Chapter 4
Animal Mastery


Altashir was a bit puzzled. He knew exactly how much power it would take to resurrect Harry. Even so, it took more to bring Harry back from the dead. Could it be that the low level of magic in this world caused some of his power to go astray?

Altashir went down to the Ravenclaw common room. Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin, and Mandy Brocklehurst were reading by the fireplace when Altashir walked in.

Hey Rubicant, Lisa said as she noticed Altashir, we saw you at the Quidditch game yesterday.

Altashir looked at her. You did? he asked. I'm sorry, it wont happen again.

No need to be sorry, Terry told him.

Mandy added, you were lucky you didn't catch the Snitch. Didn't you see what it did to Harry Potter?

It killed him! Lisa blurted. The professors found traces of a highly concentrated poison on the Snitch. If you'd have caught it, you'd be dead now!

Poison.... on the... Golden Snitch? Altashir asked, feigning shock and dismay. Who could do such a thing?

We think it might be You-Know-Who, Terry told him, or someone working for him.

Who is I-Don't-Know-Who? Altashir asked. The three just stared at him.

Are you from a Muggle family, or something? Mandy asked their uninformed fellow Ravenclaw.

A what? Altashir returned. A muggle was the last thing anyone would accuse his family of being, if they only knew.

A Muggle, Mandy repeated. It's a non-magic person.

I come from a family of miners, Altashir answered truthfully. My father was a miner, my grandfather was a miner, I was being taught to be a miner. It's been the family business for at least fifty generations of the Danusty family. As Altashir spoke, the three Ravenclaws could feel the pride Altashir was radiating from his family heritage. So who is I-Don't-Know-Who? he asked them again.

The three Ravenclaws told Altashir all about Voldemort, how Harry Potter was the Boy Who Lived, and everything else they knew.

So that's the dark wizard's name, Altashir thought aloud when the three finished explaining.

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Sun Wolf was wandering about the castle, in his prismatic cloak. Exercising his mastery of Assimilance, he approached the third floor corridor undetected. Passing through the door, he encountered Fluffy for the first time. Fluffy raised his three heads, and growled at Sun Wolf. Having relied on one Grand Master discipline to get here, Sun Wolf immediately used another: Animal Mastery. To someone who didn't know the secrets of the Kai, Sun Wolf would have looked insane to be trying this. But Sun Wolf could talk to animals with Animal Mastery.

Sun Wolf barked as Fluffy started his attack. Fluffy obeyed. As Fluffy sat down, a light went on in Sun Wolf's head. I will return, Sun Wolf told Fluffy. When I do, I will have a job for you.

Sun Wolf left the corridor unseen, and found his way to the owlry. After giving the owls some instructions, he returned to the third floor corridor.

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Harry was playing Wizard's Chess with Ron, very carefully. He was still wary from his experience with Samor. As Ron checkmated Harry, hundreds of owls flew into the Great Hall.

Mail's a bit early, isn't it? Harry remarked as the owls all dived at him, screeching.

Ron saw the owls dive. RUN FOR IT! he cried.

Both Gryffindors sprang from their table, and bolted for the door. As the pursuing owls clawed at Harry's back, Harry yelled If this is going to happen every time I lose a board game, I'm giving them up right now!

Harry and Ron scrambled up the stairs to get to the Gryffindor tower, but they only got to the third floor. Another flock of owls cut them off, forcing them towards the third floor corridor. Having forced them to the door, they flew off as suddenly as they attacked. Just as Ron and Harry started to relax, the door opened. Fluffy was waiting for them.

They couldn't see Sun Wolf as he sat upon Fluffy like a knight upon a steed, because he was still utilizing Assimilance. Harry and Ron tried to close the door, but Sun Wolf was holding it open with his mindforce. Sun Wolf was too strong for them to close it.

barked Sun Wolf. Fluffy rushed towards Harry and Ron, who were already scrambling down the stairs. In their haste, Harry missed a step, and tumbled down the stairs. As Harry picked himself up off the floor, he saw Fluffy leap over Ron in pursuit of the unfortunate wizard-in-training.

What have I done to deserve this? Harry puffed as he bolted down another hall.

Walk in the halls, Potter! screamed Professor McGonagall, as Harry ran through the halls. Fifty points from Gryffindor! She quickly changed her mind about the deduction, when she saw the cute little puppy following him home'.

Professor McGonagall tried to transfigure Fluffy into a mouse, but Sun Wolf simply used the Brotherhood spell , causing the transfiguration to hit McGonagall instead.

Harry ran out the gates of the castle, and headed for Hagrid's place. He could see it in the distance. 90 yards to go... 70 yards... 40... 10 more yards, and Harry would be safe. Harry screamed for a moments as three sets of teeth stabbed into his body.

Hagrid ran out to investigate the noise. he screamed when he saw Fluffy working at its new screaming chew toy. It wasn't screaming for long, though. Hagrid wasn't sure which was worse: The screaming, or the sudden silence. Hagrid shed a tear as he decided the silence was worse. The silence that could only mean one thing: The Boy Who Lived, was dead.

Again!