Chapter 3

The Learning Curve

            A wispy image flickered into life above a book, and then the image started to teach.

             "This beginners section requires an understanding of what we are, and how we are made up. As is common knowledge, there are four elements: Air, Earth, Fire and Water. What is commonly misunderstood is that it is only living creatures that are made up from the four elements. These elements are the building blocks of life itself. Using the fact that-"

            Harry tapped the book once with his wand to stop the lesson. He knew he had heard the term the "building blocks of life" before, but where he had no idea. He couldn't ask the wizarding world because he knew it was something that the muggles had termed, and asking the Dursley's would just be laughable. His thoughts wandered over to one of his best friends, Hermione Granger. What would she say? Her voice echoed up in his mind, I've heard it before too! I'll go and look it up in the library... The library! Harry pocketed the book, got up and sprinted down the stairs, and in a flash was out of the door and half way down the street.

            Harry entered into the library and then come to a dead stop at the guide to find the type of books he was after. After shaking his head on all the entries since he didn't have a clue of what he was looking for, one of the librarians came up to him.

            "Excuse me, can I help you?"

            Harry turn to the librarian, "Um... well, I want to learn more about the building blocks of life. Just a basic introduction, nothing technical."

            "The building blocks of life? Oh you mean DNA! Well, if you look in the biology section, you should find what you need."

            Harry wandered over to the biology section, looked at the size of it, before going back to the librarian at the helpdesk.

            "I'm sorry, but I'm only looking for some brief details. Do you know where I can get that information from?"

            "Oh, of course, if you are just wanting an overview, then  just head for the encyclopaedias on the far end of the library."

            Harry thanked the librarian and headed for the encyclopaedia section. An hour later, Harry emerged from the library with sheaf of papers, several books and an expression of intense concentration. I wonder what the DNA codes relate to in the terms of elements? TAGC... I wonder if there is a way to separate the amino acids and test them to the individual elements. Harry's thoughts carried on like this for most of his walk home, except for tripping up an invisible Moody and dodging traps that the old Auror had set up without even breaking the flow of his thoughts. It was in fact the snake that now resided on Harry's arm that broke his train of thought.

            "I'm hungry, I mussst feed."

            Harry glanced up and down the street, he was only a few streets away from Privet Drive, and didn't want to take any chances on being seen talking to a snake.

            "Okay, but let me find you a safe place for you to go hunting."

            "Why do you need to find a safe place, why not here?"

            "Because there has been a nationwide alert on the lookout for you."

            "Nationwide? Why?"

            "Because of the potential risk you are to people. You are one of the deadliest snake in the whole world, so people don't want any accidental deaths."

            "Even though I don't bite anything larger than rat unless provoked?"

            "The warning went out so people don't provoke you, leave you alone, watch you, and call the zoo."

            "I see. So where is a safe place?"

            "I'll show you."

            Harry detoured his journey home over to the fields that he used to walk over when Dudley and his gang decided to play Harry Hunting. Harry headed for a brook that ran through the fields, a likely source of rats. Checking the no one was around, Harry said "Okay, we're here, and no one is around. Good hunting!"

            The snake slithered off, and Harry followed at a distance. Damn, this snake is really good at blending in with the background. I think I should take note; this is almost as good as using magic to blend in the background. In fact it's better because you use the background to aid you, rather than simply tell a blatant lie that never fools the subconscious; like footprints coming out of no where. The grass closes in on the snake's path leaving no trail and that's without using magic.

            Harry saw a big rat scamper towards where the snake was hiding. Finally, some action. The snake coiled itself into a spring loaded S shape until the rat was in striking distance, and the in a blink of an eye it launched itself at the rat. And missed. By the time the snake had recovered from the fact that it had missed, it said "Sssee? We have become lazy in the zoo." By this time the rat had disappeared. So the snake went looking again. Harry got out his book, and the image resumed teaching.

