The Fifth house
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This document is Copyright (C) 2002 Squeekdamouse (Squeeky@ammt.co.uk). All rights reserved.
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Chapter five
Lessons
Runt awoke the next morning feeling unusually refreshed and was mildly amused to find a small fish sitting at the end of
the bed, he presumed it was some kind of joke by one of the other students but he didn't mind at all he sat and slowed
chewed at the fish it was still raw so he had to bite chunks out of it and lean over so as to not make a mess of the
bed sheets.
Quickly Runt was changed into his cloak, he had tried putting the hat on several times but it simply would not fit on
his head now that his ears had moved.
But Runt brushed aside these thoughts and hurried down the stairs to where Dumbledorf was standing with a large latern,
Runt could feel it humming with magic just by standing close to it.
"Now, we have a class just for you..." Dumbledorf started to explain, "But we have to go a little out of the way, it's
for our safety sadly and nothing else."
Runt nodded not really understanding but eager to get on with his courses.
Dumbledorf took the latern high and extended a bony wraught hand which Runt clinged onto tightly.
"Don't let go boy, what ever you do, don't let go." Dumbledorf implored, a slight hint of fear in his voice.
Runt picked up on that fear and gripped Dumbledorf's hand tighter as they both set up heading down deep into the
cellars of Hogwarts.
After a short journey Runt noticed it was dark, too dark, the latern was almost fighting to keep the darkness back and
what was worrying is it appeared to be losing.
Runt never let go of Dumbledorf's hand and Dumbledorf didn't stop moving whilst in the darkness. Runt was worrying, he
was unsure how long the light could hold out for, he didn't know hoq long they'd been in here or even where here was.
All around them the darkness swirled and Runt could feel it pressing in trying to consume him, trying to extinguish him
from existance.
Suddenly it wasn't dark anymore, he was standing in a modern classroom clutching tightly to Dumbledorf's hand.
"Made it..." Dumbledorf sighed with relief, "Travelling in darkness is something that you should never have to do and here
you are succeeding on your first day."
"Ahh, you have made it!" A strange voice said from the corner of the room, it had a distinctive and very heavy German
accent to it.
"Professor?" Dumbledorf asked looking to the corner.
A tall skinny man dressed in a black suit and tie wearing a bowler hat seemingly appeared from the corner, it was like he
just walked in from the darkness of the corner.
"Ya! Ahh mien mentor!" The man said excitedly, "Dis is the pupil I take it?"
Dumbledorf nodded ushering Runt forward towards the man cautiously, Runt could feel Dumbledorf almost pull him back at the
last moment.
The man nodded briefly and smiled, "Jonathan, it is a great pleasure to meet you at last."
Runt looked at Dumbledorf oddly.
But Dumbledorf was no longer standing behind him.
"You may be vondering who I am, vell now I am Professor Kaufmann but you may call me just Kaufmann." The man said
introducing himself properly to Runt.
"Well I used to be Jonathan but everyone calls me Runt now..." Runt said quietly.
"You like dis name?" Kaufmann asked.
Runt nodded slowly, he did like it. Now he could proudly say it without being teased.
"Very vell, Runt... It is time for your first lesson." Kaufmann announced apparently mentally reminding himself of Runt's
name choice.
"But first..." Kuffan said, "Ve have some tea and cake, vhen travelling through the dark you should alvays have tea and
cake on the other side."
Runt nodded happily and sat down to enjoy some warm refreshing tea with Professor Kaufmann.
After a cup of tea Runt sat down at the only desk in the room and looked at the looming figure of Kaufmann.
"Now Runt, please do you have a magic vand?" Kaufmann asked looking directly at the ruler in Runt's upper coat pocket.
Runt nodded and took it out placing it on the desk in front of him.
"Very good, now I vant you to break it in half..." Kaufman said.
"Professor?" Runt retorted in confusion.
Kaufmann simply nodded, "You heard me, break it..."
Runt sighed and took his magical wand/ruler and exerting some considerable force, broke it into two neat halves.
"Excellant!" Kufman enthuased, "Now remeber just two things, you are above all a Muggle and there is no power greater then
your imagination."
Runt didn't like the sound of that, he was getting used to being lead into intresting situations when people talked like
that, so he wasn't overly surprised when he saw Kaufmann simply vanish into a small glimer of star before his eyes.
He was equally unsurprised but prehaps a litle shocked when a loud roaring echoed from behind him.
Slowly, carefully and wiht a great deliberance in his actions Runt turned to face what was there.
Runt had never seen a Hydra before but he guessed that the six headed and twelve foot tall greenish blue creature before
him was indeed a hydra. It had a scaley body which glinted slightly in the bright light and swished a single tail aimlessly
across the floor.
It roared directly at Runt snarling meancingly teeth gleaming brightly, nostrils flaring and claws unsheathed.
Runt didn't run however, somehow he could discern that the Hydra wasn't hungry or even angry it was confused.
Smiling brightly Runt carefully raised his paw to the Hydra's lowest head.
"Hi there..." Runt said quietly moving towards the head, "My name is Runt..."
The Hydra roared loudly but not agressivly. It had fear in it's roar, it was scared and didn't know why it was here
"It's all right, I'll get you home..." Runt whispered quietly.
Suddenly there was a rippling churning in the air around Runt.
Dumbledorf and a elderly man confused looking man appeared from the rift.
"Runt, come towards me slowly." Dumbledorf said quietly but firmly to Runt.
"She's scared sir..." Runt explained gently petting the hydra.
Dumbledorf slowly egded towards Runt whilst the still bound man slowly backed away.
"Can you talk to her?" Dumbledorf asked warily.
Runt nodded, "She's trained and understands English quite well."
"Oh... Well dear, are you ready to go home." Dumbledorf asked the hydra directly.
The hydra quietly moaned and seemed to almost nod.
Dumbledorf took out an impressive looking wand
With nothing more then a brief flash and some mumbled words the hydra vanished with a distinctive whisp of light
blue smoke.
"I am so very very sorry, I should have paid more attention..." Dumbledorf said replacing his wand.
Runt smiled, "It's all right she was cute in a I can devour you with one bite kind of way."
"But who was impersenating me?" The real Kaufmann piped up from the corner.
"Well he broke my ruler in half and was very empathic, I'm going to take wild stab in the dark and hit Voldemort." Runt
flippantly said.
