"What do you have to show us?" professor Aribage asked kindly. Professor Faure and Milsah flanked him. Harry pulled off the cover on the floor, revealing several tungsten plates coated with blood runes. The three professors stood up, inspecting the working closely.
"A four stage runic array…" Faure muttered under his breath, "definitely an honour."
"The runes are...different though," Aribage frowned. "I recognise this, it's clearly rooted in the blood cleansing ritual...yet…Pairn, look over at this subwork, would you?"
The runes master stalked over, furrowing his brow at the section his colleague pointed at. "I...this is definitely not the standard. I...explain this, mister White."
"An adaptation of the ritual, professors. Seeing as much of the original ritual, a combination of Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon, focused on harmonising the two at six, I figured that if I could find a bridge between the two runic languages, that much of the inefficiencies could be reduced. Using armithic calculations, I managed to evaluate the energy pathways and restructure them using the runic scheme you see."
"A translation runic work," Aribage breathed out in awe, eyeing the work more critically. "Did it succeed?"
"Of course," Harry returned, a tad smug in his accomplishment. All three professors seemed barely able to contain their glee. "The ritual now can be completed with seven bowls of water, rather than seven gemstones."
"But that would mean an efficiency jump of…" Faure staggered. "That's...no, I must try this for myself."
"Of course," Harry agreed easily, helping the professor to the middle of the ritual circle. Activating it, the runes began to glow a blood red, hissing angrily as the professor began to spasm slightly. For ten tense minutes, this continued, until the blood runes at last had been consumed, allowing a completely rejuvenated Faure to stand up in awe.
"That's...I do believe I will be submitting this to the international ritual society."
"Much like I will submit the translation runework to the runemaster guild. This...this is incredible. You'll be the first to achieve a mastery in...at least a century for our subjects, right Lester?" The professor merely nodded dumbly.
"While most worthy of an honour, I don't suppose there would be anything to convince me that you are deserving of a mastery in armithacy?" professor Vitaru asked, looking unusually hopeful. Harry merely smiled, pulling out a stack of notes from his bag and handing it to her, and she began to read through it. "I don't...these are notes for the calculations of the runes, yes but…"
"Wait for it," Harry encouraged, and the professor continued skimming, before suddenly halting.
"Irene?" Faure asked questioningly. Aribage also looked to his colleague concernedly, but she shook out of stupor with a silly grin on her face.
"I daresay, mister White, you have likely revolutionised armithacy," she mused breathlessly. "Lester, I hate to burst your bubble, but this is even more impressive than the runic translation."
"Impossible, he's literally done what was claimed as impossible. There's a bounty of a hundred thousand galleons for it which mister White has just won!"
"But to prove one of the core tenants of armithacy completely wrong?" Vitaru questioned slyly. The other two professors gaped. "The calculations here...given the success of the ritual, is an undeniable refute of the Drafus principle…"
At her colleagues' confused look, she hastened to explain. "One of the core tenants of armithacy is that the armithic power of seven will always be the strongest, and such an extrapolation has meant that we never really expanded in numbers beyond forty nine...but seeing as this ritual uses three hundred and forty three as its root denomination...how did you even manage to compute such large numbers, mister White?"
"A lot of patience," Harry responded dryly. It was technically the truth, waiting for the sluggish Soviet machines to churn out the numbers was quite boring, afterall. "I trust it is to your satisfaction?"
"Very much so," she replied. "I...daresay, if you manage to...are you…"
"Aiming to beat Grindelwald's record?" Harry inquired. "I intend to indeed."
"I wish you the best of luck then," she replied with a grin. "But it seems my colleagues and I have some submissions to write to our guilds. It was truly a pleasure seeing this...I've never felt so alive! Oh, the excitement is streaking through my veins right now!"
"You are too kind," Harry ducked his head, waving goodbye to the professors who were already lost in their own world. Proceeding to the next examination room, he waited outside for several minutes before being called in.
Professor Grubs was banging on a cage filled with pixies while an amused potion master Hansen and Petrov watched. Entering, the three looked at him expectantly, to which he merely pulled out a small canister and poured a small stack of dust onto his hands, turning to the caged pixies and blowing.
A faint white mist emerged from the dust, fogging over the cage as the pixies slowly dropped to the floor one by one with soft thuds. Turning back to the professors, he could see that Hansen was watching him with poorly concealed awe while the other professors looked confused.
"That's...incredible!" the potions master breathed out, drawing confused looks from his colleagues. "Mister White, he's been working on a gaseous version of the stunning potion. I thought...I thought that...but...well it's just incredible!"
