CHAPTER 9
21 July 1993 - Gymnasium - Evans Keep, 10:42AM
The crash of a Defodio against the Certamen shield sent Harry scrambling, swearing under his breath as he dodged the volley of Tripping Jinxes sent his way.
He'd always known his mother was a formidable warrior, but knowing and experiencing were two very different things.
Even moreso when Lily was in Knight-mode, hidden behind the impregnable mask of Bradamante. Try as he could, Harry was unable to get a read on this Personality to predict either her intention or her next move, his Legilimency hitting a brick wall. The only reason he was still standing was because she - prior to their training - stated that she would only be functioning at a fourth of her ability to give him a chance to reciprocate and/or retaliate.
It was a painfully sobering experience to realize that he was unable to do either.
"WADDIWASsSI! COLLOSsSHOO! IMMOBULUSsS!"
From his crouched position, Harry launched the three Parsel-enhanced spells and watched with some hope as they flew at his mother, who blinked once in acknowledgement.
To his dismay, she nonverbally parried all three back at him at an almost impossibly fast speed. The young wizard barely succeeded in ducking and dodging, only to fail to account for the Depulso Lily had wordlessly woven in, grunting as he was Banished into the Certamen shield.
Panting, he was at least relieved that Lily didn't press her advantage, content to stand at ease and watch him feebly try to get himself together. 'Thank Merlin for that small mercy,' he thought sardonically.
Racking his brain for any useful ideas, he slowly wove together a plan.
Pretending to double over and groan in anguish, Harry used that distraction to quietly whisper "OBSsSCURO". He watched in satisfaction as thick serpentine plumes of smoke poured out of his wand and engulfed the entire warded training space in blackness. Quickly activating the night-vision mode on his glasses, Harry quietly incanted "OCULUSsS CAECUSsS" at his mother's face, who startled at suddenly going blind as she whirled around in a seeming panic. Not immediately noticing the strangeness of that action, Harry launched Immobulus, feeling victorious as her form froze.
He would only have one chance.
"EXPELLIARMUSsS!"
POOF!
To his dismay, the frozen and startled visage of Lily winked out of existence just as the smoke cleared. With defeated resignation, he felt more than saw his wand fly out of his hand to land behind him at the same time a nonverbal Stupefy rendered him unconscious.
Some Seconds Later…
"Here we are dear!"
Harry grimaced as his mother hauled him up, a touch annoyed to see her eldritch green eyes - his eyes - twinkling in amused delight. With a quick wave of her wand the Duelling Shield disappeared.
Wincing, he allowed himself to be led to a side bench, perking up when his mother handed him an ice-cold bottle of water and a few healing potions to rid him of the cuts and cruises he'd incurred during their training. He was pleased to see and feel the familiarity of his mother's mood, a current of delight running across his Legilimency.
"That was a good run," she said cheekily. Harry snorted, causing her to chortle. "Oh c'mon love, you lasted almost ten whole minutes that time!"
"Only because you were barely trying!" Her son looked incredulous, causing Lily to smile affectionately.
"I wasn't 'barely trying', I wasn't trying as hard. There's a significant difference, and it would be hardly fair to hit you full throttle without at least allowing you to get your bearings and flex some of your abilities."
"What abilities?" he replied with some bitterness. "Parseltongue doesn't really help when your opponent is one too, just like Dilation."
Though she snickered at his affected sullenness, Lily nonetheless looked thoughtful. "Well, that's true enough. However, most enemies you'll encounter are your own agemates or slightly older at Hogwarts, and I am fairly certain you can overcome them easily enough. Your reaction time is quite good, even better when you're Dilating. Your stamina and endurance are much better, so we'll be keeping up with your calisthenics." Harry bit back a grimace, knowing he'd have to keep waking up at the near crack of dawn to do almost an hour of cardio.
"And what if I encounter an enemy that's not my own age-mate?" asked Harry quietly.
