Harry Potter and the Peverell Legacy

Book Two of the Heritage Series

Chapter Thirty-Six

To Judge Through Preconception

Studious. It was not a word one might hear in the same sentence as Ron Weasley, but it was one the Hogwarts Professors had used three times in the last week alone. Normally known to be a slacker and a mediocre student, he had suddenly focused himself on his work and was displaying real improvement and enthusiasm.

Under his short tenure of join Gryffindor Quidditch captain they had yet to lose a match, but his focus was currently off Quidditch and his stomach, he was sitting in the library, a place he seldom visited in previous years.

It was well past curfew and he was sitting in a very secluded corner of the closed library, hidden from view to any who were not looking for students out of bed, and even Filch if he wasn't in a determined mood.

Ron had spent more hours in the library after curfew than he thought he had any year in the past, it was not something he was proud of, but he was now determined to try and match up to Harry and Hermione and even Neville to an extent.

They were off in Durmstrang and Beauxbatons learning who knew what type of magic and he was stuck in Scotland bored and without the teaching of the prestigious schools. He was not comfortable with the teachings of Durmstrang, both Harry and Hermione had told him that they taught the dark arts, something that he had known from the school's reputation.

In the DA they had seen some Dart Art magic, taught to them by the Slytherin students, and some of the other houses had even learnt and practiced them. Ron however did not, he would learn to defend against them but he refused to use them, there was something about their power that he was uncomfortable with and it frightened him at a certain level.

He had started by spending the early hours reading more advanced defensive spells and other such magic but he had broadened some of his reading with duelling charms and even a touch of transfigurations, Harry's use of it had shown him that it could have some use even if he was not as good at it.

But perhaps the strongest pull he had was towards Healing.

It had been a career option he had thought about but the grades were qualified were much higher than he thought he could achieve, even when pushing himself so instead he took what he learnt in the DA from Katie and hit the books and began to learn more.

Practical experience was not something he could get, but he knew Harry had gotten some in Durmstrang, his letters had told him that much, he just hoped that Harry would be able to teach him some of what he had learnt over the last four months he had been gone.

Ron was just in the middle of a chapter on battle-healing techniques, a speciality used by aurors and hit-wizards. It was emergency magical care, and sometimes could mean the difference between life and death, and it also dealt with curse removal and magical restoration.

"You know most Gryffindors spend their nights with lovely ladies atop a tower or even having adventures thought the castle and forest." Said a low voice from somewhere, "Are you sure you're not a secret 'claw?"

Ron had his wand out and pointed in front of him, poised and alert. He looked around the library and his small alcove but saw no one. "Who is there." He said in a low growl, his heart skipped a beat and he had a curse on his tongue ready to be cast.

A chuckle startled Ron and he turned around to see in the seat he had just vacated was none other than Sirius Black who shimmered into existence.

"Sirius!" Ron exclaimed and he relaxed and glared at him "Why are you sneaking up on people!"

Sirius smirked and looked down at the books Ron had been reading "Well technically I am Headmaster and you are the student who is out of bed out of hours."

Ron rolled his eyes, he knew he wouldn't be in trouble, if he was Sirius would have told him off by now and he was hardly one to preach about being out of bounds. "Let me rephrase, what are you doing here?"

"I have need of the library just as much as a student does occasionally." Sirius said simply and he fingered the healing book with small frown of consideration "Interesting specialty, Healing is a decent skill and one that if often the least developed in the auror office."

"I like it." Ron said awkwardly, "I haven't got the grades to be a healer but it doesn't mean I can't learn more about it."

"No that it doesn't." Sirius nodded in encouragement, "I might have a book back at Black House you may be interested in, now get to bed. Mr Filch is on patrol and I cannot allow students to be out of bed, even if they are my godsons best friend."

Ron heard the dismissal and picked up his stuff and hurried to get away but as he walked out of the library he turned and saw that Sirius was walking towards the restricted section.

Wondering what Sirius would need in the Hogwarts library when he had the headmaster's office full of books and surely the Black Library had more to offer that the school library.

o-0-o

Ron woke up tired, something that was noticed by Seamus and Dean but they didn't say a word, they had noticed he had started to leave the dormitory at night but he assumed they probably thought he was meeting up with Lavender.

That was something he most certainly was not doing.

