Okay everyone, really long chapter here, no fighting or death-eater-ass-
kicking, sorry.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed
Chapter 9
Harry waited in the meeting room, it was just after breakfast and his group should be arriving shortly, twelve packed backpacks were lying around against the walls, ready to go, finally Ron and Hermione came in.
"Hey Harry, what's up today?" Harry gave him a fiendish grin.
"Fun and games fun and games, team work practice!" Ron groaned and slumped into a chair.
"Honestly Harry, team work with Malfoy? Could I just go to hell instead?"
"Ron! If we're going to be traveling in the wilderness for weeks we'll need to be able to get along." Hermione told him, what sort of games?"
"Get along with that prat?" Ron asked, shocked, "have you lost your mind?"
"Enough, you will have to get along semi-well, just please put the rivalries aside for the trip?" Harry asked, well it wasn't really as if they had much of a choice, but he didn't feel like giving orders. The others slowly trickled in over the next few minutes, well eleven of them, Malfoy managed to be five minutes late. Harry turned his hair orange with a wordless wandless spell.
"Potter what the bloody hell?" He roared, furious. The others looked shocked at his language.
"Nice look Malfoy, suits you," Ron said sarcastically, Draco turned on him furious, but Harry spoke up quickly.
"Language Draco, watch it or your soap might start trying to wash your mouth out. Please try to get here faster." The orange hair vanished. Draco gave him a murderous glare.
"Listen Potter I don't have to take any orders-"
"Yes you do, and you will, and before you even start your father agreed completely." Harry said calmly. Harry looked to the others; "Today we'll be doing some team building exercises."
"What do you think we are first years? Team building exercises?" Malfoy complained, sneering. Harry looked him right in the eye, his emerald eyes becoming painfully intense, sending power out through that gaze until Malfoy couldn't blink, and couldn't look away, Harry finally turned his fiery green gaze tot he others as well as he spoke. When Harry spoke his voice was soft and dangerous, perfectly audible in the silent room.
"You all come from different houses and different backgrounds. You will be living together for three weeks, and you will have to learn to work together. Your survival may well depend on it. The elves will expect it, and will look at your ability to work as a group to understand each of you." He looked around for a moment, "and besides, it will be fun and good training, come on, we're going outside." The group followed him out.
Outside Harry led them to an empty space on the grounds, since almost everyone had classes after lunch no one was there. He set up a platform and told them to stand in two lines, facing eachother, before it.
"This is called the fall, one person falls backward off the platform, the others catch then, without magic. Now lets see, who wants to be the first person to fall?" No one volunteered, giving him and the platform and each other wary looks.
"It's not like we're ever going to need to do this." Malfoy muttered to himself.
"Thank you for volunteering Draco, you're on, just climb up on the platform."
"Now all of you, line up, yes that it, put your arms out straight in front of you." They all did so, "now grip the arms of the people across form you above the wrists and below the elbows." They all did so. "Now Draco, stand with your back to the group on the edge of the platform. You're going to fall backward, don't bend you knees, waist, or arms, keep yourself stiff as a board and just fall, the rest of you catch him on your arms. Then those of you closest to the platform lower your arms so he can get up." He looked at them all for a seconds to make sure they understood. "Ready? Fall."
Draco slowly leaned backwards and fall, as he did he began to bend his knees. A wave of Harry's wand righted him again.
"No bending you knees, keep you body straight." Harry said firmly. Draco threw him a glare and tried again, this time he managed it and the group caught him easily.
** After lunch Harry called them all outside again. It was still very warm out, but the trees had started to change color a bit, fall was coming. They would be leaving in two days; they gathered around him eagerly, the morning had been fun with six different team-building exercises. Harry now had a grip on who worked well with who and those who needed to forget petty hatreds, Ron being the main one, even Draco hadn't been his usual nasty self that morning.
"Okay this afternoon we'll be playing a team game. Now while the objective is to win I want you to also keep a close eye on all your teammates and note their strengths and weaknesses. Strategists, quick runners, quick planners, organizers, leaders, those who dodge about, those who prefer brute strength, clumsiness, carelessness, understanding of a strong defense or attack plan, hand-to-eye coordination, aggressiveness, teamwork, and try to pick out some of your opponents abilities as well." They all nodded, them Carol spoke up.
"What are we playing?" She asked.
"Ultimate Frisbee. A muggle game we'll play on the Quidditch pitch with," he held up a neon orange Frisbee, "this." He went on to carefully explain the rules as they walked out onto the Quidditch pitch, choosing the sandy areas for the goals.
"Now, teams, I'll try to balance them out evenly according to how you did this morning. Team 1: Draco, Parvarti, Carol, Susan, Dawn, and Ron." There were a few groans and Ron got a disgusted expression on his face at the thought of being on Malfoy's team, he gave Harry a annoyed and pleading look, which Harry didn't see. "Team 2: Blaise, Hermione, Seamus, Martha, Danton, and Jay."
As the teams went to their sides of the field Harry watched carefully at how they started off, who was where. He knew that team one could defeat the other with no trouble, but only if they got along. After all they had Draco and Carol, who were two of the more cunning Slytherins, Ron, the expert strategist, at least in chess and probably elsewhere as well once he knew everyone's abilities as well as he knew what piece could move where in chess. But Ron couldn't improvise to meet each person's abilities, and he couldn't see depth in anyone, Dawn and Parvarti both could, and Susan was good at being in the right place at the right time, though only on defense, she couldn't go offensive at all really, unless pissed, and she was a very fast runner.
