"We will start with a basic and simple spell — the Wand Lighting Charm — or Lumos Spell. Focus, move your wand in a small motion counterclockwise, and say the incantation: Lumos!"
Tiara demonstrated the charm for Christian before asking him to try. He held his wand tightly, focused, and followed her movement:
"Lumos!" His pronunciation was impeccable, and his wand was swift and efficient, as if holding a rapier. The tip of his wand immediately lit up, making Christian flinch a little.
"Is this magic?" he muttered with eyes twinkling.
"Excellent. Move your wand in a downward motion and say, 'Nox.'"
Christian followed her direction, and the light disappeared. Intrigued, he cast the two charms repeatedly for the next ten seconds.
"Okay, that's enough," said Tiara. "Let's try something else." She summoned a small feather from her bag of holding and contemplated for a moment before placing two small rocks on the table.
Her wand made an S-shape before muttering, "Wingardium Leviosa." Christian watched in awe as the pebble levitated from the table. Without hesitation, he tried it and succeeded in one attempt. He waited for his mother to praise him, but saw her furrowed brow.
"What's wrong? Did I make a mistake?"
"No. Try again."
Christian was confused, but he tried again and succeeded. She then told him to use the Wand Lighting Charm instead, and he followed her instructions.
"I was not mistaken. Your eyes glowed purple when you cast a spell."
"My eyes? Is that not normal?"
"I'm afraid it's not."
"So, it's a bad thing?"
"Maybe, but maybe not. No need to worry; I will consult some people. Now, let's continue the lesson. Let's try the Water-Making Spell."
After trying this spell, Christian failed because he was distracted by his mother's words; it took a moment to concentrate before he finally succeeded.
"Let's try handweaving," Tiara said after she saw he had regained his concentration while learning the Summoning Charm (Accio). Christian put away his wand and focused on remembering and making the finger movements.
"Lumos."
Nothing happened. He tried a second time to no avail.
"You have to focus. You no longer have your wand to mobilize your magic for you, so you must concentrate and bring out the power from inside. Remember your meditation experience."
Christian took a deep breath and focused his attention; he first sensed a strange power near his heart and forced it to activate as his fingers moved. A flicker of light appeared on the tip of his finger but swiftly disappeared. He tried a third time, and the light appeared but disappeared after less than two seconds.
On his fourth attempt, the tip of his index finger lit up like his wand.
"I did it," he said with a wide smile.
"Indeed," muttered Tiara, shocked by such natural aptitude. Even learning the most basic Lighting Spell took her more than three days, and then, her grandmother told her she was a genius. Her sister took nearly two weeks to learn, and she still fell in the gifted category.
"Flick your thumb and use the incantation to close it."
"Nox," uttered Christian as he moved his thumb, and the light disappeared.
"Try again."
After his first success, this spell was easy for him to use, and the same was true for the others. Although handweaving magic requires great concentration, as his mother stated, two years of constant meditation made the process relatively easy and straightforward for him.
"That was fun. What's next?"
"Since you are learning so quickly, let's try Transfiguration. It's a difficult subject requiring even more effort and concentration."
She pointed at the matchstick on the table. "For transfiguration, you have to have a clear intent of what you're turning and be firm in your wand movement and pronunciation; this is a form of magic that does not tolerate nonsense or hesitation. Understand?"
"I do."
"Transfiguro!" said Tiara as she waved her wand, transforming the matchstick into a needle. "Now, your turn." She observed him, not telling that Transfiguro was a general incantation in Transfiguration, only used by people with talent or great achievement in the field. Otherwise, a specific incantation is required for whatever object the wizard wishes to transform into.
Christian took a moment to remember her words and apply them. As expected, his matchstick turned into a needle, but he found it was not as beautiful as his mother's.
"Excellent for your first attempt. Now, try again."
With each attempt, Christian's needle became more beautiful and perfect until his fifth attempt, when he felt it was as beautiful as his mother. Well, as close as he would ever get.
"Now try it without a wand."
Christian knew the difficulty he would encounter and prepared. But he slightly underestimates the ability to transfigure something without the aid of his wand. He only succeeded after three hours of nonstop trying, and by that time, his hands were already cramping.
"It looks so ugly compared to the one I made with the wand."
"Maybe," replied Tiara, a little distracted. The first time she succeeded in wandless transfiguration, it took more than four months, and her sister took close to a year. Of course, they were not as precocious as Zed and would play a lot, unwilling to learn or follow lessons, thus affecting their time.
Regardless of the excuse, today, she saw someone succeed in one day—no, in three hours. Tiara took a deep breath to calm down. She should have been ecstatic to see her child's superior magical aptitude, but she could only think about Papa Tounde's words and the possible implications behind such a talent.
"Now that you've succeeded the first time, you only need to continue practicing until this becomes an instinct. My granni used to say that magic is like a muscle; the more you practice and train it, the more powerful it will become."
"Sounds like wise words; I would have loved to meet her."
"And she would have loved you with all her heart," replied Tiara with a smile. "Are your fingers alright, or do you need a break?"
"I can continue."
Christian continued for another thirty minutes before he was tired; each attempt became easier, and this needle became more beautiful and perfect.
"We will end today's lesson."
"Oh, so soon? It's still early."
"Haste does not make waste. We have more than a year before you start school, and with your aptitude, you will learn many things."
"I understand."
Tiara saw the disappointment in his eyes. "How about a flying lesson in the afternoon?"
"Flying?"
"You'll see."
…
"Place your hand above the broom and say: Up."
Christian followed her direction, and the broom flew into his hand.
"Now, follow my posture: sit securely, hold tight with both hands, and push off the ground when ready."
He watched his mother fly in the air, and he followed. At first, he was a little wobbly because of the fear, but soon, he felt the broom was another extension of his body. The slightest shift of his weight would turn it in any direction.
Without knowing, Christian found himself rapidly approaching the cloud before his mother stopped him. "You're going too far."
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I never thought you would love riding so much. Maybe you'll have a future as a Quidditch Player."
"It felt so free," replied Christian. "Plus, isn't it easier for me to reach my destination? I only need to fly in a straight line."
"I don't mean to burst your bubble, but it's illegal to reveal the existence of magic to Muggles. So, unless you've mastered the Disillusionment Charm and can make yourself invisible, never try that."
"Disillusionment Charm? I'll keep that in mind. By the way, what's Quidditch?"
"A Wizard Sport involving flying. I was a Chaser in my 6th and 7th years. Your father, on the other hand, found the sports ridiculous. Even so, he was always there, supporting me at every game — even the ones I played against his house."
"Chaser?"
"I'll bring you to a game Saturday."
"Good. You also previously mentioned houses. You were a Gryffindor, and Dad was a Riv–"
"Ravenclaw," explained Tiara. "Hogwarts is divided into four houses based on a particular valued characteristic. Griffyindor values…."