A troll was a magical beast of prodigious strength and immense stupidity. They were dangerously violent and incredibly aggressive with thick, dark gray skin which held a good magic resistance. Gaining such a feature was attractive, rendering weak spells ineffective, but the price was too much for the orphan. Mikhael wouldn't be recognized as a pure human with a stone-like skin, heavier body weight and abnormal facial features. He might be hunted down for experiments.
Instead, he focused on the main property of the troll, their strength. Superhuman strength, also known as Super Strength, was a magical ability in which a creature possesses strength beyond that which would be suggested by their size or muscle mass. Mikhael read about it in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' written by Newton Scamander. The author quoted, trolls had a strength considered "prodigious and unnatural". This could be handy in situations where he had no access to his magic, adding another hidden asset in his arsenal.
Ritual books in the library weren't helpful, they were just beginner introduction to this form of 'dark magic'. The real information was in the restricted section which he didn't visit yet. He needed some preparations before. While waiting for this chance, Mikhael had prepared himself in advance and bought some books on this topic via howl to Cobb & Webb's shop in Knockturn Alley. Most of the rituals indexed weren't safe to use. Over the three tomes and manuals he got, he found only two safe rituals.
the first he found on Halloween was a nameless one which purified his magic, the second which was adapted to his newly acquire heart was the 'Enigmatic trait assimilation ritual'. Similar to his previous ritual, this new one didn't require a lot of ingredients, only the user magic, blood and time as well as the main offering. If there was more than one offerings, the result would only select the strongest property and destroy the other. It looked like a waste but the destroyed offerings allowed a faster assimilation rate, reducing the ritual time completion.
Using the heart as the main offering, Mikhael removed his clothes and enter his ritual circle which he applied a new layer of fresh blood. He replenished his magical reserve with the pill 'Magi-Me-More' before starting the ritual. Writing ritual runes in the air with his fire, the ritualistic adept followed the concept and made the burning runes branded the heart offering. Red mark scorched his own chest, matching the runes on the now beating troll organ. The pain was tolerable, Mikhael threshold had a high limit thanks to his other ritual. The last part of the ritual was the hardest. Biting the raw heart linked to his own, the orphan suffered the pain of self-cannibalism. By magic, his heart was remodeled.
Mikhael's conscious almost failed at the eighth bite. The more he chewed, the less energetic he felt. His body weakened, air oxygen wasn't transported fast in his blood. His heartbeat slowed continuously. He didn't anticipate such a consequence. The tome didn't mention those side effects of undergoing the ritual. He couldn't die here. Not now, he hadn't reached his objectives. He had to keep his promise to Abigael.
He saw her shadow, hovering. She wasn't there, she couldn't. Her voice whispered in his ear. Tears flew on his face. He wasn't alone. He wanted to whisper back all his journey in Hogwarts, but his lungs had no air to use. Cold hand with no color, invisible it was, calmed his pain. He didn't understand. His body couldn't survive the ritual. Yet, even without a heart, the magic didn't stop. His bloody hand had no more offering to eat.
The room went silent. Her shadow wasn't there anymore. His magical scar from the death eater, had thinned down. Lying on the cold stone, Mikhael couldn't move. His new heart appeared with a weak pulse in the chest.
" You wished to see me headmaster ? ", Mikhael entered the office. He was careful to not break anything. He still needed more training to adapt his body to his new strength. He couldn't allow others, especially the headmaster to be suspicious of his new feature. The old wizard would link it to the troll accident. His freedom would be compromised.
" Come my boy, sit, do you want sorbet citron ? ", the old wizard used his magic to probe the mind of the student sitting before him.
" Am I in trouble headmaster ? Your message didn't say anything. ", Mikhael refused the candy. His own magic already in place around his mind when he entered the office. Legilimency was this head probing feeling according to the mind art book he studied. Leader of light, obtaining information with obscure magic, the orphan learned a lot from the headmaster's behavior. Still, he didn't trust him at all. What was inside the candy, truth serum, loyalty potion. He didn't know and didn't want to try.
