Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.
Some of the subject matter within is taken from other stories, times, places, dimensions, and planes of existence.
Because, the magic never truly ends.
Chapter One: Building a Monster
Tim listened as only a small child could to the argument between his two parents.
Melissa Rawkfawler was a tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed mother that could easily have passed for supermodel status in any of a hundred competitions. In fact she had in the past, won several such events over a decade ago, before catching the eye of Charles Rawkfawler. The dashing salt and pepper haired billionaire had been most taken with her, even more because like him, she was part of a very select community in America.
Tim Rawkfawler's parents were both magic.
Not the normal magic of just being amazing parents, but real magic. Magic with floating things, lightning bolts, frogs, and sparkly bits.
Which made arguments like the one going on right now quite a bit more interesting.
It was a challenge to win an argument with your wife when they could really, truly, at least for a few hours, turn you into a frog.
Tim thought his father was pretty amazing for not losing…at least not all the time.
"Melissa, dearheart, beloved, light of my life, we aren't sending him away right now there's no reason to be like this…"
"To a suspicious school in the middle of nowhere in Scotland? Where god-knows-what backwoods teachers educate, no, brainwash, him on "how to do real magic?" How you ever think I'm going to agree to such a thing is beyond me."
"Shining star in the morning sky, dear, even though it's a backwoods place, it's where the Potter kids go! I mean, it can't be that bad if the equivalent of British magical Royalty go there right? Besides, we both know it's going to be difficult to get him into Northpoint. After that last experiment in school, well, I don't think even adding a new wing on for them would make the cut."
Melissa seemed to deflate, "It's not his fault he's a genius." she turned scooping Tim up off the kitchen stool and giving him a hug. Tim loved being held, and deciding all was right with the world giggled at the kiss, which of course, resulted in several more.
The Rawkfawler's kitchen, like most of the house was the cutting edge of current technology, blending magic and science seamlessly. It helped that the house had practically an army of servants to assist it. Unlike many magical families, the Rawkfawler's disdained the use of house elves, preferring instead to use Sprites. Different from their house elf counterparts, Sprites had a lot more confidence, moxy, and weren't bound by treaties of non-lethal interference.
Which meant, breaking into the Rawkfawler's house could be rather deadly as plenty of reporters found out over the years. Charles valued his privacy, and spent no small amount of money to see his family didn't make the public eye. If a few rituals had to be done, and a few goats met untimely ends, it was all gravy for the peace and quiet they had.
Melissa put Tim back down on the stool, just in time for his father to ruffle his black hair into an ungodly mess. Tim made a frowning face at his father, he hated having to fix it after it was mussed up
"Charles, I swear, one day he'll take revenge for such things." Melissa said, making faces at him to distract him from the tangle of ungainly locks his father had created.
"Hmph, the day that I, Charles Rawkfawler fear a small child's revenge-" Charles said, drawing himself to his full height, dark sapphire eyes blazing miffed rage.
"Harvard." Melissa said, cutting the legs out from under his pretending.
"Well…"
"Westpoint."
"Now, there's no way he could duplicate that feat again…" Charles said, sweat beading on his brow. He took out a small handkerchief stitched with the letters C. R. and M. R. with a heart between them from his inner suit's pocket to wipe his brow.
"Northpoint."
"Oh, come now, it's not like greater demon lords are waltzing around waiting to be summoned by five year olds..." Charles said, arms thrown out to both sides of him with an incredulous aggrieved expression on his face now. It was truly the picture of a man doubting the sanity of the one arguing with him.
Melissa gave Charles the gimlet glare until his left eyelid started twitching uncontrollably before dropping the bombshell, "Last year's family gathering."
Throwing his hands up in surrender before tucking the handkerchief away, Charles said, "For the love of god woman, how was I supposed to know he'd figured out a way around the family Artifact's wards!? That one can't count, I mean, not even the family seer saw that one coming!"
"Hmph, if he hadn't been so drunk he might have given us decent warning!" Melissa said, a single hand chop indicating her belief in the so called diviner's abilities.
Giving satisfied sniff from winning the argument, Melissa sat down on the stool behind Tim with her arms crossed. Her dark silk shirt and tight pants practically clung to her body, going well with the black knee-length leather boots she had on, providing a welcome distraction to Charles. Even now, a decade later, he still felt he'd come off better in the deal to marry her.
