His process matched almost perfectly, and his visualization of the black hole had worked. It gave him the same sense of easy accomplishment he'd felt when learning the Levitation Charm. While most spells demanded repetition, Occlumency seemed to click effortlessly.
"Am I just naturally skilled at Occlumency?" Alex wondered aloud. "Or is it all the physical and mental training I've done? Maybe all those years practicing 'superpowers' helped me control my mind and emotions."
Pushing the thought aside, he resolved to continue practicing every night. He sensed that, while he had achieved a basic understanding, he still needed repetition to refine his control. Once he mastered Occlumency, he planned to start training in Legilimency, suspecting it might not be as difficult.
Over the next few days, Alex maintained his routine: helping around the Potters' home, delving into rune studies at the workbench, and dedicating his nights to perfecting Occlumency. Each day brought a new layer of understanding, and he could feel himself steadily growing stronger.
As the holiday break drew to a close, Alex packed his belongings for the journey back to Hogwarts. Thanks to the seamless extension bag Sirius had sent, he could carry everything with ease. Reflecting on his break, he realized how much he had gained—his expanded knowledge of runes alone would take time to fully absorb.
On his final morning at the Potters', he joined them for breakfast, neatly dressed and ready to go. "All packed up?" Lily asked with a smile as he came downstairs.
"Yes, thank you," he replied, settling down to eat and handing little Harry an apple to play with.
As Alex teased Harry with the apple, making him chase it, James chuckled. "You and Harry have really bonded, haven't you?" he said with a grin. Then, with a nod to Lily, he added, "Alex, we have a parting gift for you. We think you'll find it very useful."
Alex looked surprised. "A gift? I already loved the Christmas presents you gave me."
Lily approached with a package. "This is something extra. For helping us, for protecting Harry during that difficult night. And since we know how interested you are in rune studies, James and I put this together just for you."
Alex opened his mouth to politely refuse, but Lily insisted. "Don't be quick to say no; open it first."
She carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a stone disc about the size of a washbasin, with a smooth, metallic sheen. Beside it lay a thick, blank book.
"This is a rune disk," James explained. "Think of it as a portable rune workbench. It lets you write and combine rune characters on the go, so you can practice anytime."
Lily added, "It's simpler than a full workbench—it doesn't store or test combinations—but it's perfect for personal study. The book on top is a Magic Symbol Collection Guide. It's empty now, but it can hold up to 100 rune symbols and 10 rune combinations."
Handing the book to Alex, she continued, "I've already recorded over 40 common three-dimensional runes in it. For flat runes, you don't need to record them here; this book is for the more complex structures. If you come across any unique runes you'd like to keep, you can add them to the guide as well."
Alex's heart swelled with gratitude. This was far more than he'd expected, and the thoughtfulness behind the gift touched him deeply.
"Thank you, truly," he said, feeling a warmth spread through him. "This will help me so much with my studies."
James clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. "It's alright, Alex, no need to be overly formal with us. We should get going if we're going to make it to the station on time."
With that, Alex bid farewell to the Potters and Sirius, preparing to return to Hogwarts as his Christmas break came to a warm and memorable close.
After saying goodbye to James at the station, Alex boarded the Hogwarts Express, where he found his friends, Vivian and Charles, already in a carriage, sharing some treats Vivian had brought back from France. Charles waved him over with a grin.
"Hey, Alex, my aunt told me everything. You're incredible—" Charles said enthusiastically, but Alex quickly shook his head, giving him a subtle look to stay quiet.
Vivian noticed the exchange and raised an eyebrow. "What's so amazing? What are you two talking about?"
Alex shrugged casually. "Oh, nothing special. I just won a little prize over Christmas, that's all. Nothing worth going on about." He wasn't about to tell Vivian about his run-in with Death Eaters, especially since he was in Slytherin and didn't want the news spreading.
"Really?" Vivian asked skeptically, eyeing Charles, who immediately made an excuse about meeting friends and shuffled out of the compartment to avoid any further questions.
With Charles gone, Vivian sighed in exasperation but dropped the subject, pulling out her snacks again. Soon enough, she and Alex were caught up in conversation, with Vivian sharing stories about her holiday in France as they made their way back to Hogwarts.
Once back at school, Alex returned to his routine, though he made a few changes to his study schedule. Knowing that some of the more advanced spells were still beyond his current magical strength, he divided his time between basic spell practice, Transfiguration, and his new rune studies using the rune disk. Each night, he also devoted thirty to forty minutes to practicing Occlumency.
The day after his arrival, Alex couldn't resist a visit to Hagrid. He came prepared, having bought some new spices and condiments with a plan to cook up a hearty meal together. Finding no one home, Alex lit a fire in the fireplace to warm the place up, filling the cabin with a cozy glow. He boiled some water, poured himself tea in one of Hagrid's enormous mugs, and settled by the fire with a book, savoring the warmth and quiet.
Some time later, the barking of a dog signaled Hagrid's return, and Alex looked up to see Rhine, Hagrid's loyal dog, running in excitedly to greet him.