Note: Another chapter of The Trickster, Harry's first Halloween with a small twist, started with the next chapter as well. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Please, guys, inform me how I could have done it better.
Shoutout to 'Guest', Will try to follow through and be more regular.
Thank you again guys for all reviews and comments.
October 31, 1991
so far his studies were going well, not much of a pressure. Teachers were starting to dump more & more work. Professor Flitwick also started with more of a practical approach than earlier.
Now, almost all of their class was able to get Lumos charm. Now, they were starting with the Levitation charm. Professor demonstrated well with swish & flick, but it was almost half class over. Well, he was able to get his feather in the air after practising to levitate the dust off the floor. He has practised this more often. Trying to levitate a sofa is more tiresome if you have to keep it floating for more than an hour.
Well, Amina was proving to be quite the taskmaster. When he started with practice, he was hardly able to hold a chair in the air for a minute, after consistent practice, it was becoming slightly easier with each attempt.
For Amina, Levitation is properly learned if he can simultaneously float multiple objects in the air with coordination.
Well now he was trying the same thing without the wand, he was keeping the wand in hand but was not directing any magic in it. There was progress but it seemed easier to do with a wand.
Apart from him and Daphne, all other Slytherin and Hufflepuffs were doing this with various degrees of success.
After the class, he had some free time before lunch so he made his way to the library. He had completed the basic theory of Magic and was also able to complete some books from the reading list.
Now he was just aimlessly walking through selves looking for any interesting. One small book caught his eye. It was as ancient as they come. One look at its dilapidated state seems to give a sense of intrigue. He carefully pulled it out from the stack, handling it with care. He half expected it to be split in half if he pulled hard.
Its cover had an image of ripples created from a drop on a still lake. He noticed a faded title on the spine that read Bewitching the minds if you know how.
The title was odd.
And it was also missing the author's name.
The book seemed ancient, its pages yellowed with age and adorned with intricate, curling script. It appeared to be a rare find, forgotten by time. Harry couldn't resist the temptation to open it, and as he did, he was met with a riveting introduction.
Greetings, seeker of knowledge and wonder.
This tome holds within its pages the secrets of illusions and their profound connection with magic. However, the wisdom and power contained herein must be wielded with utmost care and responsibility.
Illusions are more than mere tricks of the eye.
They are manifestations of magic's profound interplay with the human mind. With the flick of a wand and a whispered incantation, one can conjure images that deceive, entrance, and enchant.
But remember, illusions can be a double-edged sword, capable of both magnifying the beauty of magic and ensnaring the unwary in a web of deception which can cause unimaginable pain that can leave nothing but a husk.
The art of illusion, when used judiciously, can inspire wonder and awe. It can grant solace to troubled souls and ignite the imagination of the dreamers. Yet, when wielded recklessly or maliciously, illusions can cloud judgment, sow discord, and betray the very essence of magic's noble purpose.
A true Illusionist understands that the key to mastering illusions lies not in their complexity but in their intention. Illusions should never be instruments of harm or manipulation. Instead, they should be wielded to inspire, illuminate, and foster an appreciation for the mystical and extraordinary.
Within these pages, you shall find a tapestry of spells, charms, and enchantments that paint the canvas of reality with a myriad of illusions. You will encounter mirrors that reflect desires, landscapes that spring from the mind's eye, and visions that challenge the boundaries of belief. But do not be tempted to wield this knowledge in vain pursuit of power or in pursuit of selfish desires.
Magic, at its essence, is an expression of the soul. To distort reality with illusion is to dance dangerously close to the precipice of darkness. We implore you to wield the knowledge contained herein with reverence and humility.
Well, that did not sound ominous at all.
Keeping the warning at the forefront of his thought, Harry looked through further. The pages were filled with moving images, shimmering spells, and enchantments that seemed to come to life.
He took the book to his usual spot and started reading.
Illusions are nothing but a distorted perception of reality. Here only half of the magic is performed, the other half of the magic is created by the victim's mind. A brain has the tendency to fill in gaps, make assumptions and rely on sensory inputs heavily.
If one can overload their sensory input, they can cripple the mind. Consider if someone is trapped in an illusion of falling into the inferno, even if his skin is not burning. It will not matter, the pain generated will be as good as the real thing.
