AN: Thank you for your reviews.
Cuervo Blanco: You mentioned Laura's name in the introduction, but, since this is the UK, isn't Cecilia better fitted to interact with Harry?
Laura will be tutored by Orimura soon, who in turn will earlier or later interact with Harry. I'm also considering few scenes with Cecilia but she is neither person I can easily write about nor there are many places Harry can meet her at (most likely Harry won't be in England for long during summer and Hogwarts is not the place they can meet at).
edboy4926: How old is Ichika right now?
I'm not sure I will ever know myself))) I might as well enroll Harry into academy without even needing to know Ichika's age or current course (that does not prevent them from interacting). Will make a final decision later.
A prepared a bit of spoilers below to prevent questions. Most of them are not final decisions, just general line, still it is spoilers, so don't read if you don't feel like it and skip to the chapter's title.
Spoilers:
After reading this chapter and few more you might think that it will be HP&HG love. Most likely you are wrong. I do plan to develop their relationship beyond that of friendship. Person I potentially plan to pair Harry with is not on the scene yet as well as 'participants' are a bit too young. Of course I'm not fully sure, since I have no final plan's for character development.
About Harry's power:
I don't see a logical way of making Harry not overpowered in comparison to wizards (IS is the strongest weapon on earth after all) so I might add few impressive long range spells like "ice/fire turning into dragons" to Dumble's and Tom's arsenal in case there will be IS&Wizard battle and some regular spells will prove a challenge. (Just can't threw the picture out of my head – Tom throws an immense fireball, but approaching IS dodges and fires missiles. Fireball turns as boomerang, transforms into a fire dragon and tries to attack IS from behind while Tom deals with missiles.) I'm considering few more spells and skills to use against Harry.
In case I will ever need more power for wizards (like IS&wizards war, however unlikely), I will try implementing something like this:
"Disciplines: blood magic, necromancy, demonology, entire sections of ritualogy banned as potentially dangerous and dark. So today one angry master necromancer can easily win the magical Britain over within a month, proportionate force to oppose him does not exist, at least not officially."
Comparing to other IS and pilots Harry won't be overpowered, just military grade with higher then usual starting skills (and I hope he will need this power).
General world development, solid spoiler:
I planed ECG as step stone from first generation to second and third - ISs in anime use hexagonal shields, in my fic ECG is what generates said shields and Harry will be a step-stone in their development. I consider hexagonal shield as reactive defense, so later generations and upraged older ISs don't really need shield characteristic (only energy is used in anime) while old fashioned absolute defense becomes last line of defense due to long recharge time and independent capacitors.
Playing quiditch:
Harry will try it, but he will leave (with fireworks and all that stuff), so don't ask me about it please. I won't answer. I have a solid plan here. Hopefully solid.
About broom riding position tests: He will obviously pass, but I'm not sure about position and where and when I will post the test itself (if ever). Don't ask - I don't know yet. It will also depend on how well are my skills with action part and comments to this chapter.
Beta: Audiodelus
Chapter 5: Not a moment of peace
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, hospital wing. September 11.
Harry was lying on a hospital bed and listening to music through deployed headset. More then a week since first awaking in a sweaty bed. Harry would have appeared here earlier at least three days prior, but he was caught in research and reverse engineering of Wizarding Wireless. He spent three days on it researching related runes in the library, testing them or checking frequencies. Unfortunately the device used something completely unrelated to electricity or radio waves and all Harry got were some specialized runes he had yet to recognize, terrible headache and red eyes. The red eyes part was precisely what got him sent to hospital by McGonagall when he almost finished separating and decrypting sound part of the device. So here he was, left by local healer, Madam Pomfey with no clear reason and for unknown amount of time. She simply caster few spells, frowned, repeated same spells and then casted few more…
The expression when Pompfey asked Harry to wait for her and healer's actions were most confusing thin. He haven't seen many healers or doctors in his life, but he was sure that letting emotion to show on face like that and leaving confused patient without proper explanation was highly unprofessional of her "At least there were no real worry on her face."
-"Fine. Do what you must, but if it is anything harmful, I will have to remove it." - came Pomfrey's voice from the door.
Before, all Harry suspected was that something unusual was happening to him. However now, after Madam Pomfrey appeared in tow with professor Dumbledore, it was clear that something was wrong…
First the director tried same set of charms as the healer, just a bit slower. Apparently something was not as expected, so he added few long complex wand movements. Whatever was the result, director's surprise was so great that his glasses almost slid down to the point of his nose. Making whole expression so comical that if not for the place and uncommon situation, even the healer would have had problems with the containment of laughter.
-"Harry, my boy, I will have to discuss this with Poppy, but you are not in any danger. You see, your magic is acting strangely and probably is not sleeping with you. Nothing dangerous, discomfort only and it will end in couple of days. Still it will be best if you sleep here for today. Poppy, can we talk privately?"
-"Of course, Albus. And you, young man, don't even think of casting anything and don't strain yourself. Wards will tell me if anything wrong."
-"Sorry, professor, but what is the reason for my current condition?"
-"You see, Harry. Person's magic is usually active with the user and sleeps with him, if it is not, then the body is forced to stay either asleep or awake as well. In your case it is clear that even while your mind is asleep you body is still wide awake."
-"Thanks for explaining this, but I meant what caused it to start acting like that?"
-"That doesn't really matters. May be even something to do with living in new place, like light magical fever. It is entirely possible that vaccinations your parents did to you were somehow weakened in environment with low ambient magic. What matters is that you will be perfectly fine. Madam Pomfrey, waiting for you in my office."
The frown on healers face only reassured Harry that there was something more difficult. If it was a simple fever, then why was Dumbledore here in first place?
Dumbldore. Hogwarts. September, 11.
In the Headmaster's office Albus could not find peace with his mind, he was circling around his own table and changing directions from time to time, deep in thought.
"Unbelievable, his core is growing because of miscast 'magika maxima limita'. I would have suspected that Severus miscast the spell but then it should have failed completely. Did his familiar somehow influence the spell?" Albus shuddered. "No, impossible. So, somebody linked the spell to some kind of power source. Can his familiar be used as a power source instead? How can it be done? Only mages can see and interact with magic sources the needed way or some extremely complex artifacts. So, it is doubtful, I'll need to check it. Extremely complex ritual with multiple participants perhaps? It could be used as power source and will explain some of the other irregularities, but it couldn't have been performed on Hogwarts grounds. I would have noticed."
Albus summoned a quill and wrote down all oddities related to Harry – if you can't understand something, write it down, organize and it will make sense.
"Even if I forget about the power part, bindings are still behaving strangely. It looks like they are constantly growing wider along with Harry's magic. Even a bit faster than Harry's magical center. End result – Harry's magic is active whole day and while mind is asleep, magic is not. Body tries to compensate for higher magic production and Harry wakes up all worked up. It is impossible to change a casted spell, so this is a different spell and someone casted and masked it to look like old binding spell. But who has enough experience to detect and dispel the old spell then cast new one looking almost like old? I myself not sure how to do it. Intruder? Does Harry know? No, his reactions were genuine. So adding or powering up some wards is a first priority, next will be to renew bindings before it is late. Fortunately the spell is failing fast and I will be able to bind Harry's core this week. But different spell will be needed. Just in case."
-"Albus?"
-"Huh, Fillius. Sorry, I was deep in thoughts. Why are you here?" – pretending that he was unaware of visitors was close to a habit for Albus. He always knew about visitors approaching his door and it provided a lot of ways for misinforming few independent students and professors.
-"You invited me yourself, Albus. Also you forgot to close the door. Are you fine, Albus?"
-"Yes, yes. Don't worry, Fillius. I just wanted to inform you that Harry will be sleeping in hospital today."
-"Harry Potter? I see. Is it something serious?"
-"No, he will be completely fine. Just a precaution."
-"And what was the reason?"
-"Just a little fever, nothing serious, just annoying."
-"I will go check on him then."
-"There is no need. He is not to be disturbed."
-"It is my duty to check on him."
-"Just ask Poppy then. Also if you will be talking to her, check that all muggleborns received vaccination. It won't do for someone to be catch this fever from Mr. Potter."
