Ch. 1: Jump Adventures
Where am I? The last thing I remember was going to sleep with a splitting headache. I...I took an aspirin and skipped on dinner. Uhmm... then how the fuck do I wake up on a shrink's couch!
"Hello there!" I heard a posh voice greeting me cheerfully.
Turning to my side, I saw the man seating in an ornate chair, a work desk laid out to his left, a glass top table between us, with brown dossier-like folders and files on it, spread open.
"H-hello. Who are you? And where am I?" I asked with trepidation, as blanking out in your own bed only to wake up in a strange unfamiliar place, was never a good sign.
"In order. I am merely your gracious host, and that's all you need to know for now. No, you are not abducted. And No, I don't have any malicious intentions. You died and you are here, to decide what happens hence." He explained, as he calmly cleaned his glasses. Ignoring my shock and despair in stride!
I took a long while judging him by his appearance. The man wore a daper suit, with a golden chain of a pocket watch visible. His fingers deftly took the watch, as he gazed at it, before closing the watch with a snap.
"This is Land of Nowhere, a Void between realities, and I need you to decide, what happens to you now. You can either go through the Hall of Judgement, where your fate is decided, or you could go the most preferred route this century."
"What? What do you mean?" I was baffled as things didn't make sense to me. Sure, as an Otaku, a closet one at that, I knew the generic Isekai Trope, very well! How could I not, when so many light novels and anime kept propping up and hyping the genre!
But I was not sure, if that was what he meant! It could be something much worse, or something much better, too! And often it is the ROB, a Random Omnipotent Being, who makes that decision, or rather imposes that decision on an unwilling candidate.
Here, he was giving me a choice! And that made me question everything about him. If given a choice to travel to any fantasy world, any reality apart from my own, why would I take chances and choose to be judged for my actions?
Not even most devout and zealous would choose that path, if given an alternative! You never know what littlest of little sin may come to bite your ass!
And I was never the guy to walk on the straight and narrow. If anything, I was someone who always coloured outside the lines, given an enticing opportunity!
"Surely, you don't mean the Isekai Trope right?" I asked, as I saw the man smile, who nodded in answer.
"It is what I mean! Countless realities, and all your choice! And, when you are tired of one world, you can always go travel to another!"
I nodded, excitement now bubbling to the surface. "And how will I jump realities?"
"You can either choose a Jumpchain, an ROB patron, an eternal Planeswalker Guide, a Ciri like Waifu to assist in world-hopping, a Gamer, a System like those Chinese novels, a Talisman to travel the multiverse, or even a custom CYOA Adventure trip! It is all your choice, you could choose any option or a combination of them all. And it is all your choice!"
I had to snap my dropped jaw shut! "W-Why would you offer such a ridiculously generous deal to me?" I wondered as I saw the man's face grow kinder.
"It is not on the basis of merit, or because you earned it. No. It is simply, because that is what you desire. And free will is the biggest currency after mortal life! Your decisions are metaphoric fuel to our systems, and the final result is a grand story of your adventures, or your misadventures. And all we need or selflessly expect in return is entertainment!"
He said with ever-growing bouts of mounting rapture, his exhilaration bordering on euphoria.
It seems someone here is a voyeur!
"Hey!" The man moaned suddenly. "I take offense to that! I am not a voyeur! I just enjoy a good story! So go ahead. Make a choice!" He shooed me off, as the table suddenly appeared to grow smaller.
I realised the table wasn't shrinking, but rather my couch was moving. The last thought in my mind, at the vanishing image of the man, was that 'Shit! He could read minds!'
.
.
.
It stopped when I was out of the room, and inside a long corridor, with ornate and archaic portraits, murals and decorated Statues.
The corridor parted to reveal a door, when the couch suddenly turned about. Pushing me off my feet, I saw the couch evaporate in the air, my feet stumbling 9n the landing!
In front of me, was a giant display screen on a stand, not unlike those in futuristic Museums.
It was a translucent blue screen, on a stand without any controls.
Appearing in front of it seemed to do the trick, as it lit up!
