Disclaimer: HBP SUCKS! GO SUCK AN EGG JKR!
Harry Potter and the Alchemist's Secret
The Wilderness of Life
Something was crackling. Harry could feel dull warmth on his cheek. Groggily, he rolled away from it, faintly aware that he was lying rather uncomfortably on the hard ground, instead of his thin mattress at Privet Drive. Along with the periodic crackling, there was a constant buzzing in his ears. Opening his eyes to darkness, Harry stopped thinking. He sat up quickly, searching himself for his wand. It wasn't there. Squinting through the darkness, he remembered the heat that was now on his back. Harry scrambled around to see a dark figure sitting by a small fire.
"Finally awake are you?" Harry recognized Snape's newly recognizable "non-greasy" voice.
"What the bloody hell happened? Where are we?"
"You remember nothing?"
"I…" Harry stopped himself; it all flashed before his eyes, Flamel, Knockturn Alley, the Ritual, and arriving in the middle of a field, "I do… Where is Hedwig?"
"I suspect she has gone hunting, she wasn't here when I woke."
"Alright then, so what's our next move?"
"I suggest we set up camp here, possibly a house too. It could be a while until we find civilization."
Harry nodded before moving closer to the fire.
"Depending on how far we've gone back, there should be a Roman road close to here. They taught us in Primary School. It should lead to London."
"I agree, there should be some sort of Magical settlement in London. Go back to sleep, we'll set up camp in the morning."
When Harry next woke, the sun was shining on him, his face felt slightly burnt. Groaning, he stretched his stiff back before noticing Snape grumpily sitting infront of a cauldron, stirring a thick blue liquid, his tomato red face set in a painful looking scowl.
"Get out much Professor?"
A grunt was the only response. While stretching his legs, Harry felt a sharp pain in his left ankle, groaning, he realized it was still broken and wrapped in a splint.
"Do you know how to heal broken ankles Professor?"
Snape looked up sharply, ignoring the grin that appeared once Harry saw his sunburned face.
"What happened? How did it break?" he asked, pulling his wand out.
"Oh… in Knockturn Alley yesterday… there was a… um… slight Death Eater problem," Harry said rather quickly, "It was a Bone Breaker Hex."
"Idiot boy, I can heal it, but it will be sore for a few weeks. You should have told me before we left." Snape growled, trying his best to move his face the least bit possible, "Ossis Redintegro!"
Harry's foot began to glow a light blue colour as he felt the bones in his ankle and foot moving around and repairing themselves. It was a unique experience, to say the least. After they each ate a sandwich, which Snape had the common sense to pack, they pulled out a piece of parchment, and with a couple quick spells had a basic map of the area. While Harry looked through a book Snape brought called simply, There's No Place Like Home, the Professor laid down plans for a small home, complete with greenhouses and a potions shed. The book contained had many illustrated spells for erecting small buildings and wards to protect them, like Anti-Muggle Wards, Dark Detectors, and Weather wearing wards.
When the layout was complete, the two Magi began to lay down the foundations in stone. In total there were two greenhouses, a potions shed, a storage shed, and the main house. The potions and storage sheds were made entirely of stone, all of which was conjured or transfigured from the surrounding landscape. The main house took nearly two hours to erect, mostly due to the plumbing and other features that both Harry and Snape insisted on adding to the original design. After the house was built they began to work on the greenhouses, one for food, the other for potions ingredients; Snape insisted on both stating that he refused to forage for both food and necessary potions ingredients.
The greenhouses were the most difficult, as it was required to conjure both metal and glass, refined materials needed much more power to conjure than unrefined ones like stone and wood. Once the greenhouses were complete (after about three hours and many broken panes of glass), both wizards noticed that they weren't in the least bit tired, maybe a little achy from holding their arms steady while levitating the glass into place for the greenhouses.
After a short break for lunch, which consisted of Butterbeer and more sandwiches, Harry and Snape began to furnish the house and storage sheds. Doing the sheds first, they were left with simple wooden shelves and tables, free from any design or adornment. The house was furnished modestly, though tastefully. Snape insisted on the entire house being furnished in cherry or mahogany wood and chose all the furniture designs out of the book. The house only had two levels, the bottom floor holding a living room, kitchen, dining room, and a small pantry/storage room. The upper floor had two bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath, and a small study with two workspaces.