Dumbledorf nodded sagely, "Not him, one of his minons most likely. Sorry about the ruler, we can get you another one."
Runt shook his head, "It just wouldn't quite meausre up to the last one." He slyly joked face breaking into a wide beam.
"Of course it never could." Dumbledorf said with a smile on his face.
Kaufmann pulled up a seat and allowed Runt to sit down whilst Dumbledorf made preperations to leave, casting a protection
spell on Runt and the room.
Then with the spell cast he vanished yet again.
"He is awfully good with the vanishing thing, ya? Kaufmann asked same voice, same face diffrent tone, less agressive Runt
instantly noted.
"Yep he's good, probably the best..." Runt replied, he thought it odd that Dunbledorf was not scared of Voldemort.
Then it hit him, Runt knew now why Dumbledorf had no fear of Voldemort and he smiled a cute little smile that was lost
to everyone except himself.
Chapter six
Christmas
Many months blended effortless into one another and apart from Kaufmann, Runt had no human contact with anyone else.
Which was probably a good thing indeed for without a wand Runt had been learning to make magic happen with only gestures and
words, something he was pretty sure couldn't actually be done.
In fact to be honest most times he didn't manage it, magic would flare and sometimes a spell was cast but it was very
rarely the spell Runt wanted.
On the whole however Kaufmann was a very patient teacher and Runt was an excellent study taking in and listening to
everything.
A rather cold morning Kaufmann sighed unhappily and sat Runt down in the unusual classroom before starting to explain,
"Runt, you have learned everything that I can teach you."
"Oh..." Runt said quietly.
"It is time for you to go back to your fellow pupils." Kaufmann said quietly opening a door which strangely lead into
a corridor of Hogwarts.
"Thank you Professor Kaufmann." Runt said bowing his head slightly before extending his paw to shake Kaufmann's hand.
Kaufmann looked around nervously, "I ... I can not..." his voice quivering with anguish.
Runt smiled brightly, "Sure you can, just because you are a ghost doesn't mean you can't interact with me."
Kaufmann recoiled in shock, "You knew?"
Runt nodded and concentrating carefully shook Kaufmann's etherial hand. Runt didn't know how he did this but it seemed to
work.
"You will do well..." Kaufmann said happily before dematerialising into nothingness.
Runt carefully stepped out into the quiet corridor only to realise the door he had come from was no longer there.
Wondering around aimlessly for a few moments he eventually managed to orintate himself and headed for the Great Hall where
he hoped some other students might be.
The great hall had been decorated in christmas decorations with a large tree set up near the teachers table a small group
of students sat around a large and warm looking fire.
Slowly and carefully Runt walked up to the fire and took his place with some of the Gryffindorf students, none of them
seem to even acknowledge his presence there.
Suddenly Runt summersaulted onto the table and into a defensive posture his short sharp claws extended fully as he faced
a terrorfied and now very white looking boy with freckles.
"... Ron?" Runt asked searching his memory from the sorting hat ceremony.
Ron nodded slowly and carefully backing off from Runt slowly.
Runt was looking around confused he had felt something very wrong from where Ron was but it seemed to almost mask it's
presence as he had turned on Ron.
Reseathing his claws Runt climbed off the table and shook his head, "Sorry Ron..." he started to explain.
"No problem, must have Scabbers scent all over me." Ron said pointing to his top pocket where a half asleep rat lay.
Runt squinted at the Rat, there was some wrong with it but he didn't know what.
"Yeah, sorry..." Runt again said apologising.
Ron quickly ran off and sat beside another boy Runt vaugly recognised.
"What was that all about?" The other boy asked.
"I dunno Harry..." Ron replied, "Guess he just doesn't like rats."
Runt smirked as he overhead this before turning his attention to food.
Food.
Runt suddenly realised he hadn't eaten since he left Hogwarts and that must have been at least four months ago.
Happily he took a large plate and started to eat with the other students before heading up with the Gryffindorf students
to the tower and after quickly removing the layers of dust from his room drifting into a deep dreamless sleep.
The christmas holidays passed quickly and more and more students began to return to Hogwarts as the days went on.
One morning Runt found a timetable on his bed, he would have Potions and Transfiguration on mondays, Broom handling and
Care of Magical Creatures on Tuesday, A blank space all Wednesday, A blank space on thursday and spellcraft and finally
on friday it was guidance and socialising.
"Hmm... Blank spaces..." Runt said aloud before wondering down into the common room.
"Anyone else have a blank space on Wednesday or Thursday?" Runt asked the few people lounging in the common room.
They all shook thier heads.
"I have Defense against the dark arts." A first year piped up.
"And I have Divination..." A third year interjected.
"Thanks..." Said Runt slightly more confused before heading out into the school.
Following the twisty corridors he came to Mrs McGonagall's room and he rapped loudly on the door.
"Come in..." A slightly raspy voice beckoned.
Runt cautiously opened the door to see Mrs McGonagall wrapped in a warm blanket with a steaming mug of something.
"Oh... ... Runt was it not?" Mrs McGonagall asked looking directly at Runt.
"Yes mam." replied Runt lowering his head slightly.
"Well what is it?" She asked.
Runt pulled his timetable out and explained the problem to Mrs McGonagall.
"Curious... Well I believe this one here is for you to meet with the rest of the staff." She said pointing to the one on
Thursday, as she said this the words "Staff meeting" suddenly appeared in the box.
"But why have you not got Defense against the dark arts?" She asked the room, "Let's fix that..."
She took a feather quill, dipped it in a pot of ink and started to write on the time table in the slot on Wednesday.
Without warning the ink burst into blue flame, but neither the pen nor the paper caught fire.
Mrs McGonagall looked up at Runt who had taken a step back in shock before looking down at the paper.
"This is most ancient magic..." She started to explain, "Back in the times of the Vikings when the world was new and magic
was more flexible there were sages who were able to write spells into rocks and paper to use later."
"Ogham." Runt suddenly interjected, the word just popped into his head and then into his mouth.
"Quite..." Mrs McGonagall said mutely, "Runes of power and protection."
Runt didn't understand what Mrs McGonagall was saying until he looked at the timetable as well as the blue flame several
of the lines were glowing bright white in a very distinctive rune like pattern.
