Chapter 14: Visions of the Past

The Saotomes spent the rest of the weekend in their suite, only coming out for meals or to workout in their classroom. Not breakfast though, they skipped the informal meal in the mornings, instead depending on Lint to bring them food straight from the kitchen.

Each time the little house elf appeared or departed it was under Ranma's attentive gaze. He had been intently studying her technique and was sure he was close to figuring out how she did it. Unfortunately to his frustration there seemed to be something he was missing, some element without which he would never succeed in claiming her technique for his own. It was almost like it wasn't meant for human chi. Still, he refused to accept defeat, confident that eventually he would figure it out. Then even if he couldn't do it himself, he knew it was only a short step to creating a related technique of his own, one he could use.

The Saotomes weren't staying in their rooms just to avoid the students and professors, they did visit Hagrid for tea after all, they stayed in their rooms because they were busy brainstorming. By the time they retired to bed on Sunday night they had a good idea of what they wanted to do to Malfoy and his cronies, but they didn't know how they would get away with it, or obtain the necessary supplies. They needed support and advice from Nabiki back in Japan, something that was proving difficult to obtain without tipping someone off. They couldn't call because there were no phones at Hogwarts. They couldn't write her, not even by sending an owl to Kasumi in Watford, because the professors and the ministry people surrounding the school were going through every piece of post that left the castle. They tried requesting permission to leave for London over the weekend but McGonagall denied it, informing them that the Aurors and thus the ministry requested that no one leave the grounds until they had secured its boundaries. She couldn't say how long that would be, but judging by the flat look in her eyes Ranma wasn't going to hold his breath.

Once they left the old witches' presence, Ranma muttered about that being a restriction that he was sure didn't apply to Dumbledore or the other professors. Akane hadn't even tried to argue the point, she was quickly coming to agree with him. She still wanted to graduate though and there were several good things for them at Hogwarts, here they were free from the madness of Nerima and there were opportunities they never would have had back home.

****

Sunday night Akane dreamed of her mother.

The first such dream she'd had since returning from that weekend in London. The weekend that began in fear, then turned to contentment as they visited with Kasumi and mother Nodoka, only to end in hurt and frustration as she fought with Ranma. She hardly slept, much less dreamed, during the week that followed, the time when Ranma was sleeping on the floor in their sitting room. After that, in spite of the relief she felt in finally sharing a bed with her husband, she had been too wound up in worry over what Draco Malfoy and Snape were going to do with their knowledge of Ranma's curse to drift through dreams.

Tonight though, tonight her mind was free of worry, tonight she dreamed of her mother. She barely recognized her, probably wouldn't have if not for the strange way she just knew things about what she was dreaming, things she had never known before.

Kimiko looked to be maybe eleven or twelve years of age, her body just beginning to show signs of the woman she would become, and with her short hair she looked like quite the tomboy. It seems Akane came by it honestly, and not from her father. Kimiko was in potions class, and yes...there was Professor Slughorn, looking younger but no slimmer than he did now.

"Okay class," He started in a friendly voice, yet also one of experience and authority. "today we are going to brew a simple little potion called Leviculus Morsus. Can anyone tell me what it does?"

He scanned the room, looking for a raised hand and a body that couldn't sit still in its seat. He found one wearing the blue and bronze of House Ravenclaw.

"Yes, Miss Stroma isn't it?"

A tall, slender girl with long, dark hair, Rebecca Stroma nodded before answering in a pleasant, if a little high pitched, voice.

"The Leviculus Morsus potion is useful for alleviating minor aches and pains. It is primarily used for curing headaches, thus the name."

It seems every generation has its Hermoine. Rebecca was very bright, with a good heart and a kind soul. Which is probably why the Death Eaters would later kill her during Voldemort's first attempt to claim power over the Wizarding world.

"Very good Miss Stroma, five points for Ravenclaw. Yes, the Leviculus Morsus potion is used to alleviate minor pains and I dare presume that many, if not all of you have enjoyed its benefits before. It has long been a favorite of mothers throughout the Common Wealth. A little will ease aches and relieve headache pain, yet too much will leave one feeling light headed and confused. Which, amusingly enough, may also be a reason for the name." Professor Slughorn and the Ravenclaw students all chuckled, as if at a small joke. "Now the primary ingredient is bark from the Willow tree..."

