Author: Sirius White
Author email: siriuswhite@schnoogle.com
Category: Romance/Adventure/Action/Mystery
Keywords: Artio Sperios, Patrick, Anaras, Captain Dolphin, Lusitania
Spoilers: All the four books and QTTA and FB.
Rating: PG
Summary: Artio is a girl who goes to a magical school, like Hogwarts. She is going for the first year and very strange things happen. Patrick is a boy who people don't like. Why?
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned By JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Dedicated to my Beta-Readers Jo and Trinity Black.
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Lusitania
BY S I R I U S W H I T E
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SIXTH CHAPTER
OWLS, DARK SPELLS AND NEW PLACES
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"So you came from Lusitania!" Snape asked Artio "Do they teach Dark Magic still? It was a great school some years ago, now I don't know if they are teaching the same things that gave them the title "The Darkest School". Do they?"
Artio didn't know what to say. "Darkest School??" she was very surprised. "Is Lusitania a school where Dark Magic is taught?" she thought.
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"I don't think so… do you, father?" Artio said, after thinking for a while about the answer, and hating Snape before he even talked to her.
"No, I don't also think so…" Archibald turned to Snape "I think that the Portuguese ministry of Magic knew about the teaching of Dark Magic in Lusitania and ordered them to stop it…"
"I see… Durmstrang is now the best in that subject," Snape said, grinning, "No one is perfect! See you at Hogwarts." he said to Artio, and turned to Knockturn Alley.
"Artio, maybe he seemed a bit strange" began Mr. Sperios "but he is a good person, it was he who helped me to contact Albus Dumbledore when I was doing that report about the schools… you know… and maybe he influenced in Dumbledore's decision in accepting you to Hogwarts…"
"I must say I didn't like him…" Artio said.
"I hope you change your opinion about him… how many more other books do you have to buy?"
"Only a few more…"
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Cynthia was going to the first year girls' dormitory, after having dinner, when she heard a voice "Good evening everyone! Please sit down and listen to me." It was Captain Dolphin, who was sat in the Professors table, with Professor Shayra Stormd'sky, and the prefects.
Cynthia went back to the chair she had sat on during dinner, sat down again, and prepared to listen him.
"As you should know, we are arriving at the Lusitania Magical Academy of Sorcery and Magecraft in a few hours." Everyone started to talk about it. "Finally", "Cool"…
"Please…" Captain Dolphin tried to be heard above the noise. "Please shut up and listen to me" they seemed to obey, and some shut up.
"Thank you… As I was saying we are arriving at the academy soon and, I presume you already know this, but I have to tell you some important things so that first years will learn them and the others will remember, about classes and some other things…"
"In the grounds you will have Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Your Professor of Herbology will be Professor Stormd'sky" he looked to his right side, where she was sitting.
"Care of Magical Creatures is taught by Professor Caroline Zelt, Captain of the Seagull house. In the Quidditch fields you'll learn how to fly, with Professor Sabrina Pitinus, Captain of the Mermaid house. Inside the Academy, you'll have the other six classes. History of Magic is taught by Professor Justin Tintacle, Captain of the Octopus house, on the second floor. On the third floor you'll have Transfiguration, with Professor Damarion Slibel, Captain of the Crab house. In the dungeons you'll learn Charms, taught by the Captain of the Shark house, Professor Josh Darkwater. The Potions classroom is on the fourth floor and will be taught by Professor Langueldia Barbutinus, Captain of the Whale house. Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taught by Professor Sinushoy Habecula, from the Shark house, on the sixth floor. Finally, on the seventh floor I will teach Astronomy. Some of you know also the following rules, but others don't, so I will repeat them, as I do every year."
"Students aren't allowed to go to the fifth floor. You should not try to go to that floor: there are stairs between the fourth and the sixth floors that don't allow students and some Professors to go to the fifth floor. Don't try to break the spell on the stairs…"
"To visit the restricted section of the Library students must get permission from the Professor who is directly related to the subject which the book is on. If the book the student wants isn't related to any class in special, the authorization must be given by the captain of your house, which in your case, is me."
