Harry Potter: Bloodraven

Maverick quickly got to know the younger students while Edward pulled Sarah and Simon aside for a quick chat.

The teens, who were Edward's students, took turns introducing themselves to Maverick, giving the basics this time.

Maverick gave them his "story" too, about how he'd been learning from Edward since he was six. They were a little surprised when he mentioned his dad was Britain's Prime Minister—but only mildly curious. They didn't pry.

He didn't hide much, really; he and Edward had agreed only to make up the story about his magic awakening and the time period. Everything else—his family and his background—was not fabricated. After all, it wouldn't exactly be difficult—if people wanted to dig around about him, they'd figure this out eventually.

The group got along surprisingly well—nothing cliché, jealousy or awkward vibes just because Maverick was Edward's direct apprentice. They all respected Edward way too much to feel any type of way about it.

Maverick learned that this underground base was like their school, just like it'd be for him for the next few months. Teachers would show up and teach them different magical subjects, and after classes, they'd all use the Floo Network to head back to their own homes.

Edward had made sure they lived well—not stuck underground all day, cramming spells like robots. In fact, they each had the option to attend a regular magic school or get this more personal, one-on-one style of tutoring from Edward and his team. Every single one of them chose the latter.

Some even studied non-magical subjects in regular schools, something Edward actively encouraged. He wanted them to understand both worlds, not just be limited to magic.

These kids weren't just any random magical orphans. Each one of them was handpicked by Edward himself. He'd taken his time to look into their lives, consider their situations, their talent, and—most importantly—judge their character.

He wasn't just teaching them spells; he was shaping their worldview, making sure they understood not to look down on non-magical people or their society.

From what Maverick could tell, Edward believed in a kind of balance—a real respect for non-magical folks. He didn't see them as "lesser," just different. His philosophy was clearly about long-term coexistence, keeping things peaceful, a world apart from some radical ideas that had torn through the magical world a few decades ago.

Honestly, it wasn't hard for Maverick to understand why Edward felt this way. He'd read up on a lot of magical history and heard enough stories to piece it together. This universe wasn't just a version of Harry Potter; but also a mix of another, a more terrifying one.

And because of that, it reminded him that if he ever became a powerful wizard, he'd need to keep his ego in check.

...

They chatted for a while until Edward, Sarah, and Simon returned. With a quick goodbye, Maverick followed Edward and his two tutors to another room.

This place felt like a mix between a classroom and a cozy lounge. Sofas and tables were arranged comfortably, with a big, classic chalkboard on the wall. Maverick took a seat on one of the sofas facing Sarah and Simon, who sat across from him with a table in between. Edward stood to the side, arms crossed, watching quietly.

"Alright, think of this as a little test," Simon said, his voice deep and confident. "We want to get a sense of what you know about potions and alchemy."

"Yeah, so tell us what you understand so far," Sarah added, giving him an encouraging nod.

Maverick took a breath and began explaining what he knew. He had upgraded his talents to an intermediate level in both potions and alchemy, so it wasn't just about memorized facts; it was as if he'd been practicing them for years. Like with swimming—before the upgrade, he hadn't known a thing, but afterward, it felt as natural as if he'd been doing it forever. He had the knowledge and the muscle memory.

At this level, his knowledge was about on par with a Hogwarts seventh-year student. He could've pushed the two talents even further, but he had held off on upgrading to an advanced level.

Part of him wanted to build that understanding on his own, to reach a point where the system would recognize his actual progress, not just let him cheat.

Because as much as he saw the system as a "cheat code," he didn't want it to undermine his confidence. Relying solely on it made him feel like he was nothing without it. He wanted to prove—to himself, more than anyone—that he could get stronger without always leaning on it.

But that didn't mean he'd ignore the system. Oh, not at all. He was going to milk every bit of advantage it gave him. If there was a shortcut, he'd take it—he wasn't too proud for that.

But he also wanted to feel like he had some say in his own story, you know?

On one hand, he felt like the system was his security blanket; without it, he'd just be fumbling around. But on the other hand, he was tired of feeling like the system was doing all the heavy lifting. He wanted a little pride, a little proof that he wasn't just a guy getting bailed out by some mighty cosmic cheat.

