AN: I'm going to post a Poll - what style should she go for? Arcane, Divine or Primal? I'll keep it up for a while, but people who get this far, and get to it before I post her choice, will get a say. One vote each, of course.
Each option has its merits but I want what people honestly think is the best for her.
New Years Eve in Italy is very different.
At least, the way the De Niro clan does it is VERY different from how we do things back in England.
Firstly, they dress in all black and dark greys or blues on the day. The reason why is lost on me, but it's tradition apparently. Usually those are there for good reason - so I follow along.
Next, they do something akin to the Spring Solstice festivities the Greengrass Family does. Except instead of flowers and other such things, or on the quarterly Equinox, we're doing it on the turn of the year.
Which is odd to me, considering it's not a super magically important day. I think? Maybe it is here?
Thirdly, they burn any contracts that expire that year in a ceremonial bonfire. None were burned that I've seen, but the mere presence of one of the fires is a bit telling. It practically radiates magic of all kinds.
It feels like a massive beacon, and I feel hundreds of them all around me. For the first time I feel a signature many kilometers away, as I feel the bonfires burning away all over Italy.
Lastly, it's a time they seal new contracts, written in the ashes of the bonfire, and sealed when midnight of the new-year strikes.
Most of these are 364 day contracts, or similar, so they can be burned the next year, and then used to re-establish the contract. I see dozens of contracts being written, all at once.
I am not surprised when I am approached with a Contract. It's tradition after all, if you're here to get something. As a guest, I'm not expected to do much offering, if any. As a result, I'm going to sit and watch for now.
I am surprised it is Lord De Niro himself - Donatello by name, though I'll never likely address him as such, comes to me with an offer.
Usually the big-fish wait for a few smaller folk to offer first. The take is refreshing.
He extends the contract to me silently. I accept it calmly and begin reading over the contents of the contract.
"I, (X), will offer aid and training to the Daughter of House De Niro known as Alessa Bella. In return, House De Niro will offer me access to their assets in relation to training tools and aides, including a fund of money for training tools, all books of applicable levels of magic from the families libraries, and access to the Manor at which the Daughter of the House stays.
The lessons will take place during breaks from school longer than 2 weeks - including Summer and Winter vacation, and will take place over (X) number of weeks. For each week of instruction, the Instructor will receive a reward for their labor as a take-home Salary.
With the Eyes of the Gods on us, this pact is made -
Signed,
Donatello Sergio De Niro.
Cosigned Alessa Bella De Niro
Witnessed by
Angelica Mellorn
Andre Hawke
Karl Gobsrigger.
Finalized Signature of the Tutor -"
I blinked at it - this is pretty generous. The amounts aren't written, but that's so I can alter them. This much is clear by the design of the contract, which means he thinks I'm not asking much, or he really wants this. Either way…
"I can probably do three total weeks - two before any tournament and one after. I need the remaining five weeks of summer to handle my house-duties. During Winter, as long as I can get to Italy, or she's at the same tournament, I am willing to act as a trainer for as long as I can stay - which would be the full two weeks in most cases. In return, I will submit an end-of-day report and then a weekly course for her training, along with drills to do between our meetings." I begin, getting a nod from him, showing he understands, I continue. "I do understand your family is not much for dueling anymore, with the recent history. I am willing to work around that. Do you need anything particular for her to learn? Self defensive dueling? Something more specialized?" I ask, summoning a quill from the table to my hand in a show of wandless magic.
I want him to know that I can teach more than Dueling, after all.
Friends are the best tutors, since you know exactly what needs to be worked on. It helps when you're such a high-level in such an obvious way, like I am.
Lord De Niro grins. "Oh yes, that should be fine. Would you like to duel our house-dummies to see what level you are? We'd like to make sure you're getting proper compensation, of course, along with being able to further your own skills in any field. Obviously, the more you can teach her, the better. Mostly, we're concerned with dueling, her ability to get out of danger, and her ability to help in the family business. Dueling and escapability will help with the business." He tells me with a shrug.