"I think you should go put your things in your bags because we'll arrive in a few hours. See you then." He sat down at the Professors' table, and many students started to stand up and go to the bedrooms to put their things in their bags, and that was what Cynthia did too.
Arriving at the girls' room, before the first year girls' bedroom, she listened some third year girls talking:
"In the other years, we took more time in the ship: we normally sleep three nights here, and this year we arrive before going to bed, and during the night, which is even more strange… why have they decided to arrive during night?"
"Yeah… it is, indeed, strange, and odd …"
"Maybe they don't want us to arrive when it is day, maybe someone is watching us, you know that my father told me about the Dark Mark during the Quidditch World Cup in the last month."
"No, I don't think so. The academy is property of the Portuguese Ministry of Magic… the academy can't be under surveillance by the Dark Side…"
"Yeah, you are right… well, we will have to wait and see."
Cynthia listened their conversation and started to think about the problem by herself. "If they know how they arrived in the previous years and it wasn't ever like this, why do we arrive faster than expected, and also during the night?"
Cynthia couldn't explain anything, so she started to put her stuff in her bag, preparing to arrive at a new place, where she had never been, and where she would be for the next six years.
There was an owl standing at the window, knocking with its beak, so Cynthia would hear it. Cynthia opened the window; the owl put the letter in her hands, and flew away. Cynthia couldn't see it because it was as dark night…
Dear Cynthia,I wrote this quite quickly, because my father and I are going to Diagon Alley to buy my stuff for Hogwarts.
He explained me some things to me and I understood him, and how he feels: it was my mother who broke up with him. But as I haven't much time, I will explain that to you in the next owl…
My father and I are living in a Muggle area because he's doing some research for his office… I've started to like living here…
And you? How are you? I hope you're fine… tell me how is Carldonne, yourself and Captain Dolphin.
Have you talked to Jeremy? What did he say? Tell me everything. I hope my father's owl arrives there soon, although I know it is quite far.
Kisses,
Artio
Cynthia hadn't time to write back to Artio: she had to go to the Dolphins' common room and then to the academy, and additionally, she didn't have her own owl…
She promised herself she would write later, in her bedroom, at the academy.
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Artio arrived home, after buying her things at Diagon Alley, and went to have dinner.
As she was too tired, she went to bed nearly straight away after dining.
There was there also an owl for her, with grey feathers, and yellow eyes.
Dear Artio!How are you? And dad? I hope you are fine.
I haven't told you anything about mum and dad's problems. I know Imade a mistake. I'm sorry. I should have told you, I know, but now I can't change the past…
I know you are feeling very angry with me, and you are right, I was very stupid.
I know you wouldn't like to live with dad, but I think he will explain you such things that will make you reconsider; if you don't want to live there with him, tell me and you can come to live with me and Tuverine.
I am currently researching werewolves, in the biggest Wizarding Library of the world, in Australia.
Tell me how things are going there, about everything you want. I'll keep your secrets if you make me your own diary.
Love,
Your guardian angel, diary, and brother Rudolph
Artio was very happy, as her brother had finally sent her an owl. She was, indeed, angry about his attitude, but what could he do now? She had to understand him too; their parents didn't let him tell her anything… so she decided to write back to him:
Hello my lovely "guardian angel, diary, and brother" Rudolph!I am very happy for you because you are doing what you really want to. How is Tuverine? I hope you both are fine.
I must tell you that dad and I are living happily, in a Muggle area, in London… it's because of research he is doing for the Office.
He explained many things to me, about him and mum, and now I know it was better for them to divorce than to continue living together without love. I think you knew it.
Be sure, you'll become my diary when I need to talk!
Love,
Artio
She sent the owl back to her brother, dressed in her pyjamas, and lay down in bed. The next day would be her first time at Hogwarts, and she needed to sleep.
