Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. As Proof of this, notice the sixth book does not have Luna searching for Crumple Horned Snorsnaks... in Harry's pants!
Chapter 9- I miss fifth year...
Harry was using his last day before classes to read through his new guide. When Dumbledore said it was interactive, he really meant interactive. It startled him when he voiced a question aloud while reading and text appeared on the bottom of the page.
Apparently as long as he was holding the book and asked a question… the book would respond and provide an answer. It did not always have the answers but it usually gave references as to where to look for an answer.
Harry turned the book back to its index and skimmed it, looking for any thing to peek his interests. There was so much to read and he had very little time to do it. After the expected interrogation the night before, Hermione had demanded the group live up to their bargain and study. Harry wouldn't admit it out loud, but it was probably a good idea. He thought this especially when he looked at the first page in his transfiguration text.
Cross heterogeneous liquid purification spells and techniques.
These series of spells are used to turn heterogeneous liquids in to their purified states based on their substituant components. It is recommended that when purifying a liquid to first identify the reactive components and their reactive counter parts. Use schrommans caustic transfigurative principals as a guide.
Harry understood only half of what the paragraph actually said. It was like the author was purposefully trying to horrify him with words. Even Hermione looked ominously confused for a moment before she started to get reference material. The spell list itself was moderately difficult, but he had managed to master 2 of the 7 spells required for that chapter.
If the text books were any indication, now that they had completed their O.W.L.'s, they would now jump into concepts and principals that were far more complex. Harry reflected on when he had trouble mastering the toothpick to needle spell. It seemed silly now when he looked back upon it. His first year was a joke education wise. Dancing pineapples and porcupine quills. It was laughable now in comparison to the spells and techniques these books hinted at.
Harry was suitably worried about how he would handle catching up with potions and learning and entire 3 years of runes within two years.
He was currently walking down corridors in search of the kitchens. A book firmly placed in front of his face as he turned a page in his guide. It was currently describing the magical locations across Europe. He was surprised to note that there were several dozen other hidden alleys and communities other than what he had visited. It made sense as the average wizard seemed to know less about the muggle world than Mr. Weasley, thus ruling out most from living amongst them. And Harry had his doubts, that a charm could expand Diagon alley enough to house the rest of wizarding Britain.
Harry wandered down the hall until he hit a dead end and looked around.
"Where am I?"
He was currently in an unknown wing of the school some where deep below his usual stomping grounds. Cursing himself for not bringing his map with him, he tried to retrace his steps back the way he came but remembered taking more than one random turn. He had thought he was just taking a well trodden path to the cafeteria to get a late breakfast and maybe find some solitude as he tried to read his book, but some how he had managed to get himself utterly lost.
The corridors themselves seemed desolate and empty. Not a painting or mural decorated the vast stone walls that twisted and turned into the maze that was his current situation. Even the wall scones that provided light seemed to be abandoned and chipped from an unknown period of time left uncared for.
More out of humour than anything else he sarcastically called out, hoping that maybe someone was around to let him know how to escape the labyrinth.
"Hello?"
Immediately a chill descended upon him, not as harsh as a dementors but just as foreboding. He felt eyes on him from every direction and a presence that wanted him away from his current location.
Wind seemed to gush from where he just came pushing him down a corridor. Harry was suitably disturbed as the direction the wind had come from was the same direction as the dead end he had just left behind.
He was hesitant to follow the breeze but seeing as he had no where else to go, he pulled his wand out, and trudged cautiously down the corridor.
He made his way down to an intersection that split in five separate directions, including his own. He was suitably confused as to what direction he should go as each corridor looked just as similar as the next.
He stepped into the centre of the intersection keeping his back to the direction he had just come and was about to do what Luna had done in the department of mysteries, and draw a fiery x where he had just come, but stopped mid way through casting as 3 separate gusts knocked his wand away from his hand and left him shielding his face.
It may have just been him but the directions the gusts had come from seemed to dim slightly. While one of the two other corridors he was being pushed toward seemed to brighten.
Experimentally he picked up his wand and headed for the other corridor.
Gale force winds pushed him back and chilled his face. He was suitably chastised and decided to follow the winds order, and went down the indicated hallway. The winds pushed him on indicating they wanted him to take his leave, but subsided slightly as he kept his pace.
Suddenly the constant breeze stopped and all was quite. The hall was empty of the constant presence he had felt since he uttered his greeting earlier. Harry looked back the way he had come. Everything seemed normal. Turning back the way he was going he raised his wand a little higher and took a few steps around the corner.
Almost comedicly; light flooded in from a semi steep ramp like corridor that he was about to pass.
Harry hesitantly peeked around the corner to spy the mystery hallway, and let free a relieved sigh he had not been aware he had been holding back.
Up the slightly slanted but long corridor a three way intersecting corridor with lit corridors and slight chatter resounded. Stopping himself from running up the ramp Harry slowly but carefully made his way up to the top which seemed to take him at least one if not two floors up.
Reaching the end of his journey, his eyes widened in surprise as he spotted the painting with the ticklish fruit directly opposite him. What surprised him the most was the corridor he now stood in, he had never remembered in all his travels to the kitchens a corridor opposite the kitchens.
