Stats as of last chapter -
Aubrey Hawthorne
Titles - Magical Titan, Queen of Ravens, Fatechanger
Level 72
Age - 15
Race - Human
Sex - Female
Str - 200
Agi - 243
Dex - 240
Con - 250
Int - 273
Wis - 272
Luc - 263 (291)
HP: 45,430 (97,860)
MP: 100,537 (342,236)
STM: 110,154 (155,931)
Stat Points - 60
Perk Points - 5
"Explain, now." Arthur's portrait barks commandingly. I nod brusquely.
"There's been a curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts for around 30 years now. I did my research and figured it had to be held in a vital room to the castle. There are four of these. It was in none of the other three, so I found it in the Room of Requirement, to no one's surprise. It was fully sentient, and actively eliminated defense teachers however it could. Sometimes it would be violent, others, not so much. I found it, confirmed it was the item, and discovered it was a Horcrux, then contained it." I tell him quickly, but clearly. He nods his understanding when I pause for just this reason, then continue. "The Horcrux is on the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. I refuse to see it destroyed." I say stormily, glaring up at his portrait.
"How good are you at charms?" He asks. I glare harder.
"Mastery." I say back shortly.
"Magical Control?" He asks.
"Perfect."
"Do you know of the Wiggains Cursed Bubble theorem?" He asks, and I feel a memory of reading about it when Pomfrey mentioned forming a bubble around the curse in Harry's scar to move it…
Oh.
"Yes." I reply, not letting the revelation show.
"Can you do it?" He asks hotly. I squint, running the calculations.
"With some setup, yes." I declare after a moment. "I would like to read up on a method to amplify my defense against dark magic, however. This thing is powerful and tactical. I won't be able to acutely defend myself while focusing on moving the abomination." I declare, getting a nod.
"Ask the room for Arthur's Safe Room, and it will take care of it for you. Also, put it in a lead box for movement. Magic cannot penetrate lead." He reminds me, I nod, then turn to brusquely leave.
With luck, I'll have it ready for disposal within 24 hours. First, Arthur's Safe Room.
I slam the door to the Room of Masters behind me and turn to see a different door in front of me. I open it to find an expansive ritual chamber, with a Lead box in the center, and a magical array - specifically to destroy all dark magic of all kinds from leaking into the room. Looking them over, I quickly determine that it stops all magic except for the magic of the person who opened the room - from working inside of it.
Perfect. The only thing it can do, then, is physically manifest and try to assail me, which it may still attempt. The method I'm using depends on the skill of the user, and while I may be a Master of Charms, a soul shard fighting against a magic shell which I only have 24 hours to construct - when the other instance I know of was a few years - is not really the best situation to be in, per say.
Still, I'll have to try - and probably fight this living nightmare the whole way, too.
I snatch the box off the floor, then go back to the Containment chamber. I open the door to see the thing rattling on the floor - unable to leave the circle but trying its best. I drop them with magic close to the lead box around it, before picking it up and walking out with it. I do a quick U-Turn into the Safety Room, and then settle into place as comfortable as I can on the cold floor as I can be, then open the Lead box, and lay my hand on the diadem, wand in my other hand.
I'm putting the Horcrux on the lining of the lead box. Along with the curse.
Instantly, I feel another mind crash into mine, and I'm in mental warfare.
I'd forgotten physical contact can induce a psychic link needed - clearly Voldemort had studied it though. I dive into my Occlumency realm, which is seemingly merged partly with the Hell scape of what must be Voldemort's mindscape.
Interesting, I can't just invoke my rights to destroy him. We're both equal, and our powers are cancelling out, meaning…
I'll have to fight his psychic avatar directly…
I manifest fully, standing on the ruins of my home, full of rocks the size of boulders - the remains after the Giants attacked, and I wait.
He'll come.
It's a few minutes later, feeling his slimy presence inch closer, like a poison as I mentally prep everything I might need. I outfit myself in my daggers, leathers and hold two of my wands, perfect matches, in my hands.
Breathe in slowly. Take control of combat.
"I'd thought, perhaps Dumbledore was the one to find my hiding place, that old bumbling idiot, but no…" A silken voice trails, as a man with pallor skin, and molten red eyes, the signs of great, deep delving into the dark arts flits closer. "No… it's a little girl. Perhaps we could be equals, girl. Should you free, and aid me, I, Lord Voldemort, can reward you most handsomely…" The voice comes, silky smooth and delivered flawlessly. If I wasn't reading his statistics as he spoke, I may have believed him.
Shade of Voldemort
Age - ?
Race - Abomination
Sex - ?
Level 95
Str - 200
Agi - 200
Dex - 200
Con - 200
Int - 300
Wis - 300
Luc - 500
Perks -
Dark Lord
War Lord
Modern Day Alexander
Hatred
Lord Voldemort Hates you - a potential threat - and plans to eliminate you.
This is his Fifth Horcrux. It's only thoughts, purpose and knowledge is in how to reincarnate itself, and where all of it's brethren are, and how that it MUST check in on them, as soon as you are dead.
So I didn't believe him. I am, hilariously, statistically superior to this shard of the Dark Lord, but as I've seen, statistics didn't mean shit before true skill.
And he surely has that.