After listening to Maverick's explanation, Sarah and Simon exchanged glances, their eyes wide with surprise. They had been under the impression that Maverick only read the books but had no hands-on experience whatsoever.

Even Edward looked taken aback. None of them quite knew what to think, but one thing was clear: Maverick wasn't just a genius — he was something else entirely.

Maverick felt a wave of embarrassment— a bit of nerves too—as his tutors, both looking at him like he was some kind of alien. Their eyes were practically burning holes through him. If he didn't know Edward and trust that these two were his people, he might've thought they were about to probe him with Legilamence.

"Your understanding is... uh... remarkable," Sarah finally said, hesitating as if searching for the right word.

Maverick felt a flicker of anxiety, wondering if he might have gone too far. But he quickly brushed the thought aside. He wanted them to see exactly how much he understood; it was essential for them to grasp his level. Only then could they tailor his learning plan to help him make real progress over the next few months.

Thankfully, his uncle broke the tension with a big laugh. "Ha! Didn't I tell you? The kid's something else!"

Sarah and Simon let out a sigh of surrender. "Alright, we'll start putting together your lessons and kick things off tomorrow," Sarah said, pausing before adding, "Honestly, with just a bit of hands-on experience, I think you could handle your NEWTs already. But since the boss wants us to work with you for four months, we'll make sure you're prepared for the top scores."

Maverick nodded politely, though he didn't plan on scoring the very highest—just enough to show he had some skill in both subjects. Showing off too much would only draw more eyes, and he wasn't interested in that.

"Good," Edward said approvingly. "I'll take him back, and we'll see you both tomorrow."

"Thank you, teachers," Maverick gave them a respectful bow.

"You're welcome, kid," they replied together, with warm smiles.

It had taken Maverick over two hours to go through everything, and now it was nearly noon. Edward led him outside, and Maverick noticed the hall was empty. Seeing his puzzled look, Edward explained, "The other kids are off with their teachers in the base rooms. The hall's really just for gatherings."

"i see…" Maverick said, nodding.

"Alright, let's head home. We'll grab some lunch, then you'll have a lesson with me this afternoon."

Maverick nodded, a spark of excitement in his eyes. This was the part he'd been looking forward to most.

...

Garling Residence

With a burst of green flames, Maverick and Edward stepped out of the fireplace and into Edward's home. They made their way to the living room, where the rich aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Silvia had clearly been busy in the kitchen.

"Edward, Maverick, you're back!" Silvia's melodic voice floated in from the dining room.

They both walked in and found a table laid with an impressive, balanced spread. It was clear she'd gone all out, again.

Edward grinned, walked over to give his wife a quick hug, then gestured for Maverick to sit. "Thanks, honey. But don't wear yourself out; you know you can always call Nancy and her family if you need a hand," he said, pulling out a chair for her.

Silvia chuckled, brushing it off with a smile. "It's no big deal, really. I asked—well, actually, I had to order the little guys to take the week off as a break." She laughed softly before continuing, "Anyway, I'm off work this week, so this keeps me busy. It's better than just sitting around all day," she added, settling in next to him.

Maverick watched the couple with a shy smile, feeling a bit like he was intruding on a private moment.

"Alright, Maverick, dig in!" Silvia said, smiling at him. "I spoke to Ariel this morning, and she mentioned how much you love Carbonara." She gestured to the dish, and Maverick's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Aunt Silvy," he said, grinning wide.

Lunch was full of laughter and easy conversation as Silvia asked about their day. When they were done, Edward suggested Maverick get some rest before training later that afternoon.

So that's exactly what he did. He headed to his room, rested by doing some light reading for an hour before taking a long, refreshing shower.

He then checked out the gear Edward had given him. At first glance, it looked like regular sportswear—long-sleeved black shirt, black pants, and sleek sneakers. But Maverick knew better; faint runes carved into the fabric hinted at the enchantments woven into each piece.

The moment he slipped them on, the outfit adjusted itself to fit him perfectly—no tugging, no adjusting, just pure magic. Comfortable and light, it felt like a second skin.

Grinning to himself, he made his way down to the basement and found Edward already waiting for him.