Jessica, thanks for taking time to review, I'm really glad you enjoy both the Krait and the High Reaches series! you had me blushing... There's plenty more of both to come, 13 more Krait books completed and others partly crafted, and a pile of High Reaches stuff that Trancefan is helping me transcribe, as I have her under the Imperious Curse...
Chapter 17
Jade regarded the class of ZP students who had hesitantly risen to her.
"Be seated" she said "I fear it may be too late for you to get good grades after the travesty if teaching you have received at the hands of Schrempf; but for what it is worth, at Prince Peak where nothing of the Dark Arts, defensive or otherwise, was taught, of the five girls who manfully started from nothing and studied for two terms, one got an 'E', another got 'A' and three took 'P' which is not too bad considering. My age group, which had almost two years round had no failures and a decent crop of 'O' grades. You have had some foundation; and you were taught for some years by Helmut Hesse who I suspect brought you further than the last year and a half has done. We shall therefore have a brief revision of what you should know by this time; and we will start with dark creatures. Definition of a dark creature anyone? Nobody? Herr Wiesel, you're supposed to be brainy, give me a best guess."
"Uh…. Dark creatures hurt you for fun?" suggested Jochen Wiesel.
There were a few titters and Wiesel flushed.
"Essentially Herr Wiesel is correct; a direct and cogent answer" said Jade "The text book answer is that the difference between a dangerous creature and a dark creature lies in intent. Any animal will defend its young, its lair, its mate, its food source. A dark creature enjoys harming others; it has been hypothesised that some may actually FEED on negative emotions. And I expect you are thinking, half a minute, Madam Von Strang, does that not blur the edges? Yes it does. Though discussing the blurred edges is a ZH concept it is one that it will do you no harm to ponder. The dark arts and the creatures spawned by them are like a many headed monster; mutable and eternal. As soon as one head is cut off, many others spring up in its place, fiercer and more dangerous. The definition of a dark creature is intent. That is the only definition we can give because a dark creature, including a dark wizard, is an ever varying entity that can only be defined by a hatred of all that is pure and truthful. This is because the nature of dark intent is an inability to be true to oneself because a dark nature is – must be – essentially selfish and self seeking; and that means that honesty about oneself is very difficult. I shall not say impossible."
She looked around them seriously and went on,
"If any dark wizard arose who was able to be objective about himself and clear minded enough to be loyal to allies, underlings and tools without the fear that they will try in their own selfish jealousy to destroy him, that would be a true danger. For then that dark wizard, without conscience about consequences to those outside his own power structure would be utterly invincible and almost admirable. It is the desire to dominate not reciprocate that causes built in self destruction of most of those who would willingly embrace a dark path."
Jade resisted the urge to use Star Wars analogies. These youngsters would not have a clue what she was talking about. As it was, Jade wondered if it was going in as they were all staring at her. Well she would finish the spiel and then see what they came up with. She spoke again,
"I would further say that a wizard who immersed himself in the study of the dark arts for pure academic interest, caring neither what happened to others nor for his own image or power he too would be immeasurably dangerous; because he would have no weakness of vanity. Save that we who are academics always DO have the flaw of vanity; the vanity of knowing what others do not. And I could perhaps be lured off on a side trip to look at a manuscript on a subject that interests me that has just been discovered and can't be translated; because I hate to think of a text I couldn't translate!"
She smiled encouragingly at them before rounding off the introduction.
"And that is to illustrate that however tough a dark wizard or dark creature may be, they all have a flaw. Let us start by seeing what flaws you know in the most common dark creatures; let us start with the unfortunate werewolf who is only a dark creature – unless by choice a dark wizard – under the influence of the full moon. In that form, what flaws have we?"
There was silence.
"She HAS neglected your work, hasn't she?" said Jade "So none of you would have any idea what to do if attacked by a werewolf?" she looked around "Fraulein Mundnimbus?" the girl looked thoughtful.
"Silver?" suggested Hilde Mundnimbus.
