"There are three components to most spells: wand motion, incantation, and intent. Of those, incantation is the least important, which is why most spells can be cast non-verbally."
"So, some can't?" Harry cut in.
Grindelwald shot him a look. Interruption wasn't appreciated.
"Should you master wand motion and intent, you would likely be considered an above average wizard," he said, voice conveying just how little he thought of such wizards. "Deeper magics, however, they require more," he continued, not bothering to answer the question. "If banal spells have three components, truly powerful magic can have three more: emotion, imagination, and will."
Blue eyes were alight with passion as he spoke, and Harry couldn't help but be drawn in.
"Albus tells me you have some experience with this."
Blinking, Harry asked, "Just how much has he mentioned me?" It wasn't the first time Grindelwald had said something similar.
"More than once. Answer the question."
The Slytherin common room flashed in his mind's eye.
"Layered illusions. A couple weeks ago at the start of term."
Grindelwald stared at him; eyes expectant. "Details, if you please, Herr Potter. I must understand what I am working with."
You're just supposed to be teaching me Occlumency… "My fellow housemates," he began, forcing himself not to stumble. "They came at me with the resolve to seriously harm." Harry cast his mind back. "They were older and magically stronger. I didn't even know I could cast them, not really. But I'd seen myself do it before…" he trailed off, not sure if he wanted to get into the weeds of his tempestuous travel in dimensions. If it even was dimensional travelling.
"Four upperclassmen," Grindelwald muttered to himself. His thin brows rose a touch. "Utilising illusionary magic is a combination of emotion and will. It can be cast without the latter, but you will find it weak and insubstantial. Not many can perform it."
Nodding, Harry thought back to the previous summer. He hadn't been able to cast more than a fraction of his potent signature crow illusions, when he and Dudley had been first attacked. It was his resolve that had flared the activation of his ocular technique. "Why not teach this? To incoming students, I mean," Harry asked. "It makes sense."
Grindelwald barked a laugh that seemed more a cough. "You ask why children are not taught something they will never be able to use? Greatness is not simply a matter of practice, Herr Potter. You cannot teach emotion. You cannot teach imagination. You certainly cannot teach will."
His vision blurred as he lost himself to the demons of his past. One of his fathers, the father that had sired Itachi had tried to teach him those lessons, Fugaku had thrust him into the very crucible of the Third Shinobi War. "War changes people. If it doesn't manage to kill you, it's the greatest training in the world. Your mind twists in different directions to solve problems you never knew you'd confront." And that is what exactly happened to him, that brief skirmish with a Rock ninja had unequivocally changed his life, making him the Leaf's greatest traitor, all because his father had wanted him to be great.
He didn't repeat his best friend's words though, Shisui was peerless in deduction but sadly a ghost of his past.
"Well…no, you can't. I get your point," Harry said sourly.
"Truly? At every turn, you make excuses for your own abilities while elevating those around you. Humility may seem an attractive trait to many; it rings false on you."
This again, Harry thought, fed up with Grindelwald's attempts to convince him he was something he wasn't. He leaned away from the aged wizard and cast his eyes about the Shack Dumbledore had authorised for their use, searching for something else to talk about.
Mind settling onto something that had been bugging him for a day now that he had read on one of his forays in the library, he asked, "Is that why Dark Magic is so, well, bad? It uses emotion?"
"No magic is inherently bad," Grindelwald said immediately. "There is only magic, and those unwilling or unable to use it."
Harry felt his lip curl Orochimaru had said something similar about chakra and forbidden techniques a ninja had the potential to access, an action not unnoticed by his host.
"You disagree?"
"Reminds me of something I once read. 'There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it,'" Harry repeated.
A single of Grindelwald's eyebrows rose. "Perhaps Hogwarts has not always been beyond hope," he murmured. "The passage was not entirely wrong when it told you this. Magic cannot be good or evil, only those who wield it."
"Not even the Killing Curse?" Harry asked sceptically.
"Can death not be a mercy?" Grindelwald tossed back immediately.
"The Cruciatus Curse, then."
