The next morning, the Harris dining room was buzzing. The atmosphere was light, a mixture of pride and residual bewilderment from the previous day's events.
"Good morning, everyone," Allen greeted his family, sliding into his chair.
His older brother, Albert, the Quidditch team member, was the first to speak, leaning forward with an intensity only another broom enthusiast could possess. "Allen, I heard you snagged a Neptune. That's incredible. Can I take it out for a quick spin later, just around the grounds?"
"Of course, Albert. No problem at all," Allen agreed easily. The broom was just a piece of equipment to him, and fostering goodwill with his politically active, Quidditch-playing older brother was a worthwhile investment.
"Allen has done exceptionally well. The Daily Prophet covered Allen's prize run this morning," Owen Harris announced proudly, flipping the newspaper over to reveal a small but strategically placed feature. The accompanying, large photograph—a dynamic action shot of Allen holding the magnificent broom—lent the section an importance far greater than its column inches suggested.
"Dad, let me see that!" Len, the former sole academic champion, instantly reached for the paper, curiosity overcoming his competitive instincts.
"Me too, me too!" Emily, Allen's self-appointed, tiny superfan, scampered over, hopping to catch a glimpse.
"Emily, my dear, can you even read that complicated text?" Len teased her playfully, his mood notably lighter than yesterday.
"No, but it has a picture of Allen on it, which is the important part!" Emily declared matter-of-factly, her logic entirely sound in the context of brotherly adoration.
Owen handed the paper to Len, who read the article aloud, detailing Allen's improbable victory over the theoretical questions. The large, animated photo captured Allen smiling, holding the Neptune, with the clearly recognizable, freckled face of Ron Weasley slightly out of focus in the background, staring at the broom.
"Breakfast is served, everyone! Breakfast is served!" Mrs. Harris sang cheerfully, presenting a truly lavish spread that was a feast for the eyes.
"Fried tomatoes, savory tofu in tomato sauce, a magnificent ham and bacon omelet, rich porridge, and, Mummy, you even made Bavarian white sausage with sauerkraut—what a tremendous feast!" Emily cried, her appreciation genuine and dramatic.
Allen speared a piece of the delicate white sausage with a forkful of the tangy sauerkraut. It was, he conceded, far more palatable than the bland, standard English fare, but he couldn't help a momentary sense of despair over the sheer culinary limitations he faced in this new life.
After a hearty breakfast, Allen manufactured a plausible excuse about needing to finalize his Muggle school assignments and retreated to the solitude of his room. The door locked, he immediately opened the System's Storage Area.
The mental space materialized, holding four items now: the original scroll (the "academic halo"), the folded mage's robe, and the two thick books.
The knowledge scroll was the trump card, best saved for true academic emergencies. Allen chose to focus on the Wizard's Robe.
He drew the garment out mentally. It was undeniably magnificent. The fabric was a deep, black velvet, impossibly smooth, and it seemed to absorb and subtly refract the ambient light with a mysterious black gleam. A three-finger-wide border of dark red ran along the edges, embroidered with complex, ancient, unintelligible runes.
"What exactly are the functions of this piece of gear?"
The explanation instantly scrolled across his mental view:
"The Wonderful Wizard's Robe!"
Allen couldn't help but groan internally. What an absolutely ridiculous, childish name! Was the System coded by a five-year-old? And it's practically begging for a legal threat from the trademark owners of the 'Wonderful Wizard of Oz' property!
Great Mage Robes:
Automatic Sizing: Automatically adjusts to any humanoid size (S, M, L, XL).
Transmutation: Transforms its appearance into any garment of your choice (a 'glamour' effect).
Self-Cleansing Charm: Provides automatic, continuous sanitation.
Concealment Charm: Provides three charges of Illusion Magic invisibility per day (each charge lasts thirty minutes, refreshes every eight hours, or can be actively dispelled).
Arcane Resistance: Offers good passive resistance against common, low-level curses and hexes (comparable to the defensive properties of a Horned Beast or Sphinx pelt).
Taking a calculated risk, Allen quickly shed his current clothes, wanting to test the core features without delay. The moment he slipped on the robe, the soft velvet caressed his skin, providing a sense of lightness—almost as if he were wearing nothing at all. He felt a slight, immediate discomfort from the unfamiliar, unencumbered freedom of his lower body, a stark reminder of the traditional robe style.
He then mentally commanded the robe to assume the exact shape and form of the clothes he had just removed. The black velvet instantly shifted, molding into the shape of his shirt, trousers, and jacket.
To test the cleansing feature, Allen deliberately poured a cup of cold black tea directly onto his chest. The fabric instantly soaked up the liquid, yet miraculously, he felt no dampness or cold against his skin—a thin, internal barrier seemed to insulate him perfectly.
He realized this was a far superior version of the basic, enchanted robes Daisy bought, which were merely temperature-regulating. Daisy, being careless with her potions, would have killed for this ability, as magical items were notoriously difficult to clean once stained.
Allen focused on the concept of "cleaning." The soaked area instantly evaporated, leaving not a single water spot. The entire outfit snapped into a state of immaculate cleanliness, the shirt collar crisp, and the clothes fitting his form flawlessly. This is genuinely useful, he concluded.
Next, he turned to the books. He picked up the encyclopedia—a very thick volume bound in dark red leather, adorned with a compass-like silver ornament. This was a password disk requiring a seven-digit code. Believing in the world's internal logic, Allen set the number 7 to "7777777," recognizing the powerful symbolism of the number in the Harry Potter universe.