"Good" said Jade "Werewolves have a vulnerability to silver; ordinary wounds will close up straight away but those made by silver will not. A werewolf is cunning but only with an animal cunning; no intellect during the change. Another flaw. There is also a spell that forces werewolves – and animagi, incidentally – back into human form. Does anyone…. I see a sea of blank faces; take up your pens and I will write this down upon the board. The incantation is homomorphus, literally man shape. It is painful. Who can list me the differences between a werewolf and an ordinary wolf? All right, I appreciate that you are all a little wary of trying; I do NOT punish wrong answers with the cruciatus curse. I might punish deliberately fatuous answers with lines. I want a volunteer to stand by the blackboard and write down differences; and I want a volunteer to wear the shape – not the reduced intellect – of a werewolf. I am an animagus wolf and I will stand beside the supposed werewolf while you look for all the differences. Fraulein Mundnimbus, you'll wear a wolf form? Thank you; and Herr Weisel to write; excellent. Herr Wiesel if you allow me…. There, your pen will now take the same notes you write on the board and Fraulein Mundnimbus also so your notes will not suffer for being my volunteers."
"Thank you Madam Von Strang" said Hilde.
"Indeed" agreed Jochen, who had hoped to get them written out fast as he doubted anyone else would lend notes.
Jade turned Hilde into the semblance of a werewolf; and made the change for herself into the huge mountain wolf form she favoured.
"The nose is a different shape" said Jochen. Jade thumped her tail in an approving wag. "The eyes – they have round pupils" he went on.
"The tail is tufted on the werewolf" said Stiv Molotov.
"The forelegs – the proportions are wrong" said Zhanargul "That is they are longer in proportion to the body than the true wolf; giving the stance a more raised appearance."
Jade wagged her tail for each of these.
"There is a crest of hair down the werewolf's back flowing from….well, almost a hairstyle" said Jochen.
"And the ears too are tufted and a rounder shape than the wolf; the tufts disguise that a bit at first" said Zhanargul.
Jade resumed her form and with nothing but a nod from her, so did Hilde.
"Most exam questions call for five signs; there are six clear ones as you have come up with and a few less obvious to do with the coarseness of the hair and the angle at which it grows from the pelt; NOT obvious things unless you are going to be up close and personal with a werewolf. Very well; get out your wands; I'm going to resume wolf form and you're going to force me back into human form. It doesn't hurt animagi so much; so go for it" she added.
The first attempt was pathetic; Jade barely felt a wash of intent on her.
She growled.
The second attempt forced her back, with more pain than she bothered to show. They needed to know how to do it after all!
"Herr Molotov's spell was the strongest on me there; but well done all" she said. "I believe we are out of time; your essay will be to pick three dark creatures and for those of you unused to having choices I name Kappa, Redcap and Pogrebin though if you wish to pick others, feel free; and to research what weaknesses they have. You may have the whole week this first time and you may confer. So long as I don't get several essentially identical essays with the paragraphs moved about a bit. Next week we shall be revising boggarts and the lesson after that reviewing your essays. And there goes the bell; dismissed."
She heard Saula say something to her mistress; and used legilimensy shamelessly to discover that the Kazakhstani girl had said that at least they had learned something today that had to be a nice change.
Jade went to see Agata.
"Agata, if I can catch any of those kids up to an 'A' grade in Dark Arts it'll be a ruddy miracle" she said. "They didn't know the signs of a werewolf; I doubt more than two of them could name me three dark creatures off the top of their heads and if they've heard of any dark spells bar the cruciatus curse, I'll eat my broom!"
"What if I gave them a remedial class too?" said Agata.
"I'd have to drop one of my studies; well I guess I have forgotten more about Transfiguration than most people ever learn to ZH" said Jade "And that's a fiction because I have it at NEWT; I think I'd like to take the exam. I could drop Potions too; I have a private project I'm doing but if I'm not doing the prep too, which is mostly a repeat of what I've done before, I can read any notes the others have in case Professor Rebet covers anything from a different angle to dad. Actually I could just walk into the Arithmancy exam and breeze it; I'll give up that not potions. I'll go tender my apologies to Professors Nagy and Meyer."
"I will tender you apologies for you and tell them that I have asked you to do this for the good of the school" said Agata. "I am glad that you feel that we can teach you some things you have not previously known."
"It's stray details in Herbology that I haven't actually picked up; but I'm loving care of beasts, and the project Professor Rebet set, and the different texts in Runes!" said Jade enthusiastically.
Agata smiled. Jade Snape was far more interested in the world of academe than in trying to rule Germany and its satellites!