"Proves my point, who knows what god awful magical crap they have stored in that castle waiting to see the light of day. They could have the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb in there, just waiting for a curious boy to find." Melissa said, propping her head in hand while leaning on the countertop.
Charles knew he was entering the final stages of the battle, if he could just make her understand the value of mixing with the magical equivalent of the President's children…
A little over three decades after the infamous battle that ended Lord Voldemort's life had passed, and the breadth and reach of the magical community had grown exponentially. It was absolutely vital that his family took advantage of the best opportunities to position themselves as leaders in the American magical community. Even with the wealth the Rawkfawler name commanded, there were still some things money couldn't buy.
Sitting down opposite both of them, Charles said, "Dear, even admitting our son's unique talents, Hogwarts has weathered countless generations of curious children. The possibility that our son would find something that they've missed is miniscule, tiny, nay, null zero! Compare instead the benefits of mixing with magical Royalty, goblins, veela, dwarves, sylphs, and draconian. It's an education he can't get here in the States, not with the current embargo situation. Here's he's always going to be "The Rawkfawler Heir" and people will treat him as such, he needs exposure to those just as famous as him, even if it takes him across the world."
"What's to prevent some fame hungry tabloid hack from harassing him into doing something drastic?" Melissa said, tears creeping up into her eyes. Her mother and father had been driven into secluded hiding as a result of her own fame before she married Charles. At least now they didn't have to worry about it, the Rawkfawler name commanded fear and respect in equal measures.
"The best false identity Galleons can buy, love. Not even Goblin Intelligence would be able to discover our son there, I swear it. I'll ensure he has the best training beforehand, and every advantage money can buy. What's the point of being married to a wealthy husband if he can't make you happy darling." Charles said, smiling at the most beautiful woman in the world, his beloved wife.
Tim knew his father had won the argument, and grinned whilst being carried by his mother all the way up to his bed. Moments later he fell fast asleep dreaming of magical castles and waiting adventures. For once, his dreams coincided with those of a normal seven year old child.
######
Alfonso Featherwood stared at the application for a transfer student to Hogwarts with utter confusion. According to every record he could find, the three children listed checked out. However, Featherwood's sixth sense told him something was off with the third applicant. For the life of him though, he couldn't spot the problem.
Then it hit him at the end of the day.
Age: Seven
Magical Education: Private Tutored
This normally wouldn't be cause for alarm, until the other piece of the puzzle fitted in.
"When did we have a pureblood family in the world named Rookwood?"
Because of course, only a pureblood family could have a child so far ahead in magical education as to need private tutoring at age seven.
######
Master Cho glanced at the visitor to his dojo. Sitting at the wooden table both were sharing, he was every inch the successful American businessman. If you placed him on the floor of the Asian Stock Exchange no one would give him a second glance. Salt and pepper hair, framed deep ice blue sapphire eyes, on top of a fit frame that couldn't be achieved merely from gym workouts. The man before Cho was a tiger concealed behind cloth camouflage that would better allow him among the sheep roaming the world unaware.
Gently conjuring and serving tea with a few gestures, Master Cho offered a cup to this Mr. Rookwood as if he hadn't immediately realized the falsehood. It did take a certain level of arrogance for a wizard to use that family name with its attached historical significance. The person using it was either insane, or diabolically clever, and his guest didn't show signs of chewing the carpet.
"You wish me to train a small child for four years, am I understanding this correctly, sir?" Cho said, sipping as he considered the offer he'd been given. It intrigued him, the chance to teach someone that the man in front of him would consider a 'genius' that even a tiger couldn't train.
"100 million American dollars, as well as a one year contract with the Dragon Enchanting Expedition to do whatever you'd like done to your mountain top training dojo." the visitor replied deadpan. His expression hinted at nothing, a calm facade that could mean he was about to strike, or ready to break out in operatic song. It was the type of expression a particular brand of wizard would wear, those so inured to the deaths around them their focus couldn't be broken. Cho had once worn such a gaze in the past, perhaps it was time to wear it again.
"This child, is…gifted?" Cho said, rotating his tea cup before taking a sip, conspicuously not allowing the money to disturb the calmness within. Such offers had been made in the last few years, after all, he was the World Wand Dueling Champion three times in a row. Admittedly, most of those offers were for far smaller sums, and that was before you threw in the Dragon Enchanters. The things he could get done around here with a competent group of Enchanting Masters was quite tempting. Besides, it would be good to train a possible successor to his Art. He could even add all those methods his paranoid old friend with the twitching eye said should be mandatory for keeping children safe. Although that old nightmare did have a rather distorted view on life, Cho admitted if he'd killed the same amount of Dark Wizards on record, so would he.
