The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry. Unlike the shy boy they knew, Harry's actions reflected a different person. Mikhael stopped his spell training when he felt a strong magical fluctuation. He didn't listen to whatever the professor said, but when his view touched the pink woman behind the golden boy, the green robe witnessed the blackboard exploded.
" Mr Potter ! ", Umbridge was pale. For a moment she thought red dots stared at her when she looked at Harry. A thin cut decorating her left cheek cried some red substances. " You, you assaulted a staff member ?! ", she blinked many times. Her own voice seemed alienated from her deafened ears. The culprit realized what he did and removed his arm from aiming at the older witch.
As the savior of the wizard world ran away, Umbridge regained some colors. " The headmaster and Scrimgeour will learn about it ! Your education is finished ! ", she harbored reddish taint as her voice broke free. At the end of the sentence, her control was no more. Nowhere was her fake amiable tune. She turned her back to the class when the runaway footsteps were long gone. For five minutes, she stayed like that, then she waved her wand to mend the blackboard.
" I know it's not your fault. You must be terrified by such behavior and I understand. ", her face was quite blank as she faced the class. " However, we can't continue the lesson for today. ", she expressed one of her forced smiles. Seeing the students' relief, happiness and expectation, she bit her lower lips. " This is why I'm so sorry, but, because of Mr Potter, you all have detention tomorrow night to not catch up with this missed lesson. ", she articulated each of her words, but insisted more on the departed student's name.
" Now, you can go. I have to speak with the headmaster about this dangerous incident. ", the professor grabbed her stuff and exited the classroom faster than any students. At the back of the room, Mikhael cast a disillusionment spell on him. He didn't want to speak with any of his house-mate for the moment. Draco turned his head left and right but didn't find him.
With a sigh, the blond wizard approached some the green robes he didn't usually meet.
Shrieks of pain resonated. A naked human laid on the floor. His body twitched every second his gut returned into his stomach. The many internal cuts regenerated first before the general wound was repaired. Some parts were missing, but none were vital. The body stopped trembling. Covered by greenish fire, it was healed to almost its original state.
Mikhael waved his wand. The body floated through the room. It was a failure. With a glint, the flesh-golem obeyed its mental command and walked at normal speed. On the other side of the room, floated reddish lines interlink with different symbols. The magical circle wasn't carved on the ground. The air had been solidified and three major runes were modified by the wizard.
The rune of movement EHWAZ, rune of path RAIDHO and rune of communication ANSUZ associated together formed a three letters pattern whose size changed and numerical values associated inside the ring of magic asserted a different combination. Satisfied with the new setup, the wizard focused his magic. He gathered enough to conjure a similar circle with matching runes.
Covered by disillusionment layers, the new ring came into existence under the feet of the walking golem. With a flash, the artificial being froze. The coordinates and the spacial link between the two circles activated. The artificial human screamed, but his voice was cut every tenth of a second. The circle surrounding the target emitted a reddish glow. One of the three letters pattern dissolved in the air.
A strong flash of light illuminating the full Room of Requirement banged the wizard's eyes. A thin layer of magical protection covering his whole body allowed the green robe to witness the magical construction imploded. Unlike the previous test, the intensity was too important and the target didn't travel through space and was split in half instead.
Some whispers filled the third-floor corridor. Students from the snake and lion house stared at one individual. They wondered and speculated about his future. Would he stay, would he go, what would be the final decision ? The classroom door opened as the professor stepped into the corridor. His sallow face silenced the queue immediately. " Inside. ", his eyes followed every student entering but stopped for a moment longer on a familiar face.
The new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts had imposed his personality upon the room already. It was gloomier than usual as curtains had been drawn over the windows, and was lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls. Many of them displayed people who appeared to be in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures.
" I have not asked you to take out your books. ", Snape faced the class from behind his desk. The door closed itself at the end of his voice. Hermione, like three others hastily dropped their books 'Dark Arts Defense: Basics for Beginners' back into their bags. " I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention. ", his black eyes scanned over the students' upturned faces.
