Albus stares in consternation at the naked woman that crawls out of… somewhere… onto the Hufflepuff table before colliding with Miss Kincaid. He winces slightly as the level of magic in the area rises uncomfortably. Off to one side a blond professor collapses in his chair.
"Madam Pomphrey, would you see to our unexpected visitor, as it seems she has collapsed."
At the same time Morgana calls out, "Dora, take her home and get Airmed to look at her."
Madam Pomphrey fires a couple of quick spells at the woman before exclaiming, "Her sugar levels are far too high, and her hydration levels far too low. You are not taking her anywhere Miss Tonks. And don't think I don't recognise that pink hairdo."
Morgana rolls her eyes, "Madam Pomphrey, I asked Dora to take Mrs Kincaid somewhere safe where she isn't a danger to the younger students. Harry, would you be willing to give Madam Pomphrey permission to accompany Dora to her home?"
Harry snaps his gaze off of Kate and over to his mother, his expression trying to grin like a loon from relief, while also crying. All he manages is a nod and a thumbs up.
As Dora makes her way around to Kate, she finds that Marianne has latched on, and is blubbering and sobbing. As Madam Pomphrey gets closer, she's unprepared for the increasing magic levels. Especially given that none of the 2nd year Hufflepuffs have shown any sign of discomfort. Which isn't so true of the other students around them, who have started to scoot away, even the hormonal boys.
With a twist of her wand Madam Pomphrey conjures a hospital gown, which appears, and then falls to the floor between the woman and herself. Fortunately, Dora passes her and picks up the gown, before draping it over the woman and trying to unlatch Marianne. Seeing Madam Pomphrey becoming more and more distressed about the level of magic, as well as her inability to project magic far from her body, Dora gives up and just hefts the two people into a one armed carry.
"Madam Pomphrey, I'm leaving now. If you're coming, then take my hand and don't let go until we get to our destination."
With the sudden lack of magic, the heads of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor all descend on their first years to ensure they're all right. Severus looks over at his table before nodding as the younger students only seem to have been bothered by the nudity rather than the magic. Albus dearly hopes that he's going to have a word with the older students, who's lascivious expressions are still apparent.
After a moment he sends a cannon blast into the air.
"After all that excitement, we should probably do the announcements. You can then get back to your desserts until Curfew when we'll sing the school song."
As the hall quietens down, he continues, "First of all, I would like you all to welcome Professor Harris, who is currently sitting at the assistants table. She will be taking the 1st year students that wish to do their mundane studies in addition to their magical studies. Be warned that you will not be considered for a place in the class unless you are earning at least Acceptables on all of your work this term. As was true last year, the 8 muggle-born or muggle raised students in this year will have first pick at the 20 available places. However, Professor Harris has stated that other applicants will need to pass some sort of test in order to join."
Waving his wand discretely under the table, Albus sends an enervate charm at the new Defence Professor, "Moving on, I would like you all to welcome the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Lockhart."
The now named Professor Lockhart jumps to his feet, straightens his cravat, and then runs his fingers through his hair in a practiced motion. Once done he smiles a flash of brilliant white teeth at the students, "Good evening everyone, it is I, the great Gilderoy Lockhart, defeater of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf, Banisher of the Balmoral Banshee, and the only Human alive to live with Vampires and escape. I shall be gracing you all with my presence as the teacher of Defence Against Dark Arts. It is such an honour to be teaching in the same school as the Legendary Harry Potter, who returned from isolation just last year."
While Morgana stares daggers at Lockhart, Daphne leans over to Tracy and softly says, "I think that is a popinjay."
Catching Morgana's look, Albus quickly continues, "Yes, quite. Moving on, the Forbidden Forest is, as always, forbidden to all students who do not have a responsible professor with them. I have spoken with Professor Danann, and she has agreed that all those caught entering the forest will be given a detention with her or one of her assistance doing something called PE. As it seems to be a lesson from the muggle world, if you wish to know what it is without a personal demonstration feel free to ask anyone in the current mundane studies class. Now I believe I will allow you to continue your desserts as you have all calmed down."
═══════ ೋღ ღೋ ═══════
Marie appears in Morgana's domain with Padma, "Are you alright Padma?"