When the house was furnished and the two wizards were unpacked, they left the house and began to circle the area of the house, at certain intervals they would draw symbols with their wands and drop small amounts of blood on them. Harry did this at the insistence of Snape, who refused to cast the wards alone. The wards extended approximately twenty metres from all sides of the buildings, which were arranged in an equidistant, circular pattern. Once all of the symbols were complete, Harry and Snape walked to what was approximately the centre of the warding circle and again dropped blood on the ground.
"I need you to place your hands on top of mine. I'll perform the actual warding while you provide your own magic. You will complete the warding and activate them with the incantation 'Incipio Munimentum' followed by 'Castrum Munitus'. Do not speak until it is complete, is that understood?"
"Yes Sir," came Harry's reply as he placed his hands loosely over the professors.
Harry closed his eyes and began to project his magic as he had during the jumping ritual, the odd tingle returned to his toes and the buzzing that had been going through his head all day became more pronounced. Snape began to chant long incantations in Latin. The words became vague as Harry was engulfed in the magic that was becoming thick in the air. He opened his eyes to see the symbols and runes begin to glow brightly. A thin, but bright blue line appeared through each symbol joining them in a circle; similar lines had also arced skyward, creating a dome high above Harry's head. As the strings of magic being incanted began to sound increasingly distant, Harry and Snape both watched as the area between the lines, including the ground they were standing on began to shimmer with the same light that was becoming visible in the air around them.
As Snape continued incanting the light – which was more of an ambient colour than light – began to swirl with a myriad of colours. Red and Gold were added during an Egyptian incantation, Purples, Greens, and all colours of the spectrum began to swirl faster and faster as each ward was layered upon and intertwined with the rest. As if at once, Snape's far away tones suddenly ended. Harry looked toward the Professor, who he could barely see through the swirling magic around them, which as Harry now saw, was being generated from between their hands. The swirls of magic were still occasionally passing through their hands and growing bigger. Looking up he saw Snape looking at him intently, taking a deep breath Harry opened his mouth and began his incantations,
"Incipio Munimentum!" the words came out in a low, eerily echoing voice that physically reverberated inside the dome, nearly knocking both Harry and Snape off balance. Almost at once, a blindingly white light erupted from between their hands; blinking a few times to rid themselves of the colourful shapes that were interrupting their vision, when their eyes returned to normal the swirling colours were gone. They had all been pushed to the thin surface of the dome which was now thicker, clear and swirling. It was magnificent. Both Wizards openly gaped at the sight, it was like swimming underwater and looking up to see the sun shining through the surface, the ever moving liquid looking like a force being restrained by the air above it and at the same time calming and gentle.
"Castrum Munitus!" this incantation was spoken in Harry's own voice, although the echo was still present. A beam of light burst from between the two wizards, knocking them off their feet. The colourless beam shot directly up into the apex of the dome and spread across the rest of the dome, its power being enhanced by the residual magic in the air. And then it rained.
Harry and Snape had already returned to their feet and walked to the edge of the wards, looking through at the skewed landscape outside the dome, they turned when the wards abruptly fell to the ground. When they passed over the two wizards, they were covered from head to toe; the magic felt safe, comforting, and powerful. The magic didn't however, stick to them. It slid over them to cover the ground around them. Turning around, the Wizards saw that every millimetre of the area was covered with the magic, from the roof of the house, to the walls of the sheds, to the windows of the greenhouses. After a few seconds, the magic began to seep into the surfaces it covered; when the last of the swirling substance had disappeared, both Harry and Snape noticed they were remarkably tired, not to mention the constant buzzing in their ears had significantly diminished. With understanding looks to each other, they returned to the house and their own rooms respectively, where they both fell into well needed, comfortable sleep.
At the exact moment Harry recited the oddly echoing incantation, wizards across Brittania, and even a few on the continent, all turned towards Surrey feeling an odd sense and a slight buzzing in their minds then immediately returned to their work, ignoring the odd event completely; except for a few. Westward, a man turned towards Surrey and raised his silver eyebrows in surprise and without a thought he appeared in Diagon Alley, where he made his way into Londinium and began walking down the old Roman road southward. Farther north on a cold island in the Orkneys, dark eyes narrowed and a body stiffened on his throne, with a mere thought, dark servants began gliding towards the presence he had sensed while the man hurried towards his library, cursing servants as they bowed before him. And in a small, unnamed tavern in Northern Scotland, four friends shared an intrigued look before retreating to their nearby castle.