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Cynthia was in the Dolphin common room, as were many other students. They'd already put their things in their bags, and prepared to listen to Captain Dolphin's orders, wanting their arrival to take as long as possible.
"Is everyone ready?" the Captain said, sitting in the same armchair he had been sitting in some minutes ago, with Professor Shayra and the prefects.
Some students came from the dormitories.
"Very well." He began, "As decided in the Wizarding International Conference, classes of all the Wizarding schools in the world, particular or public, must begin on September first. Usually, the Lusitania Ship arrives to the academy on the morning of that day, but this year we increased the velocity because we have some things to do, things which can't be done here on the ship. I know some of you have asked about this, and so here is the answer."
Cynthia thought "Oh, finally! There's the answer!" and instantly questioned herself "But what do they have to do there?"
"First years don't know anything about the school, or at least they don't know everything… The others should go." everyone started talking. "First years please stay, the others should go out, so it'll be less confusing. Professor Shayra will go with you. Good luck."
Some people of the first year started to protest "I don't agree with this. We should all have the same rights!" Cynthia heard the others' comments, but didn't say anything.
As the others were gone, Captain Dolphin continued.
"Welcome, first years, to many new things: a new life, a new home, a new house, new Professors, new friends, new family! This year we have a lot of girls in the Dolphin house – fifteen, we had sixteen, but one has left – and only five boys. But that doesn't matter…"
Cynthia nodded that there were only nine girls and two boys right there, how did he say that?"
"Ah, you should be asking… fifteen girls and five boys? I only see eleven of them! Yes, there are six girls and three boys that come from Brazil. as you should know, this school also accepts students from Brazil, because they also speak Portuguese… I think you know how the points system works… no?"
A brown haired boy, the one who was with Jeremy in Laxus, said, "Um… no… can you explain me, Professor?"
"Sure. No one knows before someone tells him, right?" he smiled "You win – or lose – points as you do good or bad things. Professors will give you points if you do good things, and will take them from you if you do bad things. Some examples of good things… to help others doing some difficult homework, participating in the classes… bad things: to turn your friend in a mouse, to be out of bedrooms during the night… if you do really bad things you will receive a punishment, which I won't give any example because I think you won't do anything badly, do you?" he didn't wait for the answer, "the points will go to you or to your own house. The house that achieves the greatest amount of points will be the winner of the inter-house cup that year. Note that the Dolphin house won the inter-house competition two years ago, and the Seagull house won last year. I hope you can do it. As we know some of you are very smart and want to study several things, and you can trade your points into things you want. You must bear in your mind that you can only trade the points you won for your house. If you use those points, they won't count to the inter-house cup. Do you understand? You will help to earn points for your house, but the cup is also between each of you: the points you earned can be turned into other things."
"Professor," a black, long and curly haired girl interrupted, "What kind of things can we buy with our points?"
"Good question!" he said, "You can buy, as you said, several things, and with several points: you can have access to books in the restricted section of our Library, you must note that the number of points to each one isn't equal, and you have to ask for a written parchment to the Professor who is directly related to the book you want to consult. As we also know that you want to have your own money to buy several things, you can use points to buy real money. I think this isn't the most usual thing to do, but… Ah! You can also buy points from other people. For example… you, what's your name?" he asked to the girl who made the question.
"Sarah Wolf".
"For example, Miss Wolf would buy some points owned by Miss Tropelt" as he said this, he looked to Cynthia and she heard a voice inside her head I want to talk with you privately. Find me in the academy tomorrow morning. "They would decide how many points she would sell, and how much each point would cost. Then, those points would be added to Miss Wolf's points account. You can't buy points from the other houses' students, as they can't buy yours."
"But if we use our own points, our house will lose them… I think we can't buy everything we want because if we do, our house won't win the inter-house cup" a little boy, Jeremy's friend, said this.
