Title: Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: J.K.'s not mine!
A/N: Actually… for once, I don't have one!
Story time!
()o()o()
30. Flitwick's Help
"I'm telling you, I did magic without my wand!" said Harry exasperatedly for was seemed the hundredth time that night. Though the party was still going on for the Quidditch match, he, Ron and Hermione all found a quiet place in the corner where Harry told them what had just happened.
"Harry--" said Hermione, aghast. "That's-- that's amazing! Not even the most powerful wizards can do magic without their wands. I don't think even Dumbledore or Voldemort can."
"That's what scares me," said Harry, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, it's not like it was far away-- just right next to my hand in this pocket, see? But it wasn't in my hand…"
"What spell did you shoot at Snape?" Ron asked.
"The Stinging Hex." said Harry, turning to Ron, who laughed, causing several first years to turn and stare at them.
"Can you do it again?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno, I haven't tried." said Harry.
"Do you remember ever doing it before?" she continued. Harry thought hard through his entire life that he had his wand on him.
"…Yeah. There was one time last year. I dropped it in the dark and said the Lighting Charm. It was only about an inch from my hand and I was in a hurry, I didn't notice it-- not even afterwards."
"I still can't believe it." said Hermione, staring into the fire. "That's powerful magic, to be able to do things without a wand."
"Do you want to see if you could do it again?" Hermione asked, sitting up eagerly in her chair.
"I dunno if I could do it again," said Harry. "The last two times, I wasn't even thinking about it when it happened. It just… happened."
"Let's try. Here, give me your wand."
Harry handed her his wand, feeling slightly nervous. What if he couldn't do it again? As she pocketed it next to her own wand, she grabbed up an empty Butterbeer bottle, holding it in her hands.
"Try to summon this." she said. Ron sat back in his chair and watched, interested. Feeling slightly foolish, Harry extended his hand in the direction of the bottle.
"Accio." Harry said quietly. The bottle didn't move from Hermione's hands. "Accio." he said again, more firmly. The bottle didn't even twitch. He began to feel a bit frustrated.
"Try a little harder," said Hermione.
"I'm trying," hissed Harry. "This isn't easy."
"Focus…"
"Do you want to do this?" he snapped at her. Looking vaguely shocked, she mumbled something and looked at her lap.
"Accio…" he said again, "c'mon… Accio…."
Ron leaned forward in his chair as though he could feel the tension between his two friends. Clenching his fists together, it looked as if he were watching a tense Quidditch game.
"Pretend it's a Snitch." he said helpfully. Harry tried to imagine a small golden ball where the bottle was, willing it to fly to him.
"Accio… Accio…come ON… Accio!" he said between his teeth. "Damn it… come on… Accio! Accio!"
"Maybe we should wait for another day," said Hermione, setting the bottle down on the table where it had previously been sitting. "You've had a lot going on today… maybe you're just tired."
Angrily, Harry sat back in his chair just as Ron and Hermione did. All of them took a collective sigh and exhaled deeply.
()o()o()
The next day was a Sunday. Harry woke up earlier than he would have liked, but he wasn't tired at all. Reluctantly, he slid out of bed and pulled his day clothes on. Wondering what he would do for the day, he walked down the stairs and entered the deserted common room, which still had confetti, party favors and Butterbeer bottles splayed everywhere.
Choosing a seat next to the unlit fireplace, he sat and watched the last of the glowing embers fade away. Casting a glance over to the bottle he'd been trying to summon the night before, he made sure his wand was in his pocket and reached out a hand as if to grab the bottle.
"Accio." he said quietly as to not awake anyone upstairs. The bottle didn't move from its spot on the table. After several more attempts, all of which proved futile, he gave up and sat back in his chair.
Suddenly, an owl flew through the window and landed on the arm of his chair. It extended a leg that had a letter tied to it. Reaching out, Harry took the letter and opened it up as the owl flew off. The letter read;
Potter,
Please come down to my office after breakfast today. There is business of a very important matter to discuss with you.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Wondering what on Earth McGonagall would want him for, he folded up the letter. After a while of sitting and thinking, he became bored and stood up to go to an early breakfast.
