AN: Despite being pre-written, I just had a hard day and updating this wasn't what was on my mind until... just now. Still the normal day of updates for me, but probably not for most people. Sorry for the delayed update!
After showing off for the adults, and making sure that everyone knew that we three girls (and the amused Lord Shafiq) were astounding dancers, we were going to the dining hall.
There were three tables, with appropriate name-cards on each. The "Lord's" table, where each lord, or their stand-in would sit (Including me). Then there was the "Ladies Table" Where all the Wives and personal guests would sit. And the obligatory "Children's table". This is where I would normally sit, but as the rep for my family, things were changed, clearly.
Doubly as I have the seat to the right of Lord Greengrass, showing he viewed me as 'his second' or the 'second most important person in the house' - which made me feel a bit numb.
See, seating arrangements were delicate things. Some older houses, like this one were really strict on it. Others, like the Malfoy's had more modern two-table situations. Either way, the person on your right was the person you think is most important (in rank of nobility) OR the person you personally trust most. Him putting me here was a clear sign of 'this person is whom I'm taking into alliance first' and the Malfoy Clan got the message, as they were only barely in the first third of the seats. The Notts were in the back half.
The others he's in an alliance with seemed more amused or happy, when I took the seat than they seemed upset. Those who were casual-passers by (insofar as you can be, here) seemed a bit confused, but shrugged it off. I heard a few mutter 'politics…' under their breath as we assumed our seats. Lord Greengrass held my seat for me, as was common for the other ladies at this table. Reagent Longbottom and Madame Bones had their seats being held by political rivals.
I'm sure that's no coincidence. Lord Greengrass forced the issue, with how he arranged seating. A show of dominance over the room and general equality to all others in the room, except himself, of course.
Once everyone was seated, the food came out. A lot of the traditional dishes - mostly salads - were present. A few more modern additions were there, though, such as a roast Lamb, and some Ham, for those who were so inclined.
"It is my pleasure to welcome you all to my home." Lord Greengrass began his dinner speech. "And it is always a pleasure to see that such a fine group was able to gather. We have some new additions…" He says, waving to myself and nodding at a few others. "And many old friends." He continues, getting smiles from a few. "I know tonight is momentous for many reasons, so I'll just have to bid us all a good harvest, this year. May we find our fields full of naught but the greenest of grass and Orchards which sing!" He concludes, sitting, and grabbing a slice of ham.
The tables broke into quiet mutterings, then, as conversation broke out, and people were filling their plates.
I got a simple salad, and some Lamb for myself. Properly seasoned lamb is simply divine, something I loved equally in both lives. I found, across from me, was Madame Bones, and to my right was Lord Shafiq. Next to Madame Bones was Lord Corbin. They, and Lord Greengrass were my main social circle for the dinner. The adults passed around some ministry business, and talked about recent bills which had been passed. Nothing really interesting to me, right now. I still paid attention, but it was nothing more than a recital of already known facts and arguments.
Then they rolled the subject over to me.
"Oh, I suppose we ought to ask, how is your schooling going, Aubrey? From the letters I've received from my niece, you're quite the scholarly monster." Madame Bones redirected the conversation.
"Well, I suppose I'm doing well - top of my class except for Defence, which Sarah is top in, and Herbology and Astronomy, which are held by a girl named Hannah and a lad named Johnathan, respectively." I tell them modestly. I'm second in DADA and Astronomy, though. I'm third in Herbology.
Of course this made me first in Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Magical Theory and History of Magic. But I didn't flaunt that, it'd be in bad taste. They could pick up on that by me not listing them in the list of what I'm not first in.
"Still, very impressive. You beat the records for the First Year Charms exam. The record for highest score had previously been held by Lord Arthur the Wise, who went on to be one of the most renowned mages we've ever produced!" Lord Shafiq comments. He'd done his research, clearly.
"Indeed, it is quite impressive. They say you've been nipping at the heels of a few other records. I'm curious, have you started looking into which electives you'll take next year?" Lord Corbin asked, his voice a calm silky thing, which reminded me of the sound of a velvet curtain. It felt good to listen to him, a very quality voice.
"I have." I confirm. "I don't see the need to study Muggle Studies. I already know how Modern Muggles work, and regularly query the Muggleborns about any advancements, to make sure my information is up to date. Father ensures we spend a few days in Muggle London every summer, too." I tell them, seeing them nod at that in agreement with the policy, and that the class was useless to a smart family. "Other than that, I've studied some of Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures, and a larger amount of Magical Runes. I've given up on Divination, though. I'll never understand it." I tell them. They smile at me.
"Ambitious schedule!" Madame Bones says, from the side. "You must want a demanding profession, to take the maximum number of classes…" she trails off, looking for a hint.
"Yea, being a Curse-Breaker isn't easy, I'm told." I confirm for her. "The way I see it, if I can get more work done now, then I'll have much less, later. Still, having five classes every single day will be rough." I say, and they all nod.
Classes are an hour and a half, with a double being three hours. You were guaranteed a Double in a class once every five class-days, basically. So I'd have one double every day. That's seven and a half hours of class-time, thirty minutes for lunch brings it to eight hours, and the ten minute passing periods makes it nine hours, roughly, of Classwork.
Then you have thirty minutes to one hour of Homework per class. That could be fourteen hours of work per day.
Well, if I didn't know the cheat to get homework done in minutes. Really, my schedule looked Masochistic, to some.
To me it was Ambitious. I knew what I was doing, and how I was going to be doing it.
I had decided, though I would change it as needed, to be working for 12 hours a day, 9 in class, 1 for homework, and 2 for practice. One hour belonging to Physical improvement and one to Mental. I've figured out Physical power was easily a third of your actual magical strength, maybe more.
The other 4 waking hours would be spent with my friends - at least two of them with Cedric, Adrian and Alicia. I'd not be secluding myself needlessly, and having another Cormac happen. I need to be more open with those I'm close to, lest they be driven away.
