JaDuShala
Disclaimer: Last Chapter's disclaimer applies. ( I am feeling too lazy to write a new one and obviously I can't make any commercial gains from this chapter if I couldn't from the last one)
Chapter 9: JadushalaHarry looked at the door in front of him and tentatively opened the door, he emerged unto the most desolate but peaceful place he had ever seen, the whole mountain face in front of him was blanketed in snow and there was not a single living thing tree, shrub, root, animal or insect in sight. Rex emerged a few moments later apparently out of thin air right next to him.
Inspite of the fact that it was summer, it was very cold and Harry was glad that he had worn the warm clothing suggested by Rex. He turned around to face Rex, who to his complete amazement showed no signs of feeling cold inspite of the thin white cloak he was wearing.
"Harry you are now going to enter the realms of Jadushala. Not many living persons have set foot on this pure place. No one with any dark intentions can ever set foot within the boundaries drawn by the great Mrityanjaya Shastri thousands of years ago."
Harry had been thinking of the name mentioned by Prof. Dumbledore, the book he had swapped in Flourish & Blotts had the same name, Harry had been unable to understand a word in the book as it was in an ancient script he couldn't decipher. However he had decided he was going to have a better look at it later.
Rex continued, "The school awaits your arrival, and behold as the gates open to give you entrance.. Open Jadushala..he roared and the mountain face in front of him disappeared to reveal a gaping hole in it.
Harry watched open mouthed, it was as if his dream was being repeated reel by reel, scene by scene, frame by frame. He could now remember every detail of his dream with crystal clear clarity, the overbearing mountains, the man in white robes and even the way the entrance was revealed to him.
He followed Rex in a daze, the entrance lead into a narrow corridor lit by strange oblong lights on either side, which gave a flickering orange illumination. The Corridor writhed and turned in and around the mountain like a snake before it widened out into the most magnificent hall Harry had ever seen, even his dream did no justice to the over bearing size of that hall, no human hand could have carved out the mountain, yet it had. There was a huge chandelier like thing on the ceiling of the hall which illuminated the hall. Just as Harry had seen in his dream there was a ledge halfway from the bottom completely inaccessible unless you could fly and there sat a man, overseeing and noting all that went about below in the hall. The hall itself was filled with a large number of students some wore saffron and some wore white, all busy doing something or the other. The gaze of the man on the ledge fell upon Harry and then to Harry's utter disbelief he just jumped of the ledge.
Harry stood open mouthed as that man fell almost in slow motion, as if held by an invisible hand he touched the bottom gracefully and came up to Harry. He was tall, a flowing white beard that could put Dumbledore to shame, his wizened skin, thick eyebrows and wise disposition made him look of considerable age, yet his eyes were what caught Harry's attention, they were bright and lively, yet like deep wells they seemed to have the wisdom of the world, his posture was that of a young man, his robe pure white and he had an aura around his personality which made any person just bow his head in respect. That what precisely what Harry was doing, as if held by an invisible hand and from the approving expression on Rex's face Harry could gather that he had done the right thing.
"Harry Potter, welcome to Jadushala, I am Prof., Well I think you would use that expression, Prof. Pandit, I oversee the running of this school, and you can come to me if you need any help. I feel you need to understand the concept of this school, here there are no teachers, no students, yet every person you shall meet here shall teach you something and in turn learn something from you. In the beginning you shall be granted a saffron robe, the colour of detachment and ultimately you shall earn the white robe the colour of absolute purity. Rex will show you to your quarters and after that you are free to go and do as you wish." Harry listened to the soft sonorous speech of Prof. Pandit with rapt attention. He accepted the set of robes granted by the professor and left with Rex for the dorms. They went back into the corridor they had come in from after a few more turns they came to an offshoot which led them farther into the mountain.
The dorm was really beautiful, a running waterfall led off one of the walls, and even though it was so cold outside, the temperature inside was just cool, the beds were low and really soft, Harry was lucky to get his near the window, the view outside was breathtaking, somehow the tunnels in the mountain led to the bottom of the mountain, and this was the place where summer was just showing its small miracles, beautiful colorful flowers, and plants which had slept for most part of the year under the blanket of the snow were stretching out into the sunlight.
"What am I supposed to do next, Rex. I really have no Idea what or how I am going to learn here" Harry asked Rex, hoping that at least this time he would get a better response from his 'silent companion in white'.