"Welcome, you can choose your own adventure here, today! Welcome to customisation menu. You have eleven days to make a choice. Choose well. Your life depends on it. If you are entertaining, you will be allowed to choose another and another. Until you are powerful enough to rank amongst the lowest executives. Your life is about to change, and you are the architect of your life! So let's get started!"
The holograph of a woman explained as I saw 5000 points on the Counter.
"Here you start with the Introduction Package, where you may choose an extension to an existing package, or customise it all yourself. Every adventure comes with a sense of purpose, and various objectives! Complete them, and you can start the next adventure with extra points corresponding to the completed task. If the Organisation wants to quit the contract, you may choose any of the options from the SHOP, and continue to thrive in your current reality, or choose for a final time, where you shall exist until you either die, or perish. So try to make your life interesting. A life of a Software Analyst or Accountant is not going to make the cut, you need to entertain Omnipotent and Omniscient Beings, after all."
Looking at the long list, I sighed. I chose a few trial packages, but as soon as I confirmed the choice, a red alert beeped in my face.
BEEP*
"Package already chosen before, and declared, 'Recipe for failure'. Kindly choose wisely!"
The notice never left. Choosing either of the options like Gamer, System, Jumpchains was not acceptable, since the record said thirty six quadrillion candidates have chosen that particular recipe, and it was now rated low due to repeated use of a template.
I tried to choose a Gamer with ROB, but it said, all Gamers are semi-sentient beings who merely lack sapience. Thus that choice was also scrubbed.
"Hey there! Having trouble making a choice? Why not ask our Customer Service for Assistance? They survey the market and consider Consumer Poll to offer a selection of packages rated highly by the people invested in you. You can Never go wrong there!"
That wasn't so reassuring, but at least I could hear what he has to say?
"Hello there Candidate 241BC. You requested for consult on choosing your package. Is that right?" A woman answered in a bored tone, as I heard clicking and clattering of keys, like a typewriter.
"Yes, I would request you to guide me on making the correct choice that favours your viewers and me. Mostly me!"
I answered as I heard a bit of shuffling.
"Yes! Clearly your previous choices were lacking imagination. Very well, you can get started. We have sent the approved packages of what the customers would like to see. Why don't you give those a looksie, and revert back to me?"
I had to clamp my mouth to stop laughing. Looksie? How old is that woman?
Heh? What the fuck is up with this list?
The list I saw on the screen was apocalyptic!
Take the Gamer system, and choose Warhammer 40K world crossover starting as an ant. Who in their right minds would ever choose that?
Jumpchain as Blind and Dumb in Dragon Ball world.
Naruto world as handicapped civilian.
My Little Pony world as Female Unicorn (Reserved for male candidates only!)
Bleach world as Aizen's victims. Huh! This could be doable...No, wait! This is possible and available, only if I haven't watched Bleach! What the fuck!
God of War as Kratos's wife! Who made this list?
Witcher universe as a defaulted contracted of Gaunter O'Dimm...yeah no thanks.
Stranger Things as Will's father...not bad, no wait. He gets cuckolded, doesn't he? I can't remember, but given something similar happens to him, I'll pass. If anyone is cuckolding, I'll rather be the one fucking the wife!
Wait...wait! There's one. Okay, this one I can take! Of course with a few modifications.
"Hey hello! Customer Service! I made my choice!"
For a moment there was no response!
Ding-A-Ding!*
A bell rung, as a gorgeous woman walked in, and brought a digipad with her.
"Please read the contract and we can start your employment. Good Luck!"
The contract was eight hundred pages long. And basically amounted to 'upholding free will'. As per the contract, I am free to do as I choose, since there are infinite instances of each reality, I am free to make or break reality in any manner I so choose.
And that, if I am boring the spectators, since this is my debut, I would end up having to face additional obstacles as penalty.
The list goes on and on, but finally tapping the screen of the digipad, I see the woman smile as she puts a finger on the screen herself.
"Aaand done! You are now contracted on at will employment. Follow me please, and we can begin immediately."
Waking up with a groan, I rub my bleary eyes. As the memories of the last few hours, at least according to my own consciousness, brought clarity to my mind, joy to my spirits, and a smirk on my face!
"Ha!"
