A/N: Giant clues in this chapter. I should stop telling you that.
I so do not like Dolores Umbridge. I think she's more evil than Voldemort, in a way. She's such a bitch, you guys. Ugh, I can't express how evil that woman is.
This is a wandlore chapter! YAY WANDS.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Five: Chapter Thirty-Four
End of August, 1995
A small crash sounded from somewhere near the entrance hall, which initiated the shrieking.
"DEMONS IN THE HOUSE OF MY BRETHEREN SHALL NOT BE TOLERATED! I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE UPON BLOODTRAITORS AND-"
"SHHH SHHH!" Alrescha smiled faintly at Tonks' attempt to calm Mrs. Black down. Once the racket had finally ceased, light footsteps made their way into the kitchen. A woman with very pink hair stepped in, waving a magazine. "It's in, it's in! The Witch Weekly interview's in print!" She slapped down the editorial on the table, and a delicate picture of Alrescha stared at them all, then smiled widely and waved.
"Ooh!" Mrs. Weasley gasped, picking it up. Selena shook her head, very amused.
"Mum! Lemme see!"
"Hold on, George. Dear, I didn't know you were the cover story!" Mrs. Weasley hugged Alrescha and passed her the magazine.
"Here, George. I don't need it." George held up the magazine, allowing everyone to view it.
"Rescha's a star! First the Daily Prophet and now Witch Weekly!"
"Tomorrow- BRITAIN!" Ginny pumped her fist up in the air.
"AHEM!" George shifted through the pages to get to the interview. He read bits of it aloud.
"Oi, you dropped the recording," Fred said.
"Play it!" Fred prodded it with his wand twice, and the recording projected itself into the air. Applause from the invisible audience sounded, and a miniature Alrescha began to talk.
"Hello. I am Alrescha Polaris Black. Welcome to my first concert."
---
"UGH! If you'd gotten Prefect, I might've had to disown you as my sister," said Fred.
"I'm not your sister," replied Alrescha. "And I'm too bad to be a Prefect. Stop being sour, you two. It's not the end of the world."
"If Mum weren't so-" Fred rolled his eyes.
"Thrilled, then maybe we could-" George folded his arms.
"Stop being so sour-" Fred sighed.
"And think about being seventh years." George shrugged. Alrescha stared at them both and flat out laughed.
"You're both barmy, just so funny. I love you both." Alrescha was in a delightful mood- Selena and Sirius had taken to holding hands randomly again. She stuck her feathers in her hair. It was the last day of holiday, and Mrs. Weasley wanted to have a party to celebrate Ron and Hermione becoming prefects.
"Singing tonight?" George asked off-handedly. He was trying not to let Alrescha's newfound fame get to him. Alrescha hadn't changed, obviously, but that spread in Witch Weekly had done a number on him. He'd realized now that the whole world knew about Alrescha, and he couldn't just keep her to himself. He was ever the jealous type.
"Yes, your mum asked. I think she's my number one fan."
"Ugh," Fred grumbled. "You don't have to be a Prefect, you harp like an angel."
"Speaking of angels, Angelina is Quidditch CAPTAIN!" Alrescha clapped, grabbing a letter off of the table in her room. "She sent it earlier this afternoon."
"YES!" Fred and George high-fived.
"Wait, wait," Fred stopped smiling. "Angie's crazy."
"Oh yeah…" George's eyes squinted. "Well, we'll just have to not give her a reason to get angry with us."
"I feel so left out," Fred decided. "Ron's a Prefect, Mum's just thrilled about everything, people are fighting You-Know-Who, you're a songstress gracing magazine covers, and we're just two ginger twins."
"It's so sad." George sighed, clutching his hand to his chest. "We're the outcasts of the family."
"Oh, please, you two are completely brilliant. Don't play like you aren't."
"We know that. But-"
"It'll take a while before the general public-"
"Notices our brilliance."
"People can often mistake brilliance-"
"For stupidity and trouble."
"True," shrugged Alrescha.
"Speaking of brilliance. Alrescha, how would you feel about a 'WonderWitch' line?"
"Geared towards teenaged witches?"
"And other ages, but yes."
"What've you got in mind for it?"
"Well, we took the liberty of going through your things, and-" Alrescha rolled her eyes. "And we found haircare, skincare- well, beauty products. I really think we can take a pimple vanisher down to ten seconds or less." George nodded along with Fred's claim.