There were six students in the Dark Arts ZH class; Traudl and Ritter were allies but the rest were late of Nachtigall's gang; and although it had fallen apart rather, Jade was wary.
Traudl, Ritter and – to her surprise – Clovis Gierek rose; followed a little reluctantly by Franzisca Schiff and Stepanka Frolika, who followed Gierek's lead. He was the one who liked poisons; he had made racist comments about the young goblins but at least he had manners. Unlike Thom Billkvam who stayed resolutely seated. Until that is he rose with a yell and a degree of smoke arising from his nether region.
"A trifle tardy in your courtesies, Herr Billkvam" said Jade "The rest of you may be seated; Herr Bilkvam I suspect you may be more comfortable taking the rest of the lesson standing; the chair is cool again now however if you wish to experiment with sitting down; and there is no lasting damage to your posterior. Herr Gierek?" the youth had raised a hand.
"Herr Billkvam is sorry for his discourtesy, Fraulein Von Strang; may I ease his discomfort? I can guarantee that he will be no more trouble in your doubtless original and excellent classes."
"You may ease him Herr Gierek; your concern for your friend does you credit" said Jade "As you say, I am a little more original then to use the cruciatus curse as the only form of discipline. Anyone who irritates me might wish I were so limited; because you people have a lot to catch up on. At least you had a good grounding to ZP under Herr Hesse; have you been reading the text books in your own time as well to cover such ground as Fraulein Schrempf was too incapable to teach?"
"I have" said Gierek.
"Good; I would strongly recommend that the rest of you who have NOT done so should put in extra hours in your leisure time in addition to my lessons since you have otherwise had almost two wasted years" said Jade "Theory is not everything; and one of the things I propose is to make sure that you all have a corporeal patronus by Easter. I will not object, if you have a free period, if you wish to sit in on the ZP class as revision; you might find it valuable because I may cover subjects Herr Hesse found less important; we all have our priorities and foibles. Now, as you have had a thorough grounding in the unforgivable curses I thought we would utilise the lesson time today debating WHY they are unforgivable; and which, to your mind, is the worst and why; and I warn you now you'll be writing eight inches for me on the subject – more if you get enthusiastic but I shall only require eight inches – as your homework. I am happy for you to make notes while we discuss this matter."
Gierek at least was looking enthusiastic, having sorted out the Norwegian boy's scorched backside. Jade fancied that Gierek was an enthusiast for the reasons that her father was; the sheer fascination of the variety.
"Would you give us a definition of the Dark Arts, Fraulein?" he said now "You told us that you had forgotten more than Fraulein Schrempf ever knew; and she has never really defined it."
"Ah! An excellent question" said Jade "The Dark Arts are hard to define, especially for a second rate mind; because the Dark Arts are ever-changing, mutable and many headed; that every time any should apply a counter to them, cuts off one of the heads, like the Hydra, more heads of surpassing fierceness grow in its place with more cunning and tenacity then before; and those who would counter dark arts must be capable of being more variable and cunning and adaptable. The concept that defence against the dark arts is weak is a fallacy promulgated by those who would wish to believe that those who would counter their – usually inadequate – efforts are weaker. The major definition of the Dark Arts, Herr Gierek, is those arts that employ any and all methods to attain a given goal without compunction or any degree of interest in the consequences of others so long as the goal of the user of such arts is attained. Can anyone tell me why this causes a flaw from the very first if such principles are carried to their logical conclusion? Herr Kesselring?" Ritter had raised his hand.
"Because the dark wizard then is essentially so selfish that he does not give any care to anyone – friends, family, followers – which apart from diminishing him because he has abandoned any kind of noblesse oblige means that essentially he must play a lone game and will receive no true loyalty because when he gets reverses, his loyal followers aren't any more" he said.
"Quite so. The dark wizard who says 'I care not for the consequences EXCEPT to those I value' is a dangerous man indeed because he has true loyalty of those he counts his own. Voldemort expected absolute submission from his vassals and was not loyal in return. He made them kiss the hem of his robe; it gave me the idea to make Schrempf do that, not because I wanted her as a follower but because I wanted her neutralised so far as I was concerned. I got irritated with her" she said. "She was spoiling for a fight; so I gave her one."
"What was the chant you used on her? She had us try to analyse it" said Gierek.
Jade laughed.
