"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war" – Einstein
The next morning Harry James Potter was surprised to be pulled aside by Lt. Sheppard. "Hello Mr. Potter."
"Hello Lieutenant." Harry responded. He was unsure what to say to the man. Just yesterday he was declaring a 3-sided war, "What can I do for you?"
Sheppard's voice got quieter, "You and I have… mutual friends. You see Wolfram has asked that I place you as one of the generals. They informed me you would be facing your own war someday. They told me it would be a three sided war and you would lead one of the sides. They have thus requested that I make you general. Do you accept?"
Harry's eyes widened, "Lieutenant I don't want to just be handed the position. I wish to earn it." He informed him.
Sheppard shook his head, "You will earn it by showing you are a true leader and by winning this war. The position is yours end of story."
"But sir, I didn't accept." Harry protested.
"You didn't but your employers insisted. When Wolfram insists one listens. So keep in mind that you are preparing to lead a war." With that Lt. Sheppard walked away leaving an annoyed and prideful child behind him.
Harry walked off to breakfast, "Calvin I just spoke with Lt. Sheppard." Harry told him when he saw him.
"What did you have to ask him after one lesson?" Calvin laughed.
"Nothing. He was informing me that he was placing me as general." Harry deadpanned.
"You got to be kidding me." Calvin exclaimed, "He said you were to earn the position."
"Yes well apparently if you work for Wolfram and Hart you don't have to earn anything. Especially when they order someone to give me a job." Harry said angrily, "I wanted to earn the job!"
"Wolfram and Hart?" Calvin said, "Who the hell is that?"
"I told you I work for a muggle company. Well they are a law firm that specialize in legally helping out supernatural creatures. They also do side jobs like trying to take over the world…" Harry trailed off.
"You work for an evil supernatural law firm?"
"Indeed." Harry responded, "It pays well and I am very high ranking. Apparently high ranking means they will hand a lot of things to you on a golden platter. Like two million dollars, a house, a jaguar, a mustang, a job as a general." Harry said the last part rather bitterly.
"two million American dollars? And you are complaining?"
"Evidently." Harry said, "Anyways we should eat and get to class." Tuesdays and Thursdays were transfiguration, potions, battle magic, and runes. Harry was secretly glad that he would be general. He wanted to win this war and he wanted to destroy the other teams. He would imagine them as Dumbledore and Voldemort
First transfiguration came, "You know you shouldn't use most of these spells on humans or on things consumed by humans." The transfiguration teacher informed the class. After class Harry approached Professor Desmond.
"What would happen if you transfigured an object that a person may eat?" Harry asked.
"Well it depends on what it is. If you transfigured a metal ball into a cookie it could cut up their stomach when the transfiguration wore off. It could also mess with their bowel system." He said simply, "It would probably kill them."
"What if you transfigured a creature into food?" Harry inquired, his brain making up interesting situations.
"Um, well the act of eating the object will kill the creature unless it was smaller than what it was transfigured into. In that case you would probably need multiple of that creature to turn it into whatever you want it to be."
Harry smirked, "Thank you professor."
"Mr. Potter," Desmond said, "May I inquire what you are planning?"
"It is simply preparations Professor."
"Preparations for what?"
"War." Harry said and then politely responded, "If you may excuse me." Harry walked out of the room with an interested smile on his face.
Next came potions. "Today we will be learning the basics of brewing potions." Professor Justine Kenney announced, "Before you can brew fame and bottle power you must learn why you doing the weird things you do in potions."
Calvin raised a hand, "You can brew fame and bottle power?"
"Yes." She said, "Now I assume some people have at least opened the book since I did assign homework. Has anyone noticed that in certain potions you are instructed to stir clock-wise while in others stir counter clockwise." The students nodded, "Have you ever wondered why? I mean in cooking it doesn't matter which way you stir it still tastes the same."
One of the students scoffed, "So what makes you think it's different in potions? It's just another liquid."
She smiled at the young girl, "Miss, if you stir a different direction in potions the potion will do the exact opposite of what it was meant to do. The reason is simple. Stirring in potions can be compared to a timeline. If you play it in forward, or stir clockwise, then you intend to watch life in forward motion. Yet if you play it in reverse, or stir counter-clockwise, and yet you wanted to watch life in forward motion, you will be sorely disappointed when you are watching life in reverse. Don't stir opposite, you will find a disaster."
Harry's and a few hands shot up.
"Yes Mr. Liam," The professor called on one of the students.
"So stirring the wrong way… it could like be deadly right?" Mr. Liam said in a very surf-esque voice.
The professor rolled her eyes, "Yes Mr. Liam. Mr. Potter?"
"Never mind professor. I'd prefer to ask you in private."