Severus Snape awoke to the smell of food being cooked. Groaning, he got up and shuffled lethargically to the simple bathroom he had added onto his bedroom, 'I can always fix it later,' he smirked to himself. After taking a fast shower Severus found himself frantically searching through his belongings for the bottle of oil he used to keep the hair from falling into potions and his eyes. Growling, he realised in his frantic packing he had forgotten to include it. With great resignation, he tied the hair back with a thin black string he conjured and made his way downstairs.
When he arrived downstairs Harry was standing at the small table putting food in front of a short man with mousy white hair and beady brown eyes. He was dressed in brown robes and a short wooden stick leaned on the table beside him. He was obviously a wizard, as they had just cast Muggle repelling charms with the wards. Approaching the table, wand held loosely at his side, Severus sent a glare towards Harry.
"Who exactly is this, Potter?" Harry's face flickered towards Severus' with a confused look in his eyes.
"I don't know. The language is very different," Severus glared harder, if that was possible, towards Harry.
"Had you no thought to use a translation charm? You learn about them in third year for a reason,"
Harry had the decency to look abashed while Severus pointed his wand at the old man and muttered a translation spell, when his wand flashed; both Severus and Harry were stunned at the results.
James was making very good time considering his age, over the past hundred years he had kept a low profile, most of the older Muggles still recognised him and he hadn't had the time to create a new identity. He was walking down a southern road towards the magical burst he had sensed earlier that day. It was past dark now and the sun was rising, it was imperative he got there soon if they were who he thought they were. Two Magi, out of time, vulnerable to this time's Magic. Yesterday he had sensed the magical burst, larger than should be possible unless a large group of Sorcerers worked together – which was highly unlikely in this time period. The only Magi on the Islands had their castle in Scotland, and moving about wasn't common during this time, thus leaving the only other explanation – Jumpers.
James had met nearly all of the Jumpers whose trips had intersected with his own, he himself had been thrown back to a time where the kingdom of Sumeria was thriving and others were just beginning. He had saved many Minoans, preserving what would later become the Greek Civilization, protected Mesopotamia from atop the Tower of Babylon, and destroyed countless lives with the Arcane knowledge taught to him by the times only magic users. James had helped facilitate the development and refinement of Magic, from the Chaotic magics of Mesopotamia, Atlantis, and Lemuria; the Natural magic of Egypt and Nubia, and later the first Wizarding magics in the Etruscan and Greek societies. He had seen countless lives and civilizations born and die, and he was tired of it; but he had taken it upon himself to help other Jumpers in their journeys and until his time came up, he would continue.
Now, in the distance James could see a small group of buildings atop a grassy hill, focusing slightly he opened his senses and saw that each building was dripping with magic, 'Wards' he thought to himself. The sun had just risen as he made his way up the hill, the buildings now looked well constructed and he could feel the powerful wards all around him as they let him through. There was some activity in the main house, he could see through the windows. So he knocked on the door.
Harry woke up on the floor of his bedroom, tangled in a mound of blankets. The sun was slowly rising outside his window. Blearily, he made his way into the bathroom and into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed and making his way downstairs to start on some breakfast. After five minutes of rummaging through empty cupboards. He decided that food would have to be conjured until they could find a town to buy their own. With a few incantations and a wave of his wand, there was a basket of eggs, slabs of ham and bacon, bread, and a tin full of tea waiting to be cooked into breakfast. Soon the smell of food was wafting through the house and there was a knock on the door. Harry cautiously approached, wand in hand and opened the door. An old man stood there in a brown robe, his mousy, scraggly hair sat over his shoulders and beady blue eyes looked over Harry just as his own were.
"Can I help you sir?" Harry said carefully, allowing the harmless looking man inside.
The man replied something in a guttural sort of language and Harry stood slightly stunned. The man had to be a wizard, there was no doubt of that as they had included Muggle-repelling charms in the warding yesterday, but the language seemed to be an impossible barrier as Harry invited the man to sit down and they both attempted to communicate. Sighing in frustration, Harry decided to feed the man, a sign of goodwill. As he was piling food on the man's plate, he noticed Snape looking at the man in distaste. Gulping nervously, Harry tried to explain.