"You could analyse it until you were black in the face; a chant on the fly is essentially made up as you go along, or an appropriate piece of poetry used and tied to the intent; once it is tied to the intent, the repetition an arithmantically sound number of times causes the effect. I knew the effect; I copied it from a piece of cursed jewellery I had come across. It amused me to use a Hebrew prayer for peace recited backwards. If you used it without the intent, it would do nothing. Some chants – usually simple ones – can be learned by rote and if you know what they are supposed to do they will do it. Complex chants are written for a specific incident. When breaking curses they are almost always written entirely on the fly in the spirit of 'oh shit I have to fix this'. The most subtle arts are those that mess with people's heads; confundment is a mild expression of this and used so often to protect us from exposure to muggles that nobody actually considers that it is a minor dark art. Voldemort took his head messing to some extreme; into every one of his followers he planted a compulsion to obey him when he spoke command words in Parseltongue – incidentally I AM a Parselmouth, several Malfoys are – that they would obey like automata and then FORGET what they had done. Voldemort was ALMOST subtle. Especially as he was a half blood reared as a muggle and had to reinvent a lot of stuff."
"He was a half blood?" said Gierek, shocked.
"Son of a stupid but handsome muggle and a witch who was almost a squib; blood doesn't count. Power counts" said Jade. "Was my definition satisfying, Herr Gierek?" he had at least written it down.
"Eminently, thank you Fraulein Von Strang" said Gierek "Effectively, someone who sets out to rule and damn the consequences is going to cast a stinging hex in their own foot if they fail to take the proper precautions to make good friends?"
"Essentially, yes" said Jade "You see, if someone set out to use the dark arts to rule because they thought they were the best person – and so it was PROPER for them to do so – and maintained their friendships they would probably do very well. But the point about those who choose the dark arts as their course in life – dedicating themselves wholly to it, I mean, not studying this fascinating and many-headed art – do so because they feel they need it as an advantage; a trick to make themselves one up. And that means these people are starting off feeling that they are already one down or they would have the self confidence not to NEED to put others down. They would just laugh at criticism. They are generally people without friends and feel they are owed something by the world; and so are unable to make friends because they will not go half way because others should look up to them; which means we see the Dark Arts used – in the main – by small people. Voldemort, born Tom Marvolo Riddle, resented his silly sounding name – even sillier in muggle ears – and grew up feeling he had a grudge against mankind, and resorted to bullying and torturing the kids in the orphanage where he lived. When told he was a wizard he said that he knew he was better than everyone else. To claim to feel better than everyone else is generally a sign of an inferiority complex; because if you really ARE better than everyone else you don't actually need to make a song and dance about it. Yes, I was childish when I taunted Schrempf; I still have some growing up to do. After all, I'm not yet eighteen. But if you can accept a degree of childishness in yourself and agree that you need to grow out of it, you will. Tom Riddle never did. It was not enough for him to have a power beyond the comprehension of the other orphans in the muggle orphanage; he was outraged if those at Hogwarts school did not give him due deference too. He learned to hide it; but he still FELT it."
"He sounds a pratt" said Traudl.
"He was" said Jade "A powerful pratt but still a pratt. Needing to hold his compulsions over his followers just in case they wouldn't actually walk through fire for him of their own free will" her voice showed her contempt.
"You don't hold it wrong then to use the dark arts?" said Gierek.
"The province of Dark Arts can be awfully blurred" said Jade. "The unforgivable curses have been so designated as some of the worst spells any oik can learn to use. There are depths to the dark arts so frightening that only the most depraved would consider using them. I could, if I applied the right stimulus and was patient about it, make you willingly beg to be buggered by a troll in order to get the reward that I could addict you to, Herr Gierek; THAT level of depravity. I could make a spell so that every time someone spoke my name I drained them of a little bit of lifeforce; dropping their lifespan by, say, three and a half minutes and increasing mine by three – some power is always used for the operation of a spell – that if I made myself sufficiently famous could make me essentially immortal. Vulnerable still to murder or accident, but in other respects essentially immortal. I shouldn't like to live forever; after a time I should think it would get wearisome. But I can see a non dark use for that; as a counter to a debilitating, life-draining curse, used to restore someone, either with the consent of those doing the egophonic restoration or by those willingly giving their life force thus. Which, incidentally, loses less power on the way because willing participation channels things more efficiently; like blood magic. Willing sacrifice is always more powerful than unwilling and we shall touch on that at a later date. Now! Herr Gierek, which is the worst of the unforgivable curses?"
