Chapter 36
See, The Thing Is...
The first week of school passed without incident. I went to class, trained with Pansy and Hermione, and resumed Saturday study sessions with the other Ravenclaw second years. Even the side long glances and whispered conversations stopped. It was nicely normal and, aside from my approaching therapy session, I had no real complaints.
Classes themselves were progressing much as I expected they would. Moving on to more complicated spells, building upon what they taught us last year. The only class that differed from my expectations was Defense. Last year it was primarily a lecture based class. Professor Lockhart's approach to Defense was much more practical.
"Alright class," Professor Lockhart said from his usual position at the front of the classroom. "As you know reacting in time to deal with a threat is the single most important part of defending yourself, but that's not all there is to it. Surviving requires at least some actual combat ability. As students, in the event you are ever attacked, your focus should be to fight only long enough to get away."
"You want us to run away?" Dean Thomas, distaste coloring his tone.
"Mr. Thomas, do you imagine that it is in someway honorable to fall in battle?" Professor Lockhart asked.
"No!" Dean said.
"Then why are you in such a hurry to die?" Professor Lockhart asked.
"I wouldn't die! I'd fight! Like a real Gryffindor, not run like a coward," Dean snapped.
I pinched my nose, Lord save me from preteen macho idiocy.
Professor Lockhart expression could loosely be described as a smile. If you weren't familiar with what an animal bearing its teeth looked like. "It seems we have our first volunteer for today's lesson!" Professor Lockhart studied the room for a moment. "Mr. Thomas, Ms. Granger, would you please come down?"
I cringed, this was not going to end well.
Dean and Hermione made their way to the front of the room and stood facing each other.
Professor Lockhart waved his wand and a large red circle appeared around them. "After I say start, the two of you will duel and the first one to either leave the circle or become unable to fight loses. Understand?" He smiled at their nods before focusing on Hermione. "And Ms. Granger, if he's not out in under ten seconds the highest grade you will make in my class is an Acceptable." Professor Lockhart smiled. "Start!" If she had been given more time to think, more time to process, Hermione probably would have reacted with a little more restraint.
As it was, well, thank god for cushioning charms.
Hermione's wand snapped up and, with all the rage and fear of a mother bear protecting her cubs, screamed. "Depulso!"Dean's eye's barely had time to widen before the force of Hermione's spell sent him careening out of the circle and into the wall.
"Good job Ms. Granger, a little more enthusiastic than I expected but good work none the less," Professor Lockhart smiled, a genuine looking smile this time, before motioning Hermione's towards her seat. His focus turned to Dean who was sitting at the wall looking at Hermione with wide eyes. "Mr. Thomas, how are you feeling? I set the cushioning charms myself but if you need to see the nurse please, speak up."
Dean's wide eyed gaze snapped to Professor Lockhart.
"Mr. Thomas?" Professor Lockhart asked.
"N-no I'm fine," Dean said.
"Then please, return to your seat," Professor Lockhart said, before turning towards the class. "Legend holds that fighting towards the last, that throwing your life away in a sad attempt to spite a superior opponent is, somehow, honorable. This," He glared around the room, "is the height of stupidity. There is no reason you should stand and fight someone you can't beat if retreat is an option. Fame, glory, renown, these are the vices of the ignorant. Only fools chase them and they hold no value when compared to your lives." He sighed and pinched his nose. "But we've gotten off topic, today I will be examining your current fighting ability. Ms. Greengrass, Mr. Finnigan please step into the circle."
As they made their way towards the circle I leaned towards Hermione and whispered, "You okay?"
Hermione blushed but nodded, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"Just checking," I shrugged and turned my attention towards the duel.
The duel, and all the ones that came after, followed a similar pattern. Once the duel began the students would open with a either a banishing charm or a disarming charm. With few exceptions they would then proceed to repeat those spells until someone lost. The lack of variety didn't surprise me, second years weren't exactly known for their vast spell repertoire, but the near-complete lack of fighting skill did.