…
Albus sighted as soon as Flitwick left. It would have been much easier for Albus if boy was in Gryffindor. Flitwick and Pomona were the hardest to control. One was a professional dueler and was backed up by Gringotts, too independent for his own good. Other one was too loyal and caring in everything concerning her house and guarded by same loyalty from her own house.
"Also I should have checked this earlier, but Lily's protection are getting stronger. Damn that familiar, it probably intoxicated Horcrux or whatever connection there is, giving a chance for protection to be restored. Now whole plan is in danger." As if there were not enough problems for aged man, an official owl with letter from Wizengamot came, informing about next meeting. Albus sighted once again.
-"Indeed. Misfortune never comes alone." - Wizengamot meetings usually require a lot of time. And time was what Albus needed the most right now. It looked like problems only started with the familiar and wrong house.
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, hospital wing. September 11.
Three hours ago Dumbledore returned to perform few more spells and with some kind of artifact which immediately let out dozen or so sparks of different colors and sphere in the center started levitating. The action that raised suspicions to a new level even if Harry was sure that he will manage. It simply couldn't be a fever. Shouldn't he drink some kind of strengthening potions and be isolated in case of such illness?
The Headmaster left in thought without a word unlike Madam Pomfrey who noticed one of mundane books in Harry's hands. She immediately ordered to lie down, relax and forget about books or any other form of studying for a day. After that Harry was left alone once again.
Unfortunately or not, but the last three months Harry was constantly learning and raising his work load with each day. First it was complex IS related literature, then runes, charms and some programming,
Now it was all together, along with mundane studies and research of complex magical device… It took only 2 hours of idleness for Harry to start feeling lack of action and more importantly lack of mind load. Books being restricted, Harry decided to occupy himself with revision of his tasks and problems.
Harry removed the headset and initiated holographical IS UI. First of all, IS and Magic. Harry's main concern for a long time.
IS created and somehow managed to fill energy requirements column in spell's database and added references to three dimensional images marked as spell's structures. Ability to measure magic consumed by spells was not a surprise – Harry wasn't stupid and understood that if IS can detect Harry's magic as secondary core, measure magical potential or test wand's compatibility it should be able to measure spells power requirement as well. Source of Harry's concern was the set of columns filled around week ago.
It was describing the IS's ability to interact with existing spells while they are close enough, like powering up working 'Lumos' within five meters radius or to control range and dispersion of 'Incendio'. This was strange – according to most books Harry read, magic and technology should not mix but for IS it was almost like it could use it through ECG. Was ECG the case?
IS recognized wand as external ECG, was able to somehow test it, but could not use. Why?
From the books IS provided, Harry knew that ECG was using multiple generators to create simple energy primitives. Conveyers were storing primitives and passing to emitters. Emitters were creating frame then were wrapping it into primitives passed by conveyor. In the end it looked like ECG was drawing extremely complex picture, not unlike those in spell's database, but completely different in nature.
Spells were created as a whole in a single instant by the world around, a lot simpler then any ECG construct, a lot more elegant and without frame and much more complex then any primitive.
From requirements point of view wand and ECG were also different. All ECG needed was energy and program. Energy limited maximum amount of generated primitives and their life time, program defined complexity of connections and construction time, controlled whole process.
Rituals on other hand used five various components and only three components were needed by the rule 'three of five'. Harry had no full information on rituals but he knew that the wand is a component – ritual item with powerful magical substance and conduit for one more component simultaneously – filter to convert, balance and conduct colored magic into neutral magic needed for the ritual. So basically wand had no requirements except that user should have resembling set of aspects for the wand to conduct magic and it definitely couldn't function as ECG.
Was IS judging wand's functions by end result? Why IS could test wand then? What kind of connection wand shares with user and can it be used by IS? Can IS provide something as third component for the ritual?
"Once again I don't know enough. Will have to read a lot more on rituals and ECG"
Deciding to switch to something simpler Harry opened profile database. It also needed some updates, so five minutes later all Hogwarts students and teachers gained empty status field for pureblood/halfblood/muggleborn and frames for photos of their wands and pets.
Forgotten wands or lost animals wandering around the dorm were a common thing for some badly organized Ravenclaws.
Next Harry checked collection of library texts students so generously helped to scan. Surprisingly enough there were few dozens of full books, mostly read by unknown fifth and seventh year students. Six full books was scanned from Hermione while she was reading near Harry. He even got few books from restricted section. One was scanned from Professor Vector, an complex arithmancy work, to complex for Harry to understand right now. Two more books were transfiguration and potions. Simpler enough, they were made as introduction to the subjects.
To Harry's surprise, transfiguration was ordered by Daphne Greengrass and book on potions was read multiple times by half of the Slytherin first years. Do they have access to the restricted section?
Regretting his weak willpower Harry tossed restrictions away and started reading the book on potions. Something so many Slytherin students read is bound to be either interesting or useful.
Hermione Granger. Hogwarts, on the way to the library. September 14
Latest assignment on transfiguration was very interesting and intriguing from Hermione's point of view, but it required a lot of searching and reading. Well… It either requires that or asking Harry one question and in the very least she will know name of the book she will need to read, not that she will ask Harry. Surprisingly Harry never needed to search anything and some of his reading advices were invaluable. The fact that irritated and impressed girl a lot. However this time it was her homework, not just some light reading, and Hermione was a good girl and a scholar. So she entered the library with intent to do all work by herself.
...Or at least she tried to enter it. A group of loud first years were trying to enter and Madam Pince performed some kind of spell that simply turned students around.
That means Harry is in the library.
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, library. September 15.
Since the start of the week library became too crowded by Harry's opinion. No matter what madam Pince did, there always were students who were calm enough to not be caught by the librarian and yet stubborn in their tries to befriend the Boy-Who-Lived. One such person in a form of pretty second year girl from Gryffindor just left his side only to be changed by another.
-"Potter." – By a boy with blond hair.
-"What do you want?" – came a dry reply.
-"We were not presented properly. I'm Draco Malfoy."
-"Harry Potter. Nice to meet you." – there were no sincerity in Harry's voice.
-"Mutually. May I ask you, why you lied to me back there on the train?"
-"Technically I was not exactly lying, I haven't seen myself on the train. As for the reason – look around and ask the students what they are doing here."
-"I see. Fame is double edged sword indeed."
-"So, why are you here?"
-"I wanted to offer my friendship."
-"Then I'm waiting for an apology at least."
-"Apology? What for?"
-"You insulted me and girl back there in the train. You called us mudbloods if I remember correctly."
-"You were the one who lied to me."
-"So you think that your insult was justified?"
-"Of course."
-"And what about the girl?"
-"What about her? She is no name and mudblood, worse than those blood traitors Weasleys. She is not even worthy of being in my presence."
-"A rather high opinion of yourself. So, you think you are a better company..."
-"I have various connections and from respected family. Of course I'm a better company."
-"Well. Then I will choose company of that girl over yours every time of a day. Farewell Draco."
Harry raised and went for the Hermione's table.
-"Huh? I'd be careful with your words if I were you, Potter!" – Malfoy's red face and hostile tone indicated that he was not accustomed for being insulted in such a way, but nor speech, nor expression was able to draw reaction from Harry.
-"My father will know of this!" - unfortunately for Malfoy, last part came louder that it should have been.
-"Silence in the library!"
Harry was constant center of commotion for last few days so it was really a surprise, why Pince never threw Harry out. It would have solved all her problems at once. Was Pince just principal and Harry never broke a rule or was there something else?
-"You will apologize immediately or I will…" - Probably Malfoy was going to say something else but was hit by madam Pince's 'Silencio', and guided out.
-"Hello, Hermione. Can I seat here."
-"Hello, Hurry. Sure, it is free."
-"I must say that I'm sorry."
-"For what?"
-"The fact that I selected to seat beside you probably will make a commotion."
-"What do you mean?"
-"Isn't that obvious? Look around"
Hermione did and caught few hostile glares from other tables.
-"Doesn't matter, I used to this, especially at lessons and it is not like I have a lot friends, your action won't change much. On the plus side, I enjoy our discussions a lot even if they are rare. You actually are the one of two persons from our year I can talk to and be interested in discussion. Others are just uninterested, not interesting or more often... well... dumb."
-"Oh, thanks. I'm not dumb. And I was recognized by a beautiful maiden. I'm flattered."
Hermione, who was attempting to say something else began to cough, her chicks a bit red. Somehow with Harry it was always like this. He was always confusing and drew all sorts of reactions from her.
-"Flatterer… So…" – She leaned closer to Harry - "What are you reading?" – fire of curiosity in Hermione's eyes.
Alastor Moody. Hogwarts. September 17.
-"Good day, Alastor. How was your trip?"
-"Fine. Albus. But lets get to business first, we can talk after I'm done." - the man who appeared out of fireplace was checking surroundings with his spinning eye implant. Famous Auror Mad-eye Moody.
-"Direct as always. But due to recent events it won't be as fast as we had hoped. No need to rush things."
-"You have something else besides searching for that creature?"
-"Yes. I have few memories for you and in dire need of your opinion. Minevra wants her classroom checked. And lastly I will need your help reestablishing bindings on Harry as soon as it is confirmed that older bindings have completely fallen."
-"Lets start from memories then, what are they about?"
-"Unknown type of personal disguise illusion not detectable or cancelable by Hogwarts wards. Most likely it was casted at platform nine and three quarters and was manually canceled next morning."
Alastor gave an astonished whistle.
Snape. Hogwarts, Potion classroom. September 18.
(AN: includes revised and translated fragment from "Magic and physics year one")
Severus Snape was not a happy man. Teaching by itself rarely brought joy for a potion master. Most students want to sneeze on potions, and he could not put up with contempt for his subject even if it was partially related to his inability to teach. Well, how can you not love this sacrament? It fascinated him since childhood ...
Of course logically he knew that it is possible not to love potions. He met such cases on each lesson, here, at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, students who liked the Potions were much less than quarter, even Slytherins were learning potions just because they had high chances of being dosed in future or chances to be in need to dose someone.
That poured professor's bitterness of this realization in the form of irritation, sarcasm and biting irony, which have become his trademark. And those who have had at least a minimal talent to his subject ... There were five students in whole school, with a couple of them being the infamous Weasley twins. And though Snape would never admit this to anyone, he respected them, at least for the fact that they did not go by the beaten track, and were inventing something of their own. Yes, some mixtures were ... slightly unsafe, but he could easily give them qualification of apprentices in Potions.
Now, was what he did not like the most. The first course ... green, callow, making mistakes in elementary potions ... As if it was not enough, Albus had to call him before the lesson, in the middle of an interesting article from the 'Alchemy today' just for the sake of some suspicions that old paranoiac Alastor was worried about! It was not a surprise that Severuse's mood was lower then usual.
Severus wondered which of the students this year was the first to call him a greasy freak. Every year he was looking forward to this to rightfully sentence this imbecile. Severus has long been desperate to get rid of ingrained in hair fumes. Only one short month of summer, when he did not have fourteen hours a day bent over a boiling cauldron, his hair was hanging not that lifelessly. And these ignorant idiots, only give them a reason to scoff, they always find something to say about what they have no clue about.
Snape entered the classroom his normal flying gait way, walked to his desk and turned around. Ravens and Puffs, the first course ... Both better then lions, but not snakes. Main competition for the cup. The competition itself was probably more competition of the deans than students and everyone in varying degrees, helped 'their' house, Snape just did it a little more clearly in favor of snakes.
Snape then began his lesson as usual, with the roll call. Individuals, families. Familiar and not ... Mostly familiar, except that Muggleborns brings novelty, the rest of the families, he knew, even taught many older brothers and sisters. And here is the Potter. Face is very similar to James. Except the glasses and the eyes. The eyes ... In similar green whirlpools he once terribly wanted to sink in.
He tried to hide the confusion caused by memories with the phrase:
-"Ah, Yes," - he said softly - "Harry Potter. Our new celebrity."
Only those who knew the professor could potentially notice that he was knocked out of the track and had problems breathing. However, for many years he skillfully hidden his true feelings and could hide them this time. Snape habitually calmed down and continued the roll until it was time for his speech.
-"I hope that you will appreciate such fine science, such fine art as brewing potions. Most of you wouldn't be able to even understand it. However, the few, the elite, who have a predisposition, I will try to teach. There will be no stupid wand swings and silly spells on this lesson. I will teach you how to bewitch the mind and deceive the senses. I will tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper the death …"
While on it Severus spilled out cocktails of emotions experienced as young boy along recent thoughts about useless students and potions. And the feelings were only growing, calling forwards regrets over dumped life, anger on both himself and the world around, pain of the lost dreams and finally hope that something someday might change as if by magic. "What the hell is with me?" Professor angrily broke off and looked around. Well, let it be the one who caused it, this waterfall of feelings.
-"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" - And Snape stared his piercing eyes at sitting in the second row Potter.
Few students from Ravenclaw raised their hands.
-"There are no receipts that use these components alone, but you probably mean 'Draught of living death' or 'Essence of Knavery'."
Snape who was previously moving towards Potter had to keep himself from stumbling. This was not expected. Not only was the draught an exam material, but essence was only mentioned in specialized editions. Boy's reaction was also unexpected - he wasn't embarrassed for some reason, he looked at Snape as if unsure how to react. Generally, he behaved unlike his father. Still this was Potter's spawn even if Snape wowed to protect him.
-"And what is 'Draught of living death'?" – As much as Snape wanted to place this upstart on his place, he could take points if the answer was wrong only. He had no wish to be on the other end of Flitwick's wand once more.
-"Powerful sleeping potion, Sir." – judging by expressions and furious writing, not all Ravenclaws knew about this potion. So he was not sorted into Ravenclaw by pure luck. Still he has that cursed blood in him.
-"Let's try something different. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
This time only one student from Ravenclaw had his hand raised.
-"Bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, it is valued for properties of universal antidote for weak poisons and as component for multiple potions."
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Snape almost sneered when he herd no reply but decided to prolong the pleasure and even used passive Legilimency to hear boy's hectic thought. What he found was not what he expected. Instead of attempts to somehow remember the information, there was clear picture and description of both plants – boy already had half of the answer, but there also were images under comparison and infinite amount of strings passing by, as if boy was remembering everything he knew with terrifying speed, so fast that Severus could not recognize words, much less sentences.
That was not right, nobody can think that fast - something was amiss. One glance onto those green orbs confused Snape even more - active Legilimency came out with a complete blank. The boy did not responded to the probe. Mean while the strings stopped running at the quote from 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' and few notes from couple of work diaries appeared in Harry's mind.
-"They are the same. This plant also goes by the name of aconite."
Harry Potter. Hogwarts. September 18.
From the moment professor Snape entered classroom, every pair of eyes was set on him. Every pair except Harry's. Fortunately for both, professor never noticed the calculating and awed look Harry directed towards him. Harry's gaze was locked on one thing. Wide, dynamic and easily adjustable – he had found perfect illusion to cover the wings and thrusters.
Why did he never think of this before? It is definitely better than angel wings or big tourist's backpack. Something like professor's cloak was just what he needed. Except for a bit more colors of course – blue, white or gold in some kind of form will look good on plain black background. Or should he use blue and silver as background and color? Black will fit with almost anything, but those two were main colors of his IS.
Harry no longer knew how Forgotten Sage looked but it was doubtful, that first shift changed wings and colors a lot. For now he will be working on concealing three pairs of broadsword shaped wings in his editor until he knows better or is sure that magic will not influence fully deployed IS. The waving cloak of Hargid's size should cover deployment of wings and partially the belt until second illusion will render them invisible.
Sage. Hogwarts. September 18.
Fascinating introduction speech would have suggested an interesting person. But no, first thing the teacher does - becomes angry, asks Harry all kinds of questions and becomes even more angry when the answers are right.
Who would expect a first year mundane raised boy to answer random question at his first lesson? As result Harry was forced to use my database to answer first two questions and search engine to look through incomplete, un-indexed and unsorted books in a search of the last one.
And to try reading child's mind the day you met this child first?
Seriously, what's problem that teacher has with Harry?
Harry Potter. Ravenclaw dorms, Harry's room. September 19.
The moment Harry opened the room, he felt that something was amiss. He managed to do only three cautious steps.
"Monitoring System: Unknown cloaking system detected. Locking as target by heat signature."
Harry immediately spun and jumped deeper into the room. He would have run outside, but whoever there was, he immediately closed the door as soon as Harry started rotating, so there was no other way to go. Harmful intent was obvious.