It would be a chance to see if the theory on the Art of Spellcasting Cho had developed over his lifetime could bear greater fruit if taught from a young age.
The chance alone to show my European teaching counterparts how antiquated and outdated their methods have become, and be paid for doing it, would be a priceless amount of honor. Master Cho thought, without revealing his inner glee.
"My son is probably a genius in the field of magic." Mr. Rookwood said, before grimacing, "However, in the field of self-discipline he's a bit lacking. He requires someone with real world combat experience, dueling skill, and a specialized skillset such as yourself, sir."
Master Cho stilled as he recognized the person across from him had the resources to find out such information. If he walked away now, he might have to leave his beloved dojo in a far more permanent fashion than a mere teaching trip.
The silence between both men was broken only by sips of tea from each of them, finally, Cho decided he was interested. It wouldn't be the first time he taught a pupil that was challenging. It wouldn't be the last someone hired him for teaching more than magic either.
"I accept." Cho said, rising from the table to shake Mr. Rookwood's firm hand.
"There is then the small matter of an Unbreakable Vow to seal our deal." Mr. Rookwood said, taking out a wand with a serious expression.
Master Cho nodded, he wouldn't expect anything less for something like this.
Later, after his guest had departed, and he'd finished setting a few things in order. Master Cho took one last look at the entrance to his dojo while the biting mountain wind's cold ruffled his grey hair. Finally, turning away Master Cho grabbed his traveling trunk and activated the portkey his guest had left him, to head to America.
######
Doctor Deeplung glared with typical goblin moxy at the chap sitting across from him in the small doctor's office. Although his research wasn't yet approved by the Nation, he was confident eventually it would be mainstream, just as soon as he could find funding for it...
Sitting at the enormous desk that was tailor made for a goblin's height was a dapper gentleman every inch the successful tailored English businessman. A Mr. Rookwood as if he couldn't see the name was fake the moment it'd been offered to him. It took steel balls bigger than a Gringotts vault door to use a name like that, what with the attached history and all.
"So, let's start from the top…." Deeplung said to his guest.
"My spies reported you were close to a breakthrough." Mr. Rookwood said.
"Spies!?" Deeplung gasped in amazement. He actually rated spies!
"Hah! Take that and stick it where the sun doesn't shine Director." Deeplung thought, with venom.
"Of course, nothing less for a goblin such as yourself." Mr. Rookwood nodded.
Deeplung admitted he was impressed, not even the Nation thought his research was currently at a stage worth observation by Goblin Intelligence. Perhaps this was an opportunity, the opportunity he'd been looking for in vain from his own race. After all, wasn't the Director constantly harping about unity between the races? That's right, this was a chance for unity…and profit.
"It's only in the test stages of course. You understand that getting approval for experimentation on actual subjects is a lengthy process…" Deeplung started his pitch for funding.
"Fifty million pounds, into a bank account of either Gringotts or Morganstien of your choosing. In exchange you will destroy all notes on the process and experiment only on a single consenting subject. The lab you are provided to work from will be cutting edge, and we will ensure it stays that way for as long as you desire to work for us." Mr. Rookwood countered immediately with a sum that was many times over what Deeplung would ever be able to wring out legally from the Nation.
Not just funding, but, equipment too... Deeplung thought, barely managing not to drool at the prospect.
Deeplung paused, even with the money involved, the destruction of his life's work was a steep price to pay for furthering the advance of his research goals.
If I stop now though, if I wait for approval, and funding, and safety protocols, I might never reach high enough to matter in the medical world. This research, it has the potential to change everything! Deeplung thought. Besides, it was well known that St. Mungo's only took the cream of the crop for teaching positions. Can I truly pass up such a Stone Sent opportunity?
"If successful, we are willing to privately fund ANY other research you undertake within the next thirty years with a budget cap of ten million a year. If the research is deemed useful to us privately we would purchase it outright." Mr. Rookwood said, his grin a pure expression of goblin amusement.
That sealed it, there was no chance Deeplung would ever get a better offer.
"I accept." Deeplung said, reaching over to give a handshake.
"There is then the small matter of an Unbreakable Vow to seal our deal." Mr. Rookwood said, taking out a wand with a serious expression.