" I've no desire to dwell on the different methods and priorities my predecessors had. ", the professor set off around the edge of the room, speaking now in a lower voice. " I'd be surprised if any of you manage to scrape an O.W.L or even a N.E.W.T at the end of your education. ", his gaze stopped upon Potter. The latter didn't break eye contact. He was a prefect now, he couldn't show his lack of control once more. He gritted his teeth but didn't say anything.
" The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. ", Snape stepped until he reached the room center. His voice's intensity forced the class to crane their necks. " Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a new, fiercer and cleverer head. You are fighting that, which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. ", the head of the snake house extinguished the room's illumination.
Just before they fell into darkness, Mikhael noticed a sadness lingering onto his House-head. This sudden lack of light caused for some, strange reactions besides the one screaming. The moment the candles were lit again, it revealed some lions hugging their neighbors like Hermione which separated herself before anyone else remarked. Mikhael smiled as a faint reddish colored Daphne which had grabbed his arm.
Not bothering with the chaos, Snape rendered the still screaming student mute with a Silencio. Draco mimicked Dean Thomas to Goyle who put his hand over his mouth to not laugh. Seeing this, some snakes giggled. Their head of house gave them a stern look but didn't remove any points. " Your defense, must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. ", he removed the spells he cast on the students.
" These pictures, give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse. ", the professor wand swept past the pictures decorating the room. Their place had changed. The moment he stopped his wand, a sparkle hit the paint where a witch was clearly shrieking in agony. The small light animated the picture which also produced some horrendous screams.
Mikhael stayed calm despite the grip hardening over his arm. Draco looked pale and didn't try to imitate any Gryffindors as he felt the same. " Those who felt the Dementor's Kiss. ", the professor activated another picture. A wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed slumped against a wall. Only the sound of rain echoed. There were no screams, there was no life left in this man.
" Or those, that provoked the aggression of the Inferius. ", Snape concluded his demonstration with the last picture. There stood, paint in red, pink and white, the remnant of what should be a wizard or witch upon a ground. For once, he didn't add any sound effects to the picture. Instead, he returned behind his desk. He let the students integrated what they saw. A smirk escaped his lips.
After writing down on the blackboard, he set off again around the other side of the classroom. Again, they watched him as he walked, but unlike the lesson's beginning, some averted their gazes or became stiffer when he passed next to them. His dark robe billowed behind him. " You are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What advantage does it offer ? ", he reached the back on the room.
Hermione's hand shot up. She gulped down and waited. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor took his time looking around, at everybody else. No one else dared to respond. With a pained face, he made sure for the last time, but he had no choice, she was the only one wanting to respond. " Very well, Miss Granger ? ", he crossed his arms.
" Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you are about to perform, which gives you a split second advantage. ", the witch proudly straightened her back. She knew she was right as for revising with the next year's curriculum. She was really happy to study ahead of the normal fifth year. Yet, her face fell down when she listened to the dismissive response.
" An answer copied almost word for word from the Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, but correct in essentials. ", Snape didn't even look at her when speaking. His gaze lingered upon Harry as he was going to further the answer. " Those who progress in using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. However, not all wizards can do this. Of course, it's a question of concentration and mind power which, some lack. ", the professor clapped his hands together.
" You will now divide into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on. ", the professor waved his wand. The moment his wrist pointed down, an invisible layer surrounded the wizard front. Despite its invisibility, the magical trace it produced didn't hide its presence to the ritual adept.
That protective barrier was basic. The layer was thin, stable and cover a 180 degree angle before its caster. It could block and reflect a multitude of spells as well as physical forces however, the stability and strength behind the spell relied strongly on the user himself and his efficiency. Many students whispered 'Protego' to cast the charm, but almost none of them could achieve half a decent shield.