The first page revealed a general introduction to Charms. The text, which appeared as silver letters of unknown origin on thin, pale yellow parchment, instantly translated into perfectly legible modern English.
Prologue on Charms: A charm is a deliberate magical action used to achieve effects impossible for Muggles (e.g., levitation, conjuring fire, stunning). Charms are typically cast via incantation. Successful spellcasting generally requires three components: the correct wand movement, the correct incantation (recitation), and intense concentration. Failure in any one component results in failure or, worse, a reversed effect.
The text elaborated on silent and wandless casting—techniques Allen knew were typically reserved for advanced students. Silent Charms were taught at Hogwarts in the sixth year, mastered by wizards like Dumbledore and Snape. The book noted that while skilled wizards could use these advanced techniques without loss of power, many could only manage simple spells this way.
The encyclopedia offered a fascinating theoretical contrast: Transmutation (changing what an object is—its form) vs. Charms (changing what an object does—its function or behavior). It explained that most English wizarding spells had Latin roots, and that low-skill casters (like the early Harry Potter) often produced excessive noise and smoke, a clear sign of a lack of mastery.
Crucially, the book delved into the complex and often confusing Classification of Spells.
The catalog included: Transmutation, Charms, Hexes, Jinxes, Curses, Counter-Charms, and Healing Spells. It explicitly stated that the boundaries were often blurred; for example, Fiendfyre was both a Charm and a Curse, and some powerful healing spells incorporated Transmutation elements.
Transmutation: Altering the form or appearance (e.g., Animagus).
Charms: Altering an object's properties or abilities (e.g., the Disarming Charm changes an armed person's property to 'disarmed').
Hexes (Jinxes): Mild forms of Dark Magic, often annoying or used in pranks (e.g., Impedimenta, which slightly impedes movement).
Curses: Persistent, negative effects, carrying strong connotations of Dark Magic, intended to cause definite discomfort (e.g., the Tarantallegra or 'Dancing Feet' Hex, which causes uncontrollable laughter).
Curses (Dark Arts): The most malicious form of Dark Magic, intended to leave a powerful, negative, and often fatal impact (e.g., the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra).
Allen was momentarily stunned by the definition of the Curses category. If even something like the Petrificus Totalus—the Full Body-Bind Curse Hermione used on Neville in first year—is classified as a 'Curse' and Dark Magic (as noted by the author), why is Hogwarts teaching it to eleven-year-olds? He mused that perhaps Durmstrang's tolerance for Dark Magic referred only to the truly destructive spells, while Hogwarts was more accepting of less harmful, lower-intensity Curses that wouldn't result in death or lasting injury.
Allen clicked on the Charms category and selected a random entry.
Common Unlocking Spell – Alohomora was displayed.
The book detailed the basics of the spell. On the next page, a shimmering, black, long-haired female figure—a projection of shadow and light—demonstrated the correct wand movement repeatedly. Touching the figure's projection even provided a perfect audio playback of the spell's precise pronunciation, an invaluable teaching tool.
Suppressing his academic excitement, Allen opened the second book, Strategies for Using Magic—the one he'd received as a prize.
Its dark blue leather cover also displayed its title in modern English. Interestingly, the table of contents was not fixed; every few days, a new Charm would appear, complete with its source book and author. Allen noted that the final few entries were entirely new, likely published just days ago, indicating that the book automatically updated itself with new, verifiable magical research.
He located the Alohomora entry.
Introduction: While locked doors can be bypassed with destructive magic (like the Crushing Charm), the Unlocking Spell is known as the "Thief's Friend" for its discretion. It opens simple, unlocked doors and windows, and can counter the Locking Charm. History: Originating in Africa, it was brought to England in the 17th century by Elton Esric, who notoriously used it to burgle Muggle and wizarding homes until a counter-spell was developed.
The book explained that previous unlocking spells were clumsy; Portus Aperio would often burn the lock, while the ancient Open Sesame would rip the door from its hinges. Alohomora was the superior, subtle solution. The book not only provided instructions and wand techniques but also historical case studies, offering a deeper understanding of the wizarding world's social and local customs beyond simple magic.
Allen devoured both books over the next few hours, using his Photographic Memory to etch every word, every diagram, and every historical case study into his mind. He focused intently on digesting the context and audiovisual materials. His only slight regret was that both books focused on practical application and entirely lacked any theoretical research or development methodology.
A gentle knock interrupted his study. "Allen, can you help me with my spelling? Muggle school starts soon, and I won't be able to see you for most of the day," Emily asked softly from outside the door.
"Come in, Emily," Allen replied instantly. As a former teacher, he was more than happy to mentor his adoring little sister.
After dictating her spelling words, Allen meticulously taught Emily several Muggle mnemonic techniques, instilling basic logical concepts regardless of her immediate comprehension. He knew that pure-blood children, educated entirely at home during their primary years, often struggled with standardized texts and foundational theories compared to their Muggle-born and half-blood counterparts. He aimed to give Emily a proper head start.
Reluctantly, Allen eventually led his sister back to her room. He then turned to his final task: preparing his homework for the start of Muggle school.
Referring to the assignment logbook and the required textbooks, Allen found completing the tasks laughably easy. The difficulty level of British primary school assignments was a joke to a mind that had just absorbed three magical libraries.
Being the top student among this group of Muggle children is going to be effortless, he concluded with a quiet, confident smirk. The true challenge lies ahead, at Hogwarts.