TIMES OF TRIAL
Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, objects etc. that you recognise belong to me. They are mot likely the property of one JK Rowling.
Summery: This story is and will probably always be centred on Minerva McGonagall and the other professors at Hogwarts. It is set in Harry's fifth year and the dream-team will likely appear however. The rating may be subject to change but all reviews are welcome.
Q&A: *Dumbledore will appear eventually - promise.
*'Derivo adfluxum' is a very crude trnslation along the lines of 'channels flow'. Lame but I thought it sounded quite cool so...
*****
Hermione glanced at Ron as Madame Hooch stopped speaking. They didn't need to
say anything to know what the other was feeling at that moment. Everyone had
been half expecting something major to happen all term; this wasn't quite what
she had had in mind though. Were they going to be brave enough to walk straight
through the gates of one of the most well protected wizarding sites in the
country? Well if they were, she had to admit that they had picked the perfect
time. Professor Dumbledore was away and virtually every inhabitant of the
school, pupils and teachers were gathered together in one place. Although the
quiditch stadium was not the worst place on the grounds to try and defend it
certainly wasn't the most guarded. She looked around and saw that despite her
fears there was not mass panic in the stands. The older students were doing
what they could to calm those younger than themselves all the while keeping the
noise level down and trying to adhere to the one simple rule laid down to them.
"What in Merlin's name are they doing?" Asked Neville who sat on the other side
of her from Ron. He was looking down at the field and as she followed his gaze
she saw the source of his surprise. Instead of spreading out around the
periphery of the stadium the professors were gathered on the pitch itself. They
were spaced out so that each had more than enough room to manoeuvre their own
wands without clashing and all the positions had a clear view of the centre.
"More importantly," Ron began. "What are THEY doing?" He pointed towards
Professors Snape and McGonagall who still had their heads together in what
seemed to still be in deep discussion. Now however, the astute observer could
see that the Gryffindor had a hand on the Slytherin's arm. Just as Hermione was
about to speak something even more remarkable transpired as Snape looked up and
something resembling the ghost of a smile passed over his features before they
both strode purposefully in the same direction.
"That was just weird." Neville commented. "It just looked so wrong. They were
being almost pleasant to each other. I mean that can't be a good sign...
when...when those two start getting on." His pace and pitch increased rapidly
until he was stuttering beyond comprehension.
"Neville." Hermione said doing her best to sound friendly but with enough
authority that he would listen to her. "I think that both Professor Snape and
Professor McGonagall are old enough and mature enough to put aside house
differences when the situation requires it." She turned to Ron and they shared
a look. They were both very aware of what their potions master had been doing
for the last six months. She returned her gaze to the ground below them and
began to address their housemate's original question. Something about the
pattern of their arrangement... She couldn't help but quietly gasped as several
of the pieces fell into place. They couldn't possibly be trying what she
thought they were. The boys started to speak but she 'shushed' them quickly so
she could hear the incantation that was being uttered by all bar two of the
individuals involved.
"Derivo adfluxum... Derivo adfluxum... Derivo adfluxum..." The chant was
repeated until out of every wand there was a beam of light, or what certainly
looked like light, being thrust towards the unlikely pair in the centre. Each
was a slightly different colour ranging from golds through to blues, the
strongest-looking from those in the outside circle but all converging in the
same area.
"Channel or Conduit magic." She said quietly giving both the names she knew for
what she thought was going on. Her eyes never left the field but she felt their
inquisitive looks. "That's what they're doing. Just watch a minute." Snape
and McGonagall spoke the next part of the incantation and Hermione was more than
a little surprised that they were successful at their first attempt. The
strands of magic started to pulse ever so slightly towards the centre of the
group. "It's old magic and rarely used nowadays because it has a tendency to go
wrong. There are donors and conduits, Snape and McGonagall are being the
conduits here and the others are their donors. It basically allows for a group
of individuals to combine their powers to cast a spell with a strength that
could never be achieved never mind be maintained otherwise."
"Why does it go wrong?" Ron asked the all-important question.
"The conduits, there has to be more than one, have to be totally in control of
what happens. It requires concentration, strength of will and powerful magic of
their own in order to channel the others' power into whatever spell they cast."
Ron was looking grim but Neville just seemed to be in awe. "Depending on the
spell they cast there can also be problems in that the conduits have to work
closely together, they may have to anticipate the others moves and know their
weaknesses." At this Neville's head snapped round to look at her.
"And those two think that they're going to be able to pull it off?!"
"We wont know for sure until they cast their spell after they've let this one
settle a little but I think they might well pull it off."
"I think you're right but they're going to have to get a move on." Ron pointed
out towards the corner that opened out to look on to the gates of the castle
grounds almost half a mile away. In the distance she could make out a swarm of
black clad figures on broomsticks approaching at speed. At alarming speed.
Glancing back down at the pitch she was just in time to catch the moment of
truth. In perfect unison the two conduits, still surrounded by the
multicoloured pulsing strands, spoke an incantation that she couldn't make out.