On Weekends I would dedicate Sunday Mornings to Sarah and Afternoons to Daphne and our weekly 'classes'. Saturday would be mornings for a specific person (rotating through all my friends.) then evenings would be get-together. Unless something happened I'd keep them all equal.
Of course I didn't verbalize that, or really indicate it. I just made a rather bold statement.
"Well, that's certainly a bold schedule you have, there." Lord Corbin comments. "I'll be interested to hear how you're handling it, should you manage to find the time to show up, next year." He concludes, and the others give slight sounds of agreement, I merely smile.
"I have some ideas. Aside from the classes, I should manage with my current schedule, since I already allocated time and effort to the selected electives, on a weekly basis." I tell them, and Lord Greengrass looks smug, while Lord Shafiq looks moderately proud and the other two look a bit… confused.
Yea, that flash of expression amounted to 'what the heck, why would she do that?' if I was reading them right. My actions were very very advanced, for my apparent age (12) and they were having trouble reconciling a 12 year old planning for something so far in her future it may not matter until she's over twice her age (24).
It would be very confusing, if I saw someone my age do this, too, and they weren't a reincarnate, like me. Lord Greengrass being smug, though?
"I suppose this proves my choice, though?" He asks, and Madame Bones nods, as does Shafiq. "She's clearly a prodigy, like Dumbledore was. If she lasts long and goes far, she could be massive in the coming years. The Lesser house of Dumbledore is the face of Britain. In twenty years, it could be Young Aubrey and Harry Potter, who are the face of our nation. Malfoy? I don't think he could ever have such prominence." He concludes quietly. I poke around subtly with my magic and find the same 'conversation bubble' is up. Lord Shafiq is only half in the bubble, and Lord Corbin is fully out of it. I can see he's speaking, but I don't hear him, now that I think about it.
"Does Lord Corbin think we're doing something other than this conversation?" I ask, and Lord Greengrass nods.
"As far as he is aware, we're discussing our own years at Hogwarts now, and offering you advice. It could be rather long winded. The item I'm using is one to misdirect to the most likely subject. Thankfully, I can hear what it produces in the back of my mind, so I know what others think is happening." He tells me, and I nod. Interesting magical item. Makes sense, I guess that the 'problem solvers' would have a way to have conversations that needed secrecy in the open with no one knowing.
I wonder what other magical items there may be in the world? I'd never heard of something like what he's using, though there are a few spells to hide conversations, they're all rather blatant. It must be one-of-a-kind, or some kind of Family Magic-based enchantment.
I'll have to try and figure it out when I have more skill in enchanting and magic in general. I don't have the actual skill or knowledge to figure it out, though I have theories on how it could be done with magic, the actual application of how is escaping me.
Such is the woe of knowing theory and not having practical ability.
"I think she's a wonderful addition, but her family - her father specifically - cause me worry." Madame Bones comes out and says this, though. "You know how that man is. Willing to do anything to further his own position and power. I got a report from Hogwarts about you, Aubrey. From the Healer, Pomphrey. You had a massive obliviation, which removed all of your memories from before you were four years old, which makes it a miracle you're alive, considering those should have included biological things like 'how do I breathe' and similar." She continues, eyes boring into mine. "I know for a fact there are only two people and reasons to do that. You either got into Croaker's - the head Unspeakable - files somehow, or his second in commands files." She tells me and my eyes widen a touch. "The only answer when the file security is breached is a total memory wipe of how they did it, and what they learned. If you did it at four years old, the how is intrinsic to the who, so everything went." She continues, staring at me. "This, or killing, are the only options, though this was as good as killing you. In the end, you didn't die, somehow." She says tilting her head. "Now, taking this into account, and that your father is an unspeakable - which I know is of a high rank, I figure he did it. While he's too young to be the Croaker, he could be a deputy. In such a case, well. You understand our position. The Unspeakables have no morals or boundaries. If they learn something or can progress magic, then they'll do it, by any means. The only rules they don't break are ones which would be too obvious. Making people who are famous disappear is very hard." She finishes. Lord Greengrass and Shafiq nod, gravely.
"That's something you did well. You're a big name. You can't be disappeared, and you certainly can't be obliviated anymore. People would ask questions. So the Unspeakables are tied up, in a way. They can't get to you, easily, without dispensation from higher authorities - the ICW - to do so. The ICW, though, won't authorize it, because of obvious reasons. If they let the Unspeakables take one child out, who's to say their children are safe?" He continues for Madame Bones.
"Basically, we of the Old Alliance don't want to work with your Father, or anything to do with the Unspeakables. They're called that because what they do - the tests and magic and rules - they're all old, and by today's standards, barbaric. Most would say evil - unspeakable, even." Madame Bones concludes the thought. And I nod, quietly.
"I think I get it. You're right on all fronts, of course. You knew that though, when the report came in and you have the facts you do about the situation." I tell them. "But I've more than a few tricks up my sleeve to play. None know of the cards I have to play, save Dueling Master Flitwick. Let's just say that when you erase one thing, you open up the empty slot for something else to be written down. It was luck which saw me here get the blessings I did, but it is skill and caution which drives me. I will not allow my fortress to be taken again - not by friends nor family. All comers will break upon my walls." I tell them, almost reciting what Flitwick had told me.
"After all, Blood isn't always family. Family - it's something you find. Not what you are given." I conclude and they nod.
"I feel we understand each other." Lord Greengrass says. "We're interested in working with you and your family, but not your father. Should you replace him, then we will openly align with your family. Until such a time comes to pass, we will work things in the background to be more favorable for you and yours. Just be careful." He says, and when I nod, he clears his throat and says "Meeting adjourned." And the sounds of Lord Shafiq talking about how his years in Hogwarts went enters my ears. It was a bit jarring, but I managed my response down to a couple of blinks, and since I was looking down the table for a specific type of dessert, I'm sure no one noticed.
It was after the dinner had concluded, and everyone had gone home, I was sitting in mine and Sarah's appointed room. There were two large beds in the room, enough to easily fit three of me in either. We did the sensible thing and moved them together with a quick spell and then rolled around on them, trying to get comfortable.