Sitting upright, I see a hard bound book, which looked like a tome slip down my thighs and fall on the floor.
Picking it up, I set it on the table, as I groggily rub the drowsiness out of my eyes, standing up from my chair.
I see a pitcher by the mantle, and walk to it, filling a glass, and take a gulp from the poured glass of water.
Setting the glass down, I look back at the cover of the tome I closed.
"Distinction between Rituals and Curses - A Thesis."
I see no name of author, and check the spine. It appeared as if the book was not a published one.
Setting it down, I sit down on the chair, as I feel the drowsiness affect my sight. My head ached as a searing pain shot up at the base of my spine.
Gritting my teeth, I am careful, so as to not bite my tongue off.
And in a moment, the pain lapses, and the faint spell subsides.
I feel clearer and calmer, relaxed and poised. But I now have memories of being fourteen years old, fourth year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the year 1991.
I am Melior, eldest son to Volkor of House Greystone. A pureblood family from France, settled on the isles since 17th Century, and married to my mother Carina of House Black. I am eldest of three children, both daughters, the eldest sister Vesta, and the youngest Corinthia.
And I am born in a world of witchcraft and Wizardry, of Harry Potter. But not only is the magic, real, there are other things that go bump into the night.
And I am going to carve a place for myself in this world!
"Melior! Son, where are you?"
I heard my mother call for me, as I leafed through a Tome that would have seen me imprisoned in Azkaban for ten years for Possession.
"Sigils and Sacrifices: A Treatise for the Fledgling Summoners"
Keeping a bookmark, I stood up, keeping the book to a side.
"Son! I told you to be careful when you read the Family Tomes." My mother, Carina Greystone neé Black chastised me, as she kissed my cheek wrapping her arms around me.
"I know mother. I will be careful! Is it time for dinner?" I asked, as I saw her wave her mahogany wand and the Tome swished to its place, vanishing behind a hidden alcove.
"Yes darling. We have to celebrate your freedom before the OWLs, after all. Soon you would be old enough to join your father in the Summer and Winter Session of Wizengamot as well as accompany me to Ministry Yule Ball. The results would come back from Hogwarts any day now."
I shrugged, as was the habit of the original inhabitant of this body.
"I am not worried about it. They cannot hold me back, since I have a good record for my year, and Hogwarts scores are not worth working hard for it. I will be diligent with my OWLs and NEWTs though."
It was a running gag in my family, as I remembered vividly, that my elder sister Vesta, who worked hard in all years upto her OWLs, had a slight nervous breakdown during the Herbology exam.
Thus she scored very well in all other subjects, and got an 'Acceptable' score in Herbology.
She wanted to apply for Potion Mastery in Beauxbatons, but they had rejected due to her Herbology score. And that made her choose to retake Herbology exam, and get Outstanding, to apply for Beauxbatons for her NEWT year.
The entire year had been a depressive mood in the family, as if a dark cloud followed the cheerful and outgoing Vesta.
And that made me and Corinthia swear religiously to explore our options and live freely, until the OWLs year.
As such, I had lived vicariously for the past three years. And this would be the last year, when I can enjoy myself.
"Any prospective ally this year, baby?" My mother asked, as she often does, her grey eyes demanding the attention of the room.
Despite what Harry Potter lore had us believe, Blacks were the most prominent magical family of Europe, not because of their penchant to spout Pureblood drivel, or for darkest of the dark arts user.
Black Family had forged strong and lasting ties and connection with other politically strong families by virtue of marriage.
And the Black family had ample members to marry off. My mother is the daughter of Cassiopeia Black, and by marrying my father, she had ensured that either one of her daughters marries in the family, or gets claim to heirship, if no direct male heirs live to age.
As of now, Sirius Black lives, as well as Orion and Cygnus Black. And while Walburga might want her wayward child to succeed, Orion, my granduncle had assured my father that I could take the Heirship in case Sirius is not incarcerated, or any other direct blood heir from male line surfaces.
That was possible, only because Blacks had found refuge in House Greystone, during Grindelwald years, and Black family owed a debt to my paternal grandfather.
This convoluted history was told verbatim, by both my parents, my grandparents, on both sides, my granduncle, and even Walburga, my grandaunt.
