"M1911?" Harry looked puzzled, holding the two pistols—one black, one white—in his hands.
"The white one is made primarily of holly, and the black one is oak. They function similarly to a wand, but you don't need to recite incantations or perform specific gestures. Just channel your magic into them..."
As Makiya continued his explanation, Harry curiously raised a muzzle and squinted to peek inside.
"Hey, don't point the muzzle at people!" Makiya brushed Harry's hand aside and led him outside to the open space in front of the house.
"Accio target."
He pointed his wand, and two pre-made targets flew in front of Makiya, painted with red bullseyes.
Harry gripped the white M1911 in his left hand and tried to aim at the left target.
Magic flowed from his palm into the gun, passing through the engraved runes and the Acromantula leg fragments inside the barrel before finally shooting out.
Whoosh!
A pale blue shockwave erupted from the muzzle, instantly knocking over the two oak targets ten meters away.
The surrounding grass flattened in one direction as if hit by a hurricane.
"Try the other one." Makiya propped the targets back up and signaled for Harry to raise the Ebony.
Harry was full of excitement as he aimed the Ebony at the center of the target.
As he channeled his magic, a ball of pale blue energy, like a bullet, shot from the muzzle and accurately hit the tenth ring of the bullseye.
Harry hadn't aimed very precisely, but under the influence of magic, the 'bullet' corrected its path in mid-air to hit the exact center.
A massive force exploded at the center of the target. Pale blue magical ripples spread across the entire board, and the heavy oak was sent flying, landing on the grass three meters away with a thud.
The other target stood still, and the surrounding grass remained undisturbed; the bullet effect from the black gun was highly concentrated.
"If you're agitated or particularly angry, the 'bullet's' power will increase even further," Makiya explained, sounding like an arms dealer.
These two guns were merely byproducts of his research into magic and alchemy, but the results were surprisingly good.
Caught up in the fun, Harry fired the twin pistols repeatedly. Pale blue bullets whistled through the air, ravaging the sturdy targets and leaving the nearby lawn riddled with craters.
A moment later, Harry ran to Makiya with the guns held high, beaming with excitement.
"Makiya, these are way better than a wand!"
The twin guns Makiya gave him didn't require incantations or specific gestures, and they didn't fail mysteriously or explode in his face.
As long as he channeled magic, they fired consistently. It was much better than his half-baked spells that often failed to cast at all.
"Well, wands and these have their own strengths. Wizards should still focus on wands." Makiya handed Harry a pair of holsters and helped him put them on. "Spells are incredibly diverse, far beyond what these guns can offer. Keep these for self-defense; their main purpose is the element of surprise."
"Mm-hmm." Harry nodded, though seeing his excitement, Makiya doubted he was actually listening.
Makiya intended to continue his research; the 'bullets' fired from the muzzles would surely become more varied. There was no need to tell Harry yet; he would find out once the research was complete.
Harry continued practicing his shooting by the Forbidden Forest, having long forgotten the magic he had planned to show off to Makiya.
Makiya watched for a while before turning back to the cottage, diving once again into his mountain of books.
At the peak of the tallest tower in Hogwarts, in the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore watched Makiya and Harry in silence. Only when Makiya returned to the cottage did he withdraw his gaze, looking out over the Forbidden Forest with admiration.
'Such remarkable talent. It's been a long time since I've seen such a gifted young wizard. Perhaps I should give him a hand.'
With that thought, Dumbledore sat at his desk, laid out a sheet of parchment, and began to write with a quill dipped in ink:
[Dear Nicolas:]
[How have you been lately? The Philosopher's Stone is safe and sound. I plan to hide it in a place where no one will ever find it. He is indeed after it, as you've likely seen from the break-in at Gringotts...]
[I recently discovered an exceptional child named Makiya. Yes, his parents are from the East... He hasn't even enrolled yet, but he has taught himself alchemy through books and even created wand-like gadgets. Such things might be highly sought after by Squibs...]
[...]
After writing a full page, Dumbledore waited for the ink to dry. Just as he was about to seal the letter in an envelope, his movements suddenly stopped.
After a long hesitation, Dumbledore did not send the letter. Instead, he opened a drawer and carefully tucked it away.
He thought of another gifted child from the past who had very distinct ideas about magic. Unfortunately, that boy had eventually turned to darkness, causing immense damage to the British wizarding world.
A lesson learned from the past.
He had to carefully observe Makiya's character before deciding whether to mentor him further.
September 1st, London Railway Station.
Hagrid dropped Makiya and Harry off at the station before hurrying away, leaving behind a bewildered Harry and a resigned Makiya.
In Hagrid's words, a young wizard's first time was precious and deserved to be experienced fully to leave lasting memories.
So he had brought them to the station specifically, but ran off due to other business.
Their luggage had been left at the cottage, already packed. It would be handled by the house-elves of Hogwarts and delivered to their respective dormitories once the Sorting Ceremony was over.
"Let's go, Harry." Makiya tucked his ticket into his pocket and headed toward Platform 9.
"Makiya, I... I think the ticket Hagrid gave us is wrong!" Harry stammered, following close behind and looking at his ticket.
Platform 9 3/4? Where was that?
"It's fine. Just follow me."
Although it was Makiya's first time here as well, this scene from the movies was classic and deeply etched in his memory.
Finding the enchanted spot on the platform, Makiya dove into the wall and disappeared.
After a month of studying magic, Harry had gained a basic understanding of the wizarding world. He didn't make a scene, simply following in Makiya's footsteps and passing through the wall.
After a brief moment of darkness, Harry's vision cleared to reveal a brand-new platform. Groups of people dressed as wizards were gathered everywhere.
Many parents were there to see their children off. Young wizards pushing luggage carts were saying goodbye to their moms and dads, a sight that filled Harry with envy.
"Let's move, time's almost up." Makiya's voice reached Harry's ears. He followed closely behind as they boarded the train and made their way to the end, finding an empty compartment.
This train was enchanted; one could always find an empty compartment near the back.
Makiya expertly pulled a book from his robe. The train ride north to the Scottish Highlands would take some time, and it would be dark by the time they reached Hogwarts. He needed something to pass the time.
Just like in the original story, Harry bought a pile of snacks to share with Makiya.
Makiya ate without hesitation. This little foodie usually ate plenty of his hot pot and grilled meat, so having a few snacks now was nothing.
Harry looked out at the scenery while snacking, and Makiya leaned against the compartment wall, reading quietly. The atmosphere was peaceful.
Until the sounds of a commotion reached their ears.
Harry poked his head out and saw that the source of the disturbance was the boy who had insulted Hagrid that day. He was now wearing his hat, standing amidst the crowd with a haughty air.
Harry subconsciously reached for his twin pistols.
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