"Don't waste your time lying. We both know there's only room for one like us at the top. All others…"
"Are threats!" He completes for me, booming with laughter as he leisurely draws his wand, a white, horrible thing. "You've learned well. I hope you're a good host, and will enjoy watching as I tear your life - and friends - to shreds." He gloats, as he gives me a duelists bow. I hop off my rocks and casually return it.
If he wants a duel, my area of expertise, I'll take the advantage. Since we agree, a platform instantly begins to form around us, and the ground, now three meters below our platform, turns to flat stone for 100 meters.
I breathe in, then out.
"To the death, then? Any official rules? Or is this all out?" I ask, quietly and mentally preparing my spell chain I'd used to get top 8 in the Dueling finals of the world cup. I've improved it, since. And if he insists on no rules, I can use the shadows of the elemental spells to fly around the arena…
"No. No rules. Let's see whom the better of us is, truly." He grins at me nastily as he says that. I calmly nod.
"Very well. When this hits the ground?" I say, shooting a signal flare into the sky. He nods in agreement, and we both shift into or final stance. I lightly shift my foot as I finish my mental preparations on how my magical assault will go.
Nothing will be held back.
The Flare hits the ground, and we both cast. He throws a sickly green curse at me - it's pathetically slow compared to Pulso, and my spell hits the stage between us, and the stage turns to mud, which he sinks into a tiny bit, before he begins to float out of it, like I am.
That split second to cast Sui Leviosa was all I needed.
"Terros" I mutter, and spires of rock explode all around us, mostly centered on him. He dodges them effortlessly.
"An Elementalist who knows how to move?" He cackles delightedly. "I will enjoy pillaging your knowledge!" he says boomingly as he throws three more of his disgusting death-beams, and I slide under them, before vanishing in the shadow of a pillar to his opposite side.
"Severum Impeli" I incant, and a great tornado descends on the arena, filling with shrapnel and dirt from the earthen pillars and mud. "Igni. Abellum." I say as I feel him cast a pulse to find me, then home in on me with spells. The tornado, instead of lighting, explodes in a great conflagration, and I feel it shred him quite harshly. I vanish again and appear on top of a pillar, temporarily shadowed by the explosion of light below, and I watch, in horror, as his shadow stitches itself together again.
He's a fucking Horcrux! I can't defeat him by destroying his form! I have to destroy his magic!
Basilisk Venom and Fiendfyre it is, then.. I shatter a wand in my grip and pull out a dagger, dripping with a sizzling green poison.
"Alvios!" I hear from below, and watch in astonishment as the pillars - and whole landscape - get blown away from the shadowy man in the center. I vanish into the tree-line, as I see him pacing about, then I smile.
He can detect me if he actively tries, but he can't find me passively.
"Terrari Exvos" I call, and feel the earth around me shift to accommodate my command.
Pillars are the most basic earth magic, true mastery of higher level magic grants control of the earth itself in a radius, as long as it is simple dirt or stone, and not properly worked by tools.
Sheer rock counts.
A spear rips through the shades form, and I grin, appearing beneath his shadow and cutting with my dagger. I feel a ripple of magic, and the see the shade I'm fighting dissolve with a scream. I quietly vanish into the shadow of the pillar as the ground I'm on explodes with raw darkness, when it clears, there's nothing for 10 meters around where the shade had died.
"That was too easy.." I murmur. Eyes flicking around, I come to the conclusion there's more than just one, here. Otherwise his mindscape would de-fuse from mine. I vanish from where I am, and quickly detach my shadow from myself. Popping all around my mindscape, I quickly find where he really is. At my memory-bank.
I grin blood-thirstily, appearing quickly in his real shadow, then taking a stab, which he gracefully pivots around, and delivers a swift sweep to my legs, which I catch myself from, then spring back and vanish into another shadow.
"Shadow magi are nigh extinct girl. I'd hate to have to end them all with you!" He says with a power-hungry sneer on his face.
"So you'll take my body and my gifts, right?" I reply, then jump to a new location as he hit's where I had been.
"Of course! Imagine, being one with the Darkness itself! I would be unstoppable. Such a shame a tiny girl like you can't comprehend it's proper usage!" He cackles, and then throws his head back and at the ceiling casts "Pelvoro Almis!" An incredibly powerful curse, designed to level entire buildings. I shadow three buildings over and wince as I feel the building come down, and then I feel him apparate behind me. My eyes widen fractionally, as I turn then I shrug, and, with a smile, watch as the color drains from his face, and a great hole opens in his chest.
My shadow had just killed his.
"Sorry, Tom." I tell him, getting a choked, angry sound in return as I watch him begin drowning in his own blood. "Fiendfyre." I incant, and watch as his corpse burns away, and his mindscape unmerges with my own.
I sigh as I feel myself level up, and disentangle myself from the mental warfare, instantly fixing all the damage and throwing his soul, now listless and unfighting, into the shoddy lining of the lead box, along with the curse it'd been powering. Then, I throw it into the proper center of the room.
"Sorry, Tom." I repeat, this time getting no response as I grin widely. "Fiendfyre." I incant, and then, the whole room is fire, for all of a second.