Someone practising Illusions should also be practising mind arts to make sure they are not getting trapped in the feedback of their own magic. A weak-minded Illusionist is as good as a sword without any sheath or handle.
The best illusion is one where the victim's perception is subtly changed which will not warn him until it's too late.
Harry took a break from the book and looked outside the window; he could see that sky is started darkening. That means he not only skipped lunch as well as late to the Halloween feast as well.
But Harry was not in the mood to attend the feast, but the rumbling of stomach made him go. Thus, he put the book in his bag and started walking towards Great Hall.
As he made his way from the library to the Great Hall, he took a shortcut through a dimly lit corridor on the first floor. He had barely turned a corner when he heard a muffled cry coming from the girls' bathroom nearby. Concerned, Harry quickened his pace and followed the sound.
Upon entering the bathroom, his heart sank as he saw Hermione, her eyes wide with fear, backed against a wall. A massive, lumbering troll loomed over her, its club raised menacingly. Hermione looked terrified, and Harry knew he had to act fast.
Without hesitation, he pointed his wand at the broken sinks and toilets that were scattered around the bathroom, still remnants of the troll's earlier destructive rampage. With a flick of his wand and a muttered Levitation Charm, the broken pieces rose into the air, creating a chaotic distraction for the troll. Harry quickly directed this whirlwind of debris toward the troll's vision, all the debris started floating around the troll's head blocking its sight. Troll's attention was occupied on the floating debris, trying to swat them away with its massive arms.
Seizing the opportunity, Harry called out to Hermione, "Hermione, run! Get out of here!"
Hermione, though scared, managed to look toward the source of the voice. As soon as realization dawned on her, she broke free from her petrified state and sprinted out of the bathroom as fast as she could.
"Harry, what are you doing here" Huffing from the short but terrified sprint, asked Hermione panic evident in her voice,
"Helping you, it seems." Harry offhandedly replied focusing more on debris and troll than that on Hermione.
Now, Harry had to deal with the troll. Taking a deep breath, he focused on keeping his nerves in check. He couldn't let fear overtake him; he had to act bravely.
He swiftly cast another Levitation Charm, this time on a piece of debris that was larger and heavier. The floating object caught the troll's attention, and it turned to face Harry, its tiny eyes gleaming with anger.
It was able to identify the source of the disturbance. It started moving toward the new food.
Thinking on his feet, Harry didn't want to engage the troll in a direct confrontation. Instead, he grabbed Hermione's hand and started moving toward the stairs that could lead him back to the Great Hall. He dashed to the side, and the troll lumbered after him. Rather than running straight, he started moving zigzag, further confusing the beast. While dashing he was throwing anything he found in the wall toward the beast, whether it be the suit of armour or a portrait. This did not slow the beast but any moment of reprieve from the monstrous entity was a boon for them.
Using his limited knowledge of the castle's layout due to his nightly escapade, Harry expertly led the troll on a winding path towards the Great Hall. As soon as he saw the changing stairs, they quickly jumped on the nearest one he started descending. Just as he touched on the ground floor, He ran toward the passage leading to the Great Hall. He knew that the passage should exit near the hall's entrance, and he hoped that the commotion inside would provide some help.
As he reached the entrance to the Great Hall, Harry could hear the festive chatter and laughter of his fellow students. He yelled at the top of his lungs,
"TROLL! TROLL IN THE CASTLE!"
Instantly, the hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to Harry and Hermione.
A monstrous roar tore through the silence which caused all turned eyes to widen in fear of the realization. The professors and older students quickly understood the situation and sprang into action.
Suddenly with a monstrous blow, the doors of the Great Hall broke, and a hideous but maddingly angry troll stood in all of its glory. It gave a thunderous roar expressing its furious madness as it saw the crowd.
Students near the door were paralyzed in fear, but the student at the end of the table started panicking and dashing toward the head table.
Dumbledore rose from his seat and cast a powerful bang which has thrown back the troll the way it came in. Professor McGonagall swiftly followed with a powerful binding charm to wrap the troll in chains and bind it to the floor. And within seconds, the Threat was neutralized. Dumbledore twirled his wand in a circular fashion, repairing and reinforcing the broken doors.
