Chapter 9: The Greatest Test
Sunday morning found Landyr walking around the castle learning where everything was. After lunch he decided to walk around the grounds. They looked different. There were fewer trees, and only one lake. He walked over to the Quidditch pit. He found an entranceway to the top of one of the boxes, and went to the top. Nobody was in there, so he sat in the front row by the railing. There were no teams flying today. However, Landyr noticed a small wizard in the middle of the field. He watched the wizard for a while, but started to feel like he was being watched. Landyr turned around to see a very old man sitting in the back row. He must have been old with the silver in his hair and his very long beard that went down to his waist. His blue eyes were looking directly at Landyr with a smile on his face.
"One just can't get any time alone here, can they Professor?"
Dumbledore laughed, "No, I guess not."
A loud voice of Professor McGonagall magically came across the grounds, "There will be a special presentation instead of the Quidditch game to be held in the Quidditch Pit. It will last about 2 hours. On Saturday no one will be allowed to go outside while the preparations for the ceremony are taking place, so all outside doors will be locked. All students will line up in the Entrance Hall at 10:00 AM. This ceremony is mandatory for all students. No excuses."
Landyr looked flabbergasted, "You are going to put all the students in here even though you know it's going to be destroyed?"
"Of course not. There are students here that are sons or daughters of Death Eaters. I am sure they sent their parents a message stating that the Quidditch match is canceled, so Lord Voldemort will hear about it. He might plan a direct attack on the school since there will be no one in this stadium. However, if we say that it is mandatory for all students to be at the ceremony, he will attack this stadium as originally planned. In fact, he may figure that Harry Potter will be in the stands instead of on a broom, so he may be more inclined to attack the stands directly."
"Then what is that wizard doing in the field down there?"
"That would be Professor Flitwick. He is putting a charm on this stadium to make it appear that the entire school is here listening to a presentation. It will turn itself on this Saturday."
"Oh, so it is some kind of ruse?"
"Now you get it. While the students are in the Entrance Hall, we will announce the truth and send them to the Great Hall. Now let me help you with your DA lesson. It will take a couple of days for most of them to get it."
After several hours of practicing spells, the DA members were getting weary, all except for Landyr.
"How can you not be tired?" asked Ron.
"My wand has a Phoenix Tears varnish on it."
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione.
"You know what that means?" Ron asked.
"Yes. Landyr's wand has regenerative properties, so he can't tire."
"If Lord Voldemort were to attack," Harry said over everyone's voice. People started to quite down. Harry continued, "he will most likely have Dementors with him. Let's practice the Patronus charm. Landyr could see the room fill up with a bunch of silver creatures. Hermione had an otter, and Harry had a stag that he nicknamed Prongs. Harry came over to Landyr.
"I forgot that you didn't know how to do the Patronus charm. First you need to think of the happiest thought you can and hold onto that thought. Then say the words 'Expecto Patronum'. It is hard to do when you are being affected by a Dementor, but you need to hold onto that thought. If you don't, you can't produce a Patronus."
Landyr closed his eyes to think of a happy thought. He started to think about a brand new convertible hover car. He was gliding over a long stretch of road with the top down traveling forty-two kilo-quades per hour. The freedom of the open road made him smile. He glanced at the passenger seat, and someone was in it. It felt as though it was an ancestor. He was starting to see his ancestor more clearly ...
"Landyr! Are you all right?" Harry asked.
Landyr opened his eyes with a jolt, "What is it?"
"You had your eyes closed for a long time. I thought you might have fallen asleep."
"No, I didn't fall asleep. I was in my happy place."
Harry stood up to speak to all, "That's it for tonight, and remember; tomorrow Landyr will be teaching us."
Monday's DA meeting found the students eagerly waiting for Landyr's lesson.
"To begin with, I am a bit nervous since this is the first time I taught anything before. I am going to teach you all how to amplify the strength of the magic inside you. You can even use this process to temporarily turn it off if you wish. The first step is to close your eyes and clear your mind of all thoughts and emotions. You need to have your mind clear when you have amplified you power to keep it elevated."
Landyr continued to teach them how to amplify their power. He increased his which produced a golden aura around him. This showed everyone that it could be done and what it looks like. By the end of the night, only Hermione managed to produce a faint, pale red glow. However, midway through Wednesday's meeting even Neville was able to have a strong, bright blue glow.
At the end of Friday's meeting Harry announced that they should meet in Dumbledore's office at 8:00 AM tomorrow. The password was 'Chocolate Frog'. Harry stayed behind while everyone else left.
"I want you to have this," Harry handed Landyr the master coin. "Just in case I fall or we are not successful you can start up a new DA in your time. Also, take this piece of paper. It will explain how to unlock the original sign-up sheet that you signed from this room. A new one will be started next year. This week I faced the greatest test ever: keeping strong when I know what I am going to face - death." With that, Harry turned and opened the door. "Oh, Professor Dumbledore, what are you doing?"
"I am walking around the school."
"Why?" asked Harry.
"Back in the days of sailing ships, the captain would walk the entire ship on the eve before battle. This would bestow confidence in the crew and just in case he should fall, he will have seen his ship on last time."
"You think we are going to fall tomorrow, then?"
"Just in case, Harry, just in case," Dumbledore said gravely.
