Chapter 26

Quick update for everyone: Tony Stark's mother, Maria, had a different maiden name, Picquery, not Potts. I've already corrected it, but if you're accessing this on your phone, you might need to clear the cache in your settings before the change takes effect.

. . .

"Give me one good reason why you thought it was a brilliant idea to call me at the ungodly hour of five in the morning," Jamie's voice crackled with annoyance through the phone.

Tony, glancing at the dimly lit sky outside the window, sighed and replied, "Come on, Jamie. You know how eager I am to learn magic."

Jamie huffed audibly on the other end of the line. "Tony, we agreed to start our training at a reasonable hour. Five in the morning is not reasonable."

Tony leaned against the windowsill, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I know, I know, but I can't wait any longer. Would you open the door please?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and then Jamie let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, Tony. Just give me a minute."

Tony smiled triumphantly, knowing he had successfully persuaded Jamie. He hung up the phone and waited eagerly by the door, his anticipation growing with each passing second. Finally, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and the door swung open to reveal Jamie, still rubbing her eyes and clad in pajamas.

"Are you happy now?" Jamie grumbled, annoyed that her sleep was interrupted so early in the morning.

Undeterred by Jamie's less-than-enthusiastic response, Tony's excitement remained unbridled as he stepped inside. "Good day, Jamie! What a splendid morning, isn't it?"

Jamie closed the door with an eye-roll before facing him directly. "Koby will show you'll be studying," she said, nodding towards the house-elf who stood nearby. "I'll join you in a bit."

"Thank you, Jamie," Tony responded, his eyes still brimming with anticipation. He then eagerly followed Koby down the stairs that led to the basement.

In the meantime, Jamie made her way back to her room to freshen up with a shower. Once dressed, she headed down to her basement workshop, where she found Tony engrossed in textbooks meant for first and second-year students, a clutter of books and parchment sprawled across the table. He appeared determined to cast a spell, but ultimately decided against it.

"I'm glad you didn't wave your wand around like a baboon," Jamie made her presence known, pulling up a chair and taking a seat opposite him. "You know, it's rare to find people who can exercise self-restraint in situations like these."

Tony chuckled, appreciating the lightheartedness of her remark. "Oh, come on, I'm not a child, after all," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of self-awareness. "It's better to err on the side of caution. I've witnessed firsthand the consequences that can arise from reckless experimentation. Some problems can't be solved with a mere visit to the hospital."

Jamie's eyes were immediately drawn to the open book Tony was engrossed in, titled "Magical Theory." Its very title hinted at the depth of his studies, and she couldn't help but lean forward with interest. "It seems you have the mind of a Ravenclaw," she mused, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You should definitely consider trying the Sorting Hat when you have the chance!"

A wave of relief washed over Jamie, though she kept her emotions concealed. She had been apprehensive about Tony's impulsive nature, worried that he might have recklessly dived into his newfound magical abilities. He wasn't exactly known for his adherence to rules and conventions. Magic, however casually it was used, carried with it a weight of responsibility and danger. Even a seemingly simple first-year levitation charm, if mispronounced by a single syllable, could summon a raging bull to perch upon one's chest.

Tony's face lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across his features. "I've been thinking, you know. I reckon I should be a Ravenclaw," he declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement. His hand reached out to grab a book from his cluttered desk, the title boldly proclaiming "Hogwarts: A History." With a playful flourish, he held it up in the air. "What about you? According to this book, you should be in Slytherin, right?"

Jamie nodded. "Yes, I was in Slytherin. So, how's your study going?" she asked, genuinely interested in Tony's progress.

Tony's excitement was palpable as he leaned forward, eager to share his accomplishments. "I've finished 'Magical Theory', and am almost done with 'The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1.' I must say, it's fascinating stuff."

"Let's see what you've picked up then," Jamie suggested, drawing out her wand. Twirling her wand, the books on the table floated into the air and seamlessly arranged themselves on the bookshelf. Then, with another wave of her wand, a large white feather and a box of matches materialized on the table.

"I want you to make the feather float and turn the match into a needle," Jamie instructed, creating some distance between them.

