Gareth Ahmed
I was in the hospital wing for barely a night. Madam Pomfrey had told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was lucky as hell.
Broken right arm, shattered ribs, concussion, and a large laceration to my forehead and upper right arm.
Also, my Judge Dredd helmet was shattered by the impact of the troll club, but I could fix that.
Same for my wounds. All of which were apparently no problems for Madam Pomfrey to heal with spells and potions. Wizards would bankrupt the medical industry overnight if they ever shared it with muggles.
The bone fixing potion still tasted horrible though.
'Magic is so awesome. Turns what would have been months of healing back home into a night of rest in a school infirmary,' I thought as I was checked out. I should really stockpile healing potions.
Still, that was only part of what was on my mind. Most of my mind was on the night before.
I'd fucked up.
I had been so worried about how my influence on things had affected Hermione and Ron, that I ended up dropping my guard in the worst way. That troll would have killed me. I wanted to find that thing and punch it a few times.
I felt bile in my throat at the thought. I'd helped during the fight, a bit. But the kids had finished it up like in the canon timeline.
I had to get stronger. Sooner. One day, I'd face a troll and smash it on my own. Right then, I felt like a failure. Like all my training and work had been for nothing.
On the other hand, I was immensely proud of Harry and Ron. They'd taken their training and acquitted themselves well. Even Hermione had done really well.
I was the weak link in that fight. Never again. Never.
Early in the morning, I went down to the grounds, rather than entering the Great Hall. I headed out to Field 6. Then I sat down and looked around.
SWOLE had taken over the field. We had tables, chairs, and dummies set up around the area. All the workout equipment was in my trunk in my room, but everything else was set out. I sat there for a while, looking out at the place.
Someone sat down next to me.
"Heya, Harry."
"Hey, Gar."
Of course he found me. Who else knew where I would be? We both sat in silence. Thank god, he didn't say anything. Just waited with me. I just planned in my head. There was work to be done.
"We better head to class," Harry said after a while. "Did you workout today?"
"No. I uh… wasn't feeling it."
Harry nodded slowly. "Yeah. Well, you're going to make up for it later."
Not a question. He knew I would. I smirked, still looking forward. "I will… Thanks for saving my life man."
"Just returning the favor."
We got up together and walked back into the castle, as November 1st began.
The biggest change to follow in the aftermath of everything was Hermione coming to SWOLE after classes were over.
The second biggest was Flitwick being there.
"Hello everyone!" the cheery small man said as he stood atop a tall stool provided for him. "Don't mind me. I'm just checking in to see how you all are doing."
"Are you always here, professor?" Hermione asked him curiously.
"Ohhh, no, Mrs. Granger, this is my first time. But not, I hope, my last!"
"Same here," I agreed.
Flitwick gave me a grin, then waved his hands. "All right now, go on, go on, comport yourselves as you usually do! Don't mind me, I will observe and step in if you wish or I feel I am needed!"
Good enough.
Hermione listened carefully as Ron and Harry explained everything to her, breaking down where things were and stuff. Parvati and Susan noticed, walking over to join them.
I, meanwhile, found myself next to Flitwick as we watched Zach.
"I say, what is young Mr. Smith up to?" Flitwick asked me.
"The wandless spell he chose," I explained to Flitwick, sighing. "He started with Fireball."
"Fireball? And wandless no less?" Flitwick blinked. "What version of a fire spell? Incendio? The Bluebell spell? Or Inflamare? Any wandless spell is quite the feat of course, for a first year."
I took a book, opened it up, and handed it to Flitwick. He stared at it.
"...This is not a spellbook," he said, losing some of his cheer as he stared at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook 2nd Edition in his hand.
"I told him. But he wants to create the spell."
"That is incredibly dangerous!" Flitwick snapped.
"Ignis Orbus!" Zach shouted. A small bit of heat came from his direction, but nothing else.
"MR. SMITH!" Flitwick snapped.
Zach jumped. He turned to look at us, looking scared. I felt the same. I'd never heard Flitwick use that tone of voice.
Everyone in the yard turned around. Blaise stopped mid-bicep curl, Hermione hid behind Harry, Hannah rose from where she'd been doing push-ups. Even Fred and George stilled at the sight of Flitwick.
"And you, Mr. Ahmed," Flitwick adjusted his glasses, the dapper man looking more furious than I'd ever seen him. "In fact, I want you all to listen. Wandless magic, alone, is a taxing endeavor. I understand why you would wish to master it. It is the mark of a great practitioner to learn it."
"But spell creation is one of the most dangerous practices on the earth," Flitwick's usually high voice quaked with something… else. "You will cease all your work on it immediately. If you wish to create spells, then consult I, or another teacher. We will work with you. We will do research. And you may practice in front of us if, and only if, we deem it safe."
"Never, under any circumstances, are you to attempt to do such a thing on your own. I have seen wizards far more skilled than even myself die from attempting such things."
Flitwick's eyes pierced into me. Then into Zach. "And a fire spell no less. How you have not killed yourself already is a Merlin blessed miracle."
Zach swallowed. "I… sorry, professor."
"Do not be sorry. Do not do it again." Flitwick snapped his book closed. "Now. Come here, Mr. Smith. Let us discuss what, if any, progress you have made, and how we might divert that progress in a safer way. One day, we can complete that work of yours. For now, what have you done?"