"Protection." Runt suddenly said again before shaking his head.
"My my, you have been studying..." Mrs McGonagall said with a smirk on her flu covered face.
"Now of course who did this and why is the next mystery but for now it's one best left unsolved." She said moping her nose
with a hanky.
"Thanks Professor McGonagall." Runt said happily leaving the room still not quite sure what was going on but slightly more
relieved.
Chapter seven
A voice in the darkness
Eventually it was the first day of term and the common room buzzed with life as did the corridors.
Runt struggled hopelessly with his robes, eventually forcing his tail painfully into the hole before picking up a bundle
of books before rushing madly to potions class.
To his delight he arrived at about the same time as everyone else, he stuck mainly with folks from Gryffindorf as they at
least didn't make fun of him.
"Want a mouse?" A voice sneered from the corridor.
A boy with spikey black hair and an evil meanicing look had shouted it.
"No thanks ... Draco?" Runt asked looking back at the boy.
Draco Malfoy laughed before darting in the door.
The boy Ron had talked to sighed and gently patted Runt on the shoulder, "Ignore him."
"... Thanks" Runt said very quietly, he felt a huge surge of power from the boy.
Runt shook off the feeling and smiled, "Harry wasn't it?"
Harry nodded and fixed his glasses.
"Thanks." Runt repeated happily.
The class filtered in to a dusty potion lab and where just sitting down when a flustered teacher barged in.
"Happy new year, now let's get to work." The teacher announced loudly heading to the front of the room.
He turned, his clock making a swishing noise as he faced the class.
"Oh a newcomer..." The teacher said looking directly at Runt.
"What is your name boy?" He asked loudly.
Runt stood up and bowed his head slightly, "My name is Runt sir."
The teacher smirked and shook his head, "Sit down Runt."
Runt sat back down on the seat his tail curling around the leg softly as he did.
"Now as your classmates should have told you I, Professer Snape am the potions teacher." Snape said angrilly.
"I wonder if you are any better versed then your fellows." Snape said thinking up a question.
"What would happen..." Snape started, "If I mixed Oxtail leaf with Raw mouse tail?" Snape asked looking at Runt.
Runt sat there mutely, he saw a hand slowly raise into the air from a girl.
A tiny whispered voice started to talk in Runt's head, "You would get combustable powder for starting fires."
Runt looked around curiously.
"Yes Mister Runt, the question is addressed to you..." Snape said angrilly.
"You ... you would get ... combustable powder..." Runt replied quietly, "For starting fires sir..."
Snape was taken aback, "Very good boy..."
"What would I need to complete a Stardust potion if I had ragweed, wolf's claw and tangleweed?" Snape asked slowly thinking
the question out himself.
This time not even the girl raised her hand.
The same quiet voice whispered again to Runt, "Drop the ragweed use oak juice instead and refined mist."
"Sir..." Runt started, "I'd use oak juice instead of the ragweed and add refined mist." He said slightly more boldly.
Snape laughed, "That would never ... ... work." He finished very unconfidant now, "How would you do this, show me."
Snape threw a bundle of ingrediants at Runt, who in a flash caught them using his tail to grab a small bottle just before
it hit the floor.
Suddenly Runt didn't feel like himself anymore, he was watching his body add the oak juice to the ragweed before slowly
pouring the refined mist ontop of them both and adding more oak juice.
He suddenly came back to his sense with a bubbling blackish potion with tiny specks of light glimmering brightly.
"Amazing..." Snape said under his breath, Runt knew only he could have heard that.
"Right class follow Runt's example and try the same." Snape demanded turning his back suddenly and heading to the front of
the classroom and his own potions.
Grumbling with anger he added as almost an after thought, "Five points to your house Mister Runt..."
Runt blushed slightly and looked at the unusal potion in his hand, he suddenly knew if he added this to some ink it would
make magical glowing ink.
The potions class was over quite quickly with few people except Professor Snape and the girl who had raised her hand
able to remake the stardust potion using Runt's method.
"That was amazing!" Ron said approaching Runt after the class.
"You showed Snape..." Harry smirked brightly.
Runt blushed more.
"You are supposed to add gold dust, dew drop from a sun flower and a dust mite..." The girl from class said.
"Yeah but Runt's was easier Hermomime." Ron said.
"I.. I don't know how I knew it." Runt said quietly.
Runt stuck with Harry, Ron and Hermimie for the transfiguration class. It was again unusal the task was quite easy to change
a stick into a bit of paper.
Runt managed first time and this time rather then not feeling himself he knew exactly what he was doing and why right
down to the subtly paw gestures to make the paper longer and stronger.
By the end of the day Runt was very confused and thus went right to bed, whilst he was lying there he thought about all that
had happened so far and came to the conclusion that it didn't make sense.
Magic normally didn't make sense, but the potions class especially made less sense then usual.
"You are right." A quiet voice whispered in his head. "It is a little odd."
Runt looked around, there was nobody there.
"It's more then odd, it's downright strange, weird even." Runt replied quietly to the room.
The air changed slightly as if it was smirking at the comment.
"So you know who I am yet?" The voice asked Runt directly.
Runt nodded, he had a good guess, "You are mostly me and a little bit of the founder of house Familiarius."
"Kudos Runt, much Kudos..." The voice said congratulating Runt on the correct answer.
"Technically," The voice continued, "I'm Jonathan, the mundane part of you that find this all really cool and I'm also
Chi-Ri-Fadori, founder of house Familiarius."
Runt smirked happily, "It's good to have you both helping."
"You are important Runt." The voice whispered quietly, "You have a great destiny."
"Oh..." Runt quietly sighed his ears drooping.
"But do not fret." The voice stressed trying to cheer Runt up, "For we are here to help you."
"Thank you both." Runt said breaking into a cute little smile before curling up and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Runt awoke refreshed and rushed out to the courtyard where broom handling was taught, the lesson didn't
go so well even with the voice from last night trying to help, Runt found it very hard to make the broomstick respond and
the only reason he wasn't falling off was because his tail was wrapped very firmly around the broom handle.
Runt was very glad when the lesson was over, he made a mental note to ask Harry how he managed to fly so well who had
spent most of the lesson performing fancy tricks in the air.