Harry watched, team two threw off to team one, and it went downhill from there. Ron steadfastly refused to pass to Draco, despite Draco being open and in a good position when Ron had the Frisbee. The teams weren't being coordinated and unified, each person breaking off. Hermione and Ron couldn't seem to work well against each other either, being to used to working together. Harry also noticed that Carol and Blaise had trouble working against each other since they were old friends, apparently they were related. And Jay and Susan didn't have any clue how to throw a Frisbee.
Harry watched grimly until Ron and Draco got into a shouting match, then he stepped in.
"Remember, you're supposed to be find each other's strengths, and using them, and what do you do? Get into a fight because someone dropped a Frisbee?" He said angrily.
"It was a perfect throw and he dropped it purposely!" Ron snarled.
"It was a perfect throw, if you were throwing at Hagrid's Hut, your aim was way off, you tilted the Frisbee away from him as you threw it, your threw it too high, and it was only in his general direction, not to him. I don't know what you were trying but it certainly wasn't to pass the Frisbee. And he didn't drop it, he never caught it in the first place." Before Ron could start shouting at him Harry continued, "Draco you weren't paying attention to where the Frisbee was, you were watching everyone else, a good idea if you're trying to build a plan but you didn't notice you were open, and therefore could expect to have it thrown to you. Secondly when you went for the Frisbee you didn't watch it closely, you just ran to where you expected it to be, keep an eye on it." He said, Draco wrinkled his nose, annoyed, but he didn't protest.
"Go gather with your team at your goal and make a plan. You lot are not showing even the slightest effort at teamwork yet, utilize each other's strengths. Oh and quit arguing about everything! Talk like civilized people; you're trying to get the Frisbee into the goal! You're not trying to beat any one person, or show off," brief glance around here, "forget any rivalries you may have, your all on the same team and will be for the next few weeks, work together, cheer each other on," Ron looked disgusted "quit being so tense and have some fun." He told them, keeping the edge off his voice, though the annoyance came through quiet clearly.
By evening Harry was so pissed that when he sent them inside the anger in his voice was quiet detectable. Team 2 had managed fine, and had won by two goals; the score had been one to three. Team one had argued continuously, had no organized plan, very little sharing of ideas, and no leader. Harry was so furious with Ron he though he might just hit him, with his battle- axe, which fortunately for Ron was at the Palace. Ron had not listened anyone else's ideas, deciding that since he was a master chess player he should decide all their tactics. He'd taken a little advice, but ignored the Slytherins with insults and disgust. Carol and Draco were enraged, but holding their anger back very well.
The others on team one had looked to Parvarti or Draco for leadership, and both had done a good job at hearing everyone's opinions and ideas, and trying them. Ron hadn't listened, even when Draco put forth an excellent plan he and Parvarti had come up with. In fact Ron had insult Parvarti for listening to a Slytherin. Harry seriously considered pulling Ron off the trip, but decided against it. Ron needed to change and perhaps this trip would do just that.
As he watched them walk inside Harry strolled over to Diablo, who was standing near the edge of the cliff, looking off into the water. Harry paused, the sun's reflection on the water blinding him briefly.
The vision was a different one; an elf dressed in greens, browns, and gold was running through the woods. She was breathing heavily and looked exhausted, blood ran from a gash on her leg. She carried a quiver of arrows, a bow, and a short sword suddenly she turned, gold hair flying about her, and her eyes went wide with terror, she threw an arm up over her face, flames blasted across his view. Then the lake was back before him, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Harry stood for a few moments, absently stroking Diablo, and thinking. Two mysterious elves, both obviously in trouble, Xenrose landed on his shoulder in a flash of golden feathers and rubbed her head against his cheek, giving a soft chirp. Harry reached up to rub her neck feathers, not caring right now that she was not in her disguise as a regular phoenix. He spoke finally, transmitting vocally, letting her read what she would of his mind and emotions.
"Phoenix delshamai era, gilmasen eyulez nevura aril hewemahi. Kaver lensi faralo. Olenati gahne oshil negam, kaver yan sera cah."
(Phoenix golden one, danger looms upon my senses. I am worried. Something will go wrong, I can feel it.)
Xenrose whistled and touched her head to his right temple, Harry relaxed his mental barriers, the phoenix sent warm reassurance and love to him, he sent back a light touch of fear, followed by a strong will to right whatever was wrong, and to protect the students in his care, and appreciation for the phoenix. Xenrose cooed softly then raised her head, looking pointedly towards the castle, Harry gave her a last rub and turned and turned to go inside, he'd find out what the visions meant when the time was right.
** Harry waited, leaning against the wall of the corridor, hidden in the shadows, for his apprentices to find him. They had all gone to the top of the tower as usual, Harry had sent Sirius to tell them that tonight they were to try and find him by using their mental powers to locate him. Harry turned at the sound of approaching feet; soon the group rounded the corner and, seeing him, hurried over.
As they approached Harry turned and placed his left hand upon the wall where he'd been leaning. They gathered around him a few moments later.
"Jaqrahtesh Heron Rah Xa'hazik." ((Jaq rah tesh) Lord Phoenix Heron Rah Xa'hazik) The wall slid upward to reveal a small opening which Harry walked through, the others following silently. The wall slid into place again behind them. Harry led them through a short corridor and into a large hexagonal room. Four walls were lined with bookshelves, the other had a huge fireplace with two couches and two arm chairs around it. In the center of the room was a large circular table, signaled to them to sit.