Mikhael was familiar with both the spell and its application. Whispering like his partner to not be noticed too much, he erected a spell to stop the incoming jinx. No shields were truly impenetrable, but powerful Shield Charms were said to be able to knock people off their feet and the jinx rebounded over the duo's neighbors. As the jinx lost most of its energy, it didn't hurt the victim who glared at the ritual adept before becoming pale.
In his mind, Mikhael reviewed the different applications of magical theories studied in the book Dumbledore gave him. There, the author had analyzed the shield charm to an extreme. How to perform it. How was the original equation, to bring it to life and its stronger variations like 'Protego Duo' which double its power, or the 'Protego Horribilis' which was the most efficient against dark curses.
Casting a silent 'Protego Maxima' over the group with a bushy-haired witch, the green robe witnessed the power behind the said strongest general shield. He wasn't unhappy with the result. The Knockback Jinx threw by Fay Dunbar on Hermione rebound on the poor girl with additional strength behind it. Fay lost footing and fell a few feet away. Behind the laughers in the room, the professor removed ten points from Hermione for abusive use of non-self-control.
Mikhael was satisfied with this spell which needed some tests with physical attacks at a later time. The cost of magic was lesser than his usual layer of pure magic around him. However, the gain in strength was a loss in flexibility. The shield, once called forth, couldn't be changed into anything else like a lethal curse or conjured animals. Moreover, if the user wished to attack, he had to drop the shield to use the wand for a new spell.
There existed plenty of other variations, found or not inside the book. It served rather as a template for the reader to understand how it worked with precise examples and the theories behind them. There was one which the green robe couldn't test in class as it was quite dangerous. Furthermore, it was a powerful dark spell easily recognizing since it was one of the few offensive shields.
When the first Gryffindor succeed a shield without uttering a single word, Snape ignored it. He just, swept between the other students as they practiced. " Pathetic Finnigan. Here, let me show you. ", the professor separated two red robes before turning his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively and stepped aside. The spell flew fast and hit the arm instead of the targeted torso.
" What's for ! ", Harry screamed as his arm hurt. Lifting his sleeve, he saw a fist-size blue mark coloring his skin.
" Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter ? ", the House Head faced the injured student.
" Yes. ", Harry glared, his fist tightened over his wand. He controlled himself. He couldn't assault a professor without a reason like in the morning.
" Do you have something to add, Potter ? ", the professor opened the classroom's entrance.
" No. ", the lion prefect gritted his teeth.
" If that so, we might continue. And don't jump around, work on the lesson. ", Snape turned around. He had a class to teach.
" I wasn't prepared ! ", Harry shouted. A small part of him accepted the reason but the other part, the majority knew it was just an excuse to torment him as he did since his first year in potion lesson. It was unfair. He couldn't tolerate this but he had to control himself. It was hard.
" That's why we are training. ", the professor corrected Draco's stance and wrist movements.
" But... ", Harry couldn't continue and was cut off.
" Enough Potter. Detention, Saturday night, my office and now, Miss Granger, bring him to the Madame Pomfrey. ", the older wizard pointed the door opened with his hand.
The night was clear. No moon illuminated the sky. Instead, it was painted with a multitude of stars. Some fishes swam among the celestial bodies as their reflects decorated the Black Lake. In silence, the Giant Squid moved its body above the green seaweed while other aquatic inhabitants cowered in fear. The creature shivered. Some water turned into ice. Someone was coming.
Step by step, water condensed itself into cold solids. Hidden behind black hair, the newcomer's eyes invited a younger witch to follow him. The ice was rock solid. It was stable. As she jumped over the newly magical formation, the solid water didn't budge. The corner of her lips lifted up. Despite the cold, as they advanced, the icy path behind them, returned into a liquid state.
The giant mollusk pierced through the surface and waved its tentacles far away. The beast swam closer to them. As the distance reduced, it responded to the witch strange guttural sounds with its own vocabulary. Water splashed, but none touched the duo. Every drop dispersed itself into ice flakes. Grabbing something from his pocket, the wizard threw it at the creature.
