Aftermaths
Harry stopped in front of the portrait hole and realised he didn't know the current password, he knocked.
Neville let him in and said, "Happy New Year."
"Thanks Neville, Happy New Year."
"Thanks," said Neville, "and the password is also Happy New Year."
"Ah!" said Harry, "good choice."
Neville smiled.
Hermione looked up from her reading, "Harry!" she said, "Welcome back."
"Thanks, Hermione, did you have a good Christmas?"
"Yes," she said, "Can I talk to you?"
"Yeah," he said, "What's up?" he and Hermione negotiated with hand motions that him sitting down would be satisfactory, they didn't need to go somewhere more private.
"I got a Weasley Jumper this year," she whispered.
"Oh," Harry smiled, "Good."
She smiled, but it was forced, "Do you realise that Mrs. Weasley takes weeks to make those?"
"I sort of gathered," said Harry.
"And minimum wage in the wizarding world is about a sickle an hour?"
"Something like that."
"So 8 sickles a day, for 'weeks' is at least 5 galleons, maybe ten."
"Sure," said Harry.
"What is that at muggle minimum wage rates?"
Harry multiplied, and his eyes widened, "Oh," said Harry.
"Exactly," said Hermione, "And she could probably make better, significantly better, than minimum wage as a cook or a confectionery chef."
"Mm, yeah," said Harry.
"So taking time away from doing something like that, is that much money lost to her, even if she doesn't like cooking for non-family or whatever."
"Sure," said Harry, "So … our jumpers cost more to make than the … thing I gave you."
Hermione nodded, "More to make, yes, almost nothing in materials though. Except the thing you gave me also represents you risking your life."
Harry shrugged, "but they both mean the same thing, right? Wishing to protect. One from the cold. One from maliciously cast spells."
Hermione nodded, "Exactly."
Good she got it, Harry smiled.
Hermione stared for a second, then hugged him and burst into tears.
Harry did as Draco had shown him, and rubbed gently rather than patted. Patting means, 'accepted, but please let go.' Rubbing means, 'accepted, and I'm paying attention, not already bored and thinking of something else.'
She cried for long enough that Harry did start to get bored, "Ron says that the sane thing to do is put the gift card in a lock box until I stop growing."
"Probably," said Harry.
"Or sell it and buy dragon-hide now, and again when I've stopped growing."
"Oh, um," said Harry.
"But he was very clear that was a different kind of sanity than belonged in Christmas presents, and anyway the way you wrote the gift card doesn't allow for it."
"That was mostly to keep everyone from using a twinning charm on it and getting two sets, there isn't that much leather available."
"Oh, I see," said Hermione, "So, would it offend you if I wanted to do something like that?"
Hermione watched him think.
"No," said Harry.
Hermione nodded, and sighed, "That's what I thought," she smiled weakly, "I probably would be too."
"I said 'No'," protested Harry.
Hermione took several seconds to respond, "You wouldn't be offended, but you would be more than a little disappointed?"
"Yeah, you're right," sighed Harry.
Hermione nodded, "Then I won't sell it."
Harry wondered if that was a statement of logic, or a promise, because … it might last long enough to be an heirloom, as long as she didn't get into any fights with darker than average dark magic wielders.
Harry smiled at the idea of several of Hermione's eventual great grand children arguing about which of them could fit into her armour best, or needed it more or could wear it most stylishly.
"I didn't ask you to promise that," said Harry, "I gave it to you."
Hermione shrugged, "I know, and I'll try to honour the intent of the gift."
He smiled, "alright."
"So, what did you get for Christmas?"
"Your book on defensive transfiguration, and a Firebolt."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "that's a broom right?"
"Yeah."
Hermione nodded, "who's that from?"
"It wasn't signed, but we think, my godfather."
"Your godfather, Sirius Black, that's coming to kill you."
"Yes, that Sirius Black, and he probably isn't."
"How do you know?"
Harry shrugged, "Other than the Weasleys, everyone I've met in the greater House of Black doesn't think so. Only the Weasleys and people who don't really understand Blacks think he's a murdering psychopath."
"And what do the people who do 'understand the Blacks' think?"
"That he's mildly violent with a strong temper and a maladjusted sense of humour."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Are these people who would stand to gain by tricking you into getting yourself killed?"
Harry shrugged, "Let's just say, I'm not going to go seeking him out, just like I promised Mr. Weasley, but if he seeks me out, I'll listen to whatever he has to say. I like to think I can learned from my mistakes."
"Hmm," said Hermione, "Which mistakes are these?"
"Not listening to Draco on the train first year," Harry shrugged, "I was right to shut him up about Ron's family, but … I still wish I could have gotten a more thorough read on him that much earlier."
"What's the difference between 'getting to know' someone and 'getting a more thorough read' on someone?"
"The second one comes first," said Harry, "which allows the first if you feel like it's worth your time."
"If you say so," said Hermione.
"You asked about my Christmas presents," said Harry, "but the Malfoy's celebrate on Yule instead."
"Oh, wait, you … you were at the Malfoys? Why?"
"Because," muttered Harry leaning forward, "When I gave Draco his gift certificate, he froze up like a body bind except not quite enough to fall all the way over, then started crying, then invited me, then I turned him down, and he stopped crying and started shivering and said his parents would beat him if I didn't come. So I said 'why' and he said … he knew custom armour from me and in this situation meant 'personal protection' but his parents would see 'custom tailored clothes made from leather worth more than their combined salary' and would freak out. And if I wasn't there for them to thank properly and maybe push gifts at, he would get blamed for not inviting me better or whatever."
"So … you had to rescue him from his own parents."
"I guess," said Harry.
"Because you gave him clothes?"
"Because I gave everyone who helped render the basilisk an option to waive their standard bonus for working on potentially lethal materials, for a vest or set of duelling robes instead. Everyone chose the duelling robes, but several of them had to think really hard first. I knew which Draco would choose." Harry shrugged, "It was … he sort of took it as a Christmas present instead."
Hermione stared at him.
"For everyone else that worked on the basilisk, it was a 'bonus.' but for Me and Ron?"
"You helped defeat the basilisk, they helped me render it for sale."
"Right," she said, "So it was more of a tip, than actual pay."
