Chapter 18: Economics and Education
Lord Voldemort sat on his high-backed throne in Malfoy Manor lost in his thoughts as his Death Eaters argued in front of him. The topic at hand was funding and the greed-ridden fools were desperately trying to cling on to every Knut that they could.
'As if they don't have millions of galleons sitting in a vault that will never be used. This part of the job was always the most tedious. It's a testimony to my own skill as an orator that I got these selfish worms to work together under me. It was so much simpler back then, eliminating rising dark lords before they could gain any power, exploring the mysteries of the dark arts and planning a civil war. Now my mind is plagued by doubt and vague predictions of the future, oh how I have fallen from grace.'
"Why would you pick the most expensive mercenary corps in Europe? There are several other guilds who could satisfy our needs without having to pay exuberant prices." Yaxley cried out.
"They are expensive because they're effective, if your family has fallen so far that they are not able to afford such a measly sum then I question your presence at this table," Theodore Nott Sr jabbed.
"Nott, have you forgotten? Only I am allowed to question my servant's presence at this table." Voldemort hissed. His crimson eyes boring into Nott Senior's own, daring him to challenge his master.
"No milord" was the simple but whimpered reply of the chastised Death Eater. Yaxley, who was smiling smugly, did not notice his Lord's eyes shift to him with the intensity that Nott faced.
"Yaxley, make your case. Do so quickly before I become displeased." Voldemort threatened.
"Ah- right, yes of course. Nott suggests that we use the Manticore's Might Mercenary corps to bolster our own troop count however I believe that their cost to effectiveness ratio isn't to our favour." The man said nervously, he had been present for Avery's punishment and feared similar treatment. The Dark Lord was contemplative, he made a gesture for Yaxley to continue. "Um. Also, considering our position in the shadows currently, the force we pay for will be sitting unused for a time. I believe we should go with the Giant's Fist guild because they're much cheaper and good enforcers that will bolster our might without financial significant drawbacks." Yaxley explained, growing more confident each word.
Voldemort assessed the two opponents, 'Nott is a prideful moron who has a large sum of money to draw from whereas Yaxley is less wealthy but that makes him more analytical. However true it is that Manticore's Might is renowned for its extensive combat record and espionage, they would be on our payroll for too long and that would drain my Death Eaters.'
"Very well Yaxley, I'm assigning you to seek out and acquire 300 Giant's Fist witches and wizards for our cause. I trust you are capable of this?"
"Yes my lord! I will leave at dawn. Do I have a timeline?"
"I want them combat ready by May. You know what happens if you fail Yaxley. Meeting adjourned." Voldemort declared as he walked out of the chamber first, it was getting late and he needed to meditate.
Harry awoke in a cold sweat once again. The same dream had been reoccurring almost every night without fail. He'd felt a certain amount of pull from one of the orbs in the room but before he could investigate that black fog would roll in and wake him up.
'These dreams are getting weirder and weirder each day. Another reason it's fantastic being me' he thought bitterly. Getting up he started to get ready. It was the sixth of March, a Saturday, the DA was meeting today and he was teaching them some non-verbal casting. Mainly theory then some prac work but he and Daphne wanted to see who could grasp advanced topics well enough and those who worked extremely hard. This would be the first lesson Daphne spectated and he wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to be difficult for her duck in between chaotic spellfire like it sometimes is.
Throwing on his favourite pair of denim jeans and his grey shirt, Harry left the common room and walked to the room of requirement. It was going to be an early class and that was mainly on purpose, if people didn't attend then they wouldn't be put on the list of potential recruits. Harry was getting there even earlier though to speak to Daphne first.
Walking the empty halls in the morning always made him feel uneasy, the usual busyness of the corridors unfathomable in those moments. Reaching the room, he found the door to already be visible to him. He walked right on in and found Daphne on a chair sitting in the middle of the room staring intently at her hand. She hadn't noticed him yet so he decided to lean on the wall and watch whatever it was she was attempting to do. A few moments passed and just as he was about to interrupt her concentration a small ball of flame appeared in her hand. Daphne's face morphed into one of triumph and elation.
"Show off." Harry teased.
Daphne's head snapped up to him and upon seeing it was Harry she smirked. "Someone's jealous."
"I can't rightfully deny that. How exactly do you do that on command?"
"A great deal of concentrating and being highly in tune with my own magic."
Harry became confused. Sitting down on a chair that materialised across from her he asked "How can one be in tune with their own magic?"
"Well what do you know of the types of magic?"
"I know that there are three types but other than that not a lot."
"I'm not surprised honestly, it was removed from the curriculum years ago. Well there are three types like you said, ambient magic: the magic of the universe and fate. Few can communicate with it and fewer still can articulate what they experienced. Prophecy magic comes from the ambient magic of the universe coming into contact with select individuals."