And given that, I was lauded as a genius from the young age of four, they were happy to see me represent the House Black, and let my children be leading the House Black as well as House Greystone.
And my mother was as scheming and politically aggressive as the meanest of politicians.
Granted the era was the time of Thatcher for the muggle Isles, the wave of radical politicians and iron will women was growing in influence.
My father may be a strong voice in so-called Grey Faction of Wizengamot, but my mother was a bulldog in a sheep's pen.
Her Oclumency barriers were held tight, revealing nothing, as I am sure words of my movements last year reached her. She had always been hovering over my back, until I was ten years old. But since Hogwarts, she somehow kept a closer eye on me, not even leaving the slightest detail unseen.
"If you are asking mother, I am sure you know already." I complained, as she smirked in mischief.
"The word on the grapevine is my son is quite a playboy!" My mother teased, as she levelled a stare on me.
"But careful son. Spending time with halfbloods is barely acceptable, but dalliance with Mudbloods will not be tolerated!" She warned as her smirk returned.
"But if you are looking for dalliance, Mudbloods are the best catch and release. And my son is old enough to chase skirts now!" Her words brought a deep blush to my cheeks.
"Mother!" I whined, as she laughed at my embarrassment.
"I am just saying son! This year a lot of Heiresses are going to join. Houses Bones, Greengrass, Abbot, and even heirs like Malfoy, Nott, Longbottom not to mention the Boy-Who-Lived. If any connections are to be made, it starts this year. And even if we don't need to beg for scraps like Weasleys, connections never go remiss in this world." My mother explained before her smirk returned.
"And if any of these impressionable Heiresses are smitten with you, you can choose a good girlfriend. After all, they will be fourteen when you will turn seventeen!" I chose to ignore her ribbing, as I walked briskly to avoid her chittering.
"Brother!" I found myself suffocating, gasping for breath, as my sister Vesta wrapped me in a hug. She looked just like my teenage mother did in her portrait.
"V-Vesta! Let gh-go. C-c-can't breathe!" My sister pushed me off with a smirk.
"Little Brother, I thought you would grow taller this year, but not this much! You are taller than me now!" She dragged my head down to her height. "I am jealous!"
"Vesta dear! When did you return from France? I thought the Symposium continued until July." Mother hugged Vesta as she kissed her cheeks.
"Yeah it does, but I got tired after the Opaleye fat lining demonstration." Vesta moaned as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"And I couldn't miss little brother's last year at freedom. I will go back to the Symposium tomorrow. They have a few batches of quality Reem's blood and feathers on auction tomorrow. I want to stock up on some good quality ingredients." Vesta answered, as we arrived at the Dinner Table.
My father sat at the centre, his left side reserved for me, his right for his wife. By my mother's side, sat Vesta, while Corinthia sat to my left. If there were guests, then the order changed, depending on the importance and number of guests.
"Good evening father. Evening Cori!" I greeted as I took a seat.
We were planning to celebrate tonight and since this was my first day in this world, it had a special significance to me.
"Evening son. Your mother thought we lost you even today in your books. I wish your annual report from Proffesor Flitwick mirrors your time spent nose deep in tomes."
My father was a commanding and stern man, who softened up only to his daughters. While I am used to his tough love, the old me was a rebellious teen, who spent every waking moment with the magical creatures farm, or in the library, reading some forbidden tome.
My memories were rife with dark arts and curses and some spells practised in secret in the family training room in the dungeons of our house.
The trace in our Wands doesn't catch us using magic in our homes, where adult wizards and witches live.
And pureblood children heavily use that to their, or rather our, benefit.
And my studies were never intended to be limited to mere curses and jinxes.
Ministry of Magic severely restricted a lot of Dark Arts literature, after Grindelwald. But old families who already possessed these tomes were exempt from the rule. No Pureblood Family would willingly surrender their old tomes, and Ministry was led by these families.
And Greystone had always been a Dark Family, despite the veil of Grey Faction we fashion for ourselves.
My sisters were just as ruthless with their wands, as Bellatrix would have been at their age. Perhaps even worse.
