Charles felt utterly drained. He had never exhausted his magic reserves before, and now his whole body felt limp. Even lifting his wand seemed impossible.
"Now focus on how your body feels," Alex instructed. "I'll grab you something to eat. After using up all your magic, your body starts refilling both your energy and magic reserves, gradually boosting your capacity."
Nodding, Charles concentrated on his body. He felt deflated, as if all his energy had vanished. Yet, slowly, he sensed a strange warmth from within, like his body was beginning to replenish his magic bit by bit.
It reminded him of a water pipe slowly filling up. At first, when empty, he could feel each drop, but as it filled, he could barely notice the individual flows. This sensation, he realized, was his magic returning. He could feel his sensitivity to it growing.
If Alex could help him control and enhance this perception, the Charm Club might gain valuable insights into magical sensitivity. Professor Flitwick had hinted that exploring this sensitivity could open new pathways in spellcasting.
Alex returned with a blueberry pie from Hagrid's kitchen and handed it to Charles. "How do you feel?" he asked.
Charles dug into the pie, famished. Between bites, he said, "I can feel the magic coming back slowly. It's like... it's filling bit by bit."
"Good. That's a feeling you'll get familiar with," Alex chuckled.
Thinking about the exhaustion he had felt, Charles asked, "Do you do this kind of training too?"
"I started when I was seven," Alex replied casually. "Even now, I still do it before bed. The effects are most noticeable at first. Over time, you get used to it and start recognizing your limits."
"Seven?!" Charles stared at him in disbelief. "How did you manage to keep going through this kind of pain?"
Alex gave a small shrug. "You just learn to live with it, you know? It becomes... normal."
After resting a bit, Alex and Charles joined Hagrid for dinner. Hagrid enjoyed having them over, especially since Charles was a friend of Alex's. Later, Alex walked Charles back to the castle, then headed off for a spell lesson with Professor Bones. "Today, I'll introduce you to some alchemy materials," Bones said, gesturing to a table filled with different types of wood, metal, and leather.
As Alex touched each material, he noticed a familiar one—a bronze-like metal that reminded him of the amulet Lily had given him. Bones saw his curiosity and smiled. "That's 'Ur bronze,' created by the goblins. It's a popular choice for beginners due to its stability and magic-storing properties. It's quite affordable too compared to other options."
Alex realized that Lily's amulet had been crafted from this material. She hadn't been exaggerating when she said it was something she'd made casually.
"Invented?" Alex asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Bones explained. "In both the wizard and Muggle worlds, the metals we know aren't naturally magical. These alloys are created by combining regular metals with magic or magical creature ingredients. Each alloy has unique properties based on the formula used, which makes the formula itself highly valuable."
Bones picked up a silver candle holder next. Alex was captivated by the rare candle holder in Professor Bones's hand. Its silvery surface gleamed with a brightness beyond ordinary metal, tiny star-like flecks sparkling across it as if it held its own night sky.
"This," Professor Bones began, holding the silver piece carefully, "is made from a special metal called Goblin Silver. Goblins have mastered its creation, making it incredibly valuable. It's as prized as a Galleon, but you won't find it in regular shops. If you're lucky, you might spot some on the black market, where the prices are sky-high. Some alchemists even melt down goblin-made silverware like this to create powerful magical items. This candle holder is the only piece of goblin silverware I own."
Alex turned the candle holder in his hands, amazed by the way light reflected off its surface. The metal felt almost alive, shining brighter than anything he'd seen. Professor Bones continued, "There's also a rarer one called mithril, even stronger than goblin silver. Legend has it that Rowena Ravenclaw used a piece of refined mithril to make her famous diadem."
Next, Professor Bones introduced Alex to another goblin metal. "This is Ulim Steel," he said, displaying a small, dull-looking brooch. "Also called goblin steel or goblin iron, it's one of the hardest and most stable materials in the wizarding world. While it lacks exceptional magical properties, it's top-notch for creating spatial items. When you apply an Extension Charm on Ulim Steel, it can create a vast, stable space that, as long as it's regularly charged, will last indefinitely."
Alex's curiosity peaked as he watched Professor Bones channel some magic into the brooch. Instantly, a neatly folded robe appeared in his hand, then vanished back into the brooch with another pulse of magic.
"Besides space-type items, Ulim Steel's strength makes it perfect for things like boxes, doors, and even vaults. Gringotts, for example, uses Ulim Steel in its vault doors. Another Hogwarts treasure, the Sword of Gryffindor, is rumored to be made of a unique mix of Ulim Steel, Goblin Silver, and Mithril."
Alex nodded, admiration clear in his eyes. "The goblins really do have a way with metalwork," he remarked. "It's incredible that they've created so many exceptional alloys."
Professor Bones agreed. "Yes, goblins have excelled in magical metallurgy, which once fueled their sense of pride as a race. Sadly, that invention also led to conflicts, which we now call the Goblin Rebellions. Some even say that certain alchemists started those wars, driven by their greed for goblin-made metals."
Alex's eyes widened. "But didn't wizards eventually win those wars? And did they get the goblins' formulas in the end?"
Professor Bones sighed. "The wizards claimed victory, yes, but it was far from a clean win. Goblins fought fiercely, and an outright win would have meant severe wizard casualties. To complicate things, it's said that a famous alchemist stepped in to deescalate the situation."
"Really? Who was it?" Alex asked, captivated.
"Nick Flamel," Professor Bones replied with a hint of reverence.
Alex's jaw dropped. "The same Nick Flamel who created the Philosopher's Stone?"
Professor Bones nodded, his tone serious. "Yes. And the reason relates to a unique metal he invented. Here, take a look." He pulled out a piece of parchment, its surface covered in sketches and notes.
Alex studied the parchment, noticing a picture of an unusual metal. It looked like titanium—a little lighter than silver. He glanced up at Professor Bones.
"This is Lemay Alloy," Professor Bones explained. "Flamel crafted it with the strength of Ulim Steel and the magical stability of Isser Mithril. It's one of the finest metals wizards ever had access to."
Understanding dawned on Alex. "So Flamel's alloy meant wizards didn't need goblin metals?"