Noswyl continues practicing his magic, and relearns all the spells him made before. But that only takes an hour so he needs something else to do in the meantime.

I don't really have any good combative options, at the moment. So I should try and work on that. I don't really remember all that many combat spells, besides like the stunner or the unforgivables. But they seem rather complex to attempt without reference…

Noswyl looks up at the sky in contemplation, noting that the sun is about 5/8 through the sky.

Well I don't particularly like combat anyway, so I'll just make a shield or something. Protego seems rather simple in concept, so I'll start there.

As a base Noswyl decides to just make a wall of magic in front of him to test its base durability without any visualization. He picks up a rock from the ground and pitches at the wall with all his strength.

The rock goes through, and faces about as much resistance as if it went through drywall.

That's already not bad but I can obviously do way better. But this was also a good learning opportunity, I think from now on I'll try the spell without visualization until I get stuck. This should provide the best results for training.

Noswyl makes another wall of magic and then starts thinking about what he should do differently.

Hmm…

He touches the wall with his hand and it feels like a thick liquid.

Is it non-Newtonian?

Punching the wall softly makes it harden in response.

Ah I see, well magic is ridiculously malleable so perhaps I can choose its physical properties without visualization.

Noswyl focuses on the wall of magic and sort of locks it in place only allowing it to bend slightly.

That should be similar to polycarbonate but probably much weaker.

Throwing another rock, this time it bounces off the surface of the invisible magic barrier.

Neat, but wasn't Protego visible? Did I just create a non visible but weaker version? Or was it always invisible?

Noswyl Practices the spell more still without visualization as he is still making progress when he gets to about half magic reserves and stops for the day after another hour.

Man that was ni-

Noswyl's thoughts are cut off by a Diffindo taking off his ear.

Noswyl muffles a scream and turns around paling at seeing two older experienced wizards pointing wands at him as they get off a broom.

"Uhh… hello there gentlemen, did you need something?" He says gritting his teeth to not show his pain.

A minute earlier From Gregory and Bartholomew's perspective…

Bartholomew who is steering the broom and looks down at the person walking along the ground at a sedate pace. "Is that them? you said we were getting close not too long ago."

Gregory leans to the right and looks down at the individual walking below them. "Yea that's them, they have the same signature as the other magic in the forest. And the vestigium ostende is pulling down so it's them, there's no way to fool both my eyes and the spell simultaneously."

Bartholomew nods "should we tell them to stop and surrender? As is protocol?"

Gregory pulls out his wand and casts Diffindo at the person "no we're not in America so we technically don't have the jurisdiction to do that, but this is better anyway."

Bartholomew had already started descending when Gregory pulled out his wand and they land a couple seconds after the criminal turns around. "You're right." He pulls out his wand as well

Noswyl looks at them innocently as they stare confused at his response to losing an ear and being held at wand point.

Before Gregory's notices Noswyl's face and his eyes widen in shock "you're a kid? Well that certainly explains the amateur spell work…" making Noswyl twitch imperceptibly in slight annoyance

Bartholomew squints and also notices that Noswyl is a child, he lowers his wand slightly to be non-threatening while still being able to react in case of attack "hey there kid, you are in a lot of trouble… but it'll be just fine if you come with us back home!" He says gently

Noswyl looks around In faux panic before acting resigned and slowly walking towards them making Gregory lower his wand in the same manner as Bartholomew did.

Shit I knew, I had originally assumed I would be followed but because nothing happened for two days I let my guard down! Now what do I do?! With how cruel the punishments are in the American Magical society I have no idea what they will do to me…

Noswyl starts trying to think so fast that his brain can't handle it so his magic automatically responds and he unlocks a very simple version of the efficiency aspect of Occlumency.

Gregory seeing this with his eye thinks this is accidental magic as he doesn't see Noswyl holding a wand, not knowing what Noswyl is doing him immediately casts a stunner. Noswyl is able to react in time and is about to use magic…

No, I can't reveal that so early!

He rolls to the side almost throwing himself into the ground, the impact dislocating his right shoulder.

