"For the greater good," a voice chanted outside, and eighteen wizards and witches raised their wands, firing blasting curses at the same time, shattering the relatively weak wards around the safehouse. Several panicked cries were heard from within, but the Grindelwaldians paid them little heed, continuing to level blasting curses save for their leader, who, with great concentration, summoned a gust of fiendfyre, sending it hurtling towards the building.
Several wizards and witches charged out of the building, firing spells at the attackers and forcing them to slow their offensive, shielding against this barrage, though their resolve was quickly lost as several were burned to a crisp by the fiendfyre.
Buckling against the loss of several companions along with a reinvigorated offensive, the morale of Voldemort's followers broke and they began to flee in disarray, making them easy pickings for the disciplined Grindelwaldians.
Within two minutes, it was over. Their mission complete, the leader cast their leader's mark, that of the Deathly Hallows, before all eighteen disapparated.
-Break-
Voldemort sighed tiredly as she wandered the smouldering remains of the building. The pungent smell of sulphur clued her in to the fact that fiendfyre had been used. Behind her, several of her lieutenants followed nervously, undoubtedly waiting for her reaction.
Looking up at the sky, she saw the mark of the deathly hallows, so similar to the dark mark she used to trumpet. Internally, she wondered what could have caused this attack. As far she knew, the dark lord shouldn't even be aware of her existence, far less be targeting her. All her sources pointed to Grindelwald operating in the Franco-German region.
Could it be he was angry that she had taken a core part of his power base from him? Perhaps.
Could it be that he was trying to stop her rise as it threatened his own? Perhaps.
Could it be that he wanted to draw attention to the region to divert ICW resources? Perhaps.
Yet all those seemed wholly insufficient to explain the vengeance the man had caused in the Balkans. Voldemort's gut told her this was far more personal, that Grindelwald was trying to send her a message, and she had long learned to trust these senses.
"Stanković."
"My lady?" her lieutenant bowed.
"These attacks cannot go unanswered. Prepare an expeditionary force, we attack France tomorrow night," she decided after a moment's hesitation. Grindelwald had a reputation for a reason, with his mind being supposedly even deadlier than his magic. Voldemort hated doing anything without understanding everything, but the reality was she had to make a decision. In the end, there was only one course of action she could take.
"Yes my lady," Stanković bowed, hastily walking to the edge of the wards and disapparating, no doubt to relay her orders. Voldemort looked to the skies, which seemed unusually bright today.
"May magic have mercy on our souls," she muttered out.
-Break-
"My friends, it is with a heavy heart, that today will be the final time I preside over this body," Harry announced. There were expressions of surprise from everyone in the room, be they his supporters or detractors. It took several moments for the room to quieten. "Indeed, I do not take this decision lightly. Being an assembly master has been a privilege and an honour, but the reality is, I feel I have completed the objectives I set up when I ascended to the role. Today, the assembly has unprecedented influence with the board and the staff, several reforms have been passed, securing the safety and happiness of students for decades to come, and the student body is more united now than ever before. I cannot justify my continued tenure as this body when I have already achieved every single legislative goal, and I am a man of my word: my promise to step down once the crisis that faced us two years ago has abated, and so here I stand before you today for a final time. Nominations will now be accepted for the position of assembly master, I now begin a five minute recess."
In a way, this was a test of his faction, to see whether they could truly function without him, or whether they would fall into the same bickering and divide as they did before. Chatter between the various guild leaders quickly ensued, though he watched as the neutrals, which had initially segregated into several smaller groups, began to coalesce, soon centering about Aurelius, who was making a rousing speech.
Turning his attention to those on the far left and far right, he noticed them observing his faction with poorly concealed hatred. Harry simply watched with veiled amusement at this until the time ran dry, at which point he banged his gavel and called the delegates back to their seats.
"Very well, I will be accepting nominations now. A reminder there can be a maximum of twenty candidates."
"I nominate Aurelius Kotova," one voice called out.
"I second," several others called out. Harry nodded, jotting down the name. There was silence for several moments. Harry frowned, before his eyes opened in realisation at the smug looks that the far left and right had.
"Seeing as two candidates are required, I will be placing myself in contention for the post, even if I wish to make it clear I do not desire the role. There are now two candidates, being Aurelius Kotova and myself. We will now move onto voting procedures. Those in favour of Aurelius Kotova?"
"Just shy of two thirds of the wands were raised. He noticed some of his more fervent supporters in the neutrals as well as those in the far left and right did not vote."
"And those in favour of myself?" The remaining wands lit up. "Very well, by the will of this body, I now surrender the power vested into me to Aurelius Kotova. Congratulations assembly master."