"Did I do okay?" Sarah mumbles into a pillow. From what I'd seen?
"Yea, I don't even know if any of them realized you weren't from a lesser house or something, since you could be. No one was giving you a look, and I know a few would have." I tell her, then think about it. "Well, maybe Thomas Nott, Lord Nott, had a clue, he was giving you a look at the end, there, but it wasn't anything too intense. More like he wanted to verbally engage you and then demolish you to prove how much better his side was to my side. Thankfully he waited too long and we were dancing the rest of the time, so he had no chance." I tell her. She groans.
"But did I actually do well?" She rolls over, pillow to face. "I feel like I seriously messed up, somewhere. I can't figure out where." She grumbles through the pillow.
"Well, why don't you regale me with your night? It couldn't have been that bad, after all, because we're in good standing, right now." I tell her. She nods, and starts her tale.
Her night was very boring, compared to mine. Only two things stuck out. She'd had a dance with Lord Malfoy, and she'd never had a dance with Lord Carmichael, who I was sure had tried to dance with everyone.
Lord Malfoy, by turn, had only danced with his wife, and Lady Nott from what I'd seen. Something was up with that. I wasn't sure what.
"Mind if I cast some spells to check you out? Make sure there's nothing too complex, here?" I ask, and she nods. I quickly go through the three advanced diagnostics I used on Harry - along with two more generic spells, and one to check for Curses or Hexes.
The very last one pings a response. There are three mild, slow acting, but very… magically sticky? Curses on her earrings. One which makes her never want to take them off. One to make her… upset? I think… and one, which I recognize as a revulsion curse, keyed to what I recognize as Lord Carmichaels magical signature.
Why him?
"Well, bad news. Your Earrings are cursed, and you really need to take them off. The longer they're on, the less you'll want to take them off. They also repel certain people from you and generally worsen your mood. That's keyed, too, but I can't tell what, or who. If it is a who." I tell her. She opens her mouth, then closes it, then opens it, and closes it.
"Can't." She says after a minute. I sigh, and petrify her with a petrificus totalus, and then remover her earrings, and I feel revolted by the magic on them. I then walk over to my overnight bag and toss them in a hidden pocket, which I then hide magically with a quick spell from my Mothers book. I then take the bag, and put it in the bathroom, in the Bottom Drawer, and cast the spell on that, so Sarah can't find the bag, and even if she does, she can't find the earrings.
It'll have to do for now.
I walk back into the room. "I would like to speak with a House Elf, please. I have news for the Lord of the House." I request formally. A small pop, and a House Elf is before me, bowing.
"Tell the lord of the House that my guest had her Jewelry Cursed with Revulsion curses and a curse to upset her, they've had a few hours to infect her magic, and by the time I got to fixing it - now - she could no longer remove the Jewelry. I had to petrify her to do it. I would like his aide in getting this matter resolved, since it happened at his event, in his home." I tell the small thing, it nods quickly and with a pop - it's gone. I unfreeze Sarah, and she just curls into a ball. I scoot in behind her and wrap her in a hug.
"... ou." She mumbles something so I give her a squeeze.
"Don't worry, dear. I know it was aimed at me, I could tell when I was holding it. I hated me for a few seconds, there. But I think I have a number of flaws, and you probably have a higher opinion, so it affected you less than they likely expected. It'll be okay." I murmur into her hair, and she clutches my arm.
"... away with it. Can we de-s-s… no more?" She asks.
"Yea, we can destroy the earrings, and no, the Malfoy's won't get away with it." I confirm. Her clutch lessens and she falls asleep seconds later, but continues holding onto me.
Lord Greengrass arrives only a minute later to find Sarah, in her night-shirt and me in mine, clutching my arm in her sleep.
"Feel free to scan her. For me it was a charm looking for curse residue and aftereffects which found it. I'll have to go get the object for you, I'd like them destroyed." I tell him, he nods. And I shimmy out of her grip, to go get the Earrings. She rolls over and Lord Greengrass casts a quick salvo of spells.
I come back with them, and Lord Greengrass nods. Taking them from me, he grimaces, and tosses them in a pitch balck bag.
"Do you know the tale of how the Malfoy family got the name?" He asks quietly as we stalk out of the room and down the halls.
"No," I responded. I didn't. I knew they hid it, though.
"Their family specialty is curses. Permanent ones, which can be placed on an object. The more specific, the stronger. That's the rule. Originally they were the "Foy Clan" - they warded things against specific groups and those groups couldn't approach the grounds. Very effective. Muggle repelling wards are the most basic form of their magic. It just says "all muggles don't interact with this." and they don't. The 'Mal' was tacked on to their 'foy' when they used their magic to climb the French Social ladder, and become the right hand of the then king. They left with a lot of other clans' family magic, having used their magic to get the trust of others and then make them hate everyone else." He says and I blink.
Oh. So they were really just an evil family.
"Leaving like they did stuck them with the name 'Malfoy'." He concludes. "Forty years later, you have the French Revolution. Magical folks know that the Malfoy family had a large hand in that. Well, the ones on the mainland do. They've covered their asses pretty well over here. But if you ever go to France, look up the Foy and Malfoy families. See what you can find." he tells me, and I understand.
They'd used family magic on the earrings. It was really specific. Keyed to individual people, instead of groups, and with really specific emotions and such attached.
This made it extremely powerful, but extremely simple. So Sarah had been actively fighting what amounts to raw unbridled hatred and revulsion for me and a few other specific people, while the cursed object bonded to her magic, to make her literally unable to remove the curse. Simple, but effective.
"So, what do we do? We can't really pin it on them, but we know who did it, per say." I ask and he grins.
"Well, this is an attack on me, as much as it was you or Sarah - it was on my reputation as host, your reputation for picking people and Sarah, well, her life, really." He says. "The first two, as Druidic houses, to his mere 'Noble House' means that even if we can't prove it, we can demand a debt of honor, which constitutes a duel. If you invoke yours and I invoke mine, you can choose when and where, and I can do the fighting. This is of course, if it comes to a duel. It likely won't, but it could be the worst ending for us." He tells me.