"Really?" Alrescha's eyebrows rose. "Well, I'm sure it'd do very well. I'd buy it."
"Lovely."
September, 1995
Beginning of Term
Alrescha wasn't sure she liked being famous. Everywhere she went, first years and second years asked for her autograph. Her room had been broken into twice, but nothing was taken. Alrescha kept her clothes and music things in her mother's office. Professors were quite the same. However, Professor Flitwick had been startled when he heard the news apparently, which was why he lent her a book on how to charm instruments. Filius Flitwick did love music.
However, most of the problems were because of students. Everyone Ginny's year and above was completely okay with it, although they treated her very differently. Some of them would compliment her on her hair or a necklace; some of them would sneer at her or talk about her behind her back. The second, third, and first years positively fawned over her. She even received fanmail. Most people, though (outside of her groups of friends), were completely surprised when they saw her walking around with Harry Potter. The two of them, Harry and Alrescha, were the most widely talked about people on the grounds. Because Hermione and Ron did Prefect duties, Harry would often walk with Alrescha to different classes. He liked her company, just because she didn't come with the bickering of Ron and Hermione, and she liked a good laugh.
And the famousness was the least of her worries compared to classes. Giant wars in history were absolutely boring when Binns taught it. Potions was the same, just as hard and difficult as ever- she'd have to ask George for help again. Even though he didn't like to say it, George was excellent at potions. Arithmancy was the hardest class ever- she and Hermione were the only two people who were definitely taking the O.W.L. Transfiguration and Charms were both the same, interesting with a dash of challenge. She had no real fervor for Herbology or Astronomy, but still found it interesting work, so it wasn't completely unbearable. Ancient Runes was fun, like learning another language. But Defense Against the Dark Arts. Oh goodness. After the first class, Alrescha was shaking with fury every time she walked inside the class.
"I can only hold my tongue for so damn long," she hissed. "Harry's getting his hand sliced up every night, Mum's getting funny looks from Umbridge in the halls, everywhere I walk, Umbridge is following me."
"She's following you?"
"Ever since that song I wrote that I dedicated to Cornelius Fudge, ministry people keep asking to interview me or something- I don't know. The dumb ministry sent that damn woman to screw with our lives. O.W.L. year is enough without her interfering."
"She's right, though," Ron said.
"If she walks in on another music session to pester my mother, I will choke her with her little pink cardigan," she said vehemently. "I'm serious, I will snap on her, I will."
"I don't doubt you, love," George murmured. It was quite obvious that they had to let Alrescha keep rambling until she calmed down. They'd all never seen her outlandishly angry before.
"Wait, you wrote a song for Fudge?" Harry asked, very amused.
"Yes," Alrescha said gruffly, making things up for Harry's dream diary. Alrescha, for some reason, was insanely good at Divination; Ron and Harry always thought it was amazing that she didn't take it. She'd always said that she had no need to know the future.
"The lyrics berate and taunt him, actually, in a rather poetic way. It's lovely," Hermione said. Alrescha smiled a bit.
It was only the first Thursday night since school started.
---
Selena smiled at her new set of students. The fourth years looked promising, and she was happy to have Ginny Weasley in the class. The group of fourth years that were taking the class took it on the assumption that they would have the class only once a week, since it was a weird option to add a class during an even-numbered year. Right now, she was playing a question game that she'd learned in a Muggle teaching book called "Around the World." The winner was to receive a giant lollipop from Honeydukes.
"Truth," Selena said.
"Veritas!" A blonde girl with wide, wide eyes responded.
"Very good, Miss Lovegood, you may move on to the next desk." Selena chose another word. "Bird."
"Avis!" Miss Lovegood answered. Luna Lovegood moved on, beating everyone in the class and winning the Honeydukes candy.
"Very good! Okay, please study for the Latin quiz next week. It's imperative that you have these stems down! Have a good weekend!"
"Bye!"
"See you next week." Her students waved and left, chattering amicably. But she realized one student was left. She looked at Luna Lovegood, who was blatantly staring at her.
"I've been wanting to meet you for a while. You're just so wonderful." Luna smiled widely, her lantern-like eyes sparkling. She put her wand up, behind her ear. Selena thought of how she herself kept her wand in her hair.
"Who-" Selena cleared her throat, finding it raspy. "Who are you named for, Miss Lovegood?"
"My mum named me." Luna looked out the window. A thestral was flying past. "Can you see the thestral too?"
