Chapter 48
Chapter: Spells, Secrets, and Seeker Matches
Alex McKinnon’s POV
The days at Hogwarts had fallen into a rhythm, one I was both grateful for and, admittedly, found a bit monotonous at times. Classes had started back up, and it was clear from the first week that Harry was making his mark—just like in the books. He had been recruited as Gryffindor’s Seeker, the youngest in a century. It was impressive, of course, but not surprising to me. He had the skill, and Quidditch would give him a reprieve from the weight of his fame, even if it would draw more eyes on him in the short term.
I had kept myself busy between lessons, study groups, and of course, my own projects. Oliver and Cho had become my main study companions—both from Ravenclaw, both ambitious in their own way. Most of the time, we exchanged spells, honed our techniques, and discussed strategy—whether on the Quidditch pitch for Oliver or in magical theory for Cho. But for me, the real excitement lay in spell creation.
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I had uncovered ancient tomes in the Room of Requirement during my first year, and they had opened a world of possibilities for me. The spells I had been working on had the potential to be groundbreaking, especially for defensive magic.
The first, Protego Patronus, was a combination of the Shield Charm and Patronus Charm. My idea was simple—combine the defensive strength of Protego with the spiritual protection of a Patronus. If successful, it would not only block physical attacks but also repel Dementors and other dark creatures. In theory, it worked perfectly. In practice, well, it needed a bit more work.
The second spell, Defensor Lucis (Defender of Light), was something I had high hopes for. The purpose was to directly kill Dementors—something that, up until now, no known magic had ever truly accomplished. Sure, Patronuses drove them away, but what if we could eliminate them entirely? This was more speculative, but I felt that once I got the right incantation, I could test it in a real situation. After all, the world could always use more defense against dark forces.
But the real gem of my discoveries was an ancient spell called Tenebris Magicae Lucem Eliminate, a spell that originated from none other than Leoford Gryffindor, an ancestor of Godric. It was specifically designed to eliminate dark curses, making it a potentially invaluable tool for curse breaking. If I mastered this, I could make a fortune—not that money was my primary goal, but it would help with the projects I had in mind, like my postbox and mirrors.
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As much as I enjoyed my magical research, I couldn’t ignore the world around me. Harry's first Quidditch match was approaching, and despite everything, I wanted to be there. His experience went almost exactly like the books—Snape looking suspicious, Harry nearly being thrown off his broom, and then catching the Snitch in his mouth. It was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking to watch, but seeing Harry smile like that made it all worth it. He was slowly finding his place here, and I was proud of him.
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My thoughts drifted to Hermione Granger. She was exactly as I expected, yet there were subtle differences. In the books, she had always seemed to have two distinct personalities—one was the teacher’s pet, eager to please, overly studious, and always respectful of authority. The other, however, was the one who would throw the rules out the window if it meant saving her friends or pursuing what she thought was right. Think of her illegal Polyjuice Potion brewing in second year or setting Snape on fire to protect Harry during their first year.
But here, I was starting to see both sides of her earlier on. She was still Hermione, still keen to impress her professors, but she also had a spark—a willingness to question things, and that was a good sign. She and I had been pen pals before Hogwarts, sharing our thoughts on magic and science fiction, bonding over our shared interests. Now, seeing her in person, I could tell she was even more determined and capable than I had first imagined.
I didn’t want her to go through the same emotional isolation she had in canon, so I made a point to reach out. Her birthday, September 19th, was coming up, and I wanted to do something special to show her she wasn’t alone. So, I spoke to Harry and Neville, and together, we planned a small surprise—a birthday cake in the library. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to remind her that she had friends.
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Meanwhile, I received a letter from Sirius and Marlene. They had been corresponding more frequently now that things were settling. Sirius was recovering, slowly but surely, and the excitement about Marauders Inc. was growing. He told me about their plans for the shop and how Remus had already started helping him with product development.
In response, I sent them a long letter updating them on life at Hogwarts, my spell research, and my plans for the future. Sirius, of course, responded with enthusiasm, encouraging me to keep pushing boundaries and promising to visit as soon as he was fully recovered. There was something reassuring about knowing I had a family out there, people who cared about me, even though we were still piecing everything together.
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But even with all this going on, I couldn’t forget the looming danger that was Quirrellmort. I had noticed subtle changes in Quirrell throughout the year, and it was becoming more apparent that something was very wrong. The problem was that I had no solid proof, and in a world like this, accusations without evidence could do more harm than good. I needed to be careful, and I needed to be strategic.
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As the days passed, I knew things would only get more complicated. The Halloween incident from canon was fast approaching, but this time, I had a plan to prevent it. I would keep Hermione, Harry, and Neville close and make sure they were safe. And in the meantime, I’d continue honing my magic, preparing for whatever lay ahead.
The stakes were higher than ever, but I was ready.
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Letter from Sirius to Alex:
"Alex,
I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. All the magic you’re developing—it’s astounding! I never thought I’d live to see the day when the House of Black would be behind something so... groundbreaking. And you! You’re making a name for yourself already, even if it’s just within your close circle.
Marlene’s over the moon, by the way. She keeps saying how you remind her of herself when she was young, though I think you’re a lot smarter. Don’t tell her I said that!
As for the shop, things are moving along faster than I expected. Remus is already knee-deep in the designs for the two-way mirrors, and I think we’ll have a prototype ready before Christmas. We’ll test it out, make sure it works well before we launch. And don’t worry—we’ll make sure to get some of those purebloods riled up with this one.
Take care of yourself, kid. Keep Harry and your friends close. We’ll see you soon.
Love, Sirius and Marlene
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I smiled as I folded the letter and tucked it away. Things were moving fast, but I couldn’t help feeling excited. There was so much to do, so many possibilities ahead.
And no matter what, I was ready for whatever came next.
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