Harry descended from his podium, shaking his hand firmly as he ascended the stone steps while Harry found a place with the neutrals, who parted like the waves for Moses to offer him a seat. Smiling, he watched as Aurelius banged the gavel.
"As the new assembly master, I call this session back to order. Is there any business?" Harry lit up his wand. "Yes, representative White?"
"I will be retiring from this body in favour of another representative."
"Duly noted. Is there any other business?" There was several moments of silence, with many clearly eager to relay instructions or seek counsel from those not present. With a bang of his gavel, Aurelius dismissed the assembly, quickly signalling to Harry his desire to talk. The two met at the bottom of the assembly master's podium.
"What was that?" the boy questioned.
"Me cutting the time I need to spend on trivialities," Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "The assembly has served its purpose to me, and as such I no longer need to dedicate time to it. This will be good practice for you, I trust?"
"Yes but that's...why would you give up the position of assembly master?"
"You are loyal to me?"
"Yes of course!"
"And you'll do as I say?"
"Certainly!"
"Then I in effect still control the seat, do I not?" Harry asked searchingly. Aurelius seemed unable to come up with a response, to which Harry placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed. "Bar a major catastrophe, you are more than capable of handling the school politics and ensuring the continued maintenance of our power. My time is increasingly needed elsewhere, be it to work with Katerina and Sarah on our followers, or to devote to my personal studies and advancements. I'm being pulled in too many directions."
"But-"
"I know what I'm doing, Aurelius, despite your concern. Rest assured, I have full confidence in you." The boy straightened up at this praise, a determined glint in his eyes.
"Thank you sir, I won't disappoint you!"
-Break-
"What do you have for me today?" Professor Irman asked eagerly as Harry stepped into the examination room, closing the door behind him. Harry smiled, brandishing his wand and casting a flame spell, a small wisp on the tip of his wand. The professor leaned forward intrigued.
"The flame spell is often mistaken for a conjuration, when it is in fact not summoning anything, but rather a product of manipulating molecules to create heat and fire, quite different from summoning, say, fiendfyre. Thus, with enough concentration," he flicked his wand, causing the flames to begin spreading like a dragon across the room, leaving a blazing trail as it performed amazing feats of aerial acrobatics, curling around the professor, "one can master control of the charm."
The flames suddenly roared in intensity, flaring bright before suddenly fading to barely a flicker. "Complete mastery, creates almost a feeling of...intimacy."
The flames formed rings around the professor, slowly tightening like a noose around the man, who eyed them curiously. "How? There isn't any heat?"
"Heat requires a conduit, thus if you apply the appropriate will, you can produce heatless flames. An interesting notion, no?" Harry proffered. "But no, this isn't my only demonstration today."
He stowed his wand, before proceeding to conjure flames on his hand, which spread along his clothes, as though lighting himself on fire. Yet throughout, he felt no heat, nor incurred any damage. Irman watched incredulously as he summoned several separate balls of flames and began making them move independently around the room, sometimes merging and other times splitting. "Fascinating, what enough will and practice can do, no? I trust this is worthy of a mastery?"
"Indeed," the professor breathed out, still eyeing him in disbelief. "Wandless magic...it's said to be…"
"Improbable," Harry acknowledged. "I admit to having an affinity for the element. I would be hard pressed to replicate this feat with other magics."
"Still...to achieve this so young...I suppose I should not be surprised. I admit I was expecting some flashy new spell, but this...this truly does show your maturity. You'll be receiving a mastery from me. And I must say, it's been a pleasure teaching you, little as I suspect you learned directly from me. My door is always open, should you require any assistance."
"Thank you, professor," Harry inclined his head in respect, before leaving the room and heading to his next assessment. Entering the dark arts room, he internally chuckled at the professor's flair for the dramatics, with all the window covers closed and only several torches provided dim illumination in the room.
"White, let us see what you have for me," the professor invited in what constituted welcoming for the man. Harry nodded, taking out a small vial of dust, holding it out and blowing it towards the professor. A slight purple mist formed, glistening brightly, though as the professor inhaled it, he clearly began to tremble, biting down on his lips. Harry took out a second vial, this one of white dust, and blew it, causing pops in the air as it counteracted. Ivarin coughed, wiping tears from his eyes as he looked at Harry incredulously.
"What on earth was that?" the man barked, his head caked in sweat. Harry chuckled.
"Did you like it? Synthesised pheromones, designed to induce fear in the individual. In the right concentration, t's effects are the same as a high powered traumata curse."