"Instead you want to present him with the evidence and get him to give you something… Time, perhaps? Space?" I ask. If the Malfoy family (with their apparently ill gotten) riches laying off all pressure for even a couple years would be massive for the Greengrass family. They could grow insanely quickly. They would need to, if they were going to take over the Black-Market, and all the jobs that entailed.
"Time and space would be nice, but I was thinking of something else." He says. I think. What could the Greengrass family want?
Oh right. 'The Greengrass Curse.' They would want an answer to that.
"Books on Bloodline curses, then? Or if you know who, then their blood to remove it?" I ask, and he looks a bit taken aback by my guess, but nods.
TLDR of The Greengrass Curse - it's a quest. From when I got my necklace. What was it about?
Helping the Greengrass family figure out who did the curse, and resolving it, since it has been in the family since midway-through the Grindelwald war. The curse somehow stops the family from reproducing a lot, and kills people / newborns after a certain point. This generation it was two kids. When the curse was fresh it was the firstborn only. Everyone knows they have issues with the curse, and doubtlessly a number of families are trying to 'absorb' the Greengrass family - gain all their land, titles and power. All because the Bloodline curse removed their ability to have a male heir this generation, it seems.
The only thing I know about the curse and it's caster is as above - common knowledge reiterated by the quest. The extra bit, the lead, was that the guilty parties live in England. Somewhere. Joyous, isn't it?
"Exactly. I'm not surprised you know about it, but I am surprised you guessed so easily." He comments.
"I'm not as young as I may seem, you know." I tell him, and I feel his eyebrow raise.
"Care to elaborate?" He asks.
"How good is Occlumency?" I retort.
"Recognized Grand-master, by the ICW." He tells me, and I grin.
"How good is your security, and where is your most secure room? Also will you consent to a scan and oath? I will take one back. Simply you will never reveal what I am to tell you, and I will take one to the same effect. If I tell anyone anything I need to ensure security." I ask him.
"Hmm, follow me, then." He says. He then leads me down below the manor. Then opens a secret panel on the floor, and goes inside. The wards a few feet below where the panel was were visible and tangible, as in, it felt like I was going through a few inches of water. We kept going. Eventually we came to the back of the magical bunker. Lord Greengrass was mere inches from the wall.
"I, Lord Uriel of the Green-Grass require sanctum in the Den of the End." He announces, and then presses his hand to the stone, and winces, as it drinks (audibly) his blood and magic in.
"Granted" an ancient voice rumbles back. "Your Guest will be allowed temporary membership." It added, as I felt a strong old, powerful feeling run over my magic.
"Thank you, Lady Soteria." Lord Greengrass says, bowing as he enters.
Soteria - Greek Goddess, basically the personification of safety. The only one which was active in modern day. Being the sole Aspect of Protection, she had a lot of power. To have a room guarded by even a fragment of her spirit…
Druidic houses all had lots of magical power and secrets built up, but I didn't think my family had anything like this.
I entered the room, and felt the same feeling of something 'feeling up' my magic, weighing it.
"Oath?" Lord Greengrass called.
"I, Aubrey of house Hawthorne, chosen child of the Luminous One, swear to keep secret above all else what I learn from Lord Uriel Greengrass, from the last hour, until the end of the night. I swear it on my magic and my very immortal soul. May those above judge, and those below take me, should I break my oath. So it has been said, so let it be known." I say, finalizing the oath. He nods, then repeats the oath, word for word, using his name and titles instead of mine.
"So, who are you?" He asks, after the oath.
"Reincarnate, my name from back then doesn't matter, but I was alive for over six-hundred years, so I suppose I know a thing or two. It wasn't in this world though, so almost all of the information is useless." I tell him, and he nods.
"Why here?" He asks.
"I died worthy of being given more. So I was. Now I'm to help in this world. I've been told I will live in interesting times, by my patron. They told me I could meet Voldemort, and so I suspect he is not, in fact, dead. I suspect further he will, in time, come back and attempt to destroy us as he did last time. Such an event will likely not be my trial, though." I tell him. I suspect it will be Harry's trial. They already had a good link. Prodigy vs Prodigy. Something which seemed to be a commonality.
"Not your trial?" He asks, confused.
"No. I was promised many trials for the gifts I am given. My life will be long, hard, and if I'm successful, earth-shaking." I tell him. No point in hiding or playing games.
"Do you know what they are to be?" He asks. I merely shake my head. "When will they come?" Another shake, but I reply, verbally as well.
"No. It is why I practice. If I am ready, then there will be no need to ready myself for when the danger comes. The sooner I can best most adults in magical combat, the better off I am. I currently am not at such a point, and so am training to be so. Soon. Harry, though he doesn't know it, is being trained. So I think, anyway." I tell him. He nods.
"Why even bother helping us? Why not just increase your personal power?" He asks, and I smile.
"Personal power falls before cohesion. Grindlewald could destroy an entire fort by himself, but he fell to Dumbledore and his squad, and while Dumbledore was the only one to walk away, Grindelwald fell. If my opponents seek to do the same to me, then I should be ready. I know I will meet at least my equal, so I must prepare to be as powerful as I can, so I meet an equal, not a better. If I can have allies, so too can my enemy. If they have allies and I do not, I will lose. If I slack, I lose. If I fail in any part of this game, I will lose." I tell him, and he smiles.
"Good. Now, why help us - the rather insignificant as of now - Greengrass family?" He asks.