Chastising himself for considering to re enter the mystery section of Hogwarts Harry stepped away from the corridor into the halls and towards the fruit. Turning around he still spotted the corridor, secretly relieved that it was still their allowing him a chance to revisit it with his map; Harry proceeded to tickle a particularly giggly pear.
As he pulled open the entrance, a multitude of things happened.
One. He found himself being tackled around each leg. As if being hit in the knee caps by soft bowling balls.
Two. He heard a high pitched scream that seemed to call out his name.
Three. He immediately found the dual force of the tacklers propelling his lower body backwards, forcing him to topple, after precariously leaning off the ledge entrance to the kitchen. This resulted with Harry staring up at the ceiling feeling his legs tied down by weights.
Looking down wearily, already having some idea of what to expect he met the eyes of…
"Master Harry Potter Sir came to see Dobby… Dobby is so happy."
"How did Master Harry potter sir knows I's be being here…? Professor Dumblydore promises that he keeps it secret? Master Harry Potter is too clever."
Both were said simultaneously, forming a high pitched chatter as if he were listening to bats in a cave. The second more feminine voice shocked Harry slightly though as he had not actually expected to see her.
"Hi Chippy? What are you doing here?" Harry asked bemusedly.
Harry looked down into the watery bright eyes of the feminine dobby, and knew water works were on their way.
"Master Harry Potter Sir Remembers Chippy's name… Chippy had hoped but never truly believed..." The little elf hyperventilated excitedly as it clung to Harry's legs all the more tighter.
'This is getting ridiculous.' Harry cried mentally as he felt his left shin become moist from the overly large eyes of the critter.
"What Dobby be telling you'se chippy. Master Harry Potter Sir be the bestest wizard ever. He be brave and courageous and far too kind to Dobby. He be the same for youse!" Dobby said smugly, by way of his own little I told you so speech.
"Dobby be right… I bad elf to be doubting such a great wizard. Chippy be so sorry Master Harry. " She proceeded to wale the last bit as her tears started to flow more freely down her pointed nose as she looked up to the still horizontal student.
"Chippy you did nothing wrong… besides I saw you most of the summer. Of course I'd remember your name. But why are you here… I thought you would still be at the Citadel."
Chippy seemed to calm down slightly at the commanding voice Harry had taken… long ago figuring out that it was the best way to hush the little creature. Harry groaned mentally at dobby's sign of envy that had flashed across his expressive face at the mention of all the time Chippy had had around 'The Great Harry Potter Sir!'
Sniffling once more Chippy replied "Chippy know that you'se be needing Chippy still. Master Harry Wizard far too small. Chippy needs to make sure you'se be eating enough." Harry worriedly gulped at the reminiscent motherly facial expression that came across the female elf's face.
"That be why Chippy ask great Professor Dumbly-door to allow Chippy to work for Hogwarts, instead of the citadel." She said authoritatively.
Harry thought he would have had more to say to that but the little being had struck him speechless and now he could only stare at her numbly as Dobby agitatedly turned to Harry and asked. "Master Harry be seeing Chippy all summer?"
:-..-..-..-..-:
It had been a very disturbed Harry who had raced away from the kitchens… he had tried to read his guide but the looks of motherly affection and jealous rage he had been receiving from Chippy and dobby respectively had been more than creepy enough to drive him away. Reasoning that he had gotten on well enough with out the guide for the past few years, he decided that there was no real rush.
He made his way up to the astronomy tower, after making a detour to his dorms to pick up his back pack. He would have made his way down to the library but he really wanted to do his studying alone as he was sure to see Hermione there and she would immediately direct him in how and what to study first. The astronomy tower though should have been quite empty, and the classroom just beneath the telescope mounted roof should have been vacated.
As he had expected when he peeked in to the room it was empty of any and all presence, more for the thrill of it Harry made his way over to the teachers desk and scattered his things over the bare desk. Professor Sinestra was known for not using her classroom as a office like professor McGonagale, and unlike her tended to be hard to find in-between classes.
Revelling in the exceedingly comfy teachers chair, which he delightedly found allowed him to spin in circles unlike the standard hard wooden chairs the students were given; he decided to get down to business and pulled out his runes texts he had found waiting for him this morning with a note attached giving credit to Remus for the gift. And much more appreciated, his own school notes on the subject. With a letter suggesting Harry start with the second smallest book and work his way up based on the dates of his own notes.
He had not received the outline that professor McGonagale had promised him yet and didn't expect to until the next day so this allowed him to get a head start on his much needed studies.
Pulling out the exceedingly neatly bound but worn notebook, bound by a metal coil, Harry placed it on the large desk and leaned forward as he plopped the second smallest text book on his desk. Stopping to observe the book he frowned in curiosity as he observed the scribbles.
Foreign block symbols seemed to fade in and out of existence across the outer edges of the book. They weren't written on the book so much as they were written within the book.
He had seen Hermione's old text himself when she had purchased it. It appeared to be the same book if not a little newer, but he had never bore witness to the strange block/crescent shaped characters. They were arranged like letters in a sentence and must have been Runes, but there were so many, and they were so tiny he could not imagine someone writing it all out. There was a machine like quality to the text with its own chaotic order that he found surprising in its complexity.