"Since I will not be here to train you in using your powers the next few weeks are a perfect time to start working on the part of you training that I have neglected so far." He explained to them, "War Mage society and customs easy enough to understand, for us, for any regular witch or wizard they may seem slightly bizarre." The books on these shelves are all about war mage society, from the usual food preferences of different elementals to hand and body signals used during battle or diplomatic functions with the Ministries. Basically everything you will be likely to need to know about war mages is here, though I have chosen the books to be centered on Elemental Mages. The Necromancer training isn't here, though what their uses were is in all of the books on them, there is not much on the IGD, the Intelligence Gathering Division, nor on the dragons War mages sometimes rode into battle, and very little on the Glaz'rahan." Sirius snorted at that.
"There's nothing on the Glaz'rahan it seems, a few examples of the training, a list of those who died in training, and little else."
"And it will stay that way, no Grand Master would care to share the secrets of that training, and if we did no one would ever want to enter it." Harry replied, "I suggest you read through whatever interests you, with so many of you I won't be able to give you each the thorough training that is usually necessary in this area so you're going to have to learn a lot of it on your own." There were a few nods around the table, Harry went to one of the shelves and took down a large dark purple book, he handed it to Severus, who took one look at the cover and did a double take. The cover read, in gold lettering, Tricks and Methods to Winning the Game: Guide to Become a Master Spy, and Surviving. Then below that in silver was written: By Desmara Silver Arrow, Godric Gryffindor, Cleatris Veletrilan, and Heron Xa'hazik.
"I would suggest reading that, try chapter eight, it should help to keep Voldemort from being able to read your mind, if he can." Severus nodded, then he frowned as he read the names of the authors.
"I've been reading through the listings of war Mages, they have Cleatris down as Godric Gryffindor's twin, how come they have different last names?"
"Veletrilan means Gryffindor, in a different language." Harry replied, taking another book off the shelves, thankful of the shadows which kept his wince at his friends names hidden, his back to his apprentices they didn't see the pained look in his eyes. When he turned around he was perfectly normal, War Mage composure, perfected under the Glaz'rahan training, firmly back in place. He handed the other book, a gold/yellow one with red lettering, to Cho.
"Give that to your parents, it should be helpful if anything come up with raising your adopted sisters." She nodded and began to flip through it.
"Kia dropped a glass a few days ago, and levitated it right back up onto the table, without spilling a drop, my parents wrote to me about it. She thinks she just caught it quickly." Harry listened and thought for a moment.
"When you write to them next tell them that if she does any magic, and then doesn't remember doing it, they should send the falcon to me at once. It would mean she was starting to lose control and I would have to get her out of this world and into training as quickly as possible." Who nodded, the other listened with interest, they all knew about the two war mages being raised by the Chang's, and were eager to know when they would get to meet them.
**
Along the still forest path the sound of horses' hooves could faintly be heard, they were soft hoof falls, light and near silent. A large dark horse with a long streaming black mane and tail ran through the forest, its rider dressed in a mass flapping black robes, black boots with silver buckles in the shape of snakes and black pants, his face covered by a black hood. The only thing, which really stood out, was the long silver sash tied tightly about his waist over the black robes, on the lengths of the silver silk sash hanging down beside him were two dark marks. There were also the silver and green shiny dark marks on the upper arms of his robes; over this he wore a long black hooded cloak. The bridal was black with a few tiny silver studs and the saddle was black with dark silver designs carved into it.
*Damn he's going to be pissed, I'll probably be late* Severus Snape though as he rode, leaning into a turn and urging Leopard on. The large pale brown/black colored Zoran with black spots increased his pace, moonlight gleaming off rippling muscles. When they finally were beyond the now extended apparition wards Severus dismounted and led the horse to a small grove and cast concealment charms around.
"Stay here Leopard, I'll be back sometime tonight." He whispered, and then disappeared.
Unnoticed to rider or horse another creature appeared from the forest gloom, a gigantic black wolf, easily seven feet long, which abruptly vanished as well.
High on the side of a wooded hill stood a small run-down looking fortress. It had high stonewalls with a domed roof over the whole thing. It was vaguely triangular and at each corner was a small watchtower. With a few pops people began to appear about on the small lawn before the castle. They gathered in small groups, the silver sashed members of the Inner Circle each being in command of a few others who reported in to them, and they in turn reported to the two figures who were watching the crowd, counting the death eater assembled and listening to various reports. The spies in the Ministry reported to Lucius, the others to Severus, the assassins, of which there were only two currently, the third being killed recently be Voldemort, reported to Severus. Those managing recruiting reported to Lucius, as did those who were responsible for keeping up on current muggle and wizarding affairs, and the ones doing research in dark magics, plants, and potions which might be useful reported to Severus.
After a few minutes the door to the castle opened and a small balding man with a thin rat-like face hurried out.
"This way." He said shortly, the group turned and followed him into the castle. It certainly was an odd castle; inside it was hollow under the stone dome. It was a huge courtyard of rock; along one wall was a large long building that reached from the rock floor to the stone ceiling that covered the entire thing. The ceiling was stone and had one large skylight, allowing in a large rectangle of moonlight, which illuminated a small section of the rock floor right at the door, so each person was momentarily blinded as they entered as their eyes first adjusted one way then the other. The people, dressed in black robes, gathered in a semi circle before a huge black iron, copper, and pale stone throne. To one side in the shadows was a small wooden chair occupied by a short man with scruffy dark brown hair, Mel, Voldemort's other servant, who wrote documented the spies reports and organized them as well as all other reports that came in. Above him floated two balls of orange light so he could see, he held a long black quill and several sheet of parchment were on the desk.
