Chapter 3
Beta: Darklord331
Charms, Defence Against The Dark Arts and Transfiguration, three core subjects that are vital in making a wizard, especially one that has to go to a magical school. Now these three subjects in particular stood out from the rest of the books, due to one crucial fact.
Magical Theory, these books had described four aspects of magic. Intent, Will power, Imagination and Magical Power.
Of which it described the forms of how the four aspects were used in conjunction to perform in that specific subject. Transfiguration as an example, Magical Power is the base that is needed to cast any spell, whether it succeeds or fails, depends on the Imagination and Will power more than the general Intent.
However, if the caster does not picture the transfiguration happening, the intent of the caster wanting their magic to transform the target would supersede the needed imagination, and can function, if struggling a bit.
It was… intriguing, to note that while I assumed that I could merely just point my wand and say the incantation, I could cast any spell, and I could. But I couldn't change them, I couldn't move them, in a way that I wanted the spell to move.
Magic wasn't intelligent in a way that it dictates which is light magic and which is dark magic, but it had an understanding of the conscious and subconscious intent of the individual that is driven by their emotions, the magic is just a tool, that with enough emotion could kill anyone just as it had.
However there was still something that was pissing me off.
Why does Latin or even a bastardized version of it hold power? It shouldn't because of the simple fact that it doesn't make sense. Is there a connection between the meaning of the root words and its effects, using symbolism to cast the spell?
Stupefy wouldn't make sense as the latin word is stupere, so it shouldn't be working and yet it does?
Does it work because I know that it should stun people, and even if that was a factor, the spell and its effects are listed, so I should know that it stuns people, so my intent, that is my knowledge of it stunning, the spell works because of my intent, and if it is my intent, would the incantations not matter?
Fuck J.K. Rowling and her inability to write a magic system, I would have preferred an explanation on this than her twitter bullshit.
Was it because during spell creation those Latin words were given power by the individual and their magic? Connection of the meaning and effect of the words, using symbolism to cast the spell?
Is it just Intent? Silent casting works, and I could just learn it now? And most spells are just pointing at the target… At least I think so? There maybe something about drawing runes in the air? I need to look at wand movements, and that means another trip to Diagon Alley.
Putting that off, I proceeded to lay on the bed and play around with the snowy white owl that I had yet to name.
Browsing through Flourish and Blotts, the textbooks I needed from the first year set books list were already bought. There was a corner in the shop that had everything organised by subject.
But although I looked, there was still nothing on Occlumency, I already had my book explaining wand movements. Leaving a sigh, I headed towards the area with the shopkeeper, who was writing on parchment.
"Excuse me, ma'am." I asked, politely.
The woman's head jerked up, from her seat.
"Eh? Who's that? What? What?" The old lady fumbled around her neck, finally finding her glasses chain and placing them neatly on the end of her nose. "Oh. Who are you then?"
"My brother sent me to find some books. Do you have any advanced books about the mind? Something about Ock- Ocle- Oclumme- something about mind magic?" I asked, adding disappointment at the end.
Grey eyes stared behind thick frames of glasses, eventually leaving a sigh as she pointed.
"Go ahead dearie," She said, pointing at a bookshelf. "Somewhere on the left, it should be. My eyes aren't what they used to be, but they should be there."
Turning my head, she seemed to have pointed at a small balcony that looked out over the shop on one side, the walls filled with books.
They must have put it up there, where most children won't reach.
Stepping forwards I began reading the book spines. Eyes moved eagerly over the leather-bound books. I mainly took defence books, some charms and transfiguration after giving them a brief skim. As I went to the downstairs area, something caught my eye.
Grasping the book, wedged between two larger tomes, I tried to pry it out. With trembling fingers, I finally managed to work a slender little volume out from between its neighbours.
Wiping the front, trying to get rid of the dust, I looked at the title.
Protection Charm Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Counter Legilimency
Holding the book tight, I carefully added it to the pile and looked around.
A few minutes later, I was sitting in an ice-cream shop, as I contemplated my recent addition, the buzzing crowd of the alley serving as whitenoise.
Occlumency. The art of protecting the mind from outside invasion and influence. I needed it, far more than I thought. Gamer's Mind doesn't do anything other than make me calm, I don't know if mind-reading is part of the psychological protection.
It didn't help that it was actually a fascinating subject too. The number of ways to enforce Occlumency is staggering in its versatility, with enough control anyone can come up with any elaborate defence they can think of, mostly walls.