"Very much," Petrov acknowledged. "Such ingenuity is worthy of an honour, given the practical applications of such an invention. I'm sure many law enforcement agencies will be interested in purchasing your creation, mister White."
"It is...usable for quarrelling creatures, I suppose. Just how strong is it?"
"Variable. In the open air, a handful could probably knock out a crowd of average wizards and witches. In an enclosed space, if directly in front, they would knock out a bicorn."
"Useful...I suppose an honour is in order...it's better than the other projects, for sure," Grubbs conceded. "If that is all, you are free to leave, mister White."
"Thank you professors," Harry bowed his head, before stepping to the next examination room, where professor Ivarin and Hurst were waiting for him.
"Professors," he dipped his head in acknowledgement, receiving a warm smile from Hurst and a grunt from Ivarin, who seemed content to glare at him.
"What will you be demonstrating for us today, mister White?"
"Fiendfyre," he intoned, causing jets of fire to spew out of his wand. Both professors shot to their feet as the flames circled him, only relaxing when it was clear Harry maintained a tight control over the flame.
"Very impressive, mister White," Hurst complimented, "but how is this...related to transfiguration?"
Harry merely smiled, walking through the flames. Both professors gasped, before staring in disbelief as he continued to walk through the flames unharmed until he stood in front of them, and the flames disappeared in a snap.
"Impossible!" Ivarin spat. "What trickery is this?"
"Control yourself, Isard," Hurst chided, eyeing Harry with a speculative look. "Perhaps you could explain yourself, mister White?"
"Feel my arm, professor," he encouraged, holding it up. Tentatively, Hurst reached out, stroking it and gasping at the rigidness.
"Self-transfiguration," she whispered respectfully, "but...of what?"
"Titanium, one of the few elements able to withstand Fiendfyre for a short but passable duration," Harry supplied.
"A very difficult element to transfigure, probably near the difficulty of platinum," she breathed out with a wide grin. "Silently cast as well...I think I'll offer you a mastery for this."
She sent a pointed glare to her colleague, who sighed annoyedly, glaring at Harry as he spat, "A merit."
Hurst clearly looked displeased, but shooed Harry off after a congratulatory hug. As he proceeded down the corridor, he nodded to several students passing by, offering the standard platitudes expected of him as he waited outside the door.
The door opened, and a crying girl quickly brushed past him, storming away. Bemused, Harry entered to see professor Tomak waiting with an impassive face. "Professor, may I present, based on an alchemic sacrifice, this sword."
Unshrinking it from his pocket, he placed it in front of the professor, allowing the man to inspect it. The man ran a finger along it, causing the sword to hum slightly. Tapping the pommel, he gave a grunt, before gesturing for Harry to take the blade back.
"Describe to me the process you went through."
"Simple standard sacrificial circle, though using blood as a conduit rather than platinum. This allowed for the bonding of the blade to me." Closing his eyes, he concentrated, and the blade materialised in his hands. "Sacrificed seven kilograms of gold."
"Considering that...I suppose that's an acceptable efficiency. Merit."
"Thank you sir," Harry inclined his head, stepping out of the door and wishing luck to Perseus before continuing to his final examination room. Several students were outside, and he made small talk, until he was called in by professor Irman.
"Well, I will admit that I've been looking forward to this, mister White. I do hope you don't disappoint, my patience has been...tested by the past few individuals."
"Then hopefully I will not be one of them," Harry mused with a smirk as he passed a cloak to the professor, who reached out when Harry raised a hand. "I would not recommend that."
"Any why is that?"
"Try and detect what charm is on it," Harry encouraged. The professor frowned, waving his wand over the object several times and finding nothing.
"This is...nothing, mister White."
"And you don't find that suspicious?" Harry asked with a smile. The professor frowned, casting several more charms, growing more and more excited as his wand moved in increasing flurry.
"How?" the professor all but demanded after several minutes.
"It wasn't easy," Harry admitted, "and I need to explain the concept of a sonar first. You see, a sonar detects objects by projecting out a sound and listening carefully for anything that bounces back. While most magical objects attempt to warp magical sensory, I wondered, why not just absorb them."
"And so…"
"I cast a vortex charm and using several binding spells embedded it into the cloak. It is literally a void in magic. While this might not fool the most experienced individuals, it does have an advantage." Raising his wand, Harry cast several cutting spells, which splashed against the cloth, causing it to ripple, but show no signs of damage.
"This is...marvellous!" the professor exclaimed. "I think I've seen enough, mastery."
"Much obliged, sir," Harry bowed his head, leaving the room while humming a merry tune.
-Break-
"Welcome, my friends," Harry greeted as the eight members of his circle sat down. "It has been a most productive year, but now it is time to look beyond that. Ira, Enoch, you two will be graduating, have you thought about what you wish to do?"
