Chapter 221: The Birth of a New Wizard, Dream Object Delivery
After Snape explained his assessment of the potion to Musa, the old wizard remained conflicted.
"You're certain there's no danger?" Musa was preoccupied with the potion's safety.
He desperately wanted Amr to become a wizard, to live alongside him in the magical world, instead of remaining a Squib, caught between the wizarding and Muggle realms, unable to fully embrace the mundane yet barred from magical society, struggling painfully in the gap. But if the transformation failed and brought grave consequences, maintaining the status quo would be preferable.
Besides, Musa reasoned, since Ethan had brewed these potions and intended to use them, wouldn't it be ideal to wait for more test results before administering them to Amr?
With this in mind, Musa looked up, preparing to refuse to let Amr be the potion's first test subject.
"Let's wait, I..." Musa's words were cut short.
"I want to use it now!"
"Amr? How long have you been here?" Musa turned sharply to find his grandson standing nearby, unnoticed.
"I've been here for a while, Grandfather," Amr said. "I came to ask if you wanted more water, but you were too focused to notice me."
"So you heard everything?" Musa felt a jolt of nerves. He hadn't wanted Amr to hear about the Bloodline Potion, and was already regretting teaching him English. Doing so risked driving Amr, who had always yearned to become a wizard, toward reckless, impulsive decisions.
"Yes, Grandfather, I heard everything," Amr said. "I didn't understand all of it, but I know this is a potion that can make me a wizard."
Amr's words shattered Musa's hopes.
Just as Musa had feared, Amr ignored the potential risks. "I want to take it now," he said. "I want to become a wizard."
Ethan understood. Amr had spoken in English.
Longing filled Amr's eyes. "If I'd been a wizard before, Mother might not have left."
"Amr..." Those words revealed a depth of feeling his cheerful grandson had never shown. Musa had never realized he harbored such thoughts.
After a long silence, Musa nodded reluctantly. "As you wish, Amr."
"Ethan, you can guarantee there's no danger?" Musa looked at him with pleading eyes, desperate for reassurance.
"I..." Looking into those eyes, Ethan couldn't bring himself to speak.
Ethan couldn't understand their conversation, except for Amr's English declaration. Cyril Shafiq had been translating quietly, allowing Ethan to follow along. Ethan had noticed Amr enter the living room immediately. The boy, his own age, had pressed a finger to his lips, then gestured earnestly for Ethan to keep his presence secret. So Ethan had remained silent.
Now he regretted it, regretted not stopping Amr from eavesdropping.
Resurrecting his son and raising his grandson safely were the only goals left for Musa, who was already halfway to the grave. The first goal had finally gained some traction, ethereal and distant, but possible. He couldn't bear for Amr to suffer irreversible harm from the Bloodline Potion's side effects before that wish was realized.
Under this weight, Ethan hesitated. Though confident in his brew, he feared the unknown due to the lack of verification.
Snape, observing from the side, recognized his student's dilemma. He knew Ethan lacked confidence because this was his first original creation. He intervened.
"Musa, having examined the formula and brewing details, I can confirm the potion is sound," Snape said. "Even if unknown side effects occur, they won't be life-threatening. Here's what we'll do: I need access to your materials anyway. I'll stay here while Amr takes the potion. If anything goes wrong, I'll handle it."
Ethan shot Snape a grateful look.
As a renowned Potions Master, Snape's words carried more weight than Ethan's. Musa stopped pressing the inventor and turned to Snape with his questions. Snape answered patiently, and gradually, the worry in Musa's eyes dimmed.
Since Amr hadn't understood everything he'd overheard, Musa translated while Ethan explained the dosing instructions again.
"You remember everything?"
"Yes. I'm ready." Excitement and longing burned in Amr's eyes.
"The first vial."
Amr picked up the vial, glanced at his grandfather, pulled the stopper, and downed it in one gulp.
Every eye was fixed on the boy, waiting nervously for his reaction. Ethan needed to observe for modifications; Snape wanted to confirm efficacy; Musa worried about his grandson's safety. David Robert and Mael, both with Muggle relatives, watched to see if the potion truly worked, wondering if they might obtain doses for their own loved ones.
For several seconds after Amr drank, nothing seemed to happen.
"How do you feel?" Ethan asked nervously.
"Not much," Amr said. "It could be sweeter. It's a bit bitter, with a spicy kick." He considered carefully, then offered his critique.
