Characters, settings, and story relating to the Harry Potter series of novels are copyright J. K. Rowling, along with Bloomsbury Publishing, et al. "Spirit of Fear" is not an officially published work, nor is it in any cooperation with J. K. Rowling or Bloomsbury Publishing. "Spirit of Fear" is entirely (with the exclusion of the aforementioned characters, settings, and story) a work by Thomas Holman.
Chapter Nine
Dust
Chey and Viktor were sitting outside Karkaroff's office. Chey's forehead had stopped bleeding, but he hadn't bothered to clean up the blood, which had run down the side of his face and spilt on his collar.
"What were you thinking?" Viktor finally asked.
"I don't remember," Chey responded after a moment's silence. "Not all of it. I don't think I saw what was really happening. I might have blacked out. All I remember is someone casting the Cruciatus curse, then nothing, then I'm sitting on the floor."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it. No more, no less. What happened?"
"Where should I start?"
"Uh, right after he disarmed us."
"Well, you started talking and he kept telling you to shut up. It was like you were provoking him."
"I didn't mean to."
"I didn't think you did. Well, then he cast the curse. I kind of fell to the ground; I guess I got hit by a collateral effect, because it wasn't pain, just felt like an ache. Anyway, the curse must have had an odd effect on you, because you were thrown against the wall, and you stayed there like something was pressing you against it."
"I remember that. Just pure, blinding pain. After that it's clear as mud. Keep going."
"Okay. This is going to make very little sense, because that's when it got weird. First, your right arm started to glow. But it wasn't an ambient glow. There was some kind of aural effect around your arm that kind of resembled smoke or a real slow fire. It seemed to alternate silver and black."
"The Illusionist's Aura. I assume it then enveloped my whole body?"
"Yes! How did you know?"
"It's nothing unusual for me. Go on."
"Well then there were some weird lights all around your arm, like bright glowing splinters. They shined bright white and weren't touching your arm, just floating around it. I heard a sound like breaking glass, then you sort of floated away from the wall."
"That sound must have been the curse being broken. Sometimes the dispelling of a powerful curse can translate into sound energy."
"There was another sound," Viktor continued, seemingly decided to ask questions later, "like something whipping through the air, and all the glowing lights aligned themselves parallel to your arm. Then the air got cold. Real cold. You held your hand out towards Andrey, then he started shivering."
"Was it that cold?"
"Not that kind of shivering. He was terrified. It looked kind of like the effect of the Dementors."
"You're kidding!"
"It was the same circumstances: the air get's cold, the target starts to relive his worst memories, and afterwards he just lay on the floor, whimpering and shivering. You still hadn't touched the ground since before the Cruciatus curse, and Andrey was lifted into the air. Then that aura around you gathered into a single point, shot towards the wall and blasted a big hole in it."
"What happened next?"
"I grabbed my wand and hit you with a stunner. I'm sorry, but I had to stop it before someone got seriously hurt," Chey accepted this logic and Viktor continued. "Well, then you flew across the hallway and hit your head on the wall and kind of slumped to the ground. Andrey just fell out of the air and didn't move. And those lights around your arm disappeared, then people started coming into the hall."
"That's it?"
"Yeah," Viktor reassured him. "Damn! Your wand is still back there!"
"No it isn't," Chey assured him. Viktor was, understandably, confused. "It's always been right here." Chey was not really indicating anything, just holding his right arm out. There was nothing in his hand, he wasn't pointing to any object, just holding his arm out in front of the two of them.
"Where?" Viktor asked, still not understanding.
"Right here," Chey said and his arm was surrounded by the glowing splinters once more.
"I don't...What do you mean?"
Chey decided perhaps it was time for someone to know the truth.
"My first year of school, I was, well, a troublemaker. I couldn't sit still. Always had to draw attention to myself. I was cracking jokes in class, pulling pranks on other kids. You know, kid stuff."
"What's this got to-"
"I'm getting to that. Eventually, sweet justice caught up with me and I was expelled at the end of the year. Technically, I was just barred from returning, as my academic record was closed to changes immediately following the final exam, so the worst punishment they could dish out was to prevent me from returning next year. That didn't stop me from attending other schools, though.
"Second year, I cleaned up my act. I wasn't a total bore, just less of a moron than I was previously. I tried to keep my record at my last school a secret, but two kids found out and figured they could do the worst thing possible and blame it on me. It worked. I was, as luck would have it, not expelled, but prohibited from returning once again, as it was after the final exam. Unfortunately, this school was far more stiff-necked when it came to procedure. Procedure called for wand destruction.
"Have you ever seen a wand destruction, Viktor?"
"No."
"It's really bizzare. The wand levitates in front of the executioners, then like wielding an axe, they swing their own wands down on it and it breaks clean in two."
"That's what happened?"
"That's what normally happens. Mine broke into dozens of shards. They all fell to the ground, bounced off the floor once, and sort of floated in the air. Then they glowed bright white, and raced off in my direction. My arm felt like every one of those shards had found a bit of real estate on my right arm and dug right in. It was like being stuck with a thousand needles that ground their way in."
