Chapter 44: Mapping the Future
The faint golden light of dawn crept through the tall windows of Gryffindor Tower, painting soft streaks across the stone floor. Thomas was already awake. The early silence was perfect for someone like him, someone who preferred clarity of thought without the distractions of noise or activity. He had only one goal that morning: finish mapping the rest of the classrooms.
The day before, he had already located and sketched out half of the first-year classrooms: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and History of Magic. Today, his plan was to find the remaining ones—Herbology, Astronomy, and Defence Against the Dark Arts.
He moved quietly through the castle corridors, his Echo ability scanning gently in intervals, providing him with spatial awareness without sending up magical flares. He passed by the Great Hall, which was still dim and quiet, and made his way toward the greenhouses outside for Herbology.
The air was crisp with morning dew. As he stepped into the open courtyard, the castle grounds began to show signs of life. Birds chirped, and the trees gently rustled. Reaching the greenhouses, he took mental notes of their layout and internal structure. The earthy smell and presence of magical flora were unmistakable.
Then, he made his way back inside to the Astronomy Tower. The winding staircases and height made the climb tiring, but once he arrived, he took in the stunning view of the entire grounds and the lake beyond. He sketched the internal setup and marked a mental note of how much he looked forward to observing the stars from here, even if it wasn't the most practical of subjects.
The last destination was the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, tucked near the third-floor corridor. Unlike the others, this one was harder to approach—the space around it had an odd hum, as if warning students away. Thomas reached out with his spatial awareness and confirmed a mild ward, likely a leftover from a previous lesson or test. He didn't attempt to bypass it but noted its position carefully.
By the time he finished, the sun had fully risen, casting golden light into the halls. He returned to the Gryffindor common room briefly, washed his hands and face, and made his way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
It was just past eight o'clock, and the hall was sparsely populated. Only a few early risers were eating. As he sat down and started serving himself toast and eggs, Fred and George Weasley arrived, yawning.
"Morning, Thomas," Fred said, flopping into the seat beside him.
George leaned forward with a grin. "How's the grand tour of Hogwarts going?"
Thomas smiled modestly. "Finished it. I've mapped all the classrooms I'll be attending."
Both twins looked up with wide eyes. "All of them?"
"Yep," Thomas replied. He pulled a folded piece of parchment from his robe pocket and laid it out between them. It was a detailed hand-drawn sketch of the castle, its corridors, and the classrooms with rough positioning from the Gryffindor common room.
The twins immediately leaned in, studying the parchment.
"Mind if we borrow this?" Fred asked.
"Go ahead," Thomas said.
Fred and George huddled together, whispering in hushed but excited tones, gesturing at certain corners of the map.
Thomas chuckled and focused on finishing his breakfast. He had other plans today.
After breakfast, Thomas excused himself and made his way to the library. It was still early, so he was one of the few students there. The vast space was filled with towering shelves, rows of aged tomes, and glowing orbs providing soft light. He greeted Madam Pince politely and received only a suspicious squint in response.
He walked to the section reserved for first-years and pulled out all the books listed in their curriculum: A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1), Magical Drafts and Potions, A History of Magic, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, Magical Theory, and Defensive Magical Theory.
Sitting at a table near a window, he skimmed each of them in turn, flipping through chapters rapidly thanks to his high reading speed and analytical mind. Soon, he began forming a mental assessment.
Potions and Herbology required specific ingredients and tools. Their effectiveness would be limited without proper facilities, and mistakes could be dangerous. Better to wait until formal instruction began.
Astronomy and History of Magic, while important, didn't offer immediate practical applications. They'd need to be studied over time but not prioritized.
That left Charms, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Transfiguration was powerful—but risky. Several chapters warned about the dangers of miscasting, including deformities and accidents. Even the smallest transformations required precise wand movement and incantation control.
Charms, on the other hand, was all about utility. Light, levitation, cleaning, protection—many spells here could be used in daily life or emergencies. It also had a clearer structure and hierarchy.
Defence Against the Dark Arts was perhaps the most essential. Not only did it prepare wizards to protect themselves, but it also delved into dueling, magical creatures, and curse-breaking. The practical applications were vast.
He took out his notebook and made two columns. At the top of one, he wrote Space Magic Development, and on the other, Formal Magical Study. Under the latter, he added subheadings: Charms and Defence.
If he practiced space magic in the mornings, and formal magic in the evenings, he could make consistent progress in both fields. That balance would allow him to not only strengthen his unique abilities but also blend them seamlessly with conventional magic. In time, he might even create something entirely new.
There was excitement in his eyes as he looked down at his plan.
Before he left the library, he jotted down a few important spells from the Charms and Defence books—basic ones that first-years were expected to master quickly. He would begin with those tonight.
For now, he returned to the Gryffindor Tower, his mind already buzzing with ideas and structure. Tomorrow, classes would begin. But Thomas Space was ready.
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As Thomas closed the last book of the afternoon, his plan for the days ahead settled more firmly in his mind. The castle was vast, its magical history deeper than he could yet grasp—but at least now he had a map in his head, and a list of spells to learn.
For the first time since he arrived, he allowed himself to consider something he'd held back from doing. Trying spells. Real, wand-waving, word-whispered magic.
Back at the orphanage, any mistake could have drawn suspicion, or worse—hurt someone he loved. But here, in a school built for young witches and wizards, staffed by masters of their craft, protected by layers of magical safety… the stakes were different.
If something went wrong, there were professors who could undo it. If a spell backfired, there was always someone nearby who would know what to do.
Here, at Hogwarts, it was safer to fail.
That single realization shifted something inside him.
Maybe it was time to try.