            "Using the fact that we are made up of elements, we can manipulate them. This was the first move to magic, during the caveman era. Britannia always has and always will be a wet country. It is for this reason that the first witches and wizards were first discovered in this country. When trying to start a fire with wet wood, it will obviously not light, however, under extreme emotional conditions, this unlocked the elemental awakening. This awakening gives you a sign where your elemental control originates from. For instance, for myself, mine originates from my left hand which is useful as my right hand is my wand hand, which means that I can fight with both weapons effectively. Another user, my apprentice, Merlin, has his control in his head, but finds it too distracting for really powerful control... but I digress. So the wet wood burst into flames, from focusing the emotions to the elements, thereby discovering magic, elemental magic and his elemental centre all at the same time.

             "Normally, wandless, uncontrolled magic will happen under extreme circumstances, however if you focus all your emotion into the elements, it will cause elemental control. Wandless magic works in the same way, except that you simply have to focus on what you want to happen in detail. For instance, opening a door requires you to focus on every aspect of opening a door, from unlocking the lock and turning the handle to swinging the door open. It is for this reason that the elements are easier to control, as it is much easier to focus on what should be happening.

             "Another interesting fact about controlling the elements is that it is not actually magic; no magic is cast, the elements are simply manipulated from your body. Causing an element to act unnaturally is using magic. An example of this is causing wood to catch fire is manipulation, making the fire form from nothing is magic."

The teacher then proceeded to move onto various methods of control and basic fighting techniques involving elements, one of which was the air blade. Eventually he brought on the first history of magic lesson, which for another first was interesting.

            "I'm now living at a cross roads in the magical world now, which caused me to write this book. Bound wand magic is becoming steadily popular with magical folk, and they are ignoring the past. Learning from rote spells and waving wands without ever really tapping into their real power. Now don't get me wrong, wands are useful for doing careful delicate work, whereas staffs are far more useful for powerful magical work. It is similar to comparing a knife to a sword. However, the method using it is entirely different. Learning a fixed or bound method reduces the versatility of magic. If you want to stun someone you have to learn a spell. If you don't know it, then it's tough luck.

             "Learning to use unbound magic or your power directly from your will is entirely different, but is only limited to your concentration, will, intelligence and imagination. A good example with the differences of bound and unbound magic is defence against Dementors. The Patronus is among one of the closest spells to unbound magic in the method it is cast, hence the power behind it, but even the most powerful Patronus will only drive them away. By using unbound magic, it is fairly easy to kill a Dementor, as you can lance the essence of a Patronus through a Dementor rather than simply driving it away. Of course since the Patronus is much easier, that is now the favourite." The wizard snorted in laughter, "of course because of people being lazy, there are now those who can't even cast a Patronus.

            "Another skill that is being put out of use is wandless magic and elemental control, simply for being out of date, too taxing to use and too wild. The wizarding world is turning soft because of nearly a hundred years of peace when I smashed the dark forces led by a man calling himself Tom Marvolo Riddle; his real name was Lord Voldemort. He was a real psycho: he was a human snake with glowing red eyes. Most people were and still are so scared of him that they call him 'You-Know-Who'. Of course he was a bound wand magic user, which was how I smashed him and his forces. They use the execution curse, which is limited, that is why it is for executions only. The execution curse is another spell that is very close to unbound magic for it to work properly.

            "There are now a few who are building up their forces again, and are waiting for me to die before striking again. I just hope that I have enough time to train Merlin before it is my turn for life's next greatest adventure."

            A couple of hours had passed in tuition when Harry looked up; the snake still hadn't caught anything, so Harry was just about to call out to the snake, when he realised that he didn't know what the snakes name was. "Erm, can you just come here for a moment." The snake clearly frustrated, slithered over to him. "Er... what's your name?"

            "What do you mean?"

            "What are you called by the other snakes?"

            "Oh, we don't give each other names like you humansss do. We are generally ssolitary creaturesss, and sso we do not give each other namesss."

            "Okay, well, as you know, I'm Harry. However, as you are not solitary when you are with me, you will need a name so I can call you, just as you can call me. How about Ophelia?"

            "Ophelia iss fine."

            "Okay Ophelia, as we both know, you are not doing very well at the moment. So, what I propose is that we find a large number of the critters, and then let you loose in the middle of them, that way you can get your food, and if you miss, there is no worry about it as there is plenty more where they came from."

            "So you will take me to a plentiful food source, but let me hunt on my own? Harry, that is a wonderful idea, you give me a location of food source, and not worry about being insulted by you having to catch my prey for me. Let us go."

