The Light of Discovery
**Chapter : The Light of Discovery**
**Alex McKinnon’s POV**
The Patronus Charm wasn’t the end of my research into white magic—far from it. It was only the beginning of what I hoped would be a broader exploration into magic fueled by positive emotions, or what I had started calling “light magic.” Dark magic, with its power rooted in destructive emotions, seemed to dominate wizarding society, but I was convinced that love, joy, and hope were the keys to an equally powerful—and more sustainable—form of magic.
And then there was something else, something more… I had started to notice an underlying connection between white magic and a strange, pulsing energy I could feel on rare occasions, almost as if it was part of the fabric of the world. It reminded me of the strange, otherworldly power I had felt after performing the Horcrux ritual. I knew it couldn’t just be a coincidence. Could it be connected to dimensional energy? The same force that powered beings like Loki in the MCU?
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**Researching White and Dimensional Magic**
In the late hours of the night, after my classmates had gone to bed, I delved into ancient texts from the Black family library, which I had managed to sneak into Hogwarts thanks to my trips to Gringotts. What I discovered was that white magic wasn’t just about casting spells of protection or summoning Patronuses. It was tied to the very essence of life and creation itself.
The more I read, the more it became apparent that this "light magic" was intertwined with the elemental forces of nature—fire, water, earth, and air—and a fifth element: spirit, or dimensional energy.
Dimensional energy was a power that wizards had mostly forgotten about, lost to time and the more immediate, flashy spells that dark wizards used. It was energy that connected the different dimensions and timelines. The deeper I went into the research, the more I realized how powerful it could be. If I could master it, I would be able to manipulate time, space, and reality itself. I had to push forward, even though the complexity of this magic was mind-bending.
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**A Different Perspective on Potions**
As I worked on light magic, I also started to think about the more mundane aspects of the wizarding world—things that people took for granted. Potions, for example. I had been paying close attention in Potions class, noticing how certain brews seemed to dull the senses of students rather than aid them. The calming draught, in particular, caught my attention.
It was meant to soothe the nerves, but I began to wonder: was it acting like a Muggle drug? Was it suppressing emotions and thought in ways that could make wizards complacent, maybe even dumb? The similarities to the effects of Muggle substances like sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs were uncanny.
This idea gnawed at me, so I decided to bring it up with the Hogwarts professors.
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**Discussing Potions with the Professors**
The first teacher I approached was Professor Sprout. She was down-to-earth and often willing to entertain new ideas. One afternoon, after Herbology class, I asked her if I could stay behind to discuss a theory.
“Professor, I’ve been thinking about some of the potions we use, particularly the calming draught. Do you think it could be compared to Muggle drugs in its effects? I’ve noticed that it dulls emotions and seems to make people a bit… slower in their thinking afterward.”
She frowned slightly, her hands brushing dirt off her robes. “Well, it’s meant to calm the nerves, Alex. But… I suppose I’ve never thought of it quite like that. Wizards rarely compare our potions to Muggle drugs. We don’t think of them in the same way.”
“Exactly,” I said, my thoughts speeding ahead. “But what if we should? What if some potions are doing more harm than good, like the calming draught? It’s not just a temporary effect. I’ve seen students who use it regularly seem less sharp in class. What if we’re dulling our own minds?”
Sprout considered this carefully. “It’s a valid question. Perhaps the potion has side effects that we haven’t fully understood. You should talk to Professor Snape—he’d have the deepest knowledge on this subject.”
Talking to Snape, however, was not something I was looking forward to, given our history in class. Nevertheless, I brought up the issue with him during a quiet moment in the Potions dungeon. His usual sneer was in place, but when I laid out my concerns, he seemed to pause. He didn’t dismiss my ideas outright, which, for Snape, was almost a compliment.
“Potions,” he said, “are complex, McKinnon. Every ingredient has layers of magical properties. A calming draught may indeed share some properties with Muggle drugs. However, the effects on wizards are much harder to quantify. You might be onto something… but don’t think this is some grand revelation.” His voice was dripping with his usual condescension, but I saw the glint of interest in his eyes.
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**The Fall of Barty Crouch**
While I was deep in research and discussions with teachers, a storm was brewing in the wizarding world. The letter I’d sent to Amelia Bones and Rita Skeeter had done its job.
The *Daily Prophet* exploded with reports of Barty Crouch Senior’s secret, and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had acted swiftly. They had found his son, Barty Crouch Junior, still alive and under the Imperius Curse. The fallout was tremendous. Barty Crouch Senior had been a respected figure in the Ministry, but now his reputation was in tatters, and the public was questioning how many other Death Eaters had been hidden or protected by those in power.
Rita Skeeter was, predictably, all over the story, feeding the public’s appetite for scandal. Her articles were relentless, each one peeling back another layer of the Ministry’s corruption.
In the midst of all this, Amelia Bones emerged as a hero—one of the few officials with integrity. She had led the investigation herself, earning widespread respect. And though I had kept my distance, I felt a small sense of satisfaction. This was the first domino to fall.
The Death Eater networks would be in chaos now, and Voldemort’s supporters would be scrambling to cover their tracks. The wizarding world was changing, and I had played a part in that.
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**Moving Forward**
Despite the chaos, I couldn’t afford to slow down. My research into white magic and dimensional energy was still in its infancy, and there was so much more to learn. The knowledge I’d gained from Voldemort’s Horcrux was still being sifted through, and I needed to strengthen my mind further to integrate it all.
The next step? To push my understanding of light magic even further and to explore whether the calming draught—and other such potions—were tools of suppression, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
But for now, I’d watch the world around me react to the fall of Barty Crouch Senior and prepare for the next move. The game had only just begun.