Chapter 46
A Meeting of Minds
**Alex McKinnon's POV**
The beginning of my second year at Hogwarts wasn’t exactly how I’d imagined it. I had planned to blend into the background a little longer, but my advanced spellwork in classes had already drawn attention. Still, the last thing I wanted was to stand out too much.
One person who seemed particularly intrigued by me was **Hermione Granger**. We had exchanged letters last year as pen pals, discussing everything from magic to science fiction. Hermione was brilliant, no doubt about that, but it was clear she was also trying to find her footing in the magical world. She was a **first-year** in **Gryffindor**, along with **Harry**, who had also ended up in Gryffindor despite being prepared for Ravenclaw. The two of them had quickly become friends.
One afternoon after our study session in the library, Hermione and I found ourselves lingering behind as the other students packed up their books.
“You know,” Hermione began, “in all the letters we exchanged, you never mentioned just how good you were at magic.”
I smiled. “I didn’t think it was relevant. We were discussing sci-fi plots and the possibilities of mixing muggle and magical theories, not who could cast the best spells.”
She huffed. “It’s very relevant! Especially in this world where everything seems to be about potential. People are always talking about ambition as if it's a dirty word. Most students here look at it like it's something only Slytherins should care about.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “You think ambition is only for Slytherins?”
“Well, isn’t that the stereotype? The other houses don’t focus on power and goals as much. Gryffindor’s all about bravery, Hufflepuff about hard work, and Ravenclaw about knowledge.”
I leaned back in my chair, thoughtfully tapping the edge of my book. “Ambition isn’t a bad thing. It’s just misunderstood. It’s true, ambition is often linked to Slytherin, but it’s important for **all wizards**, not just Slytherins. Think about it—what pushes us to become better at anything?”
Hermione tilted her head. “You mean ambition drives progress?”
“Exactly. Magic isn’t just about doing the spells. It’s about your intention, your desire to learn and grow. In a way, **Mother Magic** responds to that. Take a little wizard who gets hurt, for example. Their magic automatically tries to heal them, even if only a little. Magic instinctively helps them because the intention, the will to survive, is there.”
I could see Hermione was intrigued by this line of thinking. “So, you’re saying that when we have ambitions, like becoming powerful or being the smartest, our magic works with us?”
I nodded. “Ambition, goals, dreams—they shape us. But here’s the thing: ambition alone isn’t enough. **Willpower** and hard work have to follow. You can dream of being the greatest witch or wizard, but without the discipline and effort, magic won’t just do the work for you. It’s like a partnership—you set the intention, and magic responds.”
Hermione seemed to be processing this, her mind working fast. “That makes sense,” she said slowly. “But what about people who use ambition for the wrong reasons? Like the Dark Arts?”
“Magic responds to intent,” I replied. “It’s not inherently good or evil. But when someone’s ambition is twisted, like the desire for power at any cost, that’s when they start down a darker path. It’s a slippery slope. But ambition in itself isn’t evil.”
Hermione looked thoughtful, then smiled. “I never thought of it that way. I suppose it’s not just about what house you’re in, but how you use what you have.”
“Exactly,” I said, smiling back. “That’s why I think it’s important for all wizards to understand their magic and their ambitions. It’s not about limiting ourselves to stereotypes, but pushing beyond them.”
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**Hermione Granger’s POV**
After that conversation with Alex, I felt a bit more at ease about my own ambitions. I’d always been so focused on excelling, and part of me had been worried that it made me seem... too much. But what Alex said made sense. Magic was a tool, and how we used it mattered more than where we were sorted.
And Alex—well, there was something different about him. He wasn’t just smart; he was wise beyond his years. His view on magic was more... practical and philosophical at the same time. It was as if he saw the bigger picture that others around us didn’t.
Harry and I had been spending a lot of time together as well. We had become fast friends since the start of the year, and while we were both sorted into Gryffindor, Alex’s presence in Ravenclaw didn’t seem to change anything. It felt like our little trio—Harry, Alex, and I—was destined to work together in some way.
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**Alex McKinnon’s POV**
The more I talked to Hermione, the more I realized just how sharp she was. Her curiosity was insatiable, and it reminded me of how I had once been when I first discovered magic. But unlike the others in her year, she wasn’t driven by fame or glory. She wanted to understand magic, to truly master it, and I respected that.
Our study group had started to grow, with first-years and some second-years joining us regularly. Even Harry had been coming to my study sessions. His Gryffindor confidence and Hermione’s drive made for an interesting dynamic, but it worked. I could see Harry improving every day, even outside of the structured curriculum. The Ravenclaw common room had become our unofficial base of operations for learning and discussion.
I knew the school year would hold more challenges, especially with **Quirrell** still lurking in the background. But for now, I had my friends, my studies, and my goals. The future, as uncertain as it was, didn’t scare me. If anything, it motivated me to push harder, to be ready for whatever lay ahead.
Ambition wasn’t just a Slytherin trait. It was mine too, and I intended to use it wisely.