"I'll work on the flavor next time." Ethan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Amr, why is your face getting so red?" Musa watched his grandson like a hawk. From the moment Amr drank, he'd noticed the flush spreading across his cheeks. At first, hidden beneath Amr's dark complexion, the redness had been subtle; Musa had thought it was his imagination. But slowly, the color intensified, turning his cheeks crimson.
"Is it?" Amr touched his face.
"It's kind of hot." The boy rubbed his cheeks vigorously and grinned.
Ethan's heart clenched. "This shouldn't be happening yet."
"Do you feel your blood racing? An urge to move, to do something?"
Amr's reactions slowed. Like a drunkard, he turned dully toward Cyril Shafiq, who was translating Ethan's questions. But he didn't answer. "So hot... I need to cool down."
"What's happening?! You said there was no danger!" Musa panicked, shouting as he surged to his feet.
Snape stopped him. "Wait. Don't interfere; you'll disrupt his magical outburst."
"Magical outburst?" His anger turned to shock.
Snape nodded. "Exactly. His bloodline is hyperactive. He's on the verge of an outburst."
Musa fell silent, staring unblinkingly at his grandson.
"Hot... so hot." Amr fanned his face desperately.
"Grandfather, a cooling charm? Please?" Amr looked to Musa.
"Immediately." Musa raised his wand.
Snape stopped him again. "This is the critical moment."
Musa could only watch as Amr's face turned so red it looked like it might bleed. Unable to bear it, Amr fanned himself faster.
"Cool..." Amr sighed in relief.
As he fanned, visible gusts of wind carrying ice crystals swept across his burning cheeks.
Spellcasting. Unmistakable. Amr was a wizard now, no longer a Squib.
"He succeeded!" Musa cried, overjoyed.
"Yes. We just witnessed the first Squib become a wizard." Snape released Musa's robes.
Amr, the subject of the hour, felt his bloodline settle. His color returned to normal. Though only minutes had passed, everything had changed.
Everyone was thrilled at the historic moment. Mael, a Muggle-born, cheered the loudest.
"A miracle! A miracle for the magical world!" David Robert muttered, grinning broadly. Though his grandson had succeeded, who could guarantee no Squib would appear in his own descendants?
"With this potion, my siblings can enter the magical world too!" Mael exclaimed.
But while others celebrated, Ethan's smile was hollow. Confusion gnawed at him:
"Why? According to my calculations, even a Squib should need five or six doses to trigger a natural outburst. Why did Amr succeed with just one? Is it his age? Or an unusually active bloodline?"
Someone approached.
"Experimental potions affect everyone differently," Snape said. "You noted that Squibs and Muggles would react differently. You simply didn't expect success with a single dose?"
"Yes, Professor. This exceeded my expectations."
"It doesn't matter. More tests will reveal the pattern, allowing for refinement. In Amr's case, I suspect it's his youth: his bloodline hasn't fully stabilized."
"Exactly my thought." The confirmation made Ethan eager to return to Britain for broader trials.
Another figure approached. Musa, his face a mixture of apology and gratitude. The old wizard seized Ethan's hand, apologizing for his earlier panic and thanking him sincerely.
Musa brought out his finest food and wine, hosting a banquet to thank Ethan and celebrate Amr's transformation.
But unknown to them, as Amr awakened, thousands of miles away at Uagadou, a name had appeared on the enrollment scrolls.
"Amr Hussein, twelve years old?!"
A dark-skinned administrator reviewed the list that evening, preparing to send a Dream Messenger with the enrollment token. One name caught his eye.
"A twelve-year-old awakening? Unprecedented." He stroked his beard, puzzled. "I'll inquire when he enrolls." But with all of Africa's young wizards to manage, he had no time to investigate personally. He filed the name away for later.
The celebration lasted from noon until evening. Musa, Cyril Shafiq, and David Robert drank themselves into a stupor, the three old friends muttering among themselves. Ethan and Snape discussed potion improvements while testing Amr's new abilities with simple spells. Only Mael stood apart, leaning against the wall, sipping his drink and thinking of Eno.
That night, with Amr's help, they carried the three drunkards to bed and slept at Musa's house. Though either could have brewed a Sobering Potion, neither had the ingredients.
The next morning, Ethan's sleep was shattered by Amr's scream. "Uagadou's enrollment token!" Amr screamed. Ethan burst into the room to find Amr brandishing an inscribed stone. "The Dream Messenger came to me last night! I woke up holding this!" Amr turned the stone over in his hands, and it was ordinary except for the magical inscription.
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