Oliver Hall and the Magic of Eastford Academy

Sunlight streamed through the window of Oliver's dormitory, casting a warm glow across the red and gold linens of his bed. Aurora, his white owl, perched on the windowsill, hooted softly as if to nudge him awake. Groaning, Oliver rubbed his eyes and sat up, the morning light reflecting off his unruly brown hair.

He stretched and glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It was past 7 a.m. With a yawn, he dressed quickly in his Ignis house robes and headed downstairs to the main dining hall of the hostel.

The hall was lively with the chatter of students. The long tables were laden with platters of toast, eggs, fruit, and steaming pitchers of tea and pumpkin juice. At the Ignis table, Oliver spotted Lily and Ethan, already engaged in conversation. Lily's black cat, Midnight, was curled up beside her plate, purring contentedly.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Ethan greeted, waving a piece of toast at Oliver.

"You're late," Lily teased, offering him a grin. "Aurora tried her best to wake you, though."

Oliver sat down and grabbed a plate. "It's not my fault the bed's too comfortable," he replied, pouring himself some pumpkin juice. Midnight hopped onto the table, sniffing at Oliver's plate before Lily gently shooed her away.

The rest of the day passed quietly. After breakfast, the trio returned to their dormitory to unpack their belongings and prepare for the week ahead. Oliver flipped through his new textbooks, marveling at the detailed illustrations and glowing runes etched into the pages. Lily meticulously arranged her equipment—a set of vials, scales, and a mortar and pestle—on her desk, while Ethan attempted to teach them a magical card game he had bought at the market. The rules were complicated, but the game was hilariously chaotic, leaving them all in fits of laughter.

On Monday morning, the academy buzzed with energy as students hurried to their first classes. According to the timetable pinned on the common room noticeboard, Oliver's first class was Potion Making, held in the academy's underground basement.

The trio made their way through the labyrinthine hallways of the main building, following signs pointing toward the basement. The air grew cooler as they descended, and a faint, earthy smell filled their noses. The potion room was dimly lit, with flickering torches casting shadows on the stone walls. Shelves lined the room, stocked with jars of mysterious ingredients—dried herbs, colorful crystals, and strange, preserved creatures suspended in liquid.

"This place gives me the creeps," Ethan muttered, eyeing a jar containing what looked like a shriveled hand.

The students took their seats at wooden tables, each equipped with a cauldron, a set of scales, and a burner. Oliver, Lily, and Ethan shared a table near the middle of the room. Around them, other first-years chatted nervously, their voices echoing slightly in the enclosed space.

Suddenly, the room fell silent as a low, commanding voice spoke. "Settle down, everyone."

Professor Kael Aldric, the Potion Master, stepped into view. He was a young man, perhaps in his early thirties, with sharp features and piercing gray eyes. His dark hair was neatly tied back, and he wore a tailored black robe with silver accents. Despite his youth, he carried an air of authority that made the students sit up straighter.

"Welcome to Potion Making," Professor Aldric began, his voice calm but firm. "In this class, you will learn to create elixirs that heal, enhance, and sometimes harm. Potion making requires precision, patience, and respect for the craft. One mistake could turn a simple healing potion into a toxic brew."

The students exchanged uneasy glances.

"Today, we will start with the basics," Aldric continued. "We'll be making a simple energizing potion. Open your textbooks to page 12 and follow the instructions carefully."

Oliver flipped open his book, Potion Crafting 101, and scanned the page. The recipe called for powdered moonroot, a pinch of emberdust, and drops of azure nectar, among other ingredients.

"Begin," Aldric instructed, folding his arms as he observed the class.

The room filled with the sounds of clinking glass and bubbling cauldrons. Oliver measured out the moonroot powder, adding it to his cauldron. The liquid inside turned a faint blue and began to bubble.

"Now for the emberdust," he muttered, carefully sprinkling the reddish powder into the mixture. A puff of blue smoke rose, making him cough.

"Quick, Oliver, stir it!" Lily whispered, her own potion emitting a soft golden glow.

Oliver grabbed his wooden spoon and stirred vigorously. The potion thickened, but its color remained slightly off. Meanwhile, Ethan was struggling. He had added too much azure nectar, and his potion was frothing uncontrollably.

"Uh, is it supposed to do that?" Ethan asked nervously, just as his cauldron let out a loud pop and splattered green goo everywhere.

The class erupted in laughter, even Professor Aldric cracked a faint smile. "Mr. Reed, perhaps less enthusiasm and more precision next time," he said dryly.

By the end of the session, only a few students managed to create a passable potion. Lily's potion was perfect, earning her a rare nod of approval from Professor Aldric. Oliver's attempt was deemed "adequate," while Ethan's disaster was met with amused exasperation.

After lunch in the academy's dining hall, where they enjoyed hearty vegetable stew and freshly baked bread, the trio headed to their next class: Beast Taming, held on the academy's sprawling grounds.

Professor Aria Silvane, a graceful woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, stood waiting for them. She wore a flowing green robe embroidered with intricate patterns of leaves and vines. Beside her stood a magnificent creature: a griffith, with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle. Its golden fur and shimmering feathers glowed in the sunlight.

The students gasped in awe.

"This is Solaris," Professor Silvane said, stroking the griffith's mane. "A bonded beast. In this class, you will learn to understand, tame, and form contracts with magical creatures."

She spent the next hour explaining the basics of beast taming, from earning a creature's trust to using magical sigils for communication. Solaris demonstrated by performing a series of impressive commands, from flying loops to retrieving objects.

The class ended with an assignment: to write an essay on the principles of beast taming. Exhausted but exhilarated, Oliver, Lily, and Ethan returned to their dormitory that evening.

In the dining hall, they enjoyed a simple but satisfying dinner of roasted vegetables and spiced rice. Afterward, they gathered in the common room, where Aurora returned with a letter from Oliver's parents.

Dear Oliver,

We hope you're settling in well at Eastford. Your father and I are so proud of you. Don't forget to write to us whenever you can. Aurora looks like a wonderful companion—take good care of her!

Love, Mum

Smiling, Oliver folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket. Later, as they finished their homework and prepared for bed, he couldn't help but feel excited for the next day's lesson—Flying on broomsticks. With that thought, he drifted off to sleep, eager for the adventures that awaited.