Mel was a dangerous wizard, though he looked harmless.if you didn't count the fact that only half of his mouth ever moved. He was responsible for nearly a score of murders before his identity had been learned and he'd been forced undercover. In a battle with two aurors a stray curse had irreparable damaged his face and wand hand. Being nearly ambidextrous he had learned to write with the other, and, since he was highly organized and had excellent handwriting, Voldemort had recruited him as his personal secretary. He and Peter Pettigrew were always somewhere nearby wherever Voldemort was. Both were complete and utter cowards, next to useless at most magics, timid, obedient to a fault, thought to be dead, and loved to watch people being tortured.
Voldemort appeared at the doorway to the building, long black robes stirring slightly as he walked to his throne, the death eaters falling to their knees as he entered, and sat down. Crabbe, being his usual idiotic self, began to rise, but Voldemort stopped him with an angry hiss.
"I do not believe I gave you permission to rise Crabbe." The man in question trembled with fear and dropped back down quickly. "You know the price for disrespect and disobedience. Crucio!" The spell was said in a cold furious voice, Crabbe gulped, then the spell hit him and he toppled to the side, writhing and screaming horribly. As the torture continued the others listened in silence, not looking at him nor at their master, eyes fixed on the floor, one thought in all their minds. *Oh shit, he's in a really bad mood.* Those nearest to Crabbe didn't move and tried not to wince as a flailing foot or arm hit them.
"Severus, Lucius." Voldemort said, Lucius started to rise, and then stayed put, Severus didn't move or look up. "I didn't tell you to do anything Lucius." Voldemort said coldly, "try following Severus's example next time, get up!" The last was a snapped command and both rose quickly. Voldemort flicked his wand and Crabbe stopped screaming and shakily resumed his place among the others. The two named death eaters picked their way through the forty or so assembled death eaters, not being particularly careful about stepping on anyone, no one dared do more than wince. And knelt again before Voldemort.
Outside the castle a gigantic wolf, with unnaturally black fur and green eyes began to slowly run around the castle, pacing itself, but still moving much faster than any human could run, as it ran its feet left silver prints which quickly faded behind it. Becoming the color of the grass to blend in.
Voldemort raised a hand and flicked his fingers, Severus's and Lucius's hoods fell off, unlike the others they wore no masks, though both carried them in case they were told to attack somewhere.
"Well Lucius, has the Department for the Creation and Regulation of New Spells noticed anything?" Voldemort said dangerously.
"I-I don't know my Lord. They are increasing security greatly and won't say anything." Lucius bowed his head, shaking like a leaf in a gale, and with good reason. Voldemort had been practicing a new form of magic lately and was therefore very worried about the Ministry catching it and tracing it, and Lucius had already failed twice to find out if they had. Voldemort glared at the top of Lucius's bowed head for a moment, Lucius couldn't keep quite under the red eyed glare. "P-please my Lord, w-with a bit more time - "
"Time?! Lucius if the Ministry is going to conduct a raid on the Fortress, or if they're looking for ways to counteract the magic I need to know. Lucius I have given you three weeks!" Lucius bit his lip and tried hard to stop shaking. Voldemort's fury washed over the crowd, the only sound to be heard was the scratching of Mel's quill.
"My lord please, I'm assembling blackmail information and - "
"I thought you said this person was loyal to you Lucius." Voldemort growled.
"He is, it's just that the Ministry.has tightened security and is starting to get very suspicious Lord."
"And loyalty should go beyond that, do not lie to me Lucius, you are not sure of what is going on at all. Crucio!" Lucius Malfoy dropped to the floor, writhing, he managed to hold back his screams, until Voldemort made a lazy movement with his wand, then he began to scream horribly.
Severus stayed still, hoping that a writhing foot didn't hit him in the head, and studying the cracks in the stone floor, which incidentally appeared to have quite a bit of dried blood in them.
Voldemort finally snapped his wand up; Lucius stopped writhing and screaming, and scrambled back to his place.
"Thank you my lord, I shall not fail you again." He whispered, kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"See that you don't, and get me that information quickly!" Lucius nodded silently, "Severus report!"
"My Lord, Dumbledore has reinstated his little troop of friends to aid him against you. So far they haven't done much besides trying to convince people that you have returned. The Minister refuses to believe and has threatened to remove Dumbledore from Hogwarts if he continues, Dumbledore doesn't give a damn what Fudge says and carries on with his plans." Severus said, eyes fixed on the floor.
"What of the werewolves of Europe, I have given them a good plan and a good place in society if they win." Voldemort asked.
"My Lord they have yet to respond, they are contacting all the werewolves to vote, so perhaps no news is good news for now." Severus said.
"A few more weeks, but they'd better give an answer soon." Severus relaxed, Voldemort wasn't too annoyed or blaming him. "Now, next, we need to get to work on Azkaban."
Outside the castle the black wolf finished the enchantment around the fortress and vanished, his work was done for the night.
Review please!
I've also updated the High K'haril dictionary with a section of numbers and some new words. Let me know how the sentences Harry says in this chapter sound, do they sound real? Flowing? Melodic? Forced?