There's the problem, walls don't actually keep Legilimens out, they will only alert you to the attempt. A beginner will try to batter them down and will eventually succeed if the defender isn't quick enough to reinforce themselves. A more experienced user however will subtly probe for a crack they can exploit without alerting their target and simply slip in entirely unnoticed and have free reign to one's innermost thoughts.
And again, totally weird that this book was just sitting there, or maybe the wizarding world just has weird standards, wasn't there a part of the Ministry that dealt with Obliviations?
The days passed with agonizing slowness, I kept to my room just like the Dursleys were hoping I would do. But that also didn't mean I wouldn't casually twirl the wand around the house whenever I wanted, and perhaps practice moving some items and transforming other items in front of them. The afternoons were mostly spent on practicing spells, I gained a skill a little later with practice.
[Spellcasting Proficiency] (Adept)
Casting spells faster and with better accuracy.
Other than trying to level that skill up, I was attempting to master Occlumency. It was easy considering step one was to clear your mind, Gamer's Mind helping to calm me down.
It was old magic, very very old magic. No exciting developments to record in recent years, perhaps even decades. I promised to at least do an hour of practice every day, trying to at least get the skill notification.
It turned out that meditating on the bed just made me fall asleep faster, so I couldn't practice on the nice soft comfortable bed but on the floor.
Sitting still and thinking of nothing, was boring, more so when I could calm myself and restart it again and again, it became less boring and more tedious.
Opening my eyes, I was greeted with a room and in the corner an owl perch, I finally named her Aven, typical but easy to remember, I sighed in disappointment. Picking up the book, I reread the text again.
Occlumency is a defensive form of mind magic. It is used to prevent a practitioner of Legilimency from penetrating your mind. A strong Legilimens can navigate through the many layers of a person's mind and correctly interpret their findings.
The naive call this mind-reading, but make no mistake, the mind is not a book to be read. A truly exceptional Legilimens does not require a wand or incantation. A Legilimens merely needs eye contact to judge a person's surface feelings and intentions.
Occlumency involves clearing one's mind to prevent a Legilmens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts. More advanced Occlumency involves suppressing only the thoughts, emotions, and memories that the invading Legilimens is seeking.
A strong Occlumens can thus make the Legilimens believe he is telling the truth when he is lying or lying when telling the truth. This requires a great deal of will power and practice, however the benefits of Occlumency are vast. A master Occlumens has a great deal of control over his or her emotions and is even capable of resisting Veritaserum.
Looking at it, I had to scowl in annoyance. Standing up I started to pace, as I thought about the text. The book said to clear the mind, because apparently an empty mind was a well-protected one. I spent time studying and trying to fill my head with knowledge of everything and I'm expected to just clear it out? There has to be something about this.
Clearing the mind? If there's nothing there no one would see anything? Is that what they meant?
Just think of nothing, just think about… nothing? All I could think about is about the weird moment where I'm sleeping but not sleeping… like a moment between waking up and sleeping? Taking a deep breath I try again.
Just nothing, maybe a color? Grey, it's bland, there and doesn't make an impact. So picture grey, just grey.
Skill Created!
[Occlumency] (Novice)
Cost: MP Varies
Allows the user to clear the mind and project nothing into external forces
Finally, after all this time. Kind of basic, but I can practice this every night before bed. With that final thought I decided to finally sleep, entering the state as soon as my head hit the pillow.
After a while it was time.
Sitting in a compartment, as outside was filled with families waving their children goodbye, I could feel my heart drip down into sadness before calm overtook it. I sigh as I figured it out finally.
Harry was still alive, and can affect me. I forgot about him, still technically being alive.
I literally told you that a few minutes after you got this body.
Why are you here? I thought you left.
I had better things to do. Nice to see you progressed… somewhat.
Fuck off.
I ignored the Game as I proceeded to fill my time reading.
About twenty minutes into my reading, the compartment door opened and two girls stepped inside.
"Hello." I said, politely.
They ignored me as they took their seats on the opposite side of the room and placed their respective trunks under their seats.
The train's whistle sounded, and I could feel as it moved out of the station. All things considered, it could be worse.
One girl had blonde hair, blue eyes and seemed to be trying to keep a poker face, but failing miserably. The other girl was opposite with black hair and brown eyes, and seemed to be talking louder. Both girls were talking, trying to whisper but failing.