The dream professor Slughorn went on to discuss the making of the Leviculus Morsus potion and in spite of her only interest being in watching her mother, Akane couldn't seem to help learning from his lecture. In no time the students were bringing out their cauldrons, most pewter, a few made of silver, and at Slughorn's direction, began adding ingredients as he continued to expound on the virtues and properties of each.

Kimiko was mixing the ingredients, following the instructions listed in the open text book beside her, but she seemed harried and flustered and even Akane could tell that this wasn't going to end well, not the way she wanted. Kimiko was frantically stirring the contents of the pewter cauldron in a counter clockwise direction and Akane could see Professor Slughorn moving across the room, worry etched across his features, when her mother's potion instantly evaporated. The cauldron was empty, only a few stray wisps of smoke left of its contents.

"Ahhh!" She screamed in frustration, a feeling with which Akane was all too familiar.

"Now, now my dear. No reason for all that." Slughorn sought to reassure her, placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "Potion making is an exacting art, yes, but it is one that anyone can master with enough hard work and determination." Now he raised his voice to address the whole class. "That is part of what makes potions such a wonderful art. Why, with enough dedication and the proper ingredients, anyone can mix up an elixir for almost any purpose. If done properly there is nothing that a potions master cannot achieve. He can cure ills, heal even the most grievous injuries, clear up teenage skin." Here he stopped to share a few laughs with his nervous young students. "He can even bottle luck. In fact, in my experience the only thing a potion can't do is make someone fall in love, but even that it can fake, often to disastrous results. No, with potions it is not a question of what can you do, but of what should you do. The waving of wands, charms and transfigurations are wondrous magic, yes, but all pale in comparison to what can be achieved with a simple potion mixed from the correct ingredients."

Turning back to Kimiko, he gave the shy girl a friendly smile. "So don't give up my dear. There are wonders beyond counting waiting for you if you but persevere. Trust me when I tell you that it is well worth whatever efforts it costs you. Now, try again, you'll get it eventually as long as you don't give up." With another pat on the shoulder, Slughorn moved over to help another student.

Kimiko turned back to her cauldron with a determined look in her eyes and a small smile on her lips.

The dream shifted to what Akane somehow knew to be days later, the location, a student lab in another part of the castle. Her mother was bent over her cauldron, desperately stirring its contents while simultaneously adding several pinches of various powders.

Kimiko looked haggard. Her hair was standing up in random tufts, her bangs having turned a strange shade of blue. Her clothing was equally disheveled, with still smoking spots scattered here and there on the front of her robes. With a sudden cry of fear, she jumped away from the table as the once yellow contents of the cauldron turned an angry red and began to boil. She had no sooner cleared the area when the potion gone wrong exploded in a cloud of foul smelling black smoke, which once cleared revealed a large crack in the side of her poor cauldron, its contents spilling out over the table and already beginning to congeal.

With a cry of despair Kimiko covered her face with her hands, tears slipping between her fingers as a frightened male voice ( that sounded suspiciously like Ranma ) cried out "Kimiko, would you give it up already before you kill someone!"

Akane wanted to cry as she watched her mother turn to flee the room in shame, only to be brought up short as she impacted with the bosom of an older, heavier girl. Looking up past her tears, Kimiko found herself looking into kind hazel eyes framed by soft, generous features with the cutest pug nose, all topped by the reddest hair she had ever seen. Without hesitation, the older girl wrapped her arms around Kimiko in a comforting hug, just like her mother or Amelia would do.

"There, there dearie. Don't let them get to you, they're just fools, probably afraid of their own shadows. Don't let them discourage you."

"Don't encourage her Molly." One of the boys said in a biting voice.

"Oh, just you hush William Forsythe, or I'll hex you and make your skin break out in the most awful pimples. I can do it too, my brother Gideon taught me the spell. A frightfully unpleasant experience it is to, trust you me." She gave him a glare that bode ill for her future children. The aforementioned William gave her an undignified huff, before turning back to his fellows and ignoring the girls.

