Chapter 55: Breaking Through the Fog
The days following Thomas's visit to the Forbidden Forest passed more calmly. The weight in his chest, though still lingering, had begun to lift. He returned to his routines with renewed determination, fueled by the realization that lingering in guilt would do nothing to fix what had happened. Instead, he would focus on growth—on becoming stronger and wiser.
Each morning, Thomas woke up before the others in Gryffindor Tower and practiced his Space magic. The early hours, cloaked in soft mist and silence, were perfect for channeling his thoughts. This week, he dedicated himself entirely to mastering "Flash."
Unlike the simple teleportation of "Blink," Flash required control, awareness, and a deep connection with the environment. At first, he could only jump from one location to another in quick succession before dizziness overwhelmed him. But after a few days of focused practice, he began to notice real progress.
He could now perform two rapid spatial shifts per second—consistently—and maintain the state for nearly a full minute. Not only that, but thanks to his application of "Echo," he was able to maintain a near-perfect sense of his surroundings. Obstacles, walls, shifting light—everything pulsed in his awareness like a rhythm. His body and mind moved as one, weaving through invisible lines in space.
It was exhilarating.
By the fifth morning, he had managed to create a simple routine—appearing behind a statue on the fifth floor, vanishing to the base of the Grand Staircase, then reappearing behind the tapestry near the Arithmancy classroom. His movements were seamless, precise.
He was proud. For the first time since the vault incident, he smiled with genuine enthusiasm.
But while his spatial magic thrived, his spellwork—especially combat and defensive magic—remained stagnant.
At night, after curfew, Thomas would sneak off alone with his wand and practice basic spells in a lesser-used corridor near Gryffindor Tower. Lumos, Nox, Scourgify, Reparo, and Alohomora had all become second nature. Wingardium Leviosa, Revelio, Colovaria—even Incendio—felt like old friends now. But nothing seemed to bridge the gap toward actual dueling spells.
He tried learning Expelliarmus from a second-year textbook he borrowed, but the wand movements felt strange, and he had no one to test it on. Protego, too, resisted him. The shield charm fizzled out like weak candlelight each time he attempted it.
"I need guidance," he admitted quietly one night, staring at the tip of his wand. "Not just books. Someone who can show me how it's done."
Help came in the form of an unexpected visitor.
One evening, Fred and George bounced into the common room with wide grins.
"Oi, Thomas!" Fred called, flopping onto a cushion.
"You'll never guess who's back at Hogwarts," George said, eyes gleaming.
"Bill," Thomas replied, smiling faintly. He had heard stories.
Fred mock-pouted. "You're no fun."
"He's got business with one of the professors, something Gringotts-related," George continued. "But guess what else?"
"He's agreed to help run a dueling and defense study club," Fred said, eyes sparkling. "Open to all years, mind you. First meeting's tonight. We're going. You in?"
Thomas didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."
That night, in an unused classroom lit with magical lanterns and transfigured practice dummies, Thomas was introduced to Bill Weasley.
He looked every bit the part of a curse-breaker: tall, sharp-eyed, and confident, with dragon-hide boots and a few magical trinkets hanging from a leather belt. His wand was strapped to his forearm.
"You're Thomas Space?" Bill asked, shaking his hand firmly. "I've heard about you. Fred and George talk like you walk on water."
Thomas laughed nervously. "Only puddles."
Bill chuckled and gestured toward the students gathered around. "Alright, tonight we're covering basic defensive spells. We're keeping it simple for the first years, but don't worry. Master these, and everything else builds from them."
He demonstrated each spell carefully. First was Fumos, the smoke screen charm.
"This is useful for escape and distraction," Bill said, flicking his wand. A thick cloud of gray smoke erupted into the air. "In a real duel, it could save your life."
Then came Flipendo.
"A stunning shove. Not powerful enough to do damage, but enough to knock back a foe or disrupt their focus."
Finally, a lesser-known charm called Aegis Minor, a simplified defense spell that created a brief, curved shield of light.
Thomas listened with rapt attention, mimicking the wand movements and practicing the incantations under his breath. When it came time to pair off and practice, Fred partnered with George, leaving Thomas with a Ravenclaw boy named Julian.
"You're the one who helped Professor Snape brew that sleeping draught last week, right?" Julian asked as they faced off.
Thomas nodded. "That was just a lucky guess."
Julian raised his wand. "Well, let's see how lucky you are now."
They practiced Flipendo first, sending each other stumbling backward in harmless bursts of force. Julian had more raw power, but Thomas adapted quickly, using his precise timing to compensate.
When they switched to Fumos, Thomas struggled at first. The spell required a burst of focused intent, not just power. On his fifth try, a thick cloud erupted from the tip of his wand, obscuring Julian completely.
He laughed in triumph. Julian coughed. "Alright, alright, that was decent."
Then came Aegis Minor. A shimmering half-dome appeared in front of Thomas on his third attempt, flickering slightly but holding firm.
Bill clapped. "Nice work. Focus on grounding your stance, and it'll stabilize."
By the end of the session, Thomas was grinning, sweat on his brow. He hadn't felt this energized in days.
As the students dispersed, Bill approached him. "You've got good instincts. Are you studying defensive magic on your own?"
"Trying to," Thomas said. "But I hit a wall."
Bill nodded. "That happens. Don't force it. Build the foundation first. Trust me, when you need it most, it all comes together."
Thomas left the classroom that night with a lighter heart and a clearer focus. He wasn't alone. There were people willing to help, and he had more tools now than ever before.
Back in Gryffindor Tower, he scribbled new notes into his personal grimoire, summarizing the spell techniques he had learned.