James listened in amusement as the older man scolded the younger one, for letting him in, and not using a translation charm. 'Must be a new development' he thought to himself. While musing to himself, he didn't notice the man raise his wand, and it was only thousands of years of experience that let him know an unknown spell was making its way towards him, jumping up he grabbed his walking stick and raised it at the spell, deflecting it towards the opposite wall. The younger one had also drawn his wand and was now pointing it at him. Deciding to end the tension, James lowered his wand-cum-walkingstick and saw the older man begin a movement and incantation with his wand. Holding his hands up James quickly said,
"'Old on Guv, no 'arm done! I was just lookin' fa summat ta eat! No need ta get nasty innit?"
There was silence. Snape stood stunned, James with his hands raised, and Harry couldn't breathe. He was on the floor, red faced laughing in silent mirth. Until he snorted. The pig like sound broke the scene; James burst out laughing, as Snape scowled at nothing, and retreated upstairs.
Later that day, Harry and Snape had learned James (Call me Jim)'s name, along with his assumed identity of Merlin. James explained to them that in his utter boredom he had taken it upon himself to teach all those who were out of time and vulnerable to much of the Ancient Magic they would encounter. James began their tuition that very day.
"Righ' O, you lot! Firs' fings firs', wot do you know abou' Mind Magic?"
Harry looked at Snape grimly, while Snape glared at the man in front of him.
"I am a Master Occlumens and Legilimens. Potter has had tutelage in Occlumency, although he appears to have no talent for the art," drawled Snape smugly.
James appeared to squint at Harry before shaking his head, "'E didn't 'ave a good teacher now din' 'e? I see it in 'is aura! A Mind Mage if I see it righ' an' I do!"
Snape's cheeks turned slightly pinkish as he looked at the quite obviously low class man in front of him and their eyes locked, James' seemed to flash slightly and Harry could see Snape clenching his teeth.
"Master?" James gasped, "that's no' even a novice skill level, it is! Wizards in this time spen' years an' years in trances buildin' their defenses! Read this book, then we can start teachin' ya summat useful," James handed them each a book that appeared seemingly from nowhere.
James picked up his walking stick and left the small house, Snape stormed upstairs, presumably to his study, while Harry sat by and watched the events with slight amusement. Opening the untitled book, Harry was greeted with pages full of unfamiliar text, definitely not similar to any of the familiar Romanic scripts that Hogwarts students generally encountered. The text seemed similar to Hermione's Ancient Rune studies, yet immensely more complicated. Flipping back to the first pages he had missed, after the title page was a peculiar one Harry had never seen before. It was completely blank, except for the outline of a hand made up of tiny runic symbols that were more familiar to Harry. With only a slight hesitation, Harry placed his right hand on the outline. The tiny runes began to move, spinning along the outline of Harry's hand, a slight tingle that Harry now recognised to be his own magic seemed to flow down his arm and into the book. It shuddered for a moment before the runes stopped spinning, ejecting Harry's hand, and flipping to the first page.
Anciente and Moste Afearede Magicks
657th Edition
Harrolde James Potter
Within this texte you will finde Magicks moste feared and lost to time. Each edition of this texte is unalike; the runic symboles alter the contentes to the owner's particulare needse. To begin, there are three classes of Magick used by all creatures, man and beaste alike. There are two wayse to access Magick, Personal Magick is the supply of Magickal energise within a Witch or Wizard's body, there is also External Magick, whiche lives in all thingse around us. After a briefe outline of these Magicks, theoretical and practical lessonse will reveale themselves. Do not try to skip chapterse, they will be unreadeable until you finishe the previous lessonse.
Chaos
Chaotic Magick began withe the beginningse of civilization. The moste unrefined of Magicks, it is also the moste dangerous. Magick in it's essence is a forme of energy, with no direction. If used in conjunction with the moste Anciente of languages, these raw energeyse may take limited formes. Chaos uses Personal Magicks to purify and make use of External Magicks, this makse the art highly dangerouse to all it is in contact with. Along with the creation of written language, this Magick became lost. These are the knowne classes of Chaotic Magick:
Raw Magick
Fore Offense, or Defense
Bloode Ritualse
To channel immense amountse of Magick.
Necromancy
Controlling the deade.
Summoning spiritse.
Preventing deathe.
Chaotic Magicks are far too dangerouse to be kepte in knowledge. They have no practical applicationse beyond destruction.