"Simple." I say, pulling out my necklace. "I was told to help you, this was a Greengrass Lady's necklace, then her Muggle Betrothed then my Grandfathers, and now mine. I was also introduced to your family in a very neat way - dance classes - so it looks very organic. Of course, if I help you rise to your former power - or to be greater than it - then I benefit. I can have you and your family in the Shadows, while Harry and his family control the light. This is my top level strategum. A powerful 'Light' Family, and a powerful 'Neutral' Family, who the Dark, whom I plan to aid in the destruction of, will fear or respect. Then I plan to explore, learn and grow, as much as I can. When I finally find my opposition, I will call in my allies. We will do battle, and this time? This life? I will win. The final battle will have me on the field. I will win and I will walk away." I tell him, but sum it up as -
"I help you, so that when you are big, powerful and strong, you can help me when I need it. I seek to tie us with deeds, where I cannot tie by marriage or other convenient answers. The Darkness must fall, if I am to win. I opposed evil in my last life. I will oppose it here. Need I learn old vile magic to win, or accelerate to ultimate purity, I will do it. I will not stop - for I cannot stop. I will not lose who I am - nor will I forget myself over some…. Foolishness. I will prevail, or I will die a hero's death. Me and my twin-souls." I tell him, in depth.
"So, what can you do for me, in exchange?" I ask, at last and he straightens, to really sell himself.
"Support, of course. Sanctum, should you need it. Do you have blood-oath sworn godparents who can claim your guardianship if yours are… unsuited?" He asks, and I shake my head. "Then I will assume the position for you. I will ensure you can grow to be good enough to beat all in your way. In return, I seek your aide in making my family once more one of the biggest names in the world. One of the top five houses." He returns.
"Do we have an agreement?" He asks, holding out his hand, I take it.
"We do. I, Aubrey Hawthorne, do so swear to uphold my end of this bargain, to the details hereupon agreed. I will aid the Greengrass family in returning to their full might and attempt to grant them the glory they seek, should they uphold their end of the bargain, as agreed." Our hands flash once, and I get a grin from Lord Greengrass.
"I, Uriel Greengrass, do so swear to uphold my end of this bargain, to those details hereupon agreed. I will grant sanctum and safety to Aubrey Hawthorne and her Allies, I will come to their aid when called, and I will use all resources in my power to further her cause so long as she upholds her end of the bargain. As agreed." He says, our hands flash twice. I feel a shiver run down my spine as the crushing presence of the Luminous one appears behind me, and in front a stately woman, dressed in full-plate, with grey eyes and stately features.
Athena. Goddess of War, Strategy and Planning. So that's who the Greengrass family Patron is. A third presence enters the room, next to the Luminous one, this one is the Hawthorne family patron, Oghma. I can't see them, behind me, but I see their hands reach over my shoulders and grasp our joined hands. Then Athenas.
"We judge this deal fair, and true." They chorus. "The Alliance is struck. Bound to death." They chorus, and then flash and disappear. I get a popup. (System unlocked. Alliances!) and then I black out.
When I wake up, I see Lord Greengrass is on the floor, still, so I - feeling pretty out of mana - pull him onto a nearby couch, and start looking over the alliances tab.
Welcome to Alliances!
This is a hidden system unless you make a true-pact with someone, and it separates from relationships. It shows what level of allegiance you have to each other. 10 being the max, complete sharing of resources and the best possible of everything, with -10 being a declared Blood Feud, which will go to the last member of the family.
Your Alliances are as such, right now -
Greengrass House +8/10
Potter House +7/10
Shafiq House +6/10
Bones House +5/10
Longbottom House +5/10
Pucey House +4/10
Diggory House +4/10
Black House +4/10
…
The list was very long. Olivander house was +3/10. McLaggan house was a -1/10 and Malfoy, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and Lestrange were all at -6/10. I figure that means they want me and mine dead, but not enough to start a blood feud over it.
The only -10/10 I had was 'House Simbur" but they were crossed out. A dead line, but they were there as their family magic had been absorbed into our family magic, back nearly a thousand years ago, according to family history.
There were a few international houses which I knew had alliances with us, formally, for trade and so forth. Those, like House Delacour, were sitting pretty at 2/10, while houses we had mutual defense pacts (in case another Grindlewald incident happened) were sitting at 1/10. There were easily hundreds of them.
I figured out, while I was scrolling, that clicking on the name gave me details on the family and the who, what, where, when and why.
The Greengrass family had aligned with me as a sort of Gambit maneuver. I'll either become a legend or die in the process, and they think betting on me is better than betting on Harry Potter or the Malfoy family, for them. They have only daughters and need more power to not die off with this generation.
They were desperate, in short. The reveal that I wasn't a child, in reality, had kinda sealed the deal. There was some faith, there that I could handle myself and not bring ruination to him. He had the security that if I did or was bringing ruin to his family, he could back out within the deal.I could, too, if he held back some resource or wasn't really trying his best.
Basically our alliance was "Help as much as you can, and if you try to be cheaper or lesser in your help than you could otherwise be, then I'll back out." a fair deal, really.
House Potter, meanwhile, had sworn an oath in the old way. For services rendered, we were bound. If I needed aid, then the Potter Family Magic would direct their sole heir in how to best help me, even if he didn't know why he felt he should do something. He'd also written in words he owed me. The others, who were high were because of my being around their children so much. Or because of Lord Greengrass and I clearly showing a tight alliance. If the Bones and Longbottoms and Blacks held a lot of faith in this alliance, then they would trust he was bringing on good people, IE me.
The Bones and Longbottom Families clearly thought I was good, while the Blacks were, to quote their biopsy 'Hesitantly hopeful'.
Only Casseopia and Sirius remained of the Blacks, though. One in Prison and one, old and soon to die, likely.
Shafiq liked me. That's the reason it gave me that. He loved the way my magic felt. He was very sensitive to magic and people's intentions, and he felt my intentions were in line with his, and that I was a good person, so he trusted his gut, as always.
This was his sole reason for allying with me, along with the rest of his alliance. I felt good, magically. Odd? Not really. His family were well known for not power, skill or knowledge, but their ability to judge truly and fairly. There were a lot of Shafiq Minister's and a lot of Shafiq Head's of the Wizengamot for this reason. I think their Patron Deity from the old days is a deity who empowers Empathy or… sensing or something? I'm unsure how to word it, but I know in my gut it's simple, like that.