Now I know what you're thinking, Alex they're kids of course they don't know how to fight, and you have a point. But, god, if you could have seen them you'd understand. It wasn't just the lack of skill, it was the way they kept trying the same thing over and over again. Even if their chosen spell didn't work they just kept repeating it until they simply couldn't cast anymore.
I was fairly sure that Professor Lockhart was going to be a threat. I didn't know what form that threat would take or when it would appear but I was confident he would become a threat.
That said, if he could actually get my yearmates to fight competently before he tried to kill me, I consider it an even trade.
Though the look on Sally-Anne's face when Pansy sent her spiraling out of the dueling circle was a good down payment as far as trades go.
888
Before I knew it another week had passed and I was sitting on a couch across from my therapist.
"I understand you've gone back to Hogwarts," Ms. Yamada said in a tone that wasn't quite a question but wasn't a statement either.
"Yes Ma'am," I said, idly kicking my feet. I'd worn slippers today in anticipation of tonight's hunt and if I kicked just right they made a satisfying thunk-sound.
"And how are you adjusting?" Ms. Yamada asked writing something down in her notebook.
Thunk.
"Fine."
She wrote something else. "Going from a house filled with werewolves to a school full of wizards must have been challenging."
Thunk-thunk.
"Not really."
"I'm glad you're adjusting," She wrote some more. "How are your friends doing?"
Thunk.
"Good."
She switched pens before writing more. "How did Pansy react to learning you joined the White Cliffs pack?"
Th-
My eyes snapped to her's. "I never told you my friend's names."
"No, you didn't," She said agreeably.
"Who did?" I asked, masking my attempt to get my wand as idle scratching. I was fairly sure Ms. Yamada wasn't a physical threat, she was human and what magic she had was less than most first years. Still, no reason to be uncautious.
"Your Aunt," She said, eyes resting briefly on my arms before meeting my eyes. "She's worried about you."
I averted my eyes and eased back in my seat but didn't fully relax until my wand was in my hand. "I know, but I'm fine."
"Are you?" Ms. Yamada asked, looking pointedly at my, carefully concealed, wand.
"Yes!" I snapped. "Yes, I'm fine. Yes, what happened to me this summer was horrible. I know that, but it doesn't mean that I'm not dealing with it. It definitely doesn't mean that I need, or want, your help!" I fought a grimace, I hadn't meant to say that. I hadn't meant to say anything.
"Want? Obviously not. Need?" Ms. Yamada sighed. "Miss Potter, Alex, you drew your wand the second I mentioned your friend, when you know I'm not a threat."
I sighed, she was right.
She wasn't a threat and I knew that. She was a guest in the Jensen's home and by extension, a guest of the Morrok. If she breached the hospitality offered to her, if she broke the trust given to her as one of the few certified Pack therapists, she'd be dead before she even knew what hit her. "Sorry, just...I don't want to be here."
Understatement.
I was becoming more british by the day.
"Believe me, I understand," Ms. Yamada smiled. "Why don't we try something different. You pick a topic and we'll talk about that."
"Anything?" I asked.
"Anything," Ms. Yamada nodded.
888
I put my therapy session out of my mind as I made my way out of the house and to the edge of the forest surrounding the Jensen's property. Between class and training, I hadn't had a chance to let Wolf loose since school started. Which was why, despite it not being a full moon, Joel and Ellie were waiting for me already transformed.
"Ready?" Wolf asked, anticipation dripping from her tone.
"One moment please," I said to her and the waiting wolves. I closed my eyes and fed my robe a steady stream of magic. As I did that I focused on the shape I wanted it to take. I shivered as I felt it transfigure into a black neck band, leaving me exposed to the cool night air. I took a deep breath of air before taking a huge mental step back, ceding control but retaining influence as Wolf stepped into the fore.