Experimentally he fingered the text along he corners where the text was the most concentrated.
The symbols flared alive at his touch but resumed their pulsing but with much more fervour than before.
Pulling open the text book cover he heard a noise emanate from the book. It was a slow build-up like that off a teapot picking up steam. But then all of a sudden the noise hushed and then boomed.
"Padfoot, so help me if you even try to write, doodle, or so much as scratch another letter in my text book, I will string you up by your balls in front of the Slytherin dormitories!"
Harry gaped at the book as it lay open and ceased its warning. The voice was young and quite, it sounded a little like Terry Booth, but the voice itself was unmistakably Remus Lupin.
Harry cracked a smile at the fact that mini Lupin had threatened Sirius's balls. It was so uncharacteristically Remus that he couldn't help but grin insanely at the recording.
With a predatory grin he curiously opened the text to next page and the next, his interest piqued by the runes capability to record Lupins voice. At least he had assumed it was the runes on the book that allowed him to do it.
Running into the first chapter he skimmed the introduction and his interest dimmed slightly at the wordy self endorsing author who listed his credentials.
Deciding to give the notebook a try he turned to the first page. It had a diagrammed box schedule of Remus's class schedule, teachers name (professor Genals), and finally some notes.
Apparently 20 some years ago, professor Genals had opened class with a demonstration and practical exercise.
In the notes it described the function of Runes in the magical world. Apparently they were a form of spell enhancement and programming. Through a very methodical and repetitive process spells were enhanced with varying other functions and degrees, or objects were imbued with different capabilities like being able to fly in the case of broomsticks, or respond to external stimulus.
Following the very thorough notes he had available to him Harry copied the procedure.
Taking out a scroll of parchment, he scribbled down a list of heuristic commands, which were later explained; until he had managed to semi neatly finish his upgrade.
Apparently they were all given spheres filled with water at the end of the exercise.
Stumped for a second Harry paused to think of what he was to do next till he remembered he was far more advanced in his education than the students in Remus's third year.
Stopping to concentrate he waved his wand around in a circle slightly bigger than his fist, once he felt the horizontal direction start to take shape he let his wand deviate around into the other dimensions coaxing glass to form around the edges of where his wand had traced.
Slowly a glass ball, hollow in nature with an opening up top formed. Conjuring objects was a difficult task to master but he had learned the skill partially the year before nearing the end of fifth year, and mastered it over the summer. As it was not a subject covered until late 6th year he felt no rush in mastering it at the time, but his taskmaster of a trainer had demanded that he know how to do the basics at the very least.
Stopping to admire his work, he pulled out his wand and filled the sphere half way with water he had drawn from the humid air. A little charm Professor Flitwick had taught them. There was a way to conjure the fluid but he admitted to himself he was not yet ready to attempt the feat yet. Sealing of the top, and smoothing the edges out he admired his perfectly spherical glass globe, filled with water.
Focusing back on the task he took the paper and with his wand concentrated on highlighting a border around the text he had scribbled while focusing on key runes on the sheet. Immediately a blue blob highlighted around the text he had traced with his wand.
On instinct he put his index and middle fingers together and placed it on the sheet while imagining the effect he needed.
The text flared to life, shining an iridescent white while the blue faded. Harry slowly raised his hand up, and with it, the white iridescent letters followed as they extracted themselves from the sheet of paper, leaving a faint outline from the pressure of the quill from what he had written, but otherwise leaving it utterly blank.
Cheered by his success, using his fingers he guided the letters gently towards the sphere and tapped the object three times. Immediately the lettering seemed to shimmer into the same faded pulse he had seen before and wrapped itself around the object.
Highlighting a portion of the text that was pulsing on the surface of the globe, with the same technique he had on the paper. He tapped it and willed it to submerge into the water within.
Immediately, it did and the entire object flashed a bright green before it started the process of working.
The water started to spin around the surface of the object from within trapping the air in the centre. The text itself, span within the fluid and found its way wrapping itself around the inner surface between the water and the air pocket. Suddenly the script lit up and the air pocket illuminated with a light that rivalled that of his Lumos.
The exercise he had just performed was a large scale version of a wizarding Christmas light. The globe itself was quite beautiful as the air pocket/light caused the light to bend and ripple on exiting the globe, creating a beautiful caustic underwater lighting in the room.
Harry ran to the windows and doors in the room and drew them closed and covered any light source he could. Basking in the full glow of the object he had charmed he let his pride at managing to create the light globe on his own flood around his mind, as he observed the lightshow. Deciding not to turn of the light he had created he used it to browse the notes Remus had taken and found other examples of the craft he could perform.
He did not leave the spot until a surprised professor Sinestra had found him late into the evening with a multitude of crafted objects surrounding him as he perused varying books. Luckily she had not deducted house points but ordered him to head to his common room as it was already past curfew. Harry readily complied as the professor conjured a large bag he could place all his objects he had created in. She had done the task much quicker with years of experience and a much more advanced grasp of the concepts involved. Harry endeavoured to learn more in the area of conjuration as he had learned after crafting a dozen or so varying objects based on the notes of one Remus J. Lupin, it would come in very handy.
:-..-..-..-..-:
The next morning Harry awoke the soft poking of his roommate and best friend.