"I guess," said Harry.
"Tips are in the grey area between gifts and bribes."
Harry frowned, "I suppose I could see how they might be, but … I was thinking in terms of giving them a bonus, partly because I was impressed with how fast and safely they made everything work. But maybe I'd just never before seen professionals handling potions ingredients outside of Tracy and Malfoy."
Hermione stared at him, then shrugged, "Maybe."
He was quiet.
"I would like to have seen it."
Harry nodded, "Come … Oh, … have you ever heard of legilimency?"
"Referenced once or twice in passing, but couldn't make out what it is."
"I'd say 'reading minds' except it's not really that, more like 'visiting minds' and either sneaking around looking at things, or just saying 'hi, what's the topic of interest this evening?'"
"Is that a formula phrase?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, "What's it from?"
"That's Theodore Nott's way of saying 'what's so funny?' which if you don't feel like telling him, you say 'what's the topic of interest every evening?' and he says 'how to properly take over the world?' which if you look at it from the right angle is just about everything, from news and politics to philosophy to ethics to science even."
Hermione leaned forward, "that's … that's from a muggle cartoon you know."
"What?"
Hermione sighed, "Never mind."
"So you say, 'yes, sort of' and he smirks at you like you just implicated yourself as a dark lord, right? But all you really admitted to was that the thing you aren't telling him about is 'interesting' or 'possibly important'. And if you're ready for that, you laugh at him, but if you aren't ready for it then you defend yourself by explaining everything."
Hermione giggled.
"Then he's up to speed and into the conversation, and he gets to laugh at you, inside, while he joins the conversation, or shrugs at how boring you're being and walks away."
"Of course," said Hermione, "So all we really know is that Theo watches cartoons."
"Possibly with Blaise," said Harry, "Possibly at Tracy's house."
"Hmm, alright," said Hermione, "I was trying to ask about Legilimency."
"Oh, right. It's just something that's possible, similar but different to communicating with a familiar, you know."
"No, I really don't."
Harry stared at her, "What do you do with Crookshanks?"
"Hug him, and pay attention to him. Try to imagine what the world looks like from his angle."
Harry nodded, "sit and watch the stars or the birds while hugging him and imagining what he's seeing?"
"Not so far," said Hermione.
"You might try it," said Harry, "Some of learning a language is just immersion, and some is paying as close attention as you can for as long as you can stand, and some of it is being friendly enough that people will talk to you."
She nodded, "but we're not talking about talking cat, we're talking about thinking in cat?"
"Cat just happens to be the example that works for both of us, but yes, being a familiar is about attachment and communication, you can only do so much by — acting like an American tourist and hoping that the locals want your money bad enough to already have learned your language. I'm not sure that really works on cats."
Hermione stared at him, "Ah."
Harry shrugged, "owls see a lot but seem to think in kinetics … or propri— propryoseshion."
"Proprioception," said Hermione, "What's that like?"
"Seeker reflexes," said Harry.
"Oh…" breathed Hermione.
"And cats seem to smell and hear a lot but to think in images and motion pictures in which humans have cat faces and walk upright, and probably are just the super-adult life stage of cat-hood."
"Oh," she said, "Oh my god."
"What?"
"It's not nightmares about the polyjuice. That's Crookshanks!"
Harry grinned, "I'd bet so, what was that polyjuice like anyway?"
Hermione shrugged, "probably wouldn't have been so bad if my hair was less fluff and my teeth weren't …" Hermione shuddered and looked away.
Harry waited and Hermione still didn't continue, so he did, "So you can use human faced wizards vs. cat faced wizards and the feel of teeth shape to monitor whether an idea or memory originated from you or from Mr. Crookshanks?"
Hermione shrugged, "I guess I'll try."
Harry nodded, "Nim sees colours differently than I, and feels pain differently than I, and smells everything differently, and definitely hears better than I."
"Hmm," said Hermione, "fan on your six."
Harry turned, "Hello."
"May I brush your hair?"
Harry shrugged, "What's your name?"
"Romilda Vane."
"Are you my cousin?"
"Not that I know of," said Romilda Vane, "What's your name?"
"Harry Potter," said Harry.
"Oh! Harry!" and she took a step back.
"Then," said Harry, "you'll have to get in line behind my step-sisters, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley, and my other cousins."
"Oh, … OK?" she wandered away.
Harry turned back.
"What just happened," said Hermione.
"I'm not sure," said Harry, "It's been months since someone at Hogwarts bothered to talk to me and didn't already know my name."
"I think she saw you from the back and … thought you were Parvati."
Harry shivered, "Oh, yeah. That's possible."
"Since when am I your step-sister?"
"Since we both got Weasley Jumpers," said Harry, "I say you push it as far as you like, or ignore it as much as you like."
"So … honorary siblings, not step-siblings?"
"Not sure what you're differentiating," said Harry.
"I think I won't explain until I'm sure myself," said Hermione, "Tell me about the hair thing, when did you grow it out?"
"It grew out on its own after Draco brushed it. I'm wondering if it will go back to normal in a few days, or if this is the new normal, or if it will do something else. You're welcome to brush it for as long as this lasts."
"You're not in a hurry to change it?"
"I never went out of my way to change it before," said Harry, "I'm oddly reluctant to get attached to it, for fear it will change again, but you're welcome to brush it if you want."
"Harry, you won't offend me telling me 'no'. I know you took a long time to warm up to hugs."
"Actually I like getting it brushed better than hugs."
"Say no more," said Hermione, "Do you have your own brush?"
Harry nodded.
"Will you read the next chapter for our transfiguration assignment, while I brush it?"
Harry shrugged, "sure."
Hermione gave a nod so he ran upstairs to see if his trunk had already arrived. It had.
"Harry!" said Ron, "Welcome back."
"Hi Ron, hi Dean, is Seamus around too?"
"Library, 'revising for his last essay' supposedly," said Dean.
"Good plan," said Harry, "Hermione and I are about to be reading ahead a bit in transfiguration, if anyone wants to listen to me trip on all the abstract words."
"No thanks."
"Really?"
"What's that?"
"A hair brush."
"What are … what happened to your hair?"