            Ophelia coiled herself around Harry's forearm, and Harry set off for Mrs Figg's house. Her half kneazels should be able to help. Reaching her house, Harry knocked on the door, and Mundungus answered.

            "'Ello Harry! Would yer be wantin' some second hand wands?"

            "Oh, er..." Harry was just thrown off guard by the question, "not right now Mundungus. Is Mrs Figg in?"

            "The old bat certainly is, 'owever, she's just havin' a little rat problem in't cellar."

            "Little?"

            "Well, her cats won't work in't cellar, and the rats are makin' a nuisance of themselves, nickin' food and whatnot."

            Harry smiled, "Well, I have a hungry rat eating snake on my arm, I'm sure she would be willing to try out the cellar."

            "Have yer now? Well, come on in, I'm sure that she'll be relieved to hear about that!" Mundungus commented with a toothy grin on his face. "They're huge, they give me the collywobbles!"

            Harry stepped in and heard an angry cry of "Eat the poison and die you filthy vermin!" before footsteps stomped up some stairs, before appearing in the doorway. "Who was at the door Dung? Oh hello Harry, I heard from Mundungus here about verdict. I'm just amazed that they put you in one of the criminal courts."

            "Thanks Mrs Figg, if it wasn't for you, I would have been most definitely expelled."

            "Yes, well, if it wasn't for someone leaving their watch that night, it wouldn't have been necessary..."

            "'Ere now, it seemed to be a good business venture at the time-" Mundungus butted in, indignantly.

            "What if Harry couldn't do a Patronus? He would have soulless, and then where would you have been? On the receiving end of Dumbledore's wand!"

            "But 'e was alright wer'nt 'e?"

            "But that's not the point" Arabella shrieked.

            "Oh stuff a sock in it you old bat. Harry's got something to 'elp you with the rats."

            "Really? Oh I'm sorry Harry; I'm still annoyed about that night. I'm amazed that the ministry bought the fact that I saw the Dementors when I didn't." she said, while glaring Mundungus.

            "It's okay Mrs Figg, it was all sorted out in the end. Anyway, I have a snake that is hungry for rats; can she go down to the cellar?"

            "A snake? Oh of course, you're a parselmouth. Yes of course she can go to the cellar. If she helps to bring my rat problem under control anything is worth a try. This way Harry."

            Arabella Figg led Harry through to the kitchen and the opened a door that led down some steps. "They're down there."

            "Do you want to go by yourself, or do you want me to go with you?" Harry asked Ophelia.

            "I will go by myself, if I need your assistance, I will call for you." she replied, uncoiling herself from Harry's arm and headed down to the cellar.

            Harry turned to Arabella, "she'll call if she needs me, so you might as well as shut the door so the rats can't escape."

            "Well," Mrs Figg said, "You might be a while, so why don't you stay here for something to eat? I'll call a few of the order to join us."

            "What about the Dursley's?"

            "I'll call them, tell them that I've got you rat hunting in the cellar, I'm sure that they'll love to hear that!"

            Harry laughed; indeed the Dursley's would love to think of Harry in a dark cellar hunting rats. They would probably want to leave him in there.

            Agreeing to Mrs Figgs suggestion, Harry turned to Mundungus as Arabella went and made the phone call, and he noticed a dangerous gleam in his eye. "What?"

            "I've 'erd 'bout yer little private session in't snake 'ouse. She any good?"

            "What!?"

            "Oh yeah, Moody was laughin' so 'ard that 'is eye fell out when 'e was tellin' us. Tonks face was priceless-"

            Mudungus was cut off when there was an excited ball of feathers collided into his head with the four letters it was carrying trying to scalp him

            "Argh! Gerroff me yer crazy owl!" Mundungus yelled, waving his arms about.

Harry reached over and snatched the owl out of the entanglement on Mundungus' head, and then removed the letters, which were all addressed to him. Shrugging, Harry tore open the first letter which Harry recognised as from Mrs Weasley:

Harry,

            I am severely disappointed with you! I would have thought that you would know better than to do THAT in a public place! With Tonks no less! She is a grown woman, you are still a boy!

            I really had hoped that you would choose a sensible partner like Ginny, but now my instincts are too protect her from someone like yourself.