The former Dark Lord paused, sneering at the mention of the Unforgiveable. "Perhaps," he allowed. Harry inwardly contemplated, even though he had used the ultimate illusion in his arsenal to torture Sasuke, it had to be done to stoke his hatred and yet he now knew with a sense of clarity that although his intent wasn't malicious, the damage to Sasuke's psyche being prominent. "Yet, most magic cannot be so easily categorised. To view certain spells as inherently bad is a limited point of view. You do yourself no favours thinking that way."
"So what? Is it a matter of intent?" Harry questioned, not sold.
"It is a matter of outcome, Herr Potter. It is not our reasons that make monsters of us; it is our actions. A man begging for death may regard the end of his life as mercy. What if he could be saved?" Grindelwald asked. "Your intent may be to relieve pain, yet–"
"A man is still dead."
"Indeed, he is. Intent matters little when lives hang in the balance." The older man got a faraway look in his eyes and Harry wondered which, of his many crimes, he was thinking of. "About Dark Magic," Grindelwald continued at length. "It is considered such because of the emotion that is attached, in part. True Dark Magic requires negative emotion: pain, hatred, anger. It is insidious, I grant you, for it becomes difficult to stop when one has started."
"It's addictive?"
Grindelwald cocked his head to the side. "In some ways, I suppose. Rather because negative emotion begets negative emotion. When you attach a positive outcome to a negative feeling, it becomes difficult to do anything but. Only those with the strongest will can cast Dark Magic and not lose themselves eventually."
Harry nodded, considering. "Is that what happened to you?" he asked hesitantly. The former Dark Lord was nothing if not forthcoming, but still.
"If only," Grindelwald laughed, all bitterness. "Perhaps, then, my crimes could be excused. I was never a victim; my will is far too strong. No, Herr Potter. My mistake was one many great men have made. I convinced myself my ends justified my means, and I was lost."
***Break***
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stood majestically under the blazing October sunshine as wisps of clouds passed lazily overhead. Her many towers and turrets jutted into the bright blue sky and her massive oak front doors were currently opened wide, giving her students unhindered access to the sloping lawns on which she rested. Laughter and quiet conversations could be heard from the groups of students relaxing around the lake and under the occasional tree, trying to find shelter and a cool breeze to relieve them of the heat the sun's rays brought. There was the unmistakable feeling of laziness and excitement permeating the air as the students celebrated the beginning of the school term.
Nicolas Flamel was oblivious to all of this as he walked up the dirt road from the village of Hogsmeade and through Hogwarts gates. Lost in his own thoughts, he made it to the steps of the front door and nearly passed right by Rubeus Hagrid, who had been alerted to his arrival by Dumbledore, without noticing him, which was quite a feat considering his size.
"Mr. Flamel," Hagrid's voice boomed, startling Nicolas from of his musings, "Professor Dumbledore sent a message down ter let me know yer here and teh ask me ter escort yeh to his office. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts Gamekeeper."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Hagrid, please feel free to call me Nick." He said, holding his hand out to shake.
Hagrid's hand engulfed half his arm as they greeted each other. "Just Hagrid is fine. If you'll follow me, I'll take yeh up ter see the Headmaster." He said as he led him up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall of the castle. "This yer first time at Hogwarts?"
"No, I have been here a few times in the past. It has expanded quite significantly from the first time I was here though," Nicolas replied looking around at all the paintings adorning the walls as they waited for the staircase leading to the second floor to move back into position.
"Really now! And when was tha'?"
Nicolas cocked his head to the side as he tried to think back, it was difficult to remember specific events at times. "Let's see, that would have been the first time Nell and I found ourselves in the United Kingdom which would have been around 1410 I believe. Dame Phyllida Spore was Headmistress back in those days and she was kind enough to invite us to Hogwarts and give us a tour when we showed an interest. She even signed a copy of Nell's One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, which she is quite proud of."
Hagrid stopped and gaped. He had known that Nicolas and his wife Perenelle were old, but it hadn't quite seemed so real until that moment when Nicolas spoke so nonchalantly about meeting someone who had died over 500 years ago. Nicolas waited patiently as Hagrid pulled himself together with a shake and as they continued down the left-hand corridor of the third floor, he could have sworn he heard Hagrid mutter, "Gallopin' gorgons".
They arrived in front of the large stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office before Hagrid could ask any more questions and Nicolas gave a small smile when Hagrid stood straight and in a no-nonsense voice stated simply, "Mars Bars." As the gargoyle leapt aside Hagrid turned and thrust out his hand, "It was nice meetin' yeh Nick, hope to see yeh again sometime."
"Same to you Hagrid and thank you for escorting me," Nicolas replied as he shook the giants' hand once more then turned to step onto the moving spiral staircase, "Have a good rest of your day."
"You too."
The gargoyle positioned itself back in front of the entrance as Nicolas made his ascent, which was a bit longer than he remembered from the last time and began going over the two topics he needed to address with his former partner. The most urgent was, of course, the safety of the stone but he also intended to discuss the young Potter boy who, Perenelle had kindly reminded him, had already started his first year this September and he would not allow Albus to hide him away any longer. He had promised Lily that he would take Harry on as an apprentice and he intended to keep that promise, no matter what.
The staircase finally stopped at the landing leading to an oak door with a griffin shaped knocker but before he could even lift his hand to use it, there was a muffled, "Come in," from within.
Nicolas turned the knob and stepped into the room and as he took in the many instruments of varying sizes and the books scattered about, Dumbledore greeted him from behind his massive mahogany desk, "Ah Nicolas, how very nice to see you again."
"You as well Wulfric, it has been far too long," Nicolas stated as he completely ignored the portraits of the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses and went over to one of the silver instruments that were humming softly and picked it up to examine it.
Being quite used to his old mentor's inquisitiveness Dumbledore paid no mind as Nicolas sated his curiosity, "Indeed it has my old friend. Would you care for some tea or a lemon drop?"
"I would love some tea, thank you," Nicolas said, placing the instrument back down gently and going to make himself comfortable in a very nice squishy armchair across from Dumbledore and taking the tea offered to him.
"Not that I don't enjoy seeing you, but may I enquire as to why you have sought me out after all this time? You sounded rather agitated in the letter I received yesterday."
"Well… I must admit, I have found myself in a rather troubling situation as of late." Nicolas shifted in his seat and set his cup down.
"Oh?" Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, beyond interested now.
He fixed his old apprentice with a penetrating gaze, one that was full of admonishment. "Your safeguards for my stone are inadequate, I allowed you to convince me but hiding it here with mediocre defences puts the children and the staff in danger! I can tell you now Wulfric, eternity wouldn't be nearly long enough for me to even begin to forgive myself if a child were to come to harm because of such a folly."
"I am confident that we could come up with security measures to ensure both the stone and the students' safety."
Nicolas sat back to ponder his former partner's suggestion but after long moments still felt that it would be too dangerous and shook his head with a weary sigh.
"Then what would you suggest old friend?"
"I came here looking for a possible solution, but you have made me realize that there may be only one course left to us now," Nicolas seemed to lose himself within his own thoughts as he stared unseeing out of the window. Dumbledore was initially set on allowing him his respite, but his curiosity got the better of him much sooner than he would care to admit.
"And what course is that?" He asked softly, anxiety washing over him before he even heard the answer.
"It might be best if it was simply destroyed. We cannot allow it to fall into the wrong hands." Nicolas stated resignedly. He wasn't sure he was really ready to take such measures but if they could not come up with a safe way to hide the stone then he would speak with Perenelle on the subject and get her opinion. They could save enough of the elixir to ensure he kept his promise to Lily and once he was certain his apprentice could continue on without him, they could simply pass on.
"Are you sure? There is still so much you both could do…"
"So much he could do if he were to get his hands on it," Nicolas declared and smiled slightly as Dumbledore stared at him incredulously, "Oh don't look at me like that, we know full well who is attempting to abscond with the stone."
"Whatever do you mean?"
Nicolas' magic surged within him and though he spoke in a whisper, his words reverberated around the room and shook Dumbledore to his core. "Don't toy with me Wulfric. Do you really think that we have missed the signs? Mars is steadily getting brighter; he is preparing for war and…" He sagged his shoulders and sighed again, "and I fear, he may get his wish before the end."
A feeling of such unrelenting dread passed through Dumbledore that he physically seemed to wilt and fold in on himself.
"That's right you young fool," Nicolas said softly, "We have both known for quite some time that Voldemort was still alive, biding his time until he could return."
"You seem so certain," Dumbledore whispered resignedly as he reached for one of his ever-present lemon drops to try and comfort himself with their familiar sweet and sour goodness.
Nicolas waved his hand in front of his face as if to banish the silliness of the statement," We are not all as foolish as you seem to think. Nell has heard endless whisperings during her monthly scrying sessions since that night, not to mention the fact that I can hardly gaze at the heavens without seeing what's to come written in the stars themselves.
"I am afraid you are right," He paused to take off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his advanced age like never before, "For years I have dreaded the day he would return and even knowing it will happen, I still feel wholly unprepared."
"As well you should Wulfric. If we thought he was bad before, just wait until he shows up again. It took time the last go-round, time for him to gain the power he needed, for the fear to spread and set in, but this time he'll have a much easier time of it. Many of his followers are currently out there, going about their normal everyday lives, just waiting for him to return and all they'll need is a whisper, any sign that shows that he is back, and they won't hesitate to re-join him. The Ministry really did the British magical community a great disservice when they allowed those Death Eaters to go free."
"I'm quite aware of the Ministries failings Nicolas, I did my best to push for trials for all those we believed to be Death Eaters at the end of the war, but I was thwarted at every turn."
"I know Wulfric, I did not mean to place blame on you for their idiocy and I honestly don't see how you can stand working for them the way you do. I probably would have blown the place up by now… by accident, of course, experiment gone wrong. You know how those things go sometimes." Nicolas joked, trying to lighten the sombre mood a bit.
Dumbledore's mouth quirked up into a small smile. "Indeed, I do." He agreed. "Now, perhaps we can refocus on what to do about our current dilemma and revisit the looming threat at another time. Even if you would have enough elixir for a few more years, I would really rather not see you have to resort to destroying the stone."
Nicolas nodded and went about refilling both of their teas, "There are, however, two stipulations that must be met before we can fully agree to keep the stone here."
There was a barely audible sigh from the younger man, somehow he knew he would both like and dislike whatever he was about to undoubtedly agree to, "Of course, what did you have in mind?"
A slight smirk could be seen on Nicolas' face before he hid it behind his teacup, "Oh don't be like that Wulfric, at least one of the conditions will be most beneficial to everybody and the other is somewhat linked to the first."
"As you say, Nicolas, I will wait to pass judgment, however, until I have heard what both conditions are."
"Very well, the first is that Nell and I come to Hogwarts to teach. I would like to teach Potions to all seven years as well as an Alchemy elective for N.E.W.T students and since you already have a Charms professor, Nell and I could come in to take a look at the jinx on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. If we are able to get rid of it, she can take over there, also for all seven years, and I'm sure she would also want to offer an elective, perhaps Warding or Spell Crafting for N.E.W.T students."
Dumbledore's face lit up at hearing this and he was nodding in acceptance before he even realized it. Having both Flamels coming here to teach was beyond anything he could have imagined Nicolas asking for and the benefits would be immeasurable. He had received the only application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position when Professor Quirrell had gone on his sabbatical to Albania back in May, swapping Muggle Studies for DADA. Only agreeing to the change when Tom had fully possessed the once affable turban-wearer. Once Tom was contained or removed from the grounds by his own curse, it would be beneficial for Hogwarts to once more have a reliable teacher. He deflated and shifted a bit at the thought of what to do about Severus but was already thinking up alternative ways of keeping his Potions Master in the castle.
"What's the matter?" Nicolas asked, having seen a slight hesitation.
"I was just thinking about Severus and what to do with him if he is no longer going to be the Potions professor."
Nicolas had to force himself not to roll his eyes at that statement, "With all due respect, despite everything he might have done for our side in the war, you should never have allowed him to teach children. He has done more harm than good these past years."
Dumbledore bristled slightly, "And what do you mean by that exactly?"
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. The number of students that graduate to pursue careers as Healers and Aurors has dropped significantly since that man began teaching here and it's mainly due to his unrealistic expectations of his students as well as the way he teaches and bullies everybody that isn't in his house."
"Severus may be a little rough around the edges but he is a very good teacher."
"Oh, come off it Wulfric, anyone who has ever spoken to him about the subject can see just how much he hates teaching, especially children, yet you continue to make excuses for him. He would be much better off simply making and creating his own potions someplace where people wouldn't bother him, and you know it."
Dumbledore did know this, but he also knew that Severus would need to stay near him for when Voldemort returned to continue his role as a double agent. "Yes well, I would rather not just throw him out of the castle. He deserves better than that."
Nicolas did roll his eyes this time, "All right, glossing over the fact that he is a grown man and can take care of himself, why don't you have him brew potions for the Hospital Wing and any excess could be sold to St. Mungo's. He could still have his own quarters with a potions lab, and he could even take personal orders through owl post in his downtime."
"That is a very good idea, Nicolas, I think he would actually prefer it a great deal more than teaching," Dumbledore agreed and he felt remarkably better about having such a proposal to offer Severus when he let him know he would be losing his professorship.
"Good," Nicolas exclaimed, "now onto the second condition. Since he has already started at Hogwarts this year, Nell and I want to meet Harry so that we can get to know him a little better and I can gauge how best to prepare him to become my apprentice when he is older. Being his Potions professor and having Minerva McGonagall as his Transfiguration professor will give him a good grounding in the subject until that time comes but we want to know him on a more personal level."
"I don't think that's such…" Dumbledore began but was cut off.
"I'm going to stop you right there Wulfric because enough is enough. Nell and I have been after you for ten years about this and we will not take no for an answer any longer."
A dark fire burned in Nicolas' eyes as he stared Dumbledore down and it became quite clear to the silver-haired wizard that he would not be able to dissuade him from his chosen course and knowing that should he continue to try he may very well lose his friend. So, he did the only thing he could do, "I understand Nicolas."
"I know we didn't give you much of a choice Wulfric but thank you for letting us do this. Nell will be very excited to finally be able to see Harry again after all these years."
"I have no doubt that she will. I know that she has been rather frustrated with my reluctance to divulge young Harry's whereabouts these past years but please let her know that I had valid reasons for doing so."
"She may be more receptive of your apology if you were to tell us just what those reasons are." Nicolas ventured. Both he and his wife had tried numerous times to try and weasel the information out of Dumbledore but had had no such luck so far and they were most curious as to what the old wizard was hiding.
Dumbledore's lips twitched, "Though I feel that letting you in on a few secrets might be most advantageous I'm afraid now is not the time. Perhaps at a later date."
"Oh, very well then, keep your secrets. I have some other errands to run before heading home so I should be going anyway. I will have Nell owl you to let you know when you're to expect us. As well as to set up a time to come in and take a look into that jinx of yours."
"That sounds quite reasonable to me, just let me know ahead of time and I will clear my schedule," Dumbledore responded, getting up from his own seat and walking around his desk to bid farewell to his oldest friend.
"I will see you soon Wulfric and thanks for everything," Nicolas said, shaking his hand and grabbing a lemon drop before turning to leave.
"You're welcome Nicolas and say hello to Perenelle for me."
Nicolas gave a wave as he closed the door and began his descent down the spiral staircase, already lost in thought once again. He was rather pleased with himself at finally getting Albus to allow them to see Harry and couldn't wait to tell Perenelle the news. He could remember the few times that Lily and James would ask them to babysit while they went off to do something for the Order and their friends joined them.
He gave himself a shake as he made his way back down the dirt road towards Hogsmeade and focused on the errands he needed to get done before he could go home to plan with Perenelle. An anticipatory smile spread across his face, it had been far too long since he had taken on an apprentice like Wulfric and he was beyond excited to see what the future had in store for them.
***Break***
A certain purple turban-wearing individual gazed down at a crumpled piece of parchment held in his grip, a slight smirk playing around his cold dark face.
"Mischief managed."
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