Is everyone in Italy a mafia boss? Or am I just reading this wrong?
"Either way, dueling should be the only form of self defense she needs, no?" He completes his thought.
I shake my head in stark disagreement.
"Dueling is a good primary defensive strategy, but if you're disarmed or your wand is broken in a duel, having a spare won't always save you. If you lose one wand, what's going to save the second from the same fate? Indeed, I think blades and being physically capable of fighting in hand to hand is a must." I tell him frankly.
"I doubt they will come up, overmuch. Very few things will destroy a wand…" He trails off - which tells me he doesn't know anyone who's had to use anything other than their want to solve their problems.
A shame.
"I disagree. I've already seen how useful being able to fight without a wand is. If someone gets in close with you, then their best maneuver isn't to make distance and keep casting, but to punch them in the throat or cut off their hand, arm, or leg with a blade. It's just more efficient. Bloody, sure, but it'll stop them from attacking you better than an explosion hex will be at point blank." I explain my reasoning, and he raised an eyebrow.
"You've experienced that?" He asks a bit disbelievingly.
"You know how there are wand dueling dummies? They also exist for swords and Martial arts. I've been using all of them, of course." I explain, it's as close to truth as I'll be able to get.
I don't think saying I'm breaking into alternate dimensions or the past to kill people or things which were trying to kill me and other people in those places will go over well. Or maybe it would, but I don't want to explain how, when I don't rightly know.
"Interesting! I wondered how the Britons had such great warriors in the days past - I know most of the dummy-magic came from their idol-magic, so it's not too far-fetched for them to have made such, I suppose. But I will leave the instructions to you." He sighs, shrugging. I think in acceptance of my point, but there's so much emotion loaded in that shrug I'm not 100% sure.
"Ah, a fellow Historian?" I bridge the conversation away from the obviously touchy point.
If he felt like he or the family could do a better job, he'd not have reached out. He doesn't want an adult/master who will demand more of his family, and thinks he can get one over on me, an 'impressionable child'.
The deal is already good enough that I don't care, and am letting him get one over, in his mind.
It probably helps I get along with his kid, and already verbally agreed to help her when I can.
"Indeed? I figured you'd have been fully into dueling, not so much the other aspects of magic. History can be a bit dry, after all." He tells me with a smile. Seems happy for the escape.
"Historical duels and wars have great insights into what will or will not work, in general." I tell him - an easy excuse. "And anyways - I rather enjoy the ancient histories. I plan to be a Curse-Breaker primarily when I get older. Dueling is a bit of a hobby I pursue since it will inevitably help if I run across something dangerous, like bandits, animated corpses, or other curses which take sentient forms. Tombs are full of all kinds of nasty stuff." I say offhand. I get a series of nods from the man across from me.
"All that aside - the contract - you agree?" He asks. I nod, and sign fluidly. He sighs in obvious relief. "Thank you - we'll do well together." He tells me, before the contract duplicates, and we each take our copy, and go our separate ways.
I'm approached for similar contracts, though I decline them all. The reasoning for that is simple - I just have no real desire to tutor people I don't know, and I don't want my training to be too widespread.
A rare commodity is a valuable one.
Then I am approached by Fluer, with a contract in hand. THIS is surprising to me.
"Ah, I figured it would be a shame if I didn't get a contract in with you, at least.." She trails, offering me the sheet of paper. I take it and look down to read it, tucking my hair behind my ear as I do.
"I, Fluer Delacour, will offer my aid in magical things - including in research and personal findings - to one Aubrey Hawthorne. In return, she will do the same. This is a contract of friendship, and for a year, under this contract, we'll progress and gain knowledge equally as the other does.
The method of information sharing will be letter, or, should it be preferable, through the use of memories, exchanged with the letters. This way, we can review the information ourselves, and decide what we desire to learn from the other.
Further, and supplementary books needed will be provided, should they not be locally available to the one who needs them.