Sunday morning found Landyr walking around the castle learning where everything was. After lunch he decided to walk around the grounds. They looked different. There were fewer trees, and only one lake. He walked over to the Quidditch pit. He found an entranceway to the top of one of the boxes, and went to the top. Nobody was in there, so he sat in the front row by the railing. There were no teams flying today. However, Landyr noticed a small wizard in the middle of the field. He watched the wizard for a while, but started to feel like he was being watched. Landyr turned around to see a very old man sitting in the back row. He must have been old with the silver in his hair and his very long beard that went down to his waist. His blue eyes were looking directly at Landyr with a smile on his face.
"One just can't get any time alone here, can they Professor?"
Dumbledore laughed, "No, I guess not."
A loud voice of Professor McGonagall magically came across the grounds, "There will be a special presentation instead of the Quidditch game to be held in the Quidditch Pit. It will last about 2 hours. On Saturday no one will be allowed to go outside while the preparations for the ceremony are taking place, so all outside doors will be locked. All students will line up in the Entrance Hall at 10:00 AM. This ceremony is mandatory for all students. No excuses."
Landyr looked flabbergasted, "You are going to put all the students in here even though you know it's going to be destroyed?"
"Of course not. There are students here that are sons or daughters of Death Eaters. I am sure they sent their parents a message stating that the Quidditch match is canceled, so Lord Voldemort will hear about it. He might plan a direct attack on the school since there will be no one in this stadium. However, if we say that it is mandatory for all students to be at the ceremony, he will attack this stadium as originally planned. In fact, he may figure that Harry Potter will be in the stands instead of on a broom, so he may be more inclined to attack the stands directly."
"Then what is that wizard doing in the field down there?"
"That would be Professor Flitwick. He is putting a charm on this stadium to make it appear that the entire school is here listening to a presentation. It will turn itself on this Saturday."
"Oh, so it is some kind of ruse?"
"Now you get it. While the students are in the Entrance Hall, we will announce the truth and send them to the Great Hall. Now let me help you with your DA lesson. It will take a couple of days for most of them to get it."
After several hours of practicing spells, the DA members were getting weary, all except for Landyr.
"How can you not be tired?" asked Ron.
"My wand has a Phoenix Tears varnish on it."
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione.
"You know what that means?" Ron asked.
"Yes. Landyr's wand has regenerative properties, so he can't tire."
"If Lord Voldemort were to attack," Harry said over everyone's voice. People started to quite down. Harry continued, "he will most likely have Dementors with him. Let's practice the Patronus charm. Landyr could see the room fill up with a bunch of silver creatures. Hermione had an otter, and Harry had a stag that he nicknamed Prongs. Harry came over to Landyr.
"I forgot that you didn't know how to do the Patronus charm. First you need to think of the happiest thought you can and hold onto that thought. Then say the words 'Expecto Patronum'. It is hard to do when you are being affected by a Dementor, but you need to hold onto that thought. If you don't, you can't produce a Patronus."
Landyr closed his eyes to think of a happy thought. He started to think about a brand new convertible hover car. He was gliding over a long stretch of road with the top down traveling forty-two kilo-quades per hour. The freedom of the open road made him smile. He glanced at the passenger seat, and someone was in it. It felt as though it was an ancestor. He was starting to see his ancestor more clearly ...
"Landyr! Are you all right?" Harry asked.
Landyr opened his eyes with a jolt, "What is it?"
"You had your eyes closed for a long time. I thought you might have fallen asleep."
"No, I didn't fall asleep. I was in my happy place."
Harry stood up to speak to all, "That's it for tonight, and remember; tomorrow Landyr will be teaching us."
Monday's DA meeting found the students eagerly waiting for Landyr's lesson.
"To begin with, I am a bit nervous since this is the first time I taught anything before. I am going to teach you all how to amplify the strength of the magic inside you. You can even use this process to temporarily turn it off if you wish. The first step is to close your eyes and clear your mind of all thoughts and emotions. You need to have your mind clear when you have amplified you power to keep it elevated."
Landyr continued to teach them how to amplify their power. He increased his which produced a golden aura around him. This showed everyone that it could be done and what it looks like. By the end of the night, only Hermione managed to produce a faint, pale red glow. However, midway through Wednesday's meeting even Neville was able to have a strong, bright blue glow.
At the end of Friday's meeting Harry announced that they should meet in Dumbledore's office at 8:00 AM tomorrow. The password was 'Chocolate Frog'. Harry stayed behind while everyone else left.
"I want you to have this," Harry handed Landyr the master coin. "Just in case I fall or we are not successful you can start up a new DA in your time. Also, take this piece of paper. It will explain how to unlock the original sign-up sheet that you signed from this room. A new one will be started next year. This week I faced the greatest test ever: keeping strong when I know what I am going to face - death." With that, Harry turned and opened the door. "Oh, Professor Dumbledore, what are you doing?"
"I am walking around the school."
"Why?" asked Harry.
"Back in the days of sailing ships, the captain would walk the entire ship on the eve before battle. This would bestow confidence in the crew and just in case he should fall, he will have seen his ship on last time."
"You think we are going to fall tomorrow, then?"
"Just in case, Harry, just in case," Dumbledore said gravely.