Shakily Padma nods, and swallows hard, "I'm, ok, it's just, song is so loud. Less time, Kali's shrine, need make train."
Crouching down, Marie looks at Padma and takes her hands, "What do you need?"
"Blood and life, or violence."
"I… see. When you say violence?"
"When Kali rampage, only thing that bring her out are blood or Lord Shiva."
Marie laughs, "While I'm getting better with my weapon use, I don't think I'm up to surviving a real fight. Can you take me to Kali and I'll try to make sure you don't lose it on the way."
Padma grabs Marie's hand and sets of into the mist at a run.
═══════ ೋღ ღೋ ═══════
As soon as they appear out of the mist, Poppy Pomphrey pulls her hand from Dora's. Then jogs to keep up with Dora, who seems to have grown a foot since they left the great hall, "Miss Tonks, will you please explain why we had to come here, and just where here is as well."
Peevishly Dora snaps, "Call me Dora, and I already told you. It's to protect the students. Kate here doesn't yet know how to control her own magic, and it's already almost stronger than I can shield you from. So if you don't mind, I want to get her and Marianne into bed so that I can call Airmed."
"Is she a qualified mediwitch?"
"No."
"Then Kate should be taken to a proper hospital where qualified healers can deal with the fact her blood looks more like tree sap than anything that should be flowing through a witches body."
Dora mumbles, "Probably because it was tree sap." Louder she continues, "Madam Pomphrey, I would far rather trust her with my health than any healer or mediwitch in Britain. And with all due respect given, you are hardly qualified to treat a member of the Tuath De Danann. Airmed, on the other hand is."
As the cottage comes into view Dora's ability to protect Poppy from Kates growing magic reaches its end, causing Poppy to stumble.
"What was that?"
"That is Kate. Shit, this is as bad as it was with Marie. Morgana, we're going to need Harry!"
"Why would you need Morgana, surely this is a medical emergency."
Dora rounds on Poppy, "Madam Pomphrey…"
Poppy sighs, "Call me Poppy, it's quicker."
"Poppy then. We need Morgana because she's Harry's mother, I'm one of her chosen, and she's the only one who I trust to have any real idea of what's going on."
Poppy puts her hands on her hips, "As you seem to be such an expert, what is going on?"
Airmed walks into the cottage, "I believe that she already said she doesn't know. Reginald, see what you can make out before I have a look."
Poppy spins around, not really noticing that the pressure of magic has eased around her, "Mr Greengrass?"
Tiredly Reginald nods as he places a hand on Kate, "Indeed I am. Sorry it's been a long week healing Hurricane victims. Hmm, high sugar levels that are coming down as her body is producing blood. Bones seem to be more wood than calcium, and there's stuff going on in her brain. Honestly, I'm surprised she's been able to move."
Poppy huffs, "I could have told you that if I was given a chance to actually do my diagnostics."
Airmed walks over and places a hand on Kate's leg, "Madam, nobody here is doubting your skill as a healer. I asked Reginald to look because he is still learning. Hmm, Reginald, what you missed is that she is transforming back into a human from the skin inward. It will probably be finished at Dawn at this rate. Rather fitting, as she was supposed to emerge at sunset a few days ago."
Poppy waves her wand to get her own diagnostics, and growls in frustration, "Why aren't my spells working on her, and what do you mean emerge?"
Airmed turns to look at Poppy, "Do those spells work on highly magical creatures?"
Poppy looks confused, "No, why?"
"Why not?"
"Their magic interferes with the delicate spell structure causing it to… unravel. How can she be more magical than a phoenix?"
"I presume that a phoenix is some sort of magical creature?"
Poppy nods distractedly as she starts to run through her repertoire of diagnostic spells, "Uh huh, I at least get something back from Fawkes. I've even used these spells on Albus when he's been flaring his magic."
Airmed nods, "I see. It could be that you're just not putting enough magic into the spells."
Poppy looks aghast, "These spells have all been specifically designed to use as little magic as is practically possible. You never know when a patient might have a curse that will react badly with foreign magic. Ah Ha! Found one, she's not pregnant."