" No my boy, no problem, I just wanted to see you and talk about your year at school. ", Dumbledore aura filled the room. That was a way to use magic for intimidating, interesting, Mikhael didn't think of this application.
" Do you do it with every muggle-born headmaster ? ", playing the dumb first year was harder than anticipated. The orphan had poor social skills. He could hide his emotion behind an expressionless face but acting wasn't his fort. The old man wasn't suspicious about the dog, was he ? Mikhael didn't leave evidence about the troll, so what was the old wizard seeking.
" I do my boy, for children like you, who never were in the wizard word before. That's for your own good my boy. I'm just checking for any problems you could have met and help you. Many cases of muggle-born were too shy to accept help and they regret it later, so don't make the same mistake. I only have your best interest in mind. ", the headmaster's face beamed and harmless and innocent expression.
" I'm doing fine, thank you. ", Mikhael wasn't buying a single lie of the headmaster. What was the best interest the old man speaking about. When he was shunned down by his own classmate or the detention he got when he was the victim. Some people revered the man, like Granger, but it wasn't his case.
" Good, good, I feared you would be uncomfortable with your house-mate. We rarely see you interact with any students. Life in school is not just study, my boy. Can you look at me, in the eyes ? You, have potential. You, are not alone. You can make friends too, Mikhael. ", blue eyes, clearer than his brother, shone with power. One day, the orphan would too, radiate with power.
" Thank you for your concern. I'll keep it in mind, can I go now, headmaster ? ", still, wearing his mask, the student didn't let any indication appear. This conversation was stressful, especially when he stared in the old wizard eyes. The probing became factor three stronger. His mind protection almost broke if he didn't avert his gaze. Shy kids liked to avoid direct eye contact so it wasn't suspicious.
" I hope you good luck, young Mikhael. Don't forget, nothing can replace family. ", the orphan exited the room. Raging inside, how could this old man knew what it was to live with a freak. All his childhood destroyed because of magic. A brother wasn't supposed to steal all their parent's love.
The dungeon inhabitants were all excited. Today, was the day they would play their first Quidditch match of the season. They always win before and it was against the Griffindor. Mikhael not really interested in the sport since the rule didn't make any sense to him. Still, he followed his comrade to the Quidditch pitch. Maybe, it could be entertaining. He would try to improve his relations with his comrades.
The commentator was a Griffindor named Lee, clearly biased against Slytherin. For his surprise, Harry Potter was the team seeker. Mikhael and the Slytherin around him felt slapped in the face for this favoritism display. No first-year could own a broom so they shouldn't play the sport. Mikhael insulted the commentator. His neighbor followed his example. Soon, before the match began, the whole Slytherin tower screamed their heart content abusive remarks to the black Griffindor. The Amplifying Charm was used by upper students. For once, the orphan felt a belonging bond with his peers.
Mikhael cared less for the sport which started with a big retard after calming the snakes' outburst. What he found unjust was the accommodation the school was ready to do in order to please the savior. Potter was a medium student at best, just a bit above average while his redhead friend was near the bottom. Mikhael blended inside a conversation with Zabini who felt inclined to talk and display his discomfort about the Gryffindors favoritism.
After a few scores down in the game, Mikhael separated himself from the Slytherins first years. He did his daily socialization. He couldn't burst as a social person. It couldn't work, his comrade would suspect something and it was tiring. The orphan focused on the lion tower. Hermione wasn't sitting with Ron, she was by herself at a spectator empty bench. When he was at the library, she was left alone too. He saw her in class or corridor speaking with the savior but not much. The girl was opening a bit to Potter.
That guy got it easy. He could even ask her favor since he was in the same house. Mikhael was just cordial to her. She calmed down since Halloween, but she wasn't friendly either. She seemed to overlook their time spent in the Hogwarts Express. House rivalry didn't help but it wasn't an excuse.
" You slimy snake can't be here, go away ! ", the redhead reacted when he saw Mikhael entering their tower.