Think of how long it took me to write this, there are 4,687 words in this chapter. Think of how long it will take you to review it. The average review has 15 words hmm.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed
Chapter 9
Harry waited in the meeting room, it was just after breakfast and his group should be arriving shortly, twelve packed backpacks were lying around against the walls, ready to go, finally Ron and Hermione came in.
"Hey Harry, what's up today?" Harry gave him a fiendish grin.
"Fun and games fun and games, team work practice!" Ron groaned and slumped into a chair.
"Honestly Harry, team work with Malfoy? Could I just go to hell instead?"
"Ron! If we're going to be traveling in the wilderness for weeks we'll need to be able to get along." Hermione told him, what sort of games?"
"Get along with that prat?" Ron asked, shocked, "have you lost your mind?"
"Enough, you will have to get along semi-well, just please put the rivalries aside for the trip?" Harry asked, well it wasn't really as if they had much of a choice, but he didn't feel like giving orders. The others slowly trickled in over the next few minutes, well eleven of them, Malfoy managed to be five minutes late. Harry turned his hair orange with a wordless wandless spell.
"Potter what the bloody hell?" He roared, furious. The others looked shocked at his language.
"Nice look Malfoy, suits you," Ron said sarcastically, Draco turned on him furious, but Harry spoke up quickly.
"Language Draco, watch it or your soap might start trying to wash your mouth out. Please try to get here faster." The orange hair vanished. Draco gave him a murderous glare.
"Listen Potter I don't have to take any orders-"
"Yes you do, and you will, and before you even start your father agreed completely." Harry said calmly. Harry looked to the others; "Today we'll be doing some team building exercises."
"What do you think we are first years? Team building exercises?" Malfoy complained, sneering. Harry looked him right in the eye, his emerald eyes becoming painfully intense, sending power out through that gaze until Malfoy couldn't blink, and couldn't look away, Harry finally turned his fiery green gaze tot he others as well as he spoke. When Harry spoke his voice was soft and dangerous, perfectly audible in the silent room.
"You all come from different houses and different backgrounds. You will be living together for three weeks, and you will have to learn to work together. Your survival may well depend on it. The elves will expect it, and will look at your ability to work as a group to understand each of you." He looked around for a moment, "and besides, it will be fun and good training, come on, we're going outside." The group followed him out.
Outside Harry led them to an empty space on the grounds, since almost everyone had classes after lunch no one was there. He set up a platform and told them to stand in two lines, facing eachother, before it.
"This is called the fall, one person falls backward off the platform, the others catch then, without magic. Now lets see, who wants to be the first person to fall?" No one volunteered, giving him and the platform and each other wary looks.
"It's not like we're ever going to need to do this." Malfoy muttered to himself.
"Thank you for volunteering Draco, you're on, just climb up on the platform."
"Now all of you, line up, yes that it, put your arms out straight in front of you." They all did so, "now grip the arms of the people across form you above the wrists and below the elbows." They all did so. "Now Draco, stand with your back to the group on the edge of the platform. You're going to fall backward, don't bend you knees, waist, or arms, keep yourself stiff as a board and just fall, the rest of you catch him on your arms. Then those of you closest to the platform lower your arms so he can get up." He looked at them all for a seconds to make sure they understood. "Ready? Fall."
Draco slowly leaned backwards and fall, as he did he began to bend his knees. A wave of Harry's wand righted him again.
"No bending you knees, keep you body straight." Harry said firmly. Draco threw him a glare and tried again, this time he managed it and the group caught him easily.
** After lunch Harry called them all outside again. It was still very warm out, but the trees had started to change color a bit, fall was coming. They would be leaving in two days; they gathered around him eagerly, the morning had been fun with six different team-building exercises. Harry now had a grip on who worked well with who and those who needed to forget petty hatreds, Ron being the main one, even Draco hadn't been his usual nasty self that morning.
"Okay this afternoon we'll be playing a team game. Now while the objective is to win I want you to also keep a close eye on all your teammates and note their strengths and weaknesses. Strategists, quick runners, quick planners, organizers, leaders, those who dodge about, those who prefer brute strength, clumsiness, carelessness, understanding of a strong defense or attack plan, hand-to-eye coordination, aggressiveness, teamwork, and try to pick out some of your opponents abilities as well." They all nodded, them Carol spoke up.
"What are we playing?" She asked.
"Ultimate Frisbee. A muggle game we'll play on the Quidditch pitch with," he held up a neon orange Frisbee, "this." He went on to carefully explain the rules as they walked out onto the Quidditch pitch, choosing the sandy areas for the goals.
"Now, teams, I'll try to balance them out evenly according to how you did this morning. Team 1: Draco, Parvarti, Carol, Susan, Dawn, and Ron." There were a few groans and Ron got a disgusted expression on his face at the thought of being on Malfoy's team, he gave Harry a annoyed and pleading look, which Harry didn't see. "Team 2: Blaise, Hermione, Seamus, Martha, Danton, and Jay."
As the teams went to their sides of the field Harry watched carefully at how they started off, who was where. He knew that team one could defeat the other with no trouble, but only if they got along. After all they had Draco and Carol, who were two of the more cunning Slytherins, Ron, the expert strategist, at least in chess and probably elsewhere as well once he knew everyone's abilities as well as he knew what piece could move where in chess. But Ron couldn't improvise to meet each person's abilities, and he couldn't see depth in anyone, Dawn and Parvarti both could, and Susan was good at being in the right place at the right time, though only on defense, she couldn't go offensive at all really, unless pissed, and she was a very fast runner.