Doctor Deeplung nodded, there couldn't be any other way to be sure his benefactor stayed on the up and up with this much money involved.
Finally, hours later, after Deeplung had finished destroying all notes and records of his work, he stood from the chair by his fireplace. All that was left was a tiny clinic that the bank would take back. Executing a Cleaning Charm stored on his lab coat he sighed, then with a sudden surge of excitement Deeplung grabbed his traveling trunk and exited the place. It was time to portkey to his new future in America.
######
Melissa listened to her husband expound upon the two people he'd found to help train Tim, they would carve away the dross to reveal the diamond character both parents knew existed. After taking a glance at their credentials she'd admitted being impressed. A goblin doctor, and a World Wand Dueling Champion who'd fought in mercenary companies before his rise to fame.
"So, what do you think dear? Are they good enough for our little munchkin?" Charles said, as they cuddled on the living room couch. Sprites surrounded the happy couple feeding on their emotional high while presenting platters of food, drink, and paperwork.
"Well, they are pretty impressive…" Melissa said, giving her husband a victory kiss to reward his efforts.
"Hmph, do you think I would spare any expense to see my son prepared for that place?" Charles said, with a sloppy grin that was being rapidly kissed into submission.
"Of course not, my big strong wizard wouldn't dare." Melissa said, pausing the kissing attack before grinning.
"Deeplung will handle reinforcing Tim's foundations, while Master Cho will handle his combat preparation. I will handle his business classes, and of course, you my beloved will be left with the darkest task of all." Charles said, slowly edging away from her on the couch.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Melissa said, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Everything else!" Charles shouted as he leapt for safety.
Unfortunately, Melissa was quicker with her wand. Shortly after the curse hit, a small frog was hopping on the floor where Charles had been in the process of fleeing.
######
Tim followed his father down the steps to the new laboratory wing that had been recently constructed over the last few weeks. Today was the first day he'd be meeting a doctor that would make him stronger. He wasn't exactly sure what his father meant, but both of his parents were ecstatic about the subject so Tim decided it had to be good.
His father opened the large shiny steel door that led into the laboratory, and Tim got his first look at the place. Clean white walls, counters, and various equipment that beeped or flashed with lights covered almost every available horizontal surface along the walls. In the center a massive island table held sway supporting half a dozen bubbling beakers of various colored liquids and what seemed like miles of glass tubing. In the back of the laboratory, a long shiny chair with restraints held dominion, like an emperor blessing the presence of lesser beings.
However, the most crucial fact…
"Isn't everything rather…short?" Tim mumbled. Everything was literally sized almost perfectly for him to reach.
And I thought he swore off letting me play with chemicals without direct supervision after the last incident at the family gathering. Tim thought, with growing confusion. His questions were quickly answered by a voice from the back end of the laboratory.
"This is all because I'm a goblin, young man. I can't have human sized countertops, I'd never be able to reach them." a goblin said, as he approached them both from a concealed door.
Tim's eyes sparkled like shiny coins, this was his first meeting with a live goblin. The goblin in question wore a dapper lab coat in pure white. Goggles with several lenses adorned each eye, and a small floating orb followed behind him sparkling like fantastic disco ball.
"Welcome to the Lab. My name is Deeplung, I will be your personal Doctor." the goblin said, holding out a hand to Tim.
Tim shook his hand before asking, "What exactly are we doing here?"
Deeplung took a seat at one of the island table's short stools before gesturing Tim to do the same.
"I'll leave the two of you to get started. Have a nice session Tim!" Charles said, before exiting the lab with haste. The Rawkfawler family Head's forte had always been more on the side of money and plotting for success, rather than science after all.
"Well, how much do you understand about magic, kid?" Deeplung said, focusing his gaze intently on Tim after his employer had departed.
"Magic is a manipulation of the Primal Energy known as Chaos in an ordered format by a wizard, witch, or other being. Using the inherent pathways that all such creatures possess, phenomenon are created from specific and ordered manipulations, known as 'spells'. Current research shows that 'electricity' and 'magical energy' seem to occupy a quantum area that does not allow for much overlap, which is the reason most electrical gadgets fail in areas of heavy magic. It also explains why some spells can be erased by enormous amounts of electrical current. Bartholomew Tristal one of the current leading theorists on the subject believes that it would be possible to combine the two energies as long as each was allocated their own separate dimensions from which they could work." Tim said, smiling proudly to a gob smacked Deeplung.