It's enough to destroy the box, and for me to never want to cast the cursed flame ever again. Their baleful, hungry, hateful heat is nothing like the welcoming warmth of the the other flame-spells.
"I really am sorry. Your soul is damned to wander that cursed plane between oblivions." I sigh, shaking my head and going to the door, then, as I open it, I sigh. "Idiot…"
Of course, I was not expecting a thunderous looking Dumbledore to be on the other side, brandishing a wand in each hand. He squints at me in stark disbelief. "Aubrey? Or Tom?" He asks, somehow knowing what had just happened.
"Aubrey." I replied coldly. "That was one of at least Six Horcruxes. If we count Harry." I mumble, and Dumbledore pales a bit, then nods silently, gesturing for me to take the lead.
Doesn't trust me to not curse his back then? Fair enough.
"You'll need to prove you're not Tom." He tells me.
"Veritaserum won't work on me. I'll show you the memory and you can judge it, I guess." I tell him. I feel his mind working.
"It'll have to be in your mind, then. I can't leave you to escape if you're Tom, while I watch a Pensive." He tells me. I nod placatingly as we turn on the third floor, heading to his office.
Thankfully the two rooms aren't so far apart when you know every passage so innately. I march quietly to his office and up the stairs before sitting in front of his desk in my usual chair before staring at him as he takes his seat. Instantly we're engaged mentally, and I just shove the memory of the fight to him, which he instantly processes.
"Shadow-magic isn't something to play with lightly…" He tells me.
"I'm immune to Shadow Taint. It's a godly gift, and I don't question it." I tell him flatly. He nods.
"The cursed flame?" He asks. I roll my eyes.
"I'm not going to let him recuperate while I get basilisk venom, Albus. If I did that, then it'd have to fight him - again, and he'd know my tricks. I'd lose a rematch. Or if he was any faster or more able in any way. That was a Voldemort from before he started his war - I'm pretty sure of that. As a result, I can't rightly say I think I'm a match for him now. Maybe in another five years of concerted training?" I scoff at the thought. Even then.
"Yes, I see that. That's three of the six, though. I know where another is. I was planning to get it sometime next year, while I research the remainder. It's not easy work, and I really don't want to think I can win just because I know where one of the three goals is." He mumbles, and I nod.
"And there's not guarantee we'll find the remainder for any amount of time. The final two could be anywhere from the bottom of the Atlantic to the Ministers Office, given where he's put the two I know about. One a mistake, I'm sure, and the other in Hogwarts? The idea is shear blasphemy, really." I intone coldly. He nods, and sighs.
"We got Barty Crouch - and Junior - by the way." He tells me. "Junior killed himself when he realized the jig was up, something about how he could not betray his Lord." He continues, and locks eyes again. I nod, understanding.
"We're getting close, then? I don't have five years?" I ask, directly. He nods.
"We do not. You're going to have to put your all into the lessons Miss Vantor and Mister Reagan put together for you with Flitwick. It's not often Masters take someone before they've taken Owls. I see why they have, but still, it is very rare. If others hear of it, then surely they will talk a great deal about it. To keep what little anonymity you have left, please try to keep this hidden." He almost orders. I sigh, and nod.
"When they look at me, they see a rule-abiding duelist, Albus." I told him. "A prodigal duelist, but that's all. They don't know what they're dealing with, and they never will. You've seen- but they won't" I comfort him as best I can.
His hidden Dragon is better hidden than ever, if anything. The best camouflage is in the public eye. They know who I am, and what I do, and how I act.
When the Dark side starts to get picked off, left and right, with no discernable pattern? They'll not look at me, surely. I'm an international dueling Star. Almost the Viktor Krum of Dueling, if you will.
"I suppose you're right. Elven politics were more complicated than history shows, I take it?" He asks, looking extremely sad I have to take this upon myself.
"Yes, they were." I say, giving him a brief, sad look. "However, I must ask, when are Beauxbatons and Durmstrang set to arrive?" I ask the important question.
"Soon, we've not an exact date yet, but I suspect it to be a couple of weeks, now." He tells me. I nod, then lean back.
"Good. What day and time is it?" I ask, feeling an increasing weariness seeping into my bones.
"It's Sunday, Seven PM, why?" He asks. I slump in my chair.
"I was fighting him mentally for over 30 hours, Albus." I tell him wearily. "I'm going to eat, then sleep. I may not wake in time for classes tomorrow. Apologies if that's the case." I inform him then stand, and begin my trek to the great hall.
Albus in no way protests as I disappear.
As I quietly move to the great-hall, I review the quest -
Quest Alert -
The Heart of Hogwarts
Objective -
Find Hogwarts Heart! (Success)
Figure out the issue with Hogwarts Heart (Success)
Discover a method of containment for the problem(Success)
Discover a method of destroying the problem (Success)
Destroy the problem, forever. (Success)
Convince those whom remain you're not a threat (Success)
Bonus Objectives -
Deal with the issue before you graduate. (Success)
Destroy the problem within 24 hours of locating it (Success)
Do this with no outside help (Failure)
Secret Objective -
Defeat the Shade of Voldemort in Single Combat. (Success)
Rewards -
100,000 xp
+50 Charms (All)
+30 Shadow Magic (All)
+30 Daggers
+5 (All stats)
Bonus Rewards -
Perk: Planning (i)
Perk: Dark Destroyer (i)
+20,000 xp
Secret Reward -
Perk: Indomitable (i)
+35,822 XP
You Have Leveled Up! (x5)
I don't even read the perks until I'm falling asleep in bed, twenty minutes later -
Planning -
You are a genius, to be sure, but you have a particular taste for planning. Your plans are often very inclusive in how they operate. This means your plans are generally versatile enough to survive contact with the enemy, and then some. You are also immensely skilled in preparing contingencies and precautions, just in case they don't.