"Yes," replied Selena. Luna smiled again and glided out the room. Selena found she'd been holding her breath the entire time, and wondered if Luna had dodged the question or simply forgot what Selena had asked upon seeing the death omen outside. Selena moved on.
September 14, 1995
George and Fred Weasley took seats up front and to the professor's right, as always. Spell Making was one of their favorite classes.
"Test group two took it really well," said George, reading from a notebook. "So we know to add two chunks of leech. But the bleeding didn't stop as well as it should've, though. Probably should add more witch hazel to the base… Three thimblefuls to start- three for every cauldron." George scribbled in the notebook.
"Witch hazel'll be two knuts for a pint, and there're ninety-six in a pint. That's enough to brew thirty-two cauldrons of the curing end for the Nosebleed Nougats." Fred began counting on his fingers. "So we'll need twelve galleons next time we go into Hogsmeade. Two for the junipers, five for the witch hazel, porcupine, leeches, rubbing alcohol…" The elder twin murmured numbers to himself while Selena, the professor, greeted everyone as they came in.
"We'll probably have a guest today," said Selena quietly. "Best behavior, everyone, stay alert." The students all knew what that meant- Umbridge was going to inspect. Everyone put all excess items into their bags. Angelina only just put away her box of ice mice when Umbridge entered.
"Good morning, Professor Umbridge," Selena said brightly.
"Good morning." Umbridge's eyes looked around for an empty seat. She finally found one on Selena's left, behind Alicia. "Don't mind me. Just go on."
"Right. Class, open books to chapter five- page one twenty-two. Today we are going to touch on wands. Wands are a large part of Spell Making. Certain wands, depending on the properties of the wood they are made with, are good at different things. Let us say that the wood that is used in a wand is pliable. The user of that wand might excel in Transfiguration as the word "pliable" means that something can be shaped. The spells that the user makes up might be related to Transfiguration more than any other discipline. Yes, Miss Graham."
"Is it true that the wand picks us more than we pick the wand? Because that's what Mr. Ollivander said when I bought my wand."
"For the most part, that is true. Most of the time the properties of our wands, including type of wood, the length, and what is at the core of it, may resemble our personalities. Wandmakers have proven time and time again that our wands choose us, not the other way around."
"Hem, hem."
"Might I get you some tea for your throat, Professor Umbridge?" Selena asked.
"No, I just wanted you to see what you could tell about your own wand." Umbridge smiled.
"Of course. I will show my wand as an example. Turn the page and you will see a chart of wand-making woods. On the list, you will see ash and yew, the two woods my wand is made of. Would someone read aloud what these two woods mean? Mr. Clearwater, thank you."
"Ash wood is white, strong, and straight-grained. It stands for sacrifice, sensitivity, and higher awareness. This wood translates into quick wandwork and is sensitive to the user's wants. Usually easier to use non-verbal spells. And the yew… Yew is tough, resilient, and tight-grained. It stands for rebirth, regeneration, and everlasting-life. This wood translates into being extremely tough to break, and if enough willpower is used, will execute most spells without fail."
"Thank you, Mr. Clearwater. Five points to Hufflepuff. So, by that explanation, my wand provides me with quick wandwork and good at performing spells. Now, on to the length- the chart is on the adjacent page. My wand is twelve inches. Miss Ambrose, would you like to read?"
"Sure. Any wand twelve or more inches provides longevity to spells. They tend to swish, giving flexibility to the user in all types of spells."
"Thank you. Five points to Slytherin. This means that my wand is good at different types of spellcasting. Are you noticing a theme? Next, my core is unicorn hair. It is very common to use unicorn hair in wands. Would any one like to read? Okay, Mr. Weasley. Ha, Mr. Fred Weasley."
"Alright. The unicorn symbolizes innocence, elegance, and charm. The animal itself is powerfully magical and nearly untamable. In wands, this translates into the wand only listening to the willpower of its rightful owner, which shows faithfulness."
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. Five points to Gryffindor." Selena paused. "Now, Professor Umbridge, my wand is perfect for casting spells. It is tough, flexible in what it is used for, and flicks and swishes quite well, which is key in some spells. My wand, shall we say, 'listens' only to me, which means that only its proper user can use it. Is that not perfect for a Master Spellcaster such as myself?"
"Do mine. It is eucalyptus, eight inches, and has fluxweed core." Selena looked at her wand oddly.
