Halloween was approaching, and everything was proceeding smoothly for Christian. His classes, languages, magical training, and even communication with Quirrell — everything except one thing: Potion Class. Each class was more frustrating than the last, and he even thought of bribing a Slytherin student so he could get answers from Snape.
Unfortunately, he knew with Snape's nonverbal Legilimens, the students would be found out immediately, not to mention the issue of what to use to lure them to his aid. Money would be useless, so his only solution would have been power, telling them he would teach them the source of his strength.
Knowing this attempt was futile, and there was nothing he could do, Potion Class soon became his least favorite.
Charm Club:
"You remember everything?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"I do," nodded Christian.
"Alright, you may start."
Christian held his wand as he focused. He pictured the three dimensions of this small bag, the size of his hand: length, height, and width. He tried to sense it, forming a connection between himself and the bag. When he felt something, he pointed his wand: "Capacious Extremis."
Then, he sensed or saw it; the interior dimensions of this small bag enlarged to the size of a suitcase before stopping. Flitwick swiftly checked inside the bag.
"Great. Not only did you succeed your first time, but the interior dimension has reached such a size."
"I couldn't do it without your help," said Christian.
"We both know that's false, but I appreciate you saying it anyway. Do you want to try again?"
"Of course." After a few more attempts, Christian could expand the interior dimension to the size of a walk-in pantry.
"Keep trying, and soon enough, the interior space will be as big as a house or even a castle," said Professor Flitwick. Christian smiled as he remembered Newt Scamander's suitcase that held all his magical animals; he even recreated their habitats in the briefcase.
"Oh, don't forget any private use of the Extension Charm is illegal. Learning or practicing is fine, but do not use it."
"I'm aware and have no plan of breaking the law," lied Christian with a serious tone. Then, he took out his notebook and wrote Entry 17.
"What are you writing?" asked Flitwick, suddenly intrigued.
"According to science, space, in the simplest terms, is composed of three dimensions: length, width, and height. Meanwhile, the fourth dimension is time. The Extension Charm expands the three-dimensional space of an object, but if it only affects space, anything placed inside should be frozen in time."
"But time passes normally for any object placed inside," added Flitwick.
"Exactly, which implies this spell touches on the domain of time. My thinking is that it might be the basis for me one day to master the magic of time. By the way, professor, do you know the Hour Reversal Charm? Can you teach me?"
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"It's a dangerous and hard-to-control spell," explained Flitwick. "If something goes wrong, you will either age into an adult or reverse into nonexistence." Flitwick was not saying these words to be an alarmist. In his life, he had experienced such a thing a few times.
"Is that so? Is that why Time-Turners were created? Wizards bewitched an item with the charm to make it easier to control and prevent accidents?"
"That's right. The hour-glass designs make it easier to control the extent to which to reverse time without worrying about losing control."
"I see. When do you think you'll be able to teach me?"
"There is no need to worry. You have seven years of school, plenty of time to learn more and hone your skills to ensure no problems."
"I understand."
"Don't try to learn on your own," warned Professor Flitwick.
"I'm not that reckless."
…
"M-master, w-why do you want to reply to that b-boy's question?" asked Quirrell while writing a letter.
"With his talent, he will be my finest servant," hissed Voldemort.
"B-b-but he's a Gryffindor?"
"And you're a Ravenclaw, but so what?" sneered Voldemort. "He is not the first Gryffindor to serve me, nor will he be the last."
"M-master, have you considered t-taking over his b-body?" said Quirrell. "I think only s-someone like him is w-worthy of bearing y-your great strength?"
"Are you saying you're tired of serving me?" asked Voldemort coldly.
"N-n-no. I just think he would be more f-fitting."
Voldemort snorted coldly, "I thought about it, but the amulet he's wearing around his neck is a powerful protective charm created from old tribal magic. I hate to admit it, but I cannot do anything about it in my current form unless you can take it away from him."
"I-I can try."
"No need. You only need to focus on getting me the stone. Once I'm revived, Christian will either kneel at my feet or die like all the other fools. Now, write what I said as a reply."
"Y-yes."
….
Halloween arrived, and Christian headed to the Great Hall, all distracted. He was on the verge of a breakthrough in his magical training and was so focused that he forgot a few homework assignments due soon. So, he decided to take this opportunity to finish them. During the meal, he looked at his parchment while his enchanted quill wrote neatly on its own.
High Table:
Dumbledore looked at the children before asking the teachers, "How is Christian doing in class?"
"Good, no, better than good," replied McGonagall. "However, I believe he's bored out of his mind, considering how advanced he is compared to everyone else."
