January 4th, 1991
Looking back, it's hard to believe how much my life has changed in just two years. Magic was something I never imagined to be real, much less something I could wield. But the moment Master Mord's voice first echoed in my head, everything shifted. The world was no longer mundane—it was filled with hidden forces, unseen energies, and possibilities I had never dared to dream of.
Master always insisted that magic was a tool, not a crutch. He forbade me from using it to solve everyday problems, urging me to develop practical skills instead.
So, I learned to fix things by hand. Bicycles, furniture, even small appliances. What started as curiosity turned into a small business. People were willing to pay for repairs, and to my surprise, Vernon didn't object. He even seemed to approve. Newspapers in the morning, small repair jobs in the afternoon—I built a modest income, making me less reliant on the Dursleys. Aunt Petunia, initially skeptical, softened a little when I fixed her favorite kitchen chair without being asked.
---
One day, Master Mord instructed me to buy a pearl. It drained my entire savings and then some. If magic required materials like this, I would go broke in no time. It gave me a greater understanding of why wealth was crucial for wizards.
He also told me to start saving for a diamond. I assume it would be for another spell.
The pearl, however, wasn't a waste. It was a component for my next spell.
"You will get a decent idea of how powerful or potent a spell is by the value of its components. This one is called Identify."
The purpose was easy to guess from the name. It was similar to Detect Magic, but more potent. It allowed me to see and analyze the magic in objects. The first thing I examined? My glasses. They glowed with residual magic, revealing spells cast on them long ago.
"Since magic exists in this world to anchor me here, there must also be magic items. Detect Magic and Identify are your best friends. The worst mistake a wizard could make is walking blindly into the unknown. Be alert, be prepared."
I took that lesson to heart, casting Identify as often as possible to familiarize myself with its workings.
But as I grew older, something strange happened. The spell slots that used to replenish overnight began regenerating slower. The fear of losing my magic—and with it, my mentor—terrified me, until Master Mord explained.
"Magic in children is more potent. Their reserves replenish faster. But as you grow, you will have to rely on what we call replenishments—a phenomenon where the Weave pulses and restores magic."
Through experimentation, we discovered that replenishments happened every Tuesday at midnight. Armed with this knowledge, my practice continued with one more spell in my growing repertoire.
---
The next spell Master Mord taught me required only leather scraps. I collected them from discarded boots and old belts.
"Wizards are frail compared to other combatants. Our main advantage is our spells, but combat is sometimes unavoidable. Remember this spell, apprentice, for it may be the barrier between your life and death. We will be learning Mage Armor."
And so, I learned my first combat spell.
With a piece of leather consumed, an invisible force wrapped around me, enhancing my agility and resilience. To test it, I did something reckless—I antagonized bullies at school. My record? Holding off four of them for five minutes before a teacher intervened. I walked away unscathed, leaving them shaken.
---
Speaking of bullies, Dudley gave me an unexpected surprise.
One day, he approached me alone. Expecting trouble, I prepared to cast Mage Armor, but he said something I never expected.
"Teach me."
"…Huh?"
His words caught me so off guard that I botched the incantation, wasting a spell slot.
As it turned out, Dudley had been getting bullied. In elementary school, he was the biggest and strongest. But in secondary school, others had outgrown him. He had become a target, just as I once was. And now, he wanted to change.
I was skeptical, but I agreed.
"Teaching another is good for you, apprentice. The greatest test of knowledge is the ability to impart it to others."
So, we held lessons—first in between breaks, then at home. If Vernon and Petunia disapproved, they didn't show it. Their darling boy was improving his grades, and that was all that mattered to them.
Over time, Dudley and I grew closer. I taught him how to study, prioritize, and learn efficiently. In return, he dragged me into sports—football, running, and even the occasional friendly brawl. Unlike before, these fights lacked malice. We found in each other something neither of us had before—a brother.
---
Apart from my bond with Dudley, life in the Dursley household was shifting.
I was no longer just the unwanted boy. I worked in the neighborhood, delivered papers, and cleaned driveways. The more independent I became, the less Uncle Vernon's anger flared. He wasn't kind, but his indifference was a welcome change.
Aunt Petunia, however, was different.
At first, it was subtle—a softer tone, extra food on my plate, lingering glances that weren't filled with disdain. But one evening, as she watched me mend one of Dudley's torn shirts, something shifted. That night, for the first time, she spoke of my mother—not with bitterness, but with sorrow.
One weekend, while Vernon and Dudley were out, I asked her the question that had lingered in my mind for years.
"Did you hate my mother? Do you… hate me?"
She hesitated. "I did not hate Lily, no…"
"Then why—"
"I hated the magic within her. I hated how it made her special, how it took her to a world far from me. I hated how our parents favored her. I hated how Lily Evans, my little sister, was taken from me, and I was left with Lily Potter, the witch."
Tears streamed down her face.
"But I was wrong. The little boy left on my doorstep… he was just that—a little boy. Too curious for his own good, just like Lily. In my grief, I failed to see him for who he was. Instead, I saw only what I had lost."
She placed a hand on my cheek, her eyes red and puffy.
"I don't hate you, Harry."
In that moment, I understood. She resented magic, but she had loved her sister. And maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to see me—not as a burden, but as family.
And so, I made a decision.
I would honor my mother's name.
I became Harry Evans Potter.
Petunia hugged me. I stiffened, unfamiliar with the sensation, before hesitantly returning it. It was awkward, unsure—but real. The closest thing to motherly affection I had ever known.
Vernon grudgingly legalized the name change—so long as I covered the costs.
It was worth every penny.
Not long after, I moved out of the cupboard.
"We need the storage," I overheard Aunt Petunia tell Vernon. "Besides, he's growing. Better to use the empty room."
For the first time in my life, things were going good.
I had a room, a brother, a family—and the one who helped me achieve it all.
Master Mordenkainen.
---
Replenishments
My spell slots no longer recover as fast as before. Recovery is synced with the magical phenomenon known as The Replenishment. The Weave of magic pulses with magic, replenishing my reserves.
We were able to deduce that the Replenishments happen at regular intervals. Generally at every Tuesday, 12:00 AM GMT.
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Spell : Identify
Type: First Circle Divination Spell
What It Does: Allows me to analyze magical objects, revealing their properties, enchantments, and hidden effects.
How I Learned It: Master Mordenkainen made me purchase a pearl—a costly lesson in the importance of magical components. Unlike some spells, the pearl remained intact after each casting. The spell granted me the ability to see the layers of magic wrapped around objects. My first test was on my glasses, revealing residual magic woven into their frame.
Important Notes:
Requires a pearl worth 100 pounds.
Costs one Spell Slot
The spell grants complete knowledge of an item's magical properties.
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Spell: Mage Armor
Type: First Circle Abjuration Spell
What It Does: Enhances my defenses by coating me in a magical barrier, increasing my ability to avoid attacks and endure combat.
How I Learned It: Master Mordenkainen emphasized that wizards are fragile. Without armor or agility, a single strike could end me. With nothing but a scrap of leather as a component, the spell enveloped me in an unseen force. Testing its limits, I antagonized bullies at school, taking hits to measure its resilience.
Important Notes:
Requires a piece of cured leather.
Improves dodging ability and ability to take hits.
Lasts for several hours, making it invaluable in prolonged encounters.