"I...probably will get a job with the ministry," Enoch shrugged. "Not sure which department."
"Good," Harry mused, pulling out an envelope and handing it to the boy. "Open it."
The boy did so, reading the contents of the letter before dropping it in shock and drawing concerned looks from the others. He only managed to choke out, "How?"
"I have connections in the BMU. I gave them my recommendations, nothing more."
"What is it?" Ira asked curiously. Harry gestured for him to speak.
"An offer...to join the ranks of the BMU's guardian corps. The competition for that program...how did you manage to get this?"
"As I said, I happen to have connections in the BMU. I trust you'll leverage this opportunity to good use."
"Of course," he answered resolutely. "I won't disappoint you!"
"I'm sure," Harry nodded with a smile, before turning to Ira.
"I'm...not sure, sir. With Isard's influence...well it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in my job choices," she admitted reluctantly. Harry pulled out another envelope and handed it to her.
"An offer from...the National Defence University of Warsaw. I've never heard of it."
"I would be surprised if you had," Harry chuckled. "I suppose an explanation is required. While our aurors or guardians are expected to fulfill both peacetime duties policing a population, the larger size of muggle society means that they have more specialised roles. For civilian duties, they have police forces, which are generally less well armed and trained. Then you have the military, which focuses on eliminating terrorists and facing off against other countries. Within the latter, there are further subdivisions, that being soldiers, non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers. The first group are the grunts, you could compare them roughly to a militia or partisan witch or wizard in relative fighting capacity, though they enjoy training because a muggle alone and unequipped is less dangerous than a magical. For the second group, this consists of frontline commanders, who lead their soldiers into direct combat and ensure discipline. The final group consists of those who handle grand strategy and the organisation of units. That...is something for which magicals do not have an equivalent, and something that I need an insider perspective on."
"You're...sending me to the muggles?" Ira asked incredulously.
"Is that a problem?" Harry questioned softly, causing the girl to rapidly shake her head.
"No, no, it's just...I thought I might be of better use in the wizarding world. I could probably join the ministry of the BMU, I know Isard doesn't have much influence there…"
"Ah, but you miss the point," Harry shook his head. "I don't need people trained to fight today's wars. I need individuals trained to fight tomorrow's."
"But...the muggles?"
"They have a far more...violent disposition than most magicals could imagine," Harry chuckled darkly. "Their warfare has evolved through fire and blood, to far surpass the destruction magical society could imagine. While a battle with a hundred wizards and witches dead would be considered major, it is not uncommon to see tens of thousand dead in muggle conflicts dating centuries ago. In modern times, countries field militaries with millions in their ranks. It is...something that I need a perspective inside of, and far more than that, I need people integrated inside the military of our muggle counterparts."
"Why...Poland though?"
"Several reasons. My influence in the BMU can provide some immunity to you within certain countries, Poland being the most prominent among them. Furthermore, other potential countries such as Russia and Germany are currently undergoing periods of unrest and internal strife. There is also the point to consider that it will be relatively easy for you to rise through the ranks in the Polish military, which is relatively inferior compared to many others."
"But...what can I do? I am but one person," Ira mused.
"Ah, but you're not. There will be nearly a dozen others joining you," Harry smiled, causing all in the room save Sarah, who had helped him organise this, to reel back in shock. "Indeed, I am placing you there, because I need someone of your caliber to manage them, and ensure that any problems are dealt with. Do you understand now why I need you there?"
"I...do," she nodded firmly, causing him to smile.
"Good. Rest assured, your father will not be able to have much influence in those affairs. While in the military, I expect you to learn everything you can. While I have some knowledge, it is likely outdated and completely insufficient for my liking. Can you do this for me, Ira?"
"You can count on me, Harry," she swore. He nodded gratefully.
"Excellent. Albert?"
"My family wishes for me to take over the muggle portion of their business while they focus on the magical side."
"Excellent, I want you to learn everything you can about the muggle world. Make connections, acquire any scrap of information that could be useful, and relay that information to me. Focus on Europe, but also take note of Russia. With the breakup of the Union still underway, we need to be prepared to leverage any sudden changes. Megan, what are you doing over the summer?"
"I...well my parents are off on a trip to the Americas, so not much, why?"
"Then you'll shadow Albert. While I have connections in the magical world, the same cannot be said for the muggle world. That needs to change."
"By your command."
"The rest of you, I know you have existing plans, but you know my expectations." Alana, Otaba and Katerina nodded. "Excellent, then we're done here. It's getting late now, have a pleasant evening."
