Harry had to pause his reading every twenty minutes to feed Hedwig treats to keep her strength up and to give her the next five letters. He finished the book in record time, much faster than he thought considering the thickness of the book, and he flipped back to the descriptions of what to do to calm the mind and clear it of thoughts. He couldn't have any preconceptions and needed to concentrate on listening to the animal when he talked to them.

The most important thing he learned was that he should always speak to them as if they actually understood what he was saying. He had done that with Hedwig right from the start anyway, so it wasn't a surprise to him to learn that he had been doing it right. Now all he had to do was relax and meditate to clear his mind.

That's easier said than done. Harry thought. There's no way I can do it at any other time than at night.

He closed the book and sat there as he thought about it. Even just doing that was using his mind and he knew that wasn't what clearing his mind was like. Just the thought of having to clear his mind, cluttered his mind. He gave up trying when Hedwig came back. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a small cracked bowl that was never used. He repaired it and used the water spell to add water to it, then went back to the living room.

Hedwig hooted her thanks and drank from it and Harry asked her if she wanted anything to eat besides treats. She hooted and shook her head, then used a wing to point out the window.

“All right. Take a break for a while and go get something to eat.” Harry said and pet her belly feathers. “I'll go grab another book and keep reading.”

Hedwig settled down on the window sill and closed her eyes. Harry stopped petting her and went to the cupboard under the stairs. He put Hagrid's book into the trunk and took out the second year spell book. He thought about reading the other first year books, then decided that he was too far behind in his general spell knowledge and needed to correct that.

He didn't realize that reading the next book in the spells series wasn't going to help him much during the first year, at least until he saw that there were more powerful versions of the unlocking spell, the fire making spell, the wand lighting spell, and the severing charm. He read those specifically, since they could be practised relatively safely, except for the fire one. That he would have to save for later.

First year students were going to have a lot of practice and usage of only the spells in the first year book, along with their history and how they came to be generic acceptable spells that every wizard should know.

Harry wasn't happy with just that, though. He couldn't understand why they would practice for an entire year to learn something that he had learned in only a couple of days. Of course, he hadn't done the other spells, the ones that could cause damage or be too obvious. Those he would have to wait to try and concentrated on the ones he could do without giving himself away.

After reading the first chapter of the second year spell book about building more power to cast the spell and that it would need even more concentration and to be careful, he practised the unlocking spell. The more powerful Alohamora spell was great. It didn't just pop open the latch on the window, it opened the whole window! He almost laughed when it happened after his third try and pulled the window closed. He cast it again and opened the window for Hedwig.

Harry grabbed a piece of paper and used the old severing charm to cut it, then did it again and again, until he didn't have to say it anymore. He was left with confetti when he was done, then he used the repair charm to restore it and the paper was back to its normal size. He did it again and repaired it, then read over the more powerful charm.

Once he did and had it set in his mind, he folded the piece of paper three times to make it thicker, then concentrated and cast the more powerful version. The paper was cut all the way through and he almost laughed. He mended the paper and did it again and again.

Hedwig woke up and saw that Harry was busy, so she left and went to catch something to eat.

Harry kept working and switched to the Lumos spell to light his wand. It was hard to see in the middle of the day, so he didn't practice it much. He read the more powerful incantation and decided he would need to practice it at night and well away from being seen. Considering the sounds his aunt was making as he kept casting spells, he had to change his plans and do all of his spell practice at night.

Harry brought the book back to his cupboard and retrieved the third year one, set his new timepiece to wake him up in the middle of the night, then went back to the window to read. Hedwig came back and started to work on delivering more letters. If Harry had been smart, he would have asked them all to not send any more food. He wouldn't realize this for another day when even more packages arrived for him and he would have to send Hedwig out again.

With his mind set to read during the day and practice spells at night, Harry's days at Privet Drive became quite full. He read through the seven spell books in just over a week and performed nearly all of the spells they contained. He followed the instructions properly and spoke the spells, after making himself silent, then he moved on to the other books he had for the first year courses.

Harry had been sorely tempted to read the big book of curses and hexes, then decided it was better to read the other first year books. He didn't want to be behind everyone else that had grown up in a wizarding household. Even with the spells he knew and the practice he had done, he knew that he didn't know everything he needed to know.

