James woke early, his body automatically stirring before dawn despite the late night. But instead of the grogginess he'd expected after only a few hours of sleep, he felt energized, almost electric with excitement.
The lack of results from the detection spells hadn't discouraged him at all. On the contrary, he was even more excited to delve into the mystery. If even the most basic parts of Hogwarts were such a fun puzzle, what about all the hidden things accumulated here over a thousand years? Things created by the Founders themselves, or by the thousands of witches and wizards who had passed through these halls as students, teachers, or guests?
This was what magic was supposed to be. Mysteries, puzzles, wonders. There was no limit to magic, only to a witch or wizard's imagination and determination.
James went through his morning ablutions with unusual enthusiasm, washing quickly and dressing in casual clothes since it was the weekend. Dark jeans, a comfortable shirt, a warm jumper against the castle's perpetual chill. It was still dark outside his window.
Too early to go to breakfast. Perfect time to practice.
James settled at his desk and pulled out his sixth-year Charms textbook. He was making excellent time. The first week of school was barely over, but he'd already succeeded at, if not fully mastered, almost all the spells in the entire seven-year Charms curriculum.
Though it would be a lie to say it was all achieved in one week. He'd been practicing magic for years now, and he'd had almost a full year to learn and practice spells from the course books. Being one of the oldest students in his year had given him that advantage. He thought only Hermione Granger was older than him, born in September. Though who knew, there might be other students with nearby or even earlier birthdays that he simply hadn't noticed.
The spell he was working on now was particularly complex and exciting: the Aetherial Anchor Charm.
"Aethera Figeo," James murmured, his wand tracing an intricate pattern over the transfigured bowl sitting on his desk.
The Aetherial Anchor Charm was one of those spells that opened entirely new possibilities in magic. It anchored a spell effect to a particular location or object, making it permanent rather than temporary. The uniqueness of this charm was that it could be combined with a wide variety of other spells to create lasting enchantments.
It was most often used in permanent enchantments, and it was essential if one wanted to learn true object enchanting. The difference between charmed and enchanted objects was fundamental. Charms, when cast on things, faded over time depending on the power and skill of the caster. They were temporary by nature, requiring constant renewal.
But permanent charms that lasted through the ages, that only got destroyed when the object itself was destroyed? That was true enchantment. And learning the Aetherial Anchor Charm was the basic requirement to begin applying genuine enchantments.
James had transfigured a bowl specifically for this practice, giving it a stylish contemporary design with clean lines and a subtle pattern etched into the ceramic. It would look great in any modern home. His goal was to create a bowl that levitated anything placed in it with a few more additions, but he was biting off more than he strictly needed to.
He could use a single charm along with the Aetherial Anchor, like a simple levitation charm that would lift whatever was placed in the bowl. That would be the straightforward approach. But James had a specific vision, and he wanted to experiment with trial and error until he achieved it.
He wanted to put water in the bowl and have it levitate in both liquid and fog form. He wanted it to look like a cloud of mist was floating above the bowl, ethereal and beautiful. A piece of art.
He'd achieved the basic effects already. The combination of Wingardium Leviosa, a water-manipulation charm, and a careful application of Nebulus to create mist had produced something close to what he envisioned. But he was having trouble making sure the mist stayed within the range of the spell and didn't drift away until it disappeared entirely.
James tried various combinations of containment charms. A barrier spell to create an invisible boundary. A circulation charm to make the mist swirl in place. A cohesion charm to keep the water vapor from dispersing.
Then he had to anchor all of them together, layering the Aetherial Anchor Charm multiple times while ensuring the enchantments didn't interfere with each other.
It was delicate, complex work. One wrong wand movement, one imprecise incantation, and the whole structure collapsed. He'd have to start over, reapplying each layer carefully.
James was so absorbed in the work that he didn't notice time passing. The sky outside his window gradually lightened, stars fading as dawn approached. The castle began to stir, distant sounds of movement as early risers started their days.
He was attempting his seventh iteration of the enchantment, carefully weaving together four different charms with multiple anchor points, when he realized it was nearly time for breakfast.
James checked his watch and swore softly. He'd been working for over two hours without pause. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes slightly strained from concentration.
But the bowl was beginning to work. Not perfectly yet, but still close. The mist now swirled in a contained space above the bowl, forming patterns that looked like miniature clouds. It was beautiful, mesmerizing to watch.
He'd finish it later. Right now, he had other tasks.
James locked his room carefully and made his way through the castle. The corridors were quiet, most students still sleeping. The early morning light streaming through windows gave everything a golden quality, softer than the harsh midday sun.
Instead of heading directly to breakfast, James climbed toward the Owlery. The walk was peaceful, his footsteps echoing softly on stone stairs. He passed a few portraits who were just waking up, yawning and stretching in their frames.