-"Incendio" – the only known to Harry spell which can be considered offensive left Harry's wand only to be blocked by some kind of shield and Harry had to duck the stream of yellow light.
Before he even could start thinking on next action, he had to dodge red spell and evade something blue. Harry's opponent was too fast of a caster, so spells weren't an option. Harry simply had no enough concentration. Letting one more red spark to pass him, Harry deployed the only weapon he had.
Four rubber balls left Harry's left hand and impacted something in the air and dropped to the floor without reaching the target. Opponent also used physical shield.
Before balls touched the floor white colored spell forced Harry to the right where he was immediately impacted by red beam and fell as if string-less puppet. Most likely it was some kind of immobilization spell that affected body, but not mind.
"Warning: neural signals dampened by unknown energy structure, countering."
While Harry was trying to move the offender silently stepped closer, he was casting something long and powerful if fierce moving of right hand in infrared spectre meant anything. Whatever that was, it can't be good. Yellow spark impacted Harry's spine and his world went dark.
Unknown to both Harry and the offender, an unconscious Harry in a dangerous situation meant a lot more freedom to one particular IS.
"Core system: Critical situation detected; Evaluating tactical solutions; Full deployment impossible - forceful partial deployment."
Harry's position on the floor of small room was not best for deployment of large armored frame, but his right hand was conveniently directed towards offender. Flash of light, cracking of a destroyed floor and huge claw seemingly connected to nothing appeared close to offender's leg. One more, but smaller flash and another set of balls was deployed right under the invisible shield.
The moment experimental balls based on runic form of a stunner connected, loud pop echoed through the room and light green splash missed Harry's body by inches.
Sage, September 19.
Again some kind of limiter. It is surprising, since either wizards are extremely diverse in skills and are taught in variety of schools or is from a different faction. Most of the signs suggest a different faction: person had only one leg, was using inferior to previously encountered cloaking system while sound was blocked and position in the room suggested ambush. Situation radically different from the one in hospital wing.
The limiting spell is also radically different. Previous was located in energy layer, preventing core from expanding and giving more then a set amount of energy. Current spell tried to pierce energy layer with multiple channels and to 'solidify' energy to the point where it can't be used, effectively reducing the maximum available amount and disrupting control.
Attempts to block or destroy piercing channels appeared to be futile, apparently spell was designed for high resistance targets and was restoring both itself and lost channels. Interesting concept – self regenerating building energy construct. Fortunately there was one thing it was not accounted for – I simply redirected most of the channels to MD5, few channels that managed to hold their ground on Harry's core won't matter and Harry will appreciate lack of pain in his scar.
Meanwhile I will have time to study the spell and design a counter to it. Better a lot of various counters, just in case.
The whole incident again proved that my protection lacks even if there were no real damage except for sleeve being torn to shreds by deployed right arm along with destroyed floor. Gravitational component of Absolute Defense managed to influence few spells and even deflect the last one, but even that one looked like pure luck with particular spell. So I'm still in dire need of something more efficient. And since next encounter might be not to suppress, but to kill, I need to find the way to protect Harry and fast.
The shield used by attacker would have been ideal with its low energy use and distance from body. The fact that balls stopped before they reached target was a surprise – normal IS protection covers frame alongside armor and balls will easily stick to it, only pilot's body has protection remote from skin.
Unfortunately energy pattern of said shield is too complicated even to fully read it, replication will be impossible. Scans suggest effect close to one caused by ECG generated hexagonal shields, but on whole different level. Can hexagonal shield block spells? Probability is high, but Tabane blocked required functionality and I won't be able to check it.
What about effects of various particles on spells? I will have to start checking it on harmless spells by concentrating particles in supposed impact area...
Albus Dumbldore. Hogwarts, Headmaster's office. September 19.
-"Severus, my boy! Lemon drop?" – if only anyone knew, how much Severus hated this way of addressing and those awful lemon drops.
-"No, Albus. I brought Alastor."
-"Hello once again, Albus. The way Severus brought me into the castle was a bit unusual and you returned from your meeting a bit earlier then expected. I take it, the boy complained to someone already?"
-"You are correct." – Albus levitated pensive before Mad-Eye and gestured on it - "Alastor, if you don't mind... And while you are on it, do you know, what was all that commotion in Hogsmead about?"
-"Someone is a bit jumpy in the mornings." – Potion master tried to drill the hole into Moodie's nape with his glare.
-"I felt as if I was stunned before, of course I will fire first and ask questions later. And it is your fault that you were not able to dodge." – Alastor defended himself while depositing string of light into the pensive.
-"Says the paranoid auror defeated by a mere kid."
-"It was not the kid who stunned me. You better see for yourself."
-"What are we waiting for, then. Let's see how mighty Alastor Moody got his ass handled to him?"
One by one all three men were sucked into the pensive.
-"Do you have any comments, Alastor?" – Albus asked while watching Harry jumping from the door.
-"Watch his Incendio, he casted it exactly towards me and I doubt it was a coincidence."
-"Weren't you under Disillusionment Charm?"
-"I were, as well as under Mufallo. I doubt he could see me, but I suspect that he felt something since the start."
-"Severus, you want to say something?"
-"Yes. Why have you stopped those balls? It looked like he threw the first thing he could grab."
-"Possibly it was. But look closely at them. They are covered with runes." – Albus replied instead of Alastor after returning and pausing memory at said balls impacting shield.
-"Never noticed the runes. There was magic in those balls, besides boy got them from his sleeve, which was empty just a moment ago."
-"Interesting. But Potters always had excellent perception of the surrounding, were natural with runes and space-extension magic. If he created those balls, he could have created some kind of storage for them. Let's see the rest." - Albus allowed memory to reach the point where Harry was lying on the floor paralyzed and yellow flash just hit him. – "I take it, the spell was successful?"
-"Yes, but I could not check it."
-"Two hours ago Harry found professor Flitwick and complained about the attack. Flitwick immediately checked him and found your spell, but could not remove it. He delivered boy to the hospital wing, right now Poppy is trying to remove it."
-"Good luck with that, it was designed by unspeakables with huge resistance in mind. Still, boy woke up too fast. This shouldn't be possible - he was paralyzed for few hours and 'Robus Concludo' should have rendered him unconscious for whole night."
-"As far as I can tell binding spell was a success, but brats magic feels as if nothing is wrong."
-"We will discuss it later. I had no time to check him and nobody should know I'm back yet. But if bindings are there, yet not working, we will have to remove them"
Albus let the memory go unhindered only to stop it again as large, white and blue colored hand appeared.
-"Do you know what is it, Albus?"
-"Unfortunately no. It does looks like it is made from metal, but hand has no regular joints, grafting or runes of a golem and I somehow doubt it is charm work. It looks more like it is mitten with claws and huge hand inside. And do you see that shimmering between Harry's and the beast's hand? Harry's palm looks pressed into the hand even if we can't be sure due to the angle. I would have said that it is invisibility or illusion barrier, but both case are doubtful. Nor invisibility, not illusion can protect from spells and they traveled past harry unhindered. It can't be dimensional rift, Alastor would have noticed as well as it should have been caught by... Hm… There might be something else."
-"What is it, Albus?"
-"I'm pretty sure Harry had his sleeve torn to shreds when he left his room. Did you damage it later?"
-"No. At this point I was already stunned, but spell or whatever it was wasn't in full effect yet. By the way, thanks for emergency portkey."
-"Most likely the brat tore it himself to look pitiful for Flitwick"
-"You are welcome, Alastor, but I really thought you won't need it. And no, Severus. He repario'ed it on the way. "
-"There is an Obliviate I threw at him." – Alastor pointed and green spark in the air - "But I guess it never reached the boy – my target was already off."
-"So you haven't seen how you was stunned, just this clawed hand? And was disillusionment working whole time?"
-"Yes to both."
-"So the beast can also see through disillusionment. That's unfortunate." – Albus made a full round around Harry's body
-"Albus, I need to return to my potions. You shouldn't spend much more time on this case either. Harry made accurate description of missing leg and something being wrong with the eye as well as mentioned loud pop. You will have to talk to pissed off Fillius soon and he may not want to wait for your 'return'. Good luck persuading him that you and Alastor are not related to this incident in any way."
sigh - "Very well, Severus, we will continue this later."
-"Just one more moment. Do you remember about those strange gauntlets I asked you to check?" - taking a nod from Albus and glare from Severus as confirmation, he gestured to Harry's hand - "Take a look here, there are few ripples on the closes near the elbow, they start right where gauntlet should have ended. Your guess about illusion might be correct, it is just so happened that it covered part of beast's hand by accident and makes sleeve to appear intact. The question is, why the sleeve was damaged at all?"
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, halls. September 20.
-"Eh? Isn't that Potter?"
-"But shouldn't he be in the hospital, dying?"
-"Hey. Have you heard? Someone attacked Potter yesterday and all what he left from the attacker was a puddle of blood."
-"Alice said that he became a squib."
Harry was walking towards the school yard for his 'first' flying lesson and on the way he was getting entirely new experience he would have liked to go without - rumor mill of Hogwarts was unstoppable, meaningless and merciless.
-"Mr. Potter." – professor Flitwik indicated for Harry to come closer.
-"Professor."
-"Are you sure, you are alright? We still can't remove that spell whatever it is."
-"I'm alright, thank you."
-"Your magic might be unstable and I can allow you to skip this lesson if you wish." – in truth Flitwick was anything but wishing for Harry to skip lesson. After all Harry was Potter and they were naturals in the air and perfect seekers. But he also had responsibility to his student.
-"And as much as would like to take your offer, it will draw even more attention then there is already." - Harry made a glance towards the brooms. He really didn't like an idea of riding a stick.
-"I have some time before my own lessons, so I will be there just in case."
-"Thank you professor… Umm. Professor?"
-"Yes?"
-"Some time ago I discovered that all our magic is about rituals and that there is rule 'three of five', but I could not find actual description. Do you know all five elements?"
-"Not all of our magic is about rituals Mr Potter, but most of it. As for elements. There are History, Conduit, Power, Drama and Mental elements. History and power should be clear, so I will explain other elements. Ritual items are so called Conduits, usually distinguished by aspects, as passive and active, single use and reusable. Drama, also known as Order, usually is presented as sequence of specific actions - like wand movements, words or even emotions. And lastly is Mental element, it is most interesting, so I will explain it a bit later. Now tell me, what of those do we use for Leviosa spell?"
-"Hm. It appears that we use four. Power, Drama, Conduit and Mental."
-"Correct, Mr. Potter, we use four, but tree is sufficient. We use fourth element since it reduces power drain and mental strain. Training will add fifth element. Actually all five available elements and relatively easy use is the reason wands are so popular, they are much more convenient for everyday casting then other ways. But what element do you think we can threw away?"
-"Drama." – Harry replied instantly – "I believe I saw wordless and motionless spells already."
-"Yes and you can learn to use almost any spell without Drama element. Hoverer there are some spells that use immense amounts of power to cast without drama, usually intent or emotions related. What do you think are potions and runes?"
-"Potions most likely use Power from components or brewer, Drama and Ritual items in form of components. Runes are History, Power and … Not sure what is third. Conduit?"
-"Surprisingly enough Drama. Drama is all about presentation and expression."
-"Runes do look neat."
-"But runes also are conduits by their own right and you can augment or weaken conduit element by using some specific materials you draw runes upon or with. So runes also use four elements and in some cases can use all five. Now, each element has own sub requirements and again uses rule tree of five. For example most important for us is mental level which consists of desire, intent, concentration, faith and visualization."
Harry stooped. In fact these elements were obvious. Visualizations was a must for transfiguration, intent for most charms, concentration for more complex spells. But nobody ever said that you can improve your work, for example by imagining your stinging hex in some way.
-"Professor, shouldn't this be taught to students before they start learning spells?"
-"I personally think that you may be correct, but Ritualogy was removed from curriculum decades ago. It is considered as common sense among pureblood wizards and is taught along with dance, economics and etiquette before Hogwarts. Muggleborns in my house learn about it in individual order, either from me or from older students if they can't discover or ask right questions by themselves. I tried to press the issue through Board of Governors, but they simply shrugged it off."
-"I see. Do elements …" - Harry was interrupted by loud whistle from madam Hooch who started gathering students – "Thanks for the lesson professor, but I got to go."
-"You are welcome mister Potter. If you wish, I can give you few books on the subject."
-"It is fine, professor, I believe I now know what to look for."
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, backyard. September 20.
-"Everyone stand by a broomstick. Stick out your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!"'
Multiple commands have sounded through the yard, some were successful, some were not. Harry's broom shot strait to his hands, while broom of his neighbor MacDougal managed to rotate and knock down both MacDougal and Corner. While Madam Hooch simply ignored problems and was already showing those who success how to mount the broom correctly.
-"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground. Just rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle"
With the whistle Harry kicked ground hard and found himself almost a dozen feet above the ground and broom was still lifting him. As he was told, he leaned forward causing the broom to stop ascending and drift down slowly.
Beside him there were only six students in the air, purebloods and one halfblood. Madam Hooch was instructing those on the ground so Harry got a time to feel the broom. He tried to concentrate on his feelings like he did while piloting IS his first time. IS felt like second skin and in it Harry was flying as by himself, broom on other hand felt as a pet – it felt alive and eager but after IS broom was just a crutch and substitution non the less.
Harry bent to the right and down spinning the broom and himself in small but full round before finally touching the ground.
-"Now, those of you who were not able to rise, keep trying. All others, try hovering over ground, if you are confident enough, you can try flying towards greenhouses and then back, but stick close to the ground."
Surprisingly enough most students still were on the ground, only few purebloods were going to fly towards greenhouses.
-"Potter, how about a little race?"
-"Sorry, I don't feel like it." – Harry really did want to try going faster, but he doubted he would get used to the broom this fast, especially sitting at the handle part.
-"I doubt she will mind as long as we stay near the ground" - However Ernie interpreted Harry's reluctance in a different way.
-"It is not that. It is my first time on the broom."
-"I so, how you descended. You will be fine, just give it a try."
-"Fine" - sigh - "what are the rules?" - "May be at speed it will feel differently"
-"Just, catch up."
-"I thought it will be a race" - groaned Harry while raising.
Surprisingly enough, speed did feel differently. Unlike with IS Harry was exposed to bushes and branches, he was closer to the ground what gave him nice impression of speed he could enjoy. The feel of eagerness from the broom enchanted his excitement. Perhaps that how bikers felt. Brooms did have speed comparable to bikes. But, it was not a real flight.
-"You are surprisingly good for a first time, but you wont catch up to me like this."
Instead of response Harry slowly rose few meters higher without much speed loss due to luck of obstacles and then descended using fall to outrun Ernie. Surprisingly enough broomstick performed as if it was a plane with wings.
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, halls. September 20.
-"Not bad Potter. Are you sure it is your first time on the broom?"
-"Yes, first. Somehow, controlling broom feels natural to me even if it is not the most comfortable thing in the world."
-"Mr. Potter!.. Mr Potter!"
-"Professor?"
-"Sorry for interrupting. But, Mr. Macmillan, would you mind if I borrow Mr. Potter for a moment?"
-"Of course. See you later Harry, I have to finish my essay."
-"Mr. Potter, I must say I'm impressed. Even if you were broke the limitation about flying higher, the way you control you broomstick shows talent. In fact I might recommend you to our quidditch team. What do you say?"
-"Thanks professor. I might try it." – Harry responded, the tiny man was too joyful to reject him and who knows how things will turn out in a year…
-"Excellent, next training will be on Saturday at eight in the morning, but I will have to introduce you to the captain and to do few basic tests. So, lets meet at qudditch pitch half an hour earlier."
-"Wait, professor, I through you meant next year. Aren't first years restricted from owning brooms and playing quidditch?"
-"Technically they are. But only until they finish broom riding course and pass flying exams. This problem can be dealt with easily seeing as you are pretty good at the broom."
Harry did not responded. Actually, how should he respond to an eager professor?
-"Will see you tomorrow Harry."
-"Goodbye, professor."
Sage. Hogwarts, Ravenclaw dormitory. September 23.
pshhh … crack
One more radio is done for. And what blew up this time?..
Interesting. So far amount of elements, complexity or voltage didn't really mattered, in any electric device the element with smallest structure burned or blew up first. It is somewhat different from behavior of my own energy while protection and conductors are same – such metals as gold and silver are proving to be best kind of insulation while silicon and some carbon based minerals and carbonates (such as graphite and chalk) are best conductors.
The way magic is distributed among circuits is also differ. Magic will not try to distribute itself throw something less conductive until there is some minimal charge stored in more conductive material. In the same time it tries to balance itself. In case there is wider and thinner channels of same material, it behaves like water – pressure in both channels will be same, but if thinner channel has less conductive nature, it will rise pressure there. Behavior is more like electricity with resistances, except that magic is actually flows as water. Is that a reason, why siphoning of energy by Harry's scar grows along with Harry's reserves?
According to scans of radios, more complex details also seemed to store more. So materials with complex inner structure are better storage, gems might be the best, but regular metals are good with it too. This behavior is almost same to that of the energy I use, my energy is harder to condense into storage and is better compatible with specific types of structures, not all. I wonder what will be with silicon microcircuits exposed to magic? They are both complex and from magical conductor.
With recent revelation I'm a bit surprised that magic appeared to be compatible with my own energy. It does look same, but is it same thing in different state, something of wider spectre or absolutely different type of energy? Looks like one more report is in order.
pshhh … puf
With such rates Harry will burn all the malfunctioning radios he took from the dump by the end of the day. What is he trying to do?
Harry Potter. Hogwarts, Hospital wing. September 28.
-"Mr. Potter, what happened? Oh… What a terrible burn."
-"Twins decided to prank Ravenclaw again and one of the fireworks... well... went wrong"
-"I... H-n... I just panicked … and …H-n... so much noise and light…H-n…H-n... it just blew up to my face." - beside Harry stood a blubering girl with huge burn on half of her face and neck.
-"I see. Come here child and sit, meanwhile I will take some potions and salve. We will heal this in an instant, you face will be better then before."
-"She is not the only one. This time twins really got overboard and more student might visit you, whole room got slight burns."
-"I doubt it."
-"You doubt they got slight burns?"
-"No, at least nothing they can't deal by them self. I really doubt they will visit because of simple burns. They usually try to be as far from hospital wing as possible. It always ends up with head boys and girls forcefully sending students here."
Harry glanced towards the healer, his look quizzed.
-"Well, I'm off then. I have some books to read and some research to do."
-"Mr. Potter, I didn't dismissed you. Since you are here, I will use this as opportunity to check you again."
-"Is it really needed? We are doing checks few times a day already."
-"In such cases there are no such thing as excessive caution." - her tone alone preventing any objections.
-"Ok."
Unlike other students, boy always accepted his stay here as if he wasn't bored at all, thus constantly and immensely surprising the healer. After all, Pomfrey always made sure that patients were bored here out of their mind so that even mentioning injury which might need treatment will make students think twice.
-"Haven't you got any burns yourself? I have a salve for light burns."
-"No, thank you. I got lucky. My bag was the only thing that got damaged."
-"Ok, I will be done in ten minutes, your 'bed' is still free" - saying that she drew the curtains, just in case girl's burns went a bit further then neck.
Harry meanwhile was thinking that he already owed twins for pranking him while showing around Hogwarts. They did show him everything, all right. But it appeared that there were dozens of unused classrooms and rooms with unknown purpose he could use for his experiments, while twins were guiding him by most dusty, noisy and dark rooms they could find while making sure Harry was trying to open all the wrong doors, talk to wrong portraits and step into each 'hole' they could find.
Harry was content to leave this cool duo be as they are, but last prank showed that he might need to keep twins a bit occupied. Seriously, who use experimental explosive materials as prank items?
He started mentally listing what pranks twins puled on him personally and his options for a reply.
First, there were doors with walls behind them (Why the hell there is such thing in school?), so he can start with practical part of 'terrain alternation' course for his ECG. "By the way. I will need some intimidation spells or illusions, just in case twins will realize who pranked them and won't like it."
Second were portraits. Some embracing, some disgusting, one with too sharp tongue – 'animating' some items should compensate for it as well as putting embarrassing illusions on twins. It is also a good opportunity to test preserving charms on illusions as a way to increase ECG support range.
Stepping into dust and web - well, may be painting them into funny colors or glue to someone? No, too simple, no opportunity to use complex illusions or magic. He will have to look through some spells.
One specific portrait, which Harry was sure to pay twins for, was a picture of some kind of monster that jumped into the frame scaring unprepared Harry. There definitely were few illusions he could use to turn the odds onto the twins.
Magic needed some experiments too. Unfortunately Harry knew mostly runes and in case he uses them, he might become a suspect. Everybody knows, that Harry likes and can somewhat use runes. "If only I could use runes to generate spells, but according to principles of ritualogy, runes to reproduce not only effect, but the whole casting thing, should be of immense complexity. I will have to learn about enchanting with charms or something to destroy runes and their traces first." Still even without runes Harry had plenty of things to test on twins.
Basic plan in the head, Harry was already thinking on details when Pomfrey moved behind the curtain before leaving the girl alone. Harry froze, his eyes fixed on place where silhouette of the woman was previously high-lightened on the curtain. Slowly his lips formed a smile causing Pomfrey to stumble. One word was probed from all sides in Harry's mind, something extremely complex to implement, needing both magic and ECG and simultaneously perfectly fitting the situation – shadows.
…
After Harry left, Pomfrey remembered director's words about possibility of Harry becoming a prankster and went to inform Minevra. She knew that smile too well. After all she saw it on James's face a lot.
-"May be it was a bad idea to leave him without something to load his Ravenclaw mind with."
Albus Dumbledore. Headmaster's office, October 10
Albus went through the ridiculously long list once more, hoping that it will do at least some sense. Unfortunately with each string he only got more and more confused.
When he tried to read the list for the first time, he thought that he got the wrong parchment.
When Albus read it for the second time he tried to use translation quill he often use for some international meetings – it did translated dozens of symbols in the words, but the content might as well be left at original language - in English it seemed even more foreign.
Third time he used a decoding spell just to be sure and it did decoded some parts, but only to make the list longer and with even less sense.
List of void familiar's abilities proved to be a thought nut – numbers, unrecognizable symbols, words that he knew not… that was what formed over five hundred abilities he could not hope to understand. Seriously: 'graviton vector manipulator', 'fusion pumping' or this 'carbon nanotube synergy array projector'.
Albus took off the glasses and rubbed his eyes. The whole ordeal with analyzing sample of magic proved to be close to useless. Besides list of primary aspects that described nature mostly and list of secondary aspects that confirmed suspicions about overprotectiveness as well as overall mentality being close to Harry's, there were nothing. Strange name "Wasure no Seji" (AN:need input from Japanese aware readers to make name symbolic and correct but not fully translatable if possible), no species or subspecies, and age in a form of range.
In short, the parchment raised a lot more questions and barely answered any. How is Albus supposed to get rid of Harry's familiar, if he barely knew anything about it? Even worse, according to the parchment, the bond was much deeper than it should be and Harry was not only actively exchanging energy with familiar but also getting his primary aspects altered fast.
thud…thud
-"Yes, Ron. Come in."
-"Director, you wanted to see me?"
-"Yes. Please take a seat. I wanted to ask about your progress so far. Any changes?"
-"Sorry professor. Harry is unreachable. He either sits in the library or is in Ravenclaw dorm. I tried to sit with him at lessons our houses have together, but he usually ignores me."
-"I figured it will be something like this. I guess I will have to give this work to someone else."
-"But professor, I…"
-"Hadn't got closer to Harry in five weeks, it is clear you are not fit for the work."
-"But what about my payment? And what about my own quidditch gear?"
-"No work, no payment. As for gear, I believe Percy's old broom is still in working order, you will just have to wait one more year to get it."
Ron shot up from the chair.
-"But… But… Director… Please, give me a second chance. I will do it, I just need a bit more time."
-"Ron, this was you second chance, you failed spectacularly on the train and all you do is argue with Malfoy and alienate Harry even more with you behavior. Besides I already found a perfect candidate for befriending Harry Potter and from a prominent light family too."
Ron fell back with blank expression on his face.
-"Now, now, Ron. There is no need to be so upset. You know, you failed with this work, but someday there will be other opportunities. I'm sure after you graduate, such a fine man as you will be able to find a good place in the ministry or Auror corps."
-"But that will have to wait seven years. My family… I… I…"
-"Well may be I have a different task… Hmmm… No It is too complex, you won't be able to do it. Sorry, but you will have to wait."
Ron shot from the chair once more.
-"What task?! I will do it! I can do it! Just say what!"
-"Are you sure young man? It really is not an easy task."
-"I will manage, no matter how difficult."
-"Well then." – Albus took a little book – "You will have to read a bit of, lets say specific etiquette first, before continuing to my instructions."
Ron sat back with a scowl on his face.
-"That little book? Not a problem, I will read it and learn everything there is about etiquette even if I don't think there is anything wrong with mine. Mother did taught it to us."
-"No these are my instruction for you. This is the book you will have to read first" – Albus put a hand over thickest old tome on his table with a name 'How to befriend a witch' and made sure not to laugh at expression of pure horror on the boy's face.
It was doubtful that Ron will be able to learn even tenth part of the book, but fortunately for Dumbledore, there was a small section made specifically for purebloods around Ron's age, for cases of potential arranged marriage or family alliances. Still, reading a bit more then needed won't do any harm.
Shinonono Tabane. Firing field in Scotland. October 25.
In the center of the testing ground stood a metallic platform with weird contraption of six rings, four meter radius each, connected by cables and partially covered with silvery shits of thermal protection. They made impression of short tunnel. By each entrance of the tunnel stood collection of devices resembling a hybrid of Tesla coils and chemical laser, all pointed toward the center of closest ring.
Any person with knowledge in particle physics will immediately recognize rings as oversized, incomplete and barely shielded segment of a Hadron Collider. Those who follow specific news feeds or channels will guess that laser like things are Tabane's Quantum emitters. However if an inept in physics observer would ever see this strange device, he would think that he got himself into a movie or somehow was transported to a different planet or dimension – it looked like absolute fiction while slowly increasing hum of the rings and generators nearby suggested that whatever this was, it was working.
Not that there could be any observers nearby – Tabane protected her privacy as much as secret of IS core production.
Speaking of Shinonono Tabane, right now she was in the bunker nearby, waiting for capacitors to charge and re-checking calculations. From time to time she was glancing at the monitors showing thirty centimeters long teardrop-shaped device with short wings hovering in the center of ringed structure.
-"Everything charged and ready, target is still" – Tabane smiled and brought her hand over red button with image of white rabbit crossed by blue lines and in particles similar to those in Star Trek teleportation device. – "Hiding from me is futile, since I'm Shinonono Tabane – most inventive scientist in the worlds and here I go!" – Tabane's hand slapped the button into the panel - "HA-HA-HA" - this moment Tabane loved her life, since here she was, doing something that only she could, something nobody will ever believe if it comes from anyone but Shinonono Tabane.
Immediately the world went into motion, generators and transformers roared in unison feeding to the device what even Tabane considered as large amount of energy. Static electricity immediately started gathering in discharge capacitors of the rings and were slowly drained into the ground with occasional sparks while rings themselves were covered in golden shimmer, covering from the naked eye teardrop shaped drone in the center, which were now violently shaking and bathing in darkness.
Harry Potter, Ravenclaw dorms. Same time.
Harry was sitting in Ravenclaw meeting room, reading one of the mundane textbooks when he felt IS alert trying to get his attention.
"Alert: Large amount of static electricity is gathering; Distance 0.7m.; Discharge in 3.5 seconds; Potential blast radius at least 3 meters; Absolute defense active. Threat level: minimal."
-"What the hell?" – one of the student noticed something strange beside the sofa. Few surprised gasps were heard around normally quite room.
By this point Harry not only read the IS's message, but himself felt that something was wrong – his hair stood up.
-"Everyone, run." – In school of young wizards it was important to be alert so that to not get in the way of random hex or spell, it was even more important in Ravenclaw where students liked to test or even develop new spells. Of course the Weasley twins were not the last contributors to the wariness of the house. So it was not a surprise that every student in vicinity tried to get as far from unknown source of bright light as possible.
However they never did it in time. The thing blew up. But it blew up not as you would expect statical charge to do, it made a blinding flash and immediately formed a silhouette of something small and dark covered in light.
Shinonono Tabane. Firing field in Scotland. October 25.
"Status: Dimensional connection established, data connection established" – it started as it should, two point in space were connected successfully, it was time to push the drone. Control algorithm recognized optimal values and ordered the drone to enter opened quantum tunnel.
"Status: SQD-0026M entered the tunnel" - immediately warnings started to pop up as mushrooms after the rain.
"Warning: static dissipators overloading, quantum stream destabilizing, can't lock target coordinates, deviation of the quantum signature." – this was not good. First part meant that energy spent to push the drone forward was thrown back in the form of static electricity and tunnel was collapsing, still it was acceptable, the system had a lot of safety factor to spare. Inability to get global coordinates was strange and unpleasant, but meant nothing in terms of beacon centered transportation. However problems with signature was confusing, there was no one in this world Tabane knew of, who could interfere with quantum signals.
"Emergency system: compensating destabilization by focusing quantum fields, increasing quantum stream" - emergency programs reacted before Tabane could have a chance. When you are dialing with something that might need reactions faster then milliseconds, there are now place for humans.
"Warning: emitters overheating" before Tabane could even read latest message emergency system interfered once more shutting down emitters and preventing their chemical filled parts from blowing up.
It meant that connection will be closed, but drone, was already on the way, it was just a matter of time before she will receive it's signal or burst of particles signaling the destruction of the drone. First case will provide a live stream from the camera and fortunately a location. Second – absolute location no meter the obstacles, you simply can't miss quantum explosion if you know what to look for.
The black spot on few monitors disappeared throwing out slightly crumpled drone. Tabane looked at the monitor than blinked. The picture of the drone was still there. Was she dreaming? This was not possible, quantum tunnels are one way roads - you simply can't leave the tunnel same way you entered or change the destination in the process.
-"Oh, it must be an error in calculations. Tunnel was simply opened to the same location." - Said an absolutely shaken Tabane with a slightly panicked voice, before turning towards her workstation - "I will just check my computer and see the..."
Before Tabane, on screen of her main terminal was transition status and it showed that Sage uploaded Over fifty megabytes of raw records over duplex channel and downloaded some data from her server. Naturally target location couldn't be wrong.
Hogwarts delivery owl. Scotland. 10 minutes later.
Vega was a proud magical owl, bred to be fast and clever. In fact she was considered fastest and smartest owl in whole school (aside from that trollop Hedwig of course) and had clear delivery reputation – she always found her target. However this time it looked like it might be her first failing mark - feeling of her target was quickly fading making Vega worried for catching the target before it will completely disappear.
Strange metallic construct wrapped in silver strips and black bindings showed before her and owl sighed with relief, she was in time. But why that bipedal mammal receiver decided to sit in this weird nest? Was he trying to hide from her?
As soon as Vega flew closer she felt a slight headache and a bit of fear... Animals diverting magic? That was fine, she will endure, but to be safe she descended towards the ground.
-"No, no. It's still charged. Go away... Stupid bird. Don't get any closer, you will die. Go away!" - on course towards her target stood a human girl shooting and flapping hands. Definitely not the recipient, she had no ounce of magic. And what was she shooting? It didn't sound like English.
Something whistled beside Vega – a stick. The girl was trying to drive owl away by swinging at her with long foldaway stick. That angered Vega – nobody messes up with her deliveries, she will be sure to peck the girl on the way back. And where did she got that strange stick from? There were nothing like that on the ground. Vega dodged one more swing and darted towards her target.
CRACK
The girl dropped the stick, her eyes wide. Fortunately Hogwarts crest bind to the Vega's neck was charmed to protect owl from harm, leaving only slight cloud of smoke and few dark dents on her beautiful brown feathers, still... Vega immediately increased the distance. Who the hell is treating owls with lightning? Was the girl trying to warn her?
Vega ascended higher, then made a dive towards the center of contraption and left the letter lose before hastily leveling the flight.
CRACK
This time the crack was weaker - slightly burnt letter went directly towards the center of the construction. Familiar buzzing filling in Vega's head went off - sure sign of successful delivery so the proud owl, turned her eyes on the girl, only to immediately shot high in the skies. The thoughtful look the girl was giving her also contained a bit of shock and some kind of longing. The owl would have launched herself at the girl, true to her previous intention, but for some reason the longing part scared the bird more then predators of forbidden forests.