Given my penchant to read Dark Arts profoundly and unhindered, my parents gave up restricting us, and instead only chose to inexcusably pound caution in our minds.
No Rituals, no Sacrifices, no Dark Potions without prior supervision. And no casting curses on self, or each other. Curses are reserved for enemies, and enemies only.
Not even Tongue-Tying curse, or Jelly Leg curses! Which meant the childhood of my memories, was spent with pranking my sisters with itching powder, beard growing gel, dungbombs, dead rats and frogs in their vanity, and reading their diaries out loud during breakfast.
I got just as much as I gave, and now that Cori was ten years old, I was not spared from her, as the two sisters would often gang up on me.
"I would rather keep my abilities hidden, until I can. And I don't see the point of History being taught by a ghost, DADA taught by eternal substitutes. This year, there are rumours that the stuttering fool Muggle Studies teacher will teach DADA. How do you expect me to pay any attention to these idiots? Last term, a muggleborn Auror on probation taught class, and he was stupefied when he found me in library reading up on Skinning Curse." I complained, as I took a bite of the delicious Erumpent steak.
The beast was a delicacy, and only those who splurge with opulent tastes bring its meat on the table.
"Why were you reading up on Skinning Curse in Hogwarts library?" My mother asked as she sipped Wine from the goblet. "We told you to limit your excursions into Hogwarts library, and that is why, I had the Black Library tomes brought here from the London Townhouse."
I nodded, as I tried to remember why I was reading that particular curse.
Oh... oh yeah.
"No, I remember our deal. But I wanted to see if I can use the Skinning Curse to skin our game when we go hunting next week. It was written that flayed skins were hung by Maori shamans, and Native American tribes had folklores of shamans using flayed skins of the enemies to skinchange. I wanted to see if hide from magical hide could be used for the Skinchanging Ritual."
My family was not the one to mind gore and violence on dinner table.
Neither me nor my sisters were squeamish, and I was grown up with a father who loved to take his son camping, before I died I mean, not Melior Greystone.
"I would suggest not trying the Skinchanging Ritual. We don't know the culture and their magics enough to try it based on a book. If you are serious about it, then we can try to visit a Native Tribe in the colonies after your NEWTs, and until then, if you want you can try the Animagus Ritual, but not until your fifth year. You hear me?"
I nodded. "Deal." I smirked.
My elder sister, being the brat she is, smashed her heel on my shin. "Hey, why did you do that for?" I complained as Vesta smirked.
"You get to go hunting with father, and I have to stay and babysit Cori." I saw she wouldn't let it go, as she loved hunting a wild game in the woods.
I sighed, as I was using my existing Oclumency to shuffle through memories to not appear different.
The ROBs who I am entertaining were highly capable of integrating my mind with the original Melior Greystone.
"What do you want sis?" I asked, resigned to having to empty my pocket money.
She smirked in victory and listed her demands. "I want a drop of Siren's blood and Black Squirreltoe fangs. Not too rare, but much expensive in France, compared to where you are going for Hunting Season."
I agreed reluctantly, as I knew she could have extorted as much as she wanted, and I would have to agree nonetheless.
If Vesta didn't agree to babysit Cori, we would have ended up spending my vacation on French Beaches instead of hunting in the Alps!
My family was loaded!
"Anyhow, how's Cori's studies going? Does Madame Avery coming to tutor her still?" Vesta asked my sister, who was the most silent and reserved of the three of us.
"No, mother arranged to have Grand aunt Walburga and Aunt Narcissa spend time with me. They are available on Fridays and Saturdays, while Selwyn comes every Tuesday for Art lessons." Cori answered as she wiped her lips and set the serviette on the table.
Our dinner then devolved into small talks, as father rarely spoke during dinner.
After wishing everyone good night, I retired to my room, as a maid came to my en suite and left my sleepwear.
"Sir, I left the wand polishing kit on the side table. And your wand holster has been riveted and waxed." Maria informed me, as I soaked in the tub.
Wands needed to be polished, otherwise the wood chipped and cracked. And magic cannot be used to repair wands or mend them. The inherent magic of the wand refuses any attempt by another wand or instrument to force any spell on it.
