DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: And so it begins…or continued… or whatever.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: MOVING FORWARD
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 1991 – HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, SCOTLAND, U.K.
Harry, Hermione and Clarice waited in the Triple Eight Room for the Weasley boys to arrive. They had finally decided to use the room for a meeting with Sensei and what he had told them not two nights ago was disturbing. He went over the changes he had observed at Hogwarts since Harry had arrived and despite many of the changes, the primary timeline seemed intact. Harry had made the House Quidditch Team and the W.I.S.E. League Team as starting Seeker for both. As there were no rules against it in the House League, McGonagall had bought Harry a Nimbus 2000 model broomstick for him to use. That had happened just as before, including its arrival during breakfast and Malfoy's attempt to get Harry punished for receiving a broom. It was the first time anyone could remember having heard Malfoy speak since his stint in the Hospital Wing.
Just last week, Pomfrey had given Quirrell his "examination" and had secretly confirmed he was under active possession by a dark entity of some sort. This meant the main timeline remained intact for now and that there was still the real possibility that Quirrell would try and hex Harry and kill him during Gryffindor's first match with Slytherin on November 9th. Hermione and Clarice had received access to the Time Chamber Wednesday and Thursday night the previous week and again the past night to work on what they called "The Anti-Quirrell Spell". They would have preferred not to break up their time, but apparently the Chamber was needed for its intended purpose over the past weekend.
Sensei was confident that Harry and the others would be able to deal with Quirrell even if Hermione's spell research did not bear fruit. Of all the encounters the other Harry had with Voldemort in the other timeline, Quirrell was probably the easiest. The only difficulty lay in finding out about the Philosopher's Stone hidden at Hogwarts and, to a lesser extent, getting to it; two problems this timeline's Harry and friends had all but figured out already. Quirrell, however, was not much of a problem for the other Harry and given that the other Harry did not have any prior experience with magic before coming to Hogwarts and was eleven in all respects, Harry in this time should make short work of the marginally competent Wizard as it was that Wizard whose magic and ability was truly manifest and would remain so for the "foreseeable" future.
Sensei's concern was about another event further in the future. There was a Horcrux either in the possession of Lucius Malfoy or which would come into the man's possession within the next several months; at least it had the last time. The last time, the man had managed to surreptitiously slip the Horcrux to young Ginny Weasley in Diagon Alley during her family's shopping trip prior to the next school year. Sensei was not entirely certain of the man's intent, even after interviewing the man about it some years later. Malfoy did know that the object was dark and most likely would possess the girl in some manner. He had learned that from the diary itself sometime in the next few months. His plot was to use the girl to unleash havoc at Hogwarts and a violent, anti-Muggle Born campaign which would, in the end, lead to her capture and the total discredit and disgrace of the Weasley family. Sensei did not know whether Malfoy knew the ulterior motives of his Lord's soul fragment: to use the girl to return to corporeal form.
The problem was that the changes in this timeline might not lead to the Horcrux coming into the possession of the young Ginny. Malfoy had not spent any time in prison for his previous crimes prior to that in the last timeline and young Draco was not in his current state. Since the brat had returned from the Hospital Wing, things had changed for the lad. He seldom spoke to anyone and no one spoke to him. He ate alone and was alone the rest of the time as well as far as anyone could see. True, there were classes where students had to work with a partner or partners on their class assignment and Malfoy was not excluded from class assignments, but it was obvious his interactions even with other Slytherins were strictly limited to that and nothing else.
The Malfoys' arrogance had led to the Horcrux being passed to young Ginny Weasley in the last timeline. The Malfoys' hatred of Muggles and Muggle Borns had led to it. And Arthur Weasley's position as one of the leading voices in Muggle Born rights and respect for Muggles had also been a major factor. Despite now being the Head of the Department of Magical Child Welfare, Arthur remained a vocal advocate of Muggle Born equality. The problem was that the Malfoys' arrogance had taken a shot to the head with the incarceration of Malfoy Senior and the fall of Draco in the opening weeks of this year at Hogwarts. The Malfoys had to be "encouraged" to come up with their vile plan and set it in motion. Their ire had to be pointed at the Weasleys, and this is why Harry, Hermione and Clarice had gathered.
The four Weasley boys entered and were invited to sit. Harry was not too worried about the upcoming conversation. Ron had passed his Mind Magic O.W.L.s the past summer and the other three had an additional summer of training meaning all of them were safe from "tampering." Harry was fairly confident that the older three could not be compelled to reveal information against their will by just about any means known to magic, at least not here in Britain. Ron might be so compelled, but there were few who could do it and in any event, using those invasive arts on a "minor" was illegal.
"You wanted to see us Boss?" one of the Twins said.
