Author's Note: Was worried I wouldn't get this done on my one day off.
Chapter 24: Totally Valid
Harry was conflicted about Wizard Colette Marence. She seemed to be a rather sweet and matronly woman most of the time, and he had certainly been impressed by Carcette and the Vigilants.
But years of needling by other mages had apparently made her very protective and defensive of her school of speciality.
"Now having just gone over the Healing Hands spell, everyone must admit that Restoration is a very useful and valid school. What do you say young man?"
Also the professors had seemed to take his advanced skills for his recent entry as an opening to constantly ask him the more complicated or opinionated questions during lectures and seminars.
"Of course, Professor Marence. I personally use Restoration in every single hybridized spell I cast. My Protego and Patronus spells both use it, and I am studying for a way to possibly incorporate the counter-undead nature of the school into Bound Weaponry. It is unfortunately not going well," He finished on a bit of a dead note, but generally he was happy with his answer.
"Splendid, Harald! I look forward to hearing more about that project in the future. Feel free to consult me on that as well, Circle of Protection and Vampire's Bane are higher level Restoration spells that may aid you in that endeavor," With that she finally turned her attention off of him to the rest of the class and wrapped up her lecture.
"Everyone should now have been reminded, once again, that Restoration is indeed a valid school of magic. It is absolutely worthy of research, despite many of the notes I've had left in my bed. And my desk. And on occasion, my meals. Anyone suggesting that Restoration is better left to the priests of the Temples, I think, is forgetting a few things!" She even wagged her finger here.
J'zargo barely held back a snicker, Harry had to actually nudge him to circumvent that possible disaster.
"Firstly, the ability to repel the undead cannot be ignored. Skyrim is well known to be full of these... Draugr, ancient Nord warriors who cannot find peace. I submit that everyone in this College has, at one time or another, relied on one of the Restoration spells that can keep them at bay!"
Looking over at Brelyna Harry noticed that she appeared patently bored, and even rolled her eyes at the professor's defensiveness of the school.
Yes, Harry thought, these Restoration lectures are a disaster. Maybe if I ease some of the spells into our study sessions I can contain the damage she is ironically doing to her own school of specialty?
"Secondly, how can anyone forget wards? They have become essential to any mage working in dangerous situations. They are counted upon every bit as much as Candlelight, or Invisibility. But more importantly, wards have saved lives. This is a simple fact. Every mage in this College regularly uses wards for practice, so as to avoid physical harm. I truly hope that these points actually sink in, and that more care and thought is given to this subject in the future. Thank you," They were shooed off as the professor collected her supplies.
Over the prior week Harry had begun meeting after most lectures in the main section of the courtyard to rest upon the benches and discuss the contents of the lectures with the three other apprentices he had befriended.
Today, however, J'zargo brushed them off.
"This one does not need to go over things best left to medics and priests. J'zargo shall go work on his Flame Cloak spell,".
Their Dunmer companion shook her head, "I do not precisely disagree with him, but I have seen how Restoration magic can save lives many times in the past. Just because something is also studied by others does not mean it is outside of our purview!"
Onmund nodded along, "If just everyone who had the small bit of talent learned the Healing and Healing Hands spells, think of how much life would be improved in the world! It truly is such a pity that my, well I suppose our people, have become so skittish around magic over the last few eras, right Harald?"
Harry blinked at the question, having not realized that Onmund fully recognized Harry as half-Nord before now.
"Ah, yes. The ability to mend wounds would allow so many more people to live full lives. Even an organization of alchemists more focused than the Colleges, Guilds, and Synods of Wizardry built upon providing medical potions for places would move us into a new era of its own I imagine!"
Brelyna however shook her head, "Mass production of the ingredients for healing potions has been tried in the past, there is not a single potion ingredient that is not horrendously picky and difficult to grow unfortunately. Most plots get perhaps two seasons of yields before the land goes fallow. They eat up all the nutrients in the soil as well as being required to grow in magically saturated places to begin with!"
Harry, not being too much of an alchemist himself, was surprised at the new information, "I had not realized it was that difficult to obtain the ingredients! Then to add the skill for brewing? I can see why nothing has succeeded so far, perhaps farming would be the first hurtle!"
He scratched at the scruff coming in on his jawline, he had to shave soon, "Does that mean you have some talent in brewing yourself, Brelyna?"
"Yes, you could consider Alchemy my fourth school of magic that I practice. Though I admit my Alteration is even weaker than my Alchemy, so maybe call it my third,". She winced as she admitted to her weakness in that field, it was as Harry knew, an especially useful field for staying alive as a mage.
"I can aid you in Alteration, I have found it quite useful to hybridize with my Conjurations so I am sure you will be able to do the same with just a little bit of help," Harry's offer was genuine, plus she had some interesting Conjuration spells and experiments he might like to see.