+100 to Planning
+50 to Improvisation
Dark Destroyer -
You're a destroyer of dark things. You're exceedingly good at your job - so much so, that you can sense when something which could be classified as evil is near you.
This cannot be a living person, or other organic being, but you can sense anything else. This includes, but is not limited to: Phylacteries, Dark Grimoires and land Sanctified to the Gods of Evil. (this is toggleable!)
On top of being able to passively detect them, you generally know how to deal with them.
+30 to Defense Against the Dark Arts
+3 to Mage Sight
+1 Wisdom / Level (retroactively applied)
For Mastering Mage Sight, You've been granted a Perk!
Weaveborn -
You can see colors of magical enchantments, which tells you their purpose.
For Reaching 250 Agility you've been awarded a perk!
Between Each Beat of My Heart…
For every second you're in combat, you gain 1% more speed, up to a total of 50%. When you reach that threshold, you gain a burst of speed for 10 seconds, where you are twice as fast as normal, which resets the counter.
This can only be activated three times per day, and can be disabled going into a combat if you would prefer it.
For Reaching 300 Wisdom you've been awarded a perk!
Peacemaker -
As it usually works, people in high-tension situations almost always develop 'us vs them' attitudes. Anyone who's friendly with the 'other side' is consorting with the enemy, probably a traitor, so on and so forth. Not you.
You're immune to such petty suspicions. As long as you're not actually betraying any of them, you can spend the night partying in a Vampire club and the day attending the wedding of the most vicious hunter in town, and neither group will mind.
The greatest use of this, however, is in mediation. You can assist disparate groups find points of agreement, and also come to terms with their differences. As long as your points are valid, no one will dismiss you as being a 'lapdog of the other side!'.
For Reaching 350 Wisdom you've been awarded a perk!
Shaping the World -
Your ability to Shape and Control mana is so vast, that you could put any amount of power into a spell, and not lose control of the spell. Others may not be able to accurately control a spell with ten-thousand mana poured into it, but you could as acutely control it as though you had put one-mana into it.
+30 to Shaping Skills
+30 to Power Casting
For Reaching 250 Dexterity you've been awarded a perk!
The Grey
You no longer produce any detectable scent, to any creature. You also no longer sweat, though your body will stay perfectly cool as though you do. Lastly, once per day, you can choose to become invisible by entering a dark area. This invisibility is not flawed in any obvious way, though it isn't recommended you move too quickly with it on.
When I wake up, I realize a few things are very wrong.
One, my bed isn't how it was when I fell asleep. I recognize the bedding as straw, covered by thick blankets, which are woolen, and the one atop me is also woolen.
None of this was how it was before.
Second, I'm not in a high-up tower. Judging by the window - I'm on the ground floor.
"...you're finally awake." I hear a man's voice saying. Make that another thing which is wrong.
Godric Gryffindor should not be outside of his room, and much less should he look like he's in his mid-30's, when he was in his prime. This smacks of tomfoolery.
"Huh?" I grunt, my throat insanely dry.
"Ah, I see you're a bit confused. I suppose you should be - you were knocked out on the edge of the wood - we found you and brought you in, since you're one of us." He tells me kindly.
"Huh." I grunt more firmly, nodding, and miming for a drink. His face lights up, understanding.
"Dehydrated, of course. Banishing food into your stomach isn't very effective. But I assume you were on your way here to join our school?" He asks, and I look upon myself and I feel a house elf pop in some water in a glass for me, which I gratefully drink, then clear my throat.
"Yea." I say, voice scratchy and sounding unused. What an odd dream I appear to be having. I'm going to pretend this is a dream until proven otherwise.
I am certainly NOT in the past.
"Good! We'll have to test your knowledge and see where you are. Did you have any teaching before this?" He asks, accepting the glass from my hands, as it's now empty.
"Yes, I did." I scratch out, my voice barely a whisper. "I've been tutored by my family and friends of the family. I was pretty good, but can't go back now, considering." I tell him, giving him a sad look, which he accepts, with a nod.
Let him make of that what he will.
"I'll be happy to see what you can do, little miss. It's a good year for a talented witch to show up, anyways, given what we're going to attempt. A tournament between all the schools of Europe. A way to share knowledge and prove who's the best!" He cheers, and I feel my eyes widen fractionally.
You've got to be kidding me.
"Sounds interesting. Maybe I can take part." I rasp, sitting up straighter, leaning on the wall, and feeling slightly weaker than I remember falling asleep as. I quickly glance over my stats- no change. Probably just something to help with the dream.
"I'm glad you think so!" He says gregariously. "We've a number of talented students though! A few who've Awakened like you, even, so it won't be so much of a shoe-in for you!" He continues cheerily. I feel my eyes widen fractionally.
