Chapter 37, Home Is Where The Heart Is
It was when Loughness was writing Gellert that he decided to write Flitwick as well. He had a sudden urge to know his fellow half-breed's take on the elf woods. He had truly bonded with Flitwick when the Charms Master trained him up for the fight against Delphini. The secret few people knew about Filius Flitwick was that he was half leprechaun. As such, his understanding of magic had a particular uniqueness that Loughness could appreciate as a fellow half-breed.
Gellert Grindelwald was one of the few human magic users who could see magic with an outside the box eye akin to that of a half-breed. In the end, though, Flitwick could teach him from a perspective that no one else could, half-breed to half-breed, and this gave them a bit of a bond that neither had with anyone else.
His notes to Grindelwald and Flitwick were similar, asking both of them to meet him here at #12 Grimmauld Place so that they could run some tests in the Elf Woods. Flitwick's note was a bit longer, as Loughness had to explain what precisely the Elf Woods was. He concluded by asking the Charms professor not to tell anyone of the place other than his wife. Flitwick was married to a druid, and Loughness knew that if any full-blooded human would appreciate the forest properly, it would be her.
He sent the letters off via the family's grumpy owl, narrowly avoiding having his finger's nipped. Hopefully Flitwick and Grindelwald would be able to come at once, considering that it was Saturday so both shouldn't have to be anywhere in particular. Fortunately his hope was a valid one, for both men showed up within the next fifteen minutes. Gellert was first to arrive. While they waited for Flitwick, Loughness explained to the blond wizard what he wanted to look for in way of the trees petrifying naturally via the aging process, or through magical means. "I should be able to manage something," Gellert said thoughtfully. "Surely with Flitwick's assistance if not without it."
"It would appear that he is coming, else he would've written by now to say otherwise," Loughness said.
"Very good," Gellert said. He flashed a sudden smile. "In truth I look forward to being a part of this. It is the most unique magical experience I have had in quite some time, and you know how much I like a good challenge."
"Delphini not unique enough for you," Loughness asked dryly, grinning back.
Grindelwald tossed back his hair and laughed. "Touche! What I meant was a pleasant unique challenge."
Loughness laughed. "Got it. Though in some ways, I found helping to rid the world of Delphini rather pleasant as well as unique. Satisfying even." When his eyes met those of Grindelwald, he saw the understanding reflected there. Though the two were very different in some ways, they recognized and respected the Dark Lord in one another. Gellert had been the first to hand Loughness the responsibility of an adult, seeing that he was ready and perhaps along with Wulfric Dumbledore, the only capable one to do what needed to be done when it came to Delphini.
Then again, Grindelwald had begun his own path to greatness at a similar age, when kicked out of Durmstrang at the age of seventeen. Gellert recognized and appreciated Loughness's unique abilities as well as his skill in executing those abilities. Loughness also planned to own the Elder wand some day just because, and he had never made this a secret to Grindelwald. Daddy Regulus was certain the thing had three Horcruxes in it, one belonging to each Peverell brother, but Loughness felt that bending them to his will would be an interesting challenge.
It would be the second or perhaps third marker on his path to being the greatest Dark Lord the wizarding world had ever known. The faint sound of the door chime made Loughness give a sudden eager smile."He's here! That's got to be Flitwick. I'll get it," he called out, raising his voice so that he could be heard wherever the four elves of #12 Grimmauld Place happened to be. Gellert followed him to the stately front door, and as expected, Flitwick was waiting outside.
"You'd better return home with the details if there are any to report," Walburga called out from somewhere deeper inside the manor.
Loughness grinned. The grandparents always seemed to know what was going on even if they weren't in the room when said things were being arranged. "Yes, Grandmother," he called back before Gellert closed the front door. All things involving bloodlines and unusual parentage aside, he had quite the unique life, Loughness thought. Who else could claim ghostly grandparents as common place, after all?
"Sorry I'm late," Flitwick said a little breathlessly. His sharp black eyes were dancing with excitement and Loughness smiled. In cases of magical study like this, sharing the excitement with one's fellows made the work all the more special. The more great minds that were involved, also served as an indication that great things would happen as well. "I just had to find out my broom, you know in case I need to fly up and investigate any possible wards placed at the level just above the highest trees. Such occurred to me when you mentioned the fascinating lack of weather of this forest in your note, Loughness. I also wish to see how simple magic works when performed in this forest."
"Good thought," Loughness said. "I assumed it would all be permissible considering I could easily Apparate in and out, but I know better than to assume. If you're both ready, I shall Apparate us there now." When both men agreed that they were indeed ready, Loughness put a hand on each of their shoulders and they were off.
Once again the all encompassing feeling of wholeness, home and a warm familiarity surrounded Loughness when he was once again in his forest. Flitwick let out a soft sound of admiration. "Your description, though a good one, could never prepare one for the majestic uniqueness of this place. It is, quite unlike anything I have ever seen or even read of before!" Loughness just nodded silently in understanding. Flitwick began to slowly walk about, from time to time reverently pausing to touch a tree trunk before continuing on.
"I am going to try a few spells to detect enchantments on the trees in particular," Gellert said. The blond spoke quietly as if not wishing to disturb the forest, a thing Loughness also understood. Leaving Gellert to his work, Loughness began to walk among the trees. Eventually he would check on the progress of the other two men, but he knew well that hovering over one's shoulder wasn't the way to give them space to sort things out. As he gave Grindelwald and Flitwick their space to study the forest, Loughness thoughtfully moved between the various trees. Each of his steps was guided by a growing awareness that not every tree was entirely equal to another. Though all were filled with a comparatively similar form of magic, the ones in his immediate vicinity were not quite what he was looking for without even realizing it.