I hear a groan, and see Lord Greengrass waking up. I sigh, feeling my magic still relatively empty.
"Don't know the time, but I'm drained from that. How are you feeling?" I ask. He winces. "Also empty, right now. Brink of a proper magical exhaustion." He replies, heaving himself up, and then walking to the door. "Lets go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." He says, opening the door. Before he steps through, he looks back.
"Oh, and when in private, feel free to call me Uriel." He says. I nod.
"Uriel it is." Damn a bed sounds nice.
It isn't long before I'm in mine, wrapping around Sarah, and falling asleep instantly.
Much more comfortable than the floor, I'll say.
It was probably 8 or 9 am when I woke up - the latest I've slept in that I can remember. Sarah was still asleep when I woke up, though, so I don't think it was so odd.
What had woken me?
Looking around the room, for a reason, I don't see one, right away. After a second, though, it becomes clear. There's a house-elf poking its head into the room. Seeing someone is asleep, it whispers "I has been instructed, when you's wake up, to come to breakfast. Lord Greengrass is wanting to talk with you both about the… cel-ee-bration today!" Then the house elf pops out. I nod. Feeling better, magically, I grab my wand from my bedside and cast a Tempus.
9:12 AM.
I shake Sarah awake, since we've slept long enough. "Oi. Sarah." I mutter. "It's quarter past nine, and if your lazy ass doesn't wake up, we'll miss breakfast." I say, shaking her again. That wakes her up.
"M'hungry." She mutters, rolling over, and out of bed to, in a Zombie like fashion get ready for the day. I merely wave my wand and summon my clothes to me. I dress quickly, and then make sure my hair (Just about to my knees, now) is fully brushed and looking good. I then cast basic freshening charms and other light morning charms. When I finish, Sarah is coming out of the bathroom looking basically ready. I caught her with a few charms to get what she missed - specifically some of the small wrinkles in her shirt and a quick freshening charm, since she preferred mine to hers, most days.
There's something to be said for experience.
Ready for the day, we head down to our later breakfast, and find the Greengrass family is a (quite stately) disarray. Uriel and Lady Greengrass look like they slept very little, while Daphne looks really anticipatory of something. Not quite excited, but close. Meanwhile, her sister Astoria was bouncing in her chair. Clearly very excited.
There was a small breakfast laid out on the table in this informal dining area, and two extra chairs were across from the two other kids. Nothing too crazy, but nice. Traditional English Breakfast. I sat, and Astoria jumped at me, verbally.
"Aren't you excited to celebrate the Springtime Festival? I'm super excited to see what I can make this year!" She said so cheerily I, without looking away from my breakfast, could hear the smile on her face.
"I suppose I'm pretty excited." I reply, flatly. "Just not awake yet. Sorry, I'll need a few minutes to be articulate." I tell her, and continue loading my plate. She pouts.
"No fun… just like Papa." She pouts. Daphne lets out a (un-Daphne-like) snot.
"I told you she's not a morning person. She didn't even get her morning run in, so doubtless she's not awake yet." She offers to Astoria who just whines, cutely.
Breakfast, other than this, is a quiet affair. Occasionally, Sarah will ask a question when she sees or hears mentioned something she doesn't know about. Lady Greengrass, who I am told during breakfast to call Anna or Marie - as I prefer, fields most of the questions ably, while letting her daughters handle anything they know enough about to handle themselves.
Even I learned some things. Specifically about why the Greengrass coat of arms was four Fluer de Lis - it had to do with the four corners of the family, and how they were maintained, though no detail was offered. None was really expected. Each family had some old arbitrary reason to their crests.
It was after breakfast that Uriel pulled myself and Sarah aside, with Anna following.
"We aren't sure how your family does the Spring celebrations, or if they even do, anymore, but we certainly do. We make a Bouquet of wildflowers from what we can find, and submit them as offerings to the goddess Persephone, to welcome her back to the Mortal realm. How, is simple. Just sleep with the Bouquet close to you." Uriel informs us.
"Well, that's what Maidens do. Men have a different ritual, one to appease Hades while his wife is gone, and Mothers, like I, have yet another to help Demeter get ready. Your rituals will start at noon, and you have until sunset to complete your bouquets. Make sure to follow your hearts and do what feels right. There is no set formula for success, but often it's the most honest effort which gets good results!" She says, and Sarah nods, happily, but I'm a bit confused.
Almost everything I'd experienced in this world had some sort of calculus to it. You could figure it out, somehow. There was a system. Something arbitrary, though? Not sure how to deal with it. Which means, if nothing else, this is a good test of adaptability for me.
Seeing we understood, we were dismissed, since, apparently their rituals started soon, and would go until midnight.
This also meant it would be just us children, for the day.
So I wandered off to find Daphne, she would be my guide to the esoteric land known as the back Garden.
The collecting of flowers was easy. The issue I - but not others - seemed to run into was finding a way to make the bouquet properly celebratory and welcoming. We just didn't have the flowers for it. Knowing the meanings of the flowers… I could make something nice, but nothing that I felt good about, really. So when I finished up my Bouquet, a simple thing with three types of flowers I had an Orange and Purple set going on, with Green as my highlighting color. It worked. I just wish I had some yellows, so I could make a proper 'Sunrise Bouquet' - which I thought would fit the theme well.
Sarah had made an almost rainbow with her flowers, the bright orange at the top, cascading down to a deep purple at the bottom, held together by a blue wrapping. Daphne had some Tiger-Lilies and some white-flower I didn't recognize in a simple arrangement, with some simple common garden-flowers holding it together.
Astoria had made a mess, no two ways about it, but she looked exhausted and extremely proud of and happy with her mass of every flower I'd seen. She was the very definition of "I tried the best I could!" - what I had been told to strive for.
Maybe knowing so much is a limitation, sometimes?
The next day - the last one I'd be at the Greengrass family home, I found the Bouquets were gone. Nothing new on me, but when I observed Sarah -
Blessing of the Spring.
