Aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and supercomputers are remarkable embodiments of modern human science. They represent the pinnacle of engineering and applied technology, serving as symbols of power and progress. However, if an intelligent being from another planet sought to understand the trajectory of human civilization and its intellectual development, they would not find their answers in these technological marvels alone.
Would they inquire about humanity's knowledge of cells, the building blocks of life? Would they examine the extent of human understanding of atoms, the fundamental particles that compose all matter? How far has human mathematics advanced? Have humans unlocked the mysteries of the quantum world? What insights do they have regarding the birth of the universe? How much of the universe's total mass can they observe and harness?
These inquiries serve as better indicators of a civilization's technological and intellectual advancement than any individual machine or weapon. The progress of basic science dictates how well humanity comprehends the world, and this comprehension, in turn, propels the evolution of various technological fields. The deeper the understanding, the greater the potential for innovation and discovery.
Similarly, in the realm of magic, true advancement is not simply about the ability to cast spells. It is about the depth of understanding a wizard has regarding magic itself, the very source of their power. What is a wizard's worldview? What are the fundamental principles governing their craft? What are the limits of magical potential?
This is what truly fascinates Roger.
Yet, as he flips through "Standard Spells, Elementary" and "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," he notices a glaring deficiency. These books focus solely on the technique of spellcasting. They teach students how to perform spells but provide little insight into the underlying principles of magic. The deeper knowledge is not entirely absent, but it is largely glossed over, treated as an afterthought.
It is akin to a first-grade language textbook. Such a book might introduce the alphabet and simple words, perhaps with rudimentary definitions, but it would not delve into the origins of writing, the evolution of different scripts, or the comparative advantages and disadvantages of cuneiform, hieroglyphics, phonetic scripts, and ideographic systems.
The content of a first-year spellbook is not even worthy of being called an 'art,' let alone a 'dao.' It is merely a collection of techniques. Spells are presented as tools to be memorized and applied, but the underlying theory is left untouched.
Of course, for the average first-year Hogwarts student, even these basics are challenging. Expecting them to grasp deeper, more abstract principles would be unrealistic. For most, the priority is simply passing their exams and mastering the practical aspects of spellcasting. However, there are always exceptions—students who possess both curiosity and talent, those who push beyond the curriculum, seeking out advanced spells in the library and even studying second- and third-year material ahead of time.
Roger is different.
His goal is not merely to become a competent wizard.
He seeks immortality.
He does not wish to be just another magical technician proficient in a handful of spells. He does not aspire to be a combat wizard who refines his dueling skills. His ambition lies far beyond that. From the very beginning, he wants to construct a comprehensive understanding of the magical system, a framework that will serve as the foundation of his lifelong pursuit.
This is akin to establishing the Great Dao—the fundamental truth of existence. A slight deviation at the start can lead to a vast error in the end. While there may be ways to correct the course later, the cost—measured in time, energy, and wasted resources—would be immeasurable.
It is reminiscent of Hunter x Hunter, where the protagonist, Gon, receives proper training from the Shingen-ryu martial arts school. In contrast, many fighters in the Heavens Arena develop their abilities haphazardly. Those who lack an understanding of Nen may unknowingly cultivate their power in a flawed direction. No matter how much effort they put in, they may never realize their full potential, capping their abilities at a mere fraction of what they could have been.
Roger cannot afford such missteps.
Longevity is his ultimate objective, and he is racing against time. Every day of his mortal life is invaluable. With weeks left before the start of the Hogwarts school year, he refuses to waste a single moment.
Roger is not one for deception. He is direct with Professor McGonagall, openly sharing his thoughts and aspirations.
"Is that so?" McGonagall muses, her perception of Roger subtly shifting.
In her mind, there is only one plausible explanation for such an unusual perspective from a child: his ability to see the future. Roger is a Seer. He must have foreseen something significant, something that has driven him to seek knowledge with such urgency.
Magic is a profoundly intricate field. For various reasons, much of magical knowledge is hidden behind technical black boxes and even self-contradictory theories. Constructing one's own systematic understanding of magic is typically an endeavor reserved for advanced scholars—wizards who have already mastered a considerable breadth of magical knowledge.