Another joyful concert of mollusk songs reverberated. For the rest of the night, the giant squid followed the duo drifting where their steeps brought them.
The day shone to its brightest when bells echoed for the start of the afternoon lesson. As dozen people prepared themselves in the dungeon's corridor, they were greeted with a large belly exiting a door. With great enthusiasm, even patting the shoulder of a select few from influential families, Slughorn with his great walrus mustache seemed to brighten at the sight of the last arrival.
" Harry, my boy ! I was beginning to worry ! ", the professor guided the savior into the front row. " Now then, I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest you know. Anyone tell me what this one is ? ", the large man returned to the front of the class and presented one vial. Inside the container fluctuated a turquoise color which turned pale or dark according to the illumination.
Before anybody reacted, a witch hit the air with her hand in anticipation. The professor pointed at her. " Granger, sir. It's the Strengthening Solution. It is brewed in at least two stages, requiring several days to mature in between, and two of the ingredients used to make it are salamander blood, and powdered Griffin claw. The effect it grants is immense strength. ", she accelerated her speech-speed at the end to not elaborate further.
" Very good, very good ! ", Slughorn then walked to the back of the class where laid several cauldrons. " Now... ", he was going to ask someone else for the answer when a familiar voice responded immediately.
" From the left to the right, they are the Draught of Peace, Invigoration Draught, Wit-Sharpening Potion, Everlasting Elixirs as for the two last I'm not sure. "
" Excellent, excellent my dear. ", the potion master started to laugh a bit with joy. " I'm impressed Miss Granger, as for the last two, it was a small trap. They are six-year potions. Amortentia, the most powerful love potion or rather, more precisely, the most powerful infatuation or obsession potion. ", Slughorn got closer to the mother-of-pearl sheen and the spiraling steam that rose from one cauldron.
As he noticed the sea of dreamy faces leaning closer to the vapors, he covered it as fast as he could.
" Sir, you haven't told us what's in that one. ", Katie Bell pointed toward the last container.
" What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion known as Felix Felicis. But it is more commonly referred to as... ", the professor pinched a golden flask with care.
" Liquid luck. ", Hermione interrupted the potion master.
A buzz ran through the class. Even Malfoy perked up.
" Yes, Miss Granger. Desperately tricky to make. Disastrous should you get it wrong. But brewed correctly, as this has been, it has remarkable powers. One sip and you will find that all your endeavors succeed... at least until the effects wear off. Cautious students, taken in excess it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence. ", he put the potion into his pocket.
" So, this is what I offer each of you from now on the end of the year. One tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who, in one hour manages to brew me a perfect six-year potion. I won't give you any advices for this exercise but anything else concerning your current or previous year is open to discussion. ", Slughorn smiled knowingly before writing on the blackboard the instructions and the page for the strengthening solution.
Excitement seized the class. Mikhael, like many, gave Slughorn their full and undivided attention. They hurried to prepare the solution so they could start their research on a next year's potion recipe and test its realization under one hour's time. The green robe knew luck was something which could help in tricky situations, give an edge, but in the end, it relied on external factors.
He prepared the salamander blood, and powdered Griffin claws for the solution but didn't put too much effort. If he was desperate, he could just find a way to force the potion master to brew another vial for him.
At dinner, the student body and staff members gathered in the Great Hall. Unlike the usual procedure, this time the headmaster was followed by a student next to his platform. As the hall welcomed more and more students, whispers and rude gestures birthed some altercations between two specifics houses. Before the seeds of conflicts grew, their House Head intervened with points loss.
" Welcome to those who just arrive and thank for those who waited. ", the headmaster clear voice silenced the gathering. " I'm sorry to prevent you from enjoying our wonderful dinner at the moment, I heard some turkey legs and reddish spinach. ", he chuckled a bit. The crow received the words pretty well with some first years holding their hands over their mouths.