"What?" Harry asked testily as he groggily turned around and swatted his friends' hands away.
"What's with the burlap sack?" His friend asked more awake than his friend.
"What?" Harry asked as he turned back to face his friend and opened his eyes to stare at the unwelcome intruder on his dreamless sleep.
He fought to open his eyes but they were resisting with all the fight they could muster.
"Cool. Bill had a couple of these things. Where you get them?" Ron asked as he pulled out a long rod with a black tip and gave it a experimental shake. It emitted a low hum that started to melodically play out a lullaby long forgotten.
Harry's eyes lost their battle and opened to take in his friend fingering the thought rod.
"I made them" Harry declared in between yawns as he pulled his feet over the bed and stretched slightly to get the kinds out of his back.
"You can make these… how, bill never told me how he got them." Ron asked excitedly. Harry chuckled lightly as the command for information came not from Ron's mouth, but the rod itself. His friend embarrassingly handed the stick back to his friend after the stick betrayed his excitement.
"Runes" Harry thought and allowed the stick to play it out for him to the surprised fellow Gryffindor.
"Runes…? Should have known. No wonder Hermione was so excited about that class." Ron mumbled in comprehension as he tossed Harry a towel.
"Get ready, breakfast starts in half an hour. Were getting our time tables today." Ron commanded as he made his way out the room. This was one of the few times his best mate had woken him up instead of being woken up himself. Harry had entered the Gryffindor common room at sometime around 12:30 at night and plopped right into bed fully dressed, sans shoes; letting Hypnos take him away as his head hit the surprisingly warm pillows.
After showering and dressing in his other robes and grabbing his back pack he pulled out his runes text and did as the homework assigned Remus years before suggested, and started memorizing symbols and their characteristics. This was the boring part of the course but he was determined to memorize them.
He made his way into the great hall and found his place seated next to a pleased Hermione.
"Your reading a book!" she smiled.
"Ya…?"
"It's a school book!"
"It is…"
"You're studying on your own…!" she goaded with a smug smile.
"I can stop if it bothers you?" Harry said theatrically as he started to close the book and put it away.
"I'm glad you started listening to me and are taking your studies seriously." She said with pride. "What are you studying anyway…? I didn't see the cover" Hermione asked. She seemed unusually smug for some reason. Harry wasn't entirely sure why but he figured he would find out soon enough.
"Its Remus's old runes book, he had it sent over yesterday and I've been going through his class notes since then." Harry feeling his own stomach rumble and wondering whether others had heard the call for sustenance grabbed a basket filled with different breads and went in search for the bowl of eggs.
"Remus gave you his class notes…. Can I have a look?" Hermione asked excitedly. She had forgotten her bowl of porridge in favour of staring hopefully at Harry.
Stopping to swallow a bite of bread, Harry took in the more than hungry eyes of his more learned friend.
"I don't suppose Remus would mind. Tell you what after class tonight I'll give you the stuff I've already covered and you can see for yourself how he learned. They had a different teacher back then you know; names... Mrs. Genny… Gennley… Gen something."
Hermione more than happy with the agreement happily spooned herself a large bite of porridge and gulped it down. Ron who had been looking at Harry like a man with a aluminium hat on his head just stared mouth agape.
"You're turning into her…" Ron stated horrified.
Harry was spared any rebuttal by a thump under the table as Hermione went semi rigid delivering a kick to a familiar red head. The red head in question bent over to support his damaged shin. A look of betrayal across his face.
"First you take away my best mate and now you kick me… why must you hurt me so women." He declared melodramatically.
Hermione huffed with a smile playing across her face as she mumbled "Honestly…" into her cup of tea.
Harry enjoying the by play dug into his plate of food. He was half way through his hash brown when he saw out the corner of his eye another Weasley plop down beside her brother and directly in front of him.
"Hi ya Harry. Any news on when the quiditch trials are going to be?" Ginny Weasley asked as she stole a sip from her brothers pumpkin juice.
Harry paused in his digestive process to contemplate his grievous error.
"Well first, you'd have to ask the captain that…" Harry said with a little nervous tremor in is voice as both Weasley's looked at him.
"Please Harry, we know its you. You were away for along time Saturday." Ginny said authoritatively.
"Actually…" Harry tried to correct the youngest Weasley.
"Besides your one of the best players on the team, you're sure to be captain. It took McGonagale long enough to choose you. We all thought you would have been chosen last year, But I suppose Angelina deserved a try before she left." Ginny further praised Harry. Making him very red and uncomfortable.
"Ginny I'm not the captain." Harry declared in a whisper, that all three members of the group heard.
Ginny stopped in her tracks before further ruling Harry a quiditch God and stopped to contemplate his words.
"Oh…" She said with an open mouth and eyes down trodden.
"Next year mate." Ron said supportively while also trying to save her sister any embarrassment from her long speech.
"Ya next year… maybe." Harry said with shifty eyes. He had completely forgotten to tell his friends about his forced sabbatical from the world of quiditch. More than likely he would not have time for quiditch even next year as he wasn't naive enough to believe he could get caught up entirely with all his backlogged studies by the end of may, or even June. Now the problem was letting his quiditch crazed friends know.