()o()o()
Ron and Hermione did not show up during the time Harry sat eating his cinnamon roll as early risers stumbled tiredly into the Great Hall to get a bit of breakfast before relaxing or finishing up last-minute homework, or preparing for exams, O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s. McGonagall sat at the teacher's table, sipping her goblet of pumpkin juice and eyeing Harry. He nodded to her so she would know he got the letter.
When she stood up from the table and walked off, Harry gave her five minutes to get to her office before standing up himself and trudging out of the Great Hall. Time, as it seemed to do more often in recent times, went extremely fast and soon he found himself outside of McGonagall's office. Knocking, he heard her call to him from inside. Opening the door, he walked in to see McGonagall and Dumbledore and Flitwick in the room.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?" he asked McGonagall, slightly shocked to see Dumbledore sitting in McGonagall's chair, hands folded in front of him and Flitwick sitting in a wooden chair, perched on several cushions in order for him to see over the desk.
"Indeed we did, Harry," said Dumbledore with a friendly smile. "Professor Snape told me about your… excitement… during your Occlumency Lessons last night."
"Oh," said Harry, mentally kicking himself for not thinking this would reach Dumbledore's ears sooner or later.
"I think it is extraordinary that a wizard so young could produce such a power, even yourself, Harry. I admit, I never would have expected it from anyone-- not even you in your 'exceeding magical power'-- for the ability to use your magic without use of a wand is very rare, even these days."
"Okay," Harry said, wondering where this was going to go.
"This is why I asked yourself and Professors McGonagall and Flitwick here this morning. I have talked it over with both teachers and they have agreed that we should not ignore such an ability. So, from now on, your Auror Lessons with Professor McGonagall will be cancelled. Instead, you will be meeting Professor Flitwick on Sunday evenings and the two of you will see if you can go any further with your magical gift."
"I can't," Harry cut in. "I tried last night with Ron and Hermione after Occlumency Lessons, but I can't do it when I'm thinking about it."
"All the more reason to practice, Mr. Potter!" squeaked Flitwick excitedly atop his cushion-laden chair. "Perhaps we can strengthen this ability so you may never need a wand again!"
Dismayed, Harry looked down at his wand in his pocket. Never use his wand again?
"But…" he began, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"I know, it will be difficult to part with your wand, for over the years, wizards and their wands form a special bond. Though it is to say, we would not force you to never use it again, but perhaps when need is dire, especially in your position, and your wand is not at hand, you can protect yourself anyway."
"But…"
"This is a gift, Potter." McGonagall lectured. "We should not ignore it. Especially now that You-Know-Who is back."
"Oh, come now, Minerva," said Dumbledore, smiling slightly as if this had once been an old joke shared between him and the Transfiguration teacher. "I thought we'd trained you to say his name."
"I am not a dog, Dumbledore!" said McGonagall defensively, her glasses flashing dangerously. "I will not be trained in anything."
"You are quite right, Minerva; I apologize." said Dumbledore, bowing his head slightly. Nonetheless, McGonagall placed her hands on her hips in irritation, her lips growing thinner, almost to the point of extinction. "Please stop looking at me like that, Minerva," Dumbledore continued, "Of course you're not a dog-- you're a cat. Now, may we please continue?"
"Of course." said McGonagall stiffly, dropping her hands back to her sides.
"So," Dumbledore continued, putting his fingertips together, "it is decided. Professor Flitwick will teach Harry. Thank you for coming, Harry, and Professor Flitwick will see you tonight."
Harry nodded, knowing full well that Dumbledore would not accept a rebuttal from him, and stood up.
"Bye, Professors," he said and turned on his heel, towards the door.
()o()o()
"That's wonderful, Harry," said Hermione as she scrawled on a long piece of parchment. Though she was not watching Harry, she was nodding her head, the quill in her hand going wild. "I'm glad that they've decided to take this seriously."
"Like I don't have enough to do, though," Harry said wearily, sinking into his chair.
"But this is serious," said Hermione, for the first time, looking Harry strait in the eye. "This isn't like class or Quidditch where you do it because it's your grade, or it's fun. This is to maybe save your life one day."