I could hear a trolley being pulled, and a jovial-looking woman pushed a cart full of sweets with a full smile, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"I'd like a treacle tart."
There was a reason this was Harry's favorite food, I had to wonder why though.
"It will be a Sickle dearie," she said as she took a pentagonal box from the cart.
"Thank you." I said, as I handed the coin.
"Enjoy the trip, dear."
I took the tart as I went back to my seat.
The two girls were munching away at a cake by the time I took my seat again.
I decided to eat the tart and immediately knew I had to buy more, or maybe it's free at Hogwarts?
One of the girls was gagging as she spit something into her hand. I spotted an opened box of jellybeans and guessed what had happened.
I had to let out a laugh at the choice, it seemed dumb to leave it to chance to eat something disgusting.
"What, have something to say?"
"Pardon?" I had to resist smiling as the blonde asked quite aggressively.
"You're a muggle-born aren't you. I suppose this must all be very strange to you," she said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.
"Interesting, more like it," I said, uninterestedly.
"I am Daphne Greengrass," the blonde introduced herself stoically as she extended a hand.
I wasn't really sure what she was expecting, but I shook her hand rather than kiss it just to be safe.
"Tracey Davis!" the other girl said, waving her hand.
"Harry Potter." I replied, as they looked shocked.
Name – Daphne Greengrass
Level – 15
Name – Tracey Davis
Level – 16
The compartment opened, and someone bursted in.
"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost it." She said, sighing."Hang on, you're Harry Potter! I know all about you, of course I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Did you?" I interrupted. "If you did, you'd also know that the only person to survive that night was me and nobody has ever interviewed me. So, most likely, most of what you read, especially about me killing dragons and saving princesses is a lie."
And hadn't that been a discovery.
"But they're books! They wouldn't put lies in them!" Hermione raised her voice indignantly.
"Wouldn't they? It was right after a war," I said, grimly. "Entire families were being wiped out, children were orphaned and people were dying. And then, I came along, and suddenly Voldemort died, and no one knew what happened."
"People love mystery," I said, after a sigh. "And the fact that I survived while my mother lived in a hospital, and nothing was given other than my name, is just too much."
Hermione was staggered to a standstill. After a few silent moments, she spoke again.
"You two had better change, I expect we'll be there soon," She said, still in shock and walked out of the compartment, presumably to the bathroom to change.
"She assumed a lot didn't she?" Tracey said, motioning to the door.
"Doesn't do well to assume." I said. "It makes an ass out of you and me after all."
Daphne snorted before developing into a laugh as Tracey joined her, with the ice broken we chatted, and the three of us had gotten somewhat closer in this short time frame and after a few hours we were here.
– Time Skip –
"Right then! First years! Come on now hurry up!" Hagrid called out, his figure making him stand out not helped by him waving an equally huge lantern. "Come on then, follow me!"
Stumbling, we followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was hard to see without light, as shadows seemed to meld together, not giving any hint as to what it was outside. The path ended in a pier, where we crowded into boats
I joined the girls to sit in one of the boats, joined by another blonde boy who was staring at the darkness in fear. The ride was quiet until they turned a corner and gasps and awed faces as Hogwarts came into view.
A silhouette of a large castle perched on top of a cliff surrounded by forests, the moon behind the castle giving it an ethereal glow, as the lights on the windows adding to its beauty.
It wasn't long at all before we climbed the stairs to the castle gate proper, arriving at the side of the great courtyard before being led into the entrance hall, and formed into a crowd at the front of the hall.
"Ah so it is true," A voice said, turning to see Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. "Harry Potter is on the train." He said, as whispers quickly surrounded us.
"This is Crabbe and this is Goyle" He introduced, "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," Malfoy said, an amused stifling of laughter was heard around.
"Think my name is funny, do you?" Malfoy said, glaring at Ron Weasley. "I don't need to ask yours, red hair, hand me down robes, you must be a Weasley."
Ron stared at him before looking at me and widening his eyes.
"Harry! Sorry about leaving you earlier mate, I had to go to the bathroom. Can you help me with this prat?" Ron said, smiling slightly.
"I don't know you?" I said, as his face fell.
I was being truthful, he hasn't introduced himself, meta-knowledge aside.
"Come on mate," he said, smiling a bit too forcibly. "You know me, my mom helped you to the platform?"
"I came alone, are you okay?" I asked, feigning concern.