"Actually I doubt I'll be …" Harry paused in his heart breaking news when he saw a thick file folder, at least as thick as his hands plop down in front of him just missing his plate.
"There are your class notes and course outlines for your sixth year potions class Mr. Potter. I'm afraid you will have to give Professor Kaun a few more days to get you a complete study guide for Runes." Professor McGonagale announced with a frown as she said the name of her colleague.
"It's alright professor, Professor Lupin gave me his notes and text books, and I've been going over them." Harry declared politely.
"Did he…" She asked with a smile. "I believe he was taught by Mrs Genals. A fine teacher… she was quite proficient in the craft. Not to say that Mr. Kaun is inadequate in anyway." Again, a brief frown marred his head of houses face at the name of the mystery runes teacher. Harry had to wonder what the man was like to illicit such a reaction.
"No matter, I am glad you are taking the initiative to study on your own. I'd advise you to pay more attention to the memorization of runes themselves as that is the main area of study for students before fifth year now." The frown increased slightly but stayed just as respectful.
"Professor, what do you mean by now?" Hermione asked intrigued.
Surprised, Professor McGonagale focused her attention on Harry's friends. "Oh Mrs Granger…" She paused to dig out a sheet of paper and handed it to her and another for Ron and Ginny. She pulled back the cover for Harry's manila folder she had plopped down in front of him earlier and revealed a similar sheet of paper inside.
"Your timetables. To answer your question, Professor Kaun has seen fit to teach the students in a different manner than previous instructors. He has been teaching you the theory for the last several years?" She asked Hermione. At her immediate nod, the professor continued.
"Yes, well it has long been taught to students in Hogwarts with practical exercises as well. But due to ministry, and school board interference, the practical aspects of Ancient runes are no longer covered until your seventh year and you will be required to study a further 3 years under ministry run post educational institutions to gain a firm grasp of the art." The frown momentarily turned into a scowl before she reigned in her emotions.
"In any case, to meet O.W.L. Requirements, you will have to have a firm understanding of the Runes themselves and their symbolic representation before you may officially move on into your newt studies of the subject." She paused to lean in and almost whisper." Have you attempted any of the practical exercises yet?"
At the very interested looks he was receiving from his transfiguration teacher he nodded.
"… The Thought Rod, Christmas Globe, liquid player, and I started the wand charger last night." Harry admitted unsure whether he would be reprimanded for his experimentation.
A pleased smile made its way across the elders face. "Most impressive Mr. Potter, ten points to Gryffindor for your effort. They do work, don't they?" She asked immediately.
"Yes Mam"
"Very good. I expect you to show this level of effort in my class as well; I believe I will have you in the late afternoon. I look forward to it" She said regaining in her stiff totalitarian air of competence as she nodded resolutely towards each of her students, and made her leave to hand out the rest of the time tables.
Harry could only smile briefly before he was accosted by Hermione for more information on the practical exercises he had performed. It turned into a very long breakfast and Harry was very glad to be able to take his leave of the interrogation to start Charms.
:-..-..-..-..-:
"Good Morning 6th years, and welcome to N.E.W.T. Charms" Professor Flitwick announced cheerily from his unsteady book podium. His wrinkled face beaming back at his students proudly taking in their faces. In many respects the man was a tiny Professor Dumbledore, but he lacked the indescribable presence and respect the much taller wizard demanded.
"I have taken the opportunity to review each of your O.W.L Exams and I am most pleased. Many of you have received Outstandings or Exceeds", he stopped to smile charmingly at a few students. "I am quite proud of that achievement, and commend you all. But let's test you all on your skill once more with a new charm. Wands out everyone!" The man cried out hands extended demanding his student's compliance.
Everyone excitedly lay their bags down and pulled their wands out. Most started to stand as was the standard procedure when learning a new spell to be performed.
Harry himself gladly distanced himself from his exceedingly heavy book bag. Standing up and smiling excitedly at his friends. The first day of classes was turning into a fun one as they rarely started with practical work. Ron smiled back as he held his wand like a baton waiting to conduct his magic into a work of art.
"Mrs. Bones, Mr Macmillan. If you will hand out the trays to each desk… one per pair please." Flitwick gestured to a set of trays housing varying wine glasses with yellow suspended liquid floating in clear white fluid.
As each tray was handed out, Professor Flitwick continued on with the lesson.
"What I will be teaching each of you today is the biotoxin disposal charm. It is mainly used to dispose of dangerous potions and other contagious materials that pose a threat to each of you. You will no doubt learn the charm in Potions under Professor Snapes tutelage, as many of the potions you will undertake this year do require this charm as a safety measure. Professor Snape and I have agreed that the sooner you learn the charm the sooner you may move on." Flitwick explained as he waved his wand near to the back.
A previously hidden tray silently and gently glided towards him and perched in front of the man.
"Each of your trays carry wine classes that are filled with a liquid solution that are magically containing the yellow potion. For the purposes of this lesson you are to think of the wine glasses as cauldrons, the clear solution, your unruined potion, and the yellow suspended fluid; the dangerous by product that you must quickly and efficiently dispose of."
A few students took small steps away from the trays, looking wearily at the yellow suspended fluids.