" There is no such a rule Weasel, now shut up. ", the orphan wasn't discouraged by the lion glares. He had a bit of fame since school started. They knew he would defend himself since day one. A first-year, Dean Thomas restrained Ron from starting a fight. Shame, Mikhael was looking forward to starting a riot and challenge his magic wit a full stand of targets.
" What are you doing Mikhael ? ", the bushy hair girl focused on her new neighbor.
" Can't I sit and enjoy the match next to you Granger ? ", he faked watching the players.
" You can't be serious. ", she pinched her nose.
" Right, there you go. ", He gave her a folded paper. Hermione opened it and smile. She hugged him but he stopped her and ask for the galleon. It hurt him, to see how she behaved as if they were friends. She only recently contacted him for information, about Nicolas Flamel. She would give it to Potter. Why was that boy interested in the Philosopher Stone crafter.
She wanted to explain herself but was interrupted by the sight of the savior broom shaking up. Ron accused Mikhael. Some first-year lifted their wands. The orphan laughed. It was exactly what he wanted. With a smooth motion, using the levitation charm without the Latin feater word, he sent all the lions wands beyond the tower shore. He would have continued and fight with the upper-year if no for Granger action, standing between them. She explained how hex worked and then accused his head of house. She left him to set Snape robe on fire.
Bored with the lion's reluctance to continue the fight, the orphan appreciated the spectacle. He liked this action, it was so unlike Granger to break rules. He too, loved to burn things, or people. It was priceless to see Snape on fire. The chaos it ensued. He almost wished he had followed her. Mikhael smirked died fast. Harry caught the Golden Snitch almost gobbing it.
At Christmas depart, Draco taunted Harry and Ron while avoiding Mikhael. He knew this orphan was a real dark wizard. When his hand was burnt the first night, the school nurse Poppy Pomfrey was shocked. No fire-making charm should have this much power behind, the burnt wasn't too difficult to heal. The problem laid behind the spell intent. As soon as new skin was regenerated, the magic trace left by the burn restarted again. She had to resort removing the damaged skin, muscles and ligaments before replacing them by new ones not corrupted. It was a first-year spell, not dark magic but the user had made it similar to a very dark curse.
Draco didn't want to imagine what that Slytherin would do to him if he was expelled because of his father. His gut told him, that his family and himself would regret it. The blond first-year left the orphan alone like the plague. The whole snake house shared this same sentiment especially when they heard the rumor about the troll. Connecting the dot was easy. Mikhael non-presence during the feast and the only one not there too, were weak Gryffindors. Unofficial as it was, they were certain of this.
The castle felt empty without the usual student mass. Mikhael appreciated the change. He always preferred places where he was alone. There he felt safe. Like the forest or empty classrooms, he was outside prying eyes. Even if it was Holiday, the orphan never skipped his training. Training his body and magic never bored him. He concentrated on his task and didn't think about his loneliness, outside and inside.
When potions' effects stopped after nights of self-studying, he wandered the castle. House-elves responded to his call when he was lost or hungry. They were true life saviors in this place. His mental map of the castle structure enlarged at a faster rate without the prefect patrols. The night before Christmas he stumbled on an empty classroom with the exception of a large mirror. Mikhael saw the scripture, ' Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. ', it wasn't Latin but felt familiar. He wondered for a while before sighing. ' I show not your face but your heart's desire ', was the phrase written like in the mirror's top.
Moving few feet away, Mikhael observed his full reflect in the mirror. The image was him. He was taller and bulkier than before. He noticed his long hair in horsetail. His black hair and eyes didn't change much. Nowhere was the weak orphan that first entered the orphanage. Here, he saw his training fruit, the potential he had. Still, it was a normal reflection. There wasn't anything special bout the mirror.
Mikhael's feet moved backward. He was going to leave the room when he saw blur stains on the mirror glass. The image changed into something else. He saw himself older. A familiar feminine face next to him caressed her big belly. He stood there, contemplating. Was it, really what he sought. He noticed the headmaster's presence too late. His vigilance was down for a moment, he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He would search for magic which detected the presence of others.
