300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
500 gems = another bonus chapter
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With George and Fred finally gone, Aiden found himself alone at last, free to examine the changes that had come over him since his advancement. He moved to the mirror, curiosity and a hint of apprehension swirling within him.
The boy reflected back at him was striking, almost ethereal. His skin was pale and flawless, smooth as porcelain, with a healthy blush on his cheeks. His black hair, usually unruly and soft, now shimmered with a silvery sheen under the candlelight, as if touched by moonlight. But it was his eyes that drew his attention most. One iris remained the familiar deep blue, but the other had turned a brilliant gold. Both pupils were now vertical slits, unmistakably draconic.
Aiden stared, transfixed. Dragon…? He blinked and leaned closer, watching the golden eye catch the light. He could almost feel a latent power humming beneath the surface.
"System, open the panel," he said quietly.
A gentle chime sounded in his mind.
Name: Aiden Prewett
Age: 6
Talents (Cap: 10)
Transfiguration: 8
Potions: 9
Charms: 8
Alchemy: 7
Herbology: 6
Dark Arts (Soul Studies): 8
Magic (Spirituality): ???
Bloodline
Dragon Bloodline: Awakened
Known Spells
Common Household Spells
Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa)
Flash Charm (Lumos/Flash)
Confundus Charm (Confundo)
Transfiguration (Beginner Level)
Aiden scanned the information, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "So, promotion really does enhance academic talents. That makes sense. Modern wizardry is all about the mind, and the Visionary Pathway excels at that."
He touched the side of his face, feeling the smooth skin. "And the dragon blood… No wonder my eyes changed. Does promotion come with a bit of magical plastic surgery too?" He joked to himself, closing the panel.
"System, how do I release you from my soul?" he asked, remembering the instructions from his advancement.
The answer came at once. "The host can use the Mind Reader's ability to release soul defenses."
"Alright," Aiden said, taking a deep breath. He focused, activating his new ability. He felt his spirituality begin to drain, like water flowing from a hidden well. A faint blue light shimmered in the air, and suddenly, a small blue gem materialized in his palm.
"System?" he called, but this time there was only silence. The familiar presence was gone.
Aiden turned the gem over in his hand, studying it. Was this the uniqueness the system had spoken of? It looked ordinary, unremarkable. On a whim, he poured a little spirituality into it.
"Ding."
The system's voice echoed faintly from within the gem. So, this was how he would use the system from now on. He tied the gem to a string and slipped it around his neck, letting it rest against his chest. He wasn't worried about losing it. According to the Law of Extraordinary Characteristics Convergence, either he would find it, or it would find him.
Satisfied, Aiden returned to his bed and drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
*****
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, waking him gently. After washing up, he tucked the gem under his shirt and went downstairs for breakfast. The kitchen was filled with the comforting smells of toast and pumpkin juice. The Weasleys bustled about, laughter and chatter filling the air. For a moment, Aiden allowed himself to simply enjoy the warmth of family life.
After breakfast, he slipped outside to the garden. The Burrow's yard was alive with magical plants and the occasional gnome scurrying through the undergrowth. George and Fred were already outside, chasing each other around the pond, their laughter ringing out across the lawn.
Aiden wandered into the herb patch, stopping beside a hole freshly dug by a gnome. He drew his wand and cast a Levitation Charm, lifting the gnome gently from its burrow. The creature struggled for a moment, then stilled as Aiden activated his Mind Reader ability.
He felt a strange connection form, a gentle tug at the edges of his consciousness. The gnome's simple mind was easy to influence. Aiden smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Let's see," he mused aloud. "The key to a mind reader's role is to guide others without being abrupt or illogical. Everything must be gentle and reasonable, so the target never realizes they're being led."
He leaned in and whispered, infusing his words with a touch of spirituality. "You're a mature gnome now. Why keep pestering the wizard's house? Look at the lush reed field nearby—no gnomes have claimed it, and it's filled with milk and honey. The gnomes need a leader, someone with vision, someone brave enough to conquer the reeds. That leader is you."
The gnome's eyes widened. Without another sound, it scurried off toward the reeds, determination in its every step.
Aiden watched it go, feeling a faint pulse of satisfaction. He could sense that he had completed a role-playing act, but it had been almost too easy. "Is that all there is to it? Or are gnomes just too simple to notice my influence?" he wondered, a little disappointed by the lack of challenge.
He returned to the house, where Molly was preparing lunch. She glanced up as he entered, her eyes full of questions. But before she could speak, Aiden caught her surface thoughts with his new ability.
He smiled and said, "I'll go call George and Fred back for lunch, Aunt Molly."
She blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Thank you, dear."
Aiden headed back outside, rounding up the twins and ushering them inside. Soon, the whole family was gathered around the table, the kitchen filled with the cozy chaos unique to the Weasleys.
As they ate, Molly kept casting curious glances at Aiden, clearly still preoccupied with what she'd witnessed earlier. After a long moment of hesitation, she finally set down her fork and leaned in.
"Aiden, are you a Legilimens? Can you really read minds?"
The question hung in the air. Every head turned toward him.
"What?" Ron blurted out, nearly choking on his stew. The rest of the family echoed his shock, even Ginny pausing with her spoon halfway to her mouth.
Aiden took a steady breath, choosing his words carefully. "Yes, Aunt Molly. I've gained a power that lets me see people's thoughts. I can read shallow thoughts fairly easily, but deeper ones are still out of reach. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and it can activate on its own."
He decided not to mention the full extent of his abilities, not wanting to frighten his family or make them wary of him.
Ron's eyes lit up with envy. "That's amazing! I wish I could read minds."
Bill and Charlie exchanged excited whispers, speculating about all the mischief they could get up to with such a gift. Ginny seemed unfazed, content to share her thoughts with her brothers anyway.
George and Fred, however, were practically vibrating with excitement. George grinned and said, "No wonder you always know which one of us is which. You've been reading our minds!"
Fred elbowed his twin. "Next time, you have to come with us when we prank Mr. Vlad in the village. With your ability, he'll never catch us."
Molly shot them both a stern look. "George, Fred, that's quite enough. Aiden, remember, we're family. If you ever have any trouble, you can come to us. We'll always help you."
Arthur nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Mind reading is a rare gift, Aiden. With proper training, you could do great things. Maybe even join the Aurors someday."
Molly rolled her eyes. "Arthur, he's not even old enough for Hogwarts yet. The ministry isn't so desperate it needs child labor."
Arthur chuckled, then turned to Aiden. "Now that we know your talent, you should start practicing the right spells. A wizard's talent can help them achieve extraordinary things in their chosen field."
Molly considered this, then said, "Should we organize the Weasley and Prewett family libraries? There might be useful books for you."
Arthur shook his head. "No, I think we should ask someone with more experience in memory magic. He's a remarkable teacher, and he might have time to help Aiden now that it's the Hogwarts holiday."
Molly hesitated, her affection for Aiden clear. "Are you sure it's necessary to rush? He's still so young."
Arthur's voice was gentle but firm. "Molly, you know that a mind reader's path can be difficult. Peering into too many minds too soon can be dangerous, even for a child as talented as Aiden. But I believe in him."
The conversation drifted to other topics, but Aiden felt a new sense of purpose settle over him. He was no longer just a guest at the Burrow or a lost soul in a strange world. He was Aiden Prewett, Mind Reader and Audience, with a family who cared for him and a future full of promise.
As the meal ended and laughter filled the kitchen, Aiden looked around at the faces he had come to love. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew he would face them with courage—and with the Weasleys by his side.
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