The study of magic must progress from simple to complex, especially since the D&D magic system is vastly different from the wizarding world.
Ted decided to start with the most basic spells—cantrips.
Among the spells recorded in the red-robed wizard's apprentice spellbook, the cantrips included:
Mage Hand, Mending, Adhesion, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Message, and Ray of Frost.
Ted also added Darkness to the list of spells that he would start with considering that its quite an easy and useful spell whether in combat or retreating.
Some of these spells had counterparts in the wizarding world. For example, Adhesion was similar to the Permanent Sticking Charm, which could bond objects together for decades or even centuries, making removal nearly impossible without powerful counter-magic.
Mending was another example—though it could only repair minor damages, whereas the wizarding world's Reparifarge or Reparo could restore objects shattered into pieces with ease.
However, some spells were unique and had no direct equivalent in wizardry.
Mage Hand was a practical utility spell, allowing one to form an invisible spectral hand with magic. The effectiveness depended on the caster's magical strength and skill.
Darkness could shroud an area in impenetrable blackness, blocking even light-based spells.
Arcane Mark was crucial for spellcasters, serving as a magical signature—essentially a wizard's "magical ID."
Detect Magic was a useful tool for identifying enchantments or spell effects on objects and locations, ensuring one didn't trigger an unknown curse or booby-trap.
Read Magic allowed wizards to decipher enchanted scripts without activating their effects—useful for safely examining cursed tomes without suffering their ill effects.
Lastly, Ray of Frost was an offensive spell that shot a concentrated blast of frost, capable of freezing targets on impact.
Ted decided to begin with Ray of Frost.
His experience with frost-based spells, such as the Frost Armor and Frostbolt, gave him a foundation to work with. Mastering Ray of Frost would provide valuable insight into the D&D spellcasting model and its structured approach to magic.
The spell model was a simple three-dimensional structure, primarily focused on channeling magic into a specific pattern and releasing it efficiently without the assistance of a magic net.
It took him two days of trial and error before he managed to cast Ray of Frost. The first successful attempt, however, took a full eight seconds to activate—far too slow to be of any practical use in combat.
Refinement was necessary. Ted spent the next few days optimizing his technique, reducing unnecessary steps, and streamlining the magic's activation process.
After five days of effort, Ted fully "localized" the Freezing Ray spell.
By simply extending his fingers and uttering a short incantation, he could fire a bluish-white ray of cold energy up to seven meters away. When it struck a wooden target, it formed a thin layer of frost over the surface.
In terms of raw combat effectiveness, it wasn't impressive. But more importantly, it was a breakthrough in his understanding of this new magic system.
With Freezing Ray mastered, Ted eagerly moved on to the next spells: Arcane Mark and Mage Hand.
Surprisingly, these two spells only took four days to crack. The more spells he mastered, the easier it became to adapt them.
This rapid progress made him feel a rush of excitement—learning and mastering magic was truly addicting.
However, his research was soon interrupted.
His ghostly friend had arrived.
"Helena? What brings you here?" Ted asked, lowering his wand.
The Grey Lady, Helena Ravenclaw, glided through the abandoned classroom's wall. It had been two weeks since their last meeting. Ted had been so engrossed in studying magic that he had lost track of time.
Helena's gaze swept over the messy piles of books and notes on Ted's desk, then shifted to the scorched and frost-covered training dummy in the corner. She gave a small, approving nod.
"I've been searching through the records my mother left behind," she said. "I believe my mother may have indeed left something behind in her final days."
"A relic?" Ted asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Helena confirmed. "My mother enchanted her statue with a powerful spell—one related to the mind and soul."
She carefully studied Ted's reaction, watching for any subtle signs of interest or recognition.
In truth, she had discovered these clues a week ago but hesitated for several days before deciding to come to Ted with the information. She wasn't sure why—but something about him made her want to trust him.
Ted was an exceptional student—bright, inquisitive, and utterly captivated by magic. But to Helena, this was precisely the problem.
The last time she had trusted a boy with that same obsessive gleam in his eyes, it had ended in betrayal. Even now, centuries later, the memory lingered like a curse. It was why many Ravenclaw students thought the resident ghost, the Grey Lady, was distant and cold.
Helena watched Ted carefully, searching his expression for that same dangerous ambition, that unrelenting thirst for power. But as she studied him, she realized his fascination wasn't the same. Unlike Voldemort, who had feared death so much that he had turned to dark, forbidden magic, Ted was simply eager to learn everything he could. He was curious, not desperate.
"So, you think your mother may have left something hidden in her statue?" Ted asked, intrigued.
Helena let out a small, relieved breath. "Maybe... I don't know for certain. But it frightens me."
Her voice wavered slightly, burdened by emotions she had carried for a thousand years—regret, longing, and an unbearable guilt. She had never had the chance to say, "I'm sorry."
They spoke at length before finally deciding to investigate the mystery left behind by Rowena Ravenclaw. However, sneaking into the Ravenclaw common room during the day was nearly impossible. There were always students around, making it inconvenient and risky.
So, they planned their search at night.
To prepare, Ted studied the spell "Detect Magic" in advance, hoping it would help. But Rowena Ravenclaw's enchantments had been hidden for over a millennium—ordinary detection magic wouldn't be enough. Whatever was concealed within the statue wasn't part of the usual magical formula of power plus intent equaling a spell. This was something else entirely, something different from traditional magic.
When Ted examined the statue, he found nothing beyond the standard preservation spells woven into the castle to keep it intact and clean. No trace of additional magic.
"Mother spent her final years researching ancient magical concepts," Helena explained, hesitating before continuing. "She believed she had found something untouched by any witch or wizard before her. Something tied to the mind and the soul."
She handed Ted several ancient notebooks filled with Rowena Ravenclaw's writings. The texts were so old they were written in archaic English, requiring Ted to use "Read Magic" just to decipher them.
The notes were filled with theories and ideas, but no clear instructions on spellcasting. Instead, they described effects—phenomena tied to thought, willpower, and the soul itself.
Ted read carefully, trying to piece things together. It seemed that Rowena had abandoned traditional spellcasting in favor of exploring the depths of human consciousness and willpower. But the notes lacked any clear explanation of how she had done it or how one might replicate her work.
Using his psychic abilities, Ted could faintly sense a lingering presence—thoughts, perhaps, imprinted onto the statue. But no known magical means could detect any anomalies.
His research hit a wall.
It wasn't surprising. He was only a first-year student, after all. The idea that he could crack an ancient magical mystery in a few weeks was absurd.
Helena, after spending a day or two frustrated by the lack of progress, eventually settled into patience. Time had no real meaning for a ghost. She could afford to wait.
December crept toward its midpoint.
Professor McGonagall and the other heads of house began taking names of students who planned to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. With only a week until Christmas, they needed to finalize the list.
The holiday break would last until early January—a full two weeks away from classes. Most students and teachers would be leaving the castle to return home.
Hermione approached Ted again, her tone almost pleading. "Are you sure you don't want to come to my house for Christmas?"
Ted smiled, appreciating the offer. "Thanks, Hermione. Maybe another time. But I think I want to stay at Hogwarts this year."
She sighed, clearly disappointed but respecting his decision. "Alright. But if you change your mind—"
"I'll let you know."
She gave him a small smile. "Okay then."
Christmas at Hogwarts, it would be.
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Word count: 1430
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