Hearing the dismissal, the seven individuals bid their goodbyes before shuffling out of the room, leaving only Sarah. "How was that?"
"The plans should work, but we'll see, won't we?" she shrugged. "Do you think Ira will hold?"
"I have faith in her," Harry nodded. "She's tough, with the fighter mentality."
"True, though I must wonder...why do you look so deep into the muggle world? If it were me, I would want to forget all about it," she mused. Harry flicked her nose amusedly.
"That, my dear, is an attitude you need to correct. Believe me, when I say, a union of the muggle and magical is the future."
"I suppose...that is the last piece I need," she mused. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Raven."
"Oh?"
"Your connections in the BMU. It was the final piece I needed," she shrugged. "I've done my homework, assimilating what the others know about you, which mind you, isn't much, there are links. Individuals with significant power and ability don't just spring up out of nowhere, and I made sure to educate myself on the fall of the Union once you told me of your origins...your mannerisms and philosophy...it all adds up."
"And what do you believe my final plan to be?"
"Irrelevant," she shrugged. "But if I had to speculate, you're preparing for war. Aren't you?"
-Break-
"Welcome to the end of year feast," Karkoff droned dully. The excitement was palpable in the air as the results were to be officially announced publicly. "Professor Hurst has requested permission to conduct this year's ceremony, and I see no reason why not, given this will be her final year at Durmstrang."
"Thank you high master," Hurst inclined her head in respect before stepping up to the podium with a bright grin. "Before we get into this ceremony, I have the historic honour of inviting mister White to the stage."
Despite the many confused looks he received, Harry remained impassive, walking up to the podium until he stood to the right side of Hurst. Smiling at him warmly, she continued, "In eighteen ninety nine, Grindelwald managed to break the record for achieving three masteries in a single year. This record has remained unbeaten for ninety three years,,,but no more! Mister White, in a stunning display, has managed to achieve masteries in Transfiguration, Runes, Rituals, Armithicacy and Potions."
There was a stunned silence, before several of his circle leapt to their feet and began applauding, causing a cascading effect in which the entire student body, most enthusiastic though some visibly reticent, began applauding wildly. Most of the professors had joined in, Ivarin being the only exception.
"Yes, yes, very well done, mister White!" Hurst smiled at him as the applause died down. "Allow me, students, to shed light on what he achieved in order to attain such recognition. In the field of transfiguration, he managed to complete a self-transfiguration and temporarily expose himself to fiendfyre with no damage. In the field of potions, he managed to powderise a stunning potion, and has already received orders from sixteen different law enforcement departments worldwide. In the field of rituals and runes, he managed to modify an existing four stage ritual, and I have been told that his ritual has been certified as the twenty-seventh of its kind by the ICW. But perhaps most impressively, in the field of armithicacy, mister White managed to debunk the Drafus principle, and has been awarded a full mastery by the ICW in recognition of his achievements. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you, armithicacy master White."
The two shook hands, before he pulled a surprised Hurst into a hug, to the cheers of most of the students in the hall. As he went back to his seat, receiving awed looks all the while, Hurst began listing the names of individuals who attained an honour in their studies. That, however, received little attention from his circle as he sat down.
"You never...how?" Katerina demanded.
"He's Harry," Sarah shrugged, as though it was the only answer she needed to believe, and gave him a proud smile. "He's always been thinking smarter than all of us."
"While I may not be as talented in a specific field as each of you, I do admit, sometimes, it is not the skill, nor the application, but the direction, that truly matters," Harry advised sagely.
-Break-
Amanda sighed in relief as her wand arm sagged. She had finally done it! After two years worth of work, she had finally cracked the secret key to Grindelwald's secret room! Oh how she had cursed when her favoured student had for some reason claimed the room below, but thankfully she had gained access to the wardstone and modified it subtly to allow her unfettered access. With Harry being so busy with his little plots and schemes, and his sycophants following along like lost puppies, the common room of the Lost was empty surprisingly often. Amanda has used this to her full advantage, and now the fruits of her labour were ripe or the picking!
So exhausted and triumphant, she never had a chance to react to the red flash of light that struck her from behind, knocking her unconscious as a single figure emerged from the shadows, a sinister smirk emerging on their lips.
Author Note:
Quite late in the day, but Harry's first year at Durmstrang ends! But it's just the beginning to Harry's plots, as he moves his pieces on the board, preparing for plots only he truly is aware of. But he will not be unchallenged, for there remain other players ready to emerge and claim their stake, the world their treasure trove to squabble over. Still no comment (take the hint people), so I'll just ask that if you enjoyed, be sure to favourite, follow, share with your friends and leave a comment, even if just to say hi. Until next time, toodles!