I-Wolf breathed as one, our heart's beat never increasing as it grew and expanded. Fur sprouted as our body bent double, fingers shortened even as nails grew into claws. Until finally I-Alex stood, shorter than before but stronger, faster.
I threw back my head and howled, Joel and Ellie joined me before we raced into the forest. Eager to start the hunt.
Be it hours or days time means nothing to a wolf. All that matters during the hunt, is the hunt. The feel of the air as it blows through my fur. The scent of moss and bark and life, as it fills your nose. The nearly silent footfalls of my packmates, as we slowly stalk our prey. The blood pounding in my veins when an errant step alerts the deer to our presence sending it bounding away.
We gave chase, Ellie leading the way only because Alex assures me that proving my superiority would only cause us problems we didn't need. Still I must concede that she does an adequate job. Before the deer can get too far Ellie catches up and rakes her claws across its flank.
It bounds away, wounded but still fast. Only for Joel to catch it on its other side. The deer still manages to run, slower but still faster than a human could match. Ellie and Joel's attacks have pointed it in my direction. I charge towards it, saliva pooling in my mouth. It lowers its head, horns pointed straight at me.
I work my legs like pistons, eeking out every last bit of speed I can force myself faster.
Seconds before its horns could tear into my flesh, I jumped to the side letting the deer pass me only for its horns to clip a tree. Not enough to kill it, slowed as it was, but enough to send it to the the ground in a bone breaking spiral. I was on it before it could recover, my teeth sinking into its neck.
A sharp crack echoed through the night and the hunt was finished.
888
The smell of mint hung heavy in the air and the sound of enthusiastic gargling filled the bathroom.
"Oh honey, you know there are spells for that, right?" The Bathroom Mirror asked in a voice that veered from 'gay best friend' to 'concerned mother' at the drop of a hat.
"Uh-huh," I gargled, before spitting into the sink. The epitome of Lady like behavior, that's me. "And if I run out of mouthwash, I'll use them. Until then," I poured another shot of neon blue liquid. "I'll use this." I upended the shot into my mouth, a minute later I spit it out. "Trust me, nothing cleanses the palate quite like this." Usually I would just use a hygiene spell, but after last night the burning mouthwash just felt cleaner.
"Salty, huh?"
I thought back, "More Irony than salty, you know?"
"Iron?" The Mirror asked. "You may want to go to the nurse, I don't think that's normal."
"Pretty sure it is," I checked my reflection one last time before heading towards the door. "Later!"
"It really isn't!" The Mirror called out as the door shut.
I'd gotten in so late last night it wrapped around back into early. So instead of trying for a nap and disturbing my friends, I'd simply gone to the restroom and settled in for a nice long hot shower. It wasn't as refreshing as a good night's sleep but it would serve. I could have spent the night at the Jensen's, but I felt more comfortable at Hogwarts than I did most anywhere else.
I made my way back to my room and to my desk. Making sure to keep quiet, Pansy and Hermione were still curled up together on the bed.
I'd spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how, and what, to tell Dresden. The how was fairly easy. I couldn't leave Hogwarts except for my visits to the Jensen's, using their phone was out of the question and getting a burner was an unlikely proposition at best. So that eliminated simply calling him.
Email was the next option I considered but, again, I had no computer accesses and Dresden would fry any he got close to. Which left me with one option.
A letter.
It came with it's own set of dangers but I'd put some thought into how to mitigate them. Instead of parchment I would use notebook paper. Instead of ink and quill I'd use a mechanical pencil. The only problem left was how to get it to him. Snail-mail was far to slow, and to easily tracked for that matter. Owl-post made it obvious that I was a wand user. Thankfully, after a bit of research, I'd found that Post-Owls are very smart and with proper instructions could easily be convinced to avoid detection.
Which just left actually writing the letter.
I sighed and got to work.
Dresden,
I am writing because there is information that I should have shared with you the last time I got in contact, but was unable to share, and because new information has come to my attention that I believe warrants your attention.