"In light of what you have said about messing with the head I should say perhaps the Imperious curse" said Gierek.
"I happen to concur with that opinion" said Jade "But to some people the idea of a death you cannot defend against or ultimate pain may stand out as more important. So far as MY opinion goes, pain either drives you insane, when you don't care any more, or ends. Death is only a passing through the veil. Being controlled is something I would fear. THAT is what you should consider for your personal opinions; which of them do you fear most? Traudl, have you an opinion?"
"I thought it would be the cruciatus curse; but I am not sure now, because I don't like the idea of being controlled" she said.
"If you argue well, I will accept an answer of 'actually I'm not sure' so long as you place valid reasons about why each is unforgivable" said Jade. "Any other thoughts?"
"Going back to you saying those who would rule are inadequates, surely might makes right?" said Stepanka Frolik.
"Actually, I did not say that those who wanted to rule are inadequates" said Jade "If you would argue a point, do so from the insight of actually arguing the point, not what you have half-heard the point to be. I said that many who want to use the Dark Arts are inadequates because it's all that have to lift them above their murky and friendless little existences. Those who would rule and choose to use the dark arts alongside normal means – those who rule the art and are not ruled by it – may actually make very good rulers. Gellert Grindelwald was almost great; but he took too many short cuts and was ruled by the art. During his time in prison he acknowledged this and died a hero, defending a secret from Voldemort. And for his ultimate insights I honour his memory."
Stepanka scowled. She had meant to make a stand of insolence but being ticked off like a small child for not arguing the real point was rather an anticlimax. Especially when Nefrita Von Strang made representations of admiration for the very example she had planned to use!
Jade, who had ruthlessly used legilimensy on Stepanka grinned secretly to herself that she had whipped the carpet from under the girl's feet.
"I think that the killing curse is worst" said Franziska Schiff "I don't want to die!"
"Nobody WANTS to die" said Jade. "Do you fear death, Fraulein Schiff?"
"Yes I do. Who doesn't?"
Jade grinned.
"The elderly witch who has so many ailments that medication can do nothing to heal them and who must choose between pain or potions that also cloud her mind; for her death may be a blessed release from a situation which has become intolerable. Though even so, many do cling to life, any kind of life; and some, even at the point of death, cling to that travesty of half-life that is to be a ghost rather than pass beyond the veil to an unknown existence. We KNOW it is not oblivion however; or how would portraits of the dead be imbued immediately with the same personality of the person they represent and be able to offer opinions – louder and more dogmatic in the cases of some than others – that reflect their world view? I do not want to die; but I do not FEAR death. If I were killed now I should RESENT it like mad; but that's different. I have noticed that portraits tend to represent a slightly more tolerant viewpoint than they held in life – I suppose a lot of things become less important – which means that Phineas Nigellus Black must have been the crankiest and most intolerant of old bastards in life, though that's neither here nor there. I think when those of us of our age contemplate death it is with a sort of embarrassed feeling, that death is nothing to do with us; we are young and we are setting out on life and the universe lays at our feet; mortality is not something we generally consider. However, remember that I grew up in the Voldemort years in England, where youth was no protection from death or torture; wherein the families most notorious for opposing Voldemort taught the shield charm as a matter of course to their children years before they were eligible to use wands. Nachtigall got quite put out about the English being able to cast wordlessly and wandlessly; we had a great incentive to learn, I can tell you! I could cast expelliarmus with conviction long before I went to school; I'm not really unusual in that. My family was acting covertly against Voldemort; a damnably nervous situation! I recall thinking to myself, if he attacks us, 'please let me die quick and clean with the killing curse, please don't let him torture me or control my mind' so you see, some beliefs of what is good and what is bad can come from personal experienced. Anyone who has watched a relative die by the killing curse is likely to find it the most horrifying thing they have ever seen."
"But you BOUNCE it!" said Franziska resentfully "We all heard the stories!"
"That is because of my use of judicious blood magic" said Jade "As I might as well tell you; and I will tell you now that blood magic is the strongest defensive force in the world but the likes of Voldemort or the average dark wizard cannot use it; that I find a highly amusing irony."