"Yes, that's true," Captain Dolphin agreed, "You can use your own points but you must remember you are part of a great team, that also need you points to win the inter-house cup… you shall only use your points for important things. Now I am going to introduce the prefects of the Dolphin house to you. This is Francesca Timpsy, of the fourth year," a blonde haired, brown eyed, tall girl said hello, "n her right you have John Brenkinsun, of the fifth year," a red haired, yellow eyed, thin boy nodded, "and finally Maya Harrington, who is in the sixth year," a brown eyed, long black haired girl nodded too. "They are the Dolphin house prefects this year, and will help you with everything you need, just ask them. Now I am going to ask you to introduce yourselves, so we will know your names." He looked to his right, and the students started to introduce themselves.
Cynthia thought that was a good idea… she only knew Ariane, Artio and the two boys, Jeremy and his friend, Walter; that'd be a good way to know the others' names.
"Hum… er… I am Madeleine Pustrin, I am from Portugal, and I'm fourteen-"
"Okay, I know… you "like Transfiguration, although you've never been in that class, right?" asked Captain Dolphin, jokingly, and the girl replied a smiling yes.
"I… my name is Ariane Silbus, I am from Portug-" she was interrupted by Captain Dolphin.
"We know everyone here is from Portugal: the Brazilian students haven't arrived yet… you don't need to say that."
"Oh, well, I think everyone here is fourteen too… I like all kinds of animals, well… okay, all kinds, and so I think I'll like Care of Magical Creatures class."
Cynthia thought Ariane would be a good friend: they had some interests in common, and Cynthia didn't know she liked animals…
Two more girls presented themselves: Sarah Wolf, a girl with long black curly hair; and Katie Turner, who had brown hair.
Now it was Cynthia's turn. She was a bit nervous, although there was no reason for that.
"I am Cynthia Tropelt and I think I'll like Care of Magical Creatures, because I also like animals, like Ariane" she looked at her, as Ariane smiled.
"Hi everyone!" said a blonde haired, brown eyed girl who seemed to be funny, and sociable "I am Amanda Finn, and I'm sure I will love to learn Defense against the Dark Arts, because my parents were murdered by a Death Eater and I want revenge!"
The others looked at her, as if she was crazy… Revenge? What could she do?
Three more girls introduced themselves: Susan Amparo, Marysia Anderson and Natasha Bizecuit.
"Hi I am Jeremy Craig, and I will love Potions, because I heard that Professor Barbutinus is beautiful," everyone but Cynthia laughed. She was angry with him. And he shouldn't have said that about the Potions Professor. But Captain Dolphin laughed too, if anything like that was said…
"Haha… I… Ha… my name is Walter Calysto and, as I like the past and the origins of witchcraft, I'm sure I will like History of Magic…"
"Okay," Captain Dolphin began, "Now you've introduced yourselves, let's go to the academy!"
The students grinned happily, and followed the prefects to the door of the Dolphin Common Room.
Cynthia was going out, like the others, when Captain Dolphin called her.
"Yes?"
"Cynthia, I need to talk to you. It's urgent."
"Okay. What is it about?" she replied, curiously
"Cynthia, the reason because we came here faster is Artio. And I need some help from you."
"What happened to her? Is she back at the academy?" Cynthia was curious and had a feeling between happiness for Artio's possible return, and sadness for the possibility that something might have happened to her.
"No. I think you know everything that happened to her, right?"
"Yes." She quickly remembered about everything: Patrick that was in fact Jeremy, Carldonne, Anaras, and the shop…
"You know about that Patrick Spell… there is a boy, Jeremy Craig, you saw it a few instants ago when he introduced himself to the others, he was the target of the spell, and he gave Artio a drink. Now, the person who cast the spell can control Artio until someone casts a kind of counter spell."
"But she told me she was fine, when she was in the Hospital wing. She thought you did something and that everything was right…"
"I didn't ever say she was all right, did I?"
"Well," Cynthia didn't know: she hadn't been there when Artio was in the Infirmary, and so she didn't know what Captain Dolphin had said… that time she didn't even know Artio, "I don't know, she didn't tell me that you'd said that, but she thought you did."