Bartholomew looks at Gregory and puts up a shield between them and Noswyl "What the hell Gregory he was surrendering?! And he's just a kid!"

Gregory looks to Bartholomew and raises his hands in surrender calming Bartholomew enough to explain himself "The fact that he's a child is why I attempted to stun him, this situation is extremely stressful to him and he was challenging magic. That's a universal sign of accidental magic, and I didn't want to risk anything." He says looking at the kid through the milky white translucent Protego.

Noswyl realizes that he's using magic and deducing that he's thinking too quickly, shuts off the flow of magic.

Fuck that means he can see magic. "Oww… I'm sorry mister… Gregory was it? I didn't mean to…" He says looking guilty and he is slightly for startling Gregory which helps the act.

Gregory looks away from Noswyl in shame and Bartholomew laughs slightly at the kid dismissing the Protego "don't worry about it kid, Gregory is always jumpy."

Noswyl tries to stand but struggles due to having only one operational arm, Gregory feeling sorry walks over and offers a hand. "Sorry about that kid."

Noswyl grabs his hand and lets himself be pulled up while thinking.

Why are they so nice, aren't they here to capture me? Are they just genuinely good people? Maybe I should just ask and gauge their reaction. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Bartholomew chuckles "Well kid you must have been through a lot too considering having your ear cut off and almost hit with a stunner as being 'nice'." He says slightly worried for what the kid actually went through.

Gregory and Noswyl walk back over to Bartholomew with Gregory eyeing him weirdly.

He looks at Bartholomew with a questioning look before speaking. "You are a strange kid yourself, you are talking like nothing's wrong while in pain that would have most adults screaming." He says something akin to respect in his voice

Noswyl nods in agreement as he is in fact a weird 'kid'. "Thanks, but I'm used to pain!" Noswyl says happily while thinking.

Well that is true I died slowly with a ton of injuries while on fire, I'm still not sure whether I died of blood loss or fire. But also I noticed that other guy looked at me with a sympathetic expression, though I don't like to play into other's sympathy. It might be necessary now…

Bartholomew puckers like he swallowed something sour "Sorry about that, wish we could help you with your injuries but we can't use spells past second year for this mission as a punishment."

Noswyl nods in understanding as he knows that there's a spell that can reveal what spells were cast. But he is confused on why they were punished especially on a mission, but decides not to pry as that could upset them.

Gregory looks up at the sun which he can tell is about thirty minutes away from setting from his experience. "The broom wouldn't be able to carry all of us so we camp here."

Bartholomew nods and smiles at Noswyl "alright we'll set up camp, you just don't run off. We will just find you anyway so it's pointless." He says looking contemplative

After they quickly set up a rudimentary campsite with a fire pit, and some transfigured tents. Noswyl looks interested in the transfigured tents "That's a second year spell?" Bartholomew and Gregory quickly freeze and slowly turn towards each other. Bartholomew broke the silence with a large sigh "we were so careful about everything else and we broke the rules on our campsite! Fff-" he cuts himself off as he remembers that a child is present.

Gregory immediately looks at his hands in disbelief "we failed by technicality, the council won't let this slide even if we bring back the kid." Bartholomew clenches his hands as he was the one who transfigured the tents, and he's mad at himself for failing his friend. He storms off with only Noswyl noticing.

Noswyl looks between Gregory and Bartholomew's quickly retreating back in shock, but he doesn't really feel guilty as they would have found out anyway but this is technically better as they don't have to find out after the mission. "Sooo… what was the punishment for failing anyway?"

Gregory numbly starts telling the punishment and his story without realizing that Noswyl is a child, and without Bartholomew to stop him he tells Noswyl everything.

Bartholomew returns after calming down enough, returning to the camp to find Gregory finishing his story. He feels extremely guilty but then realizes he kind of forgot Noswyl, snapping his eyes up he sees Noswyl sitting on the ground unfazed and fiddling with his long hair.

Bartholomew stares in disbelief before hurrying over too Gregory and putting his head on his shoulder, but it seems that isn't enough this time. Thinking on his feet he hugs Gregory tightly, something he's never done before to anyone now that he thinks about it.