"Why not?" asked Gierek.
"Because for it to work, there has to be an equal sharing. In the blood pact that was entered into for Harry Potter, as is outlined in Professor Snape's work 'Blood Magic, Love Magic' those who pledged to bleed and die for him did so out of love for Harry; but Harry is actually a great man, and when it turned out from that experimental pact that he could equally feed power to any that had joined it, he welcomed that and embraced it. Such would have sent Voldemort incandescent with fury, and though it diminished him he would have slain any who had made such a pact because it made them his equals. Because such a pact can only be entered into with a sense of equality; otherwise it doesn't work properly. Voldemort made use of a blood sacrifice given willingly to restore his body; the sacrifice of a hand by a devoted follower who adored and loathed him in equal measure and was too snivelling a creature to ever prove any threat; and even so, having replaced the hand with one of magical silver, Voldemort had it enchanted so that any thoughts of disloyalty led to the hand strangling Peter Pettigrew. The other blood he used was blood he thought had been wrest unwillingly from Harry Potter; in fact it had been given willingly by Harry because the willing use of his blood for the furtherance of the plans of his own supporters placed a betrayal in Voldemort's own new body. Blood magic is a risky business – blast, there's the bell!"
"Are you tied up after the break or might we carry on, Fraulein?" asked Gierek.
"Well if you've the enthusiasm and don't mind losing a free period I'm game" said Jade "Though if we do it every week it might erode your free study time; why don't we all go for a coffee and a toilet break and reconvene, those who want to. We've more or less moved onto free debate now, which is a valuable part of ZH level studies; when thinking for yourselves is more important than churning back facts."
"What can you tell us about the practicalities of blood magic, Fraulein Von Strang?" asked Gierek after the break.
Stepanka Frolika and Thom Billkvam had not returned; the other four had.
"The simplest, and most commonly encountered, is when a young couple have a baby and the mother or baby look likely to die" said Jade "When the father in wild grief cuts himself and applies the blood with a haphazard ritual to save the life of his wife – usually – by sheer force of will and his own life force. The child is joined to the mother by blood; once a blood pact is entered into with only three in it, the death of any one can be a sufficient trauma to kill the other two. THIS is why blood magic is so widely touted as dark magic and militated against. Actually it does not really come into the scope of this class at all; since it isn't really a dark art, not when you take the definition that the dark arts are essentially a matter of intent. Even as a dangerous creature is one whose instinct is to protect the species is not a dark creature. Blood magic is neither dark nor light, it is the intent with which it is used that makes it one or the other. The dark uses of blood magic are manifold, varied, and essentially not especially efficient; you have to sacrifice the lives of an awful lot of virgins to get the precise same effect as may be gained by a few drops of blood from a willing virgin. It's a question of channelling; if I may use an analogy, most people find it impossible to cast spells without a wand; or at best very difficult. A wand is a focus. Some of us have practised from an early age so that the focus is a very finely tuned will; again, the incentive of having the chance to escape if captured by Voldemort and tied up and deprived of a wand was rather great; because it was a very real possibility that could happen. ODESSA doesn't have the same fear power because it's run by an offensive little nutter with a fat arse and a fatter head; and I've met him so I speak with confidence. He has as much grip on reality as a house elf on butterbeer. However that's by the by; the wand focuses the spell; willing participation in a ritual focuses the ritual. As simple as that. Intent again; intent to interact is powerful. Chanting a chant will get you nothing but a sore throat unless you focus your intent through the chant. Same thing."
"You are actually saying that the Dark Arts aren't very powerful" said Gierek.
"The Dark Arts, as understood by most people, indeed as used by most people who consider themselves skilled proponents of the art, are often a short cut" said Jade "Initially apparently very powerful; by using methods considered unethical by many a great deal of sound and fury can be produced but as The Great Hack would put it, signifying nothing; and my fag Sofie would wince to hear me mangling Shakespeare quite so freely after declaring that if one must quote one should quote correctly. Let me see, two of you are taking Transfigurations too; I imagine the rest of you have heard them groan about the use of Gamp's law and its exceptions. Part of Gamp's law states that the summoning of matter is harder than summoning energy because energy must be used both for the summoning and for the coalescence of the material into matter."