"Thanks Maria", I thanked my maid, a young woman who has been serving my family for the past twelve years, ever since she was a teenager.
"Good night sir." She closed the door on her way out, and all to myself, I sunk into the tub, finally left alone to cope with this new reality.
It was only because of Oclumency, that I didn't panic when this new family greeted me lovingly, without any idea that I am not the same Melior who woke up this morning!
For the last time, taking a deep breath, I sighed, as the reality finally caught up to me. And despite the tragedy which may have brought on my passing, I cannot bring myself to feel sad about it.
Not when I have a family now who loves me, and despite their prejudices, I cannot care to feel bad about the situation.
Taking a deep breath, I put my wand in the desk drawer, and fell asleep, as the exhaustion and fatigue kicked in.
Morning
Woken up with a soft hand shaking me awake, I see Maria standing above me with a kind smile.
"Good Morning sir. Lord Greystone asked me to have you freshen up for breakfast." Maria greeted with a smile.
"Thank you Maria. Good Morning to you." I woke up feeling fresh and comfortable, better than last night.
Taking the wand from the drawer, I looked at my 12 inches long Aspen Wand with Dragon Heartstring from a Hebridean Black Male Dragon.
With a swish, and a barely muttered incantations, I was freshen up.
The Household Charms were a must have for regular pureblood families, and unless you want to relax in a tub, rarely anyone used muggle means for personal hygiene.
Setting my hair, again with a charm, I holstered my wand, as Maria left a few Robes to dress into.
"Good Morning brother. You look awfully cheerful this morning." I see Vesta biting into greased toast, and waving at me to sit by her side.
"Vesta could you lend me your Potions and DADA textbooks for all seven years?" I asked her as she turned to me with surprise.
I never asked for help, despite knowing she was a prodigy with Herbology and Potions, so this was a surprise for her.
"Are you failing in class?" Vesta asked with a whisper, "You would never ask for my help otherwise."
I shook my head, "No I am doing fine. But I fear Defence Against Dark Arts will take a nosedive in quality next few years, if the current situation is any indication. And I don't want to take a chance with OWLs, not when I want to apply for Alchemy Apprenticeship."
Original Melior had always wanted to either be a Cursebreaker or Auror, but I knew it would not be as rewarding as trying my hand at Alchemy and even Enchanting.
"And when did you end up deciding that you are interested in Alchemy?" Cori asked, as she looked at me curiously.
"Well, there are a few things I read that put things in perspective. I am not sure why I even wanted to be an Auror. With such low pay, and being a guard dog to imbeciles like Cornelius Fudge, I am not certain if I will be able to stay my hand from cursing the fool." I answered, as Cori laughed.
We all had met Fudge, when he came to visit father for support for his campaign. Orion Black and Lucius Malfoy wanted his predecessor Milicent Bagnold gone from office. Her stance was hurting our interests, and she was a narrow minded stickler for rules.
Fudge on the other hand, was fungible with his corrupt greedy mitts all over the tenure of his office. He would be a Yes Man, until he was sacrificed as a scapegoat. My mother had already used Imperius Curse to make him reveal the location of his secret nestegg, in case we wanted to cripple him.
There were very few who could actively resist a full power Imperius Curse, and strong will and mind was needed to repel the curse.
Fudge, despite his embellishments, was neither strong in will or mind. And we, the Dark Families, had the perfect Patsy.
His toad Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge was another ace in the hole. She was ambitious and self-serving. She was loyal to Fudge, only as long as his goals aligned with her interests. And my father knew how to turn the bitch, to bite the hand that currently feeds her.
"Are you sure this time? Alchemy is very difficult and you would need to be exceptionally brilliant with Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Magizoology and even Astronomy. You might need to take NEWTs in Rituals in Russia or Greece, the only two ICW member nations where Rituals isn't banned."
I nodded. "I know, and I am prepared to work for it."
She smiled, as she took out her wand, and summoned her luggage, which opened when she tapped her wand on the handle of the suitcase.
I knew she had it charmed personally, with questionable wards and borderline Dark Curses against Intrusion.
When she cast it, I could only recognise the Caterwauling Charm, and Body Bind Curse.