" A dire student, like you all, committed a fault. ", he paused and gazed over the full gathering. His magical pressure stopped a pink witch to intervene. " He will be punished like any of you. However, we have to take into account something unique and saddening for this individual. ", the old wizard patted Harry's shoulder.
" Many of you have a kind mother, a trustworthy father and for some lucky of you, brothers and sisters. Family, friendship, those are true treasures. While not perfect, they shape our happiness. ", the headmaster let his words marked the youth. The ambient magic brushed an orphan mind. He felt the faint compulsion charm. He didn't need to counter. His body negated the effect as bones carved runes reacted immediately.
" So now, can you feel the pain of losing one ? Sadly, some of you will, and for a regretful few, they will even know the greater pain of seeing them murdered. ", Dumbledore let go of his hand. " He is in pain. He needs help. He needs time to mourn. ", with a wave of his hand, the candlelights got stronger and plates were filled with grilled meat and vegetable but in the center of each table was a large number of turkey legs.
" I invite you to enjoy the dinner which was strongly recommended to me by a student named Arth, so congratulate him in private I'm sure he would appreciate. ", the old wizard stepped back and removed his magical pressure over a single staff member. The new professor of Care for Magical Creatures bit her lips but didn't say anything as a howl brought her a ministry letter. Her face turned soured the moment she started reading.
At the great four tables, students from the last to the first-year enjoyed the dinner. Some gave worried looks at the one student leaving the platform while others gritted their teeth and the rest didn't care about anything but their growling stomach. " Another slap on the wrist for the 'poor' little Potter. It's so disgusting. ", Pansy cut a vegetable in half. She put the bigger half into her front neighbor.
" Change is bounded to happen. ", Draco fished some chicken into his plate and discovered some green present at the same time. He looked amused at the new aliment.
" Again with your plan Draco. ", Blaise drank half his drink. He was frowning with the anticipated respond he expected from the other Slytherin.
" I told you, my father... Dumbleore is old, he is not like in his prime anymore. ", the Malfoy heir tightened his fist. That wasn't the first time they disagreed.
" Don't listen to him Draco, he's just jealous. ", Pansy grinned. Her fork picked up the piece Draco was going to take. She silently mocked the blond wizard for his loss.
" Whatever you say. It doesn't matter, without anything concrete we can't follow you with just rumors. ", the black student got up and sat away.
" This bastard. He'll... As he said, it doesn't matter. His future doesn't matter. What you say Goyle ? ", the blond wizard nodded toward one of his two bodyguards. " No, we don't take any buffoons into our gatherings. ", Draco, Pansy, Goyle and Crabble laughed hard as a first-year pureblood in red robe tripped over his feet and colored the Great Hall with his soup.
" Did you see anyone worth something Mikhael ? ", the blond wizard turned serious.
" None, they are weak. ", the ritual adept scanned for the third times the Great Hall, his gaze passed upon the first to fourth years from all tables. He shook his head. They all had average magical reserves.
" I felt the same, such a shame. So few are interested. The others don't know what they miss. They are purebloods, but don't even respect the tradition. They make me want to puke. ", Draco hit the table with his fist.
" Don't worry too much. Train them and they might become something noteworthy or useful at least. ", Mikhael brought his arm to his back. He felt a magical fluctuation tearing space behind him. An invisible being, shorter and lighter than a man appeared but none notice. Placing a white envelope with no name nor address in the wizard hand, the creature faded as it appeared, in silence. Finishing his bread in one mouth, he put the object in his pocket and exited the Great Hall.
A pair of wrought-iron gates guarded the entrance to a gravel path leading to a manor house. Hidden behind high trees, parts of the building were not visible from the main gate, but its size as large as three stores in Diagon Alley towered the arriving guests. Despite the gravel path and manor, there was nothing but trees inside the whole property.
" My lord, I'd like to show you first the catalysts then the recruits. ", a tall woman of white skin and long, thick shiny dark hair grabbed the newcomer's hand and put a kiss on his knuckles.