He didn't even know some of the odd words the books used and had to send a letter to his friend at the Ministry of Magic about his struggles and to ask her about practically everything he didn't understand. Bertha Jorkins was more than happy to help him with everything and even offered to come out to tutor him on the weekends.

Harry accepted the offer gratefully and when she visited, they didn't stay at the house. She took him back to her house and he had some of the best private lessons in magic since Madam Malkin had taught him all of the household spells and charms she knew. He actually went around Bertha's house and used those spells, to her surprise, and he fixed everything that he could. It wasn't much, though. He had discovered the flaw in the basic repair spell.

Harry couldn't fix items that were too magical. “Miss Jorkins, I don't understand.”

“The magic conflicts if you're not careful.” Bertha said. “When you are older and more powerful, you'll have a better understanding of how magic affects things. Once you do, you should be able to repair the objects and keep the magic intact. Hopefully.”

Harry thought about it. “You don't know?”

Bertha laughed. “Not until you get some more magic knowledge built up in that handsome head of yours.” She said and rubbed his head. “Now show me the wand lighting spell again.”

“Lumos Maxima!” Harry exclaimed and pointed his wand at the dark side of the room. The entire room was lit up like there was a bright light bulb on the end of his wand.

Bertha let out another laugh and clapped her hands. “Wonderful! Wonderful!” She said. “My plants are looking a bit weak. Can you give them a bit of sunlight?”

“Nox.” Harry whispered and his wand went out. He pointed his wand at the several plants on the other side of the room. “Lumos Solem!”

The plants turned towards him and basked in the warm sunlight from the wand.

“Miss Jorkins, why aren't the variants taught when you learn the basic spell?” Harry asked and turned his wand off.

“Some of them are actually weaker versions of the spells and are less effective.” Bertha said. “Of course, some people need the weaker versions, especially if they don't practice the main spell enough.”

Harry nodded. He remembered having to practice the unlocking charm a lot before he got it right.

“I assume you've read through all of the first year school books?” Bertha asked.

“Mostly.” Harry said. “I still don't understand some of the terms they use.”

Bertha nodded this time. “Your background is different than someone raised as a wizard. We learn a lot of things, just by being around them all our lives.”

“Like the household spells.” Harry said.

“Exactly. You are going to be a little out of your depth, no matter how much you study, all because there's no such thing as a 'general magic knowledge' book. It's just something that happens as you grow older.”

“Will I learn it eventually?” Harry asked.

“If you could somehow move to a magical home and can relive the first ten years of your life, you'd learn it all normally.” Bertha said, then she gave him a quick hug. “The problem with that is you'll lose all of the other knowledge you would have gained when living in a muggle house.”

Harry took a breath and let it out. “I think I understand.”

“Don't worry too much about trying to catch up too quickly. There are a lot of muggle-born and half-wizards and half-witches at the school. A lot of them will know what you're going through, because they'll be going through it, too.”

Harry nodded.

“Let's get you home and you can finish packing everything up for tomorrow.” Bertha said.

“I've been packed since I got my trunk.” Harry said with a smile and she laughed.

“Then make sure you show up early to get a good seat on the train.” Bertha said. “You remember how to get on the platform?”

Harry nodded and grabbed the handle of his trunk. “The barrier is between platform's nine and ten. Walk at a brisk pace and make sure to clear the way, in case anyone is right behind me.”

“Good boy.” Bertha said. “The conductor will be by to pick up your ticket as soon as the train leaves the station. After that, you have the right to use the train every year you attend Hogwarts.”

“With just one ticket?” Harry asked, surprised.

“Why do you think we always emphasize sticking to your ticket?” Bertha said and took his free hand. “You'll feel a squeezing sensation now.”

“I know.” Harry said. He had been through Side-Along Apparition five times already and knew to hold his breath and to exhale when it was over. They popped through space and reappeared on Harry's doorstep. “Thank you.”

“It's been very enjoyable spending this time with you.” Bertha said and gave him a hug. “I'd like to go with you tomorrow...”

“I know you have to work.” Harry said. “I'll try and send Hedwig by next week.”

“I'll have a fresh mouse ready for her.” Bertha said and heard a soft hoot from the window. She laughed and waved at Hedwig, then she stepped off the step and disappeared.