After his vision of Rowena Ravenclaw, Ez found himself increasingly drawn to the ancient book he had discovered. Though the text within was written in an archaic script, he could feel the magic woven into its pages.
It was no ordinary book.
Sitting in the dimly lit Ravenclaw common room late at night, he traced his fingers over the faded parchment. The script shimmered faintly under his touch.
"It reacts to my magic…"
He channeled a thread of power into the book, and suddenly—the letters rearranged themselves.
Ez's breath caught.
Elena, who had been watching from the other side of the table, leaned forward. "That book just moved. Books aren't supposed to do that."
Ez ignored her, reading the now legible passage.
"The mind is the greatest fortress. To wield true wisdom, one must first master their own thoughts."
A series of runes followed, glowing faintly. Recognition sparked in Ez's mind.
"Occlumency."
His heart pounded. This wasn't just some lost historical record—it was a personal grimoire tied to Ravenclaw's own magical philosophy.
Elena frowned. "What is it?"
Ez met her gaze, his mind already racing. "A key to unlocking the mind."
---
Ez had heard of Occlumency before—the rare and powerful art of shielding one's mind from external influence. But true mastery was difficult, requiring both mental discipline and a deep understanding of one's own thoughts.
Over the next few nights, Ez began experimenting.
At first, it was frustrating. His mind was too active, too filled with thoughts constantly shifting. Trying to silence them felt like grabbing at smoke.
But with each attempt, he grew more aware of the mental structure within his own consciousness.
He visualized it like a great icebound fortress, its walls shifting and incomplete.
"Control the mind, and you control the flow of magic."
Slowly, the walls solidified.
He was making progress.
---
Despite his personal studies, life at Hogwarts continued as usual. But Ez couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
It wasn't paranoia—he had noticed certain students whispering when he walked past.
One evening after class, as he was heading to the library, a voice called out.
"Malverne."
Ez turned to see Professor Snape standing in the corridor, arms crossed.
"Follow me," Snape said, his tone unreadable.
---
Ez followed Snape down into the dungeons, where the Potions Master finally turned to face him.
"You have been experimenting," Snape said smoothly. "Your mind is… unusually guarded for someone your age."
Ez kept his expression neutral. "Is that a problem, Professor?"
Snape studied him. "Not at all. But careless attempts at mental defense can do more harm than good. Tell me—where did you learn about Occlumency?"
Ez hesitated. Revealing the book would be foolish.
"I read about it in my family's archives," he answered carefully.
Snape's lips curled slightly. "Of course."
For a long moment, the professor was silent. Then—
"If you wish to continue your attempts, you should do it properly," Snape said, his voice low. "Occlumency is not a skill learned through books alone. If you are serious, you will require proper training."
Ez's eyes narrowed. Was Snape offering to teach him?
Before he could answer, Snape continued. "Consider my offer. But do not waste my time."
And just like that, the conversation was over.
Ez walked away, his mind racing.
Snape knew.
And if the Potions Master was willing to teach him Occlumency… it could open new doors.
---
Back in his dormitory that night, Ez sat with the book open before him, the runes still glowing faintly.
He was at a crossroads.
He could continue learning on his own, risking mistakes along the way. Or he could take Snape's offer and gain a proper foundation in Occlumency.
Ez exhaled.
"Knowledge is power, but wisdom is knowing how to use it."
Rowena Ravenclaw's words echoed in his mind.
He had made his decision.
Tomorrow, he would give Snape his answer.
And with it, take another step forward.
---