His relationship with Lavender was over, or at least it was as far as he was concerned, he had tried to end it but she was not listening and he had told her and ran. That had been a week ago and three more times since she had tried to get into the Boys dormitory but Harry's magic still held, but she tried to sit with him in the common room and at breakfast and he had no choice but to flee.

Coward he told himself every time he ran, if Harry or Hermione were here they would kick his arse or chew him out for it, and he wasn't sure who would do what but he knew they would both be amused and annoyed at him.

Hanging around with Dean and Seamus had been enlightening, he enjoyed their boyish boisterous activities, the secret drinking of mead and ale but he missed the comradeship he had with Harry and Hermione, they were no replacement and each time he caught sight of them on the stone projections it pained him.

"Hey Ron!" Seamus said hitting his arm.

"What?" he replied looking up from his uneaten breakfast.

"We were just saying, when did Harry learn to ride a hippogriff like that?" Dean asked, "that level of trust on that beast is amazing."

Ron smirked, wondering if he could tell them the truth about Buckbeak but thought better of it, "Harry has been ridding that hippogriff for years, ever since Hagrid showed us the heard in third year." It was a small lie but close enough for the truth, "Harry respects the creature and in return he has its trust. They are rather intelligent."

"Still to throw himself off and trust that it would catch him!" Seamus whistled shaking his head, "I still think he is mad, but he gets to have all the adventures."

"I wouldn't mind seeing one of those horses Krum showed off." Dean added, "it looked like a magnificent magical creature, I have never even seen one in our books."

"They are native to Scandinavia and are a rare creature." Ron told him, his knowledge much broader than what was taught by Hagrid thanks to the books Charlie left at the Burrow when he went to Romania. "They are born like our Aethonan, but when the reach maturity their mane and wings ignite and become like fire."

Both Seamus and Dean exchanged a look for surprise but shook it off and they continued to eat and then the mail arrived.

A pale white snowy owl attracted the attention of many in the hall, she was recognisable to all who knew her owner.

Hedwig landed in front of Ron and held out her leg, Ron took the letter addressed to him and fed her a piece of streaky bacon and she took flight again and headed for the Sirius.

Ronald Weasley

The King of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team

Hogwarts School

Ron snorted as he read the addressee, but ripped open the envelope and found two small notes for Ginny and he passed them over.

"Gin, letters from France." He said throwing them to her, and he pulled out the first and recognised the curved writing, it was both scruffy and showed a hint of good penmanship, that was Harry's unmistakable hand.

Ron,

Congratulations on your recent win, I knew I was right in naming you and Katie co-captains! I enjoyed reading your play by play of the match and I cannot wait to see how you are getting on in person, I miss riding my broom, here in France they do not seem to favour Quidditch at all.

My French has come on enough that I can at least understand half of what the professors are saying, but I am not learning as much as I had in Durmstrang. I think you would hate it here mate, the food is awful they don't serve any food that even resembles our food at home! I think they are trying to starve me.

But guess who they got to be a guest lecturer and who gave one of the most interesting lessons I have had since Dumbledore's odd lessons last year. Madame Maxime invited none other than Nicholas Flamel to the school! Imagine my shock seeing him, after we saved his stone from Voldemort and it ended up destroyed anyway.

He was actually really nice about it, and in an odd way he reminded me a lot of Dumbledore, they both had a strange way about them, I found it unnerving, he seemed to know more than he let on. And he even gifted me his own copy of Beedle the Bard, just like Dumbledore gave Hermione.

It's a month and a half until I can return to Hogwarts and if I am honest I cannot wait!

What is new with you? You have been very quiet recently.

Please tell me something interesting is happening in Hogwarts! All that I have here is dance lessons, music lessons and boring food. The "lovely ladies of Beauxbatons" only go so far to distract me.

Harry

Ron smiled as he read Harry's letter, he silently agreed that he would probably hate the school more that he did, although he knew that more of part veela would be there and he wouldn't want to face that allure again.

When Harry had duelled Fleur in the opening ceremony of the Durmstrang duelling tournament nearly every boy at Hogwarts had been enthralled by the allure she projected even through the stones that projected the scene, but Harry remained unaffected, only some of the students from Ravenclaws and Slytherin students been almost as unaffected along with some others.

The news of Flamel was surprising and he was envious Harry and Hermione got to meet him, but he dismissed that as quickly as it came, there wasn't much that the old alchemist could teach him.

