Alex cpped along, impressed by Vanessa's skill. He hadn't expected her to be so adept at spellcasting. The accuracy with which she had separated the ink from the fog demonstrated the potential for even more plex applications.

  "That was incredible, Vanessa. Well done," Alex said sincerely as she returo her seat.

  "Thank you, Alex," she replied with a proud smile. "Stick with it, and I'm sure you'll catch up with me one day."

  Alex smiled back but couldn't help thinking about all the ways her teique could be applied. The possibilities were endless: rge-scale engineering, medie—perhaps even bat. He could imagine using the Extra Spell to pull fn objects from a body during surgery or to separate elements in a potion. In a duel, the spell might even be used to drain an oppo's blood or extraething vital from their body, though he quickly dismissed that darker thought.

  As the session transitioned into free study time, Alex focused on learning Vanessa's direal extra teique. He spent time practig, but as he went deeper into his studies, he realized that the spell had limitations. It was more suited for non-living objeaterials. Casting it on living creatures, like humans, was far more difficult, especially if they were moving. The slightest movement would disrupt the spell, making it nearly impossible to use in bat the way he had initially imagined.

  But the idea sparked something else. Just because it couldn't be used directly on a person didn't mean the spell was useless. He began to think of casting a spell on the grouh an enemy's feet, removing the soil to destabilize them. This could create a trap, cause the oppoo lose their bance, or even allow for creative enviroal manipution during battle. The possibilities were endless, and Alex's mind raced with the potential tactical uses.

  Lost in thought, Alex didn't notice Professor Flitwick watg him with a pleased smile. It was clear that Alex's dedication to research was exactly what the professor hoped to cultivate in his students.

  Before long, the Charms Club meeting came to an end, and the students began to leave. Vanessa, notig Alex still deep in thought, waited for him.

  "e on, Alex, it's getting te. I'll walk you back to the Slytherin on room," she offered. Curfew for senior students was a bit ter, but Alex, as a first-year, o be back before eight.

  Vanessa kindly escorted him, helping him avoid running into Filch. The day had been a productive one for Alex. The Spell Club had given him plenty of new ideas to think about. Wheuro his dormitory, he stayed up te, still refleg on the practical uses of the Extra Spell. Mastering this spell before the fourth year gave him a sense of aplishment.

  The day, in Potions css, Alex and Vivian were paired together. To everyone's surprise, their potion was the only one in the css that turned out perfectly.

  "Excellent work! I didn't expeyoo breerfect calming draught on their first attempt, especially not first-years," praised Professor Slughorn, his eyes twinkling as he ied their cauldron.

  The rest of the css wasn't so lucky—many cauldrons were spewing bck smoke, and some were even burning. Vivian smiled awkwardly beside Alex, knowing she had tributed little. She had spent most of the lesson handing Alex ingredients. At one point, she even actally gave him the wrong one, but Alex caught the mistake and corrected it before any damage could be done.

  Alex, however, accepted the praise calmly and nodded politely to Professor Slughorn. Brewing potions, to him, was straightforward. The process was methodical, with clear steps to follow. Eagredient o be prepared to exact specifications, and timing was crucial.

  As Alex stirred the potion, his hands moved with precision, and each cut of the ingredients measured perfectly. It reminded him of cooking, something he really loved. The key, he realized, wasn't just in following the recipe but in uanding the subtle differences in ingredients—like how two of the same type of pnt could have varying moisture levels, affeg the oute of the potion.

  'This really is a lot like making soup,' Alex thought to himself, though he quickly reized that the true challenge y in mastering the quality of the ingredients.

  Despite finding potions less fasating than spells, Alex appreciated the focus it required. The brewing process helped him clear his mind aer his thoughts. He also realized there otential in expl more advanced potions, and it wouldn't hurt to iigate further by browsing old textbooks iions s, as he had doh Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration.

  Meanwhile, oher side of the room, Travers was fuming. His potion had turned into a thick, bck sludge, and he was clearly jealous of Alex's success.

  "What's so great about that kid? It's just a potion, nothing t about," Travers grumbled to Randall Rring at Alex's cauldron.

  Rave Travers a cautious gnce. "Just leave it, Travers. He won't st long, anyway. Besides, Vanessa's still watg. We don't want to cause trouble."

  "That woman's too soft," Travers muttered. "Alex better stay out of my way, or he'll regret it."

  Rather than fog oravers shifted his gaze to Charles Mon, a Gryffindor across the room who was frantically trying to save his potion.

  "My father always says the Mons are too soft on Muggles. you believe his aunt's joihe Order of the Phoenix? Pure-bloods proteg Muggles. It's disgusting."

  Rozier's eyes darted around nervously. "Shh! Don't talk about that here. We don't want to get caught."

  "Rex," Travers scoffed. "It's only a matter of time before the Dark Lord takes over. When he does, we'll be the ones in power, and all these Muggle-lovers will pay the price."

  Rozier's voice lowered even further. "What are you pnning to do?"

  Travers gave him a dark look. "Not here. We'll talk ter."

  Rozier, clearly uneasy, muttered, "You were the one whht it up."