"Well Harry, come with me and I will show you around", Rex said and took Harry to the main hall, "You see Harry this is the main hall and you can meet, talk, socialize and learn anything over here, there are twelve ante-rooms to this main halls, where students would be practicing certain specific arts" saying this he took Harry to a nearby room, "This is the dueling room, you can learn to fight and duel using armed and unarmed combat, next to this room, is the transfigurations room, where you can learn anything from advanced to animagus transformation, another room is for transportation, learning of apparation, teleportation, making portkeys and even ancient ways of transportation like the one's we have used today." He then took Harry to another circular room a bit larger than the others, which had strange apparatus and contraptions like a muggle laboratory, "This is the magical inventions room, here students are free to use all assets at their disposal to invent anything, a new potion, a new spell and even a new magical product. Many commercial products have been invented right over here."
"Hey Rex, is that your new friend " a dark curly haired kid called out " Hi!, I am Virgil, " he said shaking hands with Harry " You know I have just invented a new type of warm Ice-cream, would you like to taste it, just wait here I will go and get it " he said enthusiastically and hurried of inside to get one for Harry and Rex.
"If we know what's good for us we should get outta here" Rex muttered as he pulled Harry out of the room.
They had just entered another room, when "hey!, ees dat you haarry, I never to't that I wuld catch up wit you here" Harry turned just to crash into a very bubbly Fleur Delcour. She gave him a big hug which was not that surprising since she had changed her opinion about 'little Harry' after he had saved her sisters life in the second task of the Triwizard tournament and now held a most benevolent opinion about him.
"Vot are you doing 'ere arry, did dombeldore send you here" she asked enthusiastically.
"Well actually yes, what are you doing here Fleur" Harry said, glad to find a familiar face and a beautiful one at that, in a sea of strangers.
"Ai hav come 'ere to learn languages, I am learning elfish, dwarfish, ancient runes and even engleesh here, what do you plan to do 'arry" Fleur said flashing her million watts smile.
Harry stuttered for a few moments unable to decide how to answer that, oh hell, he was amidst the most brilliant people on the globe and he didn't even know what he come there for in the first place. Maybe this was all a really big mistake, he thought despairingly. " I haven't er' exactly decided, actually" he answered. Harry was getting really afraid because every one he had seen at the school was atleast two years older than him and most of them had already finished their basic schooling. He was really feeling out of place and hoped that Dumbledore knew what he was doing when he sent Harry to Jadushala.
"Vell, don't worry you can do languages you know I am going to work in the Diplomatic Corps of the French Ministry of Magic" Fleur added.
Having seen that Harry had found some company and a beautiful one at that, Rex had already removed himself from sight. Harry spent the rest of the day with Fleur, roaming around the school and familiarizing himself with other rooms, the library and some new acquaintances. Amongst his new acquaintances was a tall handsome boy named Mike Bottlebroom, who was an expert Dueller and who seemed to be Fleur's latest Boy friend; a girl named Niki Lee who spent most of her time in the transfigurations room learning advanced transfigurations; and a heavily built 7 ft tall Lara Pathan who was there to learn a surprisingly delicate art of making wands and other magical objects. Harry spent his time very well with his newly made friends all of whom tried to force upon Harry the apparent importance of learning their particular skill when they came to know that he had not yet decided what he was going to learn there.
"You have to understand Harry, wand making is the most important art in the history of Wizards, you don't have a wand you are no more than a muggle" Lara boomed at Harry when they had all gathered at the main hall for Lunch.
"That's not entirely true you can become an animagus and you won't need a wand to transform yourself into an animal" Niki countered quite seriously.
"Ya, and what use is a Wand if you don't know how to use it, you don't know how ta duel and you are no more than a dead duck" Mike said pointing his fork animatedly as if it were a sword.
"You guys only talk of war, if you learn languages you can solve all problems diplomatically, ve don't vant to be barbarians." Now even Fleur had jumped in with her own point of view.
Harry had nodding his head and agreeing with everything each of them said and at the end of it he was even more confused than he had been at the beginning of the conversation.
Harry sunk into his bed dead tired, he had had a long day and his head was reeling with all the information he had gathered. All the excitement in the day had really tired him and immediately he slipped off into deep sleep.