Such a question should not be coming from the mouth of an eleven-year-old who has never cast a single spell.
"You won't find what you're looking for here. If this is what interests you, I have some books at home that I think will be more useful. I'll send them to you soon," McGonagall tells him.
She does not see his ambition as unrealistic. If anything, she acknowledges that Hogwarts fosters a dual educational approach: it accommodates both the ordinary and the exceptional. The Sorting Hat, various academic clubs, and extracurricular study groups all point to this philosophy. Hogwarts is a place where happy education coexists with elite education.
For students with no particular talent, learning the basic curriculum and obtaining a diploma is enough. They might go on to work at a magical candy factory or a magical creature breeding farm. Meanwhile, the truly gifted push beyond the classroom, joining specialized clubs and engaging with cutting-edge magical research.
Since Roger is capable of even asking such questions, McGonagall believes he is worthy of receiving the knowledge he seeks.
However, she does not intend to guide him personally. Magic, as she knows, is fraught with contradictions. Each magical scholar constructs their own framework of understanding, and no one can claim absolute correctness. Teaching a Seer is an unfamiliar challenge to her, but she trusts that someone who glimpses the future and values his life so highly will not carelessly tread the wrong path.
He has already seen the future. His path may well be more accurate than her own.
Her role is simply to support him.
With McGonagall's promise of a curated book list, Roger ceases his fruitless search in Flourish and Blotts. Instead, he places his textbooks into his shopping cart, alongside an owl, a cauldron, and other school essentials. Together, he and Professor McGonagall turn toward the Leaky Cauldron, stepping forward into the next stage of his journey.
As the Head of Gryffindor and a Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall's life is a whirlwind of responsibilities, and these months leading up to the start of the school year are no exception. Between overseeing the well-being of her students, managing her duties, and preparing for the academic year ahead, her schedule leaves little room for anything else. However, there is one matter that still weighs heavily on her mind—helping Roger, the young Muggle-born student who is in desperate need of guidance.
Roger, like many Muggle-born students, finds himself adrift in a world he barely understands. While McGonagall's role as his mentor is important, it's impossible for her to stay by his side every day, especially considering her demanding responsibilities. After accompanying Roger to Diagon Alley for the necessary school supplies, McGonagall quickly returned to her various duties, all the while keeping her promise to him in mind.
True to her word, just a few days later, Roger's room was filled with owls, each of them struggling under the weight of multiple heavy packages. The books they carried were an eclectic collection of magical theory from across the globe, many of which were theoretical rather than practical in nature. As the owls fluttered in and deposited the stacks of books, Roger felt a wave of awe and anxiety sweep over him. Among the books was A History of Spell Evolution: The Mutual Interference of Muggle Ideas and Spell Creation, written by an unknown American wizard; Magic: The Power of Mental Imagery, penned by the renowned Abe around 1000 AD during Japan's Heian period; and Zen and Magic, A Research Report on the Differences in Casting Spells Between the Enlightened and Ordinary Wizards, authored by an Indian monk. The selection was vast and varied, including titles such as The Connection Between the Soul and the Brain from the Department of Mysteries and Bloodline Magic and Transfiguration—Future Era Conjecture.
These books, which spanned across centuries and continents, delved deep into magical theory, magic's connection to the mind, and the philosophical underpinnings of spellcasting. Some of these works explored proven theories, while others presented speculative ideas, with many offering conflicting viewpoints on magic's true nature. To Roger, it felt like an overwhelming task to wade through all of them. The titles were dense, abstract, and seemingly endless.
As he stared at the towering piles of books, the gravity of McGonagall's faith in him became apparent. He couldn't help but wonder if the professor might have overestimated his ability to absorb all this knowledge before the school year began. With a feeling of both excitement and trepidation, Roger thought to himself, "Can I finish reading all of this before school starts?"
For a brief moment, doubt crept in, but then he remembered McGonagall's unwavering support. This was more than just an academic challenge—it was an opportunity to understand magic at its deepest level. Even if he didn't manage to read every word, this collection of books would undoubtedly shape his understanding of magic for years to come.