Thank goodness he didn't say "General" or some such, Harry thought to himself. After last weekend, he half expected a snarky comment like that from the Twins.
When the Club returned from Japan this past summer it had 927 members. Last weekend, the Club officially expanded for the next year. It now had 1,914 members ranging in age from six years old to twenty. That required organization and structure that had not existed in the past. Each school's student Heads now had a "staff" of assistants and the Club had its own student staff. Harry was considered the overall "Head." He had not asked for the position, but he had been the only nominee.
His "staff" was loosely organized into several areas, with members from all the schools. Right now, excluding himself, there were twenty-two on "staff." There were eight subsections, each headed by a student with at least three summers in Japan behind them. Only Dora Tonks and Amber Evans, who each headed their schools Clubs, were not on the National Staff, as it was now known unofficially.
Trisha Powell headed the section known as "Member Affairs." She was a St. George's seventh year with three summers in Japan and was responsible for anything related to membership in the Club. This included tracking performance and problems as well as finding out about bloodlines, in the case of Muggle Born members who might have been adopted. Each school had a person who did the same thing at the school level, but it was the National Staff who handled the Juniors.
Hermione was head of the Section dealing with Club Security.
Harry and Clarice's cousin Jason Evans from St. George's headed Training. His section dealt with training at Camp W, the other weekly educational programs for the Juniors, coordinating continuing training and tutorials at all the schools to ensure uniformity, and he was also heavily involved with the W.I.S.E League. Jason was twenty years old and one of the oldest Club members. He was also now and Agent with Office W of MI-5, who felt the Club was an important part of its mission in regards to the internal magical security of the realm.
One of Jason's best friends, who was also with Office W, had the hardest job of the lot, most thought. Ian Smith was in charge of Logistics, which made sure if the Schools or Camp W needed stuff, they got it. The real headache, however, was moving people. The W.I.S.E. League games would mean moving students and families all over the country. More critically, he and his people, and his counterparts at all the schools, needed to make sure the Muggle parents could get to and see the matches.
Justin Parker, also Jason's friend and fellow MI-5 Office W colleague dealt with Summer Session issues. This meant making sure the Muggle Government and the Watanabe School would be able to handle the huge increase in students heading to Japan for the summer. It also meant he made sure that his School counterparts got the applications ready in plenty of time and that those attending University or Masters programs got their applications in early as well.
Susan Bones headed communications. Hogwarts School had its own communications section that sent and received messages to and from the other schools on their special communications parchments. Susan was to make sure there were no breaks in such communications. She also made sure that the National Staff at Hogwarts saw what they were supposed to see as soon as possible.
Luna had run the Club Newsletter the past two years and would continue to do so. Should the Club "go public," her father and the Quibbler would be their "press." Her new assignment had to do with the Wizarding Wireless Network as her Dad and the father of another Club Member, who worked for WWN, were arranging live broadcasts of all the matches. Lee Jordan, a Hogwarts Third Year and Club Member had already been selected as "The Voice of Hogwarts," and would provide commentary during the matches played at Hogwarts School.
All that left was Clarice. She was, for now, the lone Healer in the Club (as opposed to in an advisory position). But that was going to change after next summer. There would be at least twelve others with a Basic Healer Mastery by then. She was placed "in charge" of Health issues and training.
Harry and the others had organized things this way the past weekend. It seemed logical. Each School Club had a similar organization as well, with similar sections that communicated with each other and the National Staff – or at least they would be doing so soon. None of the kids knew that their organizational structure had a pre-existing counterpart in many other places in the world.
Harry looked at the Weasley boys. "We've got things to discuss," he said. "You have to understand, what is said from now on is very sensitive. You can't tell anyone outside of this room about it except McGonagall. And by anyone, that includes your parents or anyone else. Clear?"
The four boys nodded.
"Voldemort is not dead," Harry began.
"But you killed him!" Ron protested. "Everyone knows that!"
"No one really knows exactly what happened that night, Ron," Harry replied calmly. "The only people who were there were our parents," he continued nodding to Clarice, "who were killed, Voldemort who disappeared, Clarice who was three months old and apparently in another room throughout the attack, and me. And I have no memory of it.
"But, let's assume he was physically killed. Three of you have your Defense Masteries. Surely one of you knows of a way for a real Dark Wizard, steeped in the vilest of magical arts and without a conscience or remorseful bone in his body, to find away to survive and one day come back even if his body is totally destroyed?"
After a pause, Percy spoke. "A horcrux?"
"Try six," Harry said.
"SIX?" the three older Weasleys exclaimed.
"What's that? A hor-what?" Ron asked.
Percy then spent several minutes explaining what a horcrux was.
"So," Ron said, "if he has one of those things, you could kill him over and over again and he'll just keep coming back?"
Harry nodded.
"And he has six? And they're all hidden and protected by magic and stuff?"
"Actually," Harry said, "he's down to four. We found and destroyed two of them a couple of years ago."
"How do you know this?" Percy asked.
"We can't tell you," Harry replied. "Not yet. Maybe not for a long time. But our source has not been wrong yet. We know he has those things 'cause we destroyed a couple. We also know he's trying to come back even as we speak and we have a plan to stop that attempt."
"But if you're stuck here how can you…" Ron began. "He's here in some form isn't he?"
Harry nodded. "And we will deal with it. That's not why we asked you here. We also know where two other horcruxes are and will deal with them as soon as we stop Voldemort, hopefully by Christmas, but we'll see."
"Those two others are here as well?"
Harry nodded. "And we don't need you four to deal with those, but once Voldemort is out of the way, you can help us if you like."
"So," Percy said, "if we're not hearing this to help stop … V-V-Voldemort or to get those other two horcruxes, why are you telling us this?"
"We need your help with the fifth horcrux," Harry said. "In fact, without your help, it is doubtful we'll get a shot at that one anytime soon."
"If we can't help you with the Dark Wanker," one of the Twins said, "and you don't really need us for his two toys, why are we so important for this other one? You think we have it?"
"You think we know where it is?" the other asked.
"No," Harry replied. "However, we believe Lucius Malfoy either has it or will very shortly."
"And just why does this mean you need us?" Ron asked. "It's not like we'll ever get invited over to tea or anything. I mean, we'd love to help you, but how?"
"Here's the problem," Hermione said. "We know that he has it or will have it. We are as unlikely to be invited to tea, as Ron says, as you lot. And, as brilliant and totally handsome as my boyfriend is, there's no way we can break into wherever it is and get it. First of all, while we think it's in the Malfoy home, we have no idea where that is. The place is probably warded like no one's business and, while Harry might well be able to drop those, it's not like the evil git would not know something was up.
"We could go to Madam Bones or even your Dad with this. No doubt the Ministry would have the place crawling with Aurors and the like within minutes. But we think the horcrux is too well hidden to turn up in a raid even if we knew exactly what it looks like."
"So taking it from them is out," Percy nodded. "You don't honestly expect him to hand it over, do you?"
"Actually," Harry smiled, "in a manner of speaking that's exactly what we expect him to do."
"And that's where you lot come in," Clarice added.
"How?" a few voices asked.
"We know the Malfoys don't like your family," Hermione began.
"That's an understatement," Percy huffed. "Hate is a better word."
Hermione nodded. "Lucius in particular. We know he hates your father's political stance on Muggles and Muggle Borns and he probably believes your father is the reason everyone knows he's really a bastard…"
"Slimy git didn't need Dad's help with that," Ron chucked. "His being a Death Eater proves he's a right bastard."
"Not that kind of bastard, Ron," Hermione said. "Your Dad is head of Child Welfare. They've been telling some Muggle Borns they really are not Muggle Born since the office started. Malfoy probably believes that your Dad is somehow responsible for his family being disowned by Lord Black.
"Lord Black learned that Lucius is really his oldest grandson. Apparently, Lord Black's son had an affair with the wife of Abraxas Malfoy and that affair led to the birth of Lucius. Since Lucius real dad never married his Mum, he's a bastard – a child born out of wedlock. It's not a position that is respected in traditional Pureblood circles.
"Anyway, we think Lucius is more than a little pissed about his true parentage becoming public and blames your father. But, given events, there's nothing he could really do about it. Not directly, anyway. But, if he could somehow discredit your father and the rest of you in a way that you would never suspect his involvement…"
"Very Slytherin," Percy said. "How?"
"What if an 'unsuspecting' child of Arthur Weasley were to somehow come into possession of the horcrux of Voldemort?" Harry answered. "Sooner or later, that would come out."
"You think he'd do that?" Percy asked. "How?"
"You're the prank expert," Harry said. "But I think it could be done. Draco could get it and slip it into a book bag or something like that. We know enough about the object to know it seems innocent looking enough that the victim would not see the danger and simple enough they might not suspect something's really amiss."
"If that thing took possession of the victim, there's no telling what would happen!" Percy said.
"Except that the child would be blamed for it," Harry nodded, "and by extension your Dad. Unless…"
"We knew in advance," Percy nodded. "We'd get the horcrux and destroy it and no one would be the wiser. How?"
"It seems his son is having a hard time here at Hogwarts," Harry smiled. "Perhaps you lot could make it just a little harder. Not too much, not enough to get into any real trouble yourselves, but just enough that the little prat whines to Daddy about the mean, nasty and gloating Weasley boys in his letters home every once in a while."
"You sure you're not a Slytherin in disguise?" one of the Twins asked.
Professor Pyth Vector taught Arithmancy at Hogwarts School. He had been teaching at the school since 1969 and would have been Head of Ravenclaw House, or at least he would have been offered the post, had Filius Flitwick not been teaching there a few years longer. He had finished Hogwarts with the highest Arithmancy N.E.W.T.s in the country in 1959 and had worked in magical research in the Department of Mysteries for ten years.
That department within the British Ministry for Magic had such a name for several reasons. For most of the wizarding world, including most of the rest of the Ministry, it was so named because it was a mystery what they did. For those who actually worked there, the joke was it was a mystery why they did. They studied magic in all of its details and theories. Why really was anyone's guess because anything they learned remained secret from the rest of the world.
Professor Vector found that part of his job frustrating. Why involve yourself in research if no one will ever know what you did? He was not out for fame or fortune, but it made no sense to study something and learn about something unless you at least intended to either use that knowledge or pass it on to others who might be interested. When the position opened up at Hogwarts, he applied immediately and was accepted by Dumbledore within days of posting his application. As a teacher, he believed he could pass on what he had spent so much time studying. That was until he learned that the Ministry both considered everything he had done a State Secret that could not be revealed to anyone and so controlled the details of education that he felt limited in what he could teach. He could teach students what they needed to learn to pass their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s and nothing more.
The good news was that in his field, that was a fair amount of information. An Outstanding N.E.W.T. in Arithmancy from Britain was the same as an Outstanding anywhere else. This was not the case in other courses that by Ministry decree were not allowed to teach more than the absolute minimum required to attain "Acceptable" I.C.W. accreditation, which was less than the rest of Europe required and far less than many other countries. Because the course was comparable to the material taught anywhere else in the world, it attracted bright students whom he enjoyed teaching. It also attracted Muggle Borns. Most, because it was similar to maths they had been taught in the Muggle World. But at least a few had figured out by the end of Second Year (when they selected electives) that the employment opportunities for them in Britain were limited. When one considered that Defense and Potions fell far below the international level and, even with solid professors, many countries considered Charms and Transfiguration below standards, Arithmancy, Runes and Herbology were the courses one needed in Britain under British standards to get a decent job outside of Britain, unless one considered shopkeeper a decent job. Professor Vector had no problems with merchants as a trade. But he felt students should have greater choices.
Before the War, he was somewhat content. As a relatively new teacher, he was spending most of his time learning his craft and preparing his lessons. During the war, he began to note the problems, but kept silent. It was not a good time to complain about "the talent drain" of "the best and brightest" Muggle Borns fleeing overseas. People were of three minds then. They were leaving anyway and could care less. They were Pureblood Supremacists who would never miss the talent. Or, they were the rest who feared reprisals for even suggesting Muggle Borns had anything to offer the world.
Even after the War, speaking out publically was almost pointless. The Evil One had been defeated which proved that the country was on the right path. It was not broken, so why fix it? People were not being murdered left and right, so there was nothing to complain about. But in the Staffroom, Professor Vector was anything but silent on what he saw were fundamental flaws that if unchecked would make Britain a magical backwater if it was not one already. He knew that while there were some on staff who did not agree with him, there were others that did.
Professor Vector had inherited a fair amount of money from his parents following their deaths during the War. While it was never proven that they were victims of Death Eaters, their demise was classified as "Suspect." He had married a Muggle Born in 1974, one of his best students if truth be told and he believed his parents were victims of a reprisal. He and his wife lived in Hogsmeade where she had a workshop where she made things that she sold to the various shops in town. They had three children. Two were old enough to attend Hogwarts and the other would be next year. But not one would ever attend. He and his wife had sent them off to a magical school in North America when they were seven. They felt that if Britain would not change its educational policies, then their children should attend school under a more progressive system. They saw their children at Christmas and for three months during the summer.
He had been called into the Acting Headmistress's office that evening following dinner. He usually only ate lunch at the school, but had been there that evening working and decided to head to the Great Hall rather than go home and come back to grade papers. He had no idea why Minerva wanted to see him.
"Come in Pyth," McGonagall said almost as soon as he knocked. Professor Vector came in and had a seat.
"I hear you have exceptional Occlumency skills," McGonagall said.
Odd statement, Professor Vector thought. "It was a requirement in my last job," he said with a nod. He did not note any attempt at legilimency. "Is there a reason you mentioned that?"
McGonagall nodded. "You're position on the quality of education in this country is well known. You have even gone so far as to send your own children abroad to be educated rather than to see them suffer through what you consider substandard education."
What is this about? "My position on the topic, at least within the confines of the staffroom and my own home are hardly secret." Something odd was happening, he thought. McGonagall was never this cryptic about anything.
McGonagall nodded. "What do you know about the Club?"