The professor looked a little confused but nodded, "Very well." She then proceeded to call on the remaining hands. As class was ending she called, "Mr. Potter please come here." Harry walked up to the desk, "What is it that requires my private attention."
"Pardon me Professor Kenney. To put it simply I am in Lt. Sheppard's class and would not like to lose a possible advantage in the war to my fellow classmates." He informed her.
"Ah so you are taking his war seriously?" Harry nodded, "Very well what is your query."
"If one were to simply reverse all of the stirring in a potion would it change how a potion looks?" Harry asked. He had a very interesting set of plans for the war.
"No it wouldn't." She said.
"And if one was to say reverse a healing potion it would harm the individual instead of heal correct?"
"Yes Mr. Potter." She nodded, "If I didn't know how safe this war is I would be sincerely worried about your classmates. Please keep these thoughts in the warzone only." She warned him.
"Of course professor," Harry laughed, "Why on earth would I use them any other way?"
Harry walked out of the room and right into Calvin who was chatting up a girl. "Geez Harry watch where you are going! This is Desiree Conrad or Desi. I just met her while I was waiting on you."
Harry smiled politely, "Hello Desiree, I'm Harry Potter." He took a better look at her; she had grey eyes, red hair, and a good smile. Calvin looked like he was very interested in her every word. "I'm surprised you are talking to Calvin here. I mean he is a nut job." Harry said in a joking manner.
Calvin turned to Harry with a look that said 'Shut up' and asked, "Why were you taking to the professor in private?"
"I had a few questions relating to the war." Harry informed him.
"The war?" Desi jumped in, "I'm in the war."
Calvin was a smart guy but clearly not a genius when he responded, "You're not in the war. We've never seen you in Lt. Sheppard's class."
Harry shook his head, "She's in a different period you imbecile."Harry playfully smacked Calvin upside the head.
"So what were you asking about the war?" Desi inquired.
"I'm sorry that's classified until we get assigned our armies." Harry said. He tried to sound as professional as possible.
She rolled her eyes, "Of course. Well maybe we will all end up in the same army. I hope we don't have an idiot for a general."
"Oh well Harry." Calvin started but Harry stomped on his foot and then glared at Calvin.
"Oday otnay entionmay ethay eneralgay objay" Harry told Calvin.
Calvin just stared at him with a 'what the hell' look on his face.
Desi laughed, "Even I know he just spoke pig latin." She suddenly took on a concentrated appearance and then responded, "Do not mention the general job. Nice attempt at hiding that from me. So you are aiming to be general."
Harry responded, "ohway uckfay emay"
Desi looked at him, "I really don't want to fuck you. I just want to know what the general job is."
Harry glared, "Fine but you must swear to secrecy."
"Very well, I swear I won't tell anyone unless they already know." She said solemnly.
"Lt. Sheppard told me I am going to be one of the generals." He informed her.
She rose an eyebrow, "What'd you do bribe the guy?"
"Well he didn't bribe him." Calvin said.
"What is with the stress on he?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "I didn't bribe him and neither did my employers. They simply requested he give me the position."
"Must've been some request." She said, "So what do you say friends?" She held out her hand, "No matter what army I end up on I won't mind spying for you." She informed him. Harry took her hand and shook.
Calvin smiled, "Neither would I."
"So what you two are offering to be spies if you land in a different army?" Harry asked.
They both nodded, "Of course General." They said in unison, saluted, and then began to giggle.
Harry rolled his eyes , "Well Desi me and Calvin have Battle Magic right now. See you at dinner tonight?" She nodded and smiled at Calvin before leaving for her next class.
Calvin smiled, "So General, how does it feel knowing you already have two spies?"
Harry just laughed, "I feel like I now want you on the other teams. It would be like having 27 soldiers instead of 25."
They arrived in Lt. Sheppard's a few seconds before class started. "Welcome back to class. I hope you all have been planning for the war. We will be practicing a few battle spells that you may be encourage to use. However first I wish to inform you about the uniqueness of this war." Lt. Sheppard gazed around the room somberly.
"First and foremost each battle of the war will be fought and decided during regular class periods. After the battles we will have time to debrief and discuss the battle that just occurred. Each discussion will occur within the confines of each army. I will not give anyone special treatment. I will simply ask questions like, 'What do you think went wrong? What went right?' etcetera." The Lieutenant gave the class a stern look. "Cheating is not illegal. You can get people from the other team to give you information, battle plans, secret weapons. There are only two rules, you will not kill each other, you will not come to me for information. "
The Lieutenant then walked across the room to a white board with a drawing on it, "Each of your war rooms will have a drawing like this on it. At first you won't know where anyone is on the map except yourself. Everyone will be given a base camp. These battles may take weeks, you will be provided with rations."