Harry shrugged, "I let Draco brush it, and that happened, now I'm going to let Hermione brush it, and see if it goes back to normal."
"Where did you get that hair brush?"
"Draco it seems couldn't come up with a better yule present for his cousin."
"So he had to prank your hair hard enough that you'd need it?"
Harry shrugged, "I kind of like it, weirdly enough."
"You look like Parvati, from the back I mean."
"Hermione and Romilda Vane just said that."
"Do you need me to mention that your brush is in slytherin colours?"
"Silver sure, but the peacock green is different from snake green, technically it's Malfoy colours."
Neville nodded seriously. The other two goggled at him incredulously.
"And that makes it better?" said Ron.
Harry shrugged, "He's your cousin too."
"A fifth of the students are my cousins," said Ron, "What difference does that make?"
Maybe with a full set of brothers, he didn't really notice cousins, Harry sighed and shrugged, "Never mind."
.
Soon Harry was seated sideways in a chair so that Hermione could work, with Nim in his lap and a book in his hands. He didn't trip over nearly so many words as he expected. His Latin really was getting better.
After Hermione was sure all the snags were out and otherwise grew bored she traded places with him.
When she was done with the reading assignment, Harry was still nowhere close to done getting her hair unsnarled. He said, "So did you read anything interesting while I was gone?"
"Ron gave me a book about the origin of the ministry, a significantly different perspective of the same events than, a History of Magic."
"Different how?"
"More Tory I guess."
"Huh, that might be interesting."
"It's a quick read, you might find it interesting."
"How about you, find anything interesting?"
"Mrs. Malfoy gave me two books, one on finance in general and one on money policy pitfalls and strategies across the statute of secrecy divide."
"That's an interesting topic for her to be interested in."
"I know," said Harry, "and from the sound of it, she is in fact proficient in it. And Nim led me through her library to one on how heads of the old families and peers of the Wizengamot and certain others are allowed to behave."
"In what way?"
"Imagine a commoner, such as you or Ron, were accused of something, so the aurors are after you, right?"
"Interesting hypothetical, sure."
"And you come to me, maybe after I'm of age, not clear on that, or Malfoy's Dad, and say, 'I beg the mercy of the House of Potter,' or Malfoy or whoever, Not sure if Finch-Fletchly's nobility can count on first generation or what. Anyway, I have to fill out a letter to the Wizengamot detailing the investigations and/or trial I conduct into the proceedings, what I've found, who I've sentenced for how much, and request the court to accept my verdict as final. The only limits are: I can't enforce capital punishments without their rubber stamp, (except for trespassing inside residential property of the House or its member Families or some such, but that's a hold-over from a previous treaty), and I can't send anyone to Azkaban, it not being my property, don't you know. And if I find someone guilty, I can't pardon them, anyway, there's an appeals process, both for the accused or the victim to bump it up to the ministry court, but that rarely goes anywhere, unless I neglected to take statements and evidence from both sides, or the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
"I can even say I found them guilty, but based on extenuating circumstances I think the sentence should be lighter, or 'because of conflict of interests' I wish to let another peer, or a ministry judge or whatever do the sentencing. Etc."
"Do you have to take classes or whatever on how to do all that?"
"Nope, just, if I don't fill out the letter properly, it's worthless, and if I've already enacted my sentence, I might get called on it, and my house or title or my house's right to carry out these investigations could get dissolved."
"Is your house one of the houses that have the right to appoint itself a kangaroo court?"
"it's not really me that appoints myself, it's the victim that complains to me about the accused, or the accused that complains to me about the spurious charges by the victim, the supposed witness, or the ministry. Then I have to say, yes or no, about investigating, and start documenting everything, and then finish off with, I think the accused is innocent, or I think the accused is guilty but won't choose the sentence, or I think the accused is guilty but don't have the authority to set the appropriate sentence. Or I already sentenced them, so mark that down as taken care of."
"Why would someone want you instead of the ministry court?"
"Well for one thing, the law current when the ministry was founded was different than it is now, and I can enforce the old law if I prefer, which is somewhat customary actually, but only to the limit of the death penalty, And Azkaban didn't exist then, so it's not an available sentence under the old penalty schedule anyway. So a lot of things are economic reparations rather than fines or imprisonment."
"So more like a civil lawsuit, not criminal law court."
"Maybe, but it's an 'instead of' not a, 'before' or 'after' like you see in the muggle news, but there are some criminal sorts of sentences still allowed."
"For example?"
"Several kinds of magic suppression clothes, to make you live like a squib for a while. Snapping your wand, which, I think used to be a lot worse punishment if it meant wandering the world looking for another unicorn or whatever that wished to donate to a new one, or a dragon that needed slaying or whatever. If you couldn't just go to Olivanders' and buy a wand."
"Ah."
"Making you promise on your magic or on your life to never do certain things, probably the thing you were originally accused of doing."
"Certainly."
"It seems like sometimes, when nothing can be conclusively proved, but the crime is bad enough not to be allowed to go unpunished, make the accused promise to 'go and sin no more' makes everyone more comfortable, either the victim is now safe from the culprit, or it was the wrong culprit to start with, so making them promise not to do the thing they didn't do, won't cramp their style more than the, 'already following the law,' that they were doing."
"So it's less about giving you an unfair amount of power over everyone else, and more about making a few people with the most to lose, the Schelling Points on which to build peace and order, even when the ministry is busy or inaccessible."
"Yeah, I guess," said Harry, "I like how decentralised it makes things. I'm imagining it was a more ideal system than the modern system, before all the adults could apparate everywhere they need to get."
"You're saying that below a certain thresh-hold of magicals being able to apparate, the old system is better?"
"What good is having laws and a court, if no one can get there. Same for muggles and cars, once you have cars the county court house might be a lot closer in travel time, than the nearest sheriff used to be."
"Ah, I see. Yes, I think."
"So is your family one of those with power to judge?"
"It has been, not sure about right now, and not sure how old I need to be, or just gain an appointment from my head of house, or if being an orphan means I've inherited already."
"That would be interesting to know," said Hermione, "My dad's elder brother is a Justice of the Peace, which sounds similar enough in some aspects, even if there is only one law to keep up with not two."