Care of magical creatures however was the easiest and best class Runt had been in, he didn't need any help since he
was a magical creature himself and found that he could talk to and more importantly understand exactly what the creature
was trying to say, today it was a metalic caterpiller which they were all supposed to catch in a beaker and avoid the
razor sharp feet and teeth. Runt simply asked the caterpiller nicely and in exchange for ensuring a large leaf was in
the beaker the caterpiller happily crawled into the glass.
Chapter eight
Protection
The next day Runt was going to go to the defense against the dark arts anyway, it wasn't on his timetable but he knew
it was the class he was supposed to have then.
Runt left his room and arrived at the class room door he could see the class inside and caught the briefest glimpse of
professor Quirrel before the door slammed shut and started glowing a very bright white with a large yellow rune
pulsating on the door.
"Danger." Runt said the word popping into his head.
"That's ... intresting." A older boy said approaching Runt, "You supposed to be in that class I guess."
Runt nodded.
"Might be a bit of a problem, not that you are missing much Quirrel stutters so much it's amazing anyone learns anything."
The boy laughed before adding, "Just go have a free day."
"I need you to sign this then." Runt said holding out a bit of paper.
The boy sighed, "Sure..."
Runt smiled and walked off back to the common room for the rest of the day.
Thursday was an important day so Runt put on his best dress robes and headed off to the staff room, he knocked on the
door and was beckoned inside.
Sitting around on comfy chairs were several memebers of staff that Runt did not recognise as well as Dumbledorf, Snape and
Professor McGonagall.
"Ah there you are..." Dumbledorf announced happily ushering Runt to a seat.
Runt smirked and sat.
"Now this meeting is to discuss how you are doing and if you are having any problems." Dumbledorf said addressing Runt.
Runt shook his head, "No sir, the founder of house Familirius Chi-Ri-Fadori has been helping me."
"Intresting..." Dumbledorf commented looking to Professor McGongall, "No problems with anything at all?"
"Oh..." Runt said quietly, "Yes sir, someone with knowledge of Ogham appears to have cast a spell on me."
Snape moved in his seat slightly at that.
"Professor McGongall has already told me what happened to the timetable, anything else odd happen?" Dumbledorf asked.
Runt nooded, "Yes sir, I tried to go to the Defense against the dark arts class anyway and a danger ruin appeared on the
door." He explained.
There was a quiet silence when Runt announced this.
"May I?" Snape asked looking at Dumbledorf.
Dumbledorf sighed, "Runt, Professor Snape is going to cast a spell on you, normally this would not be tried until at
least sixth year but in these circumstances..."
Runt nodded and clenched his paw, "I'm ready."
"Locomotor Mortis." Snape growled angrily flourishing his wand in a delicate pattern.
Runt saw a powerful flare of magic start to envlope him and wrap tightly around his legs.
"You should try and move now." Snape ordered glaring at Runt.
Carefully Runt used his claws to remove the grasping magic from his legs and walked across the room before walking back.
"Marginally impressive..." Snape muttered readying another spell.
"Albus Dumbledorf of the first order." Snape said quietly, "I require permission to use an Unforgivable curse."
Dumbledorf rubbed his beard and looked to Runt.
"Mister Runt, the choice is yours." Dumbledorf said quietly.
Runt smiled, "Let's do it."
"Imperius Commandeum!" Snape cried empowering his wand with a great deal of magic before unleashing it at Runt.
Runt saw a large whisp of light pink fog creep around him.
"Jump." Snape mutely said.
Runt looked around the room whilst the word echoed in his head, for some reason it felt like jumping would be a good idea
just leaping in the air would make him feel somehow better.
However Runt didn't jump he just looked in confusion around the room some more.
"Sir?" Runt asked looking at Snape.
"Remarkable..." Snape whispered.
"I've never seen anything quite like it." Professor McGongall concured.
Dumbledorf nodded and raised a hand, "Enogth, I think we've proved that either Runt has some protection or is just not
affected as most would be."
Professor McGongall nodded, "It appears that you will not have to participate in defense against the dark arts."
Runt grinned brightly and saw Snape smirk slightly also.
"Now as for the other matter, I've been told it's not using a wand to cast spells." A teacher Runt didn't recongised said
to Dumbledorf.
Professor Dumbledorf nodded, "Runt if you can say make the make invisible ink on this scroll visible."
"Aparecium." The voice whispered to Runt who looked at the paper intently.
Carefully Runt picked the paper up and held it with two paws, the paper glimmered slightly as ink started to almost leak
onto the paper from the air around.
"Aparecium..." Runt said quietly placing the paper down as the final bits of writing reappeared.
The teacher shifted nerveously, "I assume it is a sorcerer..."
Dumbledorf sighed and glared at the teacher, "He is called Runt and even I am not sure as to the exact nature of his power."
The teacher turned very white and seemed to shrink somewhat into the seat, "But ... from this demonstration he is able to
externalise magic."
"True..." Dumbledorf admitted backing down slightly.
"However, he appears to have control." Professor McGongall noted.
"He is also able to improvise and improve on existing magic." Snape added.
Dumbledorf stared at Runt and he felt a familiar chill passing into him, Runt could see lines of power passing into him
and looking over his very being.
Runt even thought about resisting, the chilling waves invading his body but he simply whimpered slightly gripped his paw
tightly and allowed the spell to finish.
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To be concluded...
/=====================================\/====-==========\/=======================================\
| 21:58 ||The Fitfh house|| 14th July 2002 |
\=====================================/\=====-=========/\=======================================/
Dedicated to Fangkit for lots of different reasons.
Special thanks to:
Oh just everyone I know really. Try http://www.livejournal.com/users/fionacat/friends to find them all.
All on #Toonplay, #Warnercafe and #Watertower and #UK and #NorthUKFurs
Everyone in the West Corner of the Park
Acmemouse, OkkayWeener, NakkoSqrl, rhia, Mintaka, Davidmouse, Taperlass, P3, Chilly,
Tony_Fox and NeuCoyote as well as anyone else from #Bohemia (*evilme* for forgetting)
just for being cool and such.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This document is Copyright (C) 2002 Squeekdamouse (Squeeky@ammt.co.uk). All rights reserved.
The characters of Harry Potter and related characters are copyright and trademark Warner Bros. and J.K Rowling,
and are used without permission.
