The hall was silent as the grave; Corina left the harp and sat back down at the table.
Harry looked at her with a sad look and just pulled her close. The others in the room sat thinking of the words of the song, Flitwick stood and faced the two Heralds "Thank you for the song and the words of wisdom may we take them to heart."
"There are other songs that are less tragic." Corina replied, before she turned to look at Hermione, spending so much time with the girl, Corina was able to pinpoint the other girl's emotions. Because of all emotions, Hermione's strongest was curiosity.
Professor Dumbledore stood. "I also wish to add my thanks and now dismiss the others to their dorms."
Professor McGonagall looked wondering at the two Heralds.
"Vanyel was what was called 'The Last Herald-Mage' until very recently Valdemar did not have Mage-Gift, true magic." Corina explains
"How was that even possible isn't magic almost everywhere in your home world?" One brave Ravenclaw asked.
Corina was unable to find the words to answer.
"Because the people relied too much on true magic, as Herald-Mage Elspeth once explained, there was a barrier placed around Valdemar to keep out mages. In previous years before we gotten true magic back, we could only speak of magic in the past tense." Harry answered "Outkingdom lands had magic just not Valdemar."
The Ravenclaw student sat for a minute still confused by the explanation.
"The Heralds didn't do away with all 'magic' we still had our mind-magic." Corina commented.
"But what about the ones born with magic in your kingdom, what happened to them?" another student asks
"If they were Chosen, the Gift was identified as something else and trained that way. I know what Lady Elspeth's Mage-Sight was trained as Farsight." Harry answers. "In fact, we still do not rely solely on magic."
Most of the muggle-born nodded in agreement "That's true you rely on something to much and then when you lose it you won't know what to do without it." An older muggle born added
"On that note, I want first through fourth year of all four Houses to meet out in the courtyard after luncheon tomorrow." Corina states
"And fifth through Seventh will stay in the hall." Harry adds
The whole room groaned at the order.
"If you do not show up, your Heads of House will assign detention and you will lose house points." Dumbledore pointed out. He had been informed of the new lesson plans, and he approved.
The students nodded and slowly stood to head off to their dorms with the exception of three students.
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall questions.
"Well professor McGonagall why the change in the classes and why are the heralds in charge of the classes." The other two nodded confusion clear on their faces.
"It's not a complete change in lessons, they volunteered to give lessons on something they called 'Shields'" Professor McGonagall answers
"If you can master this skill, it will help control your 'accidental magic'" Harry pointed out.
The youngest of the three stared at the heralds "So we're get to get a better grip then."
"Not really, we are mostly thinking about those who are living with the non-magical parents, we know you have to keep this world a secret. Therefore, we are giving lessons in shielding, to lessen the effects of accidental magic. We will be teaching the professors as well, seeing as they haven't learned this skill as well, or at least those who wish to learn." Harry answers
They all nodded and with a wave headed off to their dorms.
"That is when you have enough time between classes." Corina states turning toward the professors.
"Of course I'm sure most of us will take the time to join in the lessons." Dumbledore replied
Corina nods before lifting an eyebrow at Harry.
"If you excuse us, we will be heading to our tents" Harry excused himself and Corina.
They all left the hall heading off to their parts of the castle some to do patrols as well.
Once the two Heralds had made their Companions comfortable, they entered their tent where the mage-light was just beginning to glow. Corina turned to Harry, "Have you thought about what we are going to do if we're here till winter?"
"I really don't know if all goes well we'll be gone by mid-summer with the blood-path wizard dealt with." Harry answered
"I've been thinking about it since we got here. I doubt you know how to make a Vale?" Corina asks
"I know the theory behind it, but I have never preformed the spell myself." Harry answers
Corina smiled, before unshielding enough to allow Harry to really feel why she wanted to leave early.
The night passed far too quickly for their taste as they heard rain falling on the tent.
Corina groaned and rolled over on the bedrolls, which they had placed together to share.
"Time to wake up, dearheart. We have to get ready for our first class today." Harry said as he kissed Corina awake.
Corina opened one sleepy blue eye. Before she sat up and rubbed her eyes, "Hand me my bathrobe."
He passed the robe over to her as he continued to get dress.
Corina slipped on the robe, and gathered her bathing items with a clean uniform. She muttered sleepily as she outside and uttered an oath. After a bath, Corina felt better and able to work rather than just wonder about.
:You always was a boar before your first cup of Chava: Dasher
:Says the stallion who is itching for a romp.: Corina replies
:We'll be home soon so I'll wait: Dasher replied
:Well, I hope I can shield you out otherwise, Harry will not survive the backlash.: Corina teases, they were tightly bonded but Dasher wasn't always present in Corina's mind unlike Rolan and Talia.
After luncheon, the rain let up. Therefore, Corina could hold her class outdoors. : Dasher?: she mindcalled
:Yes, Chosen?:
: If I slip up, will you give good mental love-tap?: Corina asks
: Of course, we don't want to lead these young ones astray: Dasher sent back with a chuckle.