"I'd not known others my age who'd Awakened…" I mumble quietly. "It's not a fun thing for people to need to do." I conclude, steadily feeling strength feeding my limbs. I roll my shoulders, and then squint at Godric. "If I were to stand up, I may give you a show. I can feel my relative lack of clothes. I may not mind, generally, but I'd prefer to have some clothes I can throw on, before too many might see me." I tell him. He gives me a bit of a sly grin - something I had no idea he could do, though it's more fatherly than creepy - and he snaps his fingers as he turns. A dress - fully done up in the styles of the day, triple-layered skirts and tops all laid out on the bed behind him.
"Dress yourself and then step outside. I'll guide you to the Great Hall. We start class tomorrow morning, so you're just in time for class, though we probably will accept some students well into the first month." He tells me as he leaves, and I sigh heavily, slipping out of the bed to find myself in very basic underclothes.
I wonder who dressed me? Bah.
Quest Alert!
Of course there's a quest. Of course this isn't a dream.
Of course. I pull up the Quests.
Not a Dream?
Objectives -
Attend and become the top Student in Hogwarts during its earliest days.
Reward -
10,000 XP
Failure -
You forget your 'Dreams'
The Precursor
Objectives -
Enter the Precursor tournament to the Triwizard Tournament.
Complete the Final Task
Survive your year.
Bonus Objectives -
Win the Tournament
?
?
Reward -
11,900xp
Title "Champion"
Bonus Reward -
Perk "Precursor"
?
?
Ah, yes. Of course. Everything had some kind of thing which it came from. We're still around 200 to 300 years before the actual tournament is formed. I wonder what happened in this precursor attempt to make it be forgotten. Or, maybe, buried in history.
There was a long list of other institutions in early Hogwarts history trying to destroy it. Other schools, covens and more. There was one attempt by a branch of the Norweigian Magical Government, who were there to take a child from a fugitive, they were fought off. That should be before I arrived though… So what's going on, here? I hope nothing too intense…
I sigh as I finish lacing my shirts up, then pull the actual dress on over top. It'd been a while since I wore something like this. It's not even that they were restrictive - because these and others I'd worn weren't.
It was because of how hot they can get.
This dress has clearly been spelled heavily to combat all those issues, along with any others a woman may have with wearing so much cloth, except that it doesn't show enough skin. So I have no issues with it at all. I quietly step out of the room after putting on a fair pair of simple shoes, which had been under the clothes.
"All ready, Lass?" Godric asks. I nod, and he holds out his arm, in askance to escort. I take the arm and lean on him as we walk, not heavily, but enough to have a presence. Playing it like I'm some dainty lady.
I don't get to do it often, and I'm going to soak this up while I can.
"So, what might your name be, girl?" He asks after a moment of pause, a sound of mirth in his voice.
"My public name is Sindrie. I dare not give my family name, lest my families enemies hear." I tell him, and he nods peaceably. "And your name, sir knight?" I ask, teasingly. I can almost feel his smile.
"My name is Godric Gryffindor. I'd worry not about any ancestral enemies here, lass. Trying to bring such matter here is a good way to see yourself expelled from the castle. We take education as the foremost concern here, not petty squabbles for the outside." He rumbles firmly, and I nod agreeably.
"Still, my family has a notable list of foes, I prefer to let those dogs lie, as it were. The alias will have to do. If you need a family name, I will respond most agreeably to Amatalis, though that's just a nickname I had as a child." I tell him cheerily.
"Sun-Flower? What an odd name for one so pale as you." He jokes as we turn a corner to what I know to be the Great Hall. "However, we are here. You may take a seat where you please - since we're not in session, and all new students have yet to be sorted, we can't enforce anything, anyhow." He tells me, and I nod, and slide along to what will, in the future, be my spot at the Ravenclaw table. I sigh as I settle in, and then look around the room.
There's a good mix of kids all about, from ages 13 to some fully grown adults, all wearing students robes. The oldest looks to be perhaps 32, though I don't bother Observing him, since I can tell with all my other perks he's not a threat.
In fact, only one person - other than the obvious people at the teaching table - stands out. He's a Gryffindor student with a great mane of red hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail and light scarring from various magical mishaps - or perhaps duels - marr his hands and lower arms. He - I determine - is the only 'student' around here who is roughly my level. A quick observe confirms that.
Wulfric Vesley III
Age - 19
Race - Human
Sex - Male
Level 71
Str - 282
Agi - 202
Dex - 198
Con - 266
Int - 255
Wis - 201
Luc - 239
Perks -
Godric's Pride
Modern Day Alexander
Master at Arms (i)
...
Wulfric is one of the top 5 students at Hogwarts. He is slated to take his graduation test this year, having studied for seven full years, instead of the normal three or five.
Wulfric is curious who you are, and why you feel so powerful when he's never seen you before.
+1/10
In short - there's 5 students of this level at this school. Maybe more, but he's within the top 5 of those monsters.
I have to wonder, what do they perceive me as, considering how out of the norm I appear? A girl, 4 years his junior, who has more power and other things. Like he's a master of movement in combat and in dance, for example. Clearly, Hogwarts from back in the day didn't mess around. They really pushed you.