"Here you go. This suitcase has my Rare Tomes and Grimoires I collected from all over the world. Half of them are only copies, while the original are stashed away safely. But it is illegal to possess quite a few of them, after the various regulations passed by ICW. If you ever need to browse my books, ask me first. The curses are not family-friendly, okay?" Vesta warned, as I saw her eyes turn to Cori as well.
I knew about her security precautions, but this must have been more for Cori, now that she was actively taking interest in Magical Textbooks.
Looking at the stack of about twenty books, and quite a few parchments bound together, I smiled.
"Thanks Vesta. Want me to Gemini Curse a copy, and return the original?" I knew the copy only last for a few days at most, but I could use a duplicating charm which Vesta taught me.
It was a modification of Protean Charm and Gemini Curse. The self-inking quill copies the words and texts, but not the pictures.
"No only promise me to keep them safe. Use them only in your Room, don't take them to Classroom. Snape might have a hate boner for Gryffindor, but he hates it if students use their older siblings textbook. I had a friend William Weasley, we called him Bill. He lent his textbook to his younger brother Charles, and Snape tore the Hand-me-Down Book when he saw Charlie following some handwritten notes to brew the potion faster." She warned me, as I nodded.
I don't want Snape to catch on, that I want to take the Half Blood Prince's Potion textbook from the shelf. And given that twins and the Golden Trio often looted the shelves, I find it difficult to believe that the bookshelf will have any additional security.
"Got it. Beware the Killjoy!" I drawled as Cori smirked.
"Meli, do you think I would have a good subject too? Vesta is prodigy at Potions and Arithmancy, and we all know how good you are with Transfiguration and Dark Arts, even if the latter is banned. Will I be good at certain subjects too?" Cori asked, as I smiled kindly at my baby sister.
"Of course Cori. If I am not mistaken, you will be a prodigy at Charms at the very least. I have seen you practise the charms from Spellman Syllabary after all." I teased as my baby sister flushed at being found out.
"You knew?" She whispered as Vesta and I looked at each other and smirked. "Of course. Did you think we wouldn't know when you stole the Oak Wand from my study, or Pine Wand from Vesta's?"
Vesta smirked, as Cori ducked her head in embarrassment.
"You didn't think I would keep some wards to see if someone took my back up wand, did you?" Vesta was amused, at Cori, knowing full well we both did the same thing when we were young.
"Hey! But I returned the wand to its place. I even polished the two wands regularly." Cori replied grumpily, making us both laugh.
Our baby sister was too cute!
"And that is the only reason we let you practise spells with them. You were very caring with the waxing and polishing." I replied as we finished our breakfast.
During the vacations, it was a ritual to fight and spar using only minor jinxes and non-destructive spells. Since, Cori had not started Hogwarts yet, it would either be me against my parents, or when Vesta is home, it is between us.
"Cori, you coming?" Vesta asked, as she booked her arms in mine. "We are going to spar a little. Winner can take you shopping for that new broom you wanted. Nimbus 2000, was it?" Vesta asked with a smirk, making Cori squeal as she latched on to us.
"Really Vesta? I can have Nimbus 2000?" Corinthia was excited, as she knew that whoever won, she would get the fastest broom regardless.
That brought some things to my mind. "Hey Vesta!" I called out as she turned to face me.
Her violet eyes locked on to mine in curiosity.
"Do you know any broom maker, who is in contact with Gringotts for Goblin Steel?" I asked, as I remembered Firebolt was the best broom there ever will be, at least for the duration of the seven years the novels covered.
And Firebolt was fast, due to Goblin Steel parts.
"No, but I can find out. Any particular reason for your interest?" Vesta asked with surprise.
"Word is, Goblin Steel parts can add stability to brooms, making it lighter, and easier to maneuver. If any broom company experiments with such parts, we can expect the product to be the fastest on the market, beating Nimbus by a wide margin. And having controlling interests in the company while it is still poor and unknown can be quite useful."
I explained, pausing as we reached the Training Room.
"How do you know so much about brooms? For that matter, how do you know some company is in talks with goblins? Something like that will be a closely guarded secret, until the deal is closed." Vesta asked with caution.