Signed,
X - Fluer Delacour
X -"
Well damn, this is one I can't rightly accept. As it is anyways.
"I'll need to make changes to this, so that it doesn't harm any other agreements I've already made. I'm generally not opposed to it, but if the information isn't something I - or you - could share due to limitations beyond our control, that'd be bad. I'm willing to share stuff on a general term, though. Magical exercises and the like - spells and skills everyone should have, in my opinion, anyways." I explain, and to my surprise, I see the contract alter itself to match my desires, so you can excuse the addition of knowledge if you have an excuse.
She looks a bit surprised - but seems to accept it.
"And what do you learn which is- other than family magics- not able to be shared with me?" She asks teasingly. I grin a bit, and she leans in - clearly expecting something juicy - perhaps.
I'll have to disappoint, sadly. "Things in books that literally can't exist outside of Hogwarts, or from word of mouth which wouldn't be able to exist in a memory due to the unique magics that are over those meetings. Really, I'd be bound trying to fulfill the contract for anything but my basic and some of my advanced skills. That's before we get into the pseudo apprenticeship contracts, here. I have more than a couple where someone teaches me what they know and I'm just not allowed to share." I tell her, shrugging slightly. She seems both positively vibrant and a bit glum at the prospect.
"I suppose if I visit Hogwarts, you'll have to show me these things. I aspire to visit, if the rumors of the exchange system are true. The teacher-swap lends credence to the thought." She murmurs, reviewing the (magically) revised contract, before signing her agreement to the changes, and passing it back. I sign in as I nod my agreement.
"I think it's probably more than just an exchange program, but it's largely seeming to be that way, yea. The teachers from France are pretty genius, as are the ones from Bulgaria. Hopefully the Hogwarts teachers are holding up, as well?" I ask, quietly folding my copy of the agreement away.
"Oh yes! The teachers for your Transfiguration are merely outstanding! And the teacher for Runes is also quite well learned - they've also begun teaching Ancient Studies. That's something not taught outside of Britain, but it explains quite well why they regularly produce some of the best Curse Breakers and Wardmasters. The class is a bit arbitrary, but for those who can read between the lines - it's almost invaluable." She happily goes on for a bit about the professors - Madame Albain and Mr. Grand, who she very much looks up to.
"Did you get the Defense teacher from Hogwarts, or hear anything about them? We struggle to keep one for more than a year, locally. I've been curious if the curse followed overseas?" I ask, and she looks at me, a bit curious, but shakes her head.
"The Defense teacher is an ex-Auror, who is looking to retire this coming year. His name is Merrick Venrose - and he's very good. The only issue is that he teaches more of a… tactical warfare class, than he does a defense class. The more advanced Defense teacher - instead of teaching how to run or get out of danger, he teaches you how to completely turn the battlefield to your advantage and actually fight your enemies. Generally, you either love or hate his class." She concludes her thoughts with a slight tilting of her head - to the right, so she can sweep a bit of hair blown over back behind an ear. "I suppose none of the other's defense teachers came over, though. A shame." She wraps up, I reply with a shake of my head, to confirm that none had come over.
"Yea, I wondered about how that worked. I assume that if one did, they were promoted to an oversight position, or a management of curriculum position for people who don't know what to do - which would make sense. It'd be hard, but it's the only way I can see one lasting through the curse on the position. Which I know is real, but not where it's seated. I have a few guesses on how to find it, but I don't think I'm ready to tackle it yet, frankly. Every indicator points to it being laid by either the Dark Lord of Britain, or one of his prime Lieutenants." I tell her offhand, and her eyes go wide. I nod to indicate this is, indeed, serious. "It's part of my interest in curses, enchantments and how to break them, and protections around them. If I can find and break the thing stopping our country from a stable self-defense class, then future Dark Lords will have a much harder time in taking over. It seems like the most direct way for me to help the nation - or even the world - at this point. Removing one of the primary barriers to national security." I complete my thought, and she nods - with a very serious look on her face.