Natural
Natural Magick has been practised since the heighte of the Mesopotamian Civilizations. This Magick is used by moste beastes and creaturse of Magick. It has much more practical applicationse than Chaos, and is less damaging to the body and mindse of its practitionerse. Natural Magick fell from popularity with the Hebrewe and Christian religionse, it is seen as devil's worke and is becoming lost to Wizardkind as you reade. Natural Magick, uses a combination of Personal and External Magicks, to influense or affecte the casterse' will. To master a branch is to gain the title of Mage, e.g. Elemental Mage, Mind Mage, Rune Mage. The following are the classes of Natural Magic:
Elemental
The four elementse of Earthe, Fyre, Water, and Aire.
Elementse are created frome Personal Magick, and use is limited to the casterse' imagination. (Moste Wizarding Spellse are possible with the proper knowledge)
It is rumoured that demons and holy beingse use elementse of Lighte and Shadowse.
Spiritual
Animagus: A wizardse' inner animal, transformation.
Animal Magick: A (sometimese unwanted) transformationale ability, with a class of beaste. Only three knowne formse exist today.
Lupimagus: Canine traitse. See: Lycanthropy
Parslemagus: Serpine traitse. See: Parslemagic
Dracomagus: Draconian traitse. See: Dragon Magick
Beastespeeche: Ability to converse vocally with all beastse.
Ritualse
To increase physical abilityse.
Runeic
Spellse and Enchantementse: There is a Rune fore everything, and fore everything there is a rune.
Druidic
Herblore and Potionse
Herbse and Potionse to give raw Magicks purpose (through Ritualse)
Magick of the Mind
Offense, and Defense
Occlumensy: Defense of the Minde
Legilimensy: Attacke of the Minde
Structurisation
Language interpretation, Intelligence.
Abilityse
When one has mastered other aspectse of this branche, many will gain a mental ability:
Telepathy: To mentally speak with other sentiente beingse.
Telekinesis: To move thingse with the minde.
Some have been known to have Pyrokinesis, or similar offensive abilityse, they are not Magickal in nature, and are purely mental in creation.
Wizarding
Wizarding Magick is the moste recente developmente, and the moste refined class of Magick. It relise purely on Personal Magick, and ability is thus limited to onese' Magickal Core size. It is becoming more popular, as it is the moste simple to use, it is however, an Academic Magick; that is to say, it relise not on intent or will, but specific incantationse, wand movementse, and state of minde. It requirese a wand, which amplifies Magickal power, to use. Many users of Natural Magick have founde with a focal instrumente, such as a wand, Natural Magick is easier to preforme. Wizarding Magick has evolved with the Christian Religion, and as suche, its branches are defined accordingly.
Lighte Magick
Healing Magicks
Neutral Magicks
Defense
Shields, Wards, etcetera…
Personal
Passive Magics
Summoning (telekinesis)
Levitation
Communication
Transfiguration
Changing one object into another.
Divination
Arithmancy: The Study of Numberse.
Darke Magicks
Offensive
Curses: Spells that have immediate physical or mental effecte that must be sustained by the caster.
Hexes: Spells that have immediate or delayed physical or mental effectse that are permanente.
Jinxes: Spells that affect victim's perception, e.g. Eye-Crossing Jinx causes the victime to see as if theire eyese were crossed.
Magickal Classes
As mentioned before, there are different Magickal Core sizes, these sizes are given titlse. Likewise for Chaotic and Natural Magicks, titlse are gained from branch mastery.
Muggle
Non-Magical
Squib
Passive Magicks allow potionse to be brewed.
Sensitivity to Magick
Witch/Wizard
Lowest amount of power.
Mage
Levels are designated with High and Grand, (Mage/High Mage/Grand Mage)
Warlock
Levels are designated with High and Grand
Sorceror/Sorceress
Levels are designated with High and Grand.
This level and higher can use staffs safely to focus their power.
Magus
Laste and higheste level of Personal Magick.
Archon
Natural/Chaotic classes.
Separate title gained after branche mastery (plus two)
(Archon/Lord Archon/Overlord Archon)
Master of Chaotic Magick is knowne as Immortal Archon
The book went on to the first three chapters, Beginning Mind Magic, Theoryse of Meditation, and Practical Applicationse of Meditation in Occlumensy. After reading these chapters, Harry realised why it was so common in this time, yet uncommonly rare in his time. The original process, which had no doubt been lost over the past thousand years or so, was simple yet extremely time consuming, depending on natural disposition the process had been known to take up to ten years. The first stage was to meditate, to find one's centre. A point where there are no distractions, after the centre has been achieved, the wizard would use it to create a representation of their mind, it is unique to every person. From there, the incredibly time consuming process of building of mental defenses and offenses took place.
