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Chapter 21. Second Year Begins

The weather near my Manor was very British, nary a Sunny day, and always covered with cloud and gloom. At least, the air was fresh, even if it was damp and humid, but did not smell like unburned fossil fuel, or 'synthetic.' And the wards of the Manor had a newly installed air freshening and purification charm, since it seems some form of chemical warfare was prevalent even in magical society.

And due to this purification ward, there was a deposition of black solid substance at the edge of the wards. When I inquired with the curse breakers, they nonchalantly said, it is all the impurities of the air, which is condensed into that black matter, which could be banished after a while.

And I realised what the fandom meant when they said, wizards lack common sense. The bumbling idiots cannot see a treasure trove like I do, and admittedly they do not have my mind and knowledge, but then again someone must have thought of ways to utilise this.

As it happens, I was always a resourceful man. Seeing what can be changed, and how it benefits somebody, was a natural thing to do, which came more naturally if the beneficiary was ME!

And seeing the filtration ward made me wonder, is it filtration, distillation or separation? Why does it matter? First is useful, second is dangerous and third is better than Alchemy.

Let me clear that out, if separating harmful chemical gases from the air, which is nitrogen and oxygen and a mixture of other gases, a magical ward is capable of separating out the harmful parts and yet not create a vacuum of other gases.

That means the elements, the science kind, and not the magical ones, can be separated using wards. Metallurgy and Nanotechnology all rely on science for this, and wards could be the key.

Now, why would I not exploit this, and profit from it? I set up a quick team of alchemists, enchanters, Rune experts, spellcrafters and Curse-breakers to analyse air filtration wards, water filtration charms and runes, magical plumbing, dirt repelling charms, enchantments, warding and rune systems, and made the team to dive in and scourge the ends of their knowledge to make charms or modify them to do exactly what I have in mind.

While I left them to do that I realised that I had not thought about the scope and extent of my capabilities, which I intended to remedy.

I may have reserves more than an adult experienced wizard should, but that won't make me a very powerful one. The older ones tend to have experiences in their belt, mastery over obscure spells, and complete control over their magic. As I continue to grow and do the ritual, I am growing on a scale, at which I cannot exert my control over. I lack finesse with my spellwork, I can do almost all spells without the incantations and the wand movement, but so can a lot others.

My bar is set not for the like of Unspeakable and Hit-wizards or even professors at Hogwarts, but at a scale none of these people can ever hope to compete. I desire to, therefore, learn as much as I can, be guided by the best my money can afford, and anyone who is really willing.

That is why, I kept Flamel on tow, reached out to my older relatives and ensured all wizards and witches with a modicum of talent get their work appreciated and get paid for their hard work, and in return they work for us, and record their memories and experiences for my purview.

I have spent a long time dipping my head in the Pensieve looking at memories of all important and old people I could find. I even got access to Dumbledore's own memory cabinet in Hogwarts.

I ensured that I got the memories viewed and duplicated, since the memory extraction spell may decay out or degrade after death, and surprisingly it doesn't. I keep reading the obscure texts from older civilizations found, and try to find a use for them in today's world. And along the way, I found out how much I love exploring this magical world, and all its knowledge. Besides, the creatures who are like the representation of eccentricity that magic itself offers, the avenues to explore and learn about this world is simply astonishing.

And I wouldn't say that I am ultra-powerful and now ready to forge my rings and enforce my will upon the world, but I am slowly getting there. Not the ring-forging part, the second part!

I finished the last class with Selene, who says that I am ready to perform my first Animagus ritual that will allow me to take a magical creature as my form. And after a period of respite and recovery of my body and soul, as Animagus is in essence, the transfiguration of soul, and effecting the transformation on the body, I can perform the ritual, as many times as I like, with each subsequent Animagus transformation done after a shorter period of recovery.

But without my ritual cycle for water done, I will not touch upon Animagus ritual. I consulted Selene about this, and she showed no repugnance at the ritual or the fact, that it was being performed by a nine year old with full understanding and consent for it. She comes from a Dark family, and therefore, her views and sheer affection for me may make her opinion skewed, but I don't really care for her cause and basis for her opinion, as long as it satisfies my purpose, and enables her support and guidance.

She taught me a few types of battle transfiguration methods, like momentum based one, where every damage in the soil, structure and surrounding get added to your spell, and continues rammed at your opponent like a siege weapon. The longer you last, the more momentum you gained, the more destruction you cause and in return damage your opponent more. Your opponent has to have a constant shield up and attack you to stop the assault and defend, or get a lucky shot, and take a chance at being injured in the process.

It is used during surprise attacks on grouped targets and results are quite disastrous if you are not skilled. The counter to this was by pure skill, sheer control over your spells, and large reserves to survive the onslaught.

I took Selene to the Room of Requirement, where there were duelling dolls or the training golems, whatever you call them, and they were assorted with levels. The basic ones only cast disarming or stunning spell, the next level added jinxes and ducked, the one after that did all the previous things and started casting faster, and used the basic shield charms. So on, and so forth, till what level I don't know, but unless you arrange the challenge as increasing difficulty and defeat the previous ones, the next level do not show up.

And all the dolls look the same, so you don't know the level is upped, until you are hit with some spell. The spells on the other hand, are of low power and there are no dark curses, like deboning, skin-ripping, hair pulling or nail-tearing curses, not even skin liquefying and organ switching ones, so countering those needs a human partner, and introducing Selene to a secret location and trusting her with secrets, made her willing to ally with me, and maintain my trust. She had mellowed out on me, more than before; her touch and hug would linger just a bit longer, and her kisses were growing a lot more affectionate than before.

I knew it was not sexual attraction, but more like endearing friend, or like a little cute brother or sister, but it was keeping me happy. Selene was attractive, sexy and an eye candy, but even if there would be hormonal play here and adolescence and puberty rearing its head here, I was as emotionless and impassion as before, for which I couldn't be more thankful.

Imagine my cold-hearted logic, intellect and abilities fuelled by the inadequacy and headstrong behaviour of Draco! The gig would be up, Lucius would be against his son, Narcissa will be crying her eyes out for losing her son, and Voldemort may have risen sooner than later in canon. In short a clusterfuck!

As it was, enjoying the loving affection of Selene, her company and guidance helped me grow and learn better. I enjoyed transfiguration before, now I cherish it. The momentum type attack strategy was merely one of the stratagems in her arsenal. Selene lacked the reserves I so enjoy and has merely about the half of mine, yet more than makes up for it, with her impeccable control and sheer vindictive resourcefulness.

She is quick on her toes, and keeps me on my toes during duels, willing to cast dark curses, and be the dominant witch in a match, and for every blunder or misstep punished severely. Yet, after the duel, she would help me in healing the beat-up, and sweetly talk like an older sister teasing and ribbing, like she didn't, just a few moments ago, hex me with toe-twisting spell.

I was praised by McGonagall for my advancing progress, as also by Flitwick and Babbling. I was on my personal time, also keeping abreast of Dark Arts. I studied the spells and their counters, curses and counter-curses, and all the sort of nasty things that going beyond the legal magic I can accomplish.

As I received the letter from Hogwarts for my second year, and saw the book-list on the Requirements Letter not having the Magical Me series, written by the fraud who was 'taken care of' much earlier before he could directly impact my life, I was reminded of the sheer changes I brought into this world.
But even if the woods are lovely, dark and deep,
And I have no promises I intend to keep,
There are miles to go before I sleep,
And miles I will Go to avoid my sleep.

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