And I'm back from a very restful vacation!
I don't want to delay much longer so…
A big thanks to the amazing pazed for being my beta!
And as always I own nothing!
READ! ENJOY! REVIEW! Because that is the only form of payment any person that writes expects, or receive, for the stories we do!
Chapter 48
Minerva picked at her dinner. Somewhere during the day what remained of her appetite had seemingly left her. When she had first stepped into the classroom that morning she had been pleasantly surprised to notice what little chill accompanied her and the others in from the outside had been quickly banished by the small building's exceptional heating system as well as the room being extremely well lit, by what she now understood to be a the muggle method of both.
Harry and the girls made their way to small wooden desks and retrieved their supplies for the morning, each of them opening their texts. As they got settled Ms. Malden took the opportunity to show Minerva around briefly. Before heading to the front of the room she placed a selection of texts on a spare desk and offered her its use along with a writing utensil, called a bic pen, and a small empty book for notes.
The book had fascinated her at first, each page had lines to help a person keep their writing from wandering all about and the sheets were bound with a thin strip of metal twisted into a spiral. Hermione had chuckled when she had asked how much something like this cost and the reply had stunned her. You could get two of these 'notebooks' for the cost of a single piece of parchment! And if Hermione could be believed, and she had no reason to doubt her, she could take notes for an entire year of a class in a single one! Then there was the pen! No ink to worry about! No spillage! And it was dry within seconds! Truly remarkable and at a price that was cheaper than could be readily believed, dozens of them for the cost of a single quill and ink!
Their first lesson of the morning had been mathematics, a discipline known as algebraic geometry, rather interesting. Not too far removed from some of their own classes in arithmancy, though she was at a loss as to how such information would be useful to muggles.
It was soon time for a break and change of subjects. It went on like that for most of the day with only small five minute breaks for the children to stretch, use the restroom and get something to drink. At noon they took a longer break to eat, the children choosing to stay in the classroom while they did so and talking quietly or reading.
Minerva had been surprised to see the breadth some of the subjects covered, the world history text they used was one such example. She had even asked to take a copy with her to look over more closely for history had always fascinated her. She had been told it was just an overview of each region, but if she found something particularly intriguing they would be happy to put her in touch with a source for more information and books.
When the students started work after lunch she was in for another shock. Each student pulled out a grey rectangular box that they then opened and pushed something inside. The box inside the lid then lit up and writing appeared!
Minerva had been told for years that muggle electricity didn't work around magic, but there sat the proof that that was wrong! They had then explained that these devices, laptop computers, were machines that could both store and retrieve huge amounts of information, as well as be written into, called typing using the 'key board'. She then watched as Harry plugged his into something called a 'printer'and a few short minutes later she was holding a stack of paper on which was a report he had been preparing to turn in to be graded.
It was easy to read, no deciphering horrid handwriting, no fading ink, no smears of ink, in all a delight to go through compared to what she was used to. She was then told that while these computers were still quite expensive, there were other ways of accomplishing the same thing, even without electricity, with something called a typewriter, and at a much more reasonable price.
In all the day had been quite eye opening for her, stunning in some ways. It had given her much to think about.
Just before 2:00 Tannim, Albus, and Filius stepped in quietly and took seats near the desk she had been using. In short order Ms. Malden had ended the muggle classes for the day and passed the classroom over to Tannim.
He walked to the front of the room and sat on the tall stool, pulling on the brace around his knee to place it in a more comfortable position before he began to speak. "In deference to our guests," he gestured to the people sitting at the rear of the room, "I thought today we would do a bit of a review. If you have any questions please write them down and we will try and get to them during our discussion later."
He waited for a moment, quickly checking each person's face for understanding, then continued. "Ok, Hermione?" He turned to her. "What are the three general classifications of a human's access to magical ability?"
The bushy headed girl answered quickly. "Mundane, Adept, and Magical."
He nodded. "Correct. Now here in Britain the term Mundane is often replaced with Muggle, however from what we have learned this is a somewhat derogatory term. Luna? What are the general classifications within the Adept range?"
Luna thought for a moment then answered, "The two major classifications are, Achieved, and Natural. Each of those can be further broken down into three other categories, Physical, Mental and Mystical."
"Good," he responded. "Harry, what are the types of Magical ability?"
Harry sighed. "Focused, Non-Focused, Ritual, and Guardian."
Tannim nodded. "Questions so far?" he asked after seeing the small discussion going on in the back of the room.
Tannim almost laughed out loud when Albus's head swiveled toward him, eyes wide, looking like a school boy caught talking in class. The elder man cleared his throat, "Ahhh… Yes… Several actually. Could you explain the Adept range more in depth?"