Their use within this work of fiction is in no way, meant to infringe or steal that copyright, nor to dilute the characters
themselves.
No profit on the part of the author is made from this document, and this document is used only for entertainment purposes.
If there is any legal problems with this document, please contact the author to make arrangements to amend these legal
difficulties.
This work may be freely distributed in any media as long as it is not; altered for its original form, and that no money is
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It may be included on any archive collection under the same terms.
For purposes of media archiving orginal form applies only to the text and not to the physical format it is stored in.
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Chapter five
Lessons
Runt awoke the next morning feeling unusually refreshed and was mildly amused to find a small fish sitting at the end of
the bed, he presumed it was some kind of joke by one of the other students but he didn't mind at all he sat and slowed
chewed at the fish it was still raw so he had to bite chunks out of it and lean over so as to not make a mess of the
bed sheets.
Quickly Runt was changed into his cloak, he had tried putting the hat on several times but it simply would not fit on
his head now that his ears had moved.
But Runt brushed aside these thoughts and hurried down the stairs to where Dumbledorf was standing with a large latern,
Runt could feel it humming with magic just by standing close to it.
"Now, we have a class just for you..." Dumbledorf started to explain, "But we have to go a little out of the way, it's
for our safety sadly and nothing else."
Runt nodded not really understanding but eager to get on with his courses.
Dumbledorf took the latern high and extended a bony wraught hand which Runt clinged onto tightly.
"Don't let go boy, what ever you do, don't let go." Dumbledorf implored, a slight hint of fear in his voice.
Runt picked up on that fear and gripped Dumbledorf's hand tighter as they both set up heading down deep into the
cellars of Hogwarts.
After a short journey Runt noticed it was dark, too dark, the latern was almost fighting to keep the darkness back and
what was worrying is it appeared to be losing.
Runt never let go of Dumbledorf's hand and Dumbledorf didn't stop moving whilst in the darkness. Runt was worrying, he
was unsure how long the light could hold out for, he didn't know hoq long they'd been in here or even where here was.
All around them the darkness swirled and Runt could feel it pressing in trying to consume him, trying to extinguish him
from existance.
Suddenly it wasn't dark anymore, he was standing in a modern classroom clutching tightly to Dumbledorf's hand.
"Made it..." Dumbledorf sighed with relief, "Travelling in darkness is something that you should never have to do and here
you are succeeding on your first day."
"Ahh, you have made it!" A strange voice said from the corner of the room, it had a distinctive and very heavy German
accent to it.
"Professor?" Dumbledorf asked looking to the corner.
A tall skinny man dressed in a black suit and tie wearing a bowler hat seemingly appeared from the corner, it was like he
just walked in from the darkness of the corner.
"Ya! Ahh mien mentor!" The man said excitedly, "Dis is the pupil I take it?"
Dumbledorf nodded ushering Runt forward towards the man cautiously, Runt could feel Dumbledorf almost pull him back at the
last moment.
The man nodded briefly and smiled, "Jonathan, it is a great pleasure to meet you at last."
Runt looked at Dumbledorf oddly.
But Dumbledorf was no longer standing behind him.
"You may be vondering who I am, vell now I am Professor Kaufmann but you may call me just Kaufmann." The man said
introducing himself properly to Runt.
"Well I used to be Jonathan but everyone calls me Runt now..." Runt said quietly.
"You like dis name?" Kaufmann asked.
Runt nodded slowly, he did like it. Now he could proudly say it without being teased.
"Very vell, Runt... It is time for your first lesson." Kaufmann announced apparently mentally reminding himself of Runt's
name choice.
"But first..." Kuffan said, "Ve have some tea and cake, vhen travelling through the dark you should alvays have tea and
cake on the other side."
Runt nodded happily and sat down to enjoy some warm refreshing tea with Professor Kaufmann.
After a cup of tea Runt sat down at the only desk in the room and looked at the looming figure of Kaufmann.
"Now Runt, please do you have a magic vand?" Kaufmann asked looking directly at the ruler in Runt's upper coat pocket.
Runt nodded and took it out placing it on the desk in front of him.
"Very good, now I vant you to break it in half..." Kaufman said.
"Professor?" Runt retorted in confusion.
Kaufmann simply nodded, "You heard me, break it..."
Runt sighed and took his magical wand/ruler and exerting some considerable force, broke it into two neat halves.
"Excellant!" Kufman enthuased, "Now remeber just two things, you are above all a Muggle and there is no power greater then
your imagination."
Runt didn't like the sound of that, he was getting used to being lead into intresting situations when people talked like
that, so he wasn't overly surprised when he saw Kaufmann simply vanish into a small glimer of star before his eyes.
He was equally unsurprised but prehaps a litle shocked when a loud roaring echoed from behind him.
Slowly, carefully and wiht a great deliberance in his actions Runt turned to face what was there.
Runt had never seen a Hydra before but he guessed that the six headed and twelve foot tall greenish blue creature before
him was indeed a hydra. It had a scaley body which glinted slightly in the bright light and swished a single tail aimlessly
across the floor.
It roared directly at Runt snarling meancingly teeth gleaming brightly, nostrils flaring and claws unsheathed.
Runt didn't run however, somehow he could discern that the Hydra wasn't hungry or even angry it was confused.
Smiling brightly Runt carefully raised his paw to the Hydra's lowest head.
"Hi there..." Runt said quietly moving towards the head, "My name is Runt..."
The Hydra roared loudly but not agressivly. It had fear in it's roar, it was scared and didn't know why it was here
"It's all right, I'll get you home..." Runt whispered quietly.
Suddenly there was a rippling churning in the air around Runt.
Dumbledorf and a elderly man confused looking man appeared from the rift.
"Runt, come towards me slowly." Dumbledorf said quietly but firmly to Runt.
"She's scared sir..." Runt explained gently petting the hydra.
Dumbledorf slowly egded towards Runt whilst the still bound man slowly backed away.
"Can you talk to her?" Dumbledorf asked warily.
Runt nodded, "She's trained and understands English quite well."
"Oh... Well dear, are you ready to go home." Dumbledorf asked the hydra directly.
The hydra quietly moaned and seemed to almost nod.
Dumbledorf took out an impressive looking wand
With nothing more then a brief flash and some mumbled words the hydra vanished with a distinctive whisp of light
blue smoke.
