NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Training Schedule
The next day, Alex packed his things, said goodbye to Mother Triss and William at the orphanage, and set off alone for the Leaky Cauldron.
When he arrived, Tom, the innkeeper, looked at him with surprise, eyebrows raised and eyes widening slightly. "You want to stay here alone until Hogwarts starts?" Tom asked, clearly taken aback, his voice holding a hint of worry.
"Yes, Mr. Tom. Don't worry about it; I've got enough money," Alex reassured him, pulling a few shiny gold Galleons from his pocket to show he could pay for his stay.
Tom's expression softened slightly, but he shook his head and sighed. "It's not just about the money, Mr. Wilson," he replied, his tone firm yet kind. "It's just not safe for a young lad like you to stay here alone. I have to think about your safety. I can't allow it—not for your own good."
Tom's concern was evident in the way he looked at Alex, the lines on his face deepening as he considered the boy's request.
Alex nodded, understanding Tom's concern. "I know it's dangerous, Mr. Tom. Professor McGonagall explained it to me yesterday, but I still feel safer here than in the Muggle world. I'd rather be somewhere with Aurors around than risk something happening in the orphanage."
Tom raised an eyebrow, thinking it over. After a moment, he sighed. "Alright, but I'll give you a discount—five Galleons for the whole month and a half. But you have to promise you won't wander around at night. Curfew here is at eight o'clock sharp. Be in your room by then."
"Deal," Alex agreed, handing over the Galleons.
He took the room key and went upstairs with his things. The room was modest but cozy, with just enough space for his belongings. Alex set a small onion plant he'd brought on the windowsill along with some spices and a poker set William had gifted him. Once he unpacked, he looked around the room. There was space for basic exercises, but not enough for his usual martial arts routines. He could do some tai chi, but his punch and grapple techniques would be difficult here.
With this in mind, Alex sat down and wrote a daily schedule:
- 6:30 AM: Wake up, wash up, morning exercises (stretching, standing practice, aerobic training, and boxing)
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Study and practice magic spells
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM: More studying and practicing magic
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 8:00 PM: Evening exercises (boxing, standing practice, meditation)
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime
He also planned to help Tom with chores during meal breaks to stay helpful and build a good rapport with him.
With his schedule set, Alex realized it was almost noon. He headed downstairs for lunch. Seeing the limited menu of traditional British dishes, Alex asked Tom if he could use the kitchen. Tom, curious, allowed him, and Alex quickly made a few simple dishes with his own spices, inviting Tom to join him. They enjoyed the food together, and Tom was visibly impressed. Their earlier tensions eased, and by the end of lunch, they were on much friendlier terms.
With lunch over, Alex was ready to dive into his magical studies. He started with three books: Standard Spells for Beginners, Magical Theory, and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense. His first goal was to learn a few basic spells as quickly as possible.
Transfiguration seemed too complex without guidance, so he decided to start with simpler spells he could use right away. As he flipped through the books, he marked important sections and made notes whenever something was unclear. Hours passed as he absorbed the material.
The next morning, after breakfast, Alex was ready to try his first spell: the Levitation Charm. He had always been good at focusing, so he felt confident starting with something practical.
Holding his wand, he pointed it at a book on the table. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said, following the wand movements he had studied.
Instantly, he felt an invisible force connect him, the wand, and the book. With a small effort, the book floated gently off the table. It felt... natural. "So this is what using a wand does," Alex muttered to himself.
Satisfied with his progress, he put the wand down and tried to make the book float again without it, as he used to at the orphanage. But no matter how hard he concentrated, the book stayed firmly on the table.
"Hmm, strange, why can't I feel the same magic flow without the wand?" Alex wondered aloud. "Maybe the wand is more than just a tool for spells."
He pondered about this for a while, trying to figure out how the wand interacted with his magic. Picking it up again, he cast the Levitation Charm a few more times, each time paying close attention to how the magic flowed from his body to the wand. He was studying the subtle shifts in power.
After practicing, Alex set the wand down and stood still. He bent his knees slightly, relaxed, and cleared his mind. Instead of focusing on how he used to cast spells without a wand, he focused on recreating the magical flow he felt with it. Visualizing the path of magic as he felt it with the wand, he slowly opened his eyes—and to his surprise, the book floated gently before him, moving steadily through the air.
"I see," he said aloud, amazed at his realization. "The wand doesn't just make spells easier—it makes the flow of magic more stable and controlled. My old way of using magic was too rough, so once I started using a wand, it didn't work the same without it."
Without realizing it, Alex had discovered the secret of wandless and silent casting. His years of practicing his mental strength had made him more in tune with magic, allowing him to cast the Levitation Charm without a wand—something even skilled wizards struggled to achieve.