Chapter 11 Healing Arts

"Cut." I commanded, holding nothing but the old rat in my hands. Instantly, gruesome cuts began appearing all over the rat's body, as it screamed and withered in my hands.

"Stop." I commanded once there was a high chance of the rat dying.

I placed down the dying rat in between four other healthy, young rats that I have decided to use as sacrifice. The book said that for every act of Necromantic Healing, a price must be paid in blood and magic. A painful price for each act will cost at least double the act. So I took a gamble and erred on the safe side, using four sacrifices for one act of healing.

I chanted, waving my wand over the five in the complicated pattern inscribed in the books. Instantly, a white jet of light shot out of my wand and hit the dying rat. Then four jets of black followed, connecting with the four healthy rats. Instantly, my mind filled with an overwhelming sense of panic, as my magic linked the six of us, my magic draining at a significant pace. Five different voices screamed incoherently inside my mind. Each representing a different voice of panic and despair. I dropped my wand, clutching my head in pain with both hands. Then the worst began. The voices became even more frantic, screaming as they slowly weakened, except one. They screamed as an unprecedented pain shot through my head, like each of my body being vaporised.

Then, after an eternity, it stopped.

I slowly sat up, my entire body sore. Sometime during the spell, I had fallen onto the floor. I looked at the rats, or at least, where I had put the rats.

Instead there were four piles of ashes and a single young rat on the floor.

I picked up the rat, it was healthy. Not a single scar remained from its ordeal. Its flesh is smooth and slightly pink, while strong muscles rippled underneath a healthy shiny fur coat. The rat opened its eyes. Quickly looking around, it darted from my hands at an inhuman speed. I wandlessly recaptured the rat before conjuring a cage to put it in. I need to see the results after all.

For the next few months, I took note of the rat, testing it on all manners that I could. Before finally bringing it to Professor Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures Professor.

"Interesting rat you've got there. I must compliment you on your skills in taking care of it!" he said jollily, "I have never seen another creature as healthy as this rat in my years as a professor!"

I smiled, quickly leaving after thanking him.

Interesting, so it seems that Necromantic Healing is the solution to most of my problems I had, all those years ago. Now, if only I can use less sacrifices…

I scribbled down my notes before heading to find Albus.

Albus was sitting at our usual desk when I found him.

"Seraphina! Have you heard of this branch of magic called the mind arts? It's really fascinating!" Albus started as soon as I sat down.

"Hmm? Yes. It lets you get more connected to your magic, too. And feel the world as magic views it…" I answered dreamily, reminiscing about my meditations.

Albus gave me an odd look, "That's not mentioned in any books."

Oops.

"Maybe you need to look through more." I tried to defend myself.

"Aaanyhow, say…is there any way to replace a sacrificial ritual with something less…"

"Deadly?" Albus offered unhelpfully. "No, as far as the research shows."

I sighed. I had expected this, but it was still a disappointment. Pulling out the arithmetic cluster for my fire spell, I got to work. Leaving Albus to ponder his questions.

Four months later.

"How could you hide this from me!" Albus almost yelled as he jumped excitedly in front of my seat in the library, earning many glares from people all around us.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Magic!" He hissed.

"Ah yes, welcome to Hogwarts, surprisingly, in the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where magic is taught on a daily basis." I deadpanned.

"No!" He rolled his eyes. "The magic everywhere!" He whispered excitedly.

My eyebrows shot up to my forehead. Did he just…No way.

"You meditated." I stated.

"Well, of course!" He replied, indignant, "I told you I was interested in the mind arts, did I not?"

"You know of ambient magic." I stated once again. My mind was whirling with the implications, if he didn't know about it before…How powerful did I just boost Albus Dumbledore by accident?

His eyebrows furrowed, "So that's what it is called. That's oddly suiting. "

"Of course, I named it." I replied.

A smile crept up his face, "So no one else knows about this?"

"If you did not just announce it to the world, then yes."

He stopped, his brows furrowing once more, "Have you used it?"

That made me pause. "Use it?"

"You know, use it to power your spells, like instantly replenish your depleted magic core or something."

Wait, what? "You can do that?"

"Why not? I mean, it's still magic, right?"

Of course! Why did I not think of that! With an infinite power source, any Necromantic Healing or Scrying would be possible without sacrifices! Why sacrifice something for their energy when there is an endless amount of it in the air?

"I have an idea! Thanks Albus!" I quickly wandlessly gathered all my stuff and ran. I need more rats!

"Wait, where are you going? I barely said anything!" Albus yelled as I ran, then he gave a loud sigh.

"Wait for me!"

Exams. They rolled by before I could blink.

"Well, Seraphina!" Albus came by with a sing-songy voice. "How did you do in your exams?" He asked, while casually dropping his report card in my hand leaning against the pillar.

I sighed. I was so close to winning in all the wanded subjects.

We tied O in Charms. I won with an O** in Astronomy and Defence Against the Dark Arts. But he took the crown for first this year with an O** in Herbology, Transfiguration and Potions. Turns out Alchemy is advanced potions and Transfiguration…and if you are good at potions, you need to be good at Herbology.

I now owe Albus one chocolate frog…At least Slytherin won the house cup.

Arcturus POV

I watched as Seraphina sulked in the train compartment. The rest of us exchanged glances. We all knew that Seraphina was upset about losing her bet to Albus, I didn't even know O** existed. Just then, the compartment door was yanked open by a particular redhead. The source of Seraphina's bad mood.

"Hello, everyone!" Albus Dumbledore greeted merrily.

I glared. How dare this Gryffendor intrude upon the Slytherin compartment! It is already bad enough that Seraphina took an interest in him, now he can't even leave the rest of us in peace?

"Arcturus." Seraphina commanded. I turned away from Albus. While I may not like him, Seraphina says that he is a worthy ally. I will not go against Seraphina since I had learnt to trust her judgement and logic.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

Albus pouted, "Why, I am here to make sure that you pay up, of course! I am not missing out on my chocolate frog!"

Seraphina twitched , the air suddenly dropping a few degrees. Sensing the impending not-exactly-friendly duel, and probably the fact that the compartment probably would not survive it, Alvis and Athena exchanged glances.

"Soooo…what classes are you guys choosing for next year?" Alvis asked in a very unnatural false casualness.

Athena rolled her eyes at Alvis' bad acting. But still played along, interrupting Albus who had just opened his mouth to speak.

"I am taking Art, Divination and Arithmancy!"

Hesper and Lestia nodded, "Same with us." Replied Hesper.

"Arithmancy and Ancient Runes" I replied naturally.

"As expected of a pureblood son." Alvis nodded approvingly.

I raised an eyebrow, "I assume the same for you?"

"Certainly." He replied.

"What about you, Seraphina?" Athena asked.

"I am taking Divination," I raised an eyebrow. "Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures."

"Really? Care? I thought that was the house elves' job." Sniffed Lestia.

"It's still useful!" Argued Albus.

"Oh? What are you taking then?" Challenged Alvis.

"I am taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures."

I almost groaned, I have my two electives with Albus Dumbledore and Seraphina? Now I have no chance of coming second in those classes.

"Why Care?" Asked Athena.

"I like playing with animals. Magical creatures are rare, if I am given a chance to play with them while being supervised by a person who can make sure that I don't get maimed, why on Earth not?" Seraphina replied.

…Good point.

But knowing you, Seraphina, you are going to challenge every single rule so subtly that the teacher will end up giving you free reign in class.