The main issue is how small it is, as an institution. There's probably 80 students in the hall, and even if this is doubled today, and through the rest of the first month, then that's at most 200 students for the whole school.
Glancing at the staff table, I can see there's at least 15 fully trained Wizards and Witches. Most of whom are in the low nineties, in terms of level. There is one exactly level 100 wizard, and then the Four Founders, who are just ?'s, unsurprisingly.
I presume there's more than just them, though. Like there had been when I go to school, in the future.
Salazar stands, which I barely spot out of the corner of my eye.
"I am here to tell you that tomorrow we will hold the test for which houses the new students will be apart of. However, if you wish to do it today, you may. Just come find us after you finish the morning meal and we will allow you to begin, as there is no one who came forward who still needs testing. He addresses the hall, and I see various nods, though none look very excited to get on with it.
I resolve to get my test in, as soon as possible. As a result, I quickly eat a basic breakfast of bread, cheese and ale before walking to the head table, drawing many shocked gazes from the assembled students.
"The new girl going first? Gryffindor, surely" I hear one boy in Hufflepuff mutter. I resist rolling my eyes, and pull up short in front of the table, making sure every step along the way has been done with confidence and grace. As I stop before the table, I tilt my head so I can look the teachers in the eyes.
"I'm ready for my test. Whenever you are." I say flatly.
I suppose it's time I got this over with. I get a quizzical look from Ravenclaw, a stately woman dressed in blues and blacks, with long raven hair and hazel eyes. A wide grin from Gryffindor below his great beard and long red hair. Helega gives me a motherly smile, which is in contrast to the calculating one Salazar gives me.
"Very well, follow me." Ravenclaws light voice comes, as she stands and turns to walk. I follow her and Salazar. I am followed by Haelga and Godric. They lead me to the small room behind the teachers table, which is a storage room in modern day, but in this time, there is a few simple desks I take a desk which they gesture me towards, and then they ask me questions.
"How do you kill a Werewolf?" If this is how they start, then I'm disappointed.
"That depends. A Silver Blade would be best, but you could also explode them, burn them, lance them with lightning, crush them with stones, or do any other number of curses or conjurations, if you were fast and skilled enough. Generally, Wizards and Witches should know how to apparate so they can escape, though. Especially if they're not particularly powerful. If they are able to handle the creature and understand the theory, with no setup, they should be fine. If they don't have that, but have time to set up a trap, it's still fine. If they have neither, running is fine." I answer, giving the shorter answer which is still comprehensive in some way. They blink at me, then, I see Godric smile.
"Good. What's the strongest spell you can cast?" He asks.
"Define strong. Mana-Consumption? Destructive potential? Otherwise?" I ask, Rowena's face twitches with amusement, and Salazar's eyes crinkle minutely.
"Destructive potential is good. Lets go with that." he replies.
"Fiendfyre." I say, then grimace. "I would cast 'Procella venti' with my other wand to amplify it, then apparate out. That should destroy everything within a good distance. Everything magical, anyways." I shake my head as I finish explaining. "Of course, that's if I don't care about the after effects. If I do care about them, there's a spell combination to make a flaming tornado around myself which I can control. It's incredibly destructive to anything which isn't me." I inform them. I see Haelga looks a bit pale at the mention of the cursed fire and the 9th level wind spell, which was designed to destroy most elemental counters, but disgustingly amplifies all fires.
"Why do you even know of the cursed fire, let alone how to make it?" Rowena asks pointedly, a bead of distrust shining through.
"I need to know how to cast something if I am ever to design a counter to it." I tell her coldly. "I have a few ideas, but designing a spell is different from being able to cast it. Right now, the best options seems to be telekinetically smothering the flame, but the telekinetic force needed would be great, but that would be really hard to do without a proper incantation. With proper mastery of the spell at hand, I suppose I could do it at a snap, but that theory will be years in the future." I explain, and get a look of interest, and a nod.
"What is your greatest magical skill?" Haelga asks, changing the subject.
"I'm gifted in Charms, especially. I'm also very good at duelling, but that was training, not really natural skill. I guess?" I respond honestly, then pause, and continue. "I also have a good amount of skill with Runes, particularly, along with fighting the Dark Arts." I tack on. Seeing them nod, I feel a bit of relief.
"Very well. You've not lied, and your answers have been neutral enough so far. It seemed like Gryffindor, perhaps. But your answers are shrewd - you clearly don't prefer combat, though you are trained for it." Godric says, then shrugs.
"It also seemed like perhaps Slytherin would do you well - you seem to understand the value of planning things out, but you also are quite political and reserved in your responses. Perhaps not, though." Salazar concedes with a a flick of his eyes.
"You're certainly hard working, and I've no say to test loyalty, but you not trying to lie speaks well of your character. You're not really made for Hufflepuff, though, are you?" Haelga asks, and then nods.
"At the same time, you're a bit dangerous for me to want to teach, personally, or have in my house." Rowena bluntly addresses it. "You're clearly learned and know magic well. While we will offer you classes and try to further your studies, until you either reach the age of 21 or you have studied for 7 years, whichever may come first, we are at an impasse." She concludes. The four founders share a look, then turn back to me.
