Disclaimer: see prologue

guide: "Talk", Thoughts, ~letters and other written stuff~

rating: M for sexual themes, language and slash in later chapters

Betas: jointheclub and Makoto Sagara

update of beta-ed version: 26th July

AN: Thank you all for the reviews, alerts and favourites ^_^ I hope that I will not disappoint you.

For those of you who haven't taken a look at my still rather bare profile I most likely will update this story once a month. But since the prologue didn't give you a very defined idea about the new electives I decided to update this chapter early.


-~-~- Altair -~-~-

-~-~-by Still waters are deep-~-~-

-~-~- chapter 1 – the Altair electives -~-~-

Even if Voldemort was finally dead for good, the Dursleys were still his legal guardians, and Dumbledore thought it would not harm him if he stayed with the Dursleys until his birthday to not only renew the blood protection but also to be safe from the Wizarding press. That was why on the 31st of July, Harry's birthday and also the last day he would be living with the Dursleys, by habit Harry was still awake shortly after midnight when he received a larger than normal letter from a Hogwarts owl. Relieving the owl of its burden, he offered it some water from Hedwig's bowl and an owl treat before letting it out of his opened window.

His friends had already told him that they would not owl him anything for his birthday this year because he would see them later today at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley had a plan to throw him a birthday part there and he would stay there till the start of the new term.

Considering that it was too early for the book list, the letter had to be about the Altair electives, especially since Dumbledore said that it would arrive at one's birthday if you were not already of age at the time of the Altair. Hermione and Ron, both already being of age, had received their letters during the first week of the vacation.

Hermione, being who she was, already had started to research this subject, talking her parents into taking a "short" side-trip from King's Cross to Flourish and Blotts before going home so that she could read up on the subject.

It seemed like Professor Altair Black, who had started the whole Altair, had been a very powerful wizard, because Hermione's research revealed that he was the one who both created and casted the spell which ensured that no one under seventeen could be told about the sexual branch of magic.

This had Hermione wondering how the teachers would be able to tell students, like Harry and Neville, who only would turn seventeen during the holidays about the Altair electives in the upcoming year if the spell should prevent them from doing so. It turned out that the spell not only lost its effect when a witch or wizard turned seventeen but also if he or she entered the Altair common room.

To Ron's utter dismay and Hermione's delight, that piece of information she found in "Hogwarts: A History – adult version", which is only sold to people over sixteen and it was further charmed so that only of age wizards and witches could read it. Besides other small additional information in the regular chapters, it had dedicated a whole chapter to the Altair.

If one asked Ron, Hermione already knew the whole 56 pages of this chapter by heart on the first day she had gotten her new thicker copy of "Hogwarts: A History" and could not stop citing from it. If one further asked him who he blamed for this, he would answer "Dumbledore", because he told Hermione about the adult edition after overhearing her saying that she could not believe that the Altair was not mentioned in her edition of "Hogwarts: A History" during the Altair celebration.

So with Hermione being able to talk with Harry about sexual magic, she had included some general information about this branch of magic in her letters to him, and what he read so far about the subject had already awoken his interest to learn more about it.

It seemed that, in general, sexual magic had the ability to enhance other branches of magic, like strengthening wards or making potions more potent and longer lasting. It even created new possibilities, which would not normally be possible without the magical boost from the sexual magic. For example, it enabled one to create potions which would be impossible to brew without the help of sexual magic.

Both Hermione and Harry had taken a special interest in the branch of Sexual Potions because most mind illnesses can only be effectively cured with the aid of those specially brewed potions.

The currently most desired sexual potion was the Shërim Mendjen*, a potion invented by an Albanian Potions Master in the late sixteenth century, which if correctly brewed, was able to heal even the most severe after-effects of the Cruciatus Curse. It would not only help to relieve the many Cruciatus victims of the wars against Voldemort, the second one having turned out to be surprisingly short, from the mild nerve damages and accompanying spasms, but it could even bring Neville's parents back to their previous mental health.

The main problem with this potion was that it was rather hard to brew because it apparently not only required rare Basilisk skin, but the pair brewing this potion by way of sexual brewing not only needed a lot of self-control but also had to share a powerful bond and must be highly compatible.

The last pair to successfully brew the Shërim Mendjendied about eighty years ago, and modern Sexual Potions Masters seemed to lack the aforementioned high compatibility and/or powerful bond. So, the victims of the Cruciatus were still waiting to be finally healed since the normal potions could only reduce the effects not get rid of them.

Maybe it was his saving-people-thing, maybe he simply blamed himself for not having vanquished Voldemort sooner, or maybe he was simply curious, but Harry really wanted to try to brew the Shërim Mendjen. It wasn't like he didn't have free access to a lot of Basilisk skin at Hogwarts.