Tannim nodded. "Of course, I understand this is new territory for you." He stood and went to the white board that was mounted on the wall, and began to write. "Adepts can be divided into two major categories, and as Hermione has told us, these are Achieved and Natural."
He tapped Achieved. "The Achieved group are impressive, to say the least. These are not normal everyday mundanes; rather they have gained their abilities through intensive training or study. These abilities can normally, but not always, be placed into one of three categories, Physical Enhancement, Mental Enhancement, or Mystical Abilities, and in some cases they fit more than one of these categories at once."
He stopped and re-capped his marker, then turned to address them better. "The best example I can give is a man I met a couple of years ago in New York, his name is Shang-chi. Normally he is what we would classify as an Achieved Adept with Physical abilities. He was trained from the time he could walk to become a living weapon, though that didn't work out very well for his trainers as he dismantled the group over the years after his escape."
Tannim sat again. "Shang-chi can push his body farther, faster, and harder than should be physically possible for a human. I personally saw him go toe to toe with a Vampire in hand to hand combat, he matched him blow for blow at a speed I could scarcely follow, but he can also heal himself or someone else to a smaller amount, by focusing the same energies, which he calls chi, but which would be classified as a Mystical Ability most of the time. So he could be classified as either Physical and Mystical. "
He sighed as he continued. "Mental abilities can be developed the same way. Jackson Phelps is a great example of that, and he does fit into only a single category. After forty years of doing his job he has developed an astounding ability with numbers; with a single glance of an accounting ledger he can give you not only the totals of the page but the entry number and any specifics listed. Amazingly he can also retain that knowledge and put it to use months if not years later."
He shifted slightly, as he continued. "The Mystical category fits most of the things that are difficult to categorize, they may be able to see ghosts… heal… any number of things." He paused. "Does that help any?"
Minerva spoke slowly, "Muggles can develop theses types of abilities through training?"
He nodded. "They can, but it takes years of dedication and work. A focus that is almost singular in its scope, something that is exceedingly rare… though a little less so in the far East, that is Asia, as such a life is more easily accepted there."
He pushed his way off the stool again, and tapped the other example written on the board. "The Natural form is more common, they are usually what you would call a squib." He smiled when he saw the stunned faces at the rear of the room. "Even though they may have a limited ability to control magic, they often develop a singular type or connection to a higher level. It may range from the simplest of things, like the connection to a particular type of plant or type of animal, to… something like... pyrokinesis, the ability to make things combust."
Filius spoke for the first time, "That is incredible! Why don't we see any examples of these types of abilities?"
Tannim nodded in understanding, "It probably has something to do with the way some of the things are manifested. From what we have seen since our arrival, most of your Adepts are shunned and if they have such abilities they may have never been in a position that they could be realized or they hide them. Your own Mr. Filch may fit such a category, his connection to his… companion, Mrs. Norris, may well be such an ability. Who knows how many more are out there? Or what those abilities are." He shrugged.
Albus then asked the obvious question, "Are they dangerous?"
Tannim shrugged again. "All of them? No, most are harmless… I mean how dangerous can a person be if he has an affinity with… grass or trees? Knows how to best cultivate and help them grow…. But are they all like that?… No. Unfortunately, some can be very dangerous… especially if they do not learn to control their gifts… or if they or their gifts spiral out of control... However most of the time those types of abilities are more of a danger to the wielder themselves, at least early on."
Tannim shifted slightly. "But that is a discussion for a different day… Today is just to give you an overview of things." He clapped his hand s lightly, "Now any other questions?"
Albus answered again. "The classifications for magical, could you elaborate?"
"Of course." Tannim smiled. "They are exactly as they seem, though there is often some crossover in the training… think of them more as disciplines rather than definitive classifications."
He gestured to the three of them, "You would be classified as primarily Focused users, while I am non-focused, and while I do not, personally, know of a ritual user in Britain at the moment…"
Luna spoke quietly, "Anthony Ludgate… he's a druid… I think he would qualify."
Tannim chuckled. "Most likely. How do you know Dr. Ludgate?"
She looked down at her feet. "I- I don't, his name was in my mother's journal, she worked with him when she was… still with us.'
He addressed the people in the back. "Dr. Ludgate has written several published texts on ritual magic, specifically Druidic magic. I have never met the man, but I am somewhat familiar with a few pieces of his work." He turned back to Luna. "And while he is a ritual user, he is one that is an Achieved Adept… One that has spent his entire life to achieve the level of proficiency." He knelt next to the young blond. "If she worked with him then she must have been an amazing woman, he is highly respected." He then gathered her into a hug.
When he stood again Albus had another question, "You use the term focused for one of the magical types, is that in reference to wands?"
Tannim moved back to the board as he spoke. "Harry, do you want to take this one?"
