That night Gryffindor celebrated Harry's amazing victory over the Hungarian Horntail. George came back from the revelries to the pile of homework on his bed. Fred told him to forget it but Monday would roll around and he didn't want to imagine the strange discipline Moody would have waiting for him, so he rolled up his sleeves and opened to the chapter entitled "Strigoi"
Strigoi
Classification: Humanoid
Origins: Central & Eastern Europe around the 1300's
The strigoi are subclass of the vampire family. They have been observed walking in broad daylight and could easily pass as a normal witch or wizard.
Great how was George supposed to tell the class on how to identify them if they looked like everyone else.
Distinguishing features from their class are of course enlarged canines and pale pigmentation. Strigoi can be born unlike vampires who are created, although, they can be created by of course the mixing of blood within a person's system just like every sub-class of vampire. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a coven of Strigoi in the French Alps. They were entirely self sufficient creating their needed sustenance from potions rather than draining the nearby village.
Yet another reason for George to hate the french.
Many strigoi may transform into a bat, wolf or deep mist which they used in early years to escape persecution. It was noted by historian, Aidon Tepes, that the transformation was dependent on family line, but this has not been proven. As time grew on the Strigoi parted from their vampire counterparts focusing on entering society in a more peaceful way as vampires were rampaging through eastern europe the strigoi were strengthening one of their gifts that I have accurately labeled; compulsion. When visiting the family, who shall remain anonymous, the leader of the coven advised me not to make skin to skin contact with any of his family. I, correctly assumed that the contact is what strengthens the compulsion.
George made note of the skin to skin contact for his presentation notes. The chapter continued on….
Strigoi find pure blood lines exceedingly important. Any outside witch or wizard must prove their pure blood line status and be accepted by the family before the transformation process beings. Family is essential to the strigoi. Once they have chosen their mate it is for life.
Did he just mention life? So you can kill these bastards. George readied his quill for the continuation.
While the strigoi may live an exceedingly long life due to their condition they can die to most anything much like us. They are susceptible to the killing curse and the many dangerous jinxes of course. I know this as they keep a family ledger of when and how family members died in their front foyer. I noticed among many of the causes of death that poison was not among them. I inquired with my host who explained their blood is like venom itself, which is why it needs to be replenished, and it fights out any other toxin or virus entering the body.
George only made a few more notes about how they could eat but they didn't need to and how there is still not a lot known about the strigoi but the writer didn't think they were any harm to the wizarding world as they knew it. He wasn't sure if Moody would like that so he struck that note away and continued onto the next chapter fighting a yawn and nestling closer into his bed.
James Jupiter and Weatherby spent most of their Sunday piled under paperwork. MACUSA was going through some educational shifts and all the paperwork had to be reviewed by J.J. who would have rather spent his time reading through Fenrir Dubois schools files, but Weatherby continued to keep his in-coming pile stacked very high. They came to a good stopping point around 7 in the evening. Weatherby took all of the signed documents to the owlery, and he took out the papers that had been secured about the boy from Beauxbatons.
Fenrir Roi Dubois
Born: December 21st, 1976 to Cozette and Meric Dubois en Village Mount Blanc
Two things off the bat made J.J cringe. The boys middle name was, king, and it made him recall Friday at the Three Broomsticks. Secondly the boy was four years older than Persephone. Not that it was a large age gap, but it made him feel more uncomfortable. What was an almost eighteen year old boy doing with his granddaughter? He continued nevertheless…
House: Ombrelune …. Garcon de tete
The house of the shadowed moon was the Hogwarts equivalent of Ravenclaw and Slytherin combined as Beauxbatons only had three houses. It meant the boy was extremely intelligent but also highly ambitious seeing as he currently held the rank of Head Boy. Next came the boy's current grades which he easily translated from french.
Charms: O
Potions: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Magical History: O
Divination: O
Ancient Runes: O
Herbology: O
Care of Magical Creatures: O
Muggle Studies: P
Transfiguration: O
Magical Theory: O
Alchemy: O
Apparition: O
Ghoul Studies: O
James took a second look. He had never seen so many outstandings in a variety of subjects. Not even he got that many when it came time for his testing; fourteen of them! It was unheard of. The only subject the boy did poorly in was muggle studies; there was a notation on the side that he had dropped the class after his fifth year due to an altercation with the Professor. J.J scrambled through the papers hoping to find a disciplinary notice on the altercation, but there wasn't one. The remaining notes mentioned his position on the Ombrelune quidditch team. James had been right in assuming his keeper's build. Most grandfather's would be satisfied that the boy attached to their granddaughter was intelligent and from what Persephone had told him enjoyed just spending time with her. Weatherby rushed into the room shouting his apologizes.
"By god man what's wrong with you?" J.J asked rushing to his assistant who was on the verge of a heart attack. The door to the room flung open and a mass of magenta velvet bent upon entering. She was extraordinarily large with olive skin and liquid looking eyes.
"Madame Maxime." J.J. stuttered, "What a pleasure."
The half-giantess swung the room's hanging light out of the way. She was outraged,
"Whatz du you tink you are doing Monsieur Labrie! Digzing into my stewdonts!"