" I see that you, like so many before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I trust by now you realize what it does. Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is. ", Dumbledore gave his prepared speech. Who couldn't understand the mirror message, a Gryffindor for sure.
" Evening, Headmaster. Could you tell me what you see in the mirror ? ", Mikhael moved two feet to the right, letting the mirror for the headmaster to see.
" It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desires of our hearts. This mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away in front of it, even gone mad. I must ask you not to go looking for it again Mikhael. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. ", the light leader didn't look into the mirror. He was going to change the location if the Slytherin came back to watch the mirror reflection.
Mikhael slept well on Christmas Eve, his research in the library bore fruit. The 'Human-presence-revealing Spell' was a good base for presence detecting spell. All his creations and modifications on magic were based on the intent and the user concentration. Other wizards would have a hard time replicating them since it wasn't tailored for wand motion an incantation.
Still in bed, Mikhael summoned fire spheres, checking his progress with his favorite spell. Thirty fist-size entities came in existence. It was better than before, the size and number increased. This would have exhausted his body and mind if he didn't train for years now. How good, would his spell fare against an experienced wizard. Would the death eater avoid or block them. He couldn't just rely on pure strength and speed.
The orphan detected a mass on his body and felt cold hands waking him up. His magic would have alerted him of the foreign presence so who was it ? He locked his door last night with magic and double the security with a chair. He stopped his fire from launching when his nose picked up a Lilac smell.
" Happy birthday silly Misha ! ", sapphire orbs greeted him.
" I have to do it quick so continue your effort, big boy. ", Abigael landed a quick kiss on his forehead before disappearing. His hands grabbed empty air.
Perturbed, Mikhael filled the room with his magic. Not feeling her presence anymore he searched manually every corner. How did she come, Hogwarts was reputed for its wards disabling apparition. He felt sad and happy, seeing her again. He had so much to tell her. He felt his magical core burning. It was worse than any ritual he underwent.
Silent screams escaped his throat. For hours, he was in a powerless position, unable to use his magic and body. Black liquid left his pores. What had she done. For an eternity he felt his core breaking and reconstructing, becoming bigger and stronger each time.
Magical maturation was a natural process which appeared normally on wizard and witch around their majority. Their magical core would experience a great qualitative change. It could continue to grow with time but maturation was a process that stabilized the core. It would hold at least double the magical reserve of the wizard or witch. Mikhael felt relieved, his condition was documented in the library. He spent long hours checking the magical section about magical phenomenons of wizards during their lives.
The matured core student felt a lot better. His low appearance rate in the Great Hall helped him to hide his magical maturation process. However, it was rare for younger wizards to undergo such a process early. Only wizards with the strongest potential like Albus Dumbledore or Gellert Grindelwald showed such a sign. He felt proud of his achievement. It went from his squib potential to reach the very top of wizard potential.
Potential was a great asset but to optimize the gain Mikhael had to be efficient. Waiting for the night, he tested his new magical core. Beast in the forbidden forest were perfect targets. Hidden by the trees, he wouldn't have to hold back. Moreover, it would help him train with living and moving targets.
It was a very beneficial situation. He would map the forest, could found potion ingredient and sold part of beasts he killed. Acromantula silk fetched a good price and their venom was used in potions. They were like pests and numerous in the forest. No one would miss them. He saw in the sky red sparkles. It never happened before when he was roaming the forbidden forest.
He sprinted toward the location to meet a crying Malfoy. What was he doing there ? Did detention change from scrubbing trophy and cauldron to a forest trip now. The Slytherin wasn't in danger. Mikhael left him alone and continued unnoticed.
Further down the path, a coated figure approached the wizard world savior. Mikhael didn't think a second before a hundred of fire spheres were summoned. They accelerated so fast the coated figure was sent meters away, burning in screams.
Mikhael stayed hidden, his opponent survived and fled away. The orphan could have continued his assault and kill the threat, yet he didn't see any benefit. He wasn't some murder hobo nor Samaritan. The maturation held greater benefit than expected. He tripled his summoning fire sphere and their speed and power were greatly enchanted.