"Do not worry, the fluids are actually mild skin dies that should you get on your person, will colour you each a lovely shade of blue. My compliments to your brothers Mr. Weasley" Professor Flitwick bowed imperceptibly towards Ron in recognition of the twins no doubt created prank. Ron coloured slightly at the curious eyes that turned toward him but in the end proudly replied. "I'll pass on your praise sir."
Harry smiled at Ron's support of his pranking siblings. It was pure Weasley, Ron would no doubt endure the stares for his family and Harry was proud of him for that.
"I expect you will Mr. Weasley" Flitwick smiled back.
"Now the charm I am teaching you is slightly different from the spells I have taught you in the past. For one, the wand must not be pointed at the object in question under any circumstance. The spell does not exit your wand in a linear fashion but coalesces in front of you and you mentally will the spell forward. The second part of what makes the spell unique is that it does not activate until the caster wills it too. That means that I may pass the spell through the clear solution with out loosing any of the wanted potion. It is a fairly weak spell in that it does not in general effect an area of greater than 1 cubic foot. So you must be careful in how large you let the spell coalesce." Flitwick proceeded to raise his wand arm 90 degrees perpendicular to his body and using his wrist to start a twirling motion with his wand.
Immediately the air in front of him started to ripple as if due to extreme heat. The distorted air started to draw itself together into a large globule. Taking the wand and twirling it in the other direction, the globule started to shrink down to the size of a walnut and silently pop inwards until all the class could see was a bubble like object that bobbed up and down slowly in front of their charms teacher.
At the silent pop from the glob, Flitwick ceased his twirling and raised his arm 45 degrees further above his shoulder. The globule started to move forward slowly, then up, then back down into the top of the wine glass and the solution.
The solution didn't react at all to the presence of the mystery spell, but the glob itself seemed to excitedly vibrate outwards on contact with the substance. With a firm stare professor Flitwick directed the glob down into the solution until it surrounded the yellow potion.
"Now class… once you have directed your ball into the potion concentrate on the item you wish eliminated itself and speak clearly…. Evertamens!"
At once the yellow substance turned char black and exploded outward into the clear solution. It paused millimetres apart, and stood still, suspended, making the contents of the wine glass appear polka-dotted with black specks interspersed in-between the crystal clear substance.
Lowering his wand Professor Flitwick turned to face his students. "The black particles are repulsed by one another and will never willingly touch, but are completely unreactive with all known potions. They are safe to be filtered, strained or scooped out depending on which potion you are making."
"To start the spell please concentrate on the spell I spoke while you twirl your wand in a counter clockwise direction to form your globule. Do not deviate from repeating the spell every 2 seconds in your mind while focusing on the object you wish vanished. Other wise the energy you accumulated will disperse within what ever substance you had it submerged and possibly create unforeseen circumstances. You may begin"
Flitwick, who had clapped his hands together to jolt the class into action, started to wander in between students to watch their progress. Harry could feel the hesitation permeating the room as this spell they were learning was far more complex than what they had learned from the man before. Harry watched others start to form the energy ball but watched as when the ball tried to pop into completion simply vanished in a wispy ether.
Turning to Ron as he grabbed his own wineglass Ron rigidly focused his stare on the yellow substance and started to twirl his left right wrist. Harry could see the waves of rippling air start to form. They started to draw together and just before they gathered into a discernable ball shape, he lost his concentration and the waves of energy simple faded away.
"Tougher than it looks." Ron complimented as he rubbed the sides of his head.
"I'll bet…" Harry commented grabbing his own wine glass. Taking in a deep breath he calmed his mind and tried to drown out the noise of the classroom.
Focusing in on the yellow substance and that alone Harry let his mind observe its shape. It had small miniscule tendrils forming around the exterior that poked slightly in to the clear solution. Almost like a randomized inverted golf ball. Harry lifted his right hand up to shoulder height, all the while twirling his wrists counter clock wise. Mentally chanting 'Evertamens', he felt a slight itch start to form on his shoulder blades as he tried to draw in the energy.
Doubting himself slightly as nothing seemed to happen, Harry refocused his mind on the yellow ball and chanting more strongly in his mind 'Evertamens, Evertamens, Evertamens…' he willed the energy to ripple in front of him.
About half a second in before he was preparing to stop and start over Harry noticed a crystal clear ripple form directly in front of his eyes. Harry saw through the ripple and the shape of the wine glass warped as if it were a mirage.
Emboldened by his success Harry willed the energy to coalesce where he first saw the ripple, immediately the ripple started to grow and round out as if it were a blurred ball. Noticing the ball was just slightly larger than the yellow potion Harry reversed his twirling jerkily. The ball quivered as if it were about to disperse but held strong as it started to shrink… he watched as energy leaked off the surface of the ball until it reached the desired radius… and then.
'Pop.' It was a slightly larger pop than he had expected but he had managed to keep it from dispersing like the others.
Happy with his success he paused his twirling and slowly raised his hand up while thinking about the path he wished the ball to follow.
It did nothing for a few moments but then slowly as if moving through gelatine, sluggishly moved forward until it was directly above the clear liquid. It paused at the surface and seemed to quiver on touching the surface. Harry could feel something within him quiver in sync. It was disconcerting like his stomach was being shaken with a paint mixer. Focusing his entire will on the ball he willed it to move down into the liquid.