"Alright. Would anyone like to read eucalyptus tree? Mr. Bobbins."
"The eucalyptus is an alternate tree, and is not advised in wands. However, the tree stands for prudence. This translates into wands being able to do simple spells." Selena almost laughed, but did not.
"Good, five points to Ravenclaw. Miss Gregor, did you want to read? Take the wand length."
"Sure. Wands are ill-advised to be any shorter than ten inches, as the wand will not be able to flex properly. This results in stunting of spells. Because of this, the wand cannot be used for anyone else than the user."
"Very nice, Miss Gregor. Five points to Hufflepuff. Mr. Carlind, you've got the last bit."
"Er, fluxweed?"
"Yes, sir."
"Fluxweed is not a magical core, and therefore can be temperamental to the wand user. But the plant exhibits changing properties, making it good for charms and other basic spells."
"Thank you, Mr. Carlind. Five points to Ravenclaw." The whole class looked at Dolores Umbridge, who was now very very fuchsia in the face.
"Well. What do you have planned in your curriculum, Professor Riviera?"
"We just finished review on willpower and Latin word stems. We will have a quiz or test on these next week. Stems as multiple choice, willpower as an essay. From there, we will go more in-depth on wands and what correlates to what. We will have a short chapter on wandlore because of it, because wands are the basis of spellcasting. We will study that until the middle of October when we will have another test, and from there, we will do short, two-day study on ancient wandlore and its magic, and have a small quiz on that-"
"Very well. How many students passed your O.W.L. last summer?"
"All twenty of my fifth-years last year passed with 'Exceeds' or better. Spell Making goes hand-in-hand with what they learn in many other subjects. If you look at statistics, you can see that those who take Spell Making do better on practicals like Charms or Transfiguration. I also do remedial Spell Making for those who do not want to attempt an O.W.L. but still want to learn about how they can better their spellcasting performance. Those people also test higher than others."
"Have you had anyone fail?"
"No, never. And no one drops my class unless their career choice is vastly different from Spell Making N.E.W.T. levels- and even then, like I said I offer classes where people do not want to take an O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. test in it. And before you ask, I do not make up the exams for either test- the Ministry does that."
"Right. How long have you been teaching here, Professor Riviera?"
"Seven years- since nineteen eighty-nine."
"Mhm. I see you have extended your years down to fifth, and then third. Why?"
"When Headmaster Dumbledore and I realized that students were performing better due to having the class, we had a staff meeting and then it was decided that we would extend the years, providing the schedules allow for it."
"I see." Umbridge's face was purple. She wanted to find some fault- but she could not deny that Selena was an excellent professor. "Do you ever come down from your office?"
"I do, but not as often as most. I am a recluse, and my leg does not allow me to travel long distances."
"Throughout this entire lesson, you have been standing at your podium- is that because of your leg?"
"Yes. It makes it difficult to get down stairs as well."
"Does that interfere in disciplining students?"
"I should think not- my students are extremely well-behaved. I have not had to give a detention for something that occurred during my class. Outside of class, maybe, but not in class."
"Mhm. Do you stay in your room to converse with friends?"
"I do not understand the question, Professor."
"Is the reason why you are a recluse because you associate with people that would not be considered good or civil company?"
"No, I naturally prefer to be alone in my thoughts."
"So you are not in contact with people whom the Ministry would find inappropriate?"
"Would you like to be more direct, Professor?"
"Are you in contact with people like Remus Lupin, a werewolf? Or your husband, the murderous Sirius Black?"
"Oh." Selena smiled. "It is not any of your business who I associate myself with. The only things you should be concerned with are my lessons and treatment of my students. I know that if you were to give any of my students Veritaserum, as I know you might at some point, you would find that I have never thrust my views of any political or social matters onto them. I am purely here for academic reasons." Selena smiled wider, stressing the laugh lines on her face. "Is that the answer you would like, Dolores?"
"Hmph. Also, how much time do you spend with your daughter Alrescha Black? She has become very popular in society."
"I spend quite enough time with my daughter, as I am her mother. I do not help her on any exams or homework, because I feel she should ask her teachers or peers. I only talk to her about social matters, just as any other mother would when conversing to her child through a letter or a talk. As for my daughter's popularity, she has achieved that through her music, and I commend her for undertaking the position of a songstress while she is a student of O.W.L. level and Quidditch player. She knows the gravity of her actions and if you would like to talk to her, maybe you could arrange a meeting with her accompanied with my presence as her mother." Selena paused and sighed. "Any other questions for me, Professor Umbridge?"
