Standing in the doorway of the orphanage, Ivann felt like he'd entered another world. All his new things from Diagon Alley were packed onto a cart beside him. Two cages sat at the top—one holding a quiet owl, and the other holding Yumi, his new companion.
Unlike the owl, Yumi was alert, her gaze fixed on the Muggle world outside with wide, curious eyes. Her fluffy fur and lively movements attracted attention from everyone who passed by. She seemed almost mesmerized by everything, her agile movements full of charm.
"We're home," Ivann said as he pushed the cart into the orphanage. After greeting Mrs. Mena and the other staff members, he headed straight back to his room. Once inside, he opened Yumi's cage and gently lifted her out. The small creature stayed calm, clearly aware that Ivann was her master.
"Meow," she purred softly, settling at his side. Her eyes roamed the room, and after a moment, she let out an unimpressed little shake of her head. It was almost as if she found the worn room unworthy of her.
"Yeah, it's not great," Ivann muttered, amused. Though he couldn't understand cat language, his sense from soul vision told him Yumi wasn't thrilled. "But don't worry," he added. "I'm arranging for a new place while I'm at Hogwarts. By the time we come back, we'll have a proper home."
Over the past few years, Ivann had changed his appearance multiple times to gather funds through football betting and gambling. Now, he had more than enough to live comfortably, and with careful planning, he'd set up a fictional cover: a rich benefactor who would 'adopt' him and move him into a nice villa. This plan was Ivann's ticket out of the orphanage, which he planned to leave by next summer.
Another soft meow brought Ivann out of his thoughts.
"Are you hungry, little one?" He reached into the box, took out some snacks he'd bought in Diagon Alley, and laid them out for her. Then he pulled out his first-year spellbook and started reading. Professor McGonagall had explained that the Trace, which monitored underage magic, wouldn't be active until after his first summer at Hogwarts. This meant he had two weeks to practice spells freely without worrying about the Ministry finding out.
"But I still need to be careful," he reminded himself. The Obscurus inside him was strong, and one slip could have serious consequences. Even though he had a wand now, which gave his magic more precision, controlling his power remained a challenge.
"Let's start simple."
He flipped through the pages of Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1, pausing on the section about the Wand-Lighting Charm. According to the book, spells differed from Transfiguration in that they added a specific quality to objects or beings, while Transfiguration completely changed them. The book included nine basic spells for first-years, like the Softening Charm, Cutting Spell, Unlocking Charm, Levitation Charm, Locking Charm, Repairing Charm, and Wand-Lighting Charm.
"This doesn't seem too hard," Ivann thought, scanning the instructions and mentally organizing the key steps.
Taking his wand from his sleeve, he followed the instructions on the Wand-Lighting Charm and muttered, "Lumos."
A soft, silvery glow appeared at the wand's tip, gentle but bright enough to cast a warm light across the room.
"I did it."
Ivann wasn't surprised by his success; he'd managed wandless magic before, and the wand simply provided a new experience of stability and control. What interested him most was the sensation of casting with a wand. It added a precision and control he hadn't felt before.
"Just as I thought," he mused. "Magic here isn't just energy; it's more like a force, like lifting objects of different weights. The stronger the magic needed, the more power required."
Feeling confident, he decided to try again without saying the incantation. He swung the wand, focusing his intent on the spell, but immediately sensed something was off.
"Did I use too much magic?" he wondered.
In a flash, his doubt was confirmed as an intense burst of white light exploded from his wand.
"No!"
The sudden brightness startled Yumi, who scrambled back, snacks scattering in her wake. Ivann squeezed his eyes shut against the glaring light, which finally faded after a few moments. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision, and looked down to see Yumi clinging to his leg, her eyes wide with fright and her fur on end.
"Sorry, Yumi. You alright?" he said, trying to soothe her. Yumi only stared at him, clearly upset by the chaotic scene.
"Life is full of surprises, huh?" Ivann said with a sheepish smile. "You'll forgive your clumsy owner, right?"
"Meow…" came the annoyed response. Ivann laughed, scratching behind her ears as a peace offering and putting more snacks in front of her. Yumi hesitated before nibbling at the food, a hint of forgiveness in her eyes.
He set her back on the table, though she kept a cautious eye on him as she munched away. Ivann turned back to his spellbook, reviewing the instructions. "Looks like the Wand-Lighting Charm doesn't need much power at all; anything stronger and it could blow out of control."
Reflecting on the incident, he realized it wasn't so much a mistake as it was a lesson. With excessive magic, the spell's effects had grown far beyond a simple light.
"This means that the simpler spells don't need much power, which makes control the real challenge."
This would be tricky for him. With the amount of magic he held, even basic spells would require careful concentration to avoid overpowering them. Controlling magic to that extent wouldn't be easy, but he knew it was necessary.
---------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse