The very first thing the Potter Family—hair still green from one of James's pranks—did in Diagon Alley was teach Iris Latin.
"You see Iris,—and I can't believe by husband didn't tell you this—the wizarding world doesn't speak English, it speaks Latin."
"The various parts of the wizarding world are grouped into what are called sprachbunds, or groups with a common lingua franca and government. Wizarding Britain rests inside the Latin Sprachbund, which is known as Occidentia, and, as you can guess, the common language is a dialect of Classical Latin known as 'Magical Latin'."
"It's quite a bit different from the Latin you hear in church of course, because it's a living language, but in general it's fairly similar. Generally, light witches and wizards aren't raised speaking it nat–"
"Oh my WORD mum, let up for a minute, you're confusing the poor girl! I may be a Ravenclaw, but even I know that when you really get into a speech, you sound like a blood– I mean blooming textbook!"
"Actually, I don't mi–"
"ANYways, what mom was TRYING to say was that everyone in the wizarding world speaks Latin, and most wizards take a potion when they're kids to make them speak it."
"Well Iris, does that answer your question?"
"Y-yes sir"
"Alright then, let's eat!"
So, finally in Diagon Alley, where the only language potion store in Britain was, Iris finally got to learn the language of her new world. Tomorrow.
"Now remember honey", James said, handing over the two galleons the potion cost, "you have to take it before bed tonight, and by the morning, you'll be able to speak Latin just as well as any high-level learner."
"You could probably make it one of your native languages" he added, frowning in thought, "but that would require almost never speaking a word of English for the whole year, and you're gonna spend your breaks with us and your Aunt and Uncle, that won't end up happening."
"And remember!" James said, paying the shopkeep, "don't go taking any language potions for seven years after this, or else the languages will get all bull– uh… screwed up in your brain!"
Handing her the potion, James cast a temporary translation charm on her, similar to the one he cast at the beginning of the one and only magical church service she attended. The Potters may have spoken English to each other, James had told her, but most of the shopkeepers would be speaking Latin. He told her that even though most of them would probably switch when they saw her brother, some might not, and it would be better to have the charm and not need it, versus needing it and not having it.
Exiting the language potion store into the extra-wide street of the Diagon Alley Proper, iris followed the Potters out, to the camera-flashes of reporters. She wondered how James would explain away her presence to the reporters? If the ones who interviewed him looked anything like the ones taking pictures did, she thought, she might not even be mentioned. How awestruck at the Boy-Who-Lived do you have to be to engage in magical photo editing?
After a few minutes, James suddenly stopped in the middle of the street, pawing his pockets.
"Say, Iris, do you happen to have your Hogwarts letter on ya'? It has the supply list, and I can't find Danny's on me."
"No sir, I don't. I'm sorry."
"Bah! I keep telling you Iris, none of this 'sir' nonsense, call me dad! Does Vernon make you call him sir?"
"Y-yes, actually, he does… dad."
"Well", James said, a look of mild confusion on his face, "must just be a muggle thing then. I'm telling you Iris, this is why we have to start allowing muggles into our world! You were raised with them, you should know how bloody—I mean, darn—fantastic they are, but we're still stuck here on our own, unable to even relate on something as simple as raising a child! I swear, by the time–"
Iris, along with all the other children with the exception of Danny, began to tune James out as he went on yet another speech about the need for contact and integration between the wizard and muggle worlds, which would eventually devolve into another rant about Silvanus Malfoy insulting him, or Bronwen Aakster trying to sneak through some dark arts bill. absently, she nodded along, a suitably awed and agreeable smile on her face.
Thankfully, Charlie provided a much-needed interruption, after scrounging around in his pocket. "Oh hey Da', I found Danny's!"
"How on earth did it get there!" James said, reaching for the letter in his youngest son's hands. "Well, regardless, I'm curious if they've changed anything since my school days."
CLOTHING
Clothing will be left up to the discretion of the student's parents or guardians. However, the Hogwarts staff reserves the right to deem any set of clothing inappropriate and in need of confiscation. Creature students are advised that the category of "inappropriate" contains all clothing showing any skin of the torso, shoulders, or thighs.
SUPPLIES
1 wand
1 school trunk
1 cauldron (brass, standard size 2)
1 set of unbreakable vials (glass or crystal)
1 set of brass scales
COURSE BOOKS
Spells Made Simple: Level One by Baldric Tarquinius
Introductory Charms by Hrolf Séaghdha
A History of Magical Europe by Baldehild Bagshot
Transfiguration: Level One Inanimate-to-Inanimate by Athelstan Spinnet
An Exhaustive Compendium of Ingredients and Their Interactions by Renard van Daal
Introductory Level Brewing by Renard van Daal
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt C. Scamander
Magical Mathematics: The Introductory Theory of Arithmancy by Marco Fautmoor
The Theory and Practice of Self-Defense by Bláthnaid Trask
"So…" Miriam said, finishing the list, "what do you two wanna get first? And not wands!", he said quickly, seeing Danny about to pipe up, "it's Potter family tradition that we get right before school starts, as the last on our shopping trip."
After a few moment of contemplative silence, Iris spoke up, excited by the prospect of finally learning magic. She was never allowed to excel academically at the Dursleys, but she thought that here, with magic, she could finally indulge herself.
"Can we go to the booksh–"
"Trunks! We need to get trunks!" He turned to Iris: "you're gonna love the types of trunks they have sis, did you know they can make them bigger on the inside? You could stick your whole arm in one, and you still wouldn't reach the bottom!"
Irritated, but unsurprised, Iris just put on her well-worn genial smile, and followed her hyperactive brother down the alley. Well, she thought, at least an infinite trunk would be useful if the Dursleys ever threw her back into the cupboard.
After a brisk walk towards the other end of the alley, the Potters eventually stopped in a secluded shop, with a teetering sign indicating that it was owned by the Pryderi family. Intrigued at the concept of expanded magical space, Iris entered the shop behind James and Danny, hearing a small chime tinkle to signal her arrival.
"Ah, customers! What can I do for you tod–…"
Iris was concerned. Was there something wrong? The shopkeep couldn't be more than nineneen or twenty, was it some sort of schoolyard rivalry with Marietta? She looked at her brother and father, but strangely enough, they just looked resigned.
"OH MY LORD, IT'S DANNY POTTER!"
Iris jumped in shock. She swore she could feel the ground shake.
"Mr. Potter, I can't believe… it's such an honor to actually meet you in person! My name is Galen Bell, and I'm such a huge fan! Is it true that you advise Head Auror Bones on strategy to combat roving werewolf packs? Did you really fight a vampire criminal that was trying to drink your friend's blood at your eleventh birthday party? Oh my God I'm so excited I actually get to meet you, my friends are all going to be so jealous! Can I get your autograph? One for me, and one for my sister Katie, she's your biggest fan!"
This… this was what the wizarding world thought of her brother? Her brother, who, in the months she had known him, could barely stand to read anything longer than the etchings on his broom? Her brother, who could barely cast the simplest charms with his father's wand, even when showing off to his friends? Her brother, who was spoiled beyond belief at Potter Manor, while Iris had to live in a cupboard?
Iris thought she might have hated the wizarding world too in that moment, just a little bit.
Unaware of Iris's dark thoughts, Danny's whole continence took on a well-practiced fake pleasure that Iris had seen on the covers to dozens of her Aunt's magazines. He began to chuckle good-naturedly, and shake the shopkeeper's hand.
"Well Galen, I can't answer those questions one way or another"—he winked, and Galen gasped—"but right now, I'm not the Boy-Who-Lived. I'm just Danny, a boy who's trying to buy a trunk for Hogwarts with his sister."
Galen stepped back behind the counter, abashed. "Oh you're absolutely right Mr. Potter, I'm so sorry! So, do you have any idea what type of trunk you'd want today?"
"Oh, nothing fancy, just a standard expanded three-compartment for heirs."
"Ah, excellent!" he said, clapping his hands excitedly.
"Our standard expanded three-compartment trunk comes with three identical levels, each opened by a separate password. Do you see these three locks on the front? Just touch your hand to one of them and say the password, and when you open the trunk, you'll find your desired compartment!"
He pulled out a display case with dozens of different blocks of materials. "For our basic material set, we offer trunk bodies made of Oak, Birch and Mahogany, with accents and locks in silver, bronze, or iron!"
"And what about the non-basic package?" James asked.
"Of course sir!" Galen said, excitement tempered by his well-practiced speech. "With our deluxe material set, which is only around fifteen galleons more, we also offer Birch, Ash, Maple, Cherry, Beech, Teak, Ironwood, Poplar, Walnut and Rosewood, with accents and locks in gold, platinum, ruby, and emerald!"
"And," Galen continued conspiratorially, "since you're such a high-profile customer, I can even offer you our exclusive blood locking package! Instead of a password, which anyone can guess, the trunk will only open with a prick of your finger. You can't fool that!"
For the first time since they'd entered the shop, James spoke up, frowning: "Blood locking, Mr. Bell?"
"Oh, well, I mean, I really don't–… I'm just the shopkeep so I didn't decide to– Please don't arrest me Mr. Potter sir! I had no idea that–"
"Realx, Galen", Danny said, arms in front of him in a calming gesture, glaring at James, "I'm sure my dad didn't mean it like that, did he?"
Rolling his eyes James clarified: "oh don't worry Mr. Trask, it's nothing you did wrong. I think I just might need to have a few words with your boss in the future."
Gulping at James's ominous comment, Galen moved back behind the counter, waiting for the twins to decide on their materials
While Iris began to look at the various completed models on display, Danny moved over towards the sample case, picking up and fondling the various bits of wood—judging by Galen's tense expression, he wasn't supposed to be doing that—until he came to his decision.
"Galen, can you do the locks in one thing, and the accents in another?"
"W-well it's not usually done…" Galen said, growing nervous as Danny began to frown, "b-but I mean for the Boy-Who-Lived, I don't think Mr. Pryderi would have any problem with it! I'm sure I can get you the exact type of trunk you need Mr. Potter, don't you worry! I'll bet my job on it"
Galen suddenly blanched, realizing from Danny's frown that his idle reassurance might end up being much less idle than he had intended. In fact, judging by his reputation, it was almost certainly so.
"Well~… I think I want the Cherry wood, with the accents in gold, and the locks in ruby. Gryffindor colors, you know" he said with a wink at James.
"And wh-what about y-you ma'am?" Galen said, turning towards Iris.
Uncomfortable with the deference she was being shown, Iris took a minute before she came to a decision. "I-I think I'd l-like the pale ash, w-with emerald a-accents, l-like my eyes."
Mostly recovered in the face of Iris's extreme anxiety, Galen rung the Potters up without any further incident.
"Just come back in an hour, Mr. Potter sir!" he said, looking at Danny. "We should have your special order ready by then!"
After signing his name with a practiced flourish, and collecting the slip to claim his new trunk, Danny led them out of the shop and into the Alley proper, followed by the rest of the Potters. Shaking his head, he turned to Iris.
"Yeah, I was the same way my first time."
"…'first time'?"
"Yeah, my first time dealing with fans and admirers."
"I'm telling ya' sis, being a celebrity's not all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes I wish we could have switched places, y'know? You'd be the Girl-Who-Lived and I'd live with the muggles. Yeah, I'd miss the fame and fortune, but it would just be so much easier to live a simple muggle life. Fame and fortune are more trouble than they're worth, honest. You ever had to go to a charity ball?"
Iris really was at a loss for words. She knew Danny was spoiled, but to think that his incredible wealth and fame were burdens? She honestly did hope that they switched places, she'd love to see how Danny dealt with recovering from a belting in the cupboard.
Still chuckling patronizingly, Danny led a bemused James and an internally fuming Iris to the bookshop, as the rest of the Potters trailed behind. Despite herself, Iris felt her mood lightening to a cautious excitement as they entered, entranced by the massive shelves full of magical knowledge.
James was talking, but Iris wasn't really listening to him. This place was incredible! She loved to spend time in the school library, but Flourish and Blott's must have been at least ten times bigger! Was this the size of the fabled "Surrey Library" that she heard the bookkeeper talk about?
Realizing that she wasn't paying attention, James just chuckled, and nudged her on the arm. "Seems like I was wrong about Hufflepuff Iris, looks like you're going to follow the rest of the Potter women straight into Ravenclaw!"
"I-…I'm sorry I didn't mean to–"
"It's fine, it's fine! You go on ahead, I'll pick up your schoolbooks." Suddenly, his face broke out into a broad grin, "don't worry about your dear old dad, I could only wish that you'd look at me with half the feelings you have when you look at those books! After I get your shopping lists, I'll just sit over here on the couch, nursing my broken heart. Oh, woe is me! The anguish, the pain, the agony!"
As James continued to make comically overblown declarations to Danny, and Danny began to join in, wailing and moaning, Iris ignored both of them, and headed straight into the shelves. She normally found James's bellowing, overblown humor quite annoying, but in this instance, she thought he had the right of it: a bookshop would be a better father than he would.
Searching through the stacks for the few English-language books she could find—the charm James cast didn't translate text—Iris put aside anything that caught her interest.
Household Charms? That'll make chores at Petunia's easier
Beginner-Level Enchanting with Runes? Color her interested
Defending Yourself: Practical Dueling to Make You Dangerous? Look out Dudley!
Unfogging the Future: Numerology and the Third Eye? Wait, seeing the future was a thing?
The Dark Magic Debate and Its Political History? That was–…
…
That was something that really interested her.
Ever since James's massive dinner-table outburst about the evils of dark magic, and his many subsequent rants about the same subject, Iris became very curious as to what exactly James hated so much. Not only was it the reason that he would act just like Vernon, he claimed that it was "danger" that had caused him to put her with Vernon in the first place.
To say that Iris felt that this "dark magic", whatever it was, was a significant force in shaping her life, was an understatement. James had quite literally told her, during her third dinner at Potter Manor, that combatting this mysterious force was the reason for almost everything he did. Besides, if it really was as bad as James made it sound, well… she still had plenty of anger left over from her mother's death at the hands of these magics.
Coming to a decision, Iris opened the book to the introduction, and read.
The Dark Magic Debate and Its Political History
Controversia Magiai Nigrai et Historia Civilis
By: Jeremiah Eadbhárd Proudfoot
For approximately one thousand years after the Statute of Secrecy in the early four-hundreds Anno Domini, the term "dark magic" did not exist in Latinate Europe. The term's first major use is recorded in 1597, in Francis Bacon's seminal treatise on light magic, 'Magia Nova Oritur Ex Ignibus Iustitiai'. Bacon, lacking any term for the dangerous and addictive ritual-based forms of magic which he would go on to antiquate, adopted a Chinese term he had heard on a brief visit to Serica.
The Chinese term he adapted, "huen mua", was used by dark wizard to refer to the magic they practiced, and had much less negative connotations. While the literal translation of "huen" as "dark" is technically accurate, a more nuanced translation shows that "huen" carries connotations of mystery, profoundness, and esotericism, even being used in the name of the greatest muggle Chinese saint, Huen Dzang. Needless to say, Francis Bacon was unaware of this nuance when he translated the term, thinking it equivalent to the Latinate Europe's concept of "darkness" and ever since, it has served as the foundation of the pagan dark's political augments.
Despite his coinage of "dark magic", however, Bacon did not coin the corresponding term "light magic". He in fact did not use the term, preferring instead "new magic" or "white magic", the first of which has since been adopted by the dark. The credit for the term "light" instead lies with Gianmarco Müller, who coined the term his famous political treatise 'Contra Magia Nigra', in which he–
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU READING!"
Iris jumped up, startled, as James ripped the book from her hands.
"The Dark Magic Debate?! How many times have I warned you away from dark magic! And now you're reading a book defending it?!"
Hearing the commotion, Danny had come over, and gaped at Iris in shock. "Sis… are you really reading a dark magic manual?! What the hell! Dad, you gotta punish her! Remember when Johnny Hailwick's dad got him to give me that pamphlet? This is even worse!"
"N-no!" Iris said, paling. She still remembered James's threats to "discipline" her from her first family dinner.
"Y-you k-keep t-talking about h-how y-you're using p-p-politics to f-fight dark m-magic, and I w-wanted t-to k-know m-more. I'm n-not b-becoming a d-dark w-witch, I p-promise!"
James looked at her suspiciously, and skimmed the first paragraphs of the introduction. His enraged look gradually lessened, as it became replaced by a worried frown, as he began muttering to himself. "Hmm…. That's isn't as bad, I suppose…. Savage, that's a light family… Still…"
Coming to a decision, he snapped the book shut and tossed it down the isle, and turned to Iris, eyes earnest. "Alright Iris, listen up. Maybe I wasn't clear before, but the danger of being corrupted doesn't just come from practicing dark magic, but from exploring it. There were so many good Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in Hogwarts that got seduced away from the light, simply because they stated asking completely innocent questions like you did."
"That's why dark magic is so awful, it's temptation in its purest form. You know I'm not usually big on religious ceremony, saving my soul and all that"—behind him, Danny quickly hid a worried grimace—"but when Pastor McClure talks about dark magic coming from Satan, I think he's onto something. If Satan really is the father of all temptation, then dark magic is pretty much the perfect expression of what he's all about. Even trying to learn about one of my jobs is the type of question that could lead you down that unnatural path, right to evil gits like Nott or McCreath."
"I know you just want to help me honey, and understand what your dad does with his life, but promise me, you won't go reading up on the dark-light conflict. You don't know enough to know which authors to stay away from, so you might end up reading some biased pro-dark propaganda that'll start you down the path to destruction."
"It doesn't matter how good of a person you are, or how inherently light—and this goes for you too Danny, don't have that condescending look—dark magic has a way of seeping in and corrupting who you are inside. I'm not saying that you're a bad person, or are going to hell, but I'm saying that if you keep on asking these questions, you will be."
Terrified of James's wrath, especially since she lied about her motives for picking up that book, Iris could only nod hurriedly, not even having to fake a fearful expression. Danny, hearing James last comment, had rapidly paled, and began to turn inward, most likely in a quest to re-enforce his mind against the temptations of the dark.
Both silent in shock, they followed James back to the register, to the highly uncomfortable cashier. They bought Danny and Iris's personal books (minus the political history of course) in almost total silence, and headed out of the bookshop to meet up with the other Potters.
"C'mon guys…" James said, pushing open the door, "you haven't said a word for the past five minutes. I didn't mean to scare you that badly. I promise, as long as you stay vigilant, the darkness can never get a hold of you. so c'mon, cheer up! We're going to get your clothes next!
Shivering in spite of James's words, Iris and Danny both walked out into the sunlit alley, joining the rest of the Potters on the way to Madam Malkins.
AN: If you're wondering, the "C.", in "Newt C. Scamander" stands for "cutiepie" ;)
—
There's no Gringotts's trip because A) I didn't feel the story needed one, and B) James is a Lord, so he has more than enough money laying around without needing to go to the bank.
—
Conversion rate: 1 Galleon = 3 GPB = 3.8 USD
—
The title comes from a poem by the Chan Buddhist poet Hanshan: "Here's a word for the rich folks with cauldrons and bells: Fame's empty, no good, that's for sure."
—
Yes, I changed most of the titles and names, because I wanted to set the tone for the type of names that'll be used in my story. Magical Latin is the lingua franca for most of Western Europe, and because magical travel is so convenient, there's an incredibly large amount of mixing within the Sprachbunds.
Celtic and Germanic names are going to be the most popular in Britania (Celtic because the magical Celts did a whole lot better than the muggle ones), but you're still going to see a great deal of names from other places. So yes, seeing someone named "Flavia Hrafnþórsdottir Smith" or "Giuseppina Siobhan van Ijzendijke-Giroux" is totally possible. Probable? Hell no, do you see those names? But definitely possible.
Also, really? A Herbology book written by someone named "Spore"?
—
The Magical Latin sprachbund is anything west of the Austrian-Polish border. Anything east of that is in Magical Hellenic Europe, and speaks Magical Koine as their lingua franca. Rule of thumb is that if the national language is Germanic or Romance, it's in magical Latinate Europe, and if it's Slavic, Greek, or anything else, it's in Hellenic Europe.
If you know a bit of Latin, and are confused as to the peculiar forms of some of the Latin here, remember, this is a dialect of Classical Latin, not Classical Latin itself. The big orthographic changes you'll notice are that there aren't any overbars on long vowels, and æ is replaced with ai, to move it in line with the pronunciation.
A quick rundown of all the magical sprachbunds I have. I know some of them may seem confusing, so feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Latin: Western Europe
Koine Greek: Eastern Europe
Middle Chinese: East Asia
Sanskrit: South Asia, Southeast Asia:
Arabic: West Asia, Africa
Quechua: South America
K'iche: North America, Central America
Also, yes, the central unit of government in this universe is called a Sprachbund, not only because I feel it's my prerogative as linguist to make sure everyone understands that incredibly useful term, but because I feel like it makes sense in a world where governments are divided based on various lingua francas.
—
Also, if you're a speaker of Chinese or Japanese (or an exceedingly literate speaker of Korean), the hanzi for the (middle-)Chinese term "huen mua" is 玄魔 (PTH: xuánmó, Jp: kenma). "Huen Dzang" is the middle Chinese pronunciation of Xuanzang (玄奘), the guy who brought Buddhism to China, and the (supposed) main character of Journey to the West.
Also, I'm aware that mó has pretty negative connotations in both Chinese and Japanese, but in this universe, that's a result of muggle attitudes towards magic. In Magical Chinese, it isn't a negative term, but a neutral one equivalent to the English "magic".
Also yes, I know that "saint" is an awful way to categorize Xuanzang, and he certainly wouldn't be "the greatest" of them even if it was (that would probably be Guanyin?), but the book was written from the perspective of a culturally isolated Latin-speaking Catholic, and so "saint" seems like the most obvious term for a venerated earthly champion of the religion.