Odd, he thought. "They have their own Quidditch League," he said. "They're the only group that truly crosses all House lines. They tend to have higher marks in classes than the average students. And they wear those badges or whatever they are on their collars. Or is there something more?"
"You know what's expected," McGonagall nodded, "and that's far from the truth. They have a need for your – er – expertise. However, before we discuss this any further, I want a Wizard's Oath that nothing we say or see from this point on will be revealed to anyone outside of this room."
His curiosity arguably overrode his sense of caution. He took the oath.
"I assume this Club is Dumbledore's idea," he said immediately afterward. The Headmaster was fond of oaths, or so he had been told.
"He knows nothing about it," McGonagall said. "Or at least no more than you do and that is the way it will remain…"
It took over a half an hour for McGonagall to give him an overview of the true Club. He was transfixed as she spoke and stunned by what she revealed. There were ninety-one students at Hogwarts who were years ahead of where they were in school, including many First Years. And the Club was not limited to Hogwarts. The total numbers were mind boggling. There were already almost a thousand kids throughout Britain who were being educated abroad and that number would double come next fall. The youth of magical Britain were doing on their own what he had wanted to do for ages! Had he known about this "Club," his children would not be in North America right now!
It was a still dumbfounded Professor Vector who followed McGonagall to what he thought was an abandoned part of the castle and through a secret door into a "Common Room" that put the one he remembered from Ravenclaw House to shame. It was huge. It was also well appointed. Along one wall were large windows overlooking the castle and grounds. The other had a series of doors, between which were bookcases from floor to ceiling filled with books. Students from all four Houses were present. Some appeared to be studying or tutoring others and others just hanging out. A few of his students from class said their "Hellos" as he followed McGonagall through the long room.
At the far end were stairs and he followed her up to the next floor and down a corridor that seemed lined with classrooms until they reached a closed door with a sign upon that read "Triple 8." McGonagall actually knocked before entering! She was Acting Headmistress and it seemed she was expected to knock? Professor Vector was flabbergasted.
Inside, he recognized Professors Sprout and Flitwick as well as the School Healer Madam Pomfrey. He also recognized the boy Harry Potter, but only because the lad had been pointed out to him by someone earlier in the term. There were five other children as young as the Boy-Who-Lived in the room as well as a Seventh Year prefect who he had in his N.E.W.T. class named Tonks. Professor Vector was introduced to the younger students as a former researcher and the current Arithmancy Professor.
"Professor?" McGonagall continued, "you of course know of Dora Tonks," she added indicating his student.
"Of course," he began.
"Perhaps not as much as you suppose," McGonagall continued. "Dora is a Third Summer in the Club. She passed her N.E.W.T.s in the summer of 1989 while attending the Watanabe School of Magical Studies in Japan. She has also attained her Masteries in Defense, Charms and Transfiguration and is working towards a Mastery in Curse Breaking. She has completed her degree in Physics and is working towards her doctorate in that field."
Professor Vector did not know what to say.
"Neville Longbottom," McGonagall continued. "Like the other students other than Ms. Tonks, he's a First Year here; but he's completed three summers in Japan and has his Masteries in Defense and Potions. He's nearly completed his work towards his Herbology Mastery and has his degree in Botany. And after that, Neville?"
"Mastery in Transfiguration," Neville said. "Hopefully a PhD in Agronomy as well."
"Luna Lovegood," McGonagall said indicating the blonde haired girl with a dream like expression on her face. "Her degree is in Journalism. She holds Masteries in Defense and Magical Zoology and is working towards her Mastery in Spell Crafting. This is Susan Bones," she said indicating the girl with red hair. "She has her degree in Physics and is working to her doctorate along the same lines. She has her Masteries in Defense and Magical Theory and is working towards her Wand Maker's Mastery. Clarice Jameson," McGonagall said waiving at a girl with very dark hair. "She complete four full summers, which means she's technically done with her full time education. She has her PhD in Economics and Masteries in Defense, Charms and Basic Healing with Advanced Certifications in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics. Harry Potter has his PhD in Chemistry and Masteries in Defense, Potions, Curse Breaking and Warding…"
"That explains what happened to Severus earlier this term," Professor Vector noted. "Does Severus know?"
McGonagall shook her head. "And finally, my Great-granddaughter Hermione Granger. She has her doctorate in History and Masteries in Defense, Transfiguration and Spell Crafting. From the Club's perspective, these are our oldest students."
"Oldest?" Professor Vector asked.
"Time Compression," McGonagall said. "Dora here is almost thirty. The others range from age twenty-three to about twenty-nine."
"Bloody hell! And why am I here?"
"Peer review," Harry said, "for lack of a better description. Hermione has crafted a spell and wants a second opinion."
"I see."
"This way," Hermione said leading them to a door at the back of the room.
They entered a long, narrow passageway of sorts. Spaced at intervals along the passageway were a series of hoops. Professor Vector thought he recognized the set up.
"This is like what we had to test wands at the Department…," he began.
"Of Mysteries," Hermione finished. "Actually, I think this is a little more advanced. We can test not only the strength of a wand spell, but this can record the actually arithmancy of the spell itself in order to compare it with the predicted values. The readings will appear on the parchment," she said indicating a parchment on a table next to a strange device that looked like a stand of some kind with a clamp at the top.
"How did you get this…?" Professor Vector began.
"I.C.W. Certified Spell Crafters can simply order these from approved manufacturers," Hermione said. "There's a company in the States that is particularly good and not too expensive. I mail ordered my set up this summer."
"I have my own as well," Luna added. "My faculty advisor approved the order for me."
"My former colleagues might be less than pleased to see this set up," Professor Vector observed. "But the Ministry has issues with anything of foreign origin."
"Right then," Hermione said in a business like fashion, "let's get on with it. Luna? Please set the shield charm at the end of the firing range, maximum intensity."
Luna nodded and began walking down the passageway to the far end.
"Shield charm?" Professor Vector asked.
"If this spell is working as advertised, it should pass right through the shield without any loss of intensity," Hermione answered.
"But only Unforgivables…," Professor Vector began.
"Wand?" Hermione asked.
"Which one?" Susan replied. "Burst fire or sustained?"
"Burst fire," Hermione replied.
Susan handed Hermione a wand.
"Whose wand is that?" Professor Sprout asked.
"No one's," Susan replied. "It's a chargeable wand. It's one of the first techniques we are taught to master. Not very good as a personal wand, although it will work. The design is perfect for spell loading, however. Apple wood and pixie wing, takes a charge like no one's business but it's – er – temperamental for general use. This wand probably won't choose any witch or wizard, as Ollivander would like to say. Easy to mass produce, though. I've made twenty or so since the school year began."
"Spell loading?" Professor Vector asked. "You can spell load?"
"We all can," Susan said. "Standard Defense Masters stuff. Now a personal wand is harder to load than these wands, but it's the same technique. These wands are easy to load and can hold more charges, or more powerful ones."
"We use chargeable wands to test complex and particularly difficult to cast spells," Hermione added. "Such as the one we'll be testing tonight," she added again. She took the wand from Susan and then placed in securely in the clamp like device. The girl then began to manipulate some knobs on the device as she looked like she was aiming the wand down the corridor.
"Shields set," Luna's voice said.
Professor Vector noted that the blonde haired girl had returned. The brown haired one began handing out some kind of goggles to everyone and then put a set on of her own.
"Safety first," she intoned.
Professor Vector nodded as he put on his set of goggles.
"Range clear?" the girl asked.
"Clear!" the other said.
"Firing!"
Professor Vector noted a jet of silver light shoot from the wand on the stand. Immediately, he noticed numbers and symbols beginning to appear on the parchment. It was arithmancy equations.
"Six percent power attenuation across the test range distance," the Hermione girl said. "No appreciable drop at the shield. It passed right through as predicted."
Professor Vector whistled. "That means the effective range is seven times the test distance?"
"So it appears," Hermione said.
"What's the distance?" Harry asked.
"Thirty meters."
"A spell with an effective range of over two hundred meters?" Professor Vector gasped. "What do you need a spell like that for?"
"Even if a spell can hit and affect a target at that range," Neville nodded, "aiming accurately at more than about ten or fifteen meters is a problem. Volley fire, I guess. That would make up for individual inaccuracies if enough wands were employed."
"Gun sights?" The older girl suggested.
"We would need a set-up like a rifle," Harry offered. "Even a pistol is inaccurate at that range even if the round is still lethal. Probably something like a scoped rifle."
"The Twins could probably fabricate something," the other boy suggested. "Still, that's only if we have the need to really reach out and touch somebody."
"And," Hermione added, "it's not as if you can just cast this spell. It would only be reliable from a pre-charged wand. How many burst rounds?" she said turning to the red-haired girl.
"Depends upon the size of the core," she replied. "This one," she said indicating the wand in the stand, "is a fifteen charge wand for your average spells. But this spell is way more complicated so this wand can only handle five charges. I could make ones that could hold three times that in burst mode."
"But what does this spell do?" Professor Vector added. He noted no more figures were appearing on the parchment and that the girl named Hermione was looking over the figures. He vaguely understood what they were talking about and all he knew is that it sounded ominous in some way.
"It worked," she said handing the parchment to Professor Vector. "Now let's see what our 'independent reviewer' thinks."
From his work as a consultant with his old employer during the War, he recognized the formula immediately. Who were these kids? "This is the Cruciatus Curse! But that's impossible! It had a range of at best twenty meters! Why? Why would you need such a spell? Who the hell are you people?"
"Look again, Professor," Hermione said.
After several seconds he did. It indeed looked like the arithmancy for the infamous Torture Curse, one whose mere use could land the caster in Azkaban if it was used on a human. Then he noticed something. His eyes widened.
"The values are all wrong," he said. Then he gasped. "They're opposites! It's identical and yet the exact opposite?"
"That's the idea," the Hermione girl replied somewhat smugly. "This is the exact opposite in every detail. It is to the Crutiatus Curse as white is to black, light is to dark…"
"Love is to hate," Professor whistled. "A love based spell? Like a Patronus Charm?"
"Patronus Charms only require a happy emotion," Hermione replied. "Of course, if that happy emotion is based off of a memory of love, it is far more powerful and easier to cast. But this is based on love in the first instance. Far more powerful stuff, and wicked hard to pull off under threat.
"This spell requires the caster to feel love just to cast it. Love powers the spell. It also requires the caster to feel love for the target to work. Kind of hard to do if the target is a threat. In that way it is the opposite of the Crutiatus. That requires hate to cast and hatred towards the intended victim. Arguably, it is easy to hate and feel hate than love in some circumstances."
"The caster also needs to intend the result," Professor Vector said. "More than intent really, more like desire, need, even lust for the result."
"Similar here," Hermione nodded. "The intent, not the result."
"Oh?"
"What is the result of the Crutiatus?"
"Pain. Excruciating pain," Professor Vector replied.
"And what is the polar opposite to excruciating pain?"
He shrugged. "Joy? Pleasure?"
"Ecstasy?" Harry added.
"Well, one of those to be sure," Hermione said. "At least that's the theory. We won't know 'til we try it out on someone. Anyone want to take a hit for the team?"
"You're not seriously suggesting someone act as a victim for this new spell just to verify its effects, are you?" Professor Vector asked in shock.
"It's not lethal," Hermione replied. It was clear that was exactly what she was suggesting.
"I'll do it," the Longbottom boy said as if he was being asked to go get a book or something.
"For all you know," Professor Vector said, "this spell, while it appears to be the opposite of the Cruciatus, might well have an almost identical effect!"
Longbottom shrugged. "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt."
"What does that mean?"
"It means he's been under the Crutiatus spell before," Hermione said. "We all have."
"What?!"
"Standard Defense education," Hermione went on. "The Imperious Curse and Crutiatus affect the mind and not the body. It's not unlike active legilimency or a hyper-charged compulsion charm. We all get placed under the Imperious before we sit our O.W.L.s so we know and can describe the effects accurately. For N.E.W.T.s, we learn to resist if not throw off that curse. We experience the Crutiatus in N.E.W.T. class and also learn techniques that can at least lesson its effectiveness so we are not totally incapacitated. After five years of intensive Occlumency training it's not that difficult to learn techniques against those spells."
"And you can block the Killing Curse as well?" Professor asked sarcastically.
"No. They don't throw that one around, even in a controlled setting. We studied martial arts, though."
"So?"
"It means we developed the agility to dodge," Neville said. "Let's get on with this, shall we?" he said walking off down the range.
"What is this spell for?" Professor Vector asked insistently.
"If it works," Hermione replied, "it should incapacitate and aggressor."
"Why do you need this spell?"
"That information is classified for now," Harry said coolly.
Professor Vector looked at the boy and then McGonagall.
"There is a need, Pyth," she said in a very serious tone. "This is not some prank."
He was thinking of a reply when he heard a voice call out. "Ready!"
"Range clear?" Hermione asked.
"Aside from Neville," Luna replied.
"FIRING!"
Professor Vector saw the silver light shoot out again and hit the boy down range. The boy fell over.
"DID YOU EXPECT THAT?" he said to Hermione.
She shrugged. "It was a possibility. There's a cushioning charm on the floor just in case. Let's get him checked out."
How could these people be so cold, he thought as he saw Pomfrey and the girl he was told was a Healer head down the passageway towards the fallen boy.
A half an hour later, they were back in the room where he had been introduced to these Club Members. There was nothing physically wrong with the boy Neville, aside from the fact he was not moving or responding to anything. Pomfrey was sure he could hear, that he was conscious and that if he chose to open his eyes, he could see. She was also sure that for some reason, the boy did not want to. He lay on the couch with a disturbingly content expression on his face.
"This is ridiculous," Professor Vector said.
"It is consistent with the modeling," Hermione said. "The opposite of pain is painlessness. Bliss. Ecstasy. The effect should wear off."
"When? You don't know, do you?"
"We will when it does," Madam Pomfrey said.
"I can't believe you people! You test an unknown spell on a person? At the Ministry, we only used animals and…" his voice trailed off.