Tony took a deep breath, his excitement and determination fueling his concentration. He carefully picked up the feather and held it in the palm of his hand. With a flick of his wand and a whispered incantation, he channeled his magic into the spell, envisioning the feather lifting off the table.

To his joy, the feather started to rise, defying gravity as it hovered mid-air. Tony's eyes widened with wonder and satisfaction as the feather followed the movements of his wand, gently circling around the room before finally settling back down onto the table.

Buoyed by his success, Tony shifted his focus to the match. Holding it firmly between his fingers, he recited the incantation with unwavering confidence. However, the spell failed to take effect much to his dismay.

Confusion etched across Tony's face, his mind racing to find the reason behind his unexpected failure. He was absolutely certain that he had executed the spell correctly. Yet, the match stubbornly refused to change.

Noticing Tony's growing frustration, Jamie approached him and reached down to pick up the match. "What were you thinking when you cast the spell?" she inquired.

Tony paused, his brows furrowed in concentration. "I was trying to change the needle's composition to that of a needle. Was I overthinking it?"

Jamie let out a sigh and placed the match in front of him. "See for yourself."

When Tony picked up the match, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. It felt unusually heavy, unlike a regular match. The smile on his face faded as he carefully set the metal object back on the table.

"Magic is all about intent. I know you're smart, but transfiguration is the most challenging branch of magic to master," Jamie explained with a serious tone.

Tony listened intently to her words. He realized that he had been approaching transfiguration from a scientific standpoint, overlooking the significance of intent and visualization — crucial elements in the successful performance of any magic.

Jamie noticed that Tony grasped her words and nodded in response. "Watch how I do it," she said, drawing out her wand. With a flick of her hand, the match turned into a needle and back to its original form. Returning to her seat, she signaled for Tony to give it another try.

Tony closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and fixed his gaze on the match resting on the table. Aiming his wand, he chanted the spell with unwavering determination.

This time, he succeeded. The match twisted and contorted, reshaping itself into a perfect sewing needle. It twisted and contorted, reshaping itself into a slender sewing needle. Tony's eyes widened in awe, his heart swelling with triumph.

But he wasn't finished yet.

With a gentle tap of his wand, the needle underwent another transformation. It morphed into a sleek fountain pen, a symbol of his newfound mastery. Tony couldn't help but exclaim with sheer happiness, his voice echoing through the room, "I finally got it!"

Jamie, ever the mentor, beamed with pride. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she witnessed Tony's breakthrough. "Excellent," she exclaimed, her words laced with genuine enthusiasm. "You've grasped it. Now, my dear apprentice, your next task awaits."

Jamie gestured towards the wall behind her, her hand coming to rest against it with a soft pat. As if responding to her touch, a curved transparent pipe materialized, suspended in mid-air. And on the table next to her, sat a small metal ball.

"Your new task is to guide this metal ball through the pipe using the levitation spell, without making contact with the walls," she explained.

"But I've already mastered this spell. Can't we move on to something more advanced?" Tony asked.

"Of course you do," Jamie replied, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "But remember, Rome wasn't built in a day."

Reluctantly, Tony pointed his wand at the floating ball, determined to prove his abilities. He began to concentrate, attempting to manipulate the object using the levitation spell he had been practicing.

To Jamie's surprise, Tony surpassed her expectations, completing the task in less than half an hour. The training exercise she had taken from Harry's auror-training manual was notoriously challenging, and many wizards struggled to master it.

"I told you I'm a genius!" Tony said in a smug tone.

Jamie couldn't help but chuckle, thoroughly amused by Tony's enthusiasm. She admired his unwavering belief in his abilities, even if it sometimes bordered on overconfidence. "Alright, Tony," she said, her voice warm and lighthearted. "I think we've accomplished enough for today. Lesson's over."

Tony's face filled with confusion as he tried to make sense of what she had just said. "It's over? But we're just getting started."

Rolling her eyes, Jamie responded with a hint of annoyance. "Tony, I haven't even had my breakfast yet." She turned and headed out of the workshop, going up the stairs with Tony quickly following behind.

The shop's main floor had undergone renovations, giving the space a breath of fresh air. The once ordinary wall that faced the street was now a display window, showcasing a collection of exquisite dolls that looked incredibly lifelike. It easily caught the eye of anyone walking by.