All the student body stared blankly at Dumbledore with apprehension, panic forgotten replaced by a still silence.
"Prefects, please lead the student to the dormitory through the antechamber behind." Came a calm but commanding order from Dumbledore.
Suddenly Prefects started gathering students and leading them towards the antechamber.
"Mr Potter and Miss Granger, kindly stay. You will be escorted to your respective dormitory as soon as we get an understanding of the situation." Dumbledore ordered with authority but a touch of softness.
Seeing the troll immobilized, Harry took a moment to catch his breath, relieved that no one had been hurt. Hermione was still socked from the whole ordeal and stood mute but slowly Harry came in front of her.
"Sir, I was planning to skip the dinner as it's Halloween, but hunger got the better of me, and I was coming to Great Hall for a quick bite." Taking a deep breath to centre himself he continued." When I was on the first floor, I heard the sobbing which led me to Girl's bathroom where I found a troll smashing the cabin and Hermione struck in the corner sobbing. I used the levitation charm to distract the troll. Hermione and I quickly dashed toward Great Hall as we knew the feast was underway then you all will be present here."
Dumbledore turned toward Hermione and asked gently, "Miss Granger, why were you there and not at the feast."
"Sir…" Hermione slowly looked up at Headmaster, "Sir, I was in the bathroom as I was upset after charms class. When I left the lavatory leaving for the Great Hall, I saw a troll entering through the entrance, so I hid in the cubicle and called for help. Troll started smashing everything in the bathroom, I was scared. Then Harry came in and help me."
Professor Dumbledore, looking stern but concerned, addressed the two students, "Mr Potter, Miss Granger, I must commend your quick thinking and bravery in handling the troll. You both acted admirably, and we are grateful that no one was hurt."
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances, appreciating the praise but still feeling a bit shaken by the events. Hermione spoke up, "Thank you, Professor, but we wouldn't have been in that situation if it weren't for me. I am really sorry."
Professor Dumbledore, who had been listening quietly through this, spoke up in his calm and wise manner, "Accidents are a natural part of growing and learning, Miss Granger. The important thing is that you have escaped the danger and come out whole."
"We'll not punish you for this incident but please be more careful in future. Also, when you are in school, it's our responsibility for your safety and care. Now Professor McGonagall and Snape will lead you to your respective dormitory. Dinner has been arranged there in wake of this fiasco."
Professor Snape approached Harry, who was silently staring at Hermione with a 'will discuss later' look.
"Potter, follow me," Snape said, his voice as cold and disdainful as ever.
Harry glanced at Hermione, who gave him an encouraging nod, before silently following Snape toward the dungeons, towards the Slytherin common room.
Reaching the entrance to the Slytherin common room, Snape turned to face Harry. His eyes bore into Harry's, and for a moment, Harry felt a small push at his mental shield before it disappeared.
"What were you doing on the first floor, Potter?" Snape asked sharply, crossing his arms over his chest.
Harry hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain himself. "Sir, I have already explained myself to Headmaster, I didn't want to attend the feast, so I was occupied in the library and …" Harry repeated the string of events leading to the scene.
Snape's eyes narrowed, and he seemed to be analysing Harry's words carefully. "And you decided to take matters into your own hands, did you?" he sneered.
Harry felt a flash of defensiveness rises within him. "It was an emergency. Hermione was in danger, and I had to do something. I didn't have time to find a professor."
Snape seemed to consider this for a moment before finally speaking, his voice slightly stern. "While your intentions may have been noble, Potter, you must remember that Running off into dangerous situations without seeking help is reckless and could have had dire consequences."
Snape studied Harry for a moment longer, then sneered. "See to it that it doesn't happen again."
With that, he turned and opened the door to the Slytherin common room. Harry followed him inside, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.
As they entered the common room, Harry noticed the Slytherin students glancing in their direction. Some looked curious, while others wore smirks of superiority. Snape said nothing and he left, clearly not wanting to linger any longer than necessary.
"Be more careful in the future, Potter," Snape said before leaving, his tone slightly less cold than before.
Harry nodded to leaving Professor, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders as he stepped toward the dormitory. He knew he got lucky with the incident, but he also had learned from it.
His limitation lay bare to him, he started planning to make sure, he was not such helpless again in future.