"Prisoners," McGonagall added.
"What?" several voices said.
"There were rumors," she continued. "If their animal testing was inconclusive, they'd test their spells on prisoners."
"That's outrageous," Hermione scolded. "Prisoners?"
"And you tested yours on a boy who did not deserve this," Professor Vector shot back. The truth was they had tested spells on prisoners from time to time and it had sickened him. It was one of many reasons why he left.
"And they did? Neville knew the risks and volunteered! He did not do this to get a lesser sentence or a better cell or something. He knew the risks and did this so we would all know the results! That's a lot different than forcing someone to do this or coercing them!"
"But…"
"But nothing," a new voice said. They looked and Neville was looking at them. The smile was gone. "She's right. I knew the risks and accepted them because it was necessary that someone did, not because I would gain anything for it or had no better choice."
"How do you feel," Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Normal enough," Neville replied, although he did not sound pleased.
"What happened?"
"For a while, I felt perfect. I felt great! It's hard to describe how good I felt. I didn't want it to end."
"Did you try to fight it off?" Hermione asked.
"Didn't even bother," he replied.
"Why not?"
"It's not like the others. Not at all like the Unforgivables. I was not being asked to do something against my will. I wasn't being asked to do anything at all, so why bother? There was no pain. I could not have felt better ever, so why would I need to stop it? I also knew I was in no danger, so again why stop something that felt so good?"
"Were you aware of what was going on?"
"Pretty much," Neville replied. "I heard you guys. I just didn't care, really. Reality was nothing to be concerned about."
"You couldn't resist?"
Neville shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. I just didn't want to even think about resisting it. It felt like … wow!"
"And now?"
"You have any idea how depressing normal is? I'll be okay."
"Be that as it may, Mr. Longbottom," Madam Pomfrey said, "I'll want you overnight in the Hospital Wing overnight in case there are any unforeseen complications or side effects."
"Now I really am depressed," Neville sighed. But he stood up and followed the Healer from the room. Before he left, he stopped.
"You know those Muggle things called drugs?" he asked rhetorically. "I guess that spell could put the dealers out of business. See you guys at breakfast."
"Let's just hope he doesn't want to get hit again," Harry said grimly. "Hate to think what might happen if that spell proved to be addictive."
"We'll lock the loaded wands," Hermione nodded.
"Is that the effect you were after?" Professor Vector asked.
"Close," Hermione said. "Probably is. There is only one … no, now that I think about it two ways to be sure."
"And those are?"
"One is classified," Harry said seriously.
"And I don't think anyone will give us a dementor to play with," Hermione added. "I would not be at all surprised if this spell would seriously damage or destroy those things."
"So that's what it's for? Harming dementors?" Professor Vector asked.
"Among other things," Hermione replied. "And the other things are not up for discussion at this time," she added as if the conversation was over.
"Now listen here," Professor Vector began.
"Pyth, please?" McGonagall said.
"What? These are kids and they're playing at goodness knows what!"
"They only look like children," McGonagall said. "I know it can be hard, but they are not children. Legally, all of them are adults and should be treated as such. Hermione is almost twenty-nine. Now, what are your conclusions?"
"I can't speak to the difficulty in casting," he replied calming down. "The arithmancy supports her conclusion that it would be very difficult to do except under almost ideal circumstances. Given its effects and the fact that it can penetrate a shield charm with no loss in power, or practically no loss, my guess is this is intended as some form of non-lethal, incapacitating combat magic. Its effective range has potential, but your students have pointed out the flaws. Aiming a wand at a human sized target more than fifteen meters away is dodgy, even if the spell can hit it full force. Given that and the difficulty in casting, I'd question its practicality and therefore it's utility."
"And their notion of wand loading?"
"That gets around the casting problems, not the accuracy or utility problems. If you load any wand, it cannot be used for anything else until the pre-loaded spell or spells are completely discharged. Effectively, all you would have is this one spell. Not practical if you need to defend or need any other spell. You'd need two wands: one for general use and another just for this spell. That's not ideal or practical."
"If we could solve the long range stuff," Harry said, "then it would be useful. Use this spell against opponents before their wands are close enough to engage, then switch to a close combat wand."
"That would work," Professor Vector mused. "Wait! Why are we even concerned about this? Ten years ago, this might have been useful as there was a war, but in peace?"
"To assume peace is a sustainable condition without a change in the hearts of men is to invite disaster," Luna said. "Plato said that only the dead have seen an end to war."
"In peace, prepare for war," Harry nodded.
What the bloody hell is going on here and why did I ever agree to take that damned Wizard's Oath? Professor Vector thought to himself.
McGonagall seemed to sense the man's dilemma. "It will all make sense in time, Pyth."
"Probably sooner than you think," Harry added.