+5% to all Growth done until the Summer Solstice.
Well, I guess I can't win them all? I just really wish I'd gotten it. I admit to being a bit jealous of her success, but I'd not let that hamper me in congratulating her for a job well done, and making a mental note to ask for her help.
Clearly I needed to work on letting it all go, and just have fun, regardless of personal knowledge.
Outside of that buff (which Astoria also had, though Daphne did not) nothing notable happened for the rest of our stay with the Greengrass family. Uriel seemed really sad to see us go, but was happy that we'd had a good time, from what he'd said over breakfast.
Anna insisted Sarah write her with any question on anything she ran into, so that she could make sure she was taken care of. It honestly felt like a partial adoption of the girl, since her parents couldn't help her with the Magical world. It was just after lunch when we bid them farewell, and returned to the castle.
I had put it off for a while, but now I really need to see about rekindling my friendship with Heather. I had at first thought that it had been over her crush on Cedric, and his Crush on me, and my absolute zeroing of them both out, romantically.
Cedric hadn't had any romantic notions towards me for over a month, and Heather had lost another point with me. I am not really happy with it, and so am going to be working on fixing it, now.
After I'd put my things in my room, I found Heather, talking with her friend Matt, who when he saw me (and Heather was also looking at me) shot me a sorry look. I Smiled at them both.
"Hey Heather, can we talk for a bit? I've been wanting to catch up, lately." I tell her. "Just been really busy with everything going on, I'm sorry." I tell her. She nods, and starts to follow me, as I lead her out of the common room.
"Well, I suppose I should start off with saying sorry - I've been a rather bad friend all around these last few weeks, especially, though there have been other issues in general, obviously, they've been most obvious these last few weeks. I feel I should start there." I begin, and I get an angry sounding huff, from behind me, as I open the door to the Classroom which I use for personal concerts and the like.
After closing it she responds.
"This is why I don't like you. You're clearly better than us, smarter, more knowledge, more power, more… everything! And you apologize! For Everything! I don't care that boys are interested in you and not me - well not really. I don't think I'll find the one for me anytime soon, it's stupid to think that." She starts, and I realize what I've done wrong, already. I let her continue, though. "But you, who really don't need to apologize or lessen yourself are constantly doing it. At first, you never apologized for anything - and I liked that. You were cold, straightforward and said what you thought. Now? You talk in circles, and give fake or unneeded apologies. I had no issue with how you acted over the last few weeks, really." She continues.
"The issue I had was you took my best friend from me, and then kinda didn't interact with me unless it was also with her. You also directly contradict yourself, sometimes. I don't know how many times you've said to just let magic flow and come to you, and then turn around and not do that very thing yourself. Like, you have no presence, really. Your magic isn't there. Every other student - and a few of the teachers - I can feel them. I can't feel you. I'm not even convinced you're a real person." She shouts. I just sit there and listen. No point in arguing, when they get to this point.
"You feel like one of the animals, at the zoo or in the forest. No emotions, No magic, and being sorry but not knowing why. Not realizing your own actions and what they do." She's actually right, in a way. But also wrong.
"Okay." I say, seeing her, finished. "I see the issue. I won't apologize for it. Let me be clear, though. I don't have a registered presence because of severe mental scars, which force nothing to leak out, and my magic is restrained by practice to keep it calm, and the binding which was on it until recently." I tell her. "So you can't sense these things, which, as what I'm going to guess is a functional empath, really bothers you. Then, about not knowing what I'm apologizing for - sometimes, yes. I apologize because something I think is wrong. This is from what I can see." I tell her. Then my 'thoughtful, slightly sad' tone drops into an ugly angry tone.
"Don't accuse me of not knowing what I'm doing, though, or seeing what my actions are doing. I knew Sarah was spending increasing time with me and not you, and of course this could - and would - cause issues. I'm not going to push her away for it, though. Of course I know boys have crushes on me, they're very obvious about it, but I'm not returning those crushes." I hiss, and she goes to say something, but I keep going. "And yes. I know Sarah has some moderately high romantic intentions for me, and no. I'm not stringing her along. I happen to feel the same exact way about her." I spit the last bit, then, taking a deep breath, I relax.
"So if you don't want to be my personal friend - fine. You're still welcome to all the study sessions. If you like, I'll do my best to explicitly avoid you, and have it set up so we're not partnered. If you need help with my subjects, ask questions. I will answer. If not, Don't interact with me, child. I don't have time to play your silly little games." I say, then stomp out.
I hadn't meant to say the last part, out loud, but it had come out, anyways.
"Who're you calling a child? You're almost a year younger than me! Oi!" She yells after me, but I keep walking, not responding.
I'm far too angry to talk to anyone right now.
I guess, everyone can tell, because no one gets in my way as I stomp through the school, up the stairs and all the way to the room of requirement.
I turn the dueling bot onto level nine, and get to work. Working on something is the best way to vent anger. Getting beaten up for my anger is also good, because it helps temper my anger.
Except, to my surprise, I beat the level 9 dummy. I do it easily. Then I get a popup.
Mental Block removed! Good Job ignoring your limits and overcoming your self-perceived boundaries. +4 to Dueling Skill. (Now Rank 9.2)
Well fuck. If level 9 isn't good enough, anymore, I'll just put it on maximum level.
Level 10 time, baby.
For the next couple hours I mindlessly drilled spell chains, which were recommended by former students for improving your casting speed, and general capabilities with certain schools of magic. Specifically the basic 5 - Charms, Hexes, Curses, Jinxes and Transfiguration. Each one was seven spells long. The notes in the book, from a "Marius of Ebonshire" (Who would go on to be Marius the Great, in 1402) said once you've mastered these spells, and the basic chains, to make 13 chains with the spells and mix them around. The spells were all 'low cost, very effective' according to the book, which was true.
The spells all were simple. Very tight arithmetic sequences for 'what' they do and 'how they do it' with specific incantations and wand movement. Very tight. The one thing they didn't calculate, or cap?
