The Secret of The Serpent | Harry Potter

Chapter 4: First Year

On the day after his return from Diagon Alley, as the sun streamed through his bedroom window, Riley settled into his cosy reading nook, a rather large bean bag placed in the corner. Around him lay the treasures he had brought back with him: "Advanced Potion Making," "A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration," "The Standard Book of Spells," "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," "Defence Against the Dark Arts," and "A History of Magic." Each book held the promise of adventure and inquiry.

"Where to start?" Riley mused, eyes alight with curiosity. Scanning consideringly over the selection of books. The first book that caught his attention was "Defence Against the Dark Arts". The idea of dark magic deeply intrigued him. What made that type of magic considered "dark"? Was there some kind of consequence for using such magic? And if so, why would you choose to use that magic?

However, as intriguing as the topic might be, Riley decides to start with the most obvious option for learning about the magical world, "A History of Magic".

As he settled into his reading nook, he opened the book to its very first page. The scent of ancient parchment wafted up, mingling with the faint hints of wood polish from his bookshelf. The letters on the page seemed to dance before him as if eager to share their secrets.

Each page transported him not just through time but also into the very heart of magic itself. He learned about the ancient wizards of yore who could summon storms with a flick of their wands and the fierce battles they fought against dark forces.

It told tales of the great wizards and witches who had shaped the magical world — tales of triumph and tragedy, valour and folly. He learned of the legendary figures like Merlin, whose wisdom had guided kingdoms, and Morgana, a powerful sorceress known for her formidable spells but also for her tumultuous heart.

Riley stumbled upon a particularly intriguing chapter titled "The Rise of the Four Founders." He begins to read about the founding of Hogwarts, where four extraordinary witches and wizards—Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin—came together to build a school where young witches and wizards could learn the arcane arts. They brought their own unique magic to the castle, creating an enduring legacy that shaped generations of young witches and wizards. Each founder had their unique views on magic, and as Riley turned from one page to another, he felt himself become enraptured with the text.

Intrigued by the stories of their camaraderie and conflicts, Riley felt a thrill of excitement tingling in his fingertips. He imagined what it would have been like to see them together — the bold Gryffindor, with courage shining in his eyes, standing up for what was right, while the clever Ravenclaw, with her sharp wit, often outsmarted the others in their magical duels. But it was the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor that captured his imagination the most. The text hinted at the deep-seated issues that led to the division of the school house, a tale woven with jealousy, ambition, and dreams of power.

In the next chapter, Riley discovered the invention of the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, an artefact that held the wisdom of the four founders of Hogwarts. The book detailed how the Hat had been created from the very essence of each founder's magical prowess, intertwining their traits and values. Riley imagined himself donning the Hat for the first time, feeling the rush of emotions as it contemplated his heart and mind to decide his rightful house.

Diving into the chapter about the Age of Exploration in the magical world. He read about the great wizard Nicolas Flamel, who had unlocked the secrets of alchemy, creating the Philosopher's Stone to produce gold and grant immortality. As he absorbed the text, he imagined Flamel wandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris in search of lost tomes, a twist of fate leading him to uncover extraordinary truths.