Before I continue, I recommend you sit down.
First and foremost is Maggie. She is your and Miss Rodriguez's child and she's in danger. Red Court Duchess Arianna Ortega plans to use her as the focal point of a bloodline curse that will kill both you and Miss Rodriguez's family lines. The most likely place for this ritual is Chichén Itzá.
Secondly don't trust Martin. He's a fanatic, willing to do whatever it takes to see the Red Court destroyed. Even if it means revealing the location of your daughter's foster family.
Hopefully this letter reaches you in time, but if it doesn't and you have to fight to get get her back. It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that, even ignoring the vast number of reserves the Red Court can call on, you could not beat even one Lord of Outer Night, let alone all thirteen and the Red King.
The reason you cannot beat them is thus. While they are nowhere near the same level of power as a sitting Fay Queen, they were once worshiped as gods. Their sheer presence will, quite literally, bring you to your knees.
Of the options available to you to quickly bring you to a level in which you can actually fight them, I can only offer this advice. If you choose to become the Winter Knight know that Mab cannot change who you are. She may compel your body to action but she cannot directly affect your soul. In the words of an janitor you may know "You are a soul, you have a body".
Sincerely,
Bella
P.S. Parasite is dark humor for baby.
I reread the letter a few times trying to think of something to add or take away before accepting that it was as good as it was going to get. Any more dithering and I'd still be writing it when Dresden's obituary comes out.
888
A few hours later, with the letter safely on its way and breakfast out of the way, Hermione, Pansy and I were sitting in The Room with Occlumency: Defending the Mind laid out before us.
"The book is pretty clear Alex if we want to get better at Occlumency we actual practice at defending our minds," Hermione said, pointing at the book. "Which means practicing Legilimency on each other."
"I know. I'm just worried," I said.
"Why?" Hermione asked. "You know we're not going to share anything we learn while practicing, right?"
"Of course, you won't," I waved the thought off. "That's not what worries me." I hesitated, trying to figure out how to word this. "Legilimency is a wandless spell. It's dangerous."
Hypocrite, me? Nope.
"So is Occlumency, and you don't have a problem with it," Hermione said.
"Yes, but that's defending the mind. Legilimency is attacking the mind." I said.
"And?" Hermione asked.
I looked towards Pansy for support, but she just looked at me blankly.
"Ok, how do I put this," I said. "When we cast a spell we wave our wands, say some words and spend some magic. Obviously, we pick where the spell hits, and for more complex spells like the stone vine spell you actively control the product, but that's it.
"Wandless magic is different. You have to believe in it. You need to be utterly convinced that you can do it and that you are entitled to do so. When you wandlessly summon a book to you, you have to know you can, and that you deserve it." I looked Hermione dead in the eye. "When you attack someone's mind you have to believe you have a right to violate their thoughts and learn their secrets. 'Thou shalt not violate the Mind of another' it the third law of magic for a reason."
"Oh," Hermione muttered, lowering her eyes.
"On top of that, it's way too easy to break a mind. Let's you go into someone's mind and try and fix something. Maybe they have an addiction to drugs, or they're cutting themselves and you just want to help. So you go in and tweak things so they don't do it anymore. Next thing you know they're in the mental ward, and that's just if it ends well. If it doesn't…" I let my voice trail off, moving my gaze between the two of them.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this? If it's that dangerous," Hermione said, her eyes not quite meeting mine.
"No," I shook my head. "I think we should. If we don't then we can't improve our defenses and I know the Dark Lord is a skilled Legilimens. The last thing we should do is neglect our Occlumency training. Using it to help each other train should be fine. I just want to make sure we go into this knowing the risks and treat it with the respect it deserves."
We didn't make much progress that day. Our mental probes were too weak to really test each other's defenses. I couldn't say that I minded, better our training take longer and not end up with any budding Dark Ladies.