"…are you really only seven?" Deeplung asked.
"Father says there is no age limit on knowledge." Tim replied a little guiltily. After all, his memory was very good, when he was interested in something at least.
"Well, essentially what we are doing here is making you 'stronger' by altering your physical makeup in such a way that you gain an advantage against any enemies. We are going to compress your brain making it able to compute faster under stressful situations, strengthen your skeletal structure so you can take greater impacts, and improve your skin so it's able to resist most known spells. However, my finest work will be this." Deeplung said, taking a small vial filled with silver threads from one of the pockets of his lab coat.
Tim watched entranced as small silver threads moved within the vial, probing the limits of their container.
"Is that stuff, sentient!?" Tim said, in awe. Except for the late Baron Frankenstien there was no record of another scientist creating life from nothing. Many could alter what already existed, but the shiny strands in the silver tube bore no resemblance to anything Tim had read about before.
"Hah! Close boy, very close." Deeplung said, a satisfied grin at the appreciation shown his greatest work, "It's not sentient per say, but rather a symbiotic organism, er, that means it helps its host living in balance with them. Once it bonds with the host, which will be yourself, it will strengthen your speed of casting magic exponentially. At the same time it increases the reservoir of power you have available to manipulate, as well as the purity level of said magic energy. The best part is, it should in theory slow your aging by about twenty percent. This means that it does quadruple duty, while providing ever increasing tiers of efficiency and more power as you age." Deeplung said, pride evident in his tone. Tim could almost swear he saw the silver threads pulsing in agreement with the goblin's words.
"There's a catch though isn't there." Tim said, managing to draw his eyes away from the silver threads. It was the first thing his father had him learn after the words 'Moma' and 'Dada', there was nothing without cost in the world. Everything was an exchange, and he had to be sure to evaluate carefully before making a choice.
"…well…yes…" Deeplung said, with a sigh. This kid was sharp, but that was to be expected after he'd found out who he was actually employed by.
Mr. Rookwood indeed. Deeplung smirked, before continuing his explanation.
"Part of the magically binding contract with the symbiote requires payment on the part of the host. You'll lose your eyesight…permanently." Deeplung said. There was no way around it, the creature demanded payment in the most grisly fashion of most flesh pacts.
"How am I supposed to fight without eyes?" Tim said, not afraid, just curious. There was no way his Mother would allow him to be blinded without something being done about it.
"After years of experimenting, I've managed to limit the damage done. In exchange for losing your current sight, combined with the improvements to your brain, you'll get another type of vision." Deeplung said, with a grimace. He was desperately trying to downplay the issue.
"Oh?"
"Yes, I've decided to call it, mage sight." Deeplung said, said with a grand flourish.
"That sounds kind of neat." Tim said.
"I'm not actually sure how effective it is though, you might see nothing but hazy shadows. Please don't let your mother skin me alive if it doesn't work out perfectly?" Deeplung said, a nervous twitch appearing on his right eyelid. Apparently he'd had a long conversation before with mom, Tim understood his reaction, because sometimes mom was a little scary.
"I promise." Tim said, crossing his fingers behind his back. He wasn't stupid enough to swear anything without a way out.
"Good! Then let's get started, I'll need you to lean back in the exam chair there, we've got a lot of work to do…." Deeplung said, jumping off the stool and walking towards the back.
######
Master Cho looked at the small imp wrapped in bandages up and down his arms, legs, and eyes. The late evening sun was just past midday, but within the warded training area it summer's heat didn't reach.
"Well, this is definitely going to be a challenge." Master Cho said, musing on how to train a blind person to the level of greatness he envisioned. The small child before him was wrapped in combat dueling clothes of the finest make and model, with a single glaring issue.
His eyes were wrapped in a seer's headband of complete and utter black.
"Master, I can see, it's just sort of….different." Tim said, waving his gloved right hand towards the surroundings. The new form of vision granted by his 'blind' eyes was still a little confusing.
"Oh? Can you see this?" Master Cho said, firing off a cutting hex into the air above them both.
"Wow that was pretty and sparkly, I could see the patterns mixing together like fizzy string." Tim said, gasping with delight. Now he could understand what all the strings, shiny colors, and energy currents were. It was the magical energy of the world constructed into form by nature, or spellwork.
The boy can SEE magic patterns!? Cho thought, shocked. It was only years of combat training that managed to stop his face from revealing anything.