Power input and power output ratios. What this meant was if you put all your magic into one of the spells they'd have a massive effect. Only a little magic would have the 'standard' effect happen.
After two and a half hours of this mindless repetition I stopped. Sat down, and just zoned out. Putting all resources to what I was doing, and how I was doing it.
Is this really the best way to go? Is this the best way to live?
End of Chapter Stats.
Name - Aubrey Hawthorne
Titles - Reincarnate
The Princess Raven.
Prodigy
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Salazar's Favored.
Awakened One.
Race - Human.
Level 25
HP - 8,867
MP - 16,387
STM - 8,962
Age - 12
52 Str
66 Agi
63 Dex
60 Con
65 Int
64 Wis
61 (86) Luk
52 Points to spend.
Perk Points to Spend - 3
Perks
Enhanced Mana. (50 Int)
+10% to your Mana Pool.
Enhanced Control (50 Wisdom)
+10% Magical Control.
Strong Back - (50 STR)
You can carry far more than you have any right to - doubles your lifting power.
The Hands of a Duelist - (50 Dex).
+50% to Casting speed and Precision.
Tough - (50 Con)
+15% to HP and Stamina.
Lucky! - (50 Luck)
In every game of chance, you have silly luck. Be it slots, poker or a roulette wheel. You have luck at it.
Parseltongue - 1 point.
You have the rare gift of Parselmouth. As a Parseltongue you can talk to and control snakes. Has the potential to do far more, there are even legends of it being used in various magics. Be careful, this trait has negative stigma attached.
The Shadowed Path (2pts)
You have a natural affinity for the arts of the Shadow - you can use Shadow magic, and stealth starts at Journeyman (Level 31)
Potential. - 8 points.
You were born to greatness, and this reflects in everything you do. Magic is second nature to you. While you don't get any skill or knowledge innate with this perk, nor any gifts or talents that pass down bloodlines or through rituals, you now have limitless talent in every single branch of magic apart from these limitations.
Besides that, you are a genius at learning magic too, mastering material at positively enormous rates. This growth continues indefinitely, never slowing no matter what.
With time and effort on your part, your grasp of magic and its theoretical framework could be such that you can manipulate the very nature of it, and do so with an almost contemptuous ease. You would be able to take apart spells and rituals. Even altering spells in real time could be a possibility to you, changing their effects, size, scope, everything. As is coming up with entirely new pieces of magic, with due research and innovation.
Finally, to fuel all this, your 'Magical Core', per se, is proportionately vast. You have a humongous amount of magic at your fingertips, stretching far and beyond any known metrics well into the realm of legends like Merlin and the Founders.
This is the power level the magical titans operate at - to name a few famous ones you may interact with - Albus Dumbledore, Thomas Marvolo Riddle, Voldemort, Harry James Potter and a few others. They are referred to as "Archmagi" generally, or in older terms, Warlocks or Sorcerers.
Etiquette - 1 Point Part one of the "Magus" Line
Manners Maketh Man. You find you have an impeccable understanding of social norms and etiquettes, knowing just the right way to treat everyone higher, equal and lower in status to you at all times. You're at home in any high-level gatherings, and will never be caught wearing the wrong cut of robes. (Adds 30 points to "Etiquette" skill)
Dedication - 1 Point Part one of the "Modern Wizard" line.
Staying focused is easy for you. You can mindlessly slog through even the most boring of tasks with single minded determination - be that three hours of scrubbing cauldrons or similar - you have the dedication to do it! (Grants buff to willpower and helps you ignore distractions when you need to focus or get stuff done.)
Occlumens, -2 points.
Your mastery of Occlumency means a fully ordered mind with the ability to instantly recall any memory, and hold off Legilimencers through use of memory redirection of brute force. You can resist veritaserum.
Social Butterfly -1 point
For some people the most terrifying thing they'll face in life is socializing with other people, but for you, it is the least scary thing you'll have to do. Reading body language is all well and good but it doesn't give you the knowledge of the ins and outs of complex social encounters. Now this won't be a problem whatsoever for you. You can read the mood of any room you walk into, spot when your political opponent is laying a trap in their questions, notice when a friend is hurting even when they try to hide it. You can also act the part that is expected of you in varied circles such as walking and speaking with the poise of a born noble among the aristocrats at their fancy gatherings even if you weren't actually born into that world, or appearing as a harmless bartender serving drinks and gathering juicy secrets. Mind, you won't be more intelligent nor gain any information you don't already know and if you aren't wearing the right clothes people will notice the odd outsider in their clique.
+20 to all social skills, Etiquette, Lie-Detection, Insight and Politics.
Skills
Observe - Level 67
Acting - Level 78
Etiquette, -73
Persuasion - 47
Deception - Level 72
Intimidation - 25
Lie-Detection - 54
Insight - 49
Killing Intent - 7
History - Level 66
Mathematics - Level 75
Art (Drawn) - Level 25
Art (Violin) - Level 58
Cooking (General) - Level 36
English - 131
Spanish - 86
French - 110 (Max)
German - 52
Dance - 42
Acrobatics - 27
Gymnastics - 26
Stealth - 63
"Common" - Max
"Elvish" - Max
Meditation - Level 61
Bladed Weaponry (All)- 21
Longswords - 61
Daggers - 48
Perception - Level 45
Investigation - Level 43
Healing - Level 25
Charms (All) - 36
DADA (All) - 28
Dueling - 88.
Transfiguration (All) - 29
Potions (All) - 31
Herbology (All) - 27
Astronomy (All) - 27
Ancient Runes (All) - 29
Enchanting - 15
Arithmancy - 25
Care of Magical Creatures - 22
Rituals - 10
Soul Magic - 5
Magical Theory - 79
Magical Control - 19
Magic Sensing - 4
Mage Sight - 1
Shadow Magic - 21
Paseltongue - Max
Wanded Magic - 27
Occlumency - Max
Legilimency - 25