Harry shook his head.
"My life's been saved plenty of times with the use of my wand."
"I think it would be cool, though," said Ron. "I mean, how many people could do what you're doing? It's wicked, if you ask me. When's your first lesson with Flitwick?"
"Tonight," said Harry, checking his watch. "I have to meet him in his classroom at eight o'clock tonight."
"Perfect," said Ron, pulling his bag into his lap next to a purring Crookshanks. "Just enough time for us to finish Snape's homework. I haven't the foggiest idea what the answer is for this question; How does the kidney stone of a horse help many healing potions and why is it poisonous when it's ground and drunk in a simple tea? I couldn't find the answer anywhere in my book."
"It's a trick question," Hermione answered over her parchment, "The kidney stone of a horse isn't poisonous when drunk in a tea. However, the kidney stone of a goat is poisonous when it's served with chamomile and can only be cured with the kidney stone of a horse."
"Hang on," said Ron, pulling a roll of parchment, quill and an ink bottle from his bag. After opening the ink bottle and dipping the quill into it, he held the parchment at arms' length. "Can you say that again? Word-by-word, please."
"Oh, Ron!" said Hermione, glaring at from over the top of her parchment. "Why don't you do it the old-fashioned way? By not copying down what I say and actually look for it?"
"I did look for it!" said Ron angrily. "C'mon, Hermione. It's been a while since I asked your help. Can't you help me out this once?"
"You asked my help on your Transfiguration quiz on Thursday." said Hermione irritably. Finalizing her statement, she yanked her parchment up over her eyes so her face was hidden from both Ron and Harry.
"So what're you doing anyway?" Harry asked.
"If you must know, I'm translating that coin. I'm getting really close and I've picked up the tongue a bit. It's not so hard now, and it's quite interesting."
"When do you think you'll have it done?"
"Sometime in this week, I think."
()o()o()
Several hours later, after finishing up the last of his homework, Harry was walking the path to Flitwick's classroom for his first-ever class on how to not use his wand during situations. Though the whole point of the class was to not use his wand, he still had it stowed safely in his pocket in case he needed it. To him, it seemed odd to not be carrying his wand these days. Ever since he lost his wand in the summer of the Quidditch World Cup, he kept it close, making sure it was not out of sight or reach.
Reaching the Charms Teacher's door, he knocked hesitantly and heard an excited, "Come in!" Pushing the door open, he found Professor Flitwick standing on a pile of books near the window, overseeing the stars and at the North Tower, where Professor Sinistra was preparing her classes for the next night with the Seventh Years.
"Hello, Mr. Potter!" Flitwick said eagerly.
"Hello." said Harry.
"Come in, come in! No need to be standing in the door when there's magic to be done here tonight. You brought your wand, yes?"
Harry nodded, pulling his wand out.
"Here, I'll take that," he said, extending his hand for Harry's wand. Reluctantly, Harry let the Charms teacher take his wand and watched as the small man walked to his desk and locked it in the topmost drawer.
"Don't worry, don't worry, Mr. Potter. You'll get it back at the end of class, not to worry."
Taking a deep sigh, Harry thought to himself, This could be worse; you could be in Snape's office having your brain attacked over and over. With this contemplation in his head, he felt slightly better about these new classes with Flitwick.
"Now, I thought we'd start with a simple First-Year spell. Nothing too difficult yet, otherwise we'll have you here all night." said Flitwick.
"Which spell it that?"
"Just a simple Wingardium Leviosa spell. You'll remember that one? Yes? Good."
Flitwick jumped from the chair by his desk that he was standing on and rushed over to where Harry was standing, not too far into the room.
"Now, you'll have to excuse if this takes a while. I've never, in all my years here, taught a student to use magic without the use of his wand, so I'm as new to it as you are. We'll wing it together. Wing it? Wingardium?"
Harry shrugged and chuckled slightly at Flitwick's botched joke. However, Flitwick noticed Harry's lack of enthusiasm and his shrill happiness dropped several notches.