The setting this time was a bit different, but the hooded figures were the same, they stood in a semi circle out in the open, a man was kneeling on the ground. Prostrating before a Tall figure who stood over all the others and said in a silken smooth voice which held more than a hint of threat , "Where Is That book, Lucius"
"I am sorry master, I searched every where, it has simply disappeared, maybe they already have the book, maybe they are double crossing us Lord" the man whimpered. " I accept no excuses Lucius, you know my quest for immortality, I need that book, then no living creature wizard or elf shall ever dare to challenge me. I shall be god. They shall not get the book before us, do you understand, Lucius. Then maybe perhaps not" His face bent into a sneer " May be this will make you understand better..Crucio"
The man screamed and writhed under tremendous pain and Harry got up with a start, he was perspiring heavily and his scar was throbbing with pain. However it soon subsided after the throbbing in his arm started to counter it. Harry thought about the dream he had just had. It was definitely Lucius Malfoy who was receiving punishment from Voldermort. Voldermort had seemed even more powerful than the last time Harry had encountered him. It was as if he was so soaked in his dark power that even light seemed unable to penetrate into that darkness. Why was Voldermort after a book? Who were these other people of whom Lucius was talking about? Was this book the same book that he had swapped from that other man he had seen at Flourish & Blotts? If it was so, then he definitely needed more about this book quickly. But all that would have to wait till morning, right now it was time for some deep dreamless sleep. Harry dropped off back to bed resolving that tomorrow would be a more productive day.
Elsewhere at that time there was a meeting in progress,
"Severeus, what news do you have for all of us" Dumbledore said presiding over yet another meeting of the Order of Phoenix.
"I have some news for all of you, It took some hard bargaining and a lot of cajoling before Crabbe agreed to part with this information. He told me that, Malfoy has been on the look out for some book for You-know-who and even suffered some punishment at his hands for not being able to do so. It seems only people in the inner circle know who Voldermort is dealing with. He seems to be absent for long periods of time and every time he returns he has more of his old strength back. Also Wormtail has been absent from these meetings, he has been sent for some mission by his master. You-know-who still does not trust me and only if I provide him with fresh followers will he allow me to earn his trust back." Snape finished and Sat down.
"I think I know what that Rat has been up to for the past few months" Sirius spoke the contempt clear in his voice" My sources tell me there is a lot of disturbance among the dementors, they even attacked an killed an inmate at Azkaban. Fudge has been trying hard to keep it out of the papers. I have reports of Wormtail being seen near the fortress of Azkaban, He seems to have a new disguise, but his steel hand gave him away"
"That is most unfortunate, I fear the situation there maybe out of our hands already, What is the news from the Ministry Mr. Croaker" Dumbledore said, worry lines on his forehead seemed to have increased in the past few months.
"There is unrest in the ministry, what Sirius says is true, the dementors are behaving strangely, but Fudge refuses to acknowledge the return of Voldermort. Mad-eye-moody has managed to enlist the help of quite a few aurors, I feel we have to do something quickly before this thing deteriorates further" He answered.
"Arthur ready yourself, I thing the time for Operation Cyclone has arrived. Unleash stage one of our plan, throw your weights around, starts lobbying with the ministers. Inform the media and start your enlisting campaigns, the war may still be away but the battles shall soon begin and the first stroke should be ours."
Arthur Weasley nodded but remained silent.
"Before we leave I want you people to meet someone who will be helping us gather some very important intelligence, especially you Severus, she shall be your responsibility" saying this Prof. Dumbledore motioned "You can come out into the open now"
Everybody watched with their mouths agape, Sirus and Snape had a common expression of Indignation,
"She can't have joined the order, with all due respect headmaster but are you sure " Snape said expressing his utter indignation with as much courage as he could muster.
" Well every body meet Daily Staff Reporter Rita Skeeter. Yes I am sure Severus, Rita here has been helping us spy over Fudge for the past few months at great personal risk, however from what information she gives me, that job shall soon be over and her next job will be to spy over Lord. Voldermort and hence I repeat Severus she shall be your responsibility henceforth."
"But How did she do that" Snape answered still unable to believe his own ears.
"Because I am a bug, Snape" Rita Skeeter answered in her silken spidery voice.
"A what?"
"I am an Animagus, I can turn into a beetle and effectively spy for the order" She answered the impatience now clear in her voice.
"I think that should settle the matter" Dumbledore added calmly and cast a gaze at all the others in the room.
Severus nodded resignedly and sank back into his seat.
"And now for the information that Rita has brought for us, kindly do the honours Rita.." Dumbledore announced as he too returned back to his seat at the head of the table.
Watcher's Note:
Thanks do give me some substantial reviews about how you want me to shape the new characters, I am going to write longer chapters from hence forth as requested. Hope you like this chapter do write in with your reviews it helps me to know that somebody is actually reading what I wrote (new author Blues). And I welcome any kind of criticism, I will sure try to iron out any flaws you people point out.
And I am Horrible with accents so excuse me if the French accent looks less French and more Russian or maybe neither ( Hides Behind his HooD).