Master Cho pondered for a moment and then picked up a pebble from the training ground. The wide open space was perfectly adapted to a variety of environments, and it was warded to a fare-thee-well. Not even a nuclear blast could crack the inside of the training grounds wards.
"Tell me if you can see this." Master Cho said, executing a hover charm on the pebble.
"Yes, it's like the stone? Rock? It's being held in a shiny sparkling matrix." Tim said, nodding at the hovering pebble. It was still hard to see stationary non-energy infused things.
Perhaps a magical version of the muggle 'sonar' I've heard used on those ships that go underwater. Tim thought, delighted at the prospect of creating something interesting and useful for himself.
Master Cho nodded in satisfaction at having his theory confirmed. I thought that goblin was barking mad, but it goes to show I'm still nothing but a frog in a well.
"Can you see anything else?" Master Cho asked. Even if he could see spells, it was pointless if he couldn't see his opponents effectively. It would make any battle several times harder.
"Oh, absolutely. People are all shiny. Especially magical ones." Tim said, nodding to himself. People weren't made of colors now, at least not the old colors that he could properly describe. They were all people-shaped packages wrapped in various colors and hues with copper, silver, or gold vein maps inside. He'd talk it over with dad and mom first, perhaps this wasn't something others should know.
"Have you tried casting any magic without your wand?" Master Cho asked, curious.
"A little…." Tim said, his body language expressing extreme guilt.
Well, whatever mischief a child could possibly get up to can't be that bad at this age. Cho thought, showing an amused grin.
"Can you cast a Finite Incantatem on the shiny thing you see and tell me what happens?" Master Cho said pointing at the floating pebble. He didn't expect the boy to manage that spell, but it would be good practice for later.
"Oh, there's no need to do that." Tim said solemnly.
Master Cho frowned in puzzlement before asking, "Why not?"
"Because I can already see the weakness in the spell's structure. Watch!" Tim said, lifting his hand, extending his right arm, and pinching his fingers together.
What happened next would be the most shocking display of magic that overturned the very fundamentals Cho had learned all his life.
Tim pulled his fingers back as if he'd just pinched and grabbed a grasshopper. There were no words, no recognizable spellcasting, it looked nothing so much like a small child caught in a naughty prank.
The pebble that had been previously hovering as if nothing could effect it, dropped directly to the ground in a burst of sparks.
It was like the Charm supporting it had literally unraveled on its own, instantly.
There was a full minute of silence before Master Cho said, "Well, this is definitely going to be a bigger challenge."
Another minute passed as Master Cho reworked the curriculum he'd planned in his head.
"Alright, now here's the chance to really show your stuff. See if you can pull this apart." Master Cho said, casting several layers of defensive spells.
Tim's hands flickered out like a child catching fireflies in the late evening dusk. He wasn't fast, but he wasn't slow either.
Each movement was accompanied by one of the spells disintegrating until there was nothing left shielding Master Cho's body.
"Oh this is going to be fun!" Master Cho said, grinning like maniac. It had been a long, long, long time since he'd felt this thrill. The thrill of danger, the potential for mayhem on a massive scale.
"I'm going to start attacking, I want you to Un-Ravel the spells before they reach you, ok?" Master Cho said, flexing his body in preparation. He'd decided the boy's skill obviously needed a name that suited its appearance.
"Ok."
Cho immediately casted three separate charms, each aimed at a separate goal. He didn't expect they would have any effect, and was proven right almost immediately.
As three firework displays occurred in the space between them both, marking the spells disintegrating, Cho stepped up his game.
A stunner, body-bind, and freezer all shot out almost simultaneously. Cho had long since passed the need to enunciate his attacks. At the peak of the dueling world it was not uncommon for matches to be completely silent, at least of words.
As each spell managed to make it closer and closer to the boy, Cho gained confidence. It seemed even with such amazing abilities there were limits. He felt surge of joy that, even at seven years old his pupil was just barely holding his own.
I'll show all those old relics how far the Art has truly advanced in this lifetime. No longer bound by wands, or the shoddy concepts of a failing education system. Tim will by my greatest masterwork, not a Wizard bound by rote repetition, but a Sorcerer, bound only by his imagination. Cho thought with pride.
Master Cho, distracted by his thoughts, could be forgiven for what happened next, after all, even Tim didn't think it would be successful.
Tim decided to simply dodge the next attack, while weaving his own spell. Hands fluttering he manipulated the energies that were sparkling in the air all around him. They practically sang to him begging to be used, woven, and casted.
