Not Normal

"Professor, I..." Anduin was about to speak, but Professor Flitwick immediately interrupted him.

"Mr. Wilson, if I'm not mistaken, that was Silent Spellcasting, wasn't it?" Professor Flitwick asked with a faint smile, his eyes deep and calm.

So he had noticed after all.

"Uh, yes, Professor. You can call me Anduin." Anduin replied softly, a trace of reserve in his manner.

From what he had seen yesterday, it was hard to tell where different people stood. Given the current situation, cautious Anduin couldn't be sure whom he could trust.

"Don't be nervous, Anduin." Professor Flitwick walked over to him and flicked his wand. Two chairs drifted over. The professor sat down in one and gestured for Anduin to take the other.

"Anduin, I could tell that spell you cast wasn't something you'd released by accident. As I said, it was almost perfect spellcasting. Even many Adult Wizards couldn't cast a spell with such composure." Seeing that Anduin seemed a little restrained, Professor Flitwick changed the subject.

"Don't be nervous, Anduin. How about we talk about my class? What did you think of my Charms Class?" Professor Flitwick asked kindly.

Anduin hadn't sensed any hostility from Professor Flitwick, and gradually began to relax.

"Well, your class was very good. You explained the theory behind spells in a way that was both thorough and easy to understand, and it was very..." Anduin was about to heap praise on the professor when Professor Flitwick cut him off again.

"You seem to have been paying very close attention. So how did you find the time to write a letter during the first lesson, and then sit around daydreaming during spell practice?" Professor Flitwick teased him with a chuckle.

Oh, no. So the professor had been watching his every move.

Anduin froze, managing only an awkward smile.

"I'd heard about you, Anduin, even before you enrolled. Though I never joined the Order of the Phoenix, Professor McGonagall told me about your remarkable exploits before you came to Hogwarts. They were truly impressive. And Lily is one of my best students. She hasn't mentioned you often, but in her letters to me, she's expressed her admiration for you." After calling Anduin out for buttering him up, Professor Flitwick didn't scold him. Instead, he chatted with him like an old friend.

So he was one of their allies. Anduin suddenly realized he'd been frightening himself for nothing, and his expression grew even more awkward.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I shouldn't have been distracted during your class. I didn't mean to disrespect you." Now that he understood their connection, Anduin sincerely apologized to Flitwick.

"No need to apologize. I can see you're not nervous anymore, so I'll ask you that question again. What did you think of my class?" Professor Flitwick shook his head lightly, then asked Anduin again with a cheerful smile.

"Your class really was very good. It's just that, to be honest, it was a little too basic for me." Anduin decided to tell the truth. "I'd already studied spell theory and most spells before enrolling. I've actually mastered all the First Year spells."

Professor Flitwick's eyes suddenly lit up at Anduin's words.

"As I thought. The moment I saw you cast that spell, I realized your skill was far beyond that of other young wizards your age." Flitwick stroked his White Beard and continued, "Do you know why I care so much about your spellcasting ability?"

Why? Because I'm good at it? Anduin couldn't bring himself to say something so shameless, so he just shook his head.

"Because you're not normal!" Flitwick said.

You're the one who's not normal! Knowing lots of spells makes me abnormal? Is this professor even normal? Anduin grumbled inwardly, unable to understand what Professor Flitwick meant.

Flitwick looked at Anduin and continued, "Do you know why I say that?"

Anduin shook his head.

"It actually has to do with how wizards grow. When a newborn is born, it's impossible to tell at first whether they have magical talent. You have to wait until a young wizard reaches a certain age and experiences a Magic Outburst. Some young wizards have one as early as six, while others might not have one until they're ten. Only then can you tell whether someone has magical ability. You went through the same process, didn't you?" Professor Flitwick looked at Anduin as he spoke.

Anduin nodded. It was true—he'd started to notice something unusual about himself when he was around seven.

"Those self-important Pure-blood families claim their children showed magical ability at the age of three, and say that's what marks a wizard from a pure-blood family. That's complete nonsense." Flitwick couldn't resist mocking the Pure-blood families before continuing.

"Once a wizard has had a Magic Outburst, that proves they have the potential to become a wizard. But it doesn't mean they can start casting spells right away. After a young wizard experiences a Magic Outburst, their body undergoes a rapid growth period, both physically and magically. This makes their magic chaotic and extremely difficult to control. That's why Hogwarts waits until you're eleven before admitting you." Flitwick explained.

"Chaotic, surging magic isn't something a young wizard can control at will. As you continue to grow, your magic becomes stronger and more chaotic. Without proper instruction and guidance, it could hurt you or the people around you at any moment. Your training and guidance actually begin the moment you get a wand." Flitwick now sounded like a patient elder, explaining the source of magic to Anduin.

"A wand?" Anduin suddenly recalled the strange changes in his magic after he'd gotten one.

"Exactly. Wands are a great invention for wizards. They stabilize and channel magic. Once you get your first wand, it subtly influences the magic inside you, helping chaotic magic become more stable. This greatly reduces the dangers of casting spells. You see, in the ancient days before wands, spellcasting was extremely dangerous. Your magic could run wild at any moment while you were casting, and many wizards in those times died because of their own magic." Flitwick spoke earnestly.

"However, wands also slightly reduce a young wizard's Magic Sensitivity. Many young wizards can easily perform little tricks without a wand, but find them difficult after getting one. That's why we have young wizards wait until just before enrolling to buy their wands. Even Pure-blood families don't let their children use wands before they start school. Magic Sensitivity is also an important measure of a wizard's ability."