"Yeah, I'd like to get another point of view about if and when and where it's traditional to use pre-ministry law, and when to use current law. And also which factions of the Wizengamot cares that the old system still exists, and who I'll tick off by hearing pleas."
"Is that what sitting judge is called?"
"Yeah, 'Hearing a Plea for Mercy' or 'Hearing a Plea for Justice,' depending on whether an accused or a victim is making the request."
"Is this just a way for say, Mr. Malfoy to let all his friends off?"
"That's Lord Malfoy, technically, and yes it probably could be. But … I mean, if the court properly found him not-guilty but a victim of the imperious curse, doesn't that leave him a prime witness of who else in the death eater ranks were conscripts?"
"Now who's cool-aid have you been drinking?"
"What does that mean?" said Harry, "Are there muggle … love potions?"
"Not in the sense you're thinking of, but yes, lots of mind altering drugs. But 'drinking someone's cool-aid,' is an accusation of gullibility, that you'd drink what someone ordered you even if you'd just watched people die from doing so."
"Oh, and you're talking about Lord Malfoy, and I'm talking about … the ideal system, and you're pointing out how easy it might be to abuse."
"Yeah."
"Fine, I'll check on that too."
.
Aftermaths - Firebolt
"Is that the Firebolt you got from Sirius Black?"
"It's the Firebolt I got for Christmas," said Harry.
"That you think has a better-than-even chance of being from Sirius Black?"
"Better than average, Yes, not better-than-even."
"And it's common knowledge outside of the House of Black and company that he's trying to kill you?"
Harry snorted, "Yes."
Hermione blinked, "And Quirrell almost killed you in your first year by hexing your broom from a long ways away, Dobby did something similar with a bludger, and you think flying on it at a predictable time, after someone who is supposed to be trying to kill you has had ample opportunity to tamper with that broom?"
Harry stared at her, "You're right that does sound risky, even for me."
"You can't be serious," said Ron, "of course he has to fly it."
"No, I don't," said Harry, "I can win on my nimbus 2000."
"You should get McGonagall to check it for sabotage," said Hermione.
"Certainly not," said Harry, "It's mine."
"But you just agreed that…"
"No Hermione," said Harry, "These are numbered custom hand made brooms, Professor McGonagall isn't a charms mistress."
"That's right!" said Ron.
"So … Flitwick?"
"And give him a chance to sabotage me for ravenclaw?" smirked Harry.
"He wouldn't!" said Hermione.
"But I think it would be better not to offer him the temptation," said Harry, "I'll just go put it back in my trunk."
"But!" said Ron and Hermione and Katie Bell who'd come up and started listening.
"Hermione's right, I'm not going to fly it in a scheduled game until I know who gave it to me and that they are trustworthy. Until then, I'm not going to fly it at all until I have someone spotting who I trust to catch me if it goes wrong, and also who has another Firebolt."
"Oh," said Ron.
"But what if you never find out, aren't you going to get it checked out?"
"It's not like that," said Harry, "It's a gift. I just don't know who from yet."
"But…"
"Are you going to get your Weasley jumper taken apart and checked and put back together, just on hearsay?" said Harry.
"No, that doesn't even make sense," said Hermione, "I know Mrs. Weasley wouldn't …"
"But you don't know what someone with a nefarious purpose, might have ordered the house elves since then," said Harry.
Hermione gave him a paranoid look.
"Keep your voice down," said Ron, "You don't want to give my brothers any ideas."
"Don't worry," said George appearing from the stairs, "that prank got old in second year, we pride ourselves on our creativity."
"Oh, god," said Hermione.
.
But it turned out Harry didn't win, he ended up in the infirmary, thanks to some dementors deciding to spectate from up close.
.
Patronus
"Professor Lupin?"
"It's office hours and the door is open, come in like you mean it."
"Thank you sir, um."
"Oh, Harry, it's you."
"Well, I believe so, sir," they shared a smirk at the ridiculous idea that he could be anyone else, though Harry knew polyjuice existed, but … could werewolves smell that sort of thing?
"What can I do for you?"
"After Saturday's game, I looked up dementors, and found out more about the patronus charm, That's what you called what you cast on the train, right?"
"Yes."
"I tried it, but … I couldn't get it. Can you help?"
"Ah," said Professor Lupin, "that's a difficult one. It takes a good deal of power, though not as much as some of the other things I've seen you do. But as a rule, third years don't have the right kind of experiences to cast it, but most also don't have the right kind of memories to faint in front of a dementor either. For your sake I do hope that the two balance out."
Harry nodded.
"But let's see," said Professor Lupin, "Let's start with wand motion, just to be sure we're not barking up the wrong tree.
"Of course sir," said Harry. Harry demonstrated what he'd learned, even the incantation, which only garnered a few silver sparks.
"Well you're farther along than I feared," said Professor Lupin, "Now then, let me see that twice more, and after we'll talk about memories."
Harry cast twice more, with identical results.
"Do you mind telling me what memories you're using?"
Several of his memories … he did mind speaking about, at least to anyone other than Hermione, Ron, or Neville. But one … he didn't mind talking about, at least not to a friend of his parents.
"Hagrid telling me I'm a wizard, that my parents aren't drunks, giving me a birthday cake, smashed but more edible than most of his baked goods."
Professor Lupin winced and smiled at the appropriate places, then nodded and stared at the ceiling, "Probably a good choice, based on the description in the book you're reading, but … I find that feeling protectiveness works better than most other positive emotions. Memories good enough that you have hope worth protecting also helps."
"Oh, hmm, hope and protectiveness?"
"Yes."
After so many conversations with friends about his protective streak, Harry tried the moment when he realised that the basilisk fang really was killing the apparition of Tom, and that there might be hope for Ginny after all. He got small a spotty cat, not any kind he recognised, and it fell apart after only a second and a half.
"That's an impressive improvement," said Professor Lupin, "usually I use a memory from a time that I protected a young animal from a pack of hyenas. I have a few others that work even better, but they are more complex and are sometimes hard to pull forward in dementor dark."
"Oh," said Harry, "I hadn't thought of that being an issue."