"She misunderstood." Said Captain Dolphin "We just used a potion so that she wouldn't be affected in a short term period of time. We didn't have the sufficient means to cast the counter spell here in the Ship, and we increased the velocity so that we would arrive at the academy faster…"
"I understand, but she is no longer here. Why didn't you keep the to the normal speed?" Cynthia didn't find any reason for that.
"You're right. But, although she isn't here, there is another person that was affected by the spell."
"Who?" Cynthia didn't mind someone more could be affected.
"Jeremy, the boy who was the target of the Controlatus spell."
"But," Cynthia didn't understand, "Wasn't it the Patrick spell?"
"Patrick was a name that he said, under the spell, and I used it for you to understand. I know I lied to Artio, I didn't tell her the whole truth about it, but she shouldn't know. She must not know anything, Cynthia. Please don't tell her anything because if you do, the counter spell won't work."
"And what can I do?" Cynthia remembered about Jeremy and his attitudes and she noticed that he was under the spell, that the words he said earlier in the morning weren't from him: he couldn't say that, and she felt bad for being angry with him.
"Captain Dolphin," a blonde haired, brown eyed girl called, "We are all waiting for you to go to the academy. Some students are protesting: it is very cold outside" She was a prefect, Francesca Timpsy, of the fourth year.
"Okay, let's go," he said, and Francesca went.
"I heard your voice when you were talking about the points." Cynthia said to Captain Dolphin.
"I know. So, do what I told you. Find me in my Office before 6 o'clock. Now, we must go."
They went outside. Cynthia went first and ran to join the others. It was really cold. That was the tenth island of the Azores archipelago, the one that wizards controlled. Cynthia saw the name, written in a piece of wood, in bold, old and capital letters. It was called Sitnalta.
The sea wasn't calm at all. The wind was making high waves, and even the moon couldn't be seen because of the clouds.
There was also a fog patch that didn't allow them to see the Lusitania Castle until they walked a few metres.
It was a high castle with lots of towers, some higher than others. The highest was in the centre of the Castle. The students walked up to a big wooden door that was closed.
Cynthia stayed there, as the others, and when she looked to the place where the Lusitania ship was, she saw two similar ships.
She thought she was crazy, but noticed she wasn't because the students came from the other ship, and when they arrived near the Portuguese ones, Cynthia knew what that was: the Ship that came from Brazil; that unmistakable Brazilian accent told them everything…
A small and old woman opened the wooden door behind them.
"Good evening pupils!" she said, "Welcome to Lusitania Magical Academy of Sorcery and Magecraft! Come in, please, follow me."
The Brazilian Students quickly joined the others and they all became one group.
Captain Dolphin followed them in the corridor, but went through a door on the left, and Cynthia couldn't see him anymore. She tried to get nearer Ariane, the girl who she had talked to.
They followed the woman for a long corridor and turned to the left, as Captain Dolphin did, to the Common Eating Room.
As she turned and passed through the door, she saw Captain Dolphin, who was sat down at the Professors' table. There were two women and three men, including Captain Dolphin and Professor Stormd'sky.
The Room was full of students. It was quite different to the Eating Rooms on the Ship: the room on the ship was much bigger and there were students from all the seven houses. The non-first years all sat there, at their own house table.
"Welcome, new Dolphins!" said Captain Dolphin, "Please sit down at the Dolphin house table. I ask you to have patience because we must wait for some first year students from the other three houses of the academy; Whale, Octopus and Mermaid."
The first year Dolphins sat down in silence, on one side of the table. Students of every year sat at that table. Cynthia tried to sit near Ariane, but as she had other girls sitting next to her, she had to sit near Sarah Wolf and a Brazilian girl, Monica Banana, who was very sympathetic too, but Cynthia would only notice that after the supper.
Some minutes after everyone was seated, the noise started again in the corridor.
That woman opened the door of the common room one more time, and some other first years entered.
"Welcome new Whales!" said a tall women who wore glasses "Please sit down in the Whale house table…" she said almost the same thing as Captain Dolphin.