"Then you do your best to distract him or her so you can escape. As I've said, the best means of distracting an enemy isn't to overpower them, but to mislead or misdirect just enough that you can stun or disarm before making your escape." Lily's expression flashed with some unnamed emotion. "Survival is critical; it is the only thing that matters in the grand scheme of anything." She took a quick sip of her water, seeming to come back to herself.
Harry, smartly, didn't press the issue.
The two chatted for a few minutes reviewing the best means to mislead or misdirect an opponent hellbent on dealing death. "Do you recall the best means to strip your opponent of his or her senses?" Lily was now in full Professor mode.
"Using a Hex or Jinx, they almost always target some physical part of the body and cause enough discomfort - sometimes pain - to be distracting. They also tend to use a minimal amount of energy, so less of a chance in tiring myself out. Vision is the easiest and often most effective means - Blinding Hex, Blindfold Hex, even the Conjunctivitis Curse. All three utilize the letter 's', so they are readily susceptible to Parseltongue. Avis Oppugno is a good one, and it's susceptible to Parseltongue as well." His expression turned sullen. "Though it's a bit of a moot point if I can't learn the distortion field spell to prevent anyone from seeing or hearing me use Parseltongue."
Lily chortled. "We made a deal darling; I'll teach it to you when you can disarm, mislead, or misdirect me and escape. You need only succeed once, and I'll teach you - witch's honor." She crossed her fingers over her heart, causing her son to grumble good-naturedly. Soon, Lily gestured for him to continue.
"For sense of smell, Bat Bogey Hex and the Pus-Squirting Hex are good ones too." He bit back a grimace, hoping he wouldn't have to use Pus ad torrens anytime soon. "Langlock and Silencio are effective, even if your opponent is using nonverbal spells. The modified Sonorous is useful as well, though it's not the most effective unless you've cast a preemptive sound-dampening barrier to not fall victim to your own magic. Levicorpus is great, even moreso considering it requires a unique counter-jinx to be removed. Easier to disarm and stun…or stun and disarm as needed."
"Well done, I'm impressed." Harry puffed out his chest, causing Lily to giggle. Mother and son spent some more minutes discussing several offensive and defensive spells he could feasibly utilize as Mia popped in with some water and snacks. Bone-Breakers, Slashers, Gougers, and other such magicks required more magical energy and thus were best used in the most dire of consequences. Lily's true intent with that lesson was to minimize the chance of her son killing an enemy in battle, even if it was well-deserved.
Now was not the time for her almost 13 year-old son to have a body count.
Conversation eventually drifted towards other topics regarding the upcoming school year.
"Have you heard anything new from your friends?" Harry lightly winced at his mum's question. News of Theo's Ultimate Sanction had sent shockwaves throughout Wizarding Britain and his friend group alike.
An outraged Hermione had eschewed a letter for an almost hour-long Floo call with Harry, ranting about the dangers of such ridiculous legally-sanctioned brainwashing magic on the wizarding populace. In complete agreement with her, Harry had successfully redirected the witch's anger to brainstorming ideas to help Theo the best they could.
Somehow, Harry doubted that SPAAM (or the Society for Prevention of Abuse against All Magicals) would have the benefit Hermione intended.
Blaise's letter had alluded to some vague death threat by his criminally insane cousin, along with more Slytherin suggestions on staving off Hermione from her "heavy-handedly Gryffindorish approach that would ultimately make things worse for our friend". Harry had fully concurred, though he'd noticed that Heir Zabini hadn't been too forthcoming with any solutions on his end.
Daphne had written on behalf of herself and her sister, informing him that while they found the entire Ultimate Sanction to be "foolhardy and absolutely ridiculous", they had no choice but to "follow social convention" and openly shun Theo. Harry had been disappointed in that decision despite Daphne thanking him for his support in helping elevate House Greengrass to become Ancient and Noble. It would be awhile before the Greengrass Heir would find herself in Harry's Inner Circle.
Interestingly enough, Tracey and Millicent had sent similar letters; however, both witches had promised that despite whatever outward disdain they would show Theo, they'd support him in private should Harry require it. Millicent's