Hermione's letter was short but he thought she was trying to keep out all of the normal babble of what she had learnt and the intrigues of the magic, but what he did read irked him, Ernie McMillan had taken her on a date and had tried to kiss her! He couldn't believe Hermione would even agree to go out with him.

Ron was in the middle of the letter when he heard a gasp from Dean and Seamus, he looked and saw that they had the paper in front of them and were staring at the front page.

DEATH EATERS ATTACK CALAIS TWELVE MUGGLES DEAD AND FIVE MUGGLEBORN WITCHES AND WIZARDS DUE TO ENROL IN BEAUXBATONS NEXT YEAR.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR KILLED IN LONDON

The entire hall was full of hushed voices and whispers and many were shooting looks up at the staff table where Headmaster Black sat reading the paper himself and his face was a mask.

Ron looked at Sirius carefully and he thought he could see surprise on his angled features but it was hard to tell from a distance and the mask made him look emotionless so it might have been his eyes playing tricks on him.

McGonagall touched his arm and caught his attention, he looked at her and frowned and she nodded forwards and he followed her direction and realised that most of the student body was now looking at him.

Sirius stood and the attention of the hall zeroed in on him instantly.

"I know many of you are now aware of the news." He said carefully, "I myself have only just heard of this, but you have nothing to fear here in this castle, Voldemort and the Death Eaters cannot penetrate this castles defences. Now I will not lie and say they are not a threat to all of us but within these walls you are safe. Now eat and when the bell sounds get to your lessons, do not let these terrorists stop our everyday lives, the day they do that they really have won."

Sirius sat back down and had some hushed words with Professor McGonagall but it was clear to Ron that the staff were concerned.

o-0-o

Sirius was furious, he had forced himself to stay seated at breakfast and he had given hasty instructions to Minerva to keep the school running and that he would need to leave for the morning. She too was worried but had asked him to stay as the school was better defended with the Headmaster within its walls but he couldn't, he had to get to the Ministry as soon as possible.

When the school bell finally sounded Sirius waited impatiently for the students to depart and he saw that Ron was among the last to leave and he gave the boy a small nod of acknowledgement, and he left quickly.

Harry had written him a small note, it contained three letters one for Remus, Tonks and Andromeda and that he would pass them on to them, he however would just talk to Harry using the mirror later.

Taking every shortcut and passage that he knew Sirius arrived at the griffin statue that guarded his office within ten minutes and he bounded up the steps and hurried through the office to his personal quarters and was not surprised to see his ministry robes laid out ready for him.

His personal elf at Hogwarts was called Woolly, a name Dumbledore had given the young elf when he was born, and he was a very good elf, he seemed to know his every need without any orders and he was often caught off guard by him. Kreacher, Telvar and Winky were his elves but they had not reached Woolly's level of anticipation.

These were his newer robes, black Acromantula silk over a thin layer of dragon hide. It was an old Black tradition, showing off the extravagant silk robes but at the same time being prepared for attack or betrayal with the added protection of the dragon hide.

The seamstresses in Twiflitt and Tattings had followed his instructions and bought the strongest and thinnest hide, and the cut of the robe was a true duelling style and made his movements easy but they were still suitable for the Wizengamot or Ministry.

He tugged at the sleeves for a moment and the Incals and crests on the robes glinted slightly and he tucked his wand into his wrist holster and pulled his Head of House ring back on and felt the magic in it react to his own.

The ring was heavy on his finger but through it he could feel his connection to Andromeda and Narcissa, and through their blood the connection to Draco and Dora. He supposed through the magic he might have been able to feel a connection to the Weasleys but they were so distant to him he hadn't felt them.

Harry was his strongest connection, as his blood-adopted son and a grandson of the House of Black in his own right, but as heir and as he wore the heirs ring he could feel his spark in the family magic. Weaker now he wasn't in the country but he was still there if he looked for him.

When they had been in the Department of Mysteries and Harry had saved him from death by the veil, Harry had thought he had witnessed his death and thought his ring had changed. Sirius had thought on what Harry said since he had told him, and he found it odd. He wasn't sure how it happened, as Harry saved him from the veil and from what he understood of time that had always happened, so Harry should never have felt the magic well up in him from his death and his ring shouldn't have changed.

Time was something nobody should meddle with, it was very confusing and gave him a headache trying to get his head around the ideas and practicalities.

