Steelalbatross5000: Haha, we're only at the beginning of the story! It will still take a little while before we get to the romance :). Personally, I didn't find Hermione's personality in the books very likeable for anything serious. However, I'll create a poll about the couple later, and people will decide. Votes for Hermione will be split in half — if 10 people vote for her, it will count as 5.
Uvuv: It's definitely possible in the future, but it has two drawbacks. The protagonist would need to focus both on spellcasting and on telekinetically controlling the dagger. At the beginning, that would be far too magically and mentally exhausting for him. In the future it could work, but it would be very easily countered — a basic shield, Depulso, and so on. Also, any reasonably skilled mage would certainly know the counter-curse to boiling blood. By the time it becomes practically possible for our protagonist, the magic involved will already be extremely powerful.
***
I returned to Flourish and Blotts and swiftly purchased all the required first-year textbooks. I didn't care that I'd have to replace them with new ones in a year; the priority was to have the foundation. Since Muggle school posed no intellectual challenge for me, I had plenty of time to fully devote myself to the study of magic.
I arrived back at the orphanage before dusk. I had the taxi drop me off a block away to avoid unnecessary questions about where I had obtained the money for such a luxury.
I briefly informed Mrs. Benson of my return. I had to lie and claim the day had been entirely peaceful—she would likely have a heart attack if she found out about the mugging in Knockturn Alley. For a moment, I considered letting her into the secrets of the magical world and my heritage, but for now, I dismissed the idea. However, I noticed how visibly relieved she was to see me alive and well.
Even then, I couldn't wait to be alone. I was fascinated by the prospect of diving into the book The Power of the Mind: Obtain the Secrets of Enemies and Protect Your Own. I must admit, I was most intrigued by Legilimency—the power to read others like an open book. However, I knew I would have to force myself to study Occlumency as well. Without protecting my own mind, any offensive move would be a reckless gamble. I quickly slipped away to my room.
***
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I pulled out The Power of the Mind. It wasn't a dry, academic text; it felt more like a collection of rare notes from old masters, meticulously organized into a cohesive work. The book was categorically divided into three main pillars: attack, defense, and the mental duel. A warning stood on the very first page: Not everyone possesses the talent to master this art. Of course...
I started with the first chapter, which, to my delight, was dedicated to Legilimency. I was already intimately familiar with the theory, the attack procedure, and the incantation itself. In the past, I had already managed to successfully penetrate minds and catch flashes of memories or feelings; practically speaking, I had mastered the basics of Legilimency. However, the book revealed levels of mastery I had previously only sensed:
1. A Legilimens who can read memories.
2. A Legilimens who can read memories and emotions.
3. A Legilimens who can read memories, thoughts, and emotions.
4. A Legilimens who can read memories, thoughts, and emotions, as well as plant suggestions and suppress emotions.
According to the book's classification, I was currently at the second level. I could sense emotions from people—I clearly perceived when someone was lying to me, when they were paralyzed by fear, or when they were pleased with themselves.
But there was other, far more interesting information. Wandless Legilimency was considered an extremely difficult discipline, allegedly mastered only by true experts. Yet, I did it intuitively and relatively easily. I remember the beginning, when it was exhausting for my magical core and I felt dead tired after every attempt, but now I was fine. My magic had grown significantly stronger through training.
One important note in the text caught my eye: Legilimency performed with a wand is "sharper" and more precise. This pleased me. I realized that if I was at the second level without a wand, my level would likely be higher with one.
As for Occlumency, the book offered a fairly precise and logical procedure. The first step was total mastery of meditation, followed by building two lines of defense: outer and inner walls. Several masters in the text agreed that the outer walls should be unique and unpredictable. If everyone had the same metal gate and stone castle in their mind, an experienced Legilimens could train for such a breach in advance.
For the inner wall, however, a library form was clearly recommended. It had its practical benefits—regularly clearing the mind, categorizing, and storing memories on imaginary shelves significantly improved memory. That was a side effect I definitely wanted to gain.
Although Occlumency wasn't strictly divided into levels, the book mentioned fascinating abilities achieved by the greatest masters. One of the most striking benefits was perfect emotional manipulation while spellcasting. A powerful mage could switch between spells with entirely different emotional spectrums within seconds—from Dark Magic fueled by pure hatred to healing charms or neutral magic without a hint of feeling.
