The Shaman's Voice:
~ The Origins of the Dementors ~
IMPORTANT!!!!
KEEP IN MIND, THESE EXPLAINATION DOES NOT COME IN DIRECTLY IN THE STORY!!! There is too much information here to actually put in. At the start of this next chapter, everyone involved with the story will have read this text.
You don't NEED to read this, but, hell, let's have it for kicks, yes?
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Disclaimer: The entities I call "Lamina", "Umbra" and "Plasma" are not my own. These are supposedly "real" magical creatures.
The title, "The Shaman's Voice," is not my own.
Other information or "entities" (Mens Hirudo) other than these are based upon the previous three (Lamina, Umbra, Plasma).
Any relation these entities have to creatures/characters made by J. K. Rowling are also made up, purely coincidence, and actually just popped into my head a minute ago, heeh.
I suggest really reading this if I were you. The start of the next chapter has to do with the character discussing the text before taking a course of action. Heck, you might just find it interesting!
Geuna~
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"My friends," Dumbledore said quietly, "I think Ron has brought something very important to light. And as you can see from this text, perhaps it is far more dire than any of us could expect."
"What do you mean, Albus?"
"Simply read, Sirius. Read."
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Book: "The Shaman's Voice"
Author: Various
Basic introduction:
"Four different types of entities have been encountered by Wizard and Muggle, that adversely affect overall health: Two of these classes--darkness and entities--have similarities.
"The Darkness class ("Dementors") are cunning, their own consciousness, and volition with the intent to cause pain, anger, violence, fear and suffering from that which it feeds on.
"In contrast, entities are "human thought forms" that have no volition. Entities, not to be entirely confused with ghosts, are the residual energetic vibration of strong negative emotion and thought that are fed by the sympathetic emoting of those who come into contact with it. Entities have no consciousness and simply dissipate when not fed with the need negative energies."
Entities:
"The first type of entity (a.k.a. "Lamina", or "phantom" entities) is the most common, and in fact an everyday occurrence for Wizard and Muggle alike. It is a very simple matter that the entity is attracted to the negative emotions and thoughts of a single person, and this entity will therefor attach itself to that individual. An Lamina cannot been seen, smelt, heard or touched as they have no physical form, and may only be detected by those who are aware of their very existence or a practiced psychic. However, the Lamina may also effect those people around the victim."
Example: A person who is in a intensely foul mood walks into a room full of happy cheerful people, those around them become sober, and the cheerfulness in the room suddenly lowers due to the person's attitude.
"This is an example of an entities affect on surrounding people. This form of entity, however (since they have no consciousness) will simply dissipate when not fed. These entities appear and disappear throughout daily life.
"The second type of entity (a.k.a. "Umbra"or "shadow" entities) are slightly more "active" in the sense that it is directly attracted to those emitting very negative emotions or thoughts.
"When an individual decides to prolong their own feelings of doubt, sadness, or other negative emotions they consequently attract entities, which feed upon this.
Example: When an individual wishes so "stay sad" or "stay angry" about something or someone, this intensifies their negative emotions, making them a haven for hungry entities. The more entities attached, the more depressed the individual will become.
These "Umbra" entities, unlike the "Lamina" entities, actually intensify the victim's negative emotions by manipulating them and feeding off them directly, causing the individual to become weak -- physically and mentally--, moody, and usually very drowsy in appearance. Because of this, the "Lamina" entities are also different in which they do not simply "disappear" when not fed, for they do not allow the individual to fully escape their dark feelings.
"The only known way to rid oneself on this type of entity is to simply be aware of its presence, and it will no long have a hold. This is often a difficult task, for it is hard to tell if the cause of the individuals emotional distress is a result of an entity for normal everyday stress. Muggles suffer from this far more than Wizards.
"To remain hidden, the entity may also emit a sort of false sense of sympathy, prolonging their lingering and compounding their already strong hold on the victim. Once the victim realizes the entity's presence, they will know not to allow themselves to wallow in their sorrow, empowering positive emotions that will rid them of the entities.
"The third type of entity (a.k.a. "Plasma", or "ghost"/"ghost-like" entities) results from people, or the most common ghost, and therefor (usually) have a defined consciousness and personality, which hardly fits into the class. This can lead them to possibly be malicious, helpful or even innocuous, and will often attempt to "take over" a living or even dying body. But regardless of the intent of the entity, human bodies are meant for a single occupancy and prolonged attachment tends to lead to pathology. Victims often complain of hearing voices in their heads.
"These incidents are very rare in occurrence, however, as most of these have to do unregistered ghosts (those of which cannot be seen) who are attempting to make contact with the living. The Ministry of Magic rarely allows such a thing to take place, but those few that do manage to sneak by are immediately exorcised and reassigned to a more suitable location.
"The fourth, final, type (and the one to be considered 'dangerous'), is highly uncommon, and in many cases a supposed myth. This form of entity (a.k.a. Mens Hirudo, or "Mind Leech") is practically a mystery, and a highly controversial subject among many Wizard and Witches in the field of magical creatures and exorcism.
Speculated information on the Mens Hirudo:
"Supposedly these entities, like the other three types (See "Lamina", "Umbra" and "Plasma"above) behave in the same way::
Physical symptoms ("Umbra")
Effects or those surrounding people ("Lamina")
'Sympathy' defense ("Umbra")
Possible pathology ("Plasma")
The Mens Hirudo is the evolution of the "Umbra" itself. Why the "Umbra" would manifest in such a drastic way as a "Mens Hirudo" is still to be determined (possible connection to the "Dementor", see page 103, or later in this text).
A case study conducted by Samus S. Bolock, Class A witch of the International Researchers' Guild in Scotland. Researcher on Dementor psychology, pathology and ethology.
Note: All information and possible conclusions to be considered hypothetical in nature.
"To whoever may be reading this document, I find it understandable that you might want further clarification as to the exact location and whereabouts of the patent in question. I have been asked to disclose such facts by contract with the said persons."
S. S. Bolock~
I can't say I had intended to look into the matter, for the fact is that I rarely research into anything that isn't obviously related to the Dementors. Call it a whim, I suppose. But things didn't turn out as I had expected.
I had begun my research on a case not far from an old mining district in Ireland, where metals commonly used to make specialty cauldrons for various specified magical spells. A relatively small and scarce wizarding community, the only available shops I have found are of the Muggle sort a few miles east, and a few magic shops hidden here and there, most of which are hardly capable to compensate for my needs. Despite this, I find the environment safe for research, as Muggles don't come near the town, for I would surely be sacked it by some chance I allowed Dementors be come in contract with non-magic folk. This is mostly due to the magical charms placed along it's borders, the valleys, and mines known for the "black creatures" [Dementors] that come out at night from the depths of the mines (to feed, I wager). This problem is being dealt with still, so I am told, and though mental health is an exception, a Dementor has yet to claim a life in the past three years. I think the reasoning behind this is that I've found only a few living there. Only in groups are Dementors able to subdue a number of people who are more than likely prepared for them, as most miners are Patronus charm (some or simply incapable of casting the spell). Only while alone is a person in danger, which is very rare here. Miners always work in groups in this area, safety in numbers.
This case was reported some weeks ago before I arrived, where an Umbra which had entered the body of a young mine worker, a rookie (I shall not disclose his name, I have been kindly asked to secure his privacy in this matter, though I will refer to him as Adam). I had no interest in looking into the incident, but since I was in the area I found I couldn't simply turn down the family, their offer of payment was very generous.
However, from my own observations and knowledge of these creatures, I am almost positive that this case is completely different from the norm (by a wizard/witch's standards). Most assuredly, this is an Mens Hirudo, no matter what my colleges may tell me otherwise. This is what truly sparked my interest, so to say.
A few days before family and friends began to suspect anything, I am told that there was a slight incident with the Dementors wandering the mines. Though Adam was not killed, it seems he was mentally traumatized by the event.
This is what I have been able to tell from what I have observed:
Scenario One: Voices
The "Mens Hirudo" entity, as I have found, works much like a Dementor. The said victim seemed to re-experience a particular incident for his childhood, which his family made clear to me. However, not only has Adam been having vivid flashbacks of his own past, but had also complained of hearing voices (4).
Like a "Plasma" entity where a victim hears voices, a "Mens Hirudo" is likely to hear voices in a similar fashion, though in more of a suggestive manner. For instance, Adam informed me that these voices were giving him suggestions or courses of action, some of which he did in fact obey, no matter how many times he was told not to listen by others, including his family. These voice acted like subliminal messaging, or even worse, the Imperius Curse (see page 283, Chapter 3: "Unforgivable Curses"). He didn't seem to have control over himself, which made him all the more difficult to work with.
In other cases, these voices seemed to frighten Adam, causing him to go into hysterics, which would be seen as common schizophrenia/insanity to the common Muggle. As a defense for this, however, the entity had an amazing ability to retreat into the victim's subconscious, feeding the individual calming thoughts, emotions, and even memories (1) that seemed to 'sedate' him until the coast is clear.
This, however, only lasted for he first week, when we found that Adam had disappeared from his room and home altogether. He was found in the neighborhood, during the night, wandering. Upon finding him, however, he looked dazed, and claimed he had no memory of ever walking out there, and that he only wished to go back to bed and sleep. This sort of act began repeating constantly as time went on, and again, the same lapse of memory, which I like to refer to as "black outs." In other instances, however, I found him violent, angry, and very aware of his surrounds while practicing acts of vandalism on other houses, though suddenly he would become dazed again and forget it all. Most of these actions were outbursts over small matters, which he would unnecessarily take offense to, and would result in rash, violent actions and words.
Conclusion:
Like a "Plasma" entity where a victim hears voices, a "Mens Hirudo" is likely to hear voices in a similar fashion, though in more of a suggestive manner. For instance, the victim is given suggestions or courses of action that the individual will usually unwittingly obey, like subliminal messages or the Imperius Curse.
Scenario Two: Self-Control
This creature is far more 'controlling' than the other types of entities, which leads me to believe that perhaps the "Mens Hirudo" have a conscious or personality of their own, somehow based upon the host or hosts it has occupied. However, since this "personality" is developed on its own, based upon the individuals negative emotions and thoughts alone, so it is often malicious and even dangerous.
During a round of questioning, Adam became very ill tempered, and I saw a noticeable shift in his behavior and even his facial expression. To my own surprise, however, he attacked me, with the obvious intent of seriously harming me, perhaps even with the intent of finding pleasure in that.
While it also feeds a similar sense of false sympathy like the "Umbra", the "Mens Hirudo" may actually induce the individual to take action against what they feel is most troubling them. I, for example, became an annoyance, and in turn a threat to in the entity. Adam later informed me, however, that he felt in control, was doing the right thing. This false sense of control --while giving the victim an inflated sense of self-control-- alternately feeds the individuals negative feelings of hate and vehemence that can be associated with revenge, anger, and dislike.
Since the "Mens Hirudo" is a consciousness to begin with, and not ultimately attached to the body as the individual's original consciousness, it is understandable to say that sleep or unconsciousness will have minimal or no effect on it. When Adam attacked me, I found that the common Stupefy charm failed to subdue him, and I required aid from others in the house (5).
Conclusion:
Like a "Plasma" entity, human bodies are meant for a single occupancy. When victims experience "black outs" (memory lapses) I believe this is where their own consciousness has been pushed aside, and therefore they are unaware of this own actions.
Scenario Three: Physical
The effects of the "Mens Hirudo" weren't entirely mental, however, but in a way physical. As of the first week, Adam's was cold to the touch, physically weak, and constantly complaining of fatigue (6). As a result, he was restricted to his room and house. After the second week, as my subject's health continued to deteriorate, I found that this sensation of "cold" reached beyond the flesh, into the surrounding air. This feeling of cold seems to go in hand with the "other" consciousness within him, which became more and more prominent.
Also, like the "Lamina" entity, I have found that Adam's negative emotions still had a varying effect on those around him, including certain animals and magical creatures that are especially sensitive of their surroundings. Animals like dogs and cats may run from or even attack an individual carrying this sort of entity, though I never found humans so inclined to flee as the family house cat has done numerous times (2a).
Conclusion:
The dark creature, the Dementor, may have some undetermined link to the existence of the "Umbra" or the "Mens Hirudo", or vice versa, in respects to the physical effects on surround people.
Scenario Four: Exorcism
As I had finally concluded "Mens Hirudo" is another consciousness, I have also concluded that because of this, it may be extracted through exorcism, as my subject's physical health should not allow it to remain much longer.
Though Adam --even after all this time-- has been seemingly unaware of this other presence, or unable to comprehend the danger of the situation, being informed directly did not aid in any sort of recovery.
This entity, unlike the "Umbra" entity, will not simply disappear if you are aware of its presence. Force, I then realized, had to be applied. Nearly a month has passed since the "Mens Hirudo" entered Adam's body, and I fear the end results. After making this decision, I planned on personality extracting the creature the next day when I was fully rested.
However, my subject went missing during the night. After many hours of effort, he was finally found in hiding within the mines. At this time the local Dementors appeared, and we were forced to ward them off with our individual Patronus. We were able to retrieve Adam unharmed, though unconscious after being caught in the crossfire. I had personally requested that minimal physical contact be made with him. For if being close to the Adam causes such a negative reaction to those around him, then physical contact would be considered a gamble, though this did not deter Adam's family from making direct contact, despite my orders.
The exorcism was performed immediately, and successfully, and Adam recovered --physically-- over time. His personality however seemed rather "deadened". I have no other way to describe it. There seems to be no lasting mental effects, as he only has a few scarce memories of what had happened.
Conclusion:
After the "Mens Hirudo" is physically removed from the body, it will lose the 'consciousness' it developed while in the host, and will return to its most basic form (supposedly the "Umbra"). As an Umbra, which will not be able to attach itself to a host if all those in the area are aware of it, it will remain harmless. Unlike a ghost, the consciousness of a "Mens Hirudo" in completely dependent on being "stored" or "housed" by a living mind. Eventually it will dissipate all together if a host isn't found. Physical recovery is possible for the victim without risk of mental trauma, though only if acted upon soon enough (my own actions were not quiet soon enough). Prolonged attachment may be highly hazardous. As for the effects of this entity on their son, I refitted all intended payment for my work on Adam, and leave for he previous assignment in London.
Final Conclusion(s):
Throughout my observations, I have found a link, which I find both exciting and disturbing.
These possibilities lead to the belief that the victims of the "Mens Hirudo" are in fact the most original forms of the Dementor, and that the victim of such may become a Dementor.
Where a Dementor thrives off decay and despair by literally draining the area around them of peace, hope, happiness, or other considerably positive emotions, the "Umbra" and "Mens Hirudo" feed off these naturally dark human energies by manipulating and magnifying them until positive energies are either overshadowed or destroyed within the victim. Over time, when the victim's dark memories, emotions, or thoughts are not enough, the "Mens Hirudo" moves on to external victims for sustenance (3).
If the victim ever goes into isolation (as my subject attempted to do on several occasions) after the original mind is either sucked dry or destroyed, the entity will begin feeding on the victim's body. Physical deteriorate would continue until the victim is no more than a walking corpse, dominated animated by a dark consciousness. This is a slow process, as the soul must be eaten away rather than forcibly removed. Where the victim to simple die or be killed, the creature would no longer have a living mind to sustain it until the time comes were the human mind no longer exists. The exact timing this process is unknown to me.
After this process is completed, the "Mens Hirudo" (or more correctly, the Dementor) will go out to seek other victims to feed off of from the outside, now that it has full possession of the original victim's body.
Understandably, I cannot say what would make the "Umbra" trigger to become the "Mens Hirudo," if at all. I understand the connection might not exist.
Until this is proven either way, I shall continue my search for the answers.
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End Notes:
Any official explanation to the existence or behavior of the "Mens Hirudo" is otherwise unknown. No known victims of an "Mens Hirudo" lead most researchers in the Wizard Community to believe any such cases are hoax or extreme cases of the "Lamina" entity. Speculation on the subject continues today among a few scarce Wizards and Witches, as the subject is considered highly unorthodox.
Bases I probably won't touch in the course of the story.
The entity within James took the form of Lily in his memories and dreams in an effort to calm him in the face of others, or in face of the situation at hand. a/b: This especially effected Lupin, thus why he felt very sensitive, wary, or even scared of James at times. His "animal" side, though subdued until the full moon, could still sense it. Hermione isn't a desperately unhappy person, with a certain lack of dark memories and emotions. Perhaps by pulling these "pranks" and developing a certain air of fear around her, the creature inside her found more than enough sustenance for the school's populous, and therefore became very strong very quickly. The "voices" in James head tortured him throughout the start of the story. While when Lupin was possessed, heard multiple voice, or the wolf as well as the entity. Eventually Lupin lost all control he had over himself, though he was aware of what was happening, thus, the entity had full control, even though the person within was aware of what he was doing. As one can observe from James and Hermione, a certain physical effect dose occur, making them appear sleepy, sickly, even "corpse" like.
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Other Notes: (Geuna: these were totally unintentional, it just happened without me knowing, and in fact I just thought of all this just before the last updates, "Pranks, Plots and Planning Part 1 and 2.")
While in the vicinity room at James during his "insanity", individuals (a.k.a. Snape) have experienced a feeling of extreme cold or even fear that they would not otherwise feel nor explain. James attempted to attack Snape earlier on, at the time believing that his death would avenge the death of Lily and Harry, while the act only really fueled his own sense of despair and hatred.
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shadow - umbra
darkness - caligo, caligatio
phantom - lamina, larva, phasma
leech - hirudo
mind - mens
spirit - spiritus
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Did I overdo it?
REVIEW!
Geuna~