Some girl's hand shot up, "Yes Miss…"
"Miss Darrel." She informed him, "How can we keep the battle within the period if it will last a week or more?"
Lt. Sheppard nodded, "Good question. The arena has been placed in a separate time. One week there will be the equivalent of twenty minutes in reality. The battle shouldn't last more than three weeks so we should have an hour or two to debrief and prepare for the next fight."
Miss Darrel then decided to talk again, "But sir when are we going to learn."
"Miss Darrel you have already spoken. If you wish to speak again you will raise your hand or I will recommend the King punish you." He said angrily, "As for learning. People learn more in times of war then in times of peace. When you are trying to learn to save your life you will be far more motivated."
Lt. Sheppard smirked, "Now I'm sure all of your little heads are wondering how a team will win when all you have to do is heal the wounded and then you have another solider. Well here is a hint. You can heal each other, but what if you don't know the counter? Furthermore what if they eradicate anyone who could have healed your soldiers. On top of that if a soldier suffers a permanent wound or cannot be healed in a specified time they will be proclaimed dead and taken off the battle field. The battle ends when one side reigns victorious by eradicating the others or getting the general or the next in line to surrender."
"Now we will be learning a few simple spells. The first one will make the opponent fall asleep." The whole class practiced and practiced but only a few got it down perfectly. The entire time the lieutenant was secretly casting the counter spell. When he was satisfied he informed the class, "You are to locate the counter on your own. If you don't find it then you will have a problem if it is used on you during the battle. The next spell we shall learn causes a form of full body paralysis it is petrificus totalus. "
The class began to practice the spell with partners. Harry and Calvin worked at it zealously. Harry had made sure that he and Calvin mastered the spell by the end of class.
Lt. Sheppard announced, "Tomorrow you will find the names of generals posted on the door to my class room. Before our next period each general needs to come and talk to me separately. They will request one person to be on their army. During the next period I will announce who will be in what army. Dismissed."
They all left the class quite quickly. "Calvin obviously you are going to be my request. Do you think Desi will actually spy for me if she isn't in my army?"
"Yes I think she was being serious. Why?"
Harry smiled, "Whatever army she ends up in will have a seriously hard time… I have a plan or two on how to mess with them from behind enemy lines. I'll fill you in when I get my war room."
Calvin nodded, "So whats left tonight?"
"Runes and actually I'm thinking about seeing if I can incoraparte some runes into our competition."
Calvin laughed, "Most of the runes we know can't help for shit."
Harry flashed him a smirk, "Yah but there's lots we haven't been taught that can help. But for now we have dinner and free time for a few hours."
They went over and sat down at the table, Desi joined them. For the first time Harry noticed her robes, they were emerald.
"So you are in emerald I see." Harry commented.
She rolled her eyes, "Don't tell me that's a problem."
They all grabbed some food as Harry responded, "No, not at all. I honestly don't understand the different colors mean."
She shrugged and leaned over, "So General, you planning on using me as a spy."
"If you are actually making yourself into one, of course. You must understand however that the things you are going to do is more than just reporting information." Harry informed her.
"Like what?" She asked.
"I can't tell you until I know for sure you are willing to be a spy."
The remainder of dinner was fun. Afterwards Harry excused himself to go study his books in an empty classroom. In the classroom Harry removed his runes book and began to formulate a plan. He had decided that if he was to be given a base camp he would put as many runes and protection spells as possible on it. Although he had great ways to undermine the opponents he would not allow the opponents to undermine him in the same fashion. He would know to protect against it.
During runes he tuned Faith out the majority of the class and spent the time reading his runes book.. Faith was a laid back teacher but she hated being ignored. She finally shut Harry's book on his hand and hollered, "Potter you will follow me into my office and we will have a fucking chat! Understood?"
"Yes Faith." He said sheepishly.
"That's Professor Lilac to you!" She shouted and dragged him into her office, "What the fuck do you think you are doing!"
Harry knew he needed to calm her down quickly, "Pardon me Professor Lilac, I was simply reading the book and trying to grasp the concept."
"You were five chapters ahead of the class." She told him.
"Yes, I realize professor. I was reading the current chapter during my spare time. I finished that and moved on and on. "
"Why the sudden interest in advanced runography?" She demanded.
"Professor it's for the war. I am using the runes for ideas on how to protect a base camp. To ward off others and such."
She rolled her eyes, "What a nerd… you remind me of a certain redhead I grew up with. Fine, fine I'll leave you to learn on your own during class. If you have questions just ask."
Harry apologized again and then class ended. After class Harry spent the entire time in an abandoned classroom until curfew. He had a way of ensuring his team would win and he wanted to perfect it.
If you think you know what Harry's plans are send me a PM. Please review though. I love to hear your thoughts. I am trying to update more often.