"The issue with Squibs lies mainly in two areas—instability of magical power and the limited total amount of magic power they possess."
Professor Flitwick was speaking patiently, his tiny form perched on a stack of books as he addressed Cedric with a kind but inquisitive gaze. He didn't know why Cedric was suddenly so curious about Squibs, but he respected the boy's thirst for knowledge.
"Every young witch or wizard undergoes what we call a magic rampage period," he explained. "It's like a grand firework blooming inside the body. This burst creates what we refer to as invisible rivers—pathways through which magic can later flow and gather."
Cedric listened intently. This wasn't something taught in any Hogwarts textbook he'd come across. Flitwick continued, gesturing with his wand for emphasis.
"As one ages, the body continues to produce magic. That magic flows along these rivers. The broader and more stable the channels formed during the initial surge, the more easily magic accumulates and can be harnessed."
The explanation lit a fire in Cedric's mind. So the process of magical growth wasn't just about studying spells—it was biological, almost alchemical. Magic had to be awakened, channeled, and condensed.
"It's like tapping a gum tree," Cedric murmured, half to himself. "The tree has to be cut first so the gum can flow."
"Exactly!" Flitwick said, delighted. "That's a good analogy."
"For Squibs," he continued, his tone more somber, "the initial explosion of magical energy may be too weak—or it never happens at all. Without a sufficient burst, those invisible rivers are never formed, or they're far too small to gather enough magic to cast even the simplest spell."
Cedric's expression turned thoughtful. So the issue wasn't necessarily a complete lack of magic, but a failure of the initial activation process.
"In theory," Cedric said, "if the explosion could be simulated or encouraged later, perhaps the rivers could still form?"
Flitwick nodded, eyes twinkling. "Indeed, I've considered this myself. During my dueling days, I researched how to artificially stimulate magical growth to improve my own power. I was able to simulate the rampage period externally—but it didn't work on Squibs. Their bodies simply couldn't hold or stabilize the magic."
He gave a rueful chuckle. "I tried dozens of methods. Potions, runic amplifiers, even alchemical infusions. But nothing could help them retain magic once the burst faded. That's the true tragedy."
Cedric, however, was practically glowing with excitement. "Still, Professor, your research is brilliant! You've already solved half the problem!"
Flitwick blushed slightly, waving a hand. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a personal project."
"But why the interest, Cedric?" he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly, though still smiling.
"Well…" Cedric hesitated, then decided on partial truth. "I heard rumors about Squibs and wanted to understand more. And I spoke with Mr. Filch once… He doesn't know I know, so please keep that between us."
"Ahh," Flitwick said with understanding. "So that's it."
He blinked at Cedric. "You know, before class today, I heard that you arrived at Hogwarts early and somehow managed to change Filch."
The professor looked both amused and deeply impressed.
"Filch has been here longer than many of the portraits," Flitwick continued. "He's been grumbling at students, clashing with Peeves, and generally making everyone uncomfortable for decades. Not even Dumbledore could manage to reform him. People just... tolerated him."
He shook his head in wonder. "Then you come along—just a boy—and suddenly he's helping students instead of snarling at them."
Cedric smiled modestly. "I just treated him like a person."
"Exactly! And that's what makes you special," Flitwick said, his voice tinged with emotion. "You're not just brilliant, Cedric. You're kind. When I was young, I was obsessed with trophies and victories. I never thought about influence like you do. You're changing lives."
Cedric looked down, suddenly a little embarrassed. "You're being too generous, Professor. I've always admired you—you're the greatest dueling expert I've ever heard of."
Flitwick chuckled again, clearly touched. "Well, I'm glad someone thinks so."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he snapped his fingers. "Oh! Right. I brought you here for a reason beyond lectures and compliments."
He bent down behind his desk and returned with an old, narrow booklet.
It looked ancient. The cover was frayed and cracked, with faint blotches of blackened blood marking the corners. The edges were uneven and looked like they'd been torn or scorched. Inside, the parchment pages were faded and curled. But what stood out most was the careful way it had been bound in supple cowhide straps, as if to preserve its contents against the passage of time.
Flitwick placed the bundle into Cedric's hands with surprising reverence.
"This," he said, "is my personal Charms and Hexes notebook. I've carried it for decades. Every spell I learned, every curse I invented, and every trick I picked up in dueling tournaments is in here."
Cedric blinked, stunned.
"I'm entrusting it to you. Study it. Learn from it. And if you don't understand something, come ask me."
A ding echoed faintly in Cedric's mind.
> [You have obtained the mysterious item: Professor Flitwick's Spell Notebook.]
[Contains 122 unknown spells.]
[Holding this item allows you to spend experience points to learn spells directly.]
Cedric's heart practically leapt out of his chest. This was better than gold, better than a Nimbus 2001—this was pure, distilled knowledge from one of the greatest Charms Masters in modern wizarding history.
He smiled broadly. "Thank you so much, Professor!"
Before Flitwick could react, Cedric stepped forward and gave him a firm hug. The tiny professor laughed warmly, patting him on the back.
"Go on now," Flitwick said. "Enjoy your evening."
Cedric did just that.
After dinner, back in the Hufflepuff common room, he entertained his housemates with another chapter from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—his Muggle book of choice, which had unexpectedly earned him a devoted audience. But even as they listened with rapt attention, Cedric's thoughts were somewhere else.
He was already planning how to spend the weekend exploring the notebook.
That night, exhausted from the day's events, he fell into a deep sleep and didn't stir until Astronomy class that evening.
---
The chill of night was sharp on the Astronomy Tower, but the sky above was breathtaking.
As Cedric peered through the telescope and traced constellations across the vast velvet canopy, something clicked in his mind.
He thought back to Professor Flitwick's description—of invisible rivers, of the body's capacity to contain and channel magic.
The idea had been lingering since earlier, but now it surged with clarity.
Meridians.
In Eastern medicine, he'd read about energy pathways in the human body—meridians—used in acupuncture and Qi manipulation. They were eerily similar to the magical channels described by Flitwick.
What if the rivers of magic power were not unlike meridians?
What if Eastern mystical practices could help strengthen them?
Could acupuncture be a way to nourish the squib's body enough to hold magic?
The possibilities sparked in Cedric's mind like shooting stars.
Maybe Flitwick's techniques didn't work—not because the theory was flawed—but because the body hadn't been prepared properly.
And what if he could bridge that gap?
A new sense of purpose began to form, deep and exciting.
The solution to the Squib dilemma might lie in fusing ancient Eastern traditions with modern magical theory.
Staring up at the star-filled sky, Cedric smiled.
He wasn't just chasing grades or glory.
He was chasing somethin
g far more powerful.
Hope.
------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Johnwick007