" Lead the way Bella. ", Mikhael gazed at the clean path.
" Of course my lord, of course. ", the months passed outside the wizard prison helped the witch to regain most of her original beauty, but black bags under her eyes stayed like an incurable disease. She didn't hide her appearance under illusion or potion's effect since this property of her was deep into the wilderness. Strolling around the manor, she brought her master to the building back where laid, more than seventy man-size monoliths of granite.
" You did well Bella. ", the ritual adept caressed each rock. They were ancient. They could sustain the strain of powerful runes. " The wards around are not enough, prepare another dozen of ward stones. ", he waved his hands. New layers of Anti-Apparition and Anti-Disapparition Jinx covered the property. He reinforced them with floating runes of stability, defense, and stealth.
When he felt confident enough than none would be able to interrupt him and his project at this place for at least four hours, he couldn't help but notice his lips lifting a bit. He felt the presence of other magical users in the vicinity, but none of them reacted. They were too focused on something that only two of them were doing in the manor. Focusing his magic with fire, the surrounding trees as well as the vegetation turned to ashes.
" Master, let me help you ! ", Bellatrix's eyes shone. A circle of thirty-six meters radius empty of anything but scorched earth faced now the back of the building.
" There is no need, show me your workers. ", with another wave of his hand, he summoned four armored skeletons from his silver rings. They kneeled down. When the wizard and the witch entered the manor, three of the four servants hurried to transport the heavy monoliths around the empty place border while the last one carved on the ground a seventy-two meters diameter circle connecting the rocks together.
The duo walked passed through empty hallways, void of any decorations. As they reached the third floor, some clamors echoed from the last room. Inside a large room with windows on its east and south wall, a crowd of twenty individuals surrounded two people exchanging dark jinx. The commotion didn't cease the moment the door was pushed open. Instead, it distracted one of the fighters flew away because of a jinx.
" Shut your mouth ! You dare speak with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch his presence with your half-blood's tongue, you dare... ", Bellatrix didn't control herself. She stunned one, propelled another, cut the leg and broke the jaw of a third one when she was recalled to reason. As she stopped herself, some wizards and witches in black coats retaliated. All their spells rebound over a thin layer of magic they didn't see before.
" Enough. ", Mikhael pressured the whole room with his magic, forcing everyone on the ground, having difficulty to breathe and control their magic. " You never let me down Bella. ", he swung his wand and all the present wizards' wands flew into his grasp. " Make sure none escape. ", lowering himself, he glanced at the closest wizard. Unable to resist, the man in his thirty tried to spit as his eyes met two dark orbs.
" Yes my lord ! ", Bellatrix joyfully jumped around, summoning planks covering the windows and doors. When done, she reinforced the floor, roof and wall while kicking some 'workers' who happened to be on her path. They groaned in pain, but not much. They couldn't even breath properly. The witch giggled. They were not easy to get, to swing some to her meeting, she had to spend some of the money her lord gift her. She threw a curse. A muffled scream responded.
As the ritual adept turned the eyes of his first encounter into a dimmer color, he released the restrains on him. The man in his thirty mechanically stood up and awaited near the entrance in silence, not moving anymore despite the lack of any magical pressure. For hours, the ritual adept scanned, erased, hid, replaced and injected fake and true memories into the new recruits.
When he finished, the wizard snapped his fingers, the twenty recruits fell asleep. " Now Bella, I need you to get as many people as you can. I don't care who they are, how you get them but you have to leave no clues. Keep them alive in the manor dungeon and when you reach seven thousand, contact me with Winky. ", he swept his forehead. He wondered if Luna would forgive him one day, if she learned about what he was going to commit. Four rings of silver returned to his hand.
" It will be done my lord. ", she bowed. After the master twisted space and was no longer present, Bellatrix grabbed the first recruit and slapped his cheek with all her might. " Get up ! You have a lot of work to do. ", she screamed and kick another sleeping recruit.