"I concur. I think we might consider skipping him a few years," added Flitwick.
"It's okay to be bored, but more important to be surrounded by his peers," said Dumbledore, given his opinion on Flitwick's suggestion. "What about you, Severus?"
"He likes to be the center of attention too much for my taste." The other teachers glanced at him. They knew about his poor relationship with Christian, as he was very vocal about it. So, they took his words for granted, knowing their history.
"Is that so? What about you, Bathsheda? I remember he was granted an exception to take your class."
"His linguistic ability superseded his magical ability," she replied. "By the end of the year, Christian should have no issue passing my N.E.W.T course with relative ease."
"That makes sense. I remember he told me he knew 12 languages," added Professor McGonagall.
"What about you, Pomona and Kettleburn?" asked Dumbledore.
"He's careful when dealing with the plants and takes ample notes. The only issue is he keeps asking me about the chemical effects of the plants and fungi when mixed together, which is not my field of expertise," complained Madam Sprout while staring at Snape.
"Kettleburn?"
"What can I say? He's very respectful and caring with the animals, which I usually see with Hufflepuff students. The only exciting thing that happened in my class was when he asked whether wizards created the earliest spells by imitating the abilities of magical creatures. I found this topic fascinating and did some research without result."
"That is an interesting question," nodded Dumbledore. His sudden interest in Christian was because he finally accepted the artifact from the Keepers. However, he has not used it because his years of knowledge and experience told him something major is about to happen to the world, and Christian is at the source of it all. He already had Harry and Voldemort to worry about and did not want to add to his stress and worry.
Christian was suddenly awakened from his intense focus because of Quirrel's scream of the troll in the hallways.
'This plot already?' He turned around to see Harry and Ron not following the group and sneaking out, so he followed them to ensure nothing unexpected occurred.
"Christian? What are you doing here?"
"Aren't you guys looking for Hermione? I am, too."
"Good. With you here, it should be safer."
They headed to the girls' bathroom and saw Hermione crying in the corner and the creature trying to enter a space too small for it. Harry and Ron did not lock her with the troll before she was in this precarious situation.
"What should we do?" asked Harry before looking at Christian. "Didn't you guys learn anything from Dueling Club? Now is your chance to apply what you've learned."
"Yeah, dueling club."
They immediately removed their wands and started attacking the troll with countless magic shots. Unfortunately, even with no enhanced magic resistance, these attacks only annoyed the troll. Christian wanted to roll his eyes as he knew these two knew more spells because of the club activities, but did not think to use them.
"It's not working," said Ron.
"I know, but what should we do?"
"I have a plan, but you must distract it."
"I got it."
Harry ran and hugged the troll from behind. Although the creature could not feel it, his wand was plunged into the troll's nose, which made it uncomfortable and agitated. The troll flailed around, swinging his club left and right. Harry hung on to him with his life. Hermione had sunk into the floor with fright.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
Ron used a Levitation Charm to levitate the troll's club above its head and dropped it. According to the book or movies, the thing should have landed on its owner's head, but due to some unknown twist of fate, it landed on the troll's shoulder before dropping on the floor. The creature calmed down after losing its weapon and slowly picked it up. Then, it glanced at Harry on its shoulder.
'By Merlin's beard, these guys are hopeless,' thought Christian, who finally acted. "Stupefy." A red light from his wand hit the troll, and the creature fell unconscious.
"Are you alright?" asked Christian, extending his hand to Hermione.
"I'm fine," said Hermione, finally having the nerve to stand up.
"I'm fine, too, by the way," complained Harry, who was almost hurt as the troll fell to the ground.
"Is it dead?" asked Ron.
"No, since he used the Stunning Spell," replied Hermione. Footsteps came from the distance, and the teachers arrived. Quirrell whimpered after seeing the troll while Snape checked on it. Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was staring at them angrily.
"What on earth were you thinking? Why weren't you in your dormitories?"
"Please, Professor McGonagall— they were looking for me?"
"Miss Granger!"
Hermione told her how she went looking for the troll because she heard about it and thought she could handle it, followed by how the other saved her.
"I'm disappointed in how reckless you've acted," said McGonagall. "5 points off Gryffindor for your foolishness." She then looked at Christian and the others. "I will tell the headmaster about your actions that might have saved a life. Five points each for Harry and Ron for their bravery, and 10 points for Christian for saving them. Now go to your houses."
The four walked upstairs, and when passing a corner of the bathroom, Christian looked at a spot and smiled. A few seconds after he left, Dumbledore became visible.
"What an interesting child," he muttered.