"I suppose not. I never really was good at jokes, Mr. Potter, you'll have to excuse me. Now!" he clapped his small hands together. "Shall we get down to business? Come into the middle of the room. As you can see, I've set a pillow down on my desk. I don't know how much power of your hand it will take to summon it, so try different things. Try it with you hand at your side, pointing to it with you forefinger might help, I don't know. Maybe just an open hand would work. Just try whatever you can think of and we'll see if anything happens to start with."
Harry stared at the pillow and decided to keep his hand at his side. Focusing his mind on the pink laced pillow resting on Flitwick's desk, he said, "Wingardium Leviosa."
Nothing happened.
"Ah. Now try as you point to it." Harry lifted his hand as Flitwick said and pointed to the pillow as though accusing it of something. He shouted the spell again, and again, nothing happened.
"Open your hand, Mr. Potter. Try--"
Harry opened his hand and chanted the spell over and over. Nothing happened. Both he and Flitwick were silent.
"I can't think of what else to do." Harry admitted.
"Hm," Flitwick said, moving to Harry's side and staring at the pillow. "Perhaps maybe it would help to be a bit closer?"
Harry took several large steps towards the pillow so he was only about five feet away from it. Pointing down to the desk and the pillow, he said the spell. Nothing happened.
"Here," said Flitwick, running back to the chair he was previously standing on. Taking the key from his robes, he unlocked the topmost drawer and took up Harry's long wand in his tiny hand. "Tell me if you can remember-- how far away was the wand from your hand the first time you used magic without it?"
Harry thought back to the night he and Dudley were attacked.
"A few inches."
"And last night?"
"It was in my pocket. I don't know where my hand was."
"When Miss. Granger was testing you last night?"
"She put it in her pocket."
"And the spell she told you to do?"
"The Summoning Charm."
"That magic was extremely advanced for a beginner and your wand was very far away. I think you lack the confidence to do magic without your wand. Perhaps if it was closer to your hand, it would help you." He held Harry's wand up so it was only a few inches away from his hand. "Try now, Mr. Potter."
"Wingardium Leviosa." said Harry halfheartedly, expecting nothing to happen. However, the pillow gave an almightily shudder and rose only about half an inch from desk. Hovering there for only a few seconds, it dropped without Harry's consent, back onto the surface it was lying on before.
"That was wonderful, Mr. Potter!" said Flitwick, bouncing excitedly. "I think we've found the problem. Now, I'll move farther away. See if you can do it again."
()o()o()
An hour and a half later, Harry left Professor Flitwick's classroom, his wand resting saftley in his pocket. Reflecting on the time he spent in the class, he felt he'd done very well. Though he could only get the pillow to hover an inch from the desk after his first attempt, he found that he had better control of the pillow once it was in the air if he swish and flicked his wrist.
Walking into the Common Room, he sat and talked with Ron and Hermione, but then felt slightly sick.
"Maybe it was the kippers at dinner. Go rest and feel better before tomorrow." said Hermione. Harry bid his friends goodnight and strode up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. He changed from his robes to his pajamas and flung himself into bed. Hedwig was resting on the perch Hermione bought her at the last Hogsmede visit.
"Goodnight, Hedwig," Harry said, removing his glasses and setting them beside her. She nibbled his knuckle for a fraction of a second in affection and hooted quietly as Harry pulled his covers up to his chest, instantly falling to sleep due to the hard work he'd done that day.
"My Lord, we've done it. We've found the secrets to the trinket." Wormtongue said pleadingly.
"Of course we have, fool!" Voldemort hissed angrily and he kicked Wormtongue's shin. Wormtongue howled in pain and clutched his knee with his silver hand. "All we have to do is get to the weapon, and Hogwarts will be mine for the taking. The old bat Dumbledore will die first."
"How will we find it, Sir?"
"Idiot, Wormtail. I know where it is. Do not worry about that."
"When will we strike?"
There was an odd silence in which Voldemort's pet snake, Ophidia, hissed on the ground.
"Tomorrow night."
With his scar burning, Harry awoke late at night, the four other boys in the dormitory fast asleep, unable to know that Voldemort would strike Hogwarts soon.