The now named Molly held Kimiko out to arms length, giving her a warm smile as she brushed the tears from her cheeks with the back of her fingers. "Now, now dear. Don't cry, it will be all right. I'm Molly by the way, Molly Prewett. Who might you be?"

"Kimiko." Was the answer, given in a shuddering and timid voice.

"Well Kimiko, let's just see what we have here." Molly spoke reassuringly, as she turned to survey the mess on the table. "Oh, what a mess." Drawing forth her wand, she waved it and with a "Scourgify." caused the hardening substance to be whisked away from the cracked cauldron and off the table. Then studying the cauldron, she again waved her wand with a "Reparo."

Kimiko watched the crack in her cauldron seal itself back up, leaving only a slightly discolored line to show it had ever been there.

"There, much better." Molly exclaimed, putting her wand back into her robes. "Of course that cauldron won't be as good as it was before, but it will do for now. Working on potions making I see."

Kimiko nodded yes, rubbing the remaining tears from her eyes. "Professor Slughorn says I can do it, but I've been trying and..." Her head drooped, chin resting on her sternum as she made a few futile brushings at her no longer pristine robes.

"Now, now, Professor Slughorn is right. Anyone can learn to make potions, even I had trouble at first. All it takes is a little patience and hard work, traits you must have in abundance if the sorting hat put you in Hufflepuff."

Kimiko couldn't contain a small smile at the other girl's mothering manner. "Still, that boy is probably right. At this rate I'll kill myself before I master it."

Molly's eyes twinkled along with her smile. "Well, as my gran always said, 'there is more than one way to skin a cat' and its fortunate for you that there is a related, easier and much safer art that you can practice. One that is equally rewarding, even Professor Slughorn would agree, and if you can master it than you are but a small step away from mastering potions."

The other girl was making Kimiko feel better in spite of herself and she had to ask; "What art is that Sempai?"

Molly wrapped one arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "Why, cooking of course. If you can make a delicious meal then you can mix a potion any old day. Even that liquid luck Professor Slughorn is always going on about."

Kimiko felt her spirits drop, even as Molly worked to keep them up. "But I don't know how to cook."

"Well then, I'll just have to teach you."

"Now?"

"Why of course. No reason to put it off. We can even start right here."

"Here?" Kimiko squeaked.

"Yes. We'll start with something every civilized girl needs to know how to make, no matter where in the world she is."

"What would that be?" Kimiko was finding the other girl's good spirits to be contagious.

"Why, tea of course."

Drawing Kimiko back to the table, Molly looked around until she spotted a house elf cleaning up across the room. Recognizing the diminutive figure, Molly called out; "Lint, oh Lint."

Coming from across the room, blinking her large eyes owlishly, the house elf answered with a smile for the kind girl and Kimiko could tell that she wasn't the only one to find the red head so easy to like. "Yes Miss Molly, what can Lint do for you?"

"You can fetch a kettle and three cups from the kitchens, then join Kimiko and I for a spot of tea. Would you please?"

The elf's face was split in two by her smile. "Is Lint's pleasure, Miss Molly!" Then the small figure disappeared, only to return a moment later with the requested items, a table cloth and three lace doilies.

Taking the kettle from the house elf, Molly could tell by the weight that Lint had already filled it with the required water. "Thank you Lint. Now the first thing we have to do is boil the water."

"Wait!" Kimiko exclaimed. Rushing to her things she retrieved a quill pen and a familiar, if currently blank notebook of plain lined paper. "I want to write this all down."

Opening to the first page, she wrote; 'How to boil water'.

****

With Monday morning came a return to their regularly scheduled program, awkwardness and discomfort not withstanding.

The first class of the day was Charms, with Professor Flitwick. They were still sitting in with the first years, though the Professor had assured them he was confident that at their present rate of advancement they would learn enough to pass their OWLs at the end of the year. Given that Charms was Ranma's toughest class, Akane's was potions just like her mother, his words gave them hope.

To Ranma's relief the little wizards other prediction was proving to be correct, none of the students seemed to have a clear knowledge of just what happened on Halloween morning. They knew something big had occurred, but with most suffering under the effects of the butter beer no one could say what, or at least no one was willing to say it out loud. Those who hadn't imbibed the tainted treat hadn't been in the Great Hall to see how it began and only knew that two mobs of boys, under the influence of a love filter, had pursued some poor girl through the halls.