Would a certain hat be there at that moment it would have flinched and remembered one Rowena Ravenclaw with her dissecting table for unknown magical artifacts and creatures.
There was no way Vega will come anywhere near this human child. Warily watching the girl, who was now hastily making something, owl went back to the castle, fully intent to beat out some treats from the elf who sent her out on this mission.
Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore. Hogwarts, Ward-control chamber. October 26.
Severus Snape was watching through Hogwarts Book of Wards and not believing his eyes. He was called here by Albus to make some kind of expertise. A mundane request if Severus would have been asked as he was much more proficient in potions. However this time he was called to the ward stone, and that surprised him a lot. Why could he be needed near the ward stone?
Perhaps some strong-headed Slytherin casted something dark? Whatever he expected, was completely wrong.
Some ridiculously strong wizard tore through outer anti-portkey wards and was redirected later by wards designated for Ravenclaw Tower. In any regular situation it would have been a problem, a huge one. But in this particular case the real problem was that they didn't knew who even if they did know offender's name, for what reason, nor could they trace accurate location of the other end of portkey.
Someone's name was Surveillance Quantum Drone and he was both, creator of portkey and the user.
-"I spent whole night on this and it still has no sense for me. My hope is that you might know something in field of portkeys that may shone some light onto yesterdays event".
-"I will try, but can't promise anything. It is a surprise the wards actually managed to get the intruders name in this case. But judging by it, I can't be sure wards got it correct. Surveillance Quantum" - Severus tryed the name, as if it could help him remember something related - "What an odd name…"
-"Indeed Severus, Indeed. And one string lower there is some kind of third name - Drone. Was he mindless drone under Voldemort's control?"
-"No, Albus. Controlling someone of that power via direct magic, rituals or potions is simply not possible or downright suicidal. Voldemort would have been dead even with all his precautions."
-"Just helping then?"
-"You know this better then me. The amount of magic spent on that portkey was enough for several bodies. Why would Dark Lord ask that person to portkey into Hogwarts if a body is cheaper? Why hunt for the stone at all?"
-"Right" - "It is possible that he lost some common sense after his death, but he still looks sane enough not to make such mistakes. Ten years without body... I wonder, how he secured his sanity?"
– "So Mr. Quantum can't be someone new or hired and he has no contact with Voldemort right now. You sure there were no someone like that in inner circle?"
-"Albus, I said it already, controlling such person is not possible. Dark Mark wouldn't hold and you know how Dark Lord is fixed on loyalty. And can you imagine him tolerate anyone with such kind of power? Besides it would be hard even for squib to not sense such immense power, it is impossible to miss."
-"And most Death Eaters would start running or bow the moment they sense someone that strong,
Indeed. I wonder, what he needed then… What can you tell about signature and portkey itself?"
-"It is not possible."
-"What exactly is not possible?"
-Everything. Portkeys have signatures for a reason. You have to imagine and imprint the destination for portkey to work, and you need to stabilize it with your wish and intent. That leaves signatures we can recognize along with some imprint of emotions. Portkeys without image and stabilization will not have signatures, but they will tear apart any living objects before throwing it at some random place. But this... this had a clear destination not related to any geographical location and was perfectly acceptable for wizard. It is outside of anything I know about portkeys. As I said, we shouldn't have gotten even name from it. Where exactly was the breach by the way?"
-"Do you remember that incident in Ravenclaw dorms yesterday? It happened around same time. The outer wards were pierced like paper. Surprisingly inner anti-portkey wards and privacy charms were enough to stop the intruder. Most likely he was not expecting second layer."
-"Hm... I remember Flitwick reporting to you about strange sparks near Potter brat and even some strange shade. Unfortunately it doesn't help in any way, those sparks might have been anything."
-"From what I could gather it appeared right where Mister Potter was, but no traces of magic left from it, no devices registered any kind of presence or interference."
-"You mean, except this record from Anti-portkey wards?" - Severus gestured towards the book.
-"Yes. Our information is limited, but if this person is not with Voldemort, then I suspect, that this Surveillance Quantum is after Harry."
-"And what you plan to do?"
-"Just knowing that someone is after you usually is not enough to get yourself protected." – sigh – "Waiting is only option right now."
-"Aren't you going to inform the authorities?"
-"And what we will tell them? That unknown entity of immense power decided to say 'hi' to his favorite defeater of the dark? Do you even imagine, what may happen if unspeakables will start checking and questioning Potter directly?"
-"Yes, that will be a disaster. For your info. Brat's broken bindings finally fallen. I don't know why it took them so long to fall with all the treatment we were performing and where they were draining that vile magic from. Are you sure boy is not possessed?"
-"At least there are no signs of possession, no rituals I performed detected any souls, magical artifacts or corrupting effects except his scar anomaly. And scar's signature is corrupted, yes. But it is understandable and not unexpected, it was left by a darkest curse after all. But that is besides the point, anything else you can tell me about this breach?"
-"Nothing I can think of right now. But I strongly recommend unofficially showing it to unspeakables. They might know something."
-"They definitely will know something, but I will prefer to wait a bit and gather some information myself. As for core bindings, I plan to call Mr. Potter today to Madam Pomfrey as precaution after yesterday incident. There I will make final checks. Since all previous bindings failed or were misbehaving, I'm considering more advanced versions and laying different bindings types in few layers, including potion infused. I wish there could be other way, but Boy's magic is growing abnormally fast, as does magical and potion resistance, he will have enough power to cast Auror level spells soon. We can't have someone like that running around uncontrolled. Growth and access should be limited and fast or I won't be able to bind him at all."
-"Insanely strong half-blood can do a lot of harm to our politics and bring doom to our world... Voldemort showed it on his own example."
-"Or Harry will suffer constant assassination attempts as well as become target for pureblood political games." – "Не that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned. Hovhever political part will be a hindrance. For neutral families purity was always second to actual power. They will get interested in someone of Harry's power and rare abilities causing all manners of problems on the way. And that is only best case scenario. If purebloods ever find out that part of Harry's power is limited by blood wards, they may just dose Harry with Amorentia while his potion resistance is still weak and there goes my control over Boy-Who-Lived."
-"I can't allow him to suffer through this. Do you need something from me for the bindings?"
…
After Severus left Dumbledore heavily sank into his armchair. Once again he was manipulating someone. Once again his believe that only oblivious person can be free and happy was used to calm his pained soul. After all, who can be free in this world? Harry, whose scar pretty much predefined his destiny? Severus, who was manipulated by Dumbledore and limited by his own oath on Lily's grave? Or Dumbledore himself, who was forced to play a light wizard due to negative public opinion as a murderer's son and then fight his best friend due to war?
AN: Sorry, but I won't be able to write chapters as fast as I did first four. I started working on complex and time consuming project at work, so I will have less time for personal activities.
Also, there are few issues I want to address:
-I'm in dire need of feedback for action part (HP vs Alastor) so that I can work on fight with the troll. Is it good? Was interactions with Dudley's gang done better or should I try something else?
If action parts are no good. I can just launch door, table, or something at troll's head and be done with it.
(As much as I wish to make teachers fight troll, I need this incident as a new step stone. However I'm going to mess with the situation at large and hopefully will make it radically different.)
-In this chapter I implemented fair bit of 'magical theory'. The question is, is it interesting? Is it understandable? Do I need to tone it down, simplify or is it fine as it is? Most likely I will use a bit less new theory in future while using theory I already provided as background for some scenes, but you never know, I might need to provide more. Please, try to argument you option if possible, since I need to know what you like or don't like in those, not that you just don't.
-And of course I need feedback on 'Drone incident' and Vega). Personally I like how whole fragment came out, hope to do something like this again (depends on your feedback and possibility).
My attempt at humor part:
Snape. Hogwarts, Potion classroom. September 18.
While moving through the classroom Severus Snape turned his head to the right as if he felt someone watching him in unusual way. His gaze immediately met two green, beautiful orbs filled with passion and awe, which he immediately recognized. How could he not? Severus dreamed about those two orb since his third course, how they will be looking at him exactly same way as they were now, how they will come closer and…
For an instance he forgot about everything: about the lesson, about the school, even how to breath. There was nothing for him except those orbs and a single thought "Lily, I'm finally with you, Lily"… The world around him started spinning. Until the floor reminded Severus that one leg was in the air ready for next step - he also forgot how to walk.