Sighing, Harry closed the book to see that it was dark out, and Snape and James were sitting at the table discussing the theory of Mind Magic. With slight resignation, he joined them, mentally preparing himself for another discussion of Snape's rigid ideas on theory vs. practise.
Over the next two days, James made sure they had a firm grasp of the theories. Harry was currently attempting to find his centre; Snape had already done it and was currently building his defenses. Harry was sitting in his bedroom crosslegged, with his eyes closed. He was having difficulty 'clearing his mind', apparently the process was quite simple, but he hadn't achieved much clarity thus far. With slight resignation, Harry left his room to find James, who had taken to walking through local forests and foraging for plants to start in the greenhouses. After a half hour walk and a few 'Point Me' charms, Harry found James in a small glade.
The trees were thick and moss covered, the ground was also host to a thick emerald moss. In the centre of the glade was a circle of stones, not large, but eerily similar to those at Stonehenge. In the centre of the circle stood a rough grey fountain and from its black tip flowed crystal clear water. The water then fell into roughly hewn troughs where it entered a system of streams that surrounded the monolithic stones. James was looking at the fountain with interest, brows furrowed in concentration. He tapped his gnarled walking stick against the fountain, to have it bounce slightly off a shimmering field of energy. Nodding, he turned to look at Harry,
"One o' you's involved wif a prophecy?"
Harry's eyes widened slightly, before hesitantly nodding,
"How did you know?"
"Tha'" James jerked his head towards the fountain, "Is a Lemurian Fountain. Only seen one of 'em im my life, I 'ave. Mind you, that was a' the heigh' of their civilization, a few thousan' years ago, give or take. They used 'em to speak wiv' their Gods; an' to receive gifts."
"But how did you know about the prophecy?"
"The fountains only show up near someone 'Oo needs it. An' that's usually got summat to do wif a prophecy."
Harry looked away, nodding sadly.
"I have to kill a Dark Lord. He's been after me since before I was born."
"Well wot are you standing there for? Its' go' your gift innit?" Harry walked closer to the fountain, looking confusedly at the black tip, "Go on an' take it ou'!"
Harry hesitantly reached for the black tip, when the shield that had knocked James' walking stick away didn't flare up; Harry grabbed the tip and pulled. There was a slight glow that flowed through the thicket as he pulled the now, rather long, piece of black wood from the fountain. Harry now noticed the black thing he was pulling from the fountain was in fact a staff, the wood was completely black, resembling ebony, but unlike ebony it was the deepest of blacks, it actually reminded him of Snape's robes.
The staff appeared to be slightly taller than Harry, just less than six feet. The tip appeared to be four separate pieces that twisted upwards into a tapered point; inside the hollow tip appeared to be a multifaceted crystal, it was clear and light reflected through it shining rainbows throughout the mossy glen. Water was running down the staff and Harry's arm in shining rivulets; the water didn't feel like water at all, rather, it reminded him of the tingle of magic that now ran through his veins. On a whim, Harry dipped his head to the fountain and took a sip. As he did so, he felt his head get light; Harry continued to drink from the fountain and began to feel magic pulse around him. Little lights flittered through the clearing, and the mosses began to grow. Blood was pumping in his ears as he raised his head. The fountain was still flowing, if at a lessened pace; the stone circle now looked overgrown and wild. James looked on silently, taking careful note of the events.
Without any real intent, Harry noticed that the staff jerked slightly and began to hover in font of him, a small blade appeared in his hands, and as if by magic (Harry chuckled to himself slightly at this thought), he ran it over both palms before squeezing his hands together over the tip of the staff. As the blood dripped over the crystal entombed within the tip, it began to glow green. A warm wind picked up around Harry, spiralling around him, it picked up moss, dust, water and blood. The four elements mixed in the air and began to surround the staff, where it formed into a flowing script. The silver script flowed up the length of the staff and along each of the prongs which twisted to form the tip. Harry grasped the staff with both hands, causing the elegant script to glow brightly before fading and quiet whispering in his ear; the Gods were speaking to him. Harry heard a clapping sound behind him and turned to see James applauding him with a smile on his face. The two walked out of the clearing silently, both with smiles on their faces. James was happy with the knowledge that Harry would now be able to protect the future; and Harry with the knowledge that the Gods themselves were on his side against Voldemort.