"That and your potions master, no?" She asks, surprising me. Snape? I suppose people do complain loudly about him. "I hear he is very unfair to people not of his own… house? From some of the people who transfer to or from Beauxbaton to or from Hogwarts. A very low NEWT transition rate, overall, from the general student population." She tells me.
I hesitantly nod.
"Sort of, yes. Snape isn't the problem, per-say. He expects a level of dedication and self-study most just won't commit to, and that results in what you see. It's a combination of people being lazy, not knowing what they want, or even thinking they're better than they are." I explain what I see from my point of view, then seeing a look of slight consideration on her face, I elaborate.
"You must understand, each teacher is inherently biased to one house or the other. It's evident. Snape is probably the least biased. If you do the work, and do it well. If you just fail to do the work - which is least likely to happen from people in my or his house, he doesn't like you and will make as much clear - which seems like bias, when he's mocking you around his classroom for making simple mistakes, resolvable by doing the homework." I pause then, to take a breath. I'm really passionate about this - people need to do their work in full and in detail if they want to be treated well. In real life and in school.
Then I go on. "He does not make this clear, so people lacking social awareness, or the ability to pick up on the subtle cues he puts down indicating these things fail to realize until their second or third year with him. Often, it's too late to catch up by yourself. So they just don't try." I sigh as I complete my thoughts on the subject, from that perspective.
"Is there a way other than self study to catch up?" She asks, obviously pretty upset both ways. Oblivious students are bad, but unwritten unsaid tests are also not good for a teacher to spring like that.
It's indirect sabotage, under a certain point of view. To me it's teaching common sense, but people will argue it shouldn't be put on 11 year olds to see it - but to me, and Snape surely, the sooner they get that sense developed, the better.
Britain is very politically dense, after all. Corrupt, surely, but our politicians are actually very skilled.
Just corrupt. Governance is very smooth, really. Just not how it should be.
"Yes. There is. I've seen one student ask for help catching up to Snape, directly. They went from below-average, barely scraping by, to one of the best in their year within a month of dedicated study with Snape. I only know that happened because I had a detention with him during the time for being a general nuisance in his class - which you should read as 'finishing too quickly and he wants to see how good I am at potioneering, because the class is clearly too slow'." I tell her. She blinks at me - this time in disbelief.
"What subject are you poor at?" She asks me, and I chuckle.
"Define poor? Academically I'm the top of the charts in almost everything except for in Defense these days. That's because I tutor the people in defense, though, so they can keep competing with me academically. Or I was. But I digress. I'm the top of my year - and in fact I'm nearly the top in the History of Hogwarts, up there with the greats like Dumbledore, Tom Marvolo Riddle and other recents who were scored on this system." I tell her with a shrug. "I spend basically all of my free time studying or working to improve so I can skip the whole post-school academy and go into my career as soon as possible. I hate school, and if I'm compelled to go, I'm going to make the most of it, so I can minimize my total time in required schooling." I explain with a grin, but then I roll my eyes and shrug as she looks like she's about to object.
"Not all of my skills are as good as my dueling. I would say skill-wise, I'm probably in the top 100 duelists in the world, pretty easily. I'm nowhere near that good at anything except maybe the general magical theory, and that's pretty questionable, I think. I could be either in the very top, there, or I could be near the bottom of the top 100. For Arcane magical theory, I think I'm definitely in the top 100, but overall? I doubt it. Magic is too broad, and I'm just hyper specialized in the normal arcane stuff. It's not very useful, either. There's a lot of things our magic system can't do at all, and I need to now find ways around it, which, I'm now finding is just less effective than learning a new magic system, where what I want is a low-hanging fruit. Does that make sense?" I try to explain in more detail, but her look gets more incredulous as I go.
"Make sense? No. That does not make any sense. Didn't you say you know how to speak and read most of 10 or so languages, as well? You're some kind of universal prodigy, or something?" She asks, clearly looking for some type of 'sanity' to cling to.
