Six years have passed, and I've made a lot of progress in that time. My magic has grown with me, and I've learned to use my staff better. I can levitate heavy objects and cast some elemental spells, like fireballs and lightning bolts, but nothing beyond that.
However, every spell I cast comes out with twice the strength of normal wand spells. I tested the effects with my mother's wand, but since it doesn't obey me, I didn't get much information.
My sword training has also improved. Although I'm nowhere near my grandfather's level, I believe I'm better than anyone below him—which is basically everyone.
With the increase in my magic, I was able to add new techniques to my magical training. After a lot of practice and control, I can now sense and detect magical waves, like those emitted by wizards, creatures, and anything with magic in its composition. And by Merlin, my grandfather is strong—really strong. When I tried to analyze his magic, I nearly passed out from the pressure, but I managed to get away with just a headache and cold sweat.
Saphira won't stop growing. She's so big now that she can't sleep in the mansion anymore, but thanks to my grandfather, we found a lair for her. It's a cozy cave with a spring of magical water and a bed made of thunderbird feathers. According to Saphira, they were the most comfortable we tested, though they occasionally spark with electricity.
My connection with Saphira has reached levels I never imagined. We can communicate telepathically, send and feel each other's emotions and sensations, and I can see through her eyes—allowing me to perceive different spectrums of light and greatly enhancing my daily vision.
When she became big enough to carry me, the first thing we did was fly together. And I can say—it was magical. The feeling of freedom in the sky is indescribable. I almost fell many times, but that didn't discourage us. The only problem was that Saphira's scales were so rough that they tore through my pants, cutting my thigh a little.
So, we ordered a saddle to use. Of course, we didn't tell the craftsman who it was for. Also, when flying, I have to wear special wyvern leather pants to avoid getting hurt. And don't even think about calling wyverns "dragons" near Saphira, or she'll roast you alive.
She says they're a failed attempt to copy the glory of true dragons and that they are to her what monkeys are to us. So yeah—don't mention wyverns.
—
I was outside in the garden, wearing my flight gear. The sun was just rising, leaving a chilly breeze in the air. It has become our habit to fly at sunrise. We agreed it was the best time—the air wasn't too hot, and the animals were still asleep. We would already be in the sky if a certain lazy dragon weren't late.
'Saphira, you're late! Where are you ?!' I asked impatiently through our mental link.
Before I could get a response, a strong gust of wind made me stumble backward. Trees and plants swayed, and with a loud thud as she landed, Saphira made her presence known.
She had grown into a stunning dragon—not that she wasn't before. She remained imposing. Her scales gleamed under the weak morning light. The horns on her head had grown, sharper than the deadliest blade. Her teeth were just as massive, capable of cutting through even the strongest steel. And her size—she had grown to be fifteen meters long—a beautiful yet lethal combination.
'You need to be patient, little one. It takes time to make my scales shine like this,' I heard Saphira say. Her voice had long since lost its childish tone. Now, she spoke with the voice of a grown woman, full of pride and wisdom.
'Yeah, yeah, say what you want, but you're late,' I said, approaching her.
She lowered herself, extending her right wing so I could climb into the saddle on her back. Once seated, I strapped myself in tightly—I couldn't risk falling from five hundred meters in the air.
'You complain too much. You need to learn patience,' she said in a superior tone.
'As if you were the most patient creature in the world. Who was it again that threatened to throw me into a frozen lake if they didn't get a reindeer for Christmas?' I asked.
There was silence for a few seconds.
'It's not my fault they're delicious and don't migrate around here. You know your grandfather doesn't let me hunt outside the mansion's grounds. Who told you to let me taste that delicious meat ?' she defended herself.
'Okay, okay, we're not getting anywhere with this. Let's just fly, alright ?' I said, trying to convince her.
'I agree. Let's go.'
And with a powerful flap of her wings, we shot several meters into the air. Within seconds, we were soaring above our home.
Saphira flapped her wings again and then dove. We plummeted at high speed toward the ground, and just when it seemed like we would crash into the trees, she spread her wings, making us glide over the forest.
The animals that hadn't yet woken up were definitely up now. I could see many rabbits darting through the woods and birds taking flight.
'Faster, Saphira !' I said excitedly.
'Your wish is my command !' she responded, and with that, we sped across our land at high velocity.
The entire mountain near the mansion and its valley belonged to us, protected by enchantments of security and illusion. We had kilometers to fly and have fun, though Saphira still said it wasn't enough for her to hunt.
'Higher !' I shouted, growing even more excited as adrenaline surged through my veins.
Sharing my enthusiasm, she flapped her wings and turned upward. We climbed higher and higher, nearly reaching the clouds. I could hear Saphira's breathing growing heavier.
She stopped flapping her wings, and we began plummeting backward rapidly. But the thrill never left us. Spiraling down at high speed, we twisted in the air, and once again, just before hitting the ground, she spread her wings, bringing us safely back up.
'I never get tired of this,' I said with a laugh.
'I feel the same—nothing compares to flying,' she replied. And so it went. We flew for a long time, until seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours.
—
We had been flying for about three and a half hours. Saphira was far from tired, and I was far from bored. But our moment was interrupted by a light we both saw in the distance.
It was a red magical spark—one my grandfather conjured when he needed to call us back from afar. He had different colors for different occasions: green for meals, blue for returning home, but red was something else. We had to go back—there was a guest.
I felt Saphira's apprehension rising. She didn't like strangers, and neither did I.
'It's okay. It wasn't a danger signal. Come on, he's calling us,' I said, giving her gentle pats on the neck to calm her down.
We landed in a clearing near the mansion to avoid Saphira being seen. But since I'm paranoid, I asked her to make us invisible the moment we saw the sparks.
'Everything will be fine. You need to hide, you know that, right ?' I said, trying to ease her nerves.
'You know I don't like being apart from you. I barely accepted having to sleep outside the mansion,' she said worriedly.
'Haha, that's why Grandpa spent two thousand five hundred Galleons on your bed—to make you more comfortable,' I said with a smile.
'It'll be fine. I'll call you if anything happens, okay ?' I reassured her.
'Promise ?' she asked timidly.
'I promise,' I affirmed, pressing my forehead against hers, making her purr softly.
'Okay then. Keep your eyes open,' she said, calmer but not entirely at ease.
'I always try,' I replied.
And with a powerful leap, she took off and became invisible seconds later.
I walked through the corridors to my grandfather's office. I stopped at the door, hearing his voice—and another man's. A voice I didn't recognize. Their conversation stopped when I knocked.
Tap Tap Tap
" Come on in !" I heard my grandfather say from inside.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, I saw my grandfather seated at his desk, as always. Across from him sat a gray-haired man. His appearance was a bit unkempt—he wore purple robes, black pants, and his silver hair fell over his shoulders.
In his lap, a large leather bag, filled with objects that pressed against the fabric.
"Aurelius, please come in. I want you to meet an old business partner," my grandfather said, standing up. The man slowly did the same.
"This is Mr. Garrick Ollivander," he said, gesturing toward the man.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, young Aurelius," he said with a smile.
And then it hit me—
'My eleventh birthday was just a week ago. I almost forgot that detail because of the flight with Saphira. Looks like things are about to get interesting today,' I thought, a grin forming on my face.