Noswyl struggles to stand up but continues trying determined to get up.

Gregory immediately snaps out of his trance and looks down at the hands wrapped around his neck, he starts crying softly "Bartholomew I'm sorry!" He says gently pulling away from the embrace and then pulls himself up.

Noswyl manages to get up and walks over "it's ok to cry, and to be afraid of something. And you should never apologize to someone who is trying to help you." Noswyl says genuinely having had to learn that in his past life.

I feel bad for him… maybe I should actually give myself up. And go with them, perhaps the council will be lenient? Though from the history lessons at the orphanage and the punishment they are tolling out here I heavily doubt it.

Gregory looks at Noswyl and stops trying to hold his tears but doesn't make a sound, as he was forced to do whenever he cried in the Dark division. Bartholomew puts a hand on Gregory's shoulder and pulls out his wand putting him into a bewitched sleep, and catches him "that's… rather wise kid I'm sorry that you heard his story, though you didn't seem to mind." He says lying Gregory on the ground gently

Noswyl shrugs before pain shoots through his arm. Well I don't think I have to be cautious around them now and my shoulder is getting annoying. He falls backwards onto his shoulder popping it back into place with a wince, making Bartholomew's eyes widen. Before they widen further as Noswyl does a Kip-up.

"Probably should have gotten up slower but ehh I kind of wanted to show off." He says smiling at Bartholomew making him chuckle. "But I have to ask why did you put him to sleep?"

Bartholomew looks down at Gregory in pity before meeting Noswyl's eyes again "well he's in a lot of turmoil right now, and bewitched sleep is known to help calm someone."

That's interesting I didn't know that, I wonder if you dream while in bewitched sleep?

"Thanks, and I suppose I should introduce myself now that we aren't enemies anymore. My name is Noswyl."

Bartholomew looks slightly amused as he looks down at Gregory again this time "That's eve in welsh! Ha,suck it Gregory I knew she was a girl!"

What? They didn't know my gender? Well actually now that I think about it I've never seen my face in this life, but I don't really care about appearance or gender anymore. After all, I have spent 99.999999999999999999999999999999% of my existence as an ethereal being.

"I'm guessing you were guessing my gender?" Noswyl asks amused

Bartholomew nods proudly before looking sheepish "I suppose that's not really a good thing huh? But yeah we were confused about your gender as you are literally the most androgynous person I've ever seen, though you are a child so that probably helps."

Well that's actually useful, just a little change to my appearance and I'm a different person. For instance I can go to Hogwarts as one gender and do illegal stuff outside of Hogwarts as the other, all I have to do is exemplify the feminine/masculine traits.

Noswyl walks over and sits down next to Bartholomew. "So what's the plan now for you guys?"

Bartholomew sighs "I honestly have now idea, but it's my opinion that we shouldn't go back to America. But the decision is ultimately up to Gregory."

Noswyl nods and they make small talk for about ten minutes as the sunset approaches. Noswyl looks into the horizon happily.

Man I missed this, I haven't seen a sunrise in this life yet. It's really nice…

Noswyl looks down at Gregory "Hey Bartholomew, how about you wake up Gregory now. The sunset should give him something to focus on while he works everything out."

Bartholomew looks towards Noswyl "that's a good idea kid, I'll wake him up now."

Bartholomew wakes Gregory up with the counter spell. Gregory sits up immediately but he isn't panicking. "That wasn't very nice, but it was needed." He says while looking at the sunset.

Noswyl feels like he shouldn't intrude on this and goes into a tent, and then crawls into the sleeping bag in it. Falling asleep instantly…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't realize how much I actually wrote, sorry for not posting yesterday I was completely dead. I got covid for the fifth time, but I'm feeling awful now which is better than before!

I do hope you liked it but I have the feeling some of you might be disappointed by the lack of a fight, but all three of them are good people and Bartholomew and Gregory don't like fighting 'defenseless' children.

As always leave a review if you want to tell me anything, I will read every single one of them even if this story becomes popular. :)