Airmed nods absently while she keeps her hand on Kate's leg, "That's good to know." Blinking rapidly she parses the context again, "I mean it's good to know you've found a diagnostic charm that works. Now, put your hand here and I'll show you what I'm doing."
Hesitantly, Poppy puts her hand on Kates leg, as she does Airmed moves her own hand to cover it. She winces as Airmed pulls a tiny tendril of magic from her reserves into Kate. A frown crosses her face as that tendril branches out into the leg over and over again, even disappearing into a wooden approximation of a bone. It's only her familiarity with some of the more complicated diagnostic spells, that she's had to use far too often, that allows her to keep up with what she's feeling. She doesn't notice when Airmed pulls back just before Poppy's eyes roll back into her head, or when Airmed lets go of her hand and she starts directly shaping her magic into the forms that she knows.
Some time later, Poppy's legs buckle and she loses contact with Kates leg. Blinking, she looks around and spots Mr Danann sleeping beside Kate with Miss Kincaid. From outside, she can hear the faint murmur of voices. As she tries to stand, she collapses as her muscles just give out. Slowly, she draws her wand and tries to cast a diagnostic spell on herself, only to drop it as pain shoots through her body as her wand draws on her reserves.
She doesn't resist when Dora picks her up and Reginald takes her place. Or when she's sat down by a fire and handed a dagger with some roasted meat on it. A few minutes later she tries to cast a diagnosis again and drops her wand and the meat filled dagger into her lap.
"What is wrong with me?"
Poppy's surprised when it's Professor Harris that answers, "You've overstrained your magic."
Poppy scoffs, "You're not a believer in a magical core are you?"
Harris laughs, "You can call me Skye, and no. It's more like a muscle, same as the rest of your body, and you've just run a marathon without working up to it."
"A what now? Never mind, I'm sure that we'd know if it was like a muscle. The only mentions of anything like that are almost as old as Hogwarts, and have never been backed up by research."
Dora sighs from her seat, "Madam Pomphrey, what are the symptoms of magical exhaustion?"
Poppy sighs, "Fatigue, inability to use magic, unconsciousness, and finally death."
"Are you suffering from magical exhaustion?"
"No, obviously not."
"Then how do you explain being unable to use magic?"
"I don't know."
Airmed shakes her head, "Dora, stop leading the poor woman on. Poppy wasn't it? You've just been doing wandless magic for the last 2 hours. You took to it so easily that I incorrectly assumed you'd had practice with it before. What you're feeling is the effect of pushing yourself too hard. If we'd been paying attention, you'd be feeling it tomorrow as a constant ache. As it stands, you'll probably be in agony, with using any magic very painful."
"But how? Only the most powerful witches and wizards can do wandless magic."
"You may be putting the plough before the oxen there. Those that practice magic without a roman wand tend to be stronger than those that use a roman wand. But first of all, you must learn what your magic feels like. Without help, that step would take you years to accomplish, then you need to practice using your magic to achieve things. Finally, you'd need to learn to visualise the magic your trying to achieve."
"If that's true, why is it that Albus can only to small things without his wand?"
Airmed thinks for a moment, "Probably because it's hard. Celtic magic doesn't start with the same sort of magic you do with your wands. However, I know that the Britons and Saxon's had their own ways of doing things, and their apprentices started out doing the same sort of things you've been teaching first years. As it's easy to visualise light and movement. How many wand users do you think would actually take the time to improve their wandless magic beyond being able to lift their wand in need?"
Poppy sits back to think about that question.
═══════ ೋღ ღೋ ═══════
In Dublin a mounted Dullahan appears out of the mist on Greek Street and start to trot slowly south down Chancery Place. By the time it gets to the bridge the garda have managed to cordon off the area and start issuing confused orders. In the distance, a helicopter can be heard circling the area. A series of pops appears between a few buildings followed by an exclamation of, "Morgana, what are we supposed to do now?"
"We can't go out there, otherwise we'll be breaching the statute. Ideas?"
"Levitate a portkey onto it for a remote location?"
"Good thinking, let's do that."
As the impromptu portkey lands on the Dullahan, it disappears with a loud crack.