L--
What do you think? I really enjoyed writing this chapter! Well, it's official-- I only have six more chapters to write. I've written on my calendar the days I have to post, which is every four days (posting on the fourth day). I should be posting my next chapter on June 16th, one month until HBP comes out! Hooray! It'll also be easier, because as of Friday, I'm out of school for the summer except for Driver's Ed. And Work, but that's about it! Hooray again!
I've also been writing this story for a year and four days! Amazing! Where does the time go? Thanks for sticking with me, guys, through thick and thin.
Review time!
Ztomrun- Thanks for the review. I'm sorry this story is not completely to your liking, and I hope it gets better for you. It should be getting pretty exciting in the next few chapters (Hopefully!). Enjoy.
knifethrows- Doesn't every author write about opening ink bottles and stuff? J.K. does that, and I'm trying to mimic her writing style to make it seem more J.K.-like. Sorry if it bothers you, but it's the way I write. Thanks for the review.
Satish- Thanks. Sorry. As I say several times, I got a bit confused in the story. I still think of Harry as a fifth year until J.K.'s next book comes out. Silly me. Again, thanks.
Charming-Lynn- Thanks!
Ophidia-black- Did you like the chappie? Yay for Strangeness clubs!
Jeanne2- Thanks very much!
Aanchal- Does it, or is that what I want you to think? Lol. You'll just have to find out when the explination comes: )
Dgrn prncss- I'm really happy you enjoy my story! I hope this was updated pretty quickly! Eek!
foreverfree- Thank you!
Magicgirl45852- I haven't heard of Barron's new book, 'Avalon'! That's cool! I'll have to see if I can find it. He has this other story out (I forget what it's called) but it's about an Oregon girl who does magic or something. I always mean to buy it, but I never do! Darn! Hardly anyone I know has read those books, so I turn people on to them. They're just amazing! My favorite characters are Merlin, Rhia, and Shim. If I were to act in a movie for these books, I'd want to be Rhia, 'cause I think I mostly match her description, and I love how free her character is!
Mistopurr- I'm glad I was able to point readers your way! Anything for you, my friend! Did you like this chapter? I really liked your chapter seven! Really amazing! Poor Legolas! Wait? Whom isreviewing for whom? Lol!
Anonymousangel6694- I'm glad you're enjoying my story. Please remind your cousin for me that plagiarizing is against the rules of this website,not to mention illegal in the real world-- a.k.a. prison. Thank you : )
MeaghanPotter- Thanks for the review!
Trinityelf- No more school! No more school! No more school! I was justthinking aboutthis; have you ever thought of starting your own account on this website?You'd be a really good writer for Aragorn stories!
JPotter101- I updated! Did you enjoy?
Mei1105- I actually must confess. I didn't know she was going to be a Fwooper Bird fanatic until I wrote it out and I was like 'she would be really good in a committee for the survival of an animal. Which one?' I pulled out my 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and saw the Fwooper bird. I was all 'PERFECT!'! Yay for sugar!
JeanieBeanie- Though I don't like to disagree with you ('cause you're awesome) but the 6th book doesn't come out in ten days (five days counting Sunday now. I'm merely writing about when you last reviewed to my story). It comes out JULY 16th, not June 16th. Sorry for the heartbreak. You can check and they have a countdown clock on there. I think we're down to 33 days. I can't wait! Oooh! Two wizard debts! Harry's stocking up, isn't he?
Gogglehead Lover- It's a little surreal, Snape thanking Harry, but what makes sense anymore? Lol! I'm actually not sure. I know it's not going to be a Harry/Ginny. But it's not really a full-blast Harry/Cho either. I'm not focusing on the romance as much as other stuff, but Cho does play a huge part in Harry's life this story. Glad to answer for you!
Thanks for all the reviews! Please send more and I shall be up to 800! I can hardly believe it! Thanks for all your help!
May broomsticks be in your dreams!
Legolas-gurl88
Next chapter: The adventure begins. Hermione translates the coin and Harry figures out the 'riddle'! Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Mark and Ginny try to regain the 'treasure' before Voldemort can get his hands on it.