"Careful brother mine! Cutthroat businessmen usually have their paws in seedier pies, and you never know when it may come to hurt you. You are not getting yourself in unnecessary trouble, are you?" She asked carefully as we dropped our robes on the stand, dressed in training wear.
"No I am not. I didn't do much beyond spying carefully. I did not want to bother father about it, until I was sure." I explained, as she narrowed her eyes at me. "I was careful, I swear. No loose ends."
She held her gaze, until a moment later she nodded. "As long as you are careful Meli."
She took a stance, as she gestured at me to get ready. "Enough talking, now let's begin."
Not waiting for me to relax my stance, Vesta swished her wand, a faint purple spark launched in my direction.
"Hey, you didn't wait for Cori to say start." I complained, as I dodged to my left, and ducked immediately after as a silent white bolt flew above me.
"Enemies never warn outside a spar or competition, baby brother." Vesta sang, as she twisted her wand and chained a tongue tying curse.
Carefully weaving myself of the bolt of faint rose coloured stream, I launched a chain of my own.
A disarming charm, followed by a Jelly legs curse, weaving it into Bodybind Curse. And ending the chain with a silent Aguamenti charm.
I saw Vesta use a Shield to repel most of my spells, while she let me continue the chain. I knew if she wanted, Vesta could have interrupted the chain weave, and overpowered me.
When she casually reflected my Aguamenti Charm which I used as a water jet to throw her off, I hastily cast a Shield using the incantation. "Protego!"
"Ahh! Getting ahead of syllabus, are we?" Vesta asked, her smirk in place. "Should we step up, brother dear?"
Without waiting for me to answer, she cast a Disarming charm, but this time the red bolt was different, as she overpowered it with a modifier.
The spell raced towards me, as I hastily erected a shield, and saw it break like a glass pane, before the spell hit me like a train.
Flying across the room, I reached the wall, as I bounced off it, landing on the ground. The Training Room was warded with cushioning charm, to prevent concussions.
"You snooze, you lose Meli. You are taking Cori shopping!~" Vesta sang in delight as she handed me my Aspen wand.
I was a little groggy, after the blow, despite the wall cushioning my fall.
"I hate you Vesta!" I groaned, as Cori latched onto me in delight.
"Meli come on! We can go now, and be back before tea. Come on!" She dragged me, as Vesta followed with a grin.
"Sure Cori!" I bit out as I knew my pocket money was going to go down the drain. "But Vesta is chaperoning." I continued, as I heard Vesta squeak.
We both turned to face her, and saw her red face. "Shut up! Not a word!" She warned with a look that promised untold pain.
We both nodded, even as Cori whispered in my ears. "You wouldn't let this go, would you?"
I looked back at Vesta, and whispered in Cori's ears. "Never!"
We all had trust funds, and our own vault. But, our parents limited our funds, to 1000 galleons per year. If used wisely, it was a lot of money. In fact, Weasley's house income would be a little shy of thousand galleons.
But me and my sisters had expensive tastes. I always had to purchase difficult to find books, sometimes importing them from Black Market Dealers in Knockturn Alley.
Vesta would use her money to purchase ingredients to experiment, and for her fashionable life in France.
Corinthia would use her money carefully, but she was a miser anyway. At least she was ten still, and had no hobby that required spending so much money.
That is not to say, we didn't save money. But more often than not, expenses like buying the Nimbus 2000 for your sister, because you lost a bet is unavoidable, and a significant dent on your purse!
"I will go and get ready." I spoke, as I entered my room.
This was my first time casting magic against someone. And I could easily see that if we are faster and nimbler, dodging spells will be easier.
However, the modifier used on Disarming Charm at the end made the spell fly faster.
This needed to be experimented.
I could have used a lot of power, overpowering a spell, but if it travelled slower allowing the opponent to dodge, then the power is wasted.
Which means, I need to make or search for spells that either act as homing missile, or have effects that targets and tracks the opponent.
At the top of my head, I can think of only Transfiguration spells, which can make elemental constructs that aim at the enemies. But nothing readily possible with charms that can help here.
With that thought, I got ready for our excursion. My first time to Diagon Alley, despite my regular visits, which I know from my memories.
I can't wait!