"What this means, in essence, is that we think you'd do well in any given house. Do you have a preference?" Godric asks, seemingly acting as the leader.
"Not as such, no. Honestly, knowledge isn't what drove me to come here, nor is it power or anything like that. What brought me here was a divine mandate, from my family- now my own- diety. I'm to learn all I can in a year here. Master what I can so I can be ready to serve my house in one year. I suspect I'll be doing a lot of fighting, and a lot of breaching the wards on the enemies of my house. Put me where I will best learn the skills needed, and where I can practice them." I instruct. They all nod, and as one, they turn to Slytherin, who nods.
"I suppose I'll be the first to welcome you to House Slytherin, then. I recommend setting up wards and defenses on your quarters, along with altering them with magic as you see fit. House tradition dictates if you can't defend yourself, they'll break into your room and stick you to your ceiling at least once a week, until you can." He says, giving a dark chuckle. "Feel free to attempt this on any other members of the house, at your leisure." He tells me, then motions for me to stand, and follow him. He brusquely beings to walk, and I swear I hear Haelga muttering about how unfair to the Slytherin can be.
Thankfully, I know how to ward, and enchant rooms. Part of breaking them is knowing what people can do to stop you from getting in. Best way to know that is to know how to make the protection.
If you build a house, you probably know which walls to remove to take it down.
"So, what are the limitations on sticking people to the ceiling?" I ask cheerily as we walk down a set of stairs.
"Only your age or older. If someone who is younger than you messes with your stuff, you can mess with theirs. If you touch someone's stuff unprovoked, and they're younger than you, I will kick you out of this school after binding your magic. I have a strict no bullying policy. If you - or anyone - regularly picks on one person for having bad setups, I will personally ward their rooms with subtle, nasty, things. Just don't do it." He tells me, and I nod.
This is a sensible setup for someone like him - his ideals. Cunning is in finding the best way to progress and grow. Picking on the weakest does not grow your power or skill. Nor does it prove cunning or skill.
It proves cowardice and that you're a bully. I'll have to probe and find my level, so to speak, but I don't think many will stand before me, considering I'm using principles and magic arrays centuries more advanced than their own. The only thing I trust to have actually grown appreciably is the defensive and offensive warding abilities.
"Understood." I say quietly, a small smile forming on my face. If I manage to keep my knowledge and experience from this dream, then I'll surely have a leg up…
I'll have to explore the school with my free time when I'm done with the school introduction with Salazar.
"These are our dorms." He says abruptly. We're three floors below ground level, now. "The password in is 'Equality in all things' - don't forget it." He tells me, then the wall opens.
The Slytherin Commons are very plain, unlike the snake-statue filled area I'd been told of by various Slytherin's. The walls look relatively bare.
Salazar leads me to the halls on exiting on the left of the room, then down a spiral stair, and then down a hall on the first landing.
"These are the rooms for special situations. There are two others like you who share this hall. It's for either late-comers to the school or people who have special magical abilities. Your room is the first on the right, since you are first here. I'd recommend warding your room, now. I trust you will find your way around the castle in your own time." He tells me, before turning and leaving.
A bit of an ass, but clearly well meaning - and requiring self-reliance or ability to lead oneself.
This dorm is much more like the real world than the Hogwarts I know is.
I enter my room, and close the door, seeing a simple bed, trunk and desk in the small 100 or so square foot room. First thing I do?
Carve some runes for a basic array. This is the outer shell of my wards. I carve it, to represent this, in a large circle in the center of the room after shrinking all the furniture and putting it in my pocket. The circle covers nearly the whole of the outer edge of my floor.
Following that, I make a ring just inside, which is a very advanced spell to lock all the doors magically in three layers. The first layer will lightly shock the person trying to open it, then it will forcefully push them away, then - as a final level of defense - it'll send a force to knock them out. I change this level to 'knock out' instead of the original 'kill' coded in. The ring inside of this, is a portcullis ward. If the first two layers are removed for any reason - I remove them, anything - the portcullis goes up. Then, the door animates, and the next layer goes off.
A sliencing ward, one way. On the inside I can hear everything externally and it will wake me up if I'm asleep, but externally they can't hear inside the room. Also, the door will ask them for the password.
There is no password. The way to bypass this is to stick your hand in the mouth which asks the question. The final layer is a blood test.
The door will bite you, and if your blood is not my blood, then you will be knocked out, and have a bloody wrist. If your have my blood somehow, it'll destroy the blood, then knock you out. I put in a bunch of foe 'this opens the door' for the triggers to be knocked out.
Of course, if you have my blood, and it knocks you out, I also have it triggered to tell the head of my house that someone stole some of my blood and tried to open my door using it.
How do you open my door? You tap your wand on the tongue of the mouth which takes your blood, and give it some of your mana. If you're not on the list of people I allow through, then it breaks your wand.
Basically, you have to brute-force my wards if you're not Salazar or myself, and that will surely alert me.