"I've been told so, yes. I'm a 'Prodigy among prodigies'. Dumbledore compared my learning curve to his own, and he told me only a few - maybe ten or so - will be my equal across the world. I'm fairly certain he, along with Harry Potter are two of those ten. I have suspicion as to who another is, though I'm afraid we'll never quite get along, considering his repugnant attitude." I confirm, nodding.
"And how do non-prodigies keep up?" She asks, looking a bit hopeful.
"Specialize. I constantly feel the need to expand out and get better at everything - I just won't accept not knowing an answer. I'm hard-wired, it feels like to not just sit back. I, of course, specialize in curse-breaking tools, but I'm mostly all over the place." I tell her, skimming my list of skills mentally. It is, indeed, all over the place. Then I continue my tirade.
"You'd probably do best with Charms, Enchanting and Elemental Magic from what I can tell and what I've observed." I tell her, seeing she has prodigy perks for those types of magic, and Arithmancy, too. Which she could use... "If you could mix those together, you'd probably find a way to be superior to me in a lot of ways around those subjects, and I'd be hard-pressed to figure it out, or how to beat it. Frankly it's the best way for you, in my opinion." I tell her with a faint shake of my head. Really, three fields I don't care a lot about inherently. They're good to know, but not things I'll focus on, ever. What a shame...
"Lots of things to be learned in those fields. The basic 10 elemental spells are just the beginning - I would try to go forward and see how far you can push it." Which I know to be true. Grindlewald mastered elemental magic and brought Europe to its knees. Add Enchanting and Charms to that and you get a much more well-rounded mage than he was, along with a more stable one, probably.
"Specialists, though, will always beat generalists." I spit the phrase like venom, not liking having to admit it, at long last. I really hate that it's true. "It'll just take a lot of work and effort. Which is where most prodigies like me fail. It's so easy they don't try, then they're forever hampered by their magical skill being lacking." I tell her, before continuing. I really don't want any questions which make me go on another rant, here. "You have a few months to really work it into yourself to be as good at the skills as you can, but that'll be a good enough amount of time to really engrain a lot of the magical lines into your ability - and what I mean by that" I cut her off, seeing the question - "is that the more skilled you get at magic the easier it gets to learn more. After you turn 17, it starts to become harder to learn more. Your magic starts to solidify around whatever you've done, because infinite expansion would probably lead to more Obscurals and cases of extreme arcane dissonance." Which are both cases of magic not being compatible with the person holding them, at the highest level.
So less chaos magic all over the place, which is objectively a good thing. Probably a restriction to help protect the mages, which is also just objectively a good thing.
"I have found I am very good with elemental magics, yes. Along with Enchanting and charms being my passions - I am happy to hear you think I would do well in the fields, though I must admit to being a bit jealous of your apparent ease - and mastery - of magic - it just shows me I'll need to try harder, and get better. There is no excuse, other than I've been lax in my training, even if you have an inherent advantage. I will ask Papa and Mama for help with the fields you've indicated, and see how much progress I can make when I focus on them. No harm in trying, after all. If you're wrong, I'll have done what I enjoy. If you're right, I'll make good progress on becoming the best mage I can be - either way, it seems I win…" She trails off, and I nod, happily.
"Sounds good to me!" I chirp, gesturing to the contract, which I'd decided to sign, seeing all of the various addendums protecting secret knowledge or otherwise un-shareable knowledge was added. "Did you need anything else? Or was that all? I think we've got a few anxious onlookers who want some of my, or both of our, time." I ask with a giggle, gesturing around us, where outside of the privacy bubble, a few onlookers are waiting patiently for their turn.
I'd not noticed, being so engrossed in my discussion and explanations, but now… I'll admit to feeling a bit bad.
She too looks a bit surprised, and nearly jumps, before taking her copy of the contract, and heading out, after thanking me for my time.
The rest of my night, sadly was not worth mentioning.