"T-t-mastery. Get out!" the man all but shouted. Harry inclined his head, leaving the room without further comment, and stowed the remaining dust back into his pocket. Outside, a waiting Ira eyed him curiously, and he shrugged.
"Your father was...shaken by my test. He might be a bit agitated," Harry chuckled, patting her on the shoulder and squeezing lightly before heading off to the next examination room he was due at. Entering the DADA examination room, Petrov greeted him with a beaming smile, which he returned.
"Ah, mister White. I just had the pleasure of seeing miss Sitara, who claimed you helped her with casting a nearly impervious shield. Most impressive, will you be doing something similar?"
"Alas no," Harry shook his head, "I would not wish to intrude on the accomplishments of another. Today, I will be demonstrating one of my favoured abilities, that of stealth."
Tapping his wand on his head, Harry faded around, slowly walking towards the professor, who was looking around with a scrutinising eye, trying and failing to find him.
"Give up yet?" he asked softly, standing beside the man, causing Petrov to twirl around, wand in his hand.
"That was impressive," the man conceded. "Let's try that again."
"Of course," Harry agreed, tapping the wand on himself. This time, the professor cast several detection spells, though all were unable to locate him. The professor grew increasingly flustered as spell after spell failed to ping him, and even though Harry was standing straight in front, the magic would have the duo believe Harry didn't exist.
"How?"
"Magical augmentation," he chuckled. "I'm not trying to simply absorb the magical detection, but rather redirecting it around me, warping it."
"That's...not...probably," the professor stuttered out. "On such a scale...I…"
"The study of it is fascinating," Harry mused, as though ignorant to the professor's state. "Indeed, it's fascinating how much more rational magic is when you break it down objectively rather than accept it for what you believe it to be."
"I...must confess my confusion as to why you didn't combine this with charms."
"I would have," Harry admitted, "but I managed to demonstrate limited wandless proficiency with the flame charm. I could show you, if you'd like."
At the professor's nod, he holstered his wand, holding out his hand and conjuring flames into his palm. The professor gawked amazed. "You're truly a once in ten generations talent, mister White. I expect great things from you, great things. While I will lament your absence in my class in the coming two years, rest assured that my door will always be open."
"Thank you professor, it's much appreciated," Harry inclined his head as the professor waved him goodbye. He continued to the next assessment room, this time for potions, where an exhausted looking professor Hansen brightened at the sight of him.
"Come in! Come in! After several...subpar projects I could definitely use something to brighten my spirits. What do you have for me?"
"Oh, something fun, I'm sure," Harry chucked, pulling out a vial and placing it on the desk. "Have a smell."
Curious, the professor uncorked the liquid, taking a whiff and nearly dropped the bottle. "Amortentia? An impressive brew to be sure, but surely not the extent of what you've brought me, I hope."
"Try casting detection spells on it," Harry encouraged slyly. Hansen frowned, obliging by placing a small drop onto his ring, frowning when it didn't glow. He poured some onto his tongue, before frowning. Casting several detection spells, he frowned even more.
"How?"
"Because it isn't amortentia," Harry chuckled. "In fact, if you inspected the liquid by most means, you would find that it is little more than honeyed water."
"Then how…"
"Pheromones, professor," Harry chuckled. "Remember the sludge I worked with for much of the year? Those were in essence synthesised chemicals designed to condition the mind. Largely undetectable, because they aren't magical in nature."
"So this is an...untraceable love potion," the professor frowned. At Harry's nod, the man gave him a stern look. "I hope you won't be selling this or even releasing it, the implication would be…"
"Horrific," Harry nodded solemnly. "I created it more as a proof of concept than anything. It's a demonstration that current methods of detection aren't foolproof."
"Do you have a solution in mind?"
"The beginnings of one," Harry admitted with a frown. "Fundamentally, pheromones send signals to the brain to create a response. Thus either the nerve would have to be inhibited, or the absorption of the pheromone eliminated. I'm admittedly not sure which would be simpler."
"Fascinating...well I must admit to being impressed, as usual you have surpassed yourself. I must confess to being a bit sad that this is the final mastery I will grant you. If you ever need help, I trust you'll find me?"
"The offer is appreciated, I'll be sure to take you up on that," Harry inclined his head, departing the room for his final examination, this time in transfiguration. Entering, he saw professor Martin Fisgeld crack a smile at him.
"Ah, come in, come in, mister White. I've heard the other professors sing your praises during staff meetings, let us see what you've prepared for me."
"Very well," Harry acknowledged, placing a platinum nugget in front of the professor. "Tell me what that is, would you, professor?"