Professor Lupin shrugged, "it can be. You may find that memories that are different enough may generate different animals. You might also find that sometimes you can conjure the emotion without the memory, or that you have many memories that all run together and can work together without needing to isolate a single one, or you might just as easily find that directly conjuring the emotion is as flat as a fake smile, and you must always meditate on a real memory in order to have a real emotion for the spell to use."
"Hmm, alright," said Harry.
"I'd say keep practising, both because timing the meditation and the spell together can be difficult, and practice can help with that, ALSO because you should check whether you have other memories that work more reliably or let you pour more power into your charm."
"Ah, alright."
"I've got another book around here somewhere that … no, that's not it, where? Maybe I already lent it out. Anyway, the library has a copy also, it's called The Patronus Charm: How Can Animals be Our Defenders. Here I'll write you a note so you can check it out from the restricted section."
"Oh, thanks!"
"It will give you a better idea what sorts of ideas to try, and where the timing of the emotional peak should be relative to the rest of the spell.
"Alright."
"So, How are you finding my class? Learning enough? Am I relevant and interesting enough?"
"You're the best defence teacher we've had since I've been here," said Harry, "and that's not flattery, Quirrell was horribly disorganised and stuttered, and Lockhart was worse than useless, he vanished the bones in my arm."
Professor Lupin raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"A bludger broke it."
"Oh, well that is a valid step for some treatments depending on how bad it was."
Harry shrugged, "Pomfrey and Professor Snape said it was horribly unnecessary, and that he did it wrong anyway."
"Oh," said Professor Lupin, "Well I'd trust their combined wisdom over that of a third party in almost every instance, as long as the topic was healing or potions."
"Right," said Harry.
"How do you like your other professors?"
"I like Flitwick as a professor, and I like Hagrid as a friend, and I respect Professor Sprout as a person. I don't like the way Binns and Professor Snape teach, but … I kind of like most of what I see Professor Snape doing behind the scenes."
Professor Lupin nodded.
"Well, of the things that I could figure out what he was doing, I liked it. As long as it didn't have anything to do with me. And as long as you can leave his way of communicating out of it."
"That seems like a long list of caveats."
"True," said Harry.
"Can you give me some examples."
Harry stared at him, "No, I think it would be better if I didn't."
"What?"
"A lot of the things I didn't like had to do with me not meeting his expectations, sometimes in good ways, some times in bad ways. A lot of the things I did like had to do with him protecting students from … people they needed protection from, I don't think I should talk about any of them."
"Oh," said Professor Lupin, "Oh, yes, I see what you mean."
Harry nodded, "That leaves Runes class, which is my other new elective this year, it's kind of odd how weirdly simple and complex it is at the same time."
Professor Lupin smiled, "Runes is one of my favourites as well, though I'm not as good as Babbling by any stretch."
"Oh, what's your favourite language?"
"Oh, English and Italian are my favourite languages, but Futhark and Greek are my favourite alphabets to enchant with."
"Oh, I guess that is two different questions, although they only sort of feel different."
"You'll get there eventually," said Lupin, "What's your favourite?"
"So far I've only seen Futhark and English-Roman wards."
"Right, only a third year," said Lupin, "Sorry, forgot you don't read ahead in everything."
Harry shrugged, "reading ahead is something that I didn't have a chance or an inclination to try until this year."
"Oh?"
"This year I'm reading ahead in defence, transfiguration, and potions. I wish I had bought next year's charms book too, but I didn't."
"What's your favourite?" said Lupin, "if you didn't have to attend class, just read the book, what would you do?"
"Transfiguration I think, or defence, or charms," Harry shrugged, "That's a weird question, I might quit Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures, I don't think I'd quit Potions on purpose, but I might put it off for a year or more by accident."
"Ah. Yes, well," said Lupin, "Do you have any idea what you'd like to do when you grow up?"
"I'd like to know enough about law and politics and investing to protect my wealth. And enough about defence and law to protect myself and my friends from getting in trouble." Harry shrugged, "It's kind of a weird thing, everyone talks about defence like, defending yourself from creatures and duelling spells is the most important thing, and it's smart to know that, but you can get in lots more permanent trouble for breaking a law you don't know about than crossing the territory of a creature that doesn't like it and can do something about it."
"Very wise," said Professor Lupin, "So do you plan on taking the Law elective sixth and seventh year? Which is recommended for lawyers and other businessmen."
"I didn't know there was one," said Harry, "Yeah, I guess I should."
Professor Lupin stared into space thoughtfully, "Heirs of Houses often start fifth year instead for some reason, which sounds like a scheduling nightmare to me. You might could start even earlier on a technicality, If you claimed your status as an orphan Head of House."
"I haven't done that yet," said Harry, "But I've heard several times that it might be a good step."
Professor Lupin shrugged, "It is a big step, as soon as you do, you'll be responsible as an adult in the eyes of the law. If you broke a law, you'd be tried as an adult."
"Is there a way that I can say, because I plan to take this responsibility, say at age 15, I'd be able to start that class next year?"
Professor Lupin snorted, "There you go, again, expecting the world to be fair and logical."
Harry smiled, "I haven't expected that for a long time, I was just asking a question."
"Then to answer your question: no, I don't think so. However, nothing is stopping you from buying the books and reading ahead."
"Of course," said Harry, "I've already been studying the one on properly answering Pleas for Mercy. But, I guess it would be helpful to read an introductory work first."
"Oh, I haven't heard that one in a long time," said Professor Lupin, "and you said you're interested in Transfiguration too?"
Harry stared, "What?"
"I was in gryffindor the same year as your parents, did I mention that?"
"Not yet," said Harry, "Only that you'd been friends. Why?"
"Your father mediated between Professor Snape and Sirius Black once. That you'd find the same legal tools, and think to use them to protect your friends, makes me … nostalgic is all."
"OK, but what about transfiguration?"
"Your father became an animagus at an unusually young age."
"Oh," said Harry.
"Just like you can cast the patronus charm at a unusually young age."
"Right," shrugged Harry, "It's not like I'd have bothered if these dementors weren't around."
"That makes sense," agreed Professor Lupin, "and likewise your father had a good reason to pursue the animagus transformation."
"… is it a reason you can tell me?" said Harry.
"You might already know," said Professor Lupin. And gave Harry an inquisitive look.