"I am so very very sorry, I should have paid more attention..." Dumbledorf said replacing his wand.
Runt smiled, "It's all right she was cute in a I can devour you with one bite kind of way."
"But who was impersenating me?" The real Kaufmann piped up from the corner.
"Well he broke my ruler in half and was very empathic, I'm going to take wild stab in the dark and hit Voldemort." Runt
flippantly said.
Dumbledorf nodded sagely, "Not him, one of his minons most likely. Sorry about the ruler, we can get you another one."
Runt shook his head, "It just wouldn't quite meausre up to the last one." He slyly joked face breaking into a wide beam.
"Of course it never could." Dumbledorf said with a smile on his face.
Kaufmann pulled up a seat and allowed Runt to sit down whilst Dumbledorf made preperations to leave, casting a protection
spell on Runt and the room.
Then with the spell cast he vanished yet again.
"He is awfully good with the vanishing thing, ya? Kaufmann asked same voice, same face diffrent tone, less agressive Runt
instantly noted.
"Yep he's good, probably the best..." Runt replied, he thought it odd that Dunbledorf was not scared of Voldemort.
Then it hit him, Runt knew now why Dumbledorf had no fear of Voldemort and he smiled a cute little smile that was lost
to everyone except himself.
Chapter six
Christmas
Many months blended effortless into one another and apart from Kaufmann, Runt had no human contact with anyone else.
Which was probably a good thing indeed for without a wand Runt had been learning to make magic happen with only gestures and
words, something he was pretty sure couldn't actually be done.
In fact to be honest most times he didn't manage it, magic would flare and sometimes a spell was cast but it was very
rarely the spell Runt wanted.
On the whole however Kaufmann was a very patient teacher and Runt was an excellent study taking in and listening to
everything.
A rather cold morning Kaufmann sighed unhappily and sat Runt down in the unusual classroom before starting to explain,
"Runt, you have learned everything that I can teach you."
"Oh..." Runt said quietly.
"It is time for you to go back to your fellow pupils." Kaufmann said quietly opening a door which strangely lead into
a corridor of Hogwarts.
"Thank you Professor Kaufmann." Runt said bowing his head slightly before extending his paw to shake Kaufmann's hand.
Kaufmann looked around nervously, "I ... I can not..." his voice quivering with anguish.
Runt smiled brightly, "Sure you can, just because you are a ghost doesn't mean you can't interact with me."
Kaufmann recoiled in shock, "You knew?"
Runt nodded and concentrating carefully shook Kaufmann's etherial hand. Runt didn't know how he did this but it seemed to
work.
"You will do well..." Kaufmann said happily before dematerialising into nothingness.
Runt carefully stepped out into the quiet corridor only to realise the door he had come from was no longer there.
Wondering around aimlessly for a few moments he eventually managed to orintate himself and headed for the Great Hall where
he hoped some other students might be.
The great hall had been decorated in christmas decorations with a large tree set up near the teachers table a small group
of students sat around a large and warm looking fire.
Slowly and carefully Runt walked up to the fire and took his place with some of the Gryffindorf students, none of them
seem to even acknowledge his presence there.
Suddenly Runt summersaulted onto the table and into a defensive posture his short sharp claws extended fully as he faced
a terrorfied and now very white looking boy with freckles.
"... Ron?" Runt asked searching his memory from the sorting hat ceremony.
Ron nodded slowly and carefully backing off from Runt slowly.
Runt was looking around confused he had felt something very wrong from where Ron was but it seemed to almost mask it's
presence as he had turned on Ron.
Reseathing his claws Runt climbed off the table and shook his head, "Sorry Ron..." he started to explain.
"No problem, must have Scabbers scent all over me." Ron said pointing to his top pocket where a half asleep rat lay.
Runt squinted at the Rat, there was some wrong with it but he didn't know what.
"Yeah, sorry..." Runt again said apologising.
Ron quickly ran off and sat beside another boy Runt vaugly recognised.
"What was that all about?" The other boy asked.
"I dunno Harry..." Ron replied, "Guess he just doesn't like rats."
Runt smirked as he overhead this before turning his attention to food.
Food.
Runt suddenly realised he hadn't eaten since he left Hogwarts and that must have been at least four months ago.
Happily he took a large plate and started to eat with the other students before heading up with the Gryffindorf students
to the tower and after quickly removing the layers of dust from his room drifting into a deep dreamless sleep.
The christmas holidays passed quickly and more and more students began to return to Hogwarts as the days went on.
One morning Runt found a timetable on his bed, he would have Potions and Transfiguration on mondays, Broom handling and
Care of Magical Creatures on Tuesday, A blank space all Wednesday, A blank space on thursday and spellcraft and finally
on friday it was guidance and socialising.
"Hmm... Blank spaces..." Runt said aloud before wondering down into the common room.
"Anyone else have a blank space on Wednesday or Thursday?" Runt asked the few people lounging in the common room.
They all shook thier heads.
"I have Defense against the dark arts." A first year piped up.
"And I have Divination..." A third year interjected.
"Thanks..." Said Runt slightly more confused before heading out into the school.
Following the twisty corridors he came to Mrs McGonagall's room and he rapped loudly on the door.
"Come in..." A slightly raspy voice beckoned.
Runt cautiously opened the door to see Mrs McGonagall wrapped in a warm blanket with a steaming mug of something.
"Oh... ... Runt was it not?" Mrs McGonagall asked looking directly at Runt.
"Yes mam." replied Runt lowering his head slightly.
"Well what is it?" She asked.
Runt pulled his timetable out and explained the problem to Mrs McGonagall.
"Curious... Well I believe this one here is for you to meet with the rest of the staff." She said pointing to the one on
Thursday, as she said this the words "Staff meeting" suddenly appeared in the box.
"But why have you not got Defense against the dark arts?" She asked the room, "Let's fix that..."
She took a feather quill, dipped it in a pot of ink and started to write on the time table in the slot on Wednesday.
Without warning the ink burst into blue flame, but neither the pen nor the paper caught fire.
Mrs McGonagall looked up at Runt who had taken a step back in shock before looking down at the paper.
"This is most ancient magic..." She started to explain, "Back in the times of the Vikings when the world was new and magic
was more flexible there were sages who were able to write spells into rocks and paper to use later."