"Platinum," the man muttered after several moments, tapping the table and placing it on the tip of his tongue. "I hope this isn't a bribe, mister White."
"On the contrary," Harry chuckled, tapping his wand on the nugget and causing it to vibrate, slowly shifting its metallic silver sheen into a golden one. The act was exerting itself significantly, causing his entire body to tremble while his vision began to darken. The professor watched the process incredulously, as the nugget finally stabilised, now clearly a lump of gold. After several dozen detection charms, Fisgeld began to giggle, causing Harry to wonder if he accidentally broke the man's mind.
"This is...oh my, are you alright?" the professor asked concernedly. Harry waved this off.
"I'm fine...just...tired," he panted. The professor nodded mutedly.
"This is...well this is incredible! You've broken another...well it's just like armithacy, ain't it? I...how long did this take you?"
"Far longer than I care to admit," Harry chuckled, causing the professor to snort.
"Even if it took from birth, many experts would kill to have such an achievement to their name. This...well, this is incredible! I will admit...I...well...I never expected something like this…"
"I trust you are pleased?" Harry chuckled.
"Pleased? Pleased? If I died from excitement now it would have been a live well lived, to have seen...this...a fundamental principle of transfiguration being broken."
"Transmutation," Harry corrected softly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Transmutation, not transfiguration. You will find that it is a piece of gold in every way, shape and form," Harry elaborated. The man blinked owlishly.
"Is that so...I'll be writing a paper to the transfiguration guild immediately...I daresay...well you'll get a proper transfiguration mastery rather than just the one I'll give."
-Break-
"Sapphire!" Jade sighed exasperatedly as her sister snatched the letter out of her hands and opened it with a cackle. "You're insufferable, sometimes, you know?"
"Don't be such a killjoy, Jade," the other woman chuckled, playing with her silky black hair that bounced up and down as Sapphire pranced around the room. "Dear Jade, lovely to hear from you as always. I would be honoured to attend the summer equinox ball of your family. Sarah's excited to see you as well. Happy 30th birthday, by the way, or perhaps belatedly by the time this letter reaches you. I'll have your present for when we meet in person. Until next time, Harry. Well that was interesting, does my big sister have a boyfriend after so long? And foreign as well, what would dad say? Ooh, is he the one that got you an invisibility cloak? Did you tell him about me?"
"He's not my boyfriend, he is British, dad knows him, yes he got me the cloak, no he isn't cursed with the knowledge you exist yet," Jade answered succinctly, chuckling at the younger girl's pout.
"You're mean."
"You're annoying."
"Jerk."
"Brat."
The two women glared at each other before both broke out into hysterical giggles.
Author Note:
Finally, fifth year at Durmstrang is complete. Sixth year will definitely be focusing more on Harry training and developing more magical powers, now that he's finished all but history and the dark arts. I've intentially saved the former so that it will focus on the contemporary state of the magical world rather than history in the past. For the latter, Harry isn't a master of the dark arts by any means, and is merely an above average student in the traditional sense of the dark arts, which he compensates for with his knowledge in potions, charms and defence. We're going to see that change, and Voldemort is going to encourage this through the book as she now considers the need to form an ally against the attacks of Grindelwald. I'll admit, I'm starting to feel the fatigue of writing about things at Durmstrang, so hopefully the summer and next year's new focuses will breathe some life back into my work. I apologise for yesterday's absence, and unfortunately in the coming weeks this might be a recurring trend, as I am handling the appeals process for my exams, working on packing to move house, and need to research and prepare to move to the UK in September. Many classmates who I might not see for years are also looking to have farewell lunches and parties, which is tugging on even more on my time. I'll be sure to keep you updated here.
But enough on me, an excellent point from an unnamed guest on my poor physical descriptions. I will admit that in past writings I've often had problem with keeping track of appearences and ensuring continuity. Also, I've also been called out for excessive description, though I definitely agree I've kept the description for most side characters in Harry Potter and the Raven a bit too dry. Good on you for calling me out, I'll definitely be reminding myself to add more character descriptions moving forward, and hopefully one day adding back descriptions in past chaters when remastering the story, if that ever materialises.
As always, thank you for the incredible support. A reminder that we now have a discord server, the code being Jew89k8Jp8. If you enjoyed the story thus far, be sure to follow and favourite. A comment is always appreciated, and I make it a point to read through all of them, even if I may not have to opportunity to respond to every last one. I assure you the engagement means a lot to me, and makes the bits where I have to force myself to continue worth it! Until next time, toodles!