Now he was dressed he hurried from his rooms and hurried through the castle so that he could get to the main gates.

He knew the DOM still studied time, even if the Time Chamber had been sealed, he hoped no one ever gained access to a time turner with the power to travel more than five hours, if Voldemort ever got his hands on that device he could change all of history.

Once he was out in the grounds he walked quickly down the steep hill and gave a polite wave to Hagrid who had tried to call him over even though he was teaching a class. He opened the gate with a wave of his wand, a mumbled few sentences in a different language and a touch of his hand, the gates glowed and opened.

"Headmaster." Dawlish said nodding to him respectfully.

"Auror Dawlish." Sirius responded curtly, "Is Auror Tonks on duty today?"

"She is sir, but she has is not stationed here this week." Dawlish said uncomfortably, "I believe she is on duty within the Ministry with Auror Moody."

Sirius frowned, he had known Alastor had his auror licence reinstated by Amelia and he was officially tutoring many of the younger recruits, but he wondered what they were doing in the Ministry.

Once he was outside the boundary of Hogsmeade's protections he apparated directly into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic and when he did he arrived in the midst of a large number of people all who were dashing around and he could hear the reporters before he could even see them.

The Ministry security was holding back the reporters from getting far into the Ministry, but it was clear that they were overwhelmed.

Setting his face into a deep scowl he walked purposefully through the crowd, it took only a minute for the noise around him to begin to subdue and his name began to be whispered around him and it spread like fire and soon the entire atrium was silent and they parted for him.

"Lord Black!" said one reporter breaking the silence as he approached the security line "Do you have anything to say on the news of the attacks? Minister Scrimgeour has refused to comment and according to my source in currently shouting at the entire auror office."

"I will say only this." Sirius said sternly "Rather than scare mongering and frightening people with news that you think the Ministry is not reacting to this crisis, your time might be better spent reporting other news."

The reporters all paused and looked sheepish for a moment but it didn't stop their need for any comments for their respective papers.

"But Lord Black, surely as a member of the Ancient Houses with a seat on the Wizengamot, and Headmaster of Hogwarts and a former Hit Wizard you must have a view." Another reporter probed.

Sirius gave the man his hardest look and he flinched "I have my views certainly, the first notice I had of this new travesty was in the morning paper, I know no more than you do so if you would allow me to get into the ministry perhaps then I can get you some answers."

"Lord Black!" more reporters shouted.

"THERE WILL BE NO STATEMENTS TODAY!" came a very stern shout from behind Sirius.

Minister Scrimgeour was storming towards him and he looked livid, his mane of wiry hair looking more file and he looked like a lion ready to eat him.

The reporters however jumped on the Minister trying to get a new scoop and they had noticed the atmosphere between Sirius and the Minister.

"Lord Black if you would kindly step through and come with me." He said aggressively, ignoring the reporters, and actually had the audacity to grab Sirius by the arm.

Rather than make a scene in front of the assembled people, he allowed himself to be dragged through the security line and off towards the golden elevators, it was only once they were within the elevator and the gates closed that he pulled his arm out if the man's tight grasp.

"How dare you!" Scrimgeour spat harshly poking Sirius in the chest, "How do you think you are, you have no righ…."

The Black Family magic poured out of Sirius and he batted the Ministers hand away from him and he let his mask fall from his face and it showed his fury "I am Lord Black! I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts! I have every right to speak to the Press! You forget yourself! Remember your place Minister, you are supposed to be leading this country, not making people lose faith that the government has no idea what they are doing."

"That's right Black I am the Minister. Not you!" Scrimgeour said going red faced.

"I do not want your job." Sirius told him bewildered, "Stop worrying about your bloody career and get your head back in the game. You have a job to do, listen to your people and act. If you keep doing what you are doing you are no better than Fudge was."

The lift doors began to move and they opened to the face of a very surprised looking Amelia Bones and Gawain Robards.

Out of the corner of his eye Sirius saw a wand, barely even thinking to register what he was doing his wand was in his hand a disarming spell was sent directly at the Minister of Magic, who became so enraged that he tried to lash out physically only to be stunned by an equally stunned Amelia Bones.

"We need to get him out of here." Gawain said frowning, "I know Rufus, he is not in his right mind, if I had to guess I would say he has not slept for a number of days."