And that was why Harry decided that if Hogwarts should offer Sexual Potions classes that he would apply for them, and maybe he might even take other classes if they sounded interesting enough.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Let's find out if Hogwarts offers Sexual Potions or not as one of their Altair electives.

With that thought, Harry sat down on his bed and opened the envelope with the Hogwarts seal. Besides a letter from the Deputy Headmistress, there was also a small brochure, as well as an answering form inside the envelope. Laying the brochure aside for now, Harry read the letter from McGonagall.

~Dear Mr. Potter,

As you know from the Altair at the end of the last school year, in the upcoming year you will be allowed to take new classes, known as the Altair electives, only available to our of age students because of the sexual nature of those subjects.

If you want to partake in any of those courses then please mark it on the included form and sent it back by the 8th of August.

Please note that signing up for a class does not guarantee that you will be able to take this subject, since a partner is required for many of the classes. The partners will be assigned by their choices of subjects and by their compatibility in magic and of body. So, even if two people sign up for the same courses, they may not be compatible, leading to both of them not being able to take up their chosen subjects.~

The compatibility of magic is logical because during some of the sexual magic practices the casters' magic joins. But, what the compatibility of body means, I don't know. I will have to ask Hermione about it when I see her later today.

~Furthermore, you will not be able to change your partner, who may be male or female, regardless of your own gender. Please remember this when you choose to sign up for any of the offered Altair electives.~

Considering how my last two relationships with girls turned out, I really would prefer a male partner for this, especially since it would heighten the chance to successfully brew the Shërim Mendjen. But as long as it isn't Hermione, Ron or even worst, Crabbe or Goyle, I don't really care whom I will be partnered with or what gender my partner will be.

~Should you be worried about the discretion of this sensitive topic, be assured that there are spells placed on the classrooms, which ensure that neither the professors nor the students are able to remember outside of the classroom who takes part in any of the lessons.~

Good to know that the press won't be able to find out that I hopefully will be taking sexual magic lessons. They would have I field day with this information.

~A detailed description of the offered Altair electives can be found in the included brochure. Rough descriptions of the necessary equipment, as well as the requirements for each course, are also included in the brochure.

If you choose to sign up for any of the subjects, you will receive a letter with the courses you will be able to take on the 19th of August. Please wait until then to acquire the course materials, because it will not be certain before then if you will be able to take your chosen classes.

Regards,

M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts~

Nothing important which I already didn't know, McGonagall using the word sexual aside. With this thought, Harry laid the letter aside to pick up the brochure.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Now, let's find out what branches of sexual magic Hogwarts is offering as their Altair electives.

Getting into a comfortable position, Harry began reading the brochure.

~*Altair electives for students in their seventh-year*

Basic Trance-sexual magic: This course will teach you the basis for all the other branches of sexual magic. It will teach the practitioners the necessary self-control required to perform sexual magic of any kind, as well as basic knowledge about different positions, the use of additional equipment, bond forming, and safety-precautions.

Anyone who wants to take up any of the following other classes must take this course, but it can also be taken without signing up for any of the other subjects. The required compatibility of the partners is also the lowest for this subject.

*scope: 3 lessons + 1 assignment per week

*requirements: suitable partner

*equipment: course book, basic additional equipment ~

I wonder what the basic additional equipment includes. Hermione's letters led me to assume that it most likely will include some sex toys like cock rings, because they will help with controlling stuff like the male orgasms. I will definitely sign up for this class. It can't hurt to at least know the basics, even if I won't be able to take the other specialized classes because of the lack of compatible partners in my year.

~Sexual Divination: This art amplifies Divination trough Trance-sexual magic. It allows you to open your Inner Eye even further and predict the future on a completely new level.

*scope: 1 lesson + 1 practical/written assignment per week

*requirements: at least Acceptable in Divination OWLs, suitable partner, taking Trance-sexual magic

*equipment: course book, standard Divination equipment for OWLs-level Divination, herbs which cause trances~

Thanks, but I really can do without any more Death predictions or images of Trelawney having sex to open her Inner Eye. But, I wouldn't be surprised if Lavender signed up for this course.

~Enchanting: This art combines Charms with Arithmancy and sexual magic. It is split into two aspects: creating/improving spells and charms, as well as improving the magical properties of objects (like portkeys) by means of sexual magic and Arithmancy.

*scope: 1 lesson + 1 written or practical assignment per week

*requirements: at least Outstanding in Charms and Exceeds Expectations in Arithmancy OWLs, suitable partner, taking Trance-sexual magic

*equipment: course book~

Since I haven't taken Arithmancy, I won't be able to take this course. Not that it appeals to me, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hermione will take this course.