As Zach walked over, I kept my own thoughts to myself.
I guess part of it was my fault. I forgot that how I wanted to do things was sometimes not the best way for the kids. I'd keep up my own spell creation in secret, but from now on I'd be more strict on monitoring how the others did things, rather than just letting it go because they were 'stubborn'.
As for the spell I was creating, I'd learned my lesson. Never while others were around. I'd get it right on my own. For now, at least. Besides, if I got that spell down, it would be my ace in the hole.
Everything went smoothly after that. Workout, spellwork, tactical gaming, and small sparring, with Flitwick watching us. By the end, I was pretty satisfied. And so was Flitwick.
"I am impressed at least," Flitwick said with some pride after we were all done. "Even in my own house, I rarely see such a thirst for knowledge and improvement outside of the upper year students."
November 2nd was my birthday back in my old world. Not in this one. But I still had some memories of it. My family didn't treat birthdays too crazily in my old world. But whenever it was November 2nd, they would congratulate me, give me something small, and hugs were a little more free.
Consequently, I didn't handle November 2nd well. I took the day to hang out with Hagrid.
"They should really maintain these brooms better," I said as I helped the giant defrost the brooms. Which mostly entailed just putting them next to the big pot of water Hagrid had boiling in the small broomshed. We moved them to encircle the pot one by one, making sure they weren't going to be in danger of snapping from defrosting too quickly.
"Ahhh, I do my best," Hagrid said cheerily. "And Professor Hooch says she's going to get a new set of brooms soon! Anyways, thanks for the help, Gar."
"It's no problem," I finished up my part of the brooms and huffed, shaking some snow off my jacket.
"How you doing?" the half-giant asked me.
"I'm all right. Used to the cold."
"Ha!" he chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean since the troll!"
"Oh… Feeling a bit down. Wish I'd been more help taking him down."
"Ah," Hagrid nodded wisely. He guided me out of the shed and closed it behind us. We walked side by side towards his cabin as he spoke. "I've felt similar, from time to time. But yer young yet. I know my first troll was tough! One day you'll be wrestling them like me. Might need some more meat on your bones, eh?"
He nudged me gently. I grinned up at him.
We entered his cabin and he gestured to a pot of tea. I sat down, Fang coming over to get some pets. "Still, Gar, glad you and the others are okay. Worried me something awful, hearing about that. How's Harry?"
"Practicing quidditch," I answered. I poked at the rock cakes. "You know, Hagrid, these are hard to bite into for me. They taste good, but I think your jaw is a lot stronger than mine. Maybe you should ask the kitchen staff about how to make them softer for other people."
"Huh?" he poked at one of them, his finger easily pressing through it. I did the same again, and he watched it act like pure granite. "Oh. Sorry, Gar. Didn't think of that."
The giant man genuinely blushed. Just like Fluffy, big things shouldn't be considered cute, and yet he was endearingly chagrined.
Which reminded me…
I pet Fang for a moment, rubbing behind his ears. He grinned dopely at me. I scratched him and shook my head.
"I wish I could have a dog. Big one."
"Ay, Fang's a right softie, eh?" Hagrid chuckled, sipping at his tea.
"Yep. How do you keep him engaged here? Big dogs need tons of playtime to keep their minds active, right?" I asked as casually as I could.
Hagrid stilled. "Ah… that they do, don't they? Usually we go patrol the forest together, so suppose he gets his energy out that way."
"That's good, I can't imagine how restless he'd get if he didn't have that as an outlet. Big dogs aren't meant to be cooped up for long periods. Oh, I see he's also got a stuffed animal," I took a teddy bear and tossed it to Fang who bit into it with the ease of practice. "Little small for him. Back in the muggle world they sometimes give dogs big old rubber toys, things they can chew on and play tug of war with."
"Do they?" Hagrid looked intrigued. "Oh, muggles, they can be right 'rilliant, can't they?"
"Yep. Plus, it's important for dogs," I tugged at the toy in Fang's mouth. He playfully tugged back and we wrestled a bit. "Nothing sadder than a dog that's left alone with nothing to do. Kills something in them, I think. They need playtime."
"..." Hagrid suddenly looked immensely guilty.
"Good thing Fang isn't any bigger. You'd need a muggle tire for him to play with!"
And Hagrid's eyes lit up.
So yeah. The next time I visited Fluffy he had a giant tire in his room as well as some shredded plush toys and random stuff strewn about that made it look like Hagrid had gone on a small raid on a petstore. And I got to practice playing tug of war using Accio on the tire.
My not-birthday was quiet besides that interaction. I felt a bit of melancholy as it ended. I remembered my old life, old family, and old memories. Then, like I did every November 2nd, I pushed the memories aside and got back to work.
No time to mourn what was. Focus on what is and will be.
Author's Note: Next chapter tomorrow, with the next 3 chapters on my pa tre on. Hopefully you guys like this chapter.
On a different note, I have a story called Rewired Saga on here as well. It's a cyberpunk story with a lot of fighting game influences. If you guys could take a look at it, tell me what you think, and give it some love, I'd appreciate it. You can find it on spacebattles or royal road.