"Wands are one of the most prevalent, at least with those that are from a western culture, along with the staff. Otherwise it could take almost any form from something like a ring, to a doll, or even paint. It tends to be cultural." Harry sounded bored as he gave his answer.
Tannim smiled. "That's right. A wand is the most common focus in the U.S., but it is not uncommon for it to be other things as well. In Japan, for instance, you will find a large assortment of objects as families tended to customize their focuses more, fans were and are very popular, but there are many other types as well."
Tannim sat again, adjusting his knee. "However they all share some traits, especially if they are meant to be multi use items, ones meant to last for several years, like a wand. They are constructed from something with a connection to Underhill, contained by a material native to earth."
He sat for a moment and let the group at the back of the room digest that chunk of information. "For example, Hermione's wand of vine wood and drake heartstring. A drake is a creature that has a powerful connection to the Unformed, and can easily maintain its connection even living here on earth its entire life, so much so that the heartstring is almost completely made up of the Unformed in an adult drake. The casing, in this case vine wood, acts as a governor… a stabilization measure, as well a channel of access for both the Unformed it contains and the user's magic, allowing an increased amount of control."
He let that settle for a moment as he gauged the room, only Harry seemed not to be paying rapt attention, but then again he had heard this information before. "The Unformed that is within the wand makes some things much easier for a focus user, such as conjuration. Abilities such as conjuration, as well as others, use small amounts of the Unformed to form the object needed. When released an amount is regained but some is lost in the transition to energy, normally as light, heat or sound. So eventually if Hermione used her wand enough to create, repair, or change an object often enough the Unformed contained would be exhausted and the wand would become nothing more than a beautifully crafted ornament, suitable for only energy type casting."
Looks of confusion began to show on many of the faces in the room. "However, that is only true because her wand's core is not from a still living source, as a heartstring can only be collected after a drake has passed. A core from a living source, especially if freely given, will regenerate the Unformed eventually, even more quickly if the source in question can pass into Underhill."
Minerva sat back in her chair, as she absently scanned the students assembled for dinner, lost in her thoughts. It had an odd logic to it, the things Tannim had gone on to explain about foci, a core from a deceased source was more often used by someone with her specialties as there was no life on the other end drawing on the same resources, making it more readily available. While a living source was better as a focus for something more along the lines of charms.
She was sure that this would spark many a discussion over the coming years between her and Filius.
However it was the revelation that had come during their short discussion of Non-Focused magic that put her off her evening meal. As they were cleaning up, Albus had asked about young Mr. Potter's training. Tannim's answer still troubled her now, over two hours after she had heard the answer.
Albus stood by the door and watched as the trio of students began the walk back toward the castle and Tannim locked the door to the classroom, though he didn't understand the necessity of that either as Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain. "Mr. Tannim? What have you taught young Harry? If I followed you correctly, when you spoke of Non-Focused magic and used him as an example, you were speaking of things others had taught him, not of anything you had taught him."
Tannim shrugged and began to walk toward the castle, "And you won't hear me speak of what he has learned from me ether… I made a vow, never to teach my discipline to anyone outside of my family."
Albus nodded, then asked. "I assume that that was a requirement placed on you by whomever you were apprenticed to? I was asked much the same type of thing by the person I trained under in Alchemy, Nicolas Flamel. He wished me to only accept one apprenticeship in my lifetime, alas that person has yet to appear."
Tannim shook his head. "No, nothing like that. My vow was necessary for a different reason, to protect my friends and family."
Albus had looked confused, "Who could be powerful enough to threaten someone like your friends the elves?"
Tannim laughed at the absurd naïveté, and after hearing his reply she had to agree. "Oberon." he had said, then continued along the pathway.
She picked absently at her dessert, as she thought. 'Oberon… King of the fey, had forced Tannim to make a vow not to teach what he had learned to anyone other than family! What had the man found that was that dangerous? To gather the attention of the king of the fey it must have been something truly terrifying!'
Time seemed to flash by for the trio and their families and in short order they found themselves preparing to travel back to the states for Harry's school board hearing. Even with just being gone a couple of weeks everyone was ready to be going home.
Even the Grangers had started thinking of it as home more and more, so when they had been invited to accompany the Fairgrove group they had jumped at the chance to return. If the truth were known, the elder Grangers may have been more excited by the prospect than their children.
They had discussions, privately, about what they had seen over the time since they had met the people from Fairgrove and while they had not reached a final decision, as of yet, they were reluctant to separate their family again. That was a decision to be left for a later date; today they were here to support Harry's family.
So, that had led them to sitting with the small but growing family waiting for the school board to complete their deliberations and call the group back into the meeting room. The small talk had almost exhausted itself when a man in his forties with graying hair and mustache approached.