            I will be having words with her after I've sent this owl. I hope that you will see some sense. I don't want to deal with something like this ever again, especially with someone like yourself!

Molly Weasley

Harry's fury grew with every single word. He hadn't done anything with Tonks! Harry viscously tore open the next letter, which was from Hermione:

Harry,

            I cannot believe that that was you - it didn't sound like you at all. But please, Tonks? You can do better than that! Go for someone your own age. Look even going out with me and doing things with me is more acceptable than Tonks. It's just... ugh, no; she's older than you and... ugh

            Anyway, if you put as much effort into studying magic as you do Tonks, then you wouldn't have any trouble with your school work, and that is far more important than relationships. If you want a relationship and you are confused, just ask me, it would be better than doing this with Tonks.

Love,

Hermione

Harry was now confused and raging like a mad bull; his body was shaking with fury as he tore open the next letter which he recognised as being from Ginny:

Harry,

            I know this isn't any of my business, but please, what on earth do you see in her? She is so clumsy and ditzy; even I would be a better choice. I do hope this has been a simple misunderstanding, but from what I can gather, you two were really getting down to it. If you simply want a relationship just ask me, it would be better than doing it with Tonks and hurting later.

Love,

Ginny

            Holding the letter, Harry remembered his lesson from earlier. Focussing his all of his boiling rage to the paper, he just wanted to burn it. Incinerate it. Torch it. His thoughts making his rage glow white hot, his forehead seemed to click something into place, causing a blaze momentarily, before moving down his face, diverging at his shoulders, travelling down his arms to his fingertips and the letter exploded in a momentary fireball and then there was nothing left of the letter and Harry's fury. The sheer surprise caused the thing that clicked into place move out of place again.

            "Bloody hell!" said Harry, Mundungus and Mrs Figg as the same time.

            Harry groaned, realising that the book he used was very old, the Ministry would surely notice anything unusual, elemental control must be old hat to them by now. Harry banged his head on the wall. "Great... just what I need, another hearing for accidental magic."

            "Oh don't worry about that!" Mrs Figg said confidently, "it was accidental magic, they'll just send someone round to make sure that no one was hurt and no one needed obliviating."

            Harry breathed a sigh of relief. At least there would be no court this time. His rage dissipated for the moment, Harry opened the final letter which was scrawled out and could only mean it was from Ron:

Hi Harry!

            Great work with Tonks! When were you gonna tell me that you and Tonks were an item? Let me know...

            Harry's eyes widened at Ron's request for certain details of information that he had only been told about in stories. The idea that he had... Harry blushed furiously at the thought. But what had caused all this... Mad-Eye! It must have been!

            "Mundungus, just what did Mad-Eye say about me and Tonks?" Harry asked slowly and dangerously.

            "Oh, 'e were tellin' us 'bout yer fling with Tonks, 'ow you removed 'er clothes an' the state 'e found yer in."

Harry's fury was slowly rising again like a giant furnace.

            Just then, a second owl swooped in with yet another letter. Untying it, Harry scanned down to see who it came from; it was a short note from Tonks:

Harry,

            I've just had Molly trying to strangle me because of 'corrupting' you. Moody was drunk and 'exaggerated' the story to some others at the time, trying to embarrass me to get back at me embarrassing him yesterday at the zoo. It seems that there were a few 'listeners' and took it as gospel truth, and then the Chinese whispers took effect.

            I realise that this may be an inopportune time to tell you this, but I can honestly say to you though, that I felt safe and secure in your arms. I don't know if we should pursue that avenue or not because I don't know how you feel, nor do know what to do about everyone else as well.

            Please write back soon,

Love,

Nymph

            Harry raised an eyebrow. Okay... this was getting weird. He needed to think about what was going on. Just then a crack resounded from the living room and familiar voices floated through to the kitchen.

            "Where is he?"

            "Our champion hero!"

            "The youngest seeker in a century!"

            "And the only one brave enough to take on an Auror's love life!"

            "Whereeeeee's Harry?"

            "Hi Fred, George," Harry called out to them dully, before an idea sparked to life

            "Hey here's lover boy-"

            Harry cut them off with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Listen I don't want to listen to any fake story. What I want to know is do you have any dangerous pranks that need testing? I have the perfect candidate."