She watched as they gripped their own wands with both hands extended their arms
downwards before pushing them away. The little doubt she had in their abilities
and their choice of protection withered as she watched the shimmering shell that
had surrounded them both as the spoke the words of what she supposed to be an
incredibly powerful shielding spell, expand at an alarming rate until it
encompassed the entire stadium and all it's inhabitants.
It was a sight to behold, the light show that surrounded them as well as that
upon the field. As she looked upwards Hermione noticed that the shield was in
fact made of two halves though their edges were not identifiable. The energy
that came from her own head of house's side was a warm red and on the other's
side the colour was a cool green. But this was something she would dwell upon
later as her chain of thought was broken by one of the seventh years on the
bleacher in front.
"They're here." She said in quiet recognition of their new predicament. Time
lost all meaning for her then and she suspected she wasn't the only one. She
was aware of most of those around her craning to see what was going on outside
the bubble or trying to shrink back and be the least conspicuous they could.
Hermione's attention was far to transfixed on the magic being performed below
her for anything else to make an impact though. While the others stood strong
and kept their wands pointed towards the collecting point for all their energies
the two professors seemed to remain oblivious to anything that happened inside
the shield. While Madame Hooch flew up to one of the stands that held both
Raveclaws and Slytherins to sort out a looming brawl by muting and freezing all
those involved, they seemed to almost conduct the magic they controlled. The
incredible grace with which they both strengthened those areas that were
attacked with the stronger curses or hexes never both going to the same spot and
never letting anything break through. Bracing themselves against each other she
could tell when they had to put more effort into a move even if she couldn't see
the attacker through the stands. She barely noticed him at first but something
about this black clad figure stood out, whether it was his poise or that the
others seemed to hold him in some regard but she was sure that this was Lucius
Malfoy. He positioned himself on the ground in the corner where he was visible
to them all but still kept at bay by the almost invisible barrier. She turned
back when a flash of emerald highlighted the quick movement of her
Transfiguration professor to support the shield at the corner along from
Malfoy's. She wasn't sure what transpired but when she turned back she saw him
raise his wand and point it at the deputy head. He said something she couldn't
decipher at that distance but instead of the usual slight flash that indicated
that the spell had been repelled or absorbed it broke through without so much as
a blink.
A/N - I may need your help after the next chapter to decide where I should take this so you better keep reading and reviewing... It's just down there and it'll only take a sec *smile*. Hope you enjoyed it and I know I'm evil
Linz
Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, objects etc. that you recognise belong to me. They are mot likely the property of one JK Rowling.
Summery: This story is and will probably always be centred on Minerva McGonagall and the other professors at Hogwarts. It is set in Harry's fifth year and the dream-team will likely appear however. The rating may be subject to change but all reviews are welcome.
Q&A: *Dumbledore will appear eventually - promise.
*'Derivo adfluxum' is a very crude trnslation along the lines of 'channels flow'. Lame but I thought it sounded quite cool so...
*****
Hermione glanced at Ron as Madame Hooch stopped speaking. They didn't need to
say anything to know what the other was feeling at that moment. Everyone had
been half expecting something major to happen all term; this wasn't quite what
she had had in mind though. Were they going to be brave enough to walk straight
through the gates of one of the most well protected wizarding sites in the
country? Well if they were, she had to admit that they had picked the perfect
time. Professor Dumbledore was away and virtually every inhabitant of the
school, pupils and teachers were gathered together in one place. Although the
quiditch stadium was not the worst place on the grounds to try and defend it
certainly wasn't the most guarded. She looked around and saw that despite her
fears there was not mass panic in the stands. The older students were doing
what they could to calm those younger than themselves all the while keeping the
noise level down and trying to adhere to the one simple rule laid down to them.
"What in Merlin's name are they doing?" Asked Neville who sat on the other side
of her from Ron. He was looking down at the field and as she followed his gaze
she saw the source of his surprise. Instead of spreading out around the
periphery of the stadium the professors were gathered on the pitch itself. They
were spaced out so that each had more than enough room to manoeuvre their own
wands without clashing and all the positions had a clear view of the centre.
"More importantly," Ron began. "What are THEY doing?" He pointed towards
Professors Snape and McGonagall who still had their heads together in what
seemed to still be in deep discussion. Now however, the astute observer could
see that the Gryffindor had a hand on the Slytherin's arm. Just as Hermione was
about to speak something even more remarkable transpired as Snape looked up and
something resembling the ghost of a smile passed over his features before they
both strode purposefully in the same direction.
"That was just weird." Neville commented. "It just looked so wrong. They were
being almost pleasant to each other. I mean that can't be a good sign...
when...when those two start getting on." His pace and pitch increased rapidly
until he was stuttering beyond comprehension.