The next morning, I wake up to a letter, politely pinned to the ceiling over my bed - being literally the first thing I see.
Ah, I see I have a reply - best to read that now, then.
Dear Aubrey (Sindrie) Hawthorne.
Well met - I could tell you were exceptional when we met - though how exceptional is hard to gauge at first meeting. I am more impressed now than I was before - so I'll start with answering your questions.
The Elders of the Old Countries are the Thirty-Seven eldest magicals alive. We are mostly in Europe and Asia, though there are three of us in Africa, one in South America and one in Canada, we generally hide from history, save for Flamel.
We all have one thing in common - we're all combatants of some form. Your read there was correct. I am the War-Mage of Europe. This means when it comes to massive battles, I'm probably the best bet, though in one-on-one fights, I'm rather behind those who would specialize in that. You seemed to be very skilled in that avenue, from what I could glean.
The others are all a bit more stuck up than I am. Greece, and the gods of Olympus, tend to be more open about various things than a lot of the other countries and pantheons you may meet. The Japanese gods and their high-priestess, for example are very insular. They prefer to be left alone by foreigners of anything less than exceptional ability.
And if you're of such exceptional ability, it's expected you go to them and prove you are such, so they can properly categorize and file you away into your best avenue of living. The best of the best are generally offered residence and citizenship, so that the country can bank another talent. Tempting, considering they have a long and powerful history of magic, which is much less hidden than the rest of the world, but something which you'd be best not to accept.
Like Rome, Japan is something of a Locust of the Supernatural, and a lot of beings from all over converge there. It's best not to get entangled in Japan, Rome or the Middle-East without extreme knowledge of the supernatural - I'm talking demons, angels, and devils of all kinds here.
Because they are here, and they are very dangerous. In fact, it's likely you go to school with one - or someone descended from one. Most humans have magic as a result of a Devil, Angel or God giving the bloodline a shard of their power. There are a few exceptions to this rule - but these days those are rare.
People like you and I - the True Mages, we're called - have all of the sources of magic, and can stand roughly equal to those supernatural forces.
We have a descent from some force which gave the bloodline power, we have descent from someone who figured it out themselves or got it the hard way, and our souls naturally configured for magic. We're the most arcane a Human being can be, and as a result, the Supernatural fear us, by and in large.
This means if they figure you out, you're going to be targeted. Perhaps ask your Albus Dumbledore - who is the headmaster of your school - what happened last time the ICW was hosted in Asia. As I remember it, there were 72 assassination attempts on him within 48 hours of his arrival. Over 200 were reported by the end of the conference, and they never hosted the ICW in Asia - or Rome - after that. It's been between Germany, America, France, England and Austria for the last 20 years for a reason.
Expect a similar welcome when you openly prove you're a True Mage.
This is, unless you can get a tie-in to the community. Trading with them and proving you're an asset, not a threat, is a good way, and how a lot of us longer-lived members of the council have managed it. Though I am not at liberty to discuss how you'd do that.
Oaths, you understand?
But yes, what do I want? This was your question. The most important question.
I want another solid European force in the True Mages - Flamel is going to have to play dead for another 100 years, which means we're taking a blow. Dumbledore is about ready to keel over, and you seem to be the only reasonable, responsible one of us born in the last 100 or so years - maybe longer.
We tend to die young, so I don't see all of the True Mages, sadly. You're the only one I think can help the European branch stall out the other countries from gaining some pressure or similar. This is obviously something for the future, when you're a real master of something, not a piddling middle-grade witch of significant skill, at least in the pond you swim in.
When you finish conquering your pond, and move to the ocean, write to me. You'll know it's time when they try to kill you, instead of bargaining.
The Djinn soul marker you have is a nice token to start, though. One of the supernatural races, at least, won't try to beat you to a pulp in the middle-east. Still, the Angels and Devils out there probably won't like you. They may be more reticent about open attacks, considering how they almost end the world with every Great War they kick off…
But I digress!