"Alteration is one of my better schools as well," Onmund offered, "Perhaps we could make a group of it? All of us aiding each other in our studies, and perhaps J'zargo will join us for any days where we focus on Destruction," The last part was added as an afterthought but Harry thought the Nord's idea had merit.
"I believe that could be very useful!" Harry agreed, then turned to the dark elf, "What say you?"
The woman frowned as she thought it over for a few moments, pulling at the hem of her robe's sleeve with the opposing hand as she fidgeted in tandem with her spinning thoughts, "Oh, I suppose. I do have a few things that need smoothing out for one of my experiments. Which means this could not hurt,".
"Then it is settled! Let us meet for this after the evening meal on say...Fredas?"
A study group to help the students survive and thrive and learn practical magic, Harry mused to himself as he headed back to his dorm, things were beginning to reflect Hogwarts more and more.
Though perhaps, he reflected, that could be wistful thinking and homesickness.
After a somewhat successful group session on the Flesh-spells that Fredas, Harry was approached by Breylna, "If you have a moment, could you help me with something?"
Harry waved a hand towards the dorms as he gathered up his books on Alteration, "Of course, explain to me on the way to put these up?"
She nodded and as they entered the Hall of Attainment she began to explain.
"We're all trying to become better mages, right? Well, I need someone I can practice a few spells on. Nothing dangerous, really. Would you be willing to assist me?"
Harry frowned as they entered his room and he started reshelving the tomes, "Well I suppose, will I need to be ready to throw my wards up?"
She waved her hands in front of her face to rebuff that thought, "No, not that kind of spell. Believe me when I say I wouldn't be asking if it weren't necessary to have a target, but they are not damaging spells!"
"In that case I suppose I could be your…" He searched for a proper replacement animal, "Test skeever for this experiment,".
"Oh, good. I was afraid I'd have to go ask J'zargo. Now, you just stand there..." She sighed in relief and then as they moved out of his room and towards hers she pointed to a spot right by the main light well.
Harry moved into place and she began gathering magicka in her hands, "Please hold still, and don't move," were her only instructions.
Harry's only warning that the spell went off was a flash of green light that caused him to drop to the floor in an attempt to dodge in panic.
"There! Now, I..." She frowned and looked down at him on the floor.
Harry glanced around and saw that he hadn't been attacked by green light but that instead now just everything was green, "Brelyna? Was that-"
"Oh dear. That wasn't supposed to happen." She interrupted him and then worriedly asked, "Do you... do you feel all right? You look very, umm, green."
She covered her mouth with her hands and began to speak very quickly, "I am so very sorry. I went over this again and again, and I was sure it would have better results."
"Do you think this is going to fade? Is it permanent?" Harry asked with concern.
"It's not! It shouldn't be. You'll be back to normal in no time. And when you are, we can try this again and I'll be sure to get it right."
"Well that's nice and all," Harry said, standing back up and dusting himself off, "But what did you do?"
"I'm not really sure. I think it's just a minor miscalculation on my part. I'm sure it will wear off soon. When it does, you'll be perfectly fine, and then we can try again. In the meantime, I'll see about figuring out what went wrong."
Harry sighed and sat down on one of the ledges circling the light well as Brelyna pulled out a journal and went back over her notes.
About five minutes later his vision finally returned to normal.
"Well it's faded," He told her.
"Exactly as I said it would!" She replied, snapping her notebook shut.
"Now, are you ready to try again? I am confident it will work this time."
Harry sighed, "Very well…"
"This will be worth it."
Brelyna then ordered Harry, "Okay, now don't move at all."
And she readied her spell once more.
And suddenly Harry did not feel himself at all. A downward glance showed...showed…
"Moo?"
"Oh my. That isn't right! Just wait. Just... I can fix this."
Another flash of magicka and Harry only had one thing to say about his situation.
"Neigh!"
"Oh no, that's not it at all. Let me try again..."
Another flash of magicka.
Looking around he...wagged his tail and then dropped it and turned to glare at the Dunmer who had put him through some of the more humiliating transfigurations he had seen.
"This really isn't turning out the way I'd hoped." Brelyna was obviously embarrassed over this as she tried to assure Harry, "I'll get it right this time, I swear."
She flipped over her journal and glanced more intently at one of the pages, her cheeks then colored a deep purple and she snapped it back shut and recast the spell once more.
"There, all better!"
Harry finally was able to hold his human hands up in front of his face to inspect.
"Well, it all worked out in the end, didn't it?"
Harry sighed in frustration, "Well Brelyna, as long as we agree to never speak of this again...it's been a pleasure,"
Her shoulders dropped, "Oh, no it hasn't. Let's be honest. I have a long way to go before I'm ready for the kind of advanced magic I've been attempting. But at least I know where to start now. Thank you, you've been a great friend to me, Harald,"
That did it for Harry, his frustration and annoyance washed away, "It's what friends are for, Brelyna. But yes, let's both go over the notes next time instead of jumping right to it?"
"Ah!" She gasped almost happily, "Yes! Next time!"