Actually, I'm here to learn…" he paused and slapped his forehead, frowning "I'm an idiot."
Hermione tilted her head at him and he sighed "Tomorrow then. I came to Hogwarts to get information on someone… anyway, it's not something that you should concern yourself with, little girl. Speaking of which, why were you in the bathroom alone?"
Hermione's face contorted slightly and her eyes watered as she replied softly "I went to cry." Ace looked at her and asked in confusion, "Cry? What happened?" Hermione started gesturing as she spoke "I don't really have any friends, Ron was making fun of me before because I corrected him when saying 'Leviosa' but he couldn't get it right so…"
She teared up and Ace patted her head, saying "Maybe your friend Ron is a little jealous of you?" Hermione looked at him, seemingly shocked, as Ace continued, putting a finger in the air, "I don't see anyone else sneaking out at this hour of the night to study materials that are clearly above your age group. I'm sure you'll be an excellent witch in the future, hell, even I'M a little jealous of you."
Hermione was dumbfounded, repeating "You?!" Ace smiled and stroked the top of her head, "Yep. Most of the magic I know comes from Magic tricks like making things disappear or card tricks. The Magic taught at Hogwarts is really hard for me to accomplish. Even after a month or so I've only been able to use a few spells."
He shook his head and raised his hands, shrugging "I wish I was a little genius like you too!" Then he leaned over and smiled gently, "So! Don't be upset and cry when people make fun of you." he poked her forehead and added "Remember, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."
Hermione smiled slightly and replied "I know that. I have Muggle parents." Ace straightened out and curled his lips, replying "I also have normal parents, although I am also a 'normal' person, not a wizard. Although, I guess the best word would be Magician."
Hermione looked at him in confusion and Ace shook his head, pointing at the portrait, saying "Off you go. Ah! Don't forget your books." as he reached out behind Hermione's head, pulling out an entire stack of books as he snickered "A strange place to hide them."
Hermione gawked at Ace speechlessly, he winked at her before walking away and humming to himself. Hermione turned around and asked "Mr. Brand! Can you teach me that magic?!" Ace waved over his shoulder and replied "Maybe someday kid. Don't stay up too late." before twisting his wrist as a cloth shrouded him, falling to the ground while Ace disappeared into thin air!
Hermione gasped and looked around, saying "Incredible!" before turning to the door as the portrait was also looking around with a confused face, muttering "Where did he go?"
The next morning
Ace was eating at the teacher's table, reading from a book on Curses as he sat next to Snape. He coughed and patted his chest before continuing to eat, Snape closed his eyes and put down his silverware before glaring at Ace, who was completely oblivious to Snape's gaze.
Snape looked at the book and finally spoke, "That book is more for moderate Curses, not for beginners." Ace paused and looked at the cover, pointing at a part as he said "But it says starting out on Curses right here."
Snape flipped the book open to the final chapter, tapping on the page. Ace looked at it and was stunned, cursing "What moron wrote this!? 'The User should beware as these Curses are heavily suggested to be used by Wizards or Witches who are already familiar with Curses. Should the Wizard or Witch not be, we recommend 'Curses and You: Fledgling Wizards Vol. 1-3'' Honestly!"
He turned to Snape with a look of 'You know what I'm saying?!' while Snape just ignored him and continued eating. Ace turned back to the book and grumbled, closing it and finished eating before leaving the table to go back to the library, "Stupid capitalist Wizards… Can't just put everything in one book? There isn't a spell for that? Bullshit…"
He passed by Hermione, Harry, and Ron eating together while looking at a new broom. Hermione watched him go by and hummed to herself, Harry looked at her and asked "Hermione? What's wrong?"
Ron bit on a sausage and chewed as he looked over at her, she looked around and whispered "Last night, I was in the library and Ace made my books as well as himself disappear!" Ron spoke through the meat, "Like an invisibility cloak?"
Harry turned to him and asked "Invisibility Cloak?" Ron waved the fork replying "Yeah, it turns you invisible, mate. You haven't heard of 'em? I heard they're super rare and that their charms will run out eventually."
Harry was stunned and said in shock "Cool!" Hermione looked at the two in confusion, how did the conversation get to Invisibility cloaks? She waved her hands and said "You ever see a magic trick?"
Ron looked at her as though he was looking at an idiot as he replied "Hermione, we're at a Wizard school! Of course I've seen a bloody magic trick!" Hermione rubbed her eyes and said angrily "No! Like on the Tele!"
Ron was confused but Harry turned to her, saying honestly "I'm not allowed to watch the tele at home." Hermione was speechless and sighed, "Nevermind…"
Meanwhile
Ace was looking through the bookshelves on the Curses book…
Time started slipping away as Ace studied at Hogwarts from Halloween to Christmas, he only left the library to help McGonagall, the rest of the time he was studying extremely intensely.
This was Ace's thing, he had some talent in Magic but his superior talent was his absolute refusal to give up on anything. It was the same way when he started practicing magic tricks for the general audience.
Ever since he received that fateful magic set, he was practicing nonstop. From Card tricks to Mentalism and everything in between, Ace honed them over his life to the peak of what they were today, perhaps it was a worthless talent but it led Ace to the Eye in the end.
The most important thing was that he loved magic. All forms of Magic.
His powerful drive to figure everything out about magic pushed him through these months of studying.
He felt a strange fulfillment in studying magical books from the library. It was satisfying to have finished a book and put it back where it belonged, he had the thought of maybe starting his own Magic Library in the future.
Ace was startled by his own thoughts, maybe he could record all the forms of magic and spells he had studied while also putting them in a collection? The mere thought thrilled him!
A Magic Historian perhaps!
As he was putting back books and thinking about going out to buy a collection of notebooks, he heard a sound from the dark library.
He frowned and patted Bruce's head as he walked over to the sound.