"Ogham." Runt suddenly interjected, the word just popped into his head and then into his mouth.
"Quite..." Mrs McGonagall said mutely, "Runes of power and protection."
Runt didn't understand what Mrs McGonagall was saying until he looked at the timetable as well as the blue flame several
of the lines were glowing bright white in a very distinctive rune like pattern.
"Protection." Runt suddenly said again before shaking his head.
"My my, you have been studying..." Mrs McGonagall said with a smirk on her flu covered face.
"Now of course who did this and why is the next mystery but for now it's one best left unsolved." She said moping her nose
with a hanky.
"Thanks Professor McGonagall." Runt said happily leaving the room still not quite sure what was going on but slightly more
relieved.
Chapter seven
A voice in the darkness
Eventually it was the first day of term and the common room buzzed with life as did the corridors.
Runt struggled hopelessly with his robes, eventually forcing his tail painfully into the hole before picking up a bundle
of books before rushing madly to potions class.
To his delight he arrived at about the same time as everyone else, he stuck mainly with folks from Gryffindorf as they at
least didn't make fun of him.
"Want a mouse?" A voice sneered from the corridor.
A boy with spikey black hair and an evil meanicing look had shouted it.
"No thanks ... Draco?" Runt asked looking back at the boy.
Draco Malfoy laughed before darting in the door.
The boy Ron had talked to sighed and gently patted Runt on the shoulder, "Ignore him."
"... Thanks" Runt said very quietly, he felt a huge surge of power from the boy.
Runt shook off the feeling and smiled, "Harry wasn't it?"
Harry nodded and fixed his glasses.
"Thanks." Runt repeated happily.
The class filtered in to a dusty potion lab and where just sitting down when a flustered teacher barged in.
"Happy new year, now let's get to work." The teacher announced loudly heading to the front of the room.
He turned, his clock making a swishing noise as he faced the class.
"Oh a newcomer..." The teacher said looking directly at Runt.
"What is your name boy?" He asked loudly.
Runt stood up and bowed his head slightly, "My name is Runt sir."
The teacher smirked and shook his head, "Sit down Runt."
Runt sat back down on the seat his tail curling around the leg softly as he did.
"Now as your classmates should have told you I, Professer Snape am the potions teacher." Snape said angrilly.
"I wonder if you are any better versed then your fellows." Snape said thinking up a question.
"What would happen..." Snape started, "If I mixed Oxtail leaf with Raw mouse tail?" Snape asked looking at Runt.
Runt sat there mutely, he saw a hand slowly raise into the air from a girl.
A tiny whispered voice started to talk in Runt's head, "You would get combustable powder for starting fires."
Runt looked around curiously.
"Yes Mister Runt, the question is addressed to you..." Snape said angrilly.
"You ... you would get ... combustable powder..." Runt replied quietly, "For starting fires sir..."
Snape was taken aback, "Very good boy..."
"What would I need to complete a Stardust potion if I had ragweed, wolf's claw and tangleweed?" Snape asked slowly thinking
the question out himself.
This time not even the girl raised her hand.
The same quiet voice whispered again to Runt, "Drop the ragweed use oak juice instead and refined mist."
"Sir..." Runt started, "I'd use oak juice instead of the ragweed and add refined mist." He said slightly more boldly.
Snape laughed, "That would never ... ... work." He finished very unconfidant now, "How would you do this, show me."
Snape threw a bundle of ingrediants at Runt, who in a flash caught them using his tail to grab a small bottle just before
it hit the floor.
Suddenly Runt didn't feel like himself anymore, he was watching his body add the oak juice to the ragweed before slowly
pouring the refined mist ontop of them both and adding more oak juice.
He suddenly came back to his sense with a bubbling blackish potion with tiny specks of light glimmering brightly.
"Amazing..." Snape said under his breath, Runt knew only he could have heard that.
"Right class follow Runt's example and try the same." Snape demanded turning his back suddenly and heading to the front of
the classroom and his own potions.
Grumbling with anger he added as almost an after thought, "Five points to your house Mister Runt..."
Runt blushed slightly and looked at the unusal potion in his hand, he suddenly knew if he added this to some ink it would
make magical glowing ink.
The potions class was over quite quickly with few people except Professor Snape and the girl who had raised her hand
able to remake the stardust potion using Runt's method.
"That was amazing!" Ron said approaching Runt after the class.
"You showed Snape..." Harry smirked brightly.
Runt blushed more.
"You are supposed to add gold dust, dew drop from a sun flower and a dust mite..." The girl from class said.
"Yeah but Runt's was easier Hermomime." Ron said.
"I.. I don't know how I knew it." Runt said quietly.
Runt stuck with Harry, Ron and Hermimie for the transfiguration class. It was again unusal the task was quite easy to change
a stick into a bit of paper.
Runt managed first time and this time rather then not feeling himself he knew exactly what he was doing and why right
down to the subtly paw gestures to make the paper longer and stronger.
By the end of the day Runt was very confused and thus went right to bed, whilst he was lying there he thought about all that
had happened so far and came to the conclusion that it didn't make sense.
Magic normally didn't make sense, but the potions class especially made less sense then usual.
"You are right." A quiet voice whispered in his head. "It is a little odd."
Runt looked around, there was nobody there.
"It's more then odd, it's downright strange, weird even." Runt replied quietly to the room.
The air changed slightly as if it was smirking at the comment.
"So you know who I am yet?" The voice asked Runt directly.
Runt nodded, he had a good guess, "You are mostly me and a little bit of the founder of house Familiarius."
"Kudos Runt, much Kudos..." The voice said congratulating Runt on the correct answer.
"Technically," The voice continued, "I'm Jonathan, the mundane part of you that find this all really cool and I'm also
Chi-Ri-Fadori, founder of house Familiarius."
Runt smirked happily, "It's good to have you both helping."
"You are important Runt." The voice whispered quietly, "You have a great destiny."
"Oh..." Runt quietly sighed his ears drooping.
"But do not fret." The voice stressed trying to cheer Runt up, "For we are here to help you."
"Thank you both." Runt said breaking into a cute little smile before curling up and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Runt awoke refreshed and rushed out to the courtyard where broom handling was taught, the lesson didn't
go so well even with the voice from last night trying to help, Runt found it very hard to make the broomstick respond and
the only reason he wasn't falling off was because his tail was wrapped very firmly around the broom handle.