Harry shrugged.
"In fact I'm certain you know all the pieces to the puzzle, except perhaps two."
"What are they?"
"Werewolves are almost always only a danger to humans, they don't hunt animals, often not even for food. though according to legend they can turn without the full moon if you starve one long enough, or they feel their life is threatened, but werewolf legends have a way of confusing lycanthropes with wolf-kin and animagi."
"Huh," said Harry, "alright."
"And the second is that: Werewolves, like wolves, are pack hunters."
Harry stared, then it started falling together, "You were friends with Sirius Black and my father. They figured out that you disappeared once a month, figured out your infection, figured out you were lonely, and became animagi, Sirius Black is a huge black dog, and my father… What was my father?"
"A forest lord, a deer of legendary size."
Harry blinked, "Like in Scottish bonnet pins?"
"Yes, like on Scottish bonnet pins."
"Alright," said Harry.
"How do you know that Sirius Black is a grim and who have you told?"
"I've only told you."
"And who told you?"
"Nim, though she doesn't use words, so interpreting her images isn't always straightforward."
"Who is Nim?"
"My familiar, a kneazle-serval cross."
"The one guarding the door from the corridor?"
"Yes."
"That rides on your shoulder two thirds of the time."
"Yes."
"Who has dementor dreams about being tortured to death for some kind of ritual?"
"I'm afraid so."
"How does she know that Sirius Black is a grim animagus?"
"The same way she's talked about you. She is aware of the other predators in her hunting range."
"That figures, but … Sirius Black is here?"
"On and off," said Harry, "I'd assumed he just lived nearby and hunted or took shortcuts through the forbidden forest, I didn't realise that the 'big black dog' wizard was Sirius Black until you made me try to solve why my father might go through the trouble to become an animagus." Harry frowned, "it might still be a different animagus, or not even an animagus, and the name is just confusing her picture language with an artificial match where there is none."
"Interesting point," said Professor Lupin, "Shall we try to ask the lady herself?"
Harry shrugged.
Professor Lupin opened the door, "Mrs. Nim, would you mind stepping in?"
Do you care whether I obey this request?
I don't care, but we might learn more and keep more leverage by cooperating.
True.
Also I'm not certain I want it to become common knowledge that we can communicate farther than earshot.
Sneaky. Well thought of, Master.
Nim sighed and climbed to her feet and walked slowly into the office then jumped onto Harry's lap, circled twice and sat down, chest facing Professor Lupin's chair, but her head turned to face him where he stood.
He closed the door and returned to his desk.
"Mrs. Nim," he said, "we haven't been formally introduced, but I am Professor Remus John Lupin."
Nim purred two breaths and was silent.
"Um, 'charmed', sir."
"Ah!" said Professor Lupin, "Harry was just telling me that you've met Sirius Black in dog form, in the forbidden forest."
Yes, I heard.
He wants to know if it's really Sirius Black.
Yes, really. [An image of a huge black dog, (though hugeness compared to Nim was a relative concept),] and [a cat-wizard with hair long and scraggly enough to match his wanted posters.]
[zoom out to a bookshelf … no a family tree of cat wizards and cat witches, Sirius Black and another were descended from two more, who were related to two more who had three daughters, one of whom was the cat-witch of Narcissa Black, The Spider Queen]
"Oh!" said Harry.
"That didn't sound like a failing link."
"No," said Harry, "That was, 'yes, it's the real Sirius Black, I've met him before in connection with Narcissa Black.'"
"Narcissa Black?"
"Yes," said Harry, "I'm not certain she understands marriage, or why it should affect how two legged cats call each other."
"Oh … fair enough," said Professor Lupin, "but … what is her connection to Narcissa 'Black'."
"I think someone in the family procured Nim for use in a ritual, and she … err refused to participate. So … she'd been stray for a while when I found her wandering in Diagon Alley, she hasn't hinted that there's someone else around who she might belong to more than or before me, but … that seems like a long time to be stray."
Don't go hunting for trouble. I like you, Master.
"Ah," said Professor Lupin, "That makes sense, and I agree, that is a long time to be stray."
"On the other hand, most nights she hunts up her own food."
They sat in silence for most of a minute before Professor Lupin said, "Mrs. Nim, what has Sirius Black been doing when he visits Hogwarts?"
Hunting wizard rat wizard rat, and watching my master fly, and sniffing Wolf teacher's tracks.
"Guarding me, and hunting an animagus rat."
"An animagus rat?"
Harry nodded.
"And guarding you? Or Guarding Nim?"
"Guarding me."
Professor Lupin sighed and relaxed, "And not hunting you?"
"She definitely means bird watching, as a lazy pass time, not hunting as a source of food or violent exercise."
"Hmm," said Professor Lupin.
"She has other images for guarding kittens, and cuddling kittens, she didn't use either of those, so … she doesn't seem to think Sirius Black is afraid for my safety or well being, only that he likes to stay aware of me."
"In the muggle world that's called stalking," said Professor Lupin.
"In the muggle world it's often done from cars so we can't send our familiars out to smell the state of mind involved in the behaviour," said Harry.
Professor Lupin, blinked, then nodded, "I suppose that's true," he sighed, "and certain times of month I'd agree with you easier than I do right at the moment. In any case, I'd like to investigate further before taking any action."
"You think he's innocent too, don't you?"
Professor Lupin smiled sadly, "I would like to believe that my friend is innocent, but until either Peter Pettigrew or Sirius Black is found again and questioned, I shall be wary of both."
"That makes sense," agreed Harry, "But do you believe one of them is innocent?"
"It's certainly easier to believe that one is innocent than that both are guilty, all the theories why they conspired to kill those muggles and pretend to kill each other, and not stop pretending even when one is headed to Azkaban, are all very convoluted. And in my experience, stories that convoluted are often a sign of lying or motivated reasoning."
Harry nodded, "I'd rather know the truth, even uncomfortable, than be allowed to believe a lie."
"Ah," said Professor Lupin, "So you're of the faction that wants to give them both hearings."
"Why bother have laws, and courts and trials, if we don't give them to people before we lock them up."