Even the most advanced forms of Herbology at Hogwarts failed to prepare him for this unusual exercise in magical awareness. It was only fair, for the subject was directed at full blooded human wizards and witches. It did not take into account the various magics of half-breeds, elves or goblins in general. As goblins and elves had their magic far more closely rooted in nature than did most human wizards, Loughness felt a Herbology professor that was not human would better serve the subject. Still he at least got the foundations he needed out of it. But the things they did not teach him, which he rather picked indirectly by operating the more complicated charms taught by Filius Flitwick, that kind of thinking was what proved more useful now.
It wasn't about the charms themselves of course, it was about understanding what lacked in a magic spell. The principles that were not taught in a linear fashion, but were necessary to connect the missing dots, between lists of ingredients and their potentially unusual applications. And now he was able to use that kind of indirect awareness of magic that did not require him to perform any spells, be they of location or transformation, but to simply feel the subtler magical facts presented to his senses, and where they led him. By now he began to understand that what his magical senses were looking for was a kind of center to the forest. A focal point around which the magic was grounded.
If one of his school friends were to ask him how he knew which trees he was looking for and how they differed from the ones he found first, he would not have been able to describe it in a way they would understand. Still the difference in the magical potency was considerable.
And when he finally reached the right clearing, he recognized it at once. It hummed with power, even if he were one of only a few to feel that magical melody. He paused for several long seconds just to take it all in, allowing himself to acclimatize to the shift as it were. Only once he had, did he notice the truly strange thing. There were other presences in the clearing as well. Though he could not see any animals or magical creatures, he could feel a few of them right in front of the center of the elf woods. The space that formed the clearing was where these impressions of foreign creatures were quite strong.
The impressions they left behind near the trees spoke volumes to his senses. He could sense them without seeing them. This was going to be another extremely difficult thing to describe to anyone else, for it did not clearly make sense to his own mind even if it did to his magic. His magic was what felt these odd creatures, after all. Somehow it even allowed him to know what they looked like! One was a kind of segmented creature with a sharp barbed tail. It may have been a guardian of sorts, even if it were currently absent. He would need to warn his friends and daddies about it, in case it was dangerous. The magical impression it left was significant.
Another was a small furry one, but he could feel less from its magical impression, not enough to tell what it was about.
And then stranger still, on the ground, without ever touching it, Loughness could feel a kind of summoning circle. It was very old, but still strong enough to be felt. Its particular magic made him shiver, though if in fear or anticipation, he was as of yet uncertain.
Pursing his lips, the half elf could readily admit to that being one of his magical limitations. He was not able to feel enough from that magical impression. It could either be because the form of magic used for the circle was foreign to him, or perhaps its old age erased some of its essential properties, but he found it to be peculiar nonetheless, and made a note to ask both Grindelwald and Flitwick about it, in case one or the other had encountered something like what he felt in the past.
Both were far older, and he could appreciate the experience and judgment of accomplished wizards with more years under their belt. He would learn from them, and take that knowledge to do great things. If they had no knowledge to offer in this particular matter, he would forge ahead on his own. "Loughness?" The sudden voice along with the sudden hand on his shoulder caused Loughness to start and whirl around.
"Shit! You scared me. Can you see that? He turned back, shooting out a finger to point into the center of the summoning circle. "I can't tell if this was to summon those odd creatures whose impressions I can clearly sense, or if it was for something else."
Without replying, Flitwick walked slowly toward the circle, hands outstretched, a near scowl of concentration on his face. He stopped just before stepping inside the circle, indicating to Loughness that he could see it or at least sense it. "I do not feel it being connected to the two guardian creatures," Flitwick said after some time. At that, Loughness felt his shoulders relaxing in relief that the Charms Master had also sensed the strange forest creatures. Idly he wondered if they would be formed of petrified stone as well, and the idea made him want to laugh. "I do see that this circle is somehow tied to the stillness and lack of weather in this place, though."
"Yes," Loughness said, feeling daft for not noticing this obvious fact before. He'd just taken the lack of weather as an integral part of the forest, but of course it originated from somewhere. "Surely the circle does more than that, though."
Filius nodded, still without turning away from the circle. "Yes, but I am unable to detect what."
Loughness approached slowly, and like Flitwick, extended his own hands toward the circle. He felt such an odd sense of being drawn yet oddly terrified at the same time. "It's as if I wish to run into it yet away from it all at once," he admitted.
"Best step away for now, then," Flitwick said, and they both did just that. "Let's go find Gellert," the Charms Master suggested. Loughness nodded his agreement, not exactly displeased to be leaving the summoning circle behind. "I was able to perform spells here with no problem." Filius spoke quietly as they walked. "The make up of this place is truly fascinating. The dome around it is what keeps outside weather out, but equally as important, it keeps some magic in according to the detection I ran."
They found Gellert with his palms pressed to the trunk of one of the hugest trees in the forest. It was not the tallest, but it was likely the largest in circumference. Loughness bet it was as wide around as five giants were long. The blond's eyes were closed in concentration, but they opened as Flitwick and Loughness drew close. "I have found no direct enchantments to petrify the wood here," he said.
"Nor did I," Flitwick agreed. "It is either natural, or the magic that this place is made of sped up the petrifying process while it slowed everything else."
"I'm betting on the later," Loughness said, and the other two men nodded in agreement.