Not only had Alex become proficient in the spell, but his years of discipline had also boosted the total amount and strength of his magic, making him stand out among others his age.
Eager to consolidate what he'd learned, Alex spent the rest of the day practicing the charm in various ways—sometimes with his wand, sometimes without, sometimes saying the incantation aloud, and sometimes casting it silently. With each attempt, he felt his control and confidence growing. Just as he was about to continue practicing, his stomach growled loudly. Glancing at the window, he realized it was already evening—he'd completely missed lunch. Smiling to himself, he decided it was time to take a break and go downstairs for dinner.
As Alex entered the Leaky Cauldron, Tom, the innkeeper, looked up from his newspaper and called out. "Young man, you can't just hide away all day and skip meals! You didn't even come down for lunch!"
Alex chuckled, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk. "You're not mad that I missed cooking for you at noon, are you?"
Ever since he had cooked a meal for Tom the day before, Alex had taken over making their dinners. He'd even handled breakfast that morning, which Tom seemed more than happy to let him do. Tom grinned, crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter. "Just worried you might end up starving yourself up there! Then you'd go blaming me for it!"
Alex laughed, feeling at ease with the innkeeper's teasing. Tom's warmth made him feel right at home, as though they'd known each other much longer. "Alright, alright," Alex said with a smile. "How about I make it up to you tonight with something extra special?"
Tom's eyes lit up. "Now that sounds like a plan. Go on, then—show me what you've got, Chef Alex!"
With that, he headed into the kitchen and prepared a hearty dinner. The air filled with the rich aromas of roasted vegetables, tender meat, and fragrant spices. Tom even poured Alex a glass of butterbeer, a drink Alex was beginning to enjoy for its smooth, buttery flavor.
As they ate, Alex's eyes drifted to the newspaper Tom had been reading, left open on the table with a headline in bold letters. "Anything interesting in the news?"
Tom's expression turned grim. "It's getting worse. That dark wizard—they call him You-Know-Who—and his Death Eaters attacked the Ministry of Magic again. They say an Auror was seriously hurt this time. It just feels like no one is safe anymore, and who knows how long we'll have to live with this fear hanging over us."
'Death Eaters?' Alex noted the term in his mind, deciding he'd need to learn more about Voldemort's followers. After dinner, Alex waved his hand, and the empty dishes floated from the table, drifting into the kitchen sink with a soft clink. Tom's eyes widened in shock.
"Did you just—? Without a wand?" Tom exclaimed, astonished. "Even the Levitation Charm is difficult to cast without a wand, and here you are, doing it like it's nothing!"
Alex shrugged casually. "That's what happens when you skip lunch and spend all day practicing." Tom just shook his head in disbelief as Alex headed back upstairs to continue his studies.
Over the next few days, Alex threw himself into learning new spells. He practiced basic utility spells like Alohomora (Unlocking Charm), Lumos (Light Charm), and Scourgify (Cleaning Charm), along with defensive spells like Protego (Shield Charm), Impedimenta (Impediment Jinx), and Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm). Some were easy to pick up, while others took a bit longer.
Tom, who had grown interested in Alex's magical studies, offered guidance when the instructions weren't clear, especially with tricky pronunciations, which proved invaluable.
Despite his rapid progress, only the Levitation Charm could reliably be cast without a wand. Alex suspected this was because of his years practicing mind control, which helped him with spells involving movement and lifting objects. He still felt he was on the right track and began drawing some conclusions.
First, Alex realized the same spell could vary depending on who cast it. For instance, Tom's Lumos was far brighter than his own, thanks to Tom's experience and deeper knowledge of the spell. Second, he noticed that emotions and determination could impact a spell's strength. This insight came from one of Tom's lessons: the stronger your will or feelings, the more powerful the result. When Alex focused his emotions while casting Lumos, he saw a noticeable increase in brightness.
He also learned that certain dark spells could influence a wizard's mood, deepening his understanding for the dangers of black magic. After thinking over everything he'd learned, Alex concluded that three main factors affected spellcasting: willpower, emotions, and skill level. Additionally, the amount and strength of a wizard's magic set a limit on how powerful their spells could become.
With this understanding, Alex adjusted his training. His main priority was defense, so he decided to specialize in one strong defensive spell he could rely on. He narrowed it down to three spells: Impedimenta (Impediment Jinx), Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm), and Protego (Shield Charm). After careful thought, he chose to focus on Impedimenta.
It was a decision based on his old philosophy from his gaming days—he preferred to master one skill until it was overpowered. And here, in the magical world, he planned to do the same. Impedimenta was described in his textbook as an essential spell for any dueling wizard. It could slow an opponent or halt a magical creature's advance, acting as both a shield and a tactical tool. But when Alex began practicing it, he discovered it was much more versatile than the book suggested.
When he cast the spell, an invisible barrier formed in front of him, solid like a wall. Its duration varied—sometimes it held for ten seconds, other times over a minute.
What surprised Alex most was how the wall's density could change. By adjusting his magical power, he found it didn't always have to be solid. Sometimes, opponents could pass through, but it slowed them down as if they were moving through thick mud.