"Mr. Tannim, Ms. Shar," he said with no small amount of contempt. "I almost didn't think you would make an appearance tonight… seeing as you are too busy for Harry to attend school like other students."
A firm hand on Shar's shoulder held her in place as Tannim stood slowly. "Mr. Dix, I do not believe that..."
Dix cut him off in mid sentence, "You aren't doing him any favors by allowing him to work for those thi-" he paused then spat, "people! He needs-"
This time Tannim's hand couldn't keep her seated, "Those people, are our friends!" she hissed. "And while I respect your… opinions, they are just that! YOUR opinions! And WE are his parents!" She took a step closer to him. "What we decide, as a family, is none of your concern!"
"When it effects his education, in my school, it is my concern!" he snarled back. He leaned closer and whispered. "And it may also be the concern of somebody else… say… CPS?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening us Mr. Dix?"
His lips twisted into a vicious smile. "Just stating the obvious. As an educator I am required to report any possibly dangerous or erratic situations one of my students could find themselves in. It is doubly troubling when it is one concerning an adopted child… they have already been through so much and need to be protected from… things all the more." He then spun on his heel and walked back across the waiting area.
Only the arms of Tannim wrapping around her kept her from pursuing him, he whispered in her ear. "That is exactly what he wants, let it go Sweetheart. Don't give him the satisfaction… or the ammunition."
She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Ok…" He unwrapped his arms from around her and led her back to her seat. She turned toward the Grangers. "Sorry…" She sighed. "He just… using Harry this way… it gets under my skin. I know his threats are hollow… but..."
A man stepped through the doors. "They are ready for you."
After the groups had settled the head of the board spoke. "Mr. Dix… We have just one question remaining, and I hope that you can answer it to our satisfaction." He pulled off his glasses and looked directly at the man in question. "Why did you make the decision to bring this matter before this board?" He gestured to the others seated around him. "Arrangements had already been made between the student, Harry Potter, his parents, Fairgrove and the board! As for the absence that set this little discussion into motion, it was excused! A situation came up in reference to his adoption, one that needed to be addressed immediately! And while something of this nature would normally be handled differently, they did their utmost to not only keep you informed, but to have the situation taken care of and Harry back in class as soon as possible! I would like to hear a reasonable explanation for wasting all of our time!"
Tannim watched as Dix seemed to struggle, "He... he was past the acceptable absence threshold for the semester…"
The board head cut him off there. "That may have well been, but that is a guideline Mr. Dix. One that is marginally flexible depending on the situation. His grades are exemplary, he is within the top ten percent in each of his classes! So he was in no danger of failing any classes! They alerted the school the moment the emergency arose! What else could they have done?"
Dix seemed to have used the moment provided to gather his wits, "However, he is a member of no extra-curricular activities, no clubs, or sports! His constant absences cause many disturbances! As well as extra work for my staff! He-"
He was cut off by the man again, "And those things were taken into account when they and Fairgrove approached us with the proposition initially! Has his schedule been any more disruptive than any other athlete's?"
Dix was quick to jump on that opening. "Of course he is! Those are school sanctioned! School teams!"
The man at the table nodded. "Yes they are, but if you take into the account the partial and full day absences caused by the sport, as well as related assemblies and work involved they are much more disruptive!"
He paused, glancing up and down the row at his fellow members, each nodded. "Our decision is that the agreement stands." He turned to the gathered Fairgrove group. "We apologize for the situation, and will be pleased to welcome Harry back."
Tannim stood, "Thank You. We look forward to our son returning next fall."
The man looked confused. "He could return immediately if you wish."
Tannim nodded, "Yes we understand that. However, we did not know the outcome of this proceeding and have already arranged his education for the remainder of this year."
The man smiled. "Ah, understandable." He then moved his attention to the young man that sat next to Tannim. "Harry, our apologies to you as well. I'm sure this situation was difficult for you."
After receiving a small smile from him, the man turned back to Dix. "Mr. Dix, You can expect a summons from us shortly to discuss this further." He then broke eye contact and glanced at his notes on the session. "Now unless there is something else?"
Tannim spoke. "Sir," he said getting the board's attention again. "I just wanted to say, we understand Mr. Dix's position and feel that his actions show his dedication not only to his job but to his students as well. We are also glad to know that such a man has a position within our schools."
By the time he was finished Dix was looking at him stunned. The board head nodded. "True, he may not have used all of the personal initiative we would have wished in this situation, and in most situations he would have been correct to start this process. We shall endeavor to keep that in mind. That being said, meeting adjourned."
As congratulations and hugs were being offered within the Fairgrove group Tannim kept an eye on Dix, who finally stormed out of the room red faced.