Similarly, the first years of the Mermaid house came to the Common Room, as did the Octopus after.
When everyone was ready, the ceremony began.
The music started playing by itself, and the ghosts entered through the walls, dancing, and each one over his house table.
The Dolphin's ghost was the fattest, and he almost couldn't dance…
They danced and sang for a while. Cynthia grinned a lot, Monica was very funny and she was ever joking about what the ghosts were doing…
"Very well," said a man, dressed in a black cloak, who had a scar down his left eye, "Welcome to a new year in Lusitania Academy. I think you know how the points work, don't you?"
"Yes, we know." Said the whole room.
"Okay, I hope you use your points the best you can." He grinned, "We've explained to you who are the teachers of all the classes, and where the classrooms are. Now I think you shall know something more about each Professor." He paused for a second; looked at some parchment he had on the table, and continued, "I am Professor Darkwater, I'm captain of he Shark house," many voices and applauds were heard from the Shark table, "thank you. I also teach Charms, I'm member of the Wizard Beasts Committee, and my hobbies are to play high competition wizard chess, reading and… well, that's it." He sat down, and a beautiful woman stood up in the same instant.
"My name is Langueldia Barbutinus, I teach Potions and I am head of the Whale house. I like to play Quidditch when I have free time and I love to chat with my students…" as she sat down, Professor Shayra Stormd'sky sat up and told them what she usually did: teaching, teaching and teaching. Cynthia thought, "How boring is her life!"
This time, eight more Professors entered from a door in the right. Cynthia thought they were late but then she noticed she was wrong.
They simply sat down, as the other teachers presented themselves, only the ones who captain the other six houses. The late ones simply were there, saying nothing
At the end they asked if everyone had questions. No one did.
The prefects of each house asked the students to go to the Common Rooms, and Dolphins followed them accordingly.
They walked for a while, but Cynthia was feeling tired, and didn't pay attention to the corridors or the stairs either. She simply followed the others.
When she arrived to the first year girls' dormitory she lay down in her bed, saying "Good Night" to the other girls, and fell asleep.
The next day would be a difficult one…
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Artio wake up too early, it was six o'clock, but stayed in her bed thinking about everything that helped her, until her father called her. After having bath, dressing, brushing her teeth, she went to the kitchen, where her father was still having breakfast.
"How did you sleep?" he asked.
"Quite well, I didn't have nightmares." Artio replied, "When are we leaving?"
He looked to his Muggle watch and said, "We are late. Let's go!"
They took Artio's things and went to London. Her father told her about the Hogwarts Express, but that year she wouldn't be going in it: he explained that the Headmaster of the school, Professor Dumbledore, asked him to go to Hogsmeade with Artio using the Floo Powder Network.
They went to the Diagon Alley and used a fireplace of an Archibald's friend.
In one minute, they were in Hogsmeade. It was early, Artio thought, but maybe that was what they had deliberated.
"Artio," said Mr. Sperios when they were in the Hogwarts gate, "You will go to the big castle in the front, and then to a big man, who is supposed to be Hagrid." She felt a bit afraid, but entered the gate and followed him to the castle. Her father was gone, he had apparated right at the end of the street.
The big man didn't say a word during the walk down the journey, he simply walked to the castle, followed by her, as if no one was going with him. Artio didn't like him very much: it seemed he had no feelings.
When they entered the castle, Hagrid turned to her and said in a strong voice "Welcome to Hogwarts, Artio Sperios!" and talking to no one he said, "My mission is accomplished, I said what I was asked to, even if I don't like you. It's your entire fault! I hope you stay here for the least time. You are not welcome."
Artio was confused. What had she done? What was her fault? She didn't understand why the big man hated her, and couldn't say one word.
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Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter: Wolf Of Solitude, Wormtail, Belladona Patil and Aline Carneiro!
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Lusitania is at AstronomyTower, part of the FictionAlley community. Join us here; see Art at Lusitania Website and post reviews here.
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