But at least it seems like the specialized subjects only take up 1 period a week so that I hopefully will still have enough time to play Quidditch.

~Sexual Potions: This art is the most demanding one of all the different sexual magic branches because the participants need to be more compatible and have more self-control than is usual for other branches of sexual magic. It also includes the sub-art of brewing with a human cauldron.

*scope: 1 lesson per week + 2 written assignments and accompanying potions a month

*requirements: at least Exceeds Expectations in Potions OWLs, suitable partner, taking Trance-sexual magic

*equipment: course book, standard Potions equipment for OWLs-level Potions, potion ingredients~

At least I know that Snape won't be the one teaching this subject, or nothing but an Outstanding in the Potions OWLs would have been needed to take this course. And, since I really want to try to brew the Shërim Mendjen, I have to apply for this class. I dearly hope that I will receive a suitable partner.

~Warding: As the name implies, this art deals with the creation of wards with the help of sexual magic. The course will teach the basic of warding, as well as how to strengthen them with sexual magic.

*scope: 1 lesson + maximum of 1 written assignment per week + creation of 2 wards (1 normal, 1 by sexual magic) during the year

*requirements: at least Exceeds Expectations in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes OWLs, suitable partner, taking Trance-sexual magic

*equipment: course book, additional equipment according to the chosen ward for the assignment

Now, this sounds interesting. Why again did I choose useless electives like Divination and Care of Magical Creatures in third year? I really would have liked to learn how to create wards. With my luck, I will need strong wards on my home to protect me from the press for the next decade or so. It would be a lot simpler if I could cast them myself.

Hermione definitely made a better choice with her elective subjects. She surely will sign up for this with her having cast simple wards while we were fighting Voldemort. Maybe she will cast the wards on my home once I buy one if she gets into the course.

This makes me wonder if Bill did take this subject when he was at school. With him being a curse breaker, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried out warding this way. When Hermione won't be able to visit this elective, I may have to ask him to receive more information about Warding.

~Ritual Magic: This is the most powerful form of magic and requires a strong bond between the partners, as well as a high amount of self-control. It can be use in nearly every aspect of magic existing, be it the strengthening of existing wards, the curing of illnesses or the creation of protection amulets. This magic nearly has no boundaries.

*scope: 1 lesson per week+ performing 3 rituals during the year + a detailed description of the performed rituals

*requirements: one of the partners must have at least received an Exceeds Expectations in Ancient Runes OWLs, suitable partner, taking Trance-sexual magic

*equipment: course book, additional equipment according to the chosen rituals~

Ancient Runes is required again, but at least only one of the partners has to have received an OWL in this subject. So, if I am lucky, I will be able to learn about this art, especially since it would give me the opportunity to work with warding magic in one way or another. And maybe it will even help with the curing of the Cruciatus Curse's after-effects.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Having finished reading the brochure Harry laid it down again. It seemed that he would have to sacrifice five of his free periods if he gets to attend all the three additional subjects he decided to take up next year. But it should be more than worth his time.

Poor Hermione will most likely sign up for all of them expect Divination. Taking her already stuffed timetable into account, she won't be able to attend all of those electives without the help of a Time Turner. But since all Ministry Time Turners were destroyed during our fifth-year, she will have to make some sacrifices, unless some hidden Time Turner emerges in the meantime. Even if this unexpected event should happen, she would still need a compatible partner for all those courses, and I don't believe that anyone besides her will sign up for so many of the Altair electives.

Getting out of bed and walking over to his desk, Harry sat down in the old chair and picked up a quill to start filling out the included form. After writing down his name and birthday in the designated location, he marked the box for Basic Trance-sexual magic as well as the boxes for Sexual Potions and Ritual Magic. After signing the form, he called Hedwig over and tied the filled out and shrunken (thanks to being of age and now free to perform magic out of school) form to her legs.

"Take this to Hogwarts, girl. Rest, then come and find me at the Burrow later today."

After Harry could not see Hedwig any longer in the moonlit sky, he decided that it was finally time to go to bed. With Mr. Weasley arriving around 10 am today, he would need to get up at about 8:30, giving him a bit over seven hours of sleep. He fell asleep soon after his head hit the pillow.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-

Shërim Mendjen: Albanian for healing/recovery of the mind (at least this is what Google translated) I found it fitting that an Albanian would have invented a potion which cured the after-effects of the Cruciatus Curse when Voldemort had spent some time in Albania.


AN_2: I hope that you like the mentioned subjects so far. I tried to include some of Harry's thoughts, feelings and reasons in this chapter, but since the whole subject of the Altair still needs to be introduced, it will be some time before the reader will get an inside view on Harry's and Draco's minds. The next chapter should be up at the beginning of April at the latest. And will have both Draco and Harry in it, even if they won't interact just yet.