            "No I'm afraid not, why, did you have something in mind?"

            "Hmmm... How about a charm grenade?"

            "What's a grenade?"

            "It's a muggle handheld explosive; you simply have it on you until you need it. Then you simply pull out the safety ring and then it either counts down or explodes on impact if you throw it."

            "Oh, so it's like an enhanced dung bomb, except that it will blast the specified curse in every direction..." the twins looked at each other evilly, saying "We'll be in contact soon!" in unison before disappearing with a crack.

            "Was that wise?" Mrs Figg asked when the twins left.

            "For my revenge at Moody? Of course! Anyway, where's the Ministry? I thought that they'd be here now."

            "Well I've just called the Arthur asking him to bring some of the Order over later. Maybe he could find something out?"

            "Good idea, where do you keep your floo powder?"

             "Oh no, I'm not on the floo here. Use the phone."

             "Phone?"

             "Yes, Arthur Weasley has been working on one that would work in magical places ever since I needed an instant communication after last year's fiasco." Mrs Figgs voice sharpened as she glared daggers at Mundungus who pointedly ignored her. "He seemed to get the idea after visiting a phone shop; he's been experimenting with it so he will be glad of someone else to try it."

            Curious, Harry went into the hall and saw a mobile phone. On closer examination there were three visible buttons marked "call", "receive" and "end call". Pressing the call button, Harry brought the phone up to his ear and a cool woman's voice much like the ministry's phone voice sounded out. "Please state who you wish to call."

             "Arthur Weasley." Harry said clearly, before being subjected to the worst thing that could ever happen to a phone. The cool voice constantly sounded out "Calling Arthur Weasley. Please wait." Over and over and over again.

            Eventually, the voice stopped and was replaced with a friendly voice. "Hello Arabella!"

             "Er, Mr Weasley? It's Harry."

             "Oh, sorry Harry, I wasn't expecting anyone else using my new phone system. What do you think?"

             "Erm… how about getting rid of the ringing voice?"

             "Sorry?"

             "Just have a ringing tone; it is far less annoying than someone telling you to wait all the time."

             "Are you sure?" asked Mr Weasley doubtfully.

             "Try it and see. Just make sure it is a quiet tone that won't annoy people up, but at the same time assure them that the phone is ringing."

             "Hmmm… I'll try that. Maybe Arabella won't be as irate by the time I pick up the call."

Harry laughed before asking, "Has there been any accidental magic alarms set off at the Ministry?"

            "Nope not a thing, why?"

            "I accidentally burned a letter-"

            "Oh no, Molly sent you letter didn't she?  I told her to not to say anything as it wasn't any of our business. I'm so sorry Harry."

            "Well... it wasn't just Mrs Weasley. It was Hermione and Ginny as well. It's not their fault. Mad-Eye was drunk and exaggerated what was going on."

            "Why, what did go on?"

            "Nothing, I hugged her while I was talking to the snakes so it looked like I was whispering to her, rather than me debating with the snakes."

            "I knew that something was wrong with what Moody told me, it just didn't sound like you." Arthur sighed, "And now the three of them have put their foot in it... oh well, I suppose I'd better correct them."

            "Actually Mr Weasley, don't bother. If they are willing to jump to conclusions then let them, it will teach them a lesson of 'look before you leap'. I also want them to learn to keep their noses out of my private life."

            "Well, if you're sure then okay. Just one second. Amelia, has there been any underage accidental magic today?"

            Harry heard muffled "No, why, do you think we should have?"

            "I was just checking if something was a prank or accidental at home; it's obviously a prank though to give Ron a heart attack. Thanks Amelia"

            Harry heard a few short footsteps and a door close before Arthur spoke again, "I take it you heard that Harry, so whatever happened it was either someone else or you have cast undetectable magic, which is of course impossible. But at least you aren't being put on trial. Anyway I'll see you later. Arabella, invited me and some of the others so we'll see you then."

            "Okay Mr Weasley, see you later" Harry replied before pressing 'End Call'.

            Harry realised an important fact. The Ministry couldn't detect elemental manipulations! The remainder of this summer had just turned into fun!