"Be that as it may Gawain, he cannot attack people who do not agree with him." Amelia hissed dangerously. She turned around and walked into the auror office and returned with Kingsley, "Shacklebolt please take the Minister to the auror healing room, and have a mild sleeping and calming draught given to him."

Kingsley looked between them all for a moment and accepted what he saw and followed Amelia's order.

"He is not coping." Sirius stated.

"No." Amelia said shaking her head, "But we cannot hold an election right now, it would cause a massive divide of our people and will destabilise what peace and order we have."

"We should continue this in my office." Robards said looking around and several aurors were watching them curiously, luckily none had seen who Kingsley had levitated away.

They followed him to his office, it was modest but they settled in comfortably, Gawain had gone to give his desk to Amelia but she waved him off and took a seat in front of the desk.

"He is trying to do too much." Sirius stated, "He needs to lean on his staff more and stop trying to control everything himself."

"Agree." Amelia said "I am glad you are here Sirius, I was forbidden from getting a message to you, how the news even made it to the Prophet is a mystery."

"Be honest, just how bad is it?" Sirius asked her straight up, "After last week's attacks around the country."

Amelia took a deep breath and collected herself before she actually managed to give an answer, "It is very bad. The First Minister of the French National Convention of Magic has been in contact, the death of his ambassador here in London has created a massive political backlash in his country and he has agreed that all communication and cooperation between our nations is now at an end."

"I have spoken to the head of the Department of Magical Cooperation, France, Spain and Italy have closed themselves off to us already, and the MACUSA have done the same for fear of magic being exposed to the American muggles."

Sirius leaned back and closed his eyes and took a deep breath and he swore.

"Indeed." Gawain said smirking at Sirius's outburst, "In the wake of this attack however we have finally captured all of the Azkaban prisoners who were broken out and placed under the imperius curse and some of the lower league Death Eaters. But the big players remain at large."

"Was it the Death Eaters who killed the Ambassador?" Sirius asked, "The Prophet said it was but there was something odd about the Dark Mark set over the flat."

"We noticed that as well, it was slightly different but it had all the markers of the Death Eater attack." Gawain said, "We are still investigating and I have sent word to the DOM to liaise with us in this."

"You know that the children will be forced to come home don't you." Amelia pointed out to Sirius, "Your Exchange Program has never had the full support of the French Convention and the killing of their Ambassador – Who was only here for the one night before returning – will turn the remainder against it."

"I am very aware of that." Sirius growled, for all his work was being thrown out of the window, Viktor hand Fleur had been able to get them a lot of intelligence being in France and Norway but that would stop now. "Have you got any leads on Death Eater strongholds or safehouses?"

"Yes." Gawain said slowly looking towards Amelia for assistance "But we have not had the authority to act on our intel."

"Scrimgeour?" Sirius asked.

"Apparently." Amelia said and she gave a very annoyed look to Gawain who looked guilty, "I was not aware there was any credible intel but the Minister has been hiding it and refusing to allow Gawain to act on it."

Sirius looked at Gawain and the man shrugged "He was an auror, and now he is the Minister, he knows how the game words, I thought he knew what he was doing and I thought Amelia was also aware."

"Act on it now." Sirius told Amelia, "I know I haven't got the authority to make you do it, but as Scrimgeour is out of commission the leadership falls to you, at least until he wakes up. So get this done and get it done quick, if we make some visible headway it will go a long way to reassure the public."

"A statement needs to be published." Amelia reminded him, "Scrimgeour banned all press released related to this and if I publish it they will wonder why it hasn't come from Scrimgeour himself."

"Publish it in your name, don't even mention Rufus you are the strength of the ministry the people might not be able to count on him but they can count on you. I don't care for his political profile or backlash." Sirius said sternly, he was done playing the game it was time for action. "I have a few more cards to play that will keep most people happy – apart from Rufus that is – but I am sick of losing this war, it is time we took the offensive for a change."

"The Ministry will not support that." Amelia warned "I cannot do that without the backing of the Wizengamot, our war footing movement has floundered in the last four months. The Wizards Councils order has not been listened to."

"What about the Order of the Phoenix?" Gawain asked looking at them both pointedly "They helped in the last war why are they not helping now?"

Sirius and Amelia exchanged a look. Both of them were intimately aware of the Order but of the two of them only Sirius was a member. He was not entirely sure if Amelia knew that or not or merely just suspected it but he wasn't going to confirm or deny it now.

