Alex believed that a wizard's magic reserve was closely tied to their physical growth—meaning it could increase with age. He also thought that physical exercise and consuming certain magical ingredients could help boost this reserve. For example, he once ate some dragon liver from Hagrid, and afterward, he felt like the magic in his body had become more abundant. Remembering this, Alex realized he could still benefit from Hagrid's supplies and made a mental note to check back with him.
Alex understood that the strength of magic wasn't just about reserves; it was greatly influenced by willpower and emotions. He had read in his spellbooks that people who often feel strong emotions, like anger, can unleash more powerful spells. Wizards with darker mindsets, in particular, seemed to have an easier time mastering dark magic.
While the term "willpower" was vaguely described, Alex noticed that wizards with a strong will usually cast spells more steadily and with greater force. He knew his will was strong, and he aimed to make the most of it.
Another important concept Alex had learned from Professor Flitwick was magic sensitivity. After spending years training in martial arts, meditation, and pushing himself through intense spell practice, he found that his ability to control magic had become sharper. He realized that by strengthening his body and clearing his mind, he had unknowingly increased his sensitivity to magic. Physical exercise connected his magic more deeply to his body, while meditation improved his focus. Repeated training kept his magic active, making it easier for him to access and control.
With this knowledge, Alex planned to continue his training. The Slytherin dormitory had enough space for him to practice spells, and he had plenty of quiet corners to work on mastering the ones he still struggled with. As he thought about his training routine, Alex felt determined and buried himself in a stack of books to refine his skills.
A week passed peacefully at Hogwarts, but slowly, the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor began to heat up.
During Charms class a few weeks later, Alex approached Professor Flitwick to ask about a journal called Century Charms.
Flitwick explained that the journal was monthly and included in the Hogwarts library, but the copies were limited, and it often took about six months for new issues to become available. Alex, eager to read the most recent articles, felt a bit frustrated with the wait.
"Thank you, professor, but is there a way to subscribe directly to Century Charms?" Alex asked, determined not to wait half a year.
"You can subscribe, but it's not cheap," Flitwick replied. "A one-year subscription costs 24 gold Galleons. If you're serious about it, I can help you send in the subscription request."
Alex was surprised by the price. Compared to the Daily Prophet, which only cost 5 knuts a day, Century Charms seemed expensive. Still, after a moment's hesitation, Alex made up his mind.
"Professor, I'll subscribe for one year. Can I also buy the last six months of back issues?"
Alex handed over 36 Galleons and tried not to think about how empty his coin pouch felt. Realizing he couldn't keep spending so freely, Alex knew he had to come up with a way to make money, especially if he wanted to pursue his potion-making plans. After saying goodbye to Professor Flitwick, he decided to visit the Potions classroom to brush up on some potion recipes. With enough practice, he hoped he could master a few useful formulas and maybe even sell some potions.
Normally, Alex had no problem searching for old textbooks from different classrooms. Professor Flitwick had even helped him find some in the Charms room, but Alex hadn't asked the Transfiguration or Defense Against the Dark Arts professors for permission, so he felt a little guilty.
Sneaking into Professor Slughorn's classroom, though, was a different story. As the head of Slytherin, Slughorn was more likely to catch him, and Alex wasn't sure how his head of house would react.
However, now that he had set his mind on it, he decided to take the risk. Slipping into the sixth-year Potions classroom, Alex began scanning the shelves. He had already searched through the second- to fifth-year classrooms and found some useful things, like the formula for Veritaserum hidden in an old fourth-year textbook. This time, he hoped for something even better.
After unlocking one of the cupboards, Alex found several worn copies of Advanced Potion-Making. The textbooks hadn't changed much over the years, but one, in particular, caught his eye. It was filled with handwritten notes. Excited, Alex flipped through it, feeling like he had just hit the jackpot.
Some textbooks were worth far more than others, and this one seemed like it had been used by someone who really knew their potions.
Curious about the previous owner, Alex checked the inside cover. Written in large letters was the name "Half-Blood Prince."
Alex raised an eyebrow, smirking at the grand title.
"Half-Blood Prince? Seriously?" he muttered. The name reminded him of cheesy online usernames from his previous life, like "Prince of Darkness" or "Shadow King." Still, the notes looked valuable, and Alex quickly stashed the book in his bag before leaving the classroom.
He felt confident that within a week, he could master most of the first- through seventh-year spells, especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Alongside that, he planned to dive into potion-making, which would help him start his potion business earlier than expected.
As he made his way back to the Great Hall for dinner, Alex passed by a classroom on the third floor and suddenly heard a faint rustling noise. His sharp senses immediately told him that there were people inside. This piqued his curiosity.
'Is someone scavenging for supplies like I do?' he wondered. But then he remembered—it was the first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Something felt off.
Unable to resist, Alex cast a Muffliato charm to muffle his own sounds, then quietly approached the classroom door. It was locked, and he didn't want to barge in and draw attention. His goal was simply to figure out who was inside, not cause any trouble.
Raising his wand to his ear, he cast a listening spell—a charm he had learned from a senior at the Charms Club. This spell amplified his hearing several times over. However, it had a drawback: if someone nearby made a loud noise, it could knock him out from the shock. Carefully adjusting to the spell's effects, Alex pressed his ear to the door.