Harry watched, team two threw off to team one, and it went downhill from there. Ron steadfastly refused to pass to Draco, despite Draco being open and in a good position when Ron had the Frisbee. The teams weren't being coordinated and unified, each person breaking off. Hermione and Ron couldn't seem to work well against each other either, being to used to working together. Harry also noticed that Carol and Blaise had trouble working against each other since they were old friends, apparently they were related. And Jay and Susan didn't have any clue how to throw a Frisbee.
Harry watched grimly until Ron and Draco got into a shouting match, then he stepped in.
"Remember, you're supposed to be find each other's strengths, and using them, and what do you do? Get into a fight because someone dropped a Frisbee?" He said angrily.
"It was a perfect throw and he dropped it purposely!" Ron snarled.
"It was a perfect throw, if you were throwing at Hagrid's Hut, your aim was way off, you tilted the Frisbee away from him as you threw it, your threw it too high, and it was only in his general direction, not to him. I don't know what you were trying but it certainly wasn't to pass the Frisbee. And he didn't drop it, he never caught it in the first place." Before Ron could start shouting at him Harry continued, "Draco you weren't paying attention to where the Frisbee was, you were watching everyone else, a good idea if you're trying to build a plan but you didn't notice you were open, and therefore could expect to have it thrown to you. Secondly when you went for the Frisbee you didn't watch it closely, you just ran to where you expected it to be, keep an eye on it." He said, Draco wrinkled his nose, annoyed, but he didn't protest.
"Go gather with your team at your goal and make a plan. You lot are not showing even the slightest effort at teamwork yet, utilize each other's strengths. Oh and quit arguing about everything! Talk like civilized people; you're trying to get the Frisbee into the goal! You're not trying to beat any one person, or show off," brief glance around here, "forget any rivalries you may have, your all on the same team and will be for the next few weeks, work together, cheer each other on," Ron looked disgusted "quit being so tense and have some fun." He told them, keeping the edge off his voice, though the annoyance came through quiet clearly.
By evening Harry was so pissed that when he sent them inside the anger in his voice was quiet detectable. Team 2 had managed fine, and had won by two goals; the score had been one to three. Team one had argued continuously, had no organized plan, very little sharing of ideas, and no leader. Harry was so furious with Ron he though he might just hit him, with his battle- axe, which fortunately for Ron was at the Palace. Ron had not listened anyone else's ideas, deciding that since he was a master chess player he should decide all their tactics. He'd taken a little advice, but ignored the Slytherins with insults and disgust. Carol and Draco were enraged, but holding their anger back very well.
The others on team one had looked to Parvarti or Draco for leadership, and both had done a good job at hearing everyone's opinions and ideas, and trying them. Ron hadn't listened, even when Draco put forth an excellent plan he and Parvarti had come up with. In fact Ron had insult Parvarti for listening to a Slytherin. Harry seriously considered pulling Ron off the trip, but decided against it. Ron needed to change and perhaps this trip would do just that.
As he watched them walk inside Harry strolled over to Diablo, who was standing near the edge of the cliff, looking off into the water. Harry paused, the sun's reflection on the water blinding him briefly.
The vision was a different one; an elf dressed in greens, browns, and gold was running through the woods. She was breathing heavily and looked exhausted, blood ran from a gash on her leg. She carried a quiver of arrows, a bow, and a short sword suddenly she turned, gold hair flying about her, and her eyes went wide with terror, she threw an arm up over her face, flames blasted across his view. Then the lake was back before him, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Harry stood for a few moments, absently stroking Diablo, and thinking. Two mysterious elves, both obviously in trouble, Xenrose landed on his shoulder in a flash of golden feathers and rubbed her head against his cheek, giving a soft chirp. Harry reached up to rub her neck feathers, not caring right now that she was not in her disguise as a regular phoenix. He spoke finally, transmitting vocally, letting her read what she would of his mind and emotions.
"Phoenix delshamai era, gilmasen eyulez nevura aril hewemahi. Kaver lensi faralo. Olenati gahne oshil negam, kaver yan sera cah."
(Phoenix golden one, danger looms upon my senses. I am worried. Something will go wrong, I can feel it.)
Xenrose whistled and touched her head to his right temple, Harry relaxed his mental barriers, the phoenix sent warm reassurance and love to him, he sent back a light touch of fear, followed by a strong will to right whatever was wrong, and to protect the students in his care, and appreciation for the phoenix. Xenrose cooed softly then raised her head, looking pointedly towards the castle, Harry gave her a last rub and turned and turned to go inside, he'd find out what the visions meant when the time was right.
** Harry waited, leaning against the wall of the corridor, hidden in the shadows, for his apprentices to find him. They had all gone to the top of the tower as usual, Harry had sent Sirius to tell them that tonight they were to try and find him by using their mental powers to locate him. Harry turned at the sound of approaching feet; soon the group rounded the corner and, seeing him, hurried over.
As they approached Harry turned and placed his left hand upon the wall where he'd been leaning. They gathered around him a few moments later.
"Jaqrahtesh Heron Rah Xa'hazik." ((Jaq rah tesh) Lord Phoenix Heron Rah Xa'hazik) The wall slid upward to reveal a small opening which Harry walked through, the others following silently. The wall slid into place again behind them. Harry led them through a short corridor and into a large hexagonal room. Four walls were lined with bookshelves, the other had a huge fireplace with two couches and two arm chairs around it. In the center of the room was a large circular table, signaled to them to sit.