Offense is the best defense. So, here, and here, and this, then twist it all together and… Tim thought, snapping the energy construct together with one hand throwing outwards in a palm thrust launching the spell's attack structure at his teacher.
The spell Tim had constructed rippled out from his palm, a complicated set of instructions imbued into it.
Master Cho found his wand launched to one side, his body another, and the ground met both hard, since the gravity had been increased for added effect.
"Are…are you ok…Master?" Tim said, a little surprised he'd managed to get a blow in. He'd savor the victory later, it was probably the only one he'd see in a long time.
Master Cho groaned before sitting up, "Well, this is definitely going to be a much bigger challenge."
Although he couldn't see it, Tim could hear the amusement in his teacher's voice.
"Is this method really effective? Couldn't I just get all your memories of combat instead and use those to fight?" Tim asked, after helping Master Cho up from the ground and handing him his wand back.
"Hah! That type of shortcut leads to shoddy foundations, my dearest disciple. There are plenty of nova's that rise to stardom, but fall just as quickly because they do not have a style of combat all their own." Master Cho said, with derision. His arrogance on the subject was well placed since he'd defeated several such upstarts on his path to three time World Wand Dueling Champion. If all it took was a bundle of memories and some harsh physical training to make someone truly competent the world would be awash in mediocrity.
"Mind, body, soul, each combined into a whole greater than the sum of their respective parts. That is the essence of a warrior. Not the clothes, the techniques, the gadgets, tricks, or traps used. It is the pure fusion of those three fundamental concepts. Take, for instance, Harry Potter." Master Cho said, warming up to his subject. Transfiguring two chairs out of thin air he gestured Tim to sit with him.
"How much history do you know about Mr. Potter?" Cho asked Tim, as he transfigured a table between them, before requesting some snacks and drinks from the house Sprites. As plates of delicious food and goblets of drink appeared he glanced at his newest apprentice who was concentrating intently.
"Harry Potter, known son of James and Lily Potter, orphaned at birth by the Killing Curse. The Mad Wizard Dumbledore attempted to foist him off on his muggle relatives but was foiled by fate. Through a series of coincidences, Mr. Vernon Dursley found his way to the goblin bank Gringotts whereupon he washed his hands of the matter entirely. From there, Mr. Potter was raised by the Nation for almost a decade, specifically by the late retired Ambassador Barchoke, with the specific goal of improving world relations. He entered Hogwarts at the age of eleven, and met his life-mate Hermione Granger on the train to school. At school he gained many friends, most notable among them Potion Mistress Padma Longbottom, and Master Auror Lord Neville Longbottom. Together with a complex series of plans they managed to reverse engineer the Dark Lord Voldemort's plot to create a Portkey during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. As a result the last of the Death Eaters, Augustus Rookwood, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort were killed either in direct combat, or by execution through use of Veritaserum for treason." Tim paused his speech to wolf down some meat and potatoes, along with a few cookies and a helping of juice. Emboldened by the refreshments he continued, "Not satisfied with simply defeating the most deadly Dark Lord in the last fifty years, Harry Potter embarked on an ambitious plan to change the face of our world. Utilizing his money, connections, and political know-how he almost singlehandedly altered the perception of wizards towards many races, chief among them Goblins and Muggles. Over the course of the last twenty-five years or so, he was highly active in the political arena shaping the course of Britain's future well into the next century. Little is known about him though, since he retired from the public eye five years ago. His last words before retiring were, "It's time for the world to look out for itself, and I know I'm leaving it in good hands. Each and every one of us has the potential to do great and terrible things. However, with the solid basis we've created over the last twenty-five years, I think we've skewed it towards the great side of the scale!" Tim finished, and started eating heartily.
"Well, that was certainly an almost textbook answer right out of Hogwarts: A History if I didn't see it myself I'd assume you were reading from it." Master Cho said, closing his mouth in shock and taking some time to eat in order to gather his thoughts.
"Do you have a perfect memory?" Cho asked. It would vastly simplify things if the child could remember everything.
"Not exactly Master, I can't memorize something that doesn't interest me, or something that I don't understand. For example, I can memorize a poem that I like out of a book, but I might not even remember the book's title. Or I could attempt to memorize a complex spell, but if I have no understanding of the underlying principles of the spell, it would be utter gibberish to me." Tim replied, finishing off the food on his plate and drinking a large gulp of juice. The house Sprites instantly started refilling his plate, as far back as living memory could recall they were constantly dancing attendance on the Heir in constant competition with each other.