Runt was very glad when the lesson was over, he made a mental note to ask Harry how he managed to fly so well who had
spent most of the lesson performing fancy tricks in the air.
Care of magical creatures however was the easiest and best class Runt had been in, he didn't need any help since he
was a magical creature himself and found that he could talk to and more importantly understand exactly what the creature
was trying to say, today it was a metalic caterpiller which they were all supposed to catch in a beaker and avoid the
razor sharp feet and teeth. Runt simply asked the caterpiller nicely and in exchange for ensuring a large leaf was in
the beaker the caterpiller happily crawled into the glass.
Chapter eight
Protection
The next day Runt was going to go to the defense against the dark arts anyway, it wasn't on his timetable but he knew
it was the class he was supposed to have then.
Runt left his room and arrived at the class room door he could see the class inside and caught the briefest glimpse of
professor Quirrel before the door slammed shut and started glowing a very bright white with a large yellow rune
pulsating on the door.
"Danger." Runt said the word popping into his head.
"That's ... intresting." A older boy said approaching Runt, "You supposed to be in that class I guess."
Runt nodded.
"Might be a bit of a problem, not that you are missing much Quirrel stutters so much it's amazing anyone learns anything."
The boy laughed before adding, "Just go have a free day."
"I need you to sign this then." Runt said holding out a bit of paper.
The boy sighed, "Sure..."
Runt smiled and walked off back to the common room for the rest of the day.
Thursday was an important day so Runt put on his best dress robes and headed off to the staff room, he knocked on the
door and was beckoned inside.
Sitting around on comfy chairs were several memebers of staff that Runt did not recognise as well as Dumbledorf, Snape and
Professor McGonagall.
"Ah there you are..." Dumbledorf announced happily ushering Runt to a seat.
Runt smirked and sat.
"Now this meeting is to discuss how you are doing and if you are having any problems." Dumbledorf said addressing Runt.
Runt shook his head, "No sir, the founder of house Familirius Chi-Ri-Fadori has been helping me."
"Intresting..." Dumbledorf commented looking to Professor McGongall, "No problems with anything at all?"
"Oh..." Runt said quietly, "Yes sir, someone with knowledge of Ogham appears to have cast a spell on me."
Snape moved in his seat slightly at that.
"Professor McGongall has already told me what happened to the timetable, anything else odd happen?" Dumbledorf asked.
Runt nooded, "Yes sir, I tried to go to the Defense against the dark arts class anyway and a danger ruin appeared on the
door." He explained.
There was a quiet silence when Runt announced this.
"May I?" Snape asked looking at Dumbledorf.
Dumbledorf sighed, "Runt, Professor Snape is going to cast a spell on you, normally this would not be tried until at
least sixth year but in these circumstances..."
Runt nodded and clenched his paw, "I'm ready."
"Locomotor Mortis." Snape growled angrily flourishing his wand in a delicate pattern.
Runt saw a powerful flare of magic start to envlope him and wrap tightly around his legs.
"You should try and move now." Snape ordered glaring at Runt.
Carefully Runt used his claws to remove the grasping magic from his legs and walked across the room before walking back.
"Marginally impressive..." Snape muttered readying another spell.
"Albus Dumbledorf of the first order." Snape said quietly, "I require permission to use an Unforgivable curse."
Dumbledorf rubbed his beard and looked to Runt.
"Mister Runt, the choice is yours." Dumbledorf said quietly.
Runt smiled, "Let's do it."
"Imperius Commandeum!" Snape cried empowering his wand with a great deal of magic before unleashing it at Runt.
Runt saw a large whisp of light pink fog creep around him.
"Jump." Snape mutely said.
Runt looked around the room whilst the word echoed in his head, for some reason it felt like jumping would be a good idea
just leaping in the air would make him feel somehow better.
However Runt didn't jump he just looked in confusion around the room some more.
"Sir?" Runt asked looking at Snape.
"Remarkable..." Snape whispered.
"I've never seen anything quite like it." Professor McGongall concured.
Dumbledorf nodded and raised a hand, "Enogth, I think we've proved that either Runt has some protection or is just not
affected as most would be."
Professor McGongall nodded, "It appears that you will not have to participate in defense against the dark arts."
Runt grinned brightly and saw Snape smirk slightly also.
"Now as for the other matter, I've been told it's not using a wand to cast spells." A teacher Runt didn't recongised said
to Dumbledorf.
Professor Dumbledorf nodded, "Runt if you can say make the make invisible ink on this scroll visible."
"Aparecium." The voice whispered to Runt who looked at the paper intently.
Carefully Runt picked the paper up and held it with two paws, the paper glimmered slightly as ink started to almost leak
onto the paper from the air around.
"Aparecium..." Runt said quietly placing the paper down as the final bits of writing reappeared.
The teacher shifted nerveously, "I assume it is a sorcerer..."
Dumbledorf sighed and glared at the teacher, "He is called Runt and even I am not sure as to the exact nature of his power."
The teacher turned very white and seemed to shrink somewhat into the seat, "But ... from this demonstration he is able to
externalise magic."
"True..." Dumbledorf admitted backing down slightly.
"However, he appears to have control." Professor McGongall noted.
"He is also able to improvise and improve on existing magic." Snape added.
Dumbledorf stared at Runt and he felt a familiar chill passing into him, Runt could see lines of power passing into him
and looking over his very being.
Runt even thought about resisting, the chilling waves invading his body but he simply whimpered slightly gripped his paw
tightly and allowed the spell to finish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be concluded...
/=====================================\/====-==========\/=======================================\
| 21:58 ||The Fitfh house|| 14th July 2002 |
\=====================================/\=====-=========/\=======================================/
Dedicated to Fangkit for lots of different reasons.
Special thanks to:
Oh just everyone I know really. Try http://www.livejournal.com/users/fionacat/friends to find them all.
All on #Toonplay, #Warnercafe and #Watertower and #UK and #NorthUKFurs
Everyone in the West Corner of the Park
Acmemouse, OkkayWeener, NakkoSqrl, rhia, Mintaka, Davidmouse, Taperlass, P3, Chilly,
Tony_Fox and NeuCoyote as well as anyone else from #Bohemia (*evilme* for forgetting)
just for being cool and such.