All that done, I begin writing my expansion schema into the walls, and quickly wind up with a 50x50x20 room. I make the door 5 ft above the 'floor' of the room, then fill in all but the back right corner, which I smooth into a large 15x15 bathing area. I make a quick restroom and powder room near that using modern amenity charms and then write out a simple set of runes on the bed to expand it and make it vastly more comfortable, before putting it in the far right hand corner. I go through the wardrobe - all very old-fashioned dresses and such womanly wear - and slightly alter them with sizing charms and other such things to adapt them for my body. Then I add a nice book-case as a wall between sleeping areas and a formal living area, where I conjure a couch, which I etch with runes to help keep it there for the semester, along with a table. Looking upon my luxurious rooms, I lean back with a smile.
For the finishing touches…
"May I speak with a House Elf?" I call. A small pop answers me.
"How may Addy be of service, Ma'am?" A nicely dressed elf asks. I turn, and smile at it.
"I've just finished my room, and I have a couple requests. If I have a fit in my sleep, then deactivate the wards. From inside the room, this is very easy. Just do this -" I pause to show Addy how to turn the wards off. "- and never tell anyone other than one of the four founders how to do that." I instruct firmly. He nods.
"I can do, young mistress!" He calls. I nod, firmly.
"Thank you, Addy. Also, can you bring me some soaps and such for my bathing area? I like to take regular baths, but I cannot make good soaps with magic." I tell him, giving him a sad look. For the first time, Addy looks about the room, then nods firmly.
"Young Mistress needs a Kettle and Tea and biscuits, too!" He says firmly. I smile at him.
"I'd not thought of that, but if you could get me such things, I'd simply love to have you over for tea sometime!" I tell him honestly. Such foresight aught to be rewarded.
"Oh, no, miss. I'm but an Elf. You're a great witch - to be able to do this!" He tells me. I shrug.
"It's all practice. I think people who treat me well deserve to be treated well. I hope you'd not deny me a sit-down and some tea, when you're not busy?" I ask pleadingly.
"Should the miss insist, I cannot refuse." He says shyly, blushing a bit. I smile down at him.
"I surely insist. I figure we'll be good friends, taking care of each other and such." I tell him, he looks around the room, likely seeing all the work he'll have as a result of my room, and nods happily.
House elves just love to work. Giving them small rewards going such a long way is a bit silly, but it's part of their charm. They're such earnest creatures and I can't help but admire them for that.
"Thank you, Addy. I suppose that will be all. I aught to get lunch, then explore." I tell him, getting a curious look.
"Miss, it's already time for supper, soon it will be curfew!" He tells me squeakily. I cast a Tempus, and find this to be true.
How odd. I'd not even noticed. I suppose erecting such a complex ward scheme as the heart of a heavily enchanted room will do that…
"Then I'll have supper. Thank you again for the help, Addy." I tell him, then depart for dinner.
In short - supper is a stew, which I finish quickly before turning in. Tomorrow ought to be interesting…
When I wake up in Ravenclaw dorms, in modern day, I am not surprised, but I am a bit upset.
Quickly, I check my quest logs, and find the same two quests along with a new perk.
For Cleansing and Preserving Ravenclaw's Diadem, you have earned a Title -
Ravenclaw's Favored.
I sigh and nod, rolling out of bed. Quickly I glance out the window to see it's not light out. I cast Tempus -
4:58 AM, Monday, September 5th, 1994.
Well then. Time to get ready for class, I suppose. Let's start with the morning routine…
AN: Since we're rocking with No Beta until we've fixed the whole story up to a good standard / debated everything and taken the edge off, this will have to do.
To explain the Time Travel - it happens while she's unconscious. Her mind is sent back in time, which happens in time of a normal dream - so she doesn't age while back in time. Days will be 1:1, barring specific things where that can't be the case. I'll try to keep that clear. So, unlike Time Turners where she physically and magically matures in that time, this does not count towards her turning 17 and her mana pool locking.
Time travel makes my brain hurt, but it's good to write this in practice. It helps to iron out the weaknesses of my logic. (I wrote this in like, 3 days. It probably shows. HEH)
Lastly, the perk she takes as her specialization is going to end soon. Probably going to kill it 1 week after I post this chapter. To soothe some nerves - It won't affect where I take the story - but it will make some types of magic easier, and some harder. It won't matter overall plot-wise, because it's all story-boarded, but the ease with which things are done will change. Every major plot point for later in ther series, all three of them will help in different ways, but each also has drawbacks. If you have a preference, go vote. My betas have all said different paths, so really, there's no true opinion there, either.
To answer questions I can see popping up - No. She won't retain physical changes with time travel. She will retain mental ones, though. This -may- retain magical boons. Like if she's given a blessing or something and the blessing gives her immunity to disease, that would carry over (it's on her spirit) but if she were to overcome a sickness physically, she would not carry that to modern day, aside from her magic being able to respond to it more effectively.
This is important, because a lot of the things will be 'because this is extremely magical and physical, she keeps -this part- but not -that part-' if that makes sense. The System can also override some of the gains or not-kept stuff. It basically won't do that unless if things happen in a certain way, but it's important to know.
Things that change - like perk buying or stat increases due to level ups or stat-point allocation WILL stick, which is VERY important. If she takes a perk which alters her physical abilities, it will reflect in both times, since it's a universal change to her as an entity.
I can't think of other questions or how to show that in the story, and will probably be re-writing most of this chapter in like 3 months xD.
Cya next chapter.