"True," agreed Professor Lupin, "What of the argument that as the Secret Keeper for the Potters, we know Sirius Black betrayed your parents, even if he didn't kill the muggles, nor apparently Peter Pettigrew?"
Harry shrugged, "I'm not enough of an arithmancer to understand the Fidelius Charm, nor historian enough to begin to guess, let alone wager someone's life on which form of it my parents used. I'm under the impression that without knowing that detail, we can't be sure whether the secret can be got at through legilimency, veritaserum, or torture. Without knowing that, revealing the secret might not have been an act of volition. And without an act of volition there is no guilt."
"I believe the entire point of the charm is that it cannot be revealed by accident."
"And I believe that the point of legilimency and veritaserum and torture are the opposite, so … again, I'd like to hear an expert explain the arithmancy."
"Are you taking arithmancy?"
"No, but there's some in Runes and I read Hermione's book sometimes when I'm bored, I can often follow proofs, even if I can't always see a path without that guide, and even if I can see the path, I cannot begin to formulate it into a proof more complex than algebra or sometimes an identity."
"If you can do that much, it's almost a shame you're not taking it."
Harry shrugged, "But … it's fun to just carve things and see whether they work or explode, rather than take three afternoons to prove that it won't explode only to charge it up and realise that your proof was full of errors, when you could have learned just as much by charging it up right away."
Professor Lupin smiled, "Quite, but there is also the thing where rather than wasting a year or two's worth of afternoons trying to invent an effect, you can work for a week or two to prove that the effect is impossible to generate at all, or at least not without twelve surfaces intersecting in a non-euclidean way."
Harry blinked, "Is there a reason a lot of henges are mostly but not quite symmetrical?"
"Yes," said Professor Lupin, "the same reason you like tinkering 'until it works', rather than planning ahead enough to make it provably perfect. Also decades of erosion and ice heaves after use."
.
Plots of Tutoring
Harry found a wand in his trunk that wasn't his, there were a constellation of pin pricks near the centre of mass, and it had two distinctive smells about it. Shower water and Nim's saliva.
NIM, why did you put this wand in my trunk? And who did you steal it from?
It was in lost and found, buried in dust, the student who lost it must be an adult by now and have another.
Why did you put it in my trunk?
In case you have to do magic at home, the ministry hunter magic will think you have an adult helping. And ignore you unless you do something too flashy and annoy your neighbours, then they will figure it out and take it from you, and be mad.
You are an amazingly cunning cat.
Everything for you, Master.
Why does that make me more uncomfortable than usual?
Maybe you remember that my heat will start again soon?
Harry snorted, I wish it were that simple.
But he glanced around and went to pack the wand back in his trunk, only to pause again. Then used the new wand to cast a light charm, and then to test for intricacy he cast the time telling charm. That also worked.
"It's not that terrible a match actually," he said, "do you know what it is?"
[A white and orange European Hairy Rhinoceros browsing under a scrubby pine tree depicted in boring black, but full of lime green bowtruckles]
Fir and unicorn hair? Interesting, and here I was expecting dragon would suit me better than mammal.
Never assume that you can't do something. But … it hasn't surrendered to you, has it?
No, I'm sure I could not push a patronus charm through it for instance.
I don't know. Never assume what you can't do. Some wands will respond to being forced to help with a big spell. That spell might convince unicorn hair better than others, but some don't want taming, some want to collaborate on a project that they agree with, some want other things, some just want their old master back.
Yes, I see.
Harry placed the wand back in the bottom of his trunk, though he placed it in the clean end, and continued to clear out the broken quills and empty ink bottles, scraps of parchment and candy wrappers.
Is there anything else I should get prepared in case there's a good time to learn at home?
The Animagus Vision Potion, the more visions you can incorporate, the easier the transfiguration will be to learn.
I didn't think I was that far along.
You've done enough inanimate to living, you should be able to start living-to-living soon.
Oh. Really?
Yes.
You've been party to … lessons on this topic before?
Yes, watched sisters learn.
Oh.
Can probably teach. Wish you learn Occlumency before, but can probably teach anyway.
Is that so?
Yes, Really.
.
Runes Project
"So what is this runes project you've been working on so heavily?" said Ron.
"You know the secret passageways that are hidden behind runic tapestries?"
"The ones that lead straight through but end up on different floors, and sometimes in different directions also?"
"Yes, those," said Harry.
"What about them?"
"I'm trying to make a set with four doors and an intersection instead of two doors."
"Oh. But it's tiny. So … proof of concept?"
"Not just that," said Harry, "I want to make a cat and owl house that has extra escape exits."
"Because your uncle locked Hedwig's cage that one time, and you don't want him to do the same to Nim?"
"Exactly," said Harry, "Nim does not take kindly to being locked up."
"You know how weird it is for you say that, when you used to let her chase Scabbers into his cage all the time."
"I think you misunderstand how cats minds work when they see an escaping pray animal. It was let her chase him away, or tell her he was a special case and he was allowed and to be encouraged to escape into his cage instead of out of the tower. He caught on pretty quickly I think. Very canny for a rat."
"Well obviously," said Ron, "he kept Percy's attention for a while didn't he?"
"Anyway, I've thought about getting Nim a cage to escape into, for when dogs chase her, but they all come with doors begging to be locked, I thought about making one without a door, but then I thought of this idea and I think it's even better. Why make a box without doors to lock, when I can make lock-less doors without a box."
"That sounds all wrong, but I see what you mean," said Ron, "So … what's the trouble?"
"It seems to work in concept, but … so far I've only been able to reproduce a tunnel, even two tunnels, but I haven't managed to get them to intersect. And I can't even get the tunnels to be about twice the size as the door the way I want, either I'm going to have to double the size of the doors and tunnels. Or…
"So …" said Ron, "you could build a box the size you want, and put four tunnels coming out of it?"
Harry glanced up, then stared, "well, yeah, but… that solves the foundational goal, and implements the current design, but doesn't give me a runes project to play with."
Ron shrugged, "Sometimes you just have to put a puzzle down for a while, and study other things, come back to it when you have another inspiration."
"I suppose," said Harry, "but I was hoping to finish this before summer."
Ron nodded, "How far apart can the doors be?"
"About a quarter of a mile, why?"