"Since I will not be here to train you in using your powers the next few weeks are a perfect time to start working on the part of you training that I have neglected so far." He explained to them, "War Mage society and customs easy enough to understand, for us, for any regular witch or wizard they may seem slightly bizarre." The books on these shelves are all about war mage society, from the usual food preferences of different elementals to hand and body signals used during battle or diplomatic functions with the Ministries. Basically everything you will be likely to need to know about war mages is here, though I have chosen the books to be centered on Elemental Mages. The Necromancer training isn't here, though what their uses were is in all of the books on them, there is not much on the IGD, the Intelligence Gathering Division, nor on the dragons War mages sometimes rode into battle, and very little on the Glaz'rahan." Sirius snorted at that.
"There's nothing on the Glaz'rahan it seems, a few examples of the training, a list of those who died in training, and little else."
"And it will stay that way, no Grand Master would care to share the secrets of that training, and if we did no one would ever want to enter it." Harry replied, "I suggest you read through whatever interests you, with so many of you I won't be able to give you each the thorough training that is usually necessary in this area so you're going to have to learn a lot of it on your own." There were a few nods around the table, Harry went to one of the shelves and took down a large dark purple book, he handed it to Severus, who took one look at the cover and did a double take. The cover read, in gold lettering, Tricks and Methods to Winning the Game: Guide to Become a Master Spy, and Surviving. Then below that in silver was written: By Desmara Silver Arrow, Godric Gryffindor, Cleatris Veletrilan, and Heron Xa'hazik.
"I would suggest reading that, try chapter eight, it should help to keep Voldemort from being able to read your mind, if he can." Severus nodded, then he frowned as he read the names of the authors.
"I've been reading through the listings of war Mages, they have Cleatris down as Godric Gryffindor's twin, how come they have different last names?"
"Veletrilan means Gryffindor, in a different language." Harry replied, taking another book off the shelves, thankful of the shadows which kept his wince at his friends names hidden, his back to his apprentices they didn't see the pained look in his eyes. When he turned around he was perfectly normal, War Mage composure, perfected under the Glaz'rahan training, firmly back in place. He handed the other book, a gold/yellow one with red lettering, to Cho.
"Give that to your parents, it should be helpful if anything come up with raising your adopted sisters." She nodded and began to flip through it.
"Kia dropped a glass a few days ago, and levitated it right back up onto the table, without spilling a drop, my parents wrote to me about it. She thinks she just caught it quickly." Harry listened and thought for a moment.
"When you write to them next tell them that if she does any magic, and then doesn't remember doing it, they should send the falcon to me at once. It would mean she was starting to lose control and I would have to get her out of this world and into training as quickly as possible." Who nodded, the other listened with interest, they all knew about the two war mages being raised by the Chang's, and were eager to know when they would get to meet them.
**
Along the still forest path the sound of horses' hooves could faintly be heard, they were soft hoof falls, light and near silent. A large dark horse with a long streaming black mane and tail ran through the forest, its rider dressed in a mass flapping black robes, black boots with silver buckles in the shape of snakes and black pants, his face covered by a black hood. The only thing, which really stood out, was the long silver sash tied tightly about his waist over the black robes, on the lengths of the silver silk sash hanging down beside him were two dark marks. There were also the silver and green shiny dark marks on the upper arms of his robes; over this he wore a long black hooded cloak. The bridal was black with a few tiny silver studs and the saddle was black with dark silver designs carved into it.
*Damn he's going to be pissed, I'll probably be late* Severus Snape though as he rode, leaning into a turn and urging Leopard on. The large pale brown/black colored Zoran with black spots increased his pace, moonlight gleaming off rippling muscles. When they finally were beyond the now extended apparition wards Severus dismounted and led the horse to a small grove and cast concealment charms around.
"Stay here Leopard, I'll be back sometime tonight." He whispered, and then disappeared.
Unnoticed to rider or horse another creature appeared from the forest gloom, a gigantic black wolf, easily seven feet long, which abruptly vanished as well.
High on the side of a wooded hill stood a small run-down looking fortress. It had high stonewalls with a domed roof over the whole thing. It was vaguely triangular and at each corner was a small watchtower. With a few pops people began to appear about on the small lawn before the castle. They gathered in small groups, the silver sashed members of the Inner Circle each being in command of a few others who reported in to them, and they in turn reported to the two figures who were watching the crowd, counting the death eater assembled and listening to various reports. The spies in the Ministry reported to Lucius, the others to Severus, the assassins, of which there were only two currently, the third being killed recently be Voldemort, reported to Severus. Those managing recruiting reported to Lucius, as did those who were responsible for keeping up on current muggle and wizarding affairs, and the ones doing research in dark magics, plants, and potions which might be useful reported to Severus.
After a few minutes the door to the castle opened and a small balding man with a thin rat-like face hurried out.
"This way." He said shortly, the group turned and followed him into the castle. It certainly was an odd castle; inside it was hollow under the stone dome. It was a huge courtyard of rock; along one wall was a large long building that reached from the rock floor to the stone ceiling that covered the entire thing. The ceiling was stone and had one large skylight, allowing in a large rectangle of moonlight, which illuminated a small section of the rock floor right at the door, so each person was momentarily blinded as they entered as their eyes first adjusted one way then the other. The people, dressed in black robes, gathered in a semi circle before a huge black iron, copper, and pale stone throne. To one side in the shadows was a small wooden chair occupied by a short man with scruffy dark brown hair, Mel, Voldemort's other servant, who wrote documented the spies reports and organized them as well as all other reports that came in. Above him floated two balls of orange light so he could see, he held a long black quill and several sheet of parchment were on the desk.