"Ah and that makes the people who interact with it behave… strangely?" He tried to say delicately.
"No one knows, but there is a pattern of odd behaviour after exposure. Next is active magic, that's your wards and enchantments. Things that are designed to be tangible and last well past the caster's death." She continued before hesitating. "Some curses are also designed this way, they can be… quite devastating." She spoke sadly.
"Right," Harry said, completely missing her miserable tone. "So Hogwarts wards…?"
Composing herself, Daphne nodded "Right, they will last forever because they are saturated with active magic. The final category is intrinsic magic, this covers the magic within a magical being whether that be centaur, house elf or wizard. This is where the strength and effectiveness of spell casting is determined. This is also the most accessible type of magic in terms of understanding how it works as it adapts to how the host uses it."
"Oh is that why strong emotions affect spell casting?"
"Correct, your magic responds to your emotional commands just as it responds to your logic. Furthermore, think of concentration as the substitute for emotional instinct. When you're calm and relaxed you're able to provide clear and detailed intent to your intrinsic magic however when you're worked up in the natural fight or flight mode we go into then your instincts provide intent quickly and harshly to your magic, making it react in a proportionate manner."
"That's extremely interesting. I think I've performed wandless magic before actually."
"Truly? It takes a significant emotional response to stimuli for that to happen, what caused it?"
Going back to the night of the dementor attack in Little Whinging, Dudley's death, he remembered the fear he felt with dementors closing in on him in the dark, no wand to save him. "Dementor attack, I had lost my wand and in my desperation I cast a 'lumos' in the palm of my hand to find my wand."
"Dementors huh? That'll do it." Daphne said matter of factly.
"So by constantly working your magic and concentrating, anyone could cast wandlessly?" Harry asked, eager to move on from that night.
Daphne noticed this deflection but moved on anyway. "Theoretically? Yes. There are some wizarding societies in Africa that don't need wands because they never had the crux of a wand. You see the wand makes a bridge between you and your intrinsic magic, but it also makes you rely on it. Through meditation and concentrated use of magic, one can begin to mend the divide of mind and magic, but it does take some time."
"I suppose I'll have to get on that then, the advantages in a fight are endless." Harry determinedly replied. "Anyway, my plan for today is to introduce non-verbal spells with practice towards the end. I thought it best to make it less chaotic so you can watch them attempt advanced magic without interruption"
"Good idea, I'll stick to a corner of the room until I deem it safe enough to move through the group."
"Right, so about determ-" Harry started but was stopped by the fact that Hermione had walked in early and stood at the door shocked. Her shock didn't last long, morphing into determination and a small amount of outrage.
"Greengrass, I'd like a word with Harry if you don't mind." Hermione demanded, feigning asking for permission. Daphne looked to Harry who nodded his head towards the exit. Hermione glared at her as she walked out of the room, her glare shifting to Harry once Daphne was out of sight. "How could you tell her about the room? If you want to risk your own livelihood with the snake then be my guest but to so recklessly put your friends in danger isn't something I thought I'd need to worry about with you!" Hermione raged.
"Now Hermione, I didn't-"
"Did you tell her before Umbridge? Or did she promise to get rid of Umbridge just to get close to you? What if she's working for V- him?" Hermione questioned rapidly, hesitating to say Voldemort.
"Hermione stop, this is a misun-"
"You're too trusting Harry, come we're going to Dumbledore now. He'll know what to-"
"Hermione would you shut up for one fucking second please." Harry said agitatedly, this time cutting her off. Running his hand through his messy hair he sighed and realised that he was going to have to reveal a lot to his intelligent friend. "I didn't tell her about the DA, she uses this room more than we do and she found the list all by herself about a week ago. Even still, she knew about the DA's first meeting at Hogshead.
"What?"
"She was eavesdropping that day, I followed her after and was… convinced she'd be no problem." Harry admitted.
"Oh, that's where you went then, Ron thought you were trying to escape Cho."
"No, I followed her and we duelled, she offered to help with Umbridge and warned me about Umbridge's own spies in the bar. She isn't against us, in fact she is my most capable ally right now."
"Oh Harry, just because she got rid of Umbridge for you doesn't mean she can be trusted." Hermione warned sadly. The disappearance of Umbridge was the perfect cover to getting Harry's trust, especially the timing.
"She didn't get rid of Umbridge, she helped me get rid of Umbridge. I am the reason she is gone, I- I couldn't stand by and let her torture you and Ron, no one deserves that, least of all you two." Harry revealed, feeling a great weight lift from his chest that he hadn't been aware he was carrying.
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, piecing it all together. She rushed Harry and wrapped him in a bone shattering hug for a few moments before whispering a tearful 'thank you.'
"It's okay, you know I'd do anything for you two. Even though we haven't had the most positive year, I'm still your best friend and Ron's, that means I'm ready to move mountains to make sure you two are happy." Harry declared.