A small group of Gryfindor fourth years recognized the red headed friend of Akane's as their unfortunate prey, having gotten a close look just before her dive down the tower stairs, but at Harry Potter's request they weren't speaking of it outside of their house and not to the younger students even within Gryfindor. The older boys were still speculating about it in private though, with each new theory more ridiculous then the last and none coming remotely close to the truth.

Worried about her new friends Hermoine recruited Doby, Harry's elfin shadow, to spy on her house mates. She instructed him to warn her if any of the boys ever mentioned Ranma or Snape's class on Jusenkyo in connection to the event. Doby, as always, was overjoyed to help. Even without the compulsion of a house elf's enslavement, he proved frightfully enthusiastic when given the chance to serve.

The Saotome's second class of the day was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Snape and the old man did nothing to make it pleasant for the young couple. Even in his private sessions with them, sessions he attended under protest, he seemed to only be interested in finding reasons to berate and belittle them. At least in the class room he settled for simply ignoring them.

In spite of his reticence and lack of instruction, Ranma and Akane had already advanced to the third year level. Ranma was especially experienced at dealing with magical threats to his person. Akane had learned by witnessing his struggles, when she hadn't found herself swept up into the wake of the seemingly endless challengers who came seeking him or Chinese princes seeking a bride. It helped that unlike math and history, this was a subject for which Ranma could see a definite use.

Snape had tried, but not even he had been able to come up with good enough reasons to hold them back.

On this particular day the DADA class was being held in the teacher's lounge instead of Snape's dungeon. Entering the familiar room and taking seats behind the standing students, Ranma and Akane watched as the class of thirteen year olds spread out before a large cabinet standing in the center of the room. It was almost seven feet tall, extremely sturdy of build, and held closed by a heavy latch. It was also rocking, occasionally giving a jump as if something within was trying to force its way out.

The thirteen year olds watched it with fearful expectation. Ranma and Akane were just hoping it wasn't more garden sprites, those things had proven annoying. Which of course, was probably the very reason Snape had released them. He certainly didn't stick around to endure the little buggers.

Speaking of tall, dark and somebody gave me wedgies when I was six so I never smile, it looked like it was time for class to start. Professor Snape stepped in front of the cabinet, his still form and dour face standing in sharp contrast to the lively rocking of the cabinet behind him.

"Students, if I may have your attention you may actually learn something. Today I am going to teach you about that terror that likes to hide in dark places, waiting to ambush the weak of will and soft of mind."

Several of the children were now looking at the cabinet with knowing, and fearful glances.

"Yes, I see that several of you are already familiar with today's topic. Inside this cabinet I have captured a boggart."

Neither Ranma nor Akane had ever heard of such a creature before, but given the fearful mutterings of their younger classmates, they knew it must be a horrific monster. They might have wondered how such a thing could fit in the cabinet, but thanks to their experiences with master Happosai they knew that truly dreadful horrors often came in the smallest of packages.

For once Ranma intruded into the class and knowing that Snape would only ignore him if he raised his hand, he blurted out; "What is a boggart?"

Snape gave him a disdainful look, silently waiting as if for an apology, before deciding that it would be expecting too much from the uncouth barbarians Dumbledore had saddled him with.

"For the sake of the ignorant among you, I will answer the question."

Several of the students, especially those wearing the green and silver of house Slytherin, giggled at Ranma's expense. Their own nervousness cutting into their good manners.

"A boggart is a shape shifter," He gave Ranma a meaningful look before continuing. "so much so that no one knows what its natural form may be. It also feeds on fear. Which is why it waits in ambush for the weak, at which point it instinctively takes on the form of whatever they fear most. Dinning on the resultant terror. It is nearly impervious to physical harm, requiring magic to defeat. It is fortunate for you..." He looked over the class with barely concealed contempt. "that it is susceptible to a rather simple spell. One any of you should be able to cast. If you will line up in two rows, side by side. Like sheep you will find safety in numbers. The boggart focuses on the nearest target but in the event that there is more than one it may become confused, giving you the time needed to cast a defensive spell."