I hadn't studied the theory of magic yet, but I could guess what it was about. If I need to summon genuine hatred and the will to kill someone for the Avada Kedavra curse, I wouldn't be able to immediately summon the feeling of pure happiness required for Expecto Patronum without strong Occlumency.
"With my luck, a hungry Dementor would jump me immediately after casting an Avada," I thought to myself with amusement. Without control over my emotions, I would be defenseless in such a moment.
But Occlumency also offered other, no less important advantages that fascinated me as a whole. Masters of this art gained increased resistance to direct magical control, such as the Imperius Curse, and their minds became immune to Memory Charms or the confusing Confundus.
The list of benefits went on—an Occlumens could resist spells aimed at manipulating emotions and could equally effectively deal with the most insidious potions. Whether it was the truth serum Veritaserum or the dangerous Amortentia, the strongest love potion, an Occlumens could perceive their effects and use internal discipline to suppress or even completely neutralize them. Overall, it was the perfect tool for maintaining absolute free will and power over oneself. It was exactly what I needed.
Suddenly, there was a tap at the window. I was so engrossed in The Power of the Mind that I jerked and snapped my head up. There was a brown owl, an ordinary one, exactly like those I used to see in documentaries on Animal Planet. What in Merlin's name was an owl doing here? My Hogwarts letter wasn't supposed to arrive for another year. Had Ranrok sent me a letter? Or had someone found out about my existence who shouldn't have?
I cracked the window open. The owl hooted, flew elegantly into the room, and perched on my desk. It offered its leg, to which an envelope was attached without any markings, just a simple inscription: Mr. Rosier. As soon as I took the envelope, it turned with a hoot and flew back out.
I wasn't worried that the envelope was cursed; it had been attached to the owl, which was touching it. I was much more concerned by the letter itself. Cursed letters were a common weapon in the wizarding world. I didn't have dragon-hide gloves or any protective spells. So, I pulled a thick winter Muggle glove onto my left hand—it was better than nothing. In my right, I firmly gripped my knife in its sheath. I carefully opened the envelope and used the tip of the sheath to pull out the folded letter.
"Our mutual acquaintance passed away in excruciating pain; his own blood boiled him. The hags are having a feast."
A short, blunt message that sent a chill down my spine. I knew it was from Borgin; no one else would send me such a note. I understood that it wasn't just information, but a reminder of his power. Nothing escapes him in Knockturn Alley.
At the same time, it was a bizarre sign of goodwill. He assured me that the "evidence" of my deed had been literally devoured.
"Power truly has many faces," I thought.
For a brief moment, the feeling paralyzed me. I was a murderer. But that thought didn't last long in my head; I quickly shook it off like useless dust. "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword," flashed through my mind. I should have that motto tattooed somewhere in case I ever suffer a foolish weakness of regret for lost lives in the future. The man wasn't innocent, and the world won't be any worse off without him.
My conscience remained silent, exactly as I needed it to. In this world, there was no room for pity, only for survival.
I delved back into the book, this time into the chapter on mental duels. This section was surprisingly short, but all the more impactful. Masters discussed direct attacks, subtle probing, and their combinations, but there was also a chilling warning: if a strong Legilimens continuously strikes the walls of an Occlumens and the difference in their power is abyssal, they can completely crush the victim's mind.
The rule of successful penetration intrigued me. To win a duel, a Legilimens must be at least twice as capable as their opponent. The logic behind it was bulletproof—the attacker is trying to enter someone else's mind, where the Occlumens is the unquestioned master. In that mental space, the defender dictates the physical laws, the architecture, and the traps.
I understood that if I built a sufficiently complex defense, I would be safe even from wizards who were older and more experienced than I.
When I finished the book, I flopped onto the bed, exhausted. But I didn't want to just lie there idly. Involuntarily, I reached out my left hand and telekinetically forced the chair in the middle of the room to dance in the air. I did it passively, so to speak; while the furniture hovered to the rhythm of my thoughts, I was still processing the information from today in my head.
"I have to work even harder, I have no choice," I commanded myself silently.
The chair danced in the dim light of the room until I felt the familiar tremor—the signal of near-total magical exhaustion. I placed it gently on the ground. I was at the end of my strength, but my mind was clear. It was time to start building my Occlumency.
***
Today's chapter is a bit shorter due to the holidays and family visits. However, the plot is moving forward, and I've shared more details on how Mind Arts work in this world.
Please feel free to comment and like! Also, if you're enjoying the story, don't forget to drop some Power Stones. They really help with the story's visibility and keep me motivated to write more.