When the two Mages exited the forest, they began making their way back to the house. Harry with new staff in hand, and James hovering a cart full of various plants for the greenhouses. As they approached the hill on which the house was situated, they both noticed the warm twilight noises disappear. The remaining sunlight disappeared, and the sunset dimmed and finally disappeared. The tall grasses around them stopped swaying in the wind as a chill frost rose about them. Harry stood to attention, staff held outward; he'd never let the foul beasts best him, and he wasn't about to start. James looked around in slight confusion; then he felt it, the cold gripping his chest, his very self began to freeze in fear. Dementors.
They were on a mission for their master. To destroy the powerful beings that he had sensed. They were their master's chosen, the ones he preferred above all else. He had honoured them by allowing them to perform his will. They glided over the countryside, passing over a group of buildings they slowed. Two humans in the distance. Wizards. They moved to attack. To kill. For their lord. Lord Azkaban.
The dark beasts swooped down to attack. James, living up to his alias of Merlin, conjured a bright white light that knocked three of the Dementors to the ground, their dark robes, surprisingly untattered, fluttered around as they fell to the meadow below. As James made his way, firing bolts of white light from his hand and walking stick towards them, Harry grasped his staff tight and allowed his magic to flow through him. As the voice of his mother filled his head, and the sight of Sirius falling through the veil flashed before his eyes, seven Dementors surrounded Harry. James, unable to help as he was currently dealing with three of the demons himself, yelled,
"'APPY THOUGHTS 'ARRY!"
The yell from James snapped Harry out of his fears, and he concentrated on the words the Gods spoke to him, the hope they had given him. The staff's crystal, now hued emerald, began to glow. The silver script also brightly appeared as Harry yelled,
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" bringing the staff up and slamming it sharply against the ground.
A white glow surrounded him and began to crackle slightly along the ground as a white mist billowed from the bottom of the staff. The Dementors appeared to slow slightly as the mist approached them. The cloud of white congealed into the familiar form of a stag, before a beam of white light exploded from the tip of the staff into the cloud. The cloudy form became solid; it was as if Harry had transfigured the cloud into a living stag. It appeared to be solid and was now glowing with power. Prongs nodded once to Harry, before turning to the Dementors. When Prongs turned towards the Dementors, Harry noticed there was still some of the white mist surrounding the Dementors, holding them in place. It was spiralled around them, and they appeared to be in pain. Multiple rays of light sped from the staff, turning the tendrils into ethereal vines. Just before Prongs charged in attack, Harry noticed the vines had small flowers over them, 'Lilies' he thought silently.
Prongs charged the Dementors, which released bloodcurdling screams as they were gored by the magnificent stag's antlers. Black blood covered the ground, bubbling and scorching it. James looked on in wonder at the seven Dementor corpses as Prongs bowed to Harry and disappeared in a flurry of lily petals. Wordlessly, Harry set fire to the corpses, burning them to ash. The three remaining Dementors left in a fury, their companions had been killed.
As Harry and James entered the house, James broke the silence with,
"You gonna' show me that charm or what?"
After a brief explanation of the Patronus Charm, Harry made his way to his bedroom, where he sat crosslegged, allowing his staff to rest on his palms. He slipped into a meditative trance, concentrating on the image of Prongs surrounded by the swirling Lilies, Harry's centre rose around him, and he found himself within his mind, where he could begin building his defenses. Downstairs, James smiled as he practised the Patronus Charm; the boy was progressing faster than expected, he would find his way, with or without the help of the Potions Master. Thinking of Snape, James slipped upstairs to make a few changes to the man's book; after all, he wasn't sure the book would detect the man's allegiances, and he had to make sure he learned as little as possible.
Author's Notes: I'M NOT DEAD! I'm good and alive and writing. I have STILL yet to start fixing Witchcraft, New Beginnings will be called Hp & the Sorcerer's Trials after the next update. I'm about 25 done the next chapter of New Beginnings and around 50 on the next chapter of Witchcraft. Any questions should find me over at hope you enjoyed this latest chapter!