Professor Snape went on to explain the use of the 'Riddikulus' spell. Two by two, the students confronted the released boggart. Unfortunately Snape's tendency to belittle them over their exposed fears often undermined their efforts and the professor would be required to rescue them. Each time he did, he forced the boggart to take on the form of a characterized chinaman, with fat cheeks, a shock of red hair bound in a pig tail, and protruding front teeth.

The students all laughed at the ridiculous figure, most never realizing the reasons for its appearance. Ranma and Akane knew and were grinding their teeth.

After the last of the children had faced their fears, the boggart driven back into the cabinet, Snape moved to lock it shut but paused. "Perhaps the Saotomes would care to try. Show us how a Master of the East deals with their fears."

He stepped aside, waving at the students to clear a path from the Saotomes to the cabinet. They were now all staring at Ranma and Akane, anxiously waiting to learn what the older couple feared.

Akane looked from her husband to the cabinet, the anxiety clear on her face, confident she knew what would come out of the cabinet when he approached. Ranma was too angry to give it any consideration. "I ain't afraid of nothing." He said, stepping up before the cabinet.

Akane rushed to her husband's side, even as with a wave of his wand Snape threw open the cabinet and out stepped...well something not even she had expected.

Instead of a cute and harmless kitten, what came out was truly a thing of horror and far from harmless. It was Tatewaki Kuno, wearing only a tight black Speedo and wielding a bouquet of roses which he thrust towards Ranma like it was his bokken.

Overwhelmed by the memory of recent events, the blood drained from Ranma's face even as he took an involuntary step back from this creature of nightmare.

The boggart moved to follow, but Akane seized the opening and placed herself in its path. Its focus changed to a new target, the boggart took on the lush and scantily clad form of Shampoo. Instinctively driven by Akane's fears, the transformed boggart moved to glomp Ranma, only to have its focus changed once again and this time it took on the form of neko-Shampoo. Before Ranma could react, Akane caught the cat like creature across the chest with a sweeping side kick, tossing it back into the cabinet with enough force to rock the wooden box, causing the doors to swing shut.

With a mocking leer on his face and a wave of his wand, Snape caused the doors to latch sealing the boggart within. He didn't know why the cat girl appeared, but he didn't let that stop him from making a snide remark. "I guess given recent events, that was only to be expected."

The students looked from Snape to the Saotomes with confusion, most convinced that the couple had indeed cast the Riddikulus spell. How else would you explain the ridiculous forms the boggart had taken. Well, everything but the girl. The boys were all wishing Akane had left that one a little longer.

Gathering his things, Snape announced to the class; "You are to read chapter eight on Nymphs, Sirens and how to defend against creatures that beguile the mind for class tomorrow."

Breaking free of the overwhelming horror that held him, never having noticed the boggart change into a cat, Ranma called after Snape in challenge. "Tell us Snape, what form does it take for you? What are you afraid of?"

Pausing, Snape turned to answer. "Why, an ignorant fool wasting my time, of course." Then without waiting for a rejoinder, he crossed the room and left with a swish of his long black robes.

Ranma was practically vibrating, the Soul of Ice wrapped tight around his anger. "We need a way to contact your sister in Japan." He whispered to Akane. "I don't know if Cologne will help or not, but somehow we are going to teach that...jerk, a lesson."

Akane could only nod in agreement. She was equally anxious and only wished she knew how they were going to do it, even if it meant contacting the Amazons.

****

The days that followed returned to their normal routine, while Akane's nights were filled with dreams. First they were of her mother, watching and learning alongside Kimiko as Molly and Lint taught her how to cook, filling the notebooks pages with recipes and detailed instructions. In time the dreams turned to lessons on potion making, first with her mother, but later with a woman she just knew was Amelia, then others from even further back. Until she was dreaming about the conversations between an ancient ancestor of Amelia's and a French man named Nicolas Flamel.

Akane learned more about potions in her sleep than she did in Slughorn's classes, even if he was often the teacher in both.