I am investing in a future asset. If you want to know how to avoid social faux paux with the countries which various Elders sit in, then write and ask. I will be your mentor in this way, so long as you don't die and can help us, later.
Of course, should you have other questions, feel free to reach out to me via letter.
Potes de Kakost.
P.S. You won't be able to speak of this letter, nor will you be able to have the contents of it stripped from your mind, nor will you be able to in any way use this against my- or your- self. This is a safety measure I put on all outgoing mail. Apologies if it causes any trouble, but I refuse to take more risk than I must on things like this.
Don't go and blow yourself up, please.
With that delightful end to the letter, which destroys itself into particles so small I can't even see there was a letter, I go to grab my bags.
Time to leave the relative warmth of Italy and go back to ice-cold Hogwarts.
At least I'll have reason to stay inside and focus on my studies. Figuring out all of these customs and 'graduating from the small pond' seems to be pretty important, now.
After all, the fish may not see the cage, but it does long for the ocean.
So I get back to Hogwarts, and get my friends - the closest ones anyways - together in short order.
The ones here, anyways.
Cedric, Alicia, Adrian and Sarah.
I would invite Harry, but he's not really part of this group, and, frankly he's more of a student than a friend. Which is odd to say at this age, but no less true.
Daphne is almost my sister, but is out of the castle. Astoria is the same, so well, I'll make do with this.
After a few pieces are played - centering on Schubert Serenade D 957 - before I really cut into why we're 'hanging out' and it's not 'study time'. Business, of course, is on the agenda.
"So, basically I asked everyone to come over, because I talked with a few masters of various things over in Italy, and let me tell you, we're doing lots of things just wrong over here in the isles, but so are they. I'm hoping to try to make the best way to help us be… less wrong? Magically speaking." I tell them, which piques a lot of their interest. Sarah, especially, considering how much I go on about this stuff.
"And what are we doing wrong, exactly? How did you figure it out, but adults haven't?" Adrian asks the question which I had hoped he would.
He is rather critical.
"You know how I feel about exercise. I didn't really know how to direct it, other than physical conditioning and general flexibility and movement things which I could easily access. Well, I was talking to one of the top 5 in Dueling, and he told me, basically, I need to study Martial Arts, or be a really good thief to maximize my abilities. Obviously I prefer Martial arts here. I wondered why, and he told me that, basically, magic conforms to how you physically are, how you use your body. For example, if you're lazy, and sit about all day, your magic will become 'slower'. If you're someone who practices physically, your magic becomes faster in response. But it attunes to skills you have. So if you wanted to be a good fighter, you could practice a martial art. If you wanted to be more subtly influencing, you could practice the more discreet skills which require finesse and a really good body. If you wanted something else, you could probably figure it out based on those examples." I tell them, seeing a rather disbelieving look on both Adrian and Cedirc's face, I give them an example.
"Haven't you noticed that Quidditch players are usually more magically powerful, and more able with charms and combat magic than the average people? This is because Quidditch is a game based around charms and combat simulation, to put it simply. You're training to be able to fight in extremely close quarters at high speeds, relying on charms to keep you from getting destroyed due to the speeds at play. This alone explains why, usually, Quidditch players sit at the top of the year in Defense and Charms, but are middling in most everything else. There's other factors, like natural affinities, but those rarely come into play too directly." I explain further, and see that Adrian, at least, is accepting the explanation tentatively.
"Okay - and how does this help someone like me, who is going to be a career politician?" Adrian asks another question, and Alicia gives him a dirty look - likely because he's actually very good and could make a living playing Quidditch. Sarah chokes down a chuckle, and Cedric looks a bit lost and still disbelieving.
"Intimidation comes with the package. If you ever stand in front of someone who is physically built like a truck and can break a stack of bricks with a punch, well, it helps. Also, it'd make you much harder to assail, should anyone have any ideas. Grace, power and physical aptitude come with the package of mastering a Martial Art." I tell him, he nods, and sits back, clearly thinking about it.