Mel was a dangerous wizard, though he looked harmless.if you didn't count the fact that only half of his mouth ever moved. He was responsible for nearly a score of murders before his identity had been learned and he'd been forced undercover. In a battle with two aurors a stray curse had irreparable damaged his face and wand hand. Being nearly ambidextrous he had learned to write with the other, and, since he was highly organized and had excellent handwriting, Voldemort had recruited him as his personal secretary. He and Peter Pettigrew were always somewhere nearby wherever Voldemort was. Both were complete and utter cowards, next to useless at most magics, timid, obedient to a fault, thought to be dead, and loved to watch people being tortured.
Voldemort appeared at the doorway to the building, long black robes stirring slightly as he walked to his throne, the death eaters falling to their knees as he entered, and sat down. Crabbe, being his usual idiotic self, began to rise, but Voldemort stopped him with an angry hiss.
"I do not believe I gave you permission to rise Crabbe." The man in question trembled with fear and dropped back down quickly. "You know the price for disrespect and disobedience. Crucio!" The spell was said in a cold furious voice, Crabbe gulped, then the spell hit him and he toppled to the side, writhing and screaming horribly. As the torture continued the others listened in silence, not looking at him nor at their master, eyes fixed on the floor, one thought in all their minds. *Oh shit, he's in a really bad mood.* Those nearest to Crabbe didn't move and tried not to wince as a flailing foot or arm hit them.
"Severus, Lucius." Voldemort said, Lucius started to rise, and then stayed put, Severus didn't move or look up. "I didn't tell you to do anything Lucius." Voldemort said coldly, "try following Severus's example next time, get up!" The last was a snapped command and both rose quickly. Voldemort flicked his wand and Crabbe stopped screaming and shakily resumed his place among the others. The two named death eaters picked their way through the forty or so assembled death eaters, not being particularly careful about stepping on anyone, no one dared do more than wince. And knelt again before Voldemort.
Outside the castle a gigantic wolf, with unnaturally black fur and green eyes began to slowly run around the castle, pacing itself, but still moving much faster than any human could run, as it ran its feet left silver prints which quickly faded behind it. Becoming the color of the grass to blend in.
Voldemort raised a hand and flicked his fingers, Severus's and Lucius's hoods fell off, unlike the others they wore no masks, though both carried them in case they were told to attack somewhere.
"Well Lucius, has the Department for the Creation and Regulation of New Spells noticed anything?" Voldemort said dangerously.
"I-I don't know my Lord. They are increasing security greatly and won't say anything." Lucius bowed his head, shaking like a leaf in a gale, and with good reason. Voldemort had been practicing a new form of magic lately and was therefore very worried about the Ministry catching it and tracing it, and Lucius had already failed twice to find out if they had. Voldemort glared at the top of Lucius's bowed head for a moment, Lucius couldn't keep quite under the red eyed glare. "P-please my Lord, w-with a bit more time - "
"Time?! Lucius if the Ministry is going to conduct a raid on the Fortress, or if they're looking for ways to counteract the magic I need to know. Lucius I have given you three weeks!" Lucius bit his lip and tried hard to stop shaking. Voldemort's fury washed over the crowd, the only sound to be heard was the scratching of Mel's quill.
"My lord please, I'm assembling blackmail information and - "
"I thought you said this person was loyal to you Lucius." Voldemort growled.
"He is, it's just that the Ministry.has tightened security and is starting to get very suspicious Lord."
"And loyalty should go beyond that, do not lie to me Lucius, you are not sure of what is going on at all. Crucio!" Lucius Malfoy dropped to the floor, writhing, he managed to hold back his screams, until Voldemort made a lazy movement with his wand, then he began to scream horribly.
Severus stayed still, hoping that a writhing foot didn't hit him in the head, and studying the cracks in the stone floor, which incidentally appeared to have quite a bit of dried blood in them.
Voldemort finally snapped his wand up; Lucius stopped writhing and screaming, and scrambled back to his place.
"Thank you my lord, I shall not fail you again." He whispered, kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"See that you don't, and get me that information quickly!" Lucius nodded silently, "Severus report!"
"My Lord, Dumbledore has reinstated his little troop of friends to aid him against you. So far they haven't done much besides trying to convince people that you have returned. The Minister refuses to believe and has threatened to remove Dumbledore from Hogwarts if he continues, Dumbledore doesn't give a damn what Fudge says and carries on with his plans." Severus said, eyes fixed on the floor.
"What of the werewolves of Europe, I have given them a good plan and a good place in society if they win." Voldemort asked.
"My Lord they have yet to respond, they are contacting all the werewolves to vote, so perhaps no news is good news for now." Severus said.
"A few more weeks, but they'd better give an answer soon." Severus relaxed, Voldemort wasn't too annoyed or blaming him. "Now, next, we need to get to work on Azkaban."
Outside the castle the black wolf finished the enchantment around the fortress and vanished, his work was done for the night.
Review please!
I've also updated the High K'haril dictionary with a section of numbers and some new words. Let me know how the sentences Harry says in this chapter sound, do they sound real? Flowing? Melodic? Forced?
Think of how long it took me to write this, there are 4,687 words in this chapter. Think of how long it will take you to review it. The average review has 15 words hmm.