Author's notes:

Again, I apologize for this taking so long in coming and promise I have not put it off in favor of my other stories. The last chapter for Kal'Ex was written in only a few hours during my day off and the Fallen was already written. In fact, I have spent more time on Hogwarts than on the others combined, and done more erasing too. Hogwarts is the only story I have mapped out to the end, and the one giving me the most trouble writing. Maybe it is because I know what is coming next, leaving me free to worry over how to write it and rushing to the next big event.

I know this chapter feels like more useless filler, but an important secret was exposed during it. I will expound upon that later.

JWG; You mentioned a collection of screw ups from chapter 1, yes I would appreciate a copy of it. I have re-read this story several times in an effort to spark my muse and in doing so found more mistakes in the first two chapters than things done right ( not the least of which being that there should be ten chapters, not two ). I intend to clean it up and resubmit it at a future date. I would try doing so now but I'm not sure how big of a mess that would create, or if it would break any links people have made for updates etc.. So if anyone has any corrections they could point out, I would appreciate it. The first two chapters were very much on the lower end of the learning curve and I expect a flood, so don't worry about upsetting me by pointing out something I did that was frankly, stupid.

To clarify my handling of Dumbledore, especially in relation to the lack of punishment for Draco, it wasn't intended to be because of arrogance or personal amusement. Reading the books and watching the movies, Dumbledore always struck me as an unrepentant manipulator who took the long view of things. Placing Harry with the Dursleys, using him as bait, sending him after the Horcruxes, even Dumbledore's own demise, all were devices he used to control the way the war played out. The headmaster was concerned because Draco's actions were threatening his control, he left him unpunished because he still had plans for the Malfoy heir. He left Draco alone because it suited his purpose, just as he left Harry out to dry.

Just so you know, yes I was disappointed by the way Rowling ended the story, but after seven books of build up that was kind of expected. Sort of like the Star Wars prequels, how do you make good on years of promises without disappointing.

Fallacies, in answer to your questions about Ranma's magical aptitude, I think this falls under Daniel Stacks complaint that I've been too sparse on the details. I need to include scenes showing what Ranma can do and further explaining the ways of Eastern magic. FYI; Ranma is at least the equivalent of a first to second year student. In some areas even higher. He can cast the simple spells like levitating feathers and unlocking doors. The East does have equivalent spells, they even cast many through the use of wand like objects ( ie: Happi's pipe, Khu Lon's staff and the Saotome Honor Sword), their martially oriented traditions just don't place the same importance on them. They focus almost exclusively on combat skills, teaching 'normal' spells later. Don't think for a moment that Happi doesn't know how to magically open windows, or levitate silky darlings across a room to his grubby paws. Also, Ranma and Akane have suffered under the tutelage of masters who are more concerned with keeping them under control then with actually making masters of them. Ranma has more difficulty learning Western magic than Akane because he has been more thoroughly indoctrinated in the Eastern method. Eventually he will have that proverbial 'click' in his mind, allowing everything to suddenly make sense. Still, unlike Akane he will never become a Western style wizard. Instead he will mostly create his own versions, ones more in keeping with what he knows. I have planned a few spells that will be his own, unique creations and will try to introduce them in training scenes.

C Rose; I admit I haven't done much with Ranma and Akane's martial skills ( or other skills ), instead focusing more on their relationship. I only have two actual fights planned for this story, one at Christmas and the other when the Death Eaters invade Hogwarts. I would like to do something involving Snape or even Lucius, but have yet to think of anything that wouldn't prove too disruptive. I am open to suggestions. To be honest, I'm still not sure how to depict a Western wizard in combat other then to say he waves his wand around and spouts off funny words. Not very satisfying. As for the Ki Mallet, I've always considered it to be an aberration that disappeared from the manga ( likely a reflection of the female author's desire to pound some jerk man in her life ). I do plan on Akane being a weapon user, mostly the Saotome Honor Sword ( after all, Genma isn't the one who carried it for the last ten years and Ranma won't either ). I think you would be more interested in my 'Black Lotus' follow up. If I can pull it off it will be more like a chop sui film, with lots of special effects and wire work. Think 'Big Trouble in Little China' meets 'The Bride With White Hair'. I hope.

Again, thanks to everybody for the comments, criticism and advice. I do try to take advantage of it, even the flames.