"Far enough to be useful as secret passages, not enough to be a road home?"
"Yeah," said Harry.
"Not enough to build the box and leave it here at school and just take the doors where you want?"
"Yeah," said Harry, "Thad definitely won't work."
"Oh, well," said Ron, "It would be nice to have a wardrobe this big at home."
"Yeah, and it would save packing and unpacking."
.
After Tests
"Well?" said Hermione, "How did you do?"
"If I knew how well I'd do," said Harry, "I wouldn't need to take the test, now would I?"
Hermione huffed, "you know what I mean."
"Actually I don't know what you mean."
"You know about how many questions confused you, and by how much, or made you wonder if you'd even seen it in the book or whatever."
"Oh," said Harry, then shrugged, "better than last year I guess, except Herbology, I think I spent so much time learning transfiguration and playing with runes and proving to Professor Snape that I really can do potions, that I neglected it a bit too much. Also there are apparently magical creatures besides hippogriffs and flobberworms, luckily I read the book."
"Be nice," said Ron.
Harry shrugged, "I'm trying to figure whether if I dropped Care of Magical Creatures, and took Arithmancy next year, whether that's even allowed, and how disappointed Hagrid would be with me."
Ron and Hermione stared at him, "Why would you do that?" said Ron.
"Apparently Runes goes better with Arithmancy, so much so that I might have been better off being a year ahead in Arithmancy rather than a year ahead in Runes."
"Alright," said Hermione, "But you like Professor Hagrid."
"As a person and friend, yes," agreed Harry, "as a subject though, Care of Magical Creatures … what he's teaching isn't what I'm … wanting to learn, also Runes is so much fun," Harry sighed, "I should probably talk to Professor Lupin or Professor McGonagall, about this."
"All you do in runes is blow things up," said Hermione.
Ron suddenly looked a lot more interested.
Harry shrugged, "sure my trial and error technique has more errors than yours, but I'm fast and I almost always finish ahead of half the class."
Hermione blinked, "well … I hadn't really thought about it that way."
"More to the point, I do finish," said Harry.
Hermione nodded, "True."
"Harry!" said a familiar voice.
He turned to see a blond and a redhead duo from Herbology among other places.
"Hannah and Susan," said Harry, "welcome to our little, 'at least I passed my exams' party."
"I did more than pass," said Susan.
"So did Harry," said Hermione, "He's just being nice, … or maybe just funny."
Susan shrugged, "My aunt wants to know what your plans are for the summer."
"Could this be a multiple choice question?" said Harry.
Susan blinked, "I think if you made several proposals and let her veto some of them, it might be faster than guessing one thing at a time to see which she thinks are wise enough to allow."
"Why is this even a question?" said Hermione.
"Because he ran away last summer," said Susan, "and Sirius Black still hasn't been caught. Auntie wants to know if he's patched things up enough to go home, or if he's staying in the leaky all summer or something else."
"I'd like to … stay at the leaky and intermittently visit Ron and Hermione and I don't know who else, or maybe them visit me. I … I guess I should have tried harder to patch things up, but …it's hard to figure out what to say or how to say it. And they hate owl mail."
"Where do your relatives live?" said Hermione.
"Surrey," said Harry.
"Oh, that's not terribly far," said Hermione, "Why don't you go home with me, and visit them to negotiate in person, unless you think by muggle mail would be better."
Harry shrugged, "That works for me."
"Either way," said Hermione, "I want your muggle mailing address."
Harry shrugged, "Whenever you're ready to write it down."
As usual, Hermione had writing materials in at least two pockets, but also preferred to take notes on the current thing in a particular place and took longer to dig through her bag to find that.
While she did that Susan explained: "Mostly Auntie wants you to notify her a day in advance whenever you're going to be in public in Diagon, Hogsmeade, Godric's Hollow, or Ottery St Catchpole, in case she wants to provide you with an auror escort, or whatever."
"I'll do my best to remember that," said Harry.
.
Express
"How did your tests go?"
"Pretty well, I guess."
"Same here."
"Good, are any of your friends going to sit here? I'm not taking someone's seat?"
Padma blinked, "my what?"
"Friends?"
"I … think I only have study partners," said Padma, "given that they've evaporated as soon as tests were over."
"Yes, well," said Parvati, "I guess mine are definitely only friends then, given they evaporated as soon as it was time to revise for exams."
Padma shrugged.
"We still have each other."
"Certainly," said Padma
"Oh," said Parvati, "I got the lucid thing to work, in the middle of my running away dream."
Padma blinked, "Oh?"
"Went out of body on purpose, got a good look at myself, and my rider."
"Ah, and?"
"I'm a Marwari horse, black with white blaze / star and boots, very classy, the rider is a gibbon, also black with white face and spots in I guess the standard places. I changed it from a snowy night to a daylight and grass, and we stopped running and relaxed."
"Hmm, so spring after exams are over?"
Parvati stared at her, "you think it's about school work?"
Padma shrugged, "could be."
"But I was the one who picked out the grass and sunlight, Mostly to have a good look around."
"Hmm," said Padma, "But it's your brain that makes it all up regardless."
"Yes, but … probably a different part, so that means it's not a message from my subconscious about … whatever it needs to tell me about."
"Sure," said Padma, "then it's a message to your subconscious to stop worrying."
"Hmm," said Parvati, "I guess."
"Do the animals signify anything?"
"Nah," said Parvati, "I'm that horse in lots of dreams, but usually running towards things, not away."
"And the monkey?"
Parvati frowned and pulled out her divination book to look that up, "Monkeys mean just about everything: Insight, intuition, deceit, mischievous, immaturity, playfulness. The fact that it's making me run suggests a conflict between my playfulness and my seriousness."
"You've been dragging your playfulness along for the ride, while you run to stay ahead of schoolwork? Now the running is over for a while?"
"Something like that," said Parvati.
"Good," said Padma, "So, now what?"
"Letters to cousins, I guess," said Parvati.
"You know, as soon as we're home you can just call them?"
"True, but I like getting letters. Even just having letters after, even when they're hand delivered, and were all awkward because the person that wrote it is staring at you reading it."
Padma snorted, "Hmm."
.
{End Chapter 9}