"Mate," he said, shocked. "I sat with you on the train? Hermione interrupted about the toad…"
That's...canon, why does he know canon?
"He sat with us, Weasley." Tracey said, standing behind me.
Name – Ron Weasley | J̴̳̎̀ỏ̸̘̊h̸̗͖̋n̴̘͙̐ ̷̬͈̚T̷̢͊͝ȃ̴͍͉y̴͙̬͂̄l̸̳̊ő̷̤r̵̫̱̐̿
Level – 13
What?
"What?" Ron said, unintentionally mirroring my thoughts.
"Weasley might have been hit with something?" Daphne said, behind me.
"I haven't been hit with anything!"
After a few more minutes of denial, everyone seemed to just agree that he was just imagining things. While they seemed to just dismiss him, he seemed just as confused as me.
Why does he know canon?
Does he know what I know?
Is he another Gamer?
That last thought scared me more than I'd like to admit.
– Ron/? –
He blinked his eyes open and saw an unfamiliar ceiling above him. It was wood and painted white, nothing at all like the drywall of his own room. Sitting up, he saw he was in a room of some kind and his head was aching something fierce.
There was a window that was covered with a curtain. He reached out to pull the curtains and that's when he noticed that his hand was much smaller than he was expecting.
He stared in shock at his small pale hand. He was definitely smaller than he should be. Hurriedly pulling the curtains, he stared at the grass fields and the setting sun.
He was on a train.
He had to take a few breaths to calm himself, he patted himself to see if he could find anything. A stick... well that was useless, he chucked the stick out the window as he exited the compartment, he decided to go outside to the bathrooms.
Seeing that there was a mirror in front of the sink he looked over to see that he was in the body of a child. Red hair, blue eyes and second-hand clothes.
He wasn't in his original body anymore.
He felt weak at the realization. His hands gripping the sink tight, as he stared at his reflection.
I'm not me anymore… then who was he?
He splashed water on his face to try and remember what happened before he… woke up in this body.
A car.
It was speeding. There were screams and then he... died.
He looked down at his body. He died, a new body. The realization hit him.
A new chance… Hell yeah! Here I thought death was nothing but darkness! New life here I come!
While celebrating, a headache suddenly appeared on my head. Memories suddenly bombarded his mind, as he finally got a name to go with a new face.
Ron Weasley… not the best person to take the place but could be easy! With proper time, I could do anything. He really lucked out in this world! He was going to be drowning in women, and even if they didn't, potions existed after all!
The memories that were showing him in his current life were weird but he tuned out the memories as much as he could while he planned out what he would do in the world of Harry Potter. He knew the plot, he knew what was coming, so he could make this world his playground! He already began planning the amazing things he would do in this world!
A few hours later, we made it down the train station, I was so close I could feel it. He hasn't seen Harry, but he was sure he was already friends with him. He was currently sitting in front of The Great Hall, he wasn't really bothered with it since he was sure Harry would be Gryffindor.
– Albus Dumbledore –
Sorting was the same as it always was for him, as it always had been since he's been here. Crowds of children, all anxiously shifting their feet as they looked ahead at the chair that would dictate their school.
He'd been the Headmaster for decades, and a teacher for even longer, he clapped politely as the student was sorted, their faces beaming at the acceptance and relief as they quickly sat on one of the four tables.
Just as it always was, it reminded him of a better time, one not filled with paperwork for three high-ranking jobs.
With the school year starting again, he was getting rather busy, not accounting for the situation that had him pondering everytime he thought about it.
Harry Potter.
He was a curious case, of which he was personally responsible for what happened to him. In trying to defeat Voldemort he might have created another one, if Minerva's berating of him, screaming at him due to the boy's treatments in his aunt's house.
He truly believed that the young girl who once sent him a message asking to attend Hogwarts, to join her sister would reignite her love for her, in the form of taking care of her own nephew, but it seemed that he was proven wrong.
The boy, who could have only suffered, while people in the wizarding world treated him as a saviour when he, the man who chose to put Harry there, didn't protect him.
He could only hope that, with the paperwork in his office, he could make it up to the boy, if not for Harry's forgiveness, at the very least, the world did not deserve three darklords in a century, due to one man, sitting where he sat.
AN: Join SGO and see me under my channel #astor's-den there Link: /wd3tUYWVCd
AN: Fixed some spelling mistakes (10/19/21)