"How will we have time?" Cedric asks. "Not all of us have figured out how to solve all of our homework in 5 minutes, and then have hours of free time. That's the part which gets me - I still haven't figured that out." He mumbles, getting a giggle from Sarah and Alica, and a sigh from Adrian.
"It's using a spell which is normally used to cheat on tests, and modifying it to use your memory as opposed to a correctly answered copy of the test." I tell him and his face crinkles up.
"Ah." He sighs, clearly not liking the source - like a good Hufflepuff - but understanding the theory.
"But still - a couple hours a day to practice some punches for some minimal gain? I don't see the value - I think I'd rather practice Quidditch, instead." Alicia chimes in, getting a nod from Adrian. I shrug.
"I'm just telling you what I found. I think Quidditch is fine, too. Just don't expect it to offer the same returns in the end. You're not really using everything when you play, but you would be with Martial arts. It's a good workout, playing the game, but when you stop playing, it'll degrade quickly, and you lose the benefit. Martial arts are harder to lose - skill in them lasts, even if you're one-hundred and thirty." I rebut. Sarah nods, there, and chimes in.
"Also, it's been shown that Martial Arts are actually good ways to get therapy for relieving stress, at least, from what I've read in my mom's magazines over the summer. I think we could all use that sometimes. Quidditch seems to be a big stressor, along with schooling. Maybe not every day do practice, but like, twice a week? You can use the rest of your free time how you like, after all, doing something every day is a good way to burn out, as we've all learned." She offers, getting more agreement than I did with the initial proposal.
She is right though, we all burn out if we do things daily. The issue seems to be we get too much done too quickly when we all focus on something every day. It's good for complete understanding of something some of us struggle with, but beyond a week or so, it becomes very hard for us to do too much with any real pacing.
We've moved past the block and need to re-orient ourselves lest we get lost in tangents which we find interesting and wind up deterring the group from the purpose of making each-other as skilled as we can.
"That's more reasonable, I guess. What kind of turn-around do you think we'd see?" Adrian asks, and I shrug.
"Depends on if we can find anything to help with training and correcting ourselves. I find it likely that at least one teacher knows some kind of martial art - probably a few of them do." I explain, and get nods.
"We'll have to ask around then. If not, one of us should try to get lessons over summer. Who should be able to do that?" Adrian asks, and I tilt my head, looking around.
I doubt we'll all do well with the same Martial art, we're all built differently, after all.
"Either way, we'll probably have to condition physically first so we don't get hurt while practicing." I tell them, getting nods. It's basic knowledge if you try to do something without physically preparing for it first, you'll get pretty beat up. "So even if we don't find a teacher we can try to get fit enough, and then go find martial arts in our summers. We may do best in different styles, after all."
And that's my best guess based on the two Martial Artists I knew in my last life, who were, to my eyes, nearly identical, but had completely different styles. One of them was really direct and in-your-face, the other used misdirection deceptive skills in hand to hand to land blows.
Both were deadly.
"Probably a good idea. I know it was done in the old-ways, so we - purebloods - can express interest in studying 'as a means of honoring the old ways'. I don't know how Muggleborn or Halfbloods could do it, though." Cedric chips in.
"A way to stay fit, which is also a way to defend yourself outside of magic, in case you're disarmed." Sarah responds. "For girls, especially, it's a good reason to learn. My papa is very worried about my safety - and if we had something like that to bond over then he'd probably feel more secure in my safety." She murmurs, getting a pat on the shoulder from Alicia and looks of sympathy from the boys. I just offer a sad smile.
"Now, for other things I think might be useful, like how to improve casting speed - that's interesting actually..." I cut off to the next subject I wanted to talk about, deciding that's enough about Martial Arts.
From there, it's a pretty normal meeting. Nothing out of the norm really happens.
I'm just glad I avoided adding another thing to my schedule by having Martial Arts delayed until summer. I already do Physical conditioning, so I have a leg up, there…