"Neville." Hermione said doing her best to sound friendly but with enough
authority that he would listen to her. "I think that both Professor Snape and
Professor McGonagall are old enough and mature enough to put aside house
differences when the situation requires it." She turned to Ron and they shared
a look. They were both very aware of what their potions master had been doing
for the last six months. She returned her gaze to the ground below them and
began to address their housemate's original question. Something about the
pattern of their arrangement... She couldn't help but quietly gasped as several
of the pieces fell into place. They couldn't possibly be trying what she
thought they were. The boys started to speak but she 'shushed' them quickly so
she could hear the incantation that was being uttered by all bar two of the
individuals involved.
"Derivo adfluxum... Derivo adfluxum... Derivo adfluxum..." The chant was
repeated until out of every wand there was a beam of light, or what certainly
looked like light, being thrust towards the unlikely pair in the centre. Each
was a slightly different colour ranging from golds through to blues, the
strongest-looking from those in the outside circle but all converging in the
same area.
"Channel or Conduit magic." She said quietly giving both the names she knew for
what she thought was going on. Her eyes never left the field but she felt their
inquisitive looks. "That's what they're doing. Just watch a minute." Snape
and McGonagall spoke the next part of the incantation and Hermione was more than
a little surprised that they were successful at their first attempt. The
strands of magic started to pulse ever so slightly towards the centre of the
group. "It's old magic and rarely used nowadays because it has a tendency to go
wrong. There are donors and conduits, Snape and McGonagall are being the
conduits here and the others are their donors. It basically allows for a group
of individuals to combine their powers to cast a spell with a strength that
could never be achieved never mind be maintained otherwise."
"Why does it go wrong?" Ron asked the all-important question.
"The conduits, there has to be more than one, have to be totally in control of
what happens. It requires concentration, strength of will and powerful magic of
their own in order to channel the others' power into whatever spell they cast."
Ron was looking grim but Neville just seemed to be in awe. "Depending on the
spell they cast there can also be problems in that the conduits have to work
closely together, they may have to anticipate the others moves and know their
weaknesses." At this Neville's head snapped round to look at her.
"And those two think that they're going to be able to pull it off?!"
"We wont know for sure until they cast their spell after they've let this one
settle a little but I think they might well pull it off."
"I think you're right but they're going to have to get a move on." Ron pointed
out towards the corner that opened out to look on to the gates of the castle
grounds almost half a mile away. In the distance she could make out a swarm of
black clad figures on broomsticks approaching at speed. At alarming speed.
Glancing back down at the pitch she was just in time to catch the moment of
truth. In perfect unison the two conduits, still surrounded by the
multicoloured pulsing strands, spoke an incantation that she couldn't make out.
She watched as they gripped their own wands with both hands extended their arms
downwards before pushing them away. The little doubt she had in their abilities
and their choice of protection withered as she watched the shimmering shell that
had surrounded them both as the spoke the words of what she supposed to be an
incredibly powerful shielding spell, expand at an alarming rate until it
encompassed the entire stadium and all it's inhabitants.
It was a sight to behold, the light show that surrounded them as well as that
upon the field. As she looked upwards Hermione noticed that the shield was in
fact made of two halves though their edges were not identifiable. The energy
that came from her own head of house's side was a warm red and on the other's
side the colour was a cool green. But this was something she would dwell upon
later as her chain of thought was broken by one of the seventh years on the
bleacher in front.
"They're here." She said in quiet recognition of their new predicament. Time
lost all meaning for her then and she suspected she wasn't the only one. She
was aware of most of those around her craning to see what was going on outside
the bubble or trying to shrink back and be the least conspicuous they could.
Hermione's attention was far to transfixed on the magic being performed below
her for anything else to make an impact though. While the others stood strong
and kept their wands pointed towards the collecting point for all their energies
the two professors seemed to remain oblivious to anything that happened inside
the shield. While Madame Hooch flew up to one of the stands that held both
Raveclaws and Slytherins to sort out a looming brawl by muting and freezing all
those involved, they seemed to almost conduct the magic they controlled. The
incredible grace with which they both strengthened those areas that were
attacked with the stronger curses or hexes never both going to the same spot and
never letting anything break through. Bracing themselves against each other she
could tell when they had to put more effort into a move even if she couldn't see
the attacker through the stands. She barely noticed him at first but something
about this black clad figure stood out, whether it was his poise or that the
others seemed to hold him in some regard but she was sure that this was Lucius
Malfoy. He positioned himself on the ground in the corner where he was visible
to them all but still kept at bay by the almost invisible barrier. She turned
back when a flash of emerald highlighted the quick movement of her
Transfiguration professor to support the shield at the corner along from
Malfoy's. She wasn't sure what transpired but when she turned back she saw him
raise his wand and point it at the deputy head. He said something she couldn't
decipher at that distance but instead of the usual slight flash that indicated
that the spell had been repelled or absorbed it broke through without so much as
a blink.
A/N - I may need your help after the next chapter to decide where I should take this so you better keep reading and reviewing... It's just down there and it'll only take a sec *smile*. Hope you enjoyed it and I know I'm evil
Linz