"Oh is THAT what it means!" cried Franziska "Why didn't you put it in plain language like that when you were arguing with Professor Nagy?"
"Because I assumed you had already covered and understood that" said Jade "Sorry! But the point I'm trying to make is that any cretin can pull forth huge amounts of uncontrolled but very destructive flame that is a quick and easy thing to learn; but it actually takes a measure of mastery to call forth something not only solid but that you have made sufficiently permanent that it will not dissipate into mid air as most of such things do; which is why one of Gamp's exceptions is food, because it will have no nutritional value because it will dissipate within the body."
"I wish you were teaching us Transfiguration too if you CAN break it down to that simple" said Franziska.
Jade hid a sigh.
"Look, I'll run through anything you want me to in prep time if you like" she said. "But I MUST help you people catch up your Dark Arts; whilst all the arts are intertwined we do have artificial separations at ZH level to make it easier to learn and apply the various laws. I could make the analogy even simpler; by likening the majority of the dark arts to a hammer. You can use that to crush many things and destroy them; but is that always as satisfactory as learning to cast evanesco to get rid of them utterly? Let us take the cruciatus curse for example; by torture using it, one might make a stubborn enemy speak. But it has been observed throughout history by wizards and muggles alike that torture makes a prisoner say what he thinks his tormentors WANT to hear; which might not be accurate. The imperious curse can be subtler, telling the victim to tell the truth; but it leaves room for a strong willed person to conceal some of the truth; they obey by telling the truth; BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH. It takes a sight more effort to learn legilimensy; but with that skill one may turn the inmost thoughts of anyone inside out. And, unless they are skilled at occlumensy, without them even knowing. It's slower to learn. Voldemort had the sense to realise it was worth learning; so those who were spying on him had to be even better occlumenses than he was a legilimens. But Voldemort also used the Cruciatus curse for fun because he was a petty minded sick little puppy like the unlamented De Witt. Anyone who gets kicks from the pain of others has a serious weakness because they cannot rise above it and usually cannot resist dealing pain even in a situation where that increases their own risk; and when they do it to their own followers they are asking to be betrayed. It is self defeating. Also inefficient. I HATE inefficiency. There are those dark arts that ARE efficient but so very few would-be dark wizards actually take the trouble to learn them because it IS a trouble; because they must apply themselves to other arts not merely the quick and easy unforgivable curses. Hedda Schrempf picked the quick and easy – and inefficient – path."
"What did you really do to her?" asked Gierek "I've heard wild rumours."
"First I lost my temper which is a bad thing to do; because it leads to inefficiency" said Jade "I believe in absolute loyalty to my fags if I would have absolute loyalty from them. She was using a spell on Elfleda that would have, had I not been as good – and as ruthless – as I am have killed the child. It is a multiple diffindo spell that cuts all over the body; I think the way she achieved it was from a slightly different angle from the spell I know, but the result was much the same. I had to chant and some other stuff. Because I have blood siblings, I shared the killing curse around for several nasty headaches instead of chanting up a grid to diffuse it – which was developed by Harry's crowd – because I was more concerned for Elfleda's life than for some of us getting headaches. The rest agreed; the whole point of a blood group. So, I was pissed; I had a headache; and I was starting to feel I had to do something permanent. I used an Ancient Egyptian spell; and being angry made the mistake that the Egyptian spells divide the essence of a spirit into three. So her body lives as an empty husk with no spirit in it, for that I jerked out of her to turn involuntarily into a ghost. It was initially used to summon the semblance or simulacrum of a dead person from beyond the veil to ask advice or to gain knowledge; summoning it from a living body is a trifle more exotic. But I should have altered the spell more to bind all parts of the consciousness together instead of letting the language separate them; it was sloppy."
"Fraulein Von Strang" said Gierek with feeling "If you call that sloppy and consider it inefficiently done, I hope I never piss you off when you're feeling efficient."
Jade laughed.
"Well, we can never improve if we are satisfied with only good enough, can we?" she said. "Good grief! It's lunch time!"
"It's been the best Dark Arts lesson I've ever had" said Gierek "Thank you; and now I see why you laugh at those like Heinrich who say that defence against the dark arts is only the weak side. I hope you'll be showing us some defences."
"I certainly will; if you are willing to learn" said Jade. "Now sod off; if you're not hungry, I certainly am!"