"A disciple who's memory depends on whether something is interesting or not." Master Cho said, laughter in his tone. "Well, this is definitely going to be a massive challenge."
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Charles Rawkfawler stared at his sole son barely restraining his inner glee. Both were dressed in suits made from the best money could buy. It was only with a massive effort of will that Charles managed to restrain Teleporting them both to the closest photo studio to get pictures for the family scrapbook.
"Dad?"
"Hm, yes son?"
"Mom's lurking right behind you with her wand drawn." Tim said, looking nervous. Charles didn't waste any time Teleporting them both to safety.
Both of them appeared with proper solemn dignity in a boardroom at the top of a massive skyscraper.
The heads of over thirty well-dressed men and woman turned like laser guided gun turrets to track the arrival of both of them.
Charles placed a smile upon his face and strode forward to seat himself at the head of the table. Raising a small gavel at the side he struck twice on the sound block.
"The Morganstien Monthly Meeting is now in Session." A single individual separated from the table started recording the meeting's minutes immediately.
Tim stepped up to his father's right hand, listening intently. It was clear the Rawkfawler blood was just as thick in him as Charles. A tiny smirk marked Charles's face as he listened to the department heads sounding off about profit and loss in their respective areas.
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Melissa sat on the couch with her son, both of them staring each other down before they burst into giggles. It had taken almost an hour to calm her down when she'd first found out what Deeplung had done to her little boy. Even now if it wasn't for the fact that his safety was under an Unbreakable Vow tied to her beloved husband, no one would have ever found the goblin's body.
"So, what did you learn today honey?" Melissa asked as she pulled out an ultra-thin laptop from thin air.
"Deeplung made progress starting the process to improve my 'foundations' as he calls them. Master Cho and I had a fun time scuffling about, probably the first and only time I will win for at least a year. Daddy took me to visit the serious people in the tower. Today was fun, very fun!" Tim said, giggling again.
"Hmph, I guess that old man's plans are somewhat decent." Melissa said, indicating her approval of her husband's plans so far. Opening the laptop several symbolized pictures were shown.
"Deeplung is teaching you medicine. Cho is teaching you combat. Your father is teaching you the use of power, money, leadership and such trappings." Melissa said, pinching her little baby's cheeks. "What do you think I will teach you?"
"Everything else!" Tim said, waving his hands in the air ecstatically.
"That's right, now, let's start on our first subject….physics…" Melissa said, her tone turning hypnotic and enticing.
Tim loved being taught by his mother, she could make the most ridiculous drivel interesting.
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Melissa was staring at Master Cho as if inspecting a particularly disgusting specimen of insect. Both parents were seated as if holding court in large wing-backed chairs within their private study. Bookshelves containing everything from the Darkest rituals to the most benevolent Charms lined the walls around them. Only a single fireplace within which a captive fire elemental danced broke the books reign.
At the moment, Cho was evaluating if any of these books were worth enough to threaten his employer's wife with to save his own life.
"Now, beloved, let's hear him out all the way. After all, I'm sure he has a very good reason for such a suggestion." Charles Rawkfawler said, his tone icy and remote. Combined with his calm almost peaceful expression, someone who wasn't used to working with him would think he was merely curious. Cho knew however, that if he didn't satisfy them, he'd suffer badly. Unbreakable Vows could be broken, at great cost yes, but still broken.
"Your son's own words. Only things that interest him can be memorized. Even with top level training like I will be imparting, it's worthless if he doesn't remember how to use it. Even worse, it would be a disaster if he couldn't adapt on the fly to situations. He has extensive gifts, but can either of you claim he's the only child in the world with them? Tim could meet an opponent all his power and training doesn't work against. At that point, if he isn't able to adapt. He. Will. Die." Cho said, his passionate tone finally reaching the two parents.
Both parents glanced at each other before Melissa gave a slight nod. It was obvious to her that the Asian combat wizard truly cared about her son. Even if she didn't agree with the method used, the end result would keep her little boy safe.
"We authorize you limited use of the Crutatios Curse to motivate him to improve." Charles said. "But you will explain to him exactly what it is for, why, how, and in what ways it will improve him. If you can't convince him, it is not to be done." Melissa said, her eyes flashing ice blue flames of rage.