"They might be able to help while we are politically tied up." Amelia said carefully "All they would need to do is get their hands on the our most recent intel and act on it while we arrange for a unit to be put together. The Order helped us in our last war I am sure they will this time if given the chance and some breathing room."

"Will you hunt them and arrest them?" Sirius asked her "If they did fight would you have to arrest them."

"There is now directive to do so." Amelia told him carefully, "Officially the Order of the Phoenix disbanded according to Ministry Records the night the Potters were killed. They could help us right now and they would be free to do so, at least until the Minister wakes up and probably puts out a warrant."

"I will take a copy of that intel Gawain, I think I know member of the Order who can help us here but don't worry it will not be traced back to you." Sirius said and he created a copy of the official report much to Amelia and Gawains chagrin, "I was a hit wizard remember, I know how to copy official documents."

"What do we do about Rufus?" Gawain asked "He will wake eventually and when he does…"

"Once he has slept, I will brief him with William and he will have no choice but to listen to us." Said a very firm sounding Amelia and she wasn't leaving any room for an argument at all. She then pointed at Sirius, "You need to get that intel to the right hands and then deal with your Exchange Program before that becomes an international incident."

o-HP-o

Harry had watched as Voldemort observed his Death Eaters carrying out his orders in Calais, unable to leave the dark wizards mind he had seen them tortured and killed in ways that he would have once thought unimaginable.

For some reason, the connection that existed between them both was stronger than ever and despite the two of them employee occlumency Harry was slipping into Voldemort's mind more often.

Given the intensity of that night's visions, Harry was starting to wonder if it was Voldemort trapping him in his mind. If he had detected Harry in his mind could he have then forced him to those horrors is that how he would torture him now.

It was an odd thought to have, and he thought it untrue especially given as after the attack he had entered Voldemort's mind and saw him in a study looking through old parchments and books and saw that he was researching an ancient crown and a wand.

The wand was alluding him Harry felt but when Voldemort looked at the Crown he felt triumphant like he was close to finding it and both looked familiar to Harry but he couldn't work out why.

So he decided to go to the Beauxbatons Library.

It was a large room with a glass domed roof and in the air was a floating replica of the solar system, the books were all special editions printed for the school and they all looked the same and it was pristinely clean, everything from the tables to the bookshelves were made of glass.

Hermione had told him about it on the second day in the school and she admitted she didn't like this library and felt it was too clinical although while that was Blasphemy for Hermione, it hadn't actually stopped her from scouring the entire collection at any given opportunity.

But for an entire Sunday Harry spent going through piles of books looking for any crown that could have been the one he saw or even the wand but nothing had come close. There had been hundreds of famous magical crowns throughout history and that was without the ones mentioned in lore.

So defeated Harry left the library without looking back, he had other things to worry about other than an old crown and wand.

The equestrian competition was still going on, and it was clear that Hogwarts would not win the event, but they were not to be counted out of the event and they were pushing for the best possible outcome.

Beauxbatons was slowly becoming more uncomfortable for Harry as the week had gone on, outside pressures were causing tension within the school. The French magical government was heavily pushing for the exchange to end and were getting many parents on board.

That week neither Fleur or Viktor had been in the school, they had left their teams to themselves while they left the school. Officially both had gone to gain support for the Exchange but Harry and his friends knew that he and Fleur were on a mission for the Order.

Today they were in the middle of their weekly dance and music lessons, which was a lesson many did not like. They had learnt numerous dances but it was never enough for the professor who could always find something to criticise.

"In a little over a week the Headmistress is honouring the Exchange by holding a masquerade ball, should you wish to attend you must learn the dances." Said Monsieur Beaufort, "If you dance like a troll you will not find yourself popular in the ballroom."

Eventually the dance lessons moved on to music but that was worse than the dancing lessons.

Music was a skill that none of the Hogwarts team could do well at, Harry had thought his skill with a flute would save him but it didn't. Madam Meloette was forcing him to learn how to read music, but as he had some skill with an instrument he had been saved from singing lessons.

Michael Corner however was not so lucky and he lost his temper after once more butchering an operatic melody using only his voice much to the amusement of the students who were also no better.

"What use is this any way!" he snapped angrily, and he had gone bright red, he was not a good singer and his voice did not have the range their teachers demanded.

