The World of Magic and Survival
**Chapter 3: The World of Magic and Survival**
Alex Black McKinnon—formerly John White—grew rapidly into his new life. The memories of his past life, sharp and clear, felt both distant and immediate. The smell of fresh parchment, the flicker of candles, and the warmth of his mother’s voice surrounded him in ways that John had never known. Marlene McKinnon was a fiercely protective woman, full of love and devotion. She carried the weight of loss quietly, her eyes often distant, but she never allowed that grief to touch Alex. He was her entire world now, and he could feel it.
In this new body, Alex was a curious child, absorbing the magical world around him with a sharp intellect that was now bolstered by the gift of knowledge Death had bestowed upon him. It was as if books and spells spoke to him, unfolding their secrets without the usual struggle.
Marlene had fled Britain in 1980, just after the Death Eater attack that had wiped out her entire family. Only she, her father, and her baby Alex had survived. Her father—older, quiet, and brooding—worked tirelessly to ensure they stayed hidden from Voldemort’s forces. It was a quiet life, but it wasn’t without its dangers.
Alex knew from his memories that the rise of Voldemort would soon change everything. In the backdrop of his life in America, protected by MACUSA, he also knew that one day he would return to Britain. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, would eventually face the Dark Lord, and Alex would need to be ready. The prophecy must be fulfilled. But how could he, a boy raised in the shadows of the magical world, help guide the destiny of the most important figure in wizarding history?
He had to learn. Fast.
***
It was in the year 1986, as Alex turned seven, that his magical abilities truly began to manifest. He’d been able to sense the subtle magic around him before, but now, he could manipulate it, albeit unconsciously. His emotions often triggered it—objects levitating, lights flickering. But there was a day when he realized he wasn’t like other children.
It was an ordinary afternoon in their small, hidden cottage in the American countryside. Marlene was reading at the table, while Alex was fiddling with an old book on basic spells. His curiosity got the better of him, and he absentmindedly spoke the incantation for *Lumos*.
A bright light flared from the tip of his finger.
Marlene looked up, startled. "Alex?"
Alex stared at his hand in shock. He hadn’t meant to actually perform the spell; he had just been reading it. His mother's face softened into a smile, but there was concern beneath the surface.
“You’ve inherited your father's gift,” she said softly, sitting beside him. “Magic runs deep in the Black family.”
Sirius Black. The name always struck Alex with an odd mixture of fascination and resentment. The man didn’t know he existed. Marlene had kept the secret, not out of spite, but for protection. Sirius had been reckless, caught in the whirlwind of the First Wizarding War. And now, after Voldemort’s fall and the murder of the Potters, Sirius was rotting in Azkaban for a crime he didn’t commit.
“I think I’m ready for more than just floating books,” Alex said quietly, his fingers still glowing with magic. “I need to learn. Really learn.”
Marlene hesitated. She had wanted to keep him sheltered from the darker sides of magic. But Alex was different from other children. He was quiet, watchful, and curious beyond his years. She knew she couldn’t hold him back forever.
“You’re right,” she finally said. “But we’ll go at your pace. Your grandfather will help teach you the basics, and when you’re older, MACUSA will assess your magical abilities.”
Alex nodded, grateful. This was what he needed—a structured path. The future was coming fast, and he couldn’t just sit idly by, waiting for destiny to unfold.
***
By the time Alex was ten, his knowledge of magic surpassed most adults'. He devoured every book his grandfather gave him, practiced wandless magic in secret, and memorized spells well beyond his level. Death’s gift of knowledge had made the process faster—things came naturally to him, as if he had lived with magic his whole life. But there was one thing that haunted him.
No matter how much he prepared, he wasn’t ready to face Voldemort. Not yet.
His nightly dreams were filled with flashes of the future—the Triwizard Tournament, the rise of the Death Eaters, and the inevitable final battle. Every night, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, stood at the center of those visions.
Alex had no delusions of becoming a hero. His role was to guide Harry, to make sure the prophecy played out as it should. He couldn’t let Voldemort win, but he also couldn’t become a direct part of that prophecy. It wasn’t his story to change.
One evening, as he sat with his mother by the fire, Marlene looked at him with soft, sad eyes. “Alex, I know you’ve been restless. I see the way you read those books, the way you talk about magic like you’re already planning for something bigger.”
Alex swallowed, unsure how much to reveal. He had never told Marlene about the visions or his deeper knowledge of the future. How could he? She already carried so much burden, hiding them away from the world, protecting him.
“I just want to be ready,” Alex said, trying to sound casual.
Marlene’s expression softened, but her worry was evident. “You’re so much like him, you know.”
“Like who?”
“Sirius.” Her voice caught in her throat. “Reckless, brave, always thinking ten steps ahead, even when the rest of us are still stuck on the first.”
Alex was silent. He had always wondered what Sirius Black was truly like. He had an idea from his memories of the books and films, but hearing it from Marlene, who had known the man intimately, made it all feel more real.
“I wish you’d met him,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “He would’ve been proud of you.”
Alex clenched his fists, feeling the weight of those words. One day, he thought, I’ll free him. I’ll get him out of Azkaban. But not yet. Timing was everything. If he changed too much, too soon, it might alter the course of history. And he couldn’t risk that.
For now, his focus was clear: learn everything, become powerful, and prepare for the future. Because when Voldemort returned, Alex would need to be ready.
And so, the days passed, filled with training, secrets, and the ever-looming shadow of what was to come.