James Jupiter sent Weatherby away and flicked his wand to his trunk. A bottle of 1902 Chateau Margaux floated into view. The Headmistress calmed seeing one of the most revered wines from her country come into his hands. They settled across J.J's desk once he offered her the first cup. Olympe Maxime drained the glass and gladly helped herself to another. The wine settled the Headmistress, as it should have, it was a calming charm James had placed on the delicate red wine himself. As Director of Education high power parents would often barge into his office in a fit of rage. It was second nature to always have a bottle on hand. James Jupiter drained his own glass giving an unintentional sigh,
"I am sorry to have bothered you with this Olympe. I should have talked with you directly."
"Oui, I waz verry concerned un receiving a letter from my Deputy Headmistress," Madame Maxime took another full glass, "Though I have never known you to do something wit out great cause."
J.J. nodded stirring the glimmer of remaining wine at the bottle of his glass.
"So which stewdont iz it? Madame Maxime inquired, "Madame Durand did not mention in er note."
"Fenrir Dubois." He replied shortly. The Beauxbatons Headmistress let out an honest chuckle,
"And what could un of my star pupils have possibly done to varrant an investigation?"
Great, did everyone think this kid was amazing? J.J took a deep breath,
"He's…..dating my granddaughter." the words were like a thick boiling stew in his throat.
Madame Maxime flinched even if it was miniscule James caught it. The Headmistress stood,
"Well you ave all of his records so you can see for yourselv what kind of stewdont he iz. Merci beaucoup pour de vin."
"All I see is parchment Madame. I need to know who this boy is where he comes from."
Olympe gazed down at him unblinking, "He comes from a vevry powerful family James... His parents are practically council members on zee education board. I feel uncomfortable dizcussing dis with you, pardonne-moi."
He expressed that no apology was necessary and saw the woman out feeling defeated. This kid had all the cards. J.J inspected the school copies once more the location of the boy's birth…. the French Alps. This bit of information pulled at his gut, and if there was anything his Juno taught him about gut-feelings it was to follow them immediately.
"Weatherby!" He called and immediately his dutiful assistant rushed into the room.
"Yessir?!" Walter pushed up his glasses holding their tentative schedule for the next week.
"Weatherby… how would you feel about a change of scenery?"
Early Monday morning long after Walter had taken off to France J.J. had a surprise visit barge in during his breakfast. Alastor Moody lumbered in. James steeled himself as while he respected the man's notability for catching dark wizards he never had quite gotten over that Robin had taken the mission that killed her from his man. The auror turned Professor took a large swig out a flask from his inner pocket,
"A bit early for spirits Alastor." He commented.
"Nerr too early Jimmy." Moody replied. James rolled his eyes never preferring to go by that nickname even in school, "Dumbledore has asked me to let you see how I teach my class. He said you were interested in reworking how your lump of a Professor teaches."
It was sad but true Ilvermony had a tenured lack-luster Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. J.J had attempted to stir up enough support to fire him, but that was a long process filled with red tape and paperwork. J.J followed Moody to the same exact classroom he had been taught in. There was a comfortable armchair by the door for him to sit in.
"First period is my sixth years. This lot will be doing an informative presentation." the Professor mentioned before limping away to his desk. James found this surprising as he had heard rumors of Moody's in class examples more than presentations and book reading. Students began to file in about ten til eight. J.J watched the Weasley twins saunter in right at the eight o'clock mark. He had noted that of the two Fred was the more aggressive one while George was their to bolster his brother in support. Neither of them noticed his presence until it was their turn to present. Fred's presentation on Ritual Zombies and Malignant Spirits was more of a show than a presentation. This Weasley twin had obviously put off learning anything about the creatures until last minute. He did a dramatic bow at the end of his presentation
"Thank you, thank you. That's all I know."
"George yer up." Moody motioned. J.J met eyes with the boy who took a hard swallow before beginning his presentation. The boy quickly glazed over Voodoo zombies which were practically cursed muggles who you could spot by their fear of fire, and decurse them by killing the creator of the curse.
"The next creature I researched are called the Strigoi. There this sub par… sorry subclass of vampire." James watched intently as George scrambled through his notes. It was probably his gaze that was making the boy uncomfortable, "This class of vampire is hard to spot due to the fact they can easily pass as one of us as unlike the traditional vampire they can walk in broad daylight with enlarged canines."
"For sucking you dry!" his brother yelled from his seat making cartoonish sucking sounds. The class chuckled and even Moody grinned. Fred was attempting to ease his brother's nerves.
"They obviously have pale skin pigmentation as with their vampirish nature. The only dangerous thing about them that the author noted was their gift for compulsion I guess is like… the imperius curse ….without it… actually being a spell….." George trailed off in his own words like his brain had just lit a candle. J.J watched the wheels turning behind the boys head. Moody grunted for him to move it along so they could get through more presentations. The boy zoomed through the rest of his presentation without much regard for anything else other than to return to his seat a deep look of realization plastered all over his face. James sat on the edge of the chair the remainder of class. He was ready to rearing to talk to the twins who had wanted nothing to do with him the other day which is why it came as surprise when George, the more reserved of the two, approached him quickly the moment class was dismissed,
"Three Broomsticks, six o'clock." was all the boy said before disappearing into the hall; his own brother confused.
Lilith-thetiny-monster: I love him two! I'm glad your excited to continue reading, next chapter is on the way! Thank you! NHPhoenix24: JJ is the bomb! Thank you as always Lillylarlar: I don't think anyone likes Fenrir but hey that's the point haha I'm trying to get in one more chapter, may have to pretend that the first challenge and the yule ball were closer in time to make it work. Thank you!