"Music is a magic all on its own." Madame Meloette told him sternly.

"Load of rubbish." Michael muttered under his breath, but was not quiet enough as the teacher heard him.

"A demonstration!" she said smiling broadly and she looked dangerous suddenly with a large gleam in her eye that made Harry nervous.

She began to sing, in a low voice and it was intoxicating as each melody reached the students ears and she mesmerised them the song built and spread out each note bringing with it an urge, a purpose and even though Harry couldn't understand the words she sang he could hear its meaning.

It was dangerous and emotional, it was song of everlasting sleep and eventual death.

Harry tried to shake himself out of the trance but it was overpowering, and the teacher didn't stop and began to walk towards them all, a slight dance to her step as her song reverberated around the room.

Blood came from his lip as he bit into it trying to concentrate and its acrid taste was enough to give him a moments clarity, the room had gone dark, the light from the windows had been dulled, the lights has all been extinguished and a number of the students and laid down or sat and began to fall asleep.

Only he, Daphne Neville and Susan were on their feet from the Hogwarts team, while Elijah, the Meyer twins and Danyl were the only students from Durmstrang on their feet as like his own team they had been effected by the magic of the song.

It effects the mind. Harry realised, his occlumency skills prevented it entirely affecting him and he looked at Hermione saw she too had resisted it her wand was in her hand but whatever spell she was going to do had been forgotten as she succumbed.

Harry met Elijah's eye and the both nodded and pulled out their wands, and with considerable effort they managed to bring them up even as the Madame's note began to get higher and stronger and they momentarily faltered.

Hermione's head drooped further and seeing his friend under someone's control angered him greatly and it was enough to give him the drive to bring his wand back up.

Two voices rose and shouted "Silencio!"

The spells shot from the teams and impacted the professor and her song ended immediately and the moment it was over the effect of it was gone. The other students woke back up and were startled by their predicament.

"What was that?" Hermione said breathing heavily and clutching her head, her Occlumency attempt had taken its toll.

"Magic." Madam Meloette said having removed the silencing charms, "Magic can be channeled in many ways, your wands are just one medium."

"I have never heard of any witch having that level of magical compulsion to their voices." Ingrid said awed "I thought that type of magic could only be used by Sirens and maybe Veela."

The Madame smiled, "I am of both races heritage, it is from them that I gained true power of the voice and magic, I have devoted my life to these arts. The voice is just a keen a weapon as the wand, just as a pen is mightier than the wand in some occasions."

The lesson ended and the students left the musical hall talking loudly and they were all amazed by what the professor had showed them.

"Did you know that was possible?" Harry asked Hermione and Neville.

"I have read tales of Sirens and Mermaids singing to sailors to lore them into traps and to mate." Hermione said amazed, "But never have I heard of a witch using this magic."

"In your country this magic is not taught." Ingrid said, "I only know of it from my cousin who came here when she was a student, it fell out of favor in the northern European schools and I would imagine in the UK as it has no use."

"Do not be so sure." Said a stern voice behind them,

Francios and Quentin from the French team had joined them as they walked to their next lesson.

"Just because your countries do not use it doesn't mean it has no use." Quentin added "Have you never heard of the Frankish Battlesingers?"

Harry shook his head, but to his surprise Neville and Hermione nodded.

"They are said to be master duelists who have mastered the water dance technique of dueling, they constantly move and shift like water, adapting to any opponent, but they are also said to sing while they duel." Neville recalled, and he blushed at the attention on him, "It was in a book I once read."

"Yes, they are an elite part of the French Law enforcement, they incant spells with magical song to increase the speed of their movements and to deflect other attacks." Francios told them, "It is a very hard magic to learn but it can really help in a long duel."

"Does the school teach it?" Harry asked, "Is that what this lesson is for."

"It's a start." Quentin replied nodding, "It takes years of training to start to use, what we learn here is the bare basics of the dance and finesse footwork needed, and the music lessons hone the skills needed to use such magic."

"As I cannot sing a single note I doubt I could use it then." Neville shrugged "No loss really."

"Maybe, but music is merely an expression of yourself." Quentin told him, "A melody can reach a person and tell them something sometimes better than words."

The two French students left them in another corridor while Harry and Neville rushed to get outside where they were having a practical lesson and lecture with Professor Perenelle Flamel.