Professor Snape's hurried departure brought that earth-shattering Potions lesson to a suspenseful close.
But Lucian Thornwick's name had already become a stone cast into calm waters, sending ripples through the first-year students of Hogwarts.
"Have you heard? That Gryffindor—Lucian Thornwick—improved two potion formulas in class!"
"Seriously? I heard Professor Snape was completely stunned!"
"Stunned? I saw it myself! His potion glowed! And the Swelling Solution he made was ten times stronger than the one in the book!"
The miracle in Potions had begun spreading quietly among the students.
Those who witnessed it embellished the tale with every retelling, turning Lucian into a once-in-a-century Potions prodigy.
Yet for many—especially those who hadn't seen it firsthand—the story sounded exaggerated.
"Oh, come on. He just got lucky."
"Maybe his family runs an apothecary or something."
"Exactly. Potions is just memorization. What's so impressive?"
"Real wizards rely on spells and courage!"
"Just wait—he's probably just a bookworm."
Doubt and prejudice crept through the student body like ivy.
To them, Lucian was merely a fortunate theorist. His success? A fluke. The real test was still ahead.
That afternoon, beneath bright sunshine on the castle lawns, the first flying lesson for first-years was about to begin.
Twenty broomsticks lay neatly in two rows upon the grass, awaiting their masters.
Madam Hooch, her short grey hair bristling, surveyed the students with sharp yellow eyes like a hawk's.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" she barked briskly. "Stand to the left of your broom. Extend your right hand over it and say clearly—'Up!'"
"Up!"
"Up!"
"Up!"
Voices rang out across the lawn, slightly nervous but eager.
Miraculously, most broomsticks responded.
Hermione's shot straight into her hand first. Malfoy's followed close behind, and he shot Harry a smug grin.
Ron's wobbled before finally hopping obediently into his grasp.
Nearly everyone succeeded.
Only two broomsticks remained stubbornly on the ground.
One at Harry Potter's feet.
The other lying quietly beside the boy who had created a "miracle" that very morning—
Lucian Thornwick.
He hadn't even extended his hand. He simply stood there calmly, as though everything around him were irrelevant.
Instantly, all attention shifted.
Those who had been basking in their minor triumphs now cast gloating glances his way—especially the Slytherins, whose expressions suggested they had been waiting eagerly for this moment.
"Oh? Look at that. Our great 'Potions genius' can't handle a stick of wood?"
"I told you—just a lucky bookworm!"
"What's Potions worth? Flying takes real courage and talent! Clearly he has neither!"
"Look at him—too scared to even reach out!"
Snickers and whispers buzzed like flies among the Slytherins.
In their minds, the boy who had stolen the spotlight in Potions was about to be exposed in a class that tested "true wizarding ability."
Draco Malfoy's face displayed open, vindictive delight.
The humiliation he'd felt that morning finally seemed ready to be avenged.
He glanced at Lucian standing near Harry and sneered softly to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Two disappointments together."
"One's an overrated scar-head. The other's a fraud who plays with herbs."
"I bet that Thornwick won't even dare get on the broom."
They had no idea.
The stillness they interpreted as fear concealed a truth so staggering it would shake the wizarding world.
Lucian wasn't failing to summon the broom.
He simply didn't need it.
Within his consciousness, something far grander than broom-riding was unfolding.
Heaven-Defying Comprehension activated.
Analyzing principles of flight…
Aerodynamic modeling… complete.
Levitation Charm structure… dissected.
Wingardium Leviosa spell matrix… restructuring…
Lucian's awareness delved deep into the essence of flight itself.
"Relying on a stick of wood to soar through the sky?" he thought calmly. "Primitive. Crude."
"True flight should cast off all shackles—riding the wind freely, like a bird."
Magical framework reconstruction complete.
Initiating creation of new flight magic…
Designation: Windwalking Art.
While mocking eyes remained fixed upon him, a revolutionary spell—one requiring no medium whatsoever—took shape in Lucian Thornwick's grasp.
A spell destined to make the entire wizarding world tremble.