Unexpectedly the feeling of his insides being shaken about increased ten fold. He started to get nauseous and lost concentration. The ball of energy immediately dispersed. Some of it sought out the yellow potion in a last ditch effort to complete its task but disappeared millimetres from its surface.
Harry disappointed with his failure but more concerned with his stomach leaned forward and grasped his desk.
"Whoa there Mr. Potter." A stern but kindly voice cautioned as Harry placed his hand on the surface of his desk.
"Here have a seat." A chair was pushed behind his weak knees and he collapsed into it.
Looking down into the smiling but semi concerned face of his charms teacher Harry tried to say something but immediately closed his mouth on fear of drenching his teacher in the contents of his stomach.
"Don't try and say anything for now Mr. Potter just sit back and relax." The man said comfortingly.
"Did you perhaps feel a little quezy while you pushed the ball down through the liquid? Nod your head." The man quickly asked as Harry was about to open his mouth to answer. Instead grateful for the suggestion rapidly nodded his answer.
"Well Mr. Potter this is as I assumed. You are semi sensitive to magical disturbances in your core." The man said with finality.
"Sir?" Harry asked aloud… immediately regretting it as he felt his stomach lurch unpleasantly.
"Stay silent now Mr. Potter, the symptoms will disappear soon. I take it you find it difficult to portkey or floo anywhere? Nod your head!" The man reminded quickly.
At Harry's quick but surprised nod the man smiled. "I myself suffer from the sensitivity. It will take some getting used to but in time with practice the queasiness will pass. If you want I will excuse you for classes. But I must insist you head to the hospital wing."
Closing his eyes and reigning in his senses Harry opened his mouth experimentally and closed it quickly. Trying once more he replied… "Yes, sir. Just give me a moment."
He felt slightly sick at his verbal response but no where as sever as before.
"Yes of course. Mrs. Granger, if you could accompany him that would be greatly appreciated."
Harry heard a feminine voice immediately respond in the affirmative and felt warm hands on his shoulder.
"You feeling okay Harry?" Hermione asked gently. A more rugged hand gruffly patted him on the shoulder increasing the stomach tremors slightly.
"You'll be fine mate. Dads got a sensitive core too. He says it can come in handy sometimes." Harry wanted to thank Ron for trying, but his repeated shoulder pats were not helping Harry's stomach.
:-..-..-..-..-:
"Why didn't you tell us you were sensitive to your core?" Hermione asked excitedly as she carried Harry's bag for him and led him down to the hospital wing.
"I didn't know I was." Harry said tiredly. The queasiness had all but vanished but every now and then he thought he might decorate the Hogwarts corridors with his semi digested hash browns.
"Well why didn't you tell us you got sick with portkeys." Hermione asked. She was going into motherly mode which was never very far from scolding mode.
"I thought I did. Besides, I thought you already knew, with all the times I've taken Portkeys with everyone, I thought my reaction to them was pretty obvious." Harry reminded the girl.
"See I thought it was because of the third task and all…" Hermione's face immediately paled on realization of what she had said and tried to apologize.
"I'm so sorry Harry; I didn't mean to remind you. Its just I always thought you were… phobic of portkeys since … you know." Hermione stuttered.
Harry surprisingly didn't feel the numb coldness overtake him like it used to whenever anyone ever talked about Cedric or the triwizard tournament. Letting the oddity pass for later review he immediately tried to calm the girl.
"Its okay Hermione slips happen." Harry said mildly. Smiling a half smile at the girl to let her know that he knew she meant nothing by it.
She smiled back hesitantly at first but more warmly as Harry cracked a grin.
"Now if you really want to make me feel better …" Harry trailed off letting her get curious.
"Anything… name it!" Hermione said resolutely.
"… never mind its okay." Harry said with regret. As if asking her to make him feel better was not worth her time.
"No ask… really I'll do whatever." The girl said with finality.
"Well… "At her interested looks Harry went in for the kill.
"… Tell me about Ron's big muscular arms as he tackled you off the broom." Harry swooned theatrically while flashing a few girly winks at her.
Hermione's face reddened noticeably as she swatted at her friends arm. "Jerk!" She said with a smile as she marched in front of Harry.
Harry could only smile as he teased his friend the rest of the way towards the hospital wing.
"You again…. What have you done to yourself this time?" Madame Pomfrey scolded as she swooped down upon him like a vulture as he entered the hospital wing.
"Nothing… Professor Flitwick said I'm magically sensitive to my core or something…he sent me over." Harry said testily at the women's insinuation.
Hermione flashed him a smug smile while announcing worriedly…" Well you did seem awfully sick, who knows, Professor Flitwick isn't a qualified healer, he could have been wrong." She said with false concern.
"Too right you are Ms. Granger. Please leave Mr. Potters things by the usual bed. It's a full work over for you young man!" the women scolded.
Harry flashed Hermione a betrayed look.
"You traitor" He mouthed as the healer dragged him away.
Hermione only flashed him an impish fluttery batting of the eyes as she waved her goodbye.
:-..-..-..-..-:
Harry had missed lunch and had to endure having Madame Pomfrey call up a house elf to deliver his meal. Unfortunately the elf she had called turned out to be Chippy herself.