"I know and as much as it worries me, I still appreciate it." Hermione said gratefully.
"Alright enough with the waterworks, people are going to be here soon. Daphne is going to observe this meeting to see who will qualify for an advanced class that I'll be running. I wouldn't worry if I were you." Harry said, omitting the more important details of the 'advanced class.'
"That's a good idea Harry, let me know if you want any help setting it up."
"Will do 'mione."
"'Ello mate!" Ron greeted walking into the room followed by Dean and Seamus.
"Hey guys!" Harry responded cheerfully. The room started to full up with all of the regulars who stood around for a moment having their own separate conversations. Harry walked up to the raised dais at the back end of the room, scanning the room for Daphne's disillusioned form. Unable to find it he activated his thermal vision, seeing her in the back left corner he made a mental note to comment on her improved spell work.
"Alright everyone settle down! I've got some advanced stuff for you today and…. a demonstration!" Harry called to the enjoyment of everyone, his demonstrations usually ended in someone being utterly humiliated. "Do I have any volunteers?" He heard cries of everyone calling out their friends but only one person had their hand up, that being Neville Longbottom.
"Alright Nev' come on up, seems to me you're the bravest of 'em all." Harry complimented. Cheers of 'yes Neville!' and 'kick his arse Neville!' were thrown around in support of the Gryffindor. It warmed both Neville's and Harry's hearts to see such support for the designated 'loner' of Gryffindor.
"Okay everyone I'm going to need some silence so that I can explain today's exercise." The room quieted down quickly and Harry continued. "So today we'll be attempting non-verbal spells. I know this is part of the sixth year curriculum but it must be said that this skill is invaluable in combat and in life in general." Daphne noticed that the whole room was enraptured in Harry's monologue, a good indication that her family had made the right choice. "You see, to be proficient in non-verbal magic is a testimony to your connection to your intrinsic magic meaning that your accessibility to your highest potential is increased." He explained "We will, however, only be focusing on the combat side of it today because we're all here to practise magic not debate its theory - sorry Hermione." He said, joking at Hermione's expense to everyone's amusement.
Turning to Neville he addressed the room all together. "Neville, you're going to attempt to weather my onslaught and then we'll discuss what happened. Sound good?" Neville nodded nervously but raised his new wand nonetheless.
"Ron, you call it" Harry said. Ron grinned at the opportunity, he waited till the expense was killing the class before shouting.
"Begin!"
Harry sent a verbal "stupefy" at Neville who blocked it with an equally verbal "protego." Finished testing his pupil's readiness, Harry sent a constant chain of verbal spells including stupefy, flipendo and confringo before catching Neville off guard with a verbal "auguamemti" which confused him enough to stun him. Harry walked over and revived him and helped him up, congratulating him on a well improved defence which Neville shyly thanked him for. The class was cheering on Neville for the same reason and once they had quieted down Harry addressed them all.
"Yes yes well done Neville, now for round two I will be using non-verbal spells, Ron you call it again." Both duellists got to their positions at either end of the dais again and waited for Ron who called it almost immediately.
Harry burst into a flurry of spell fire, non-verbal stunners and body binds firing off faster than Neville could think. The poor boy was overwhelmed by a combination of spell fire and conjuration within moments falling prey to a conjured set of ropes which bound him in place. Cutting the ropes, Harry turned to the impressed and silent class.
"Can anyone tell me the advantages of non-verbal spells over verbal ones in a duel?" Harry asked calmly.
"Your opponent doesn't know what's being sent their way" Neville answered dejectedly.
"Partially correct, they could identify the spell by colour or a specific wand movement but it's immensely more difficult. Anything else?"
"It's faster," Fred said confidently.
"Exactly! Especially for spells with long incantations like the body bind curse. Any other advantages? I'm thinking of one more."
Hermione's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as she exclaimed "the silencing charm! If you're silenced your effectiveness isn't hindered if you can cast non-verbals well enough."
"Good job Hermione, that's exactly right. Silencing an opponent is now way to incapacitate them, dark magic isn't locked to verbal incantations." Harry warned. "So, what I want everyone to do is to pair off, one of you focus primarily on the intent behind the spell you want to cast, say it in your mind first and then cast it at your partner. The partner should attempt to shield non-verbally with the same process and then switch roles. Off you go!" Harry instructed.
The class paired off and began practising his instructions, not miraculously, Hermione was the first to cast a spell silently. The twins didn't count because they had already covered it in their curriculum last year. In a moment of triumph, Neville managed to disarm Parvati Patil with a silent expelliarmus to the pride of the entire class.
Harry watched everyone congratulate Neville who looked up at him on the platform. Harry gave him a smile and a nod to which Neville stood a little taller. The scene before Harry was a happy one and he dreaded the days when something so pure would be a rare occurrence.