:Not what I meant, fairyfoot.: Corina replied, :I meant, that if I accidentally allow my own emotions to affect them.:
: Oh yes, I will; but I'm sure you can do it without too much trouble.:
: Your faith in me excessively much.: Corina responded she would have gone on to say more but the first through fourth years were beginning to arrive.
The students gathered around and seem to sit in their houses and face the Herald waiting for her to start.
"Alright, younglings. What I am about to teach you is known as Ground and Center." Corina began, trying to emulate Talia's soothing voice when she first began learning how to control her own Gift of empathy.
One hand shot up "Herald Corina is this like meditation in martial arts?"
"Yes, like with all things, you need a firm base to build on, this is where Grounding and Centering comes in." Corina answers, she then instructed them on how to properly center themselves.
During the first hour, she could see some of the students seemed to take to the lessons faster than the others.
Corina used her Gift to assess where the students were successful or not.
The students she found struggling with the lessons were given what help she could.
By the time, the bell rang, most of the students were able to center themselves.
"Now, before you leave, those of you who managed to center, there is a place in the earth that is the similar to what you have just done which is known as grounding, once you connect to it. You will learn how to invoke Shielding." Corina dismissed.
The class slowly headed back to the castle some talking with each other, some were lost deep in thought.
Corina met Harry outside the hall, "So how did your set go?"
Harry just groaned, "I never had to deal with such a stubborn bunch in my life."
"Not like dealing with the disagreements in villages?" Corina questions
"No villages at the least can see things after I take the time to explain not here." Harry responds
"I suspect it was only one that was stubborn by not keeping her mouth shut." Corina mused
"Hermione was only part of the problem that Malfoy boy was the bigger headache." Harry replies
"Say on." Corina urged she was think they made a mistake in who dealt with which group.
"Hermione calmed down, once I told her, we'll explain more later; but Malfoy just kept mouthing off and distracting the others the whole time." Harry explained
Corina smirked, before she mindcalled Dasher.
:Yes, Chosen?:
:Would you disapprove of me proving a point by force?: Corina questions
She sensed Dasher think about it. :If it's that brat Malfoy, no, just don't kill him.:
Corina grinned before she pecked Harry on the cheek and went to the Potions classroom. She tapped on the door before letting herself inside.
"Can I borrow Mr. Malfoy?" Corina asks
Snape looks over at his godson then to the Herald "Well the lesson is almost over any way; he's all yours."
Draco slowly stood knowing that he was in trouble.
Corina nods, before turning on her booted heel. She sensed that Draco following her. The Herald walked for sometime before coming to a stop and leaned on the wall, with her arms crossed over her chest. "Would you mind telling me why you decided it would be a good idea to mock a class that doesn't have to be on your O.W.L.s unless you want it to be, I'm sure that can be arranged."
"There no real need for these theories there no proven fact to them yet." Draco replied
"I thought you might say something like that." Corina replies, using her Gift threw rapport over Draco, and projecting terror on him.
Draco's eyes grew wider in fear at the emotions fell over him. He quickly backed away from the Herald. "P-p-please stop it I don't like this at all." He quickly covered his eyes trying to hide from the vision. "Stop please, please."
Corina rolled her eyes and release Draco from her mental hold on him. "That is only a fraction of what I can do." She reached with her arm and pulled the teenager into a half-hug, "Heralds are very much like your Aurors, we deliver punishments, and we also heal too."
The young wizard shuddered as the terrors left his body his breath was ragged. "That was cruel not a punishment, I was helpless he took them." The last words was a whispered in to her shirt.
Corina blinked "Took who?"
"Nobody it doesn't matter it wasn't real." He quickly straightened and tried to leave.
Corina went back into the potions classroom, and waited until every student gone. "Severus, what in the name all of the gods happened to that boy?"
"What do you mean, Herald? What did you do to him?" Severus questions
"I just shown him why he shouldn't mock our lessons and he acted as a demon sprang up in front of him." Corina answers
Corina felt a sudden wave of sadness and anger fill the room. "If I hadn't taken that vow I would deal with him myself."
"Tell me what is going on, before I go mad." Corina demanded
"That father of his always trying to make Draco in to the perfect heir." Severus replied, "I don't know what exactly he did to him but it was near abuse most times I just wish I could get him out of that house."
Corina's blue eyes harden. If anything a Herald detested more than anything, it was child abuse. "He does have permission to stay with you during breaks, doesn't he?"
"But by wizarding laws I can only interfere so much." Severus answer
Corina thought about it, "is there any way that they could be invited here?"
"Yes I can since Lucius is on the broad of governors, an owl and a day is all I need." Severus answers
Corina smiled "Do it. I have a lovely little plan. Anyway to get him out here, without involving Draco."
"Just tell me when you want him here." Severus replied
"When he can get away from your Dark Lord, I'm sure he's too busy polishing his shoes, with his tongue." Corina replied
Snape gave a real laugh at the "Friday then I'll have him here and Corina thank you if this works."