Immediately the little elf swooped down upon Harry in a remarkable impersonation of the school nurse chastising him for not taking better care of himself. Madame Pomfrey had found herself a best friend and by the time Harry was finally allowed to leave he could hear the tale end of Chippy sharing her concerns for 'The Great Harry Potter Sirs small size.'
The matriarch could only nod happily along with the elf in total agreement.
'Hermione will so pay for this.' Harry vowed. It was about 4:45 in the afternoon and he still had enough time to make it to transfiguration. As the class was scheduled for 5 and ended at 6:30. Just when dinner was to start.
Contemplating all his most devious ways for retribution, Harry marched his way towards the transfiguration class room and into a sturdy wooden chair awaited the rest of the class to enter. There were already a few Ravenclaws seated and If he remembered correctly, Herbology was just letting out now with the Gryffindors so he should be seeing his friend and the 'other one' soon.
About 2 minutes later a horde of bodies entered the room, within seconds he spotted the red mop of his best mate and the bushy one of 'Her'.
"Hey Harry, where you been we missed you at lunch." Ron asked with a smile. Harry already knew by the amused grin he sported, he already knew where he was.
Glaring coldly at his friend he turned to look at the female one. "You will feel my wrath granger."
"Feel my wrath...? What are you…? Voldemort?" Hermione scoffed.
"Fine … I suppose you don't want to see Remus's notes then." Harry said with a gleam in his eyes. At the widening of her he knew he had her.
She was about to open her mouth in protest but was stopped by the stern voice of Her Favourite teacher.
"Good afternoon class." McGonagale called. At the immediate reply from her class wishing her the same, she continued.
"Wands away, quills out." She ignored the disappointed murmur that followed the wake of her command.
Striding to her desk and turning around abruptly she faced her students.
"You have all managed at least a Exceeds to attend this class. This means that I expect each and every one of you to be all the more diligent in your work for this class to reflect that grade." She strictly commanded.
"For this term…" She waved her wand at a pile of papers behind her… having them hand themselves out to each student.
"… You will be taught a more in-depth review of transfiguration in correspondence to living creatures."
"There has also been a addition to the course on defensive transfiguration due to the wizarding world's current situation. These spells are not to be taken lightly. Each and every one can have serious consequences when performed with less than your full attention." She stopped to stare each and every student in the face. Harry who had seen her more casual and friendly side still felt a little apprehensive under the stare she passed over his table.
"Now we will be taking notes on the component transfiguration method for bipedal creatures to inanimate objects…" She waved her wand at the board and notes slowly started to write themselves on the dusty surface.
:-..-..-..-..-:
"Well that was dull" Ron yawned as he plopped himself opposite Harry.
"It was fascinating Ron." Hermione corrected sitting besides the red head.
"Same thing." He corrected as he grabbed a bowl of mashed potatoes from Neville.
Harry allowed the two to argue in favour of stealing some scalloped potatoes from dean.
Harry felt a little flash of uneasiness pass down his spine and nervousness over take him.
Why was he feeling like that? They were defiantly alien emotions but he could just feel the waves of doubt cloud him as he paused his reach for the simple bowl.
A warm body pressed up against him on his right and he turned to see Luna seat herself next to Harry.
The waves of doubt piqued but Harry squashed them in favour of warmly greeting Luna.
"Hey Luna… I haven't seen you in a while. What you been up to?" Harry asked as he focused on the girl.
The waves of doubt suddenly receded as he focused his attention on his blonde friend. Relieved but confused by the odd sensation Harry decided this deserved further investigation.
Luna smiled brightly and relayed her busy day starting O.W.L. Year. So engrossed Harry was in listening to the girl as she told him about the Trestles Hagrid had showed them, he never noticed the looks he was receiving from many of the girls which included a familiar red head.
Harry never did get the scalloped potatoes but he did not forget his repeated experiences with the emotional bursts that had been popping up for the past few days. One day soon however he would learn the truth of these events. He would one day wish he had stayed ignorant.
AN: Well there you go… Sorry for the long delay but I'm having problems with my computer. Not completely fixed but fixed enough for me to write this chapter.
I posted some pictures on my deviant account of how I picture Harry to be and also a mystery scene for a later chapter in the story. 2 separate styles but they relay what I see in my mind pretty accurately.
This chapter was tough… maybe its because he's starting school or maybe its because I kept going back and forth rewriting little bits to suit later chapter. Either way, I've pretty much confirmed one ability Harry has, there's still more to it than what appears but it's what starts Harry on his quest to figure out what's happening to him.
I hope you guys like my runes explanation. It's the best way I could think of to explain magical objects they sell in Diagon alley and such. If it was so easy to make, I'd assume everyone would be making brooms and wands and other fancy expensive tools on their own.
Some words I used in this chapter
Hypnos… Greek god of sleep farther of Morpheus who was responsible for dreams.
Kaun…. Rune Meaning Ulcer. A sore or open wound that can spread… look on wikipedia for more information.
Evertamens… Just made it up… could mean something but doubtful.
I've given you all some hints not as to what is to come. Now off with you
And happy belated new year.
Story updates might be slow for a while… starting school tomorrow. Give me time to get back into a good rhythm.
Quazi