While resting, Noah perched on the window ledge with his French book, eyes wandering now and then toward the fountain in the garden. He wondered when he would be able to create something just as beautiful with magic.
Once he felt recovered, he decided it was time to share his newfound power with his family. At first, he had thought it would take days to master the basics. Who would've guessed that only a few hours were enough?
Before leaving his room, he checked again—yes, the sock floated just as easily as before. Satisfied, he slipped it into his pocket and went to find his family.
He found his father and grandfather chatting in the main hall. Adam's face lit up the moment he spotted him.
"The sleepyhead finally shows up," his father teased.
Noah chuckled, realizing it must have been Adam who tucked him in earlier.
"Good afternoon, Dad. Grandpa."
"No hug for your old man?" Charlie asked with exaggerated sadness.
Noah shook his head. "I'll be giving out plenty of hugs in a moment."
"And why's that?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Because I have a surprise." Noah's grin widened. "Where's Mom?"
"Looking for me, sweetheart?" Laura's voice came from behind as she swept him into a suffocating hug, rubbing her cheeks against his.
"Mom, stop!" Noah struggled half-heartedly.
Damn it, woman, you're attacking the future greatest wizard in the world, he thought with mock indignation—though truthfully, he had no real desire to escape.
Once freed, he asked her to sit with the others.
"So, what's this surprise?" Adam leaned forward, trying to guess.
Noah smirked and pulled a sock from his pocket.
"A sock?" Laura blinked. "Don't tell me that's the missing one from last week?"
Noah rolled his eyes. That sock wasn't lost. The wind stole it.
Without explanation, he placed it on the coffee table and raised his chin.
"Behold! Noah Gray, the great wizard!"
He swept his hand upward—and the sock floated.
The room froze in silence. Noah's chest swelled with pride at their stunned expressions.
"Well? Isn't this amazing?" he laughed, hands on his hips, chest puffed out, chin high.
"My baby awakened his magic!" Laura was the first to break, rushing forward and scooping him into her arms. The sock fell, but he didn't care.
For the next few minutes, the Gray family celebrated him with laughter, praise, and far too many hugs—exactly as Noah had predicted.
When things settled, Charlie was the first to speak.
"Since when can you do that?"
"This morning was the first time," Noah admitted proudly. "It took me a few hours to get it right."
"Today?" Charlie's brows shot up. "That quickly?"
The surprise on their faces made Noah pause. He furrowed his brow, feigning worry.
"…Is that bad?"
Adam shook his head. "Not bad, just—"
"Surprising," Laura finished.
The praise warmed him, but curiosity itched.
"Mom, you're so talented. I bet you could do the same at my age, right? I mean, it took me long enough to show any magic."
In Noah's mind, in a world overflowing with magic, with spellbooks and theory everywhere, making a sock float shouldn't be so extraordinary for a child.
But apparently, he was wrong.
Laura chuckled, pinching his cheek. "At your age? The most I could do was make my hair grow while I slept."
"Really?" Noah blinked, astonished.
She nodded, and when he turned to the others, both Adam and Charlie confirmed it was the same for them—little magical mishaps, nothing intentional, nothing controlled.
What Noah had done was unprecedented: controlled, wandless magic, deliberate and repeatable—at just five years old, without books, without schooling.
Adam threw back his head and laughed. "My son's a genius! What was it you called yourself? Noah, the great wizard?"
Noah nodded, chest swelling again.
Adam ruffled his hair with a grin. "No, no. I think it suits you better to be… Noah, the Sock Tamer."
"Hey!" Noah protested, but the protest was smothered in another round of hugs and cheek-pinching.
That night, the Gray family celebrated with a special dinner. Expensive wine was opened, laughter echoed, and joy filled the air. Noah's cheeks were sore from all the affection, and his jaw ached from smiling so much—but he wouldn't have traded it for anything.
His new life had begun brilliantly. Everything was worth it.
The next morning, Noah awoke eager to train his magic again—but he was interrupted before he could even start.
"Where are we going?" he asked as his mother barged into his room, tossing him a fresh outfit.
Laura smiled knowingly. "We're visiting Nick and Penny."
Noah shot to his feet like he'd been struck by lightning. "Really?!" His lips curled into a greedy smile. "Then I hope Aunt Penny made pumpkin tarts."
Laura tossed a shirt at his face. "You and your father think only about food."
Noah only shrugged. He did love Mrs. Flamel's cooking.
Moments later, he and his parents stepped into the fireplace. With a sprinkle of Floo powder, green flames roared to life, and the Gray family vanished—straight to the Flamels' home.