Confused Harry Potter met a centaur who brought him back to the castle. Mikhael took this chance to come near the dead unicorn. Tragic it would be, if he didn't have a knife on him. He used it to get the unicorn hair, heart, horn and blood. He would sell part of it and keep the rest for ritual or potion. The meat might have good propriety as well as the bones, but he couldn't bring back everything. He felt tortured. If only he studied the charm for size modification.
Mikhael kept the blood, horn and heart. He put them in stasis inside his trunk and sold the rest hair to Ollivander via owl. The end of the school year was coming. At Knockturn Alley he would find someone to purify his unicorn blood. While acing the exam, Mikhael asked his house head if he could stay here for summer since he preferred the school to the orphanage. If he could, he would have access to the library and other school classes which would help him a lot to progress.
He was flatly refused.
The worst was that he wasn't supposed to do magic for the whole summer. The trace charm put on his wand when he entered the school ward on the first of September, would avert the ministry. Mikhael kept his expressionless face. It wouldn't do anything, he would find a way. That's why he was sorted in this house after all.
The headmaster was sent away after receiving an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic. Mikhael wandered the school hallway for the last night and his spell detecting presence pointed him a direction. Disillusioning himself he followed the invisible trio. To his surprise, Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the room Ace 2 was guarding. He knew there were obstacles after the trap door but the last room was empty so why were they going in.
They played music to make the animal sleep. Strange, the beast wasn't supposed to be weak against that in the book Scamander wrote. Mikhael wondered if he should keep the dog, knowing such a weakness. He continued his stalking and floated into the trapdoor end. There, he burnt all plants. He continued and opened the door which had a rusty key in its keyhole. They bothered to mount the broom when burning a hole in the door was enough.
There he waited for the trio to win their wizard chess. It felt long. He sat down and meditated. To focus on one thing. Without interruption. If he could, he would jump to the next stage of Occlumency. He would make his mind empty. When he would be able to enter at will to his mind he would proceed to arrange his memory and defense.
His concentration was perturbed by screaming. The redhead sacrificed himself for the other to win the game. Such a Gryffindor's behavior. They would finish the obstacle soon, he couldn't meditate again or he would miss their timing. He waited some time after they wined. He didn't want to meet them. The redhead was laying, unconscious. Mikhael cast Disillusionment Charm on himself. It would be enough if the Griffindor woke up.
The orphan was stopped by a knight statue. Mikhael wasn't pleased with the idea to play chess, he smithereens the stone piece with fire. With a last look at the redhead Griffindor, Mikhael entered the next room to find a sleeping troll. It was smaller than the one on Halloween but it also had a heart for him to take.
Still invisible, he saw Hermione waiting in front of vials and a wall of black and blue fire. The bottle solution was empty. Potter had to drink it obviously. Mikhael spent minutes to control those flames so he could traverse without injury. At first, the fire didn't listen to his command. Mikhael extends his magic and converted part the black and blue flame to his own fire sharing the same color. His fire was not just an imitation, it fed on the original flame, replacing it in minutes.
Inside the room he found his Defense Against the Dark Art in front of the mirror of Erised, demanding the philosopher stone from Harry. It wasn't a fruitless stalking. At first, Mikhael followed them for curiosity's sake. Now, he had found something worth taking. He waited and witnessed as the adult revealed his true identity. It was true, the previous dark lord wasn't dead.
Showing greater magic mastery, Quirrell ended up into ashes from Harry's touch. Quite anticlimactic, Mikhael had prepared himself to confront the dark wizard but it was so weak to die by a kid touch. Potter's mother was a great witch to put such a protection on her child. Hopefully, it only reacted to the dark lord and his followers. If it was working against anyone who wanted to hurt Harry, Mikhael would have to rely on transfiguration and create weapons to kill Potter, in the worst case he would engage with his superior strength. Mikhael planned a list of books he would study to remove magical protection by force. Today, Potter wasn't his opponent but who knew the future.
A dark spirit rose from Quirrell ashes. It pieced Potter before fleeing. Harry collapsed, the red stone in the hand.