"No. I have enough information. Thank you." The sickly-sweet, stout woman waddled out, pink heels clicking on the floor as she left.
"UGH." George Weasley smacked the table. "She's such a trifling git."
"Yeah, don't let her get to you, Professor," Miss Gregor said. "You're a wonderful teacher and she can't sack you!"
"And so what if you talk to Alrescha! She's your kid!" Another boy in the back said.
"Thank you." Selena gave them all a genuine smile, not that saccharine one she produced for Umbridge. "You're all so sweet. Next class, I'll have a treat for you. You all could've thrown that information about her wand in her face, but you didn't. You were all so very brilliant for holding your tongues. You guys will be my first class graduating that I've known since you all were first years. You've grown up so much…" Selena shook her head fondly. "Alright, books away."
"Her wand is a bloody mess, though. What kind of wand isn't even made out of wand wood?"
"It's stumpy as all get out, too." Angelina shook her head.
"High Inquisitor? Pfft."
---
"I know, I know. She just gets under my skin."
"Mine too." Selena patted Harry's shoulder. "She keeps asking me about Sirius. Alrescha told me about your detentions and your hand." Harry scowled a moment. He didn't want anyone to know.
"I'm not going to say anything right now, but Harry, this woman could ruin your entire school life. These Educational Decrees are going to keep coming. The first was the one that put her in the position of DADA teacher, and this second one that makes her High Inquisitor- you've got to watch out. I've already told Alrescha that she just has to have it roll off her back. I know it's the worst, Harry. Receiving scathing looks in the hall, getting detention where she slices your hand open while Quidditch going on. No one understands. Believe me, I know. She'll get her comeuppance, don't worry." Harry nodded, thinking there was no way in hell he could keep his head down while all of this was going on. He changed the topic.
"Did Alrescha tell you about-"
"Yes, your thoughts about tutoring DADA."
"It's really Hermione…"
"Well, if you do decide to do it, be vigilant and don't be caught. Like I said, I think Umbridge is going to get to the point where she'll be able to expel people from the school. If there's not a rule against it, I think she'll make one. Anything to keep you all under her thumb." Selena sighed. "If you want, I can give you some books on defense and dueling. It's here…" Selena grabbed a book off a shelf from behind her and placed it in Harry's hands.
"Thanks," he said.
"It's not a big book. It just outlines what it takes to defend oneself and some basic spells that are most used in defense." Harry nodded, reading the back cover.
Saturday Morning, September 16, 1995
Grimmauld Place
"The woman is evil, Sirius. Absolutely despicable." Selena shuffled around in the bed in frustration, pulling the covers around her naked body. "She keeps making jibes at me and everything. She's trying to get me fired, I swear."
"It'll be alright- Dumbledore wouldn't let you leave." Sirius was frustrated with Umbridge's treatment of his wife- it was because of him, after all, that Selena was being treated in the manner that she was.
"Yeah, but as long as Fudge is backing her, I don't know how long Albus will be headmaster."
"True. The Order's discussing the future of Hogwarts. Is she getting onto Alrescha?"
"Alrescha hasn't given her a reason yet, other than her music, to target her. But she might retract her hogsmeade priviledges."
"She can't do that-"
"Yet," grumbled Selena. "This afternoon she's recording with the Weird Sisters. Tonks is accompanying her. I don't think Umbridge's gotten wind that Alrescha is going to be leaving the school every other weekend."
"The Weird Sisters? Really?"
"Mhm."
"Huh- should be a dream for Tonks."
"Yes, and they're cousin-bonding, I'm told."
"Haha. It's working though, Alrescha's campaign. Because the Prophet printed the last three songs, a lot of people have stopped following Fudge from the Ministry. Those who were wavering between Dumbledore or Fudge have started going towards Dumbledore. Or at least becoming more willing to listen to him." Sirius snuggled against her.
"Good." Selena was glad to see Alrescha's efforts rewarded. Although, Alrescha wasn't doing it entirely for the order. "I'm glad something positive is coming out of this whole situation."
"Well, look at it this way- Happy thing is that you get to stay here with me."
"The best part." Selena put her lips to his jaw. "I adore spending time with you."
"I adore you."
Ending Note:
I don't really have much to say, other than haha at Umbridge's wand. Loser woman.