Gwen tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes as she asked the question. Naturally, Harry wasn't going to tell her the truth. He chuckled awkwardly and waved it off.
"I had some combat training back in the day. Muscle memory, you know?"
He flexed his arm dramatically, pretending to show off strength that, under his loose shirt, wasn't exactly obvious. His wiry frame looked soft at first glance, but there was a surprising steel beneath the surface.
"Bet you didn't expect that, huh? I'm secretly ripped!"
Gwen burst into laughter, covering her mouth. "Alright, alright, you win. You're the strongest. See you tomorrow, secret strongman."
As she walked away, Harry turned, only to find his younger brother Peter looking gloomy. He frowned with concern.
"Hey, what's wrong, Peter? You look like someone just canceled Christmas."
Peter hesitated, visibly struggling with something before he finally spoke.
"Harry... is it really true? That I don't have any talent for magic?"
Peter, being family, knew the truth behind Harry's so-called "part-time job." He knew Harry wasn't working in a coffee shop, but training at Kamar-Taj, the hidden sanctuary of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
He had dreamed of learning magic alongside his brother, only to be told by the Ancient One herself that he lacked the innate ability.
Harry placed a comforting hand on Peter's shoulder, his voice warm and steady.
"Listen to me, Peter. The Ancient One once said something I'll never forget - 'You don't need magic to have a great destiny.' You've got one, and it's going to be amazing."
Peter shuffled his feet. "But… what could be more amazing than magic?"
The words were soft, almost bitter.
He couldn't help feeling small. He wasn't a superhero from a comic book. He didn't have superpowers. Heck, he couldn't even stand up to a school bully without Harry stepping in.
But Harry looked at him with absolute sincerity.
"Peter, trust me. You have something that most people don't. Today, you tried to help someone being bullied. You stood up when it was hard. Honestly, I'm not even sure I'd have done the same if our roles were reversed."
Harry gave a small smile.
"That kind of courage? That's rarer than magic."
And Harry wasn't just saying that. He meant every word. Peter had courage, the kind that shows up even when you're powerless. The kind that makes you step forward when everyone else looks away. Honestly, even Harry wasn't sure he'd have had the guts to intervene like Peter had.
That kind of heart? That was rarer than magic.
In fact, if Peter ever did gain powers, Harry was certain he'd become something extraordinary.
---
They said their goodbyes at a street corner. Peter lingered for a moment, watching with admiration as Harry disappeared toward Greenwich Village.
177A Bleecker Street. A brownstone nestled in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village. To the average passerby, it was just another quaint, three-story Victorian townhouse with an unusual round window on top.
But hidden behind its aged bricks and Baroque architecture was the New York Sanctum, a nexus point for the multiverse and supernatural forces, and a vital part of the magical shield protecting the planet.
For Harry, it was more than a stronghold. It was a second home, only rivaled in importance by Uncle Ben's place.
The moment Harry stepped through the entrance, the illusion of space shattered. Inside, the Sanctum expanded impossibly, like walking into another dimension.
He made his way upstairs, greeting fellow sorcerers as he passed, until he reached a fixed portal. Without hesitation, he stepped through it and was instantly transported to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, home of the original Sanctum Sanctorum: Kamar-Taj.
Descending the stairs and entering a wide courtyard, Harry saw rows of sorcerers already deep in training under the watchful eye of the Ancient One.
He didn't interrupt. Quietly slipping into formation, he joined the others, raising his hand.
Golden sigils bloomed into existence, interlocking in elegant, glowing patterns. The air shimmered with power.
But if one looked closely, Harry's magic stood apart.
Most of the sorcerers wore dark-gold Sling Rings on their fingers, necessary tools for channeling energy from other dimensions. The rings allowed them to borrow power from beyond.
But Harry? He wore no such ring.
His magic came from within.
He didn't channel or borrow it. He generated it. Raw, innate power pulsed through him, a living reservoir of energy.
That, above all, was why the Ancient One had chosen to train him. Harry wasn't just a student. He was a natural-born spellcaster.
When the training session ended, the other sorcerers greeted him with smiles and cheerful nods. Just like at school, Harry was well-liked here. In fact, at Kamar-Taj, he was something of a favorite.
Well… to most people.
"Hmph."
A cold grunt sliced through the warm atmosphere.
Striding past was Kaecilius, face like a thundercloud. He didn't even look at Harry, just made that single scornful sound and walked off.
Harry's good mood soured instantly. He'd never even spoken more than a few words to Kaecilius. Why the man hated him was anyone's guess.
He reminded Harry of Uncle Vernon, always glowering for no reason, always acting like Harry's very existence was a personal insult.
But then came the familiar sound of soft footsteps and a friendly chuckle.
"Ignore him," came a deep, kind voice. "Kaecilius has been bitter ever since he lost his wife and daughter. He's like that with everyone. Except the Ancient One, of course."
Harry looked up and broke into a genuine smile.
"Wong!"
If there was anyone Harry trusted at Kamar-Taj besides the Ancient One, it was Wong.
The stout librarian had been his mentor since the very beginning. Wong had taught him how to adapt spells, guiding him with quiet patience and dry humor.
Most of the magic at Kamar-Taj relied on siphoning energy from external realms. But modifying spells to work with Harry's internal power source? That was an art. Wong was the master.
Wong watched Kaecilius disappear around a corner, then turned back with a reassuring nod.
"Come along, Harry. The Ancient One is waiting for you in the main hall. Today's lesson will be... personal."