"What happened next?"
"Well, the people in charge didn't know what to make of it, so they just kicked me out."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. When you confuse the hell out of people who think they know what's going on, all they can do is continue with procedure. Ever since then, I've never needed a physical wand. I can cast anything without twirling a piece of wood or saying a word."
"But I've seen you holding a wand! Or was that a fake?"
"Yes and no. What you saw was an illusion. After some practice I could create an illusion that interacted with the real world. That's how it was able to make a sound when it hit something like a desk or Sergey's head."
"Is this also why you've created your own spells?"
"Exactly. Ever since that happened, magic is truly like an extension of myself. Hell, I can even manipulate a spell that's already been cast."
"What else?" Viktor was truly fascinated. It was as though the events of less than an hour ago had never happened.
"Well, I can, in a sense, see magic. I can see where it's happened, what was cast, how strong it was, and how long ago."
"Can you see what's going to happen?"
"I'm not a seer. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you know what' going to happen to us. Karkaroff's here."
Karkaroff did not look at the boys, just told them to follow him into his office, which they obeyed. He sat down behind his desk, never inviting the two to sit.
"The boy is being treated," he began, "and you two are going to tell me what happened."
"What's there to tell?" Chey started. "He pissed me off and I kicked his ass. That's it."
"Headmaster, that's not what happened," Viktor exclaimed. "Andrey, he-"
"Viktor, you don't have to defend me."
"You could use all the defense you can get, McGonnagal," the headmaster interrupted. "I received an interesting letter from your last school, Venice University. They say that you were expelled. That's something you neglected to include on your application."
"That wasn't an issue when I submitted it."
"It is an issue now. You are both under suspension pending an investigation into today's events."
"Andrey attacked us! That's what happened!" Viktor was almost yelling.
"Why is Viktor under suspension?" Chey asked calmly.
"He was at the scene and now he is defending you. That places some suspicion on him, and he will be on suspension along with you."
"You don't want to be doing that, Igor," Chey said.
"Why shouldn't I uphold the duties of my office?"
"Well, Heaven forbid you should have a less than pristine public image."
"I'm not sure I follow," Karkaroff said, trying to hide an air of confusion.
"Me neither," Viktor whispered.
"Igor, I'm sure you're aware of Viktor's impending stardom?" Chey asked. Karkaroff half nodded. "Think about it. Viktor is going to be a star player in a professional Quidditch team. Do you really want this school, and yourself, for that matter, to be the big bad wolf that punished poor Viktor Krum for that which he played no part?"
"What are you suggesting?" Karkaroff asked. Chey had his attention, and just about any suggestion Chey made would sound like a good one.
"Expel me."
"Chey!" Viktor cried, but Chey motioned for him to stop.
"In return for not punishing Viktor, as well as signing this letter," Chey pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket, and indicated a line awaiting Karkaroff's signature, "you are free to expel me from Durmstrang School of Wizardry and I will be out of here by midnight."
Karkaroff seemed to ponder the possibilities, then said "You are very shrewd, Mister McGonnagal. Tell me. What do you gain by this?"
"Only your signature on that dotted line."
"What am I signing?"
"A very eloquent letter to the Headmaster of my next school. You'll tell them all about my shining qualities."
With the slightest hint of a smile, Karkaroff asked "So, you had this all planned out from the beginning?"
"Mostly," Chey responded with a smirk. Karkaroff signed the letter, and dismissed them, mentioning that he'll hold Chey to his promise to leave by midnight.
"Thanks, Chey," Viktor said upon exiting the office.
"Thank you, Viktor. Now I have a letter of recommendation to send to my next school."
"That was your plan? To get kicked out just to have a letter signed?!"
"It is now," Chey said with a hint of mischievousness. "But if it get's your fat out of the fire, that's cool too. I guess I'd better pack my stuff."
"What happened, Chey?!" Sergey shouted immediately once they met up.
"Found Andrey, he attacked us, we fought back, kicked his ass, I've been expelled."
"You were expelled for defending yourself?" Nikolay complained. "That's not fair!"
"Viktor will fill you in. I have to get my stuff packed and mail a letter. Raithe!" Obediently, the raven swooped down and Chey handed him the envelope, already addressed to it's recipient. "I'll be making a stop in England, so meet me there," he told the bird, and it flew off.
"What are you going to do about next year, Chey?" Nikolay asked when Chey returned to the scene with his things.
"I already got that sorted out," he responded, assuming Viktor had not told them about his plans. "I've already applied to my next school. Karkaroff was kind enough to sign a letter of recommendation for me."
"You'll keep in touch?" Mariya asked.
"Sure." It was already past eleven o'clock, so Chey figured now would be a good time to leave. He said his goodbyes to everyone, headed out the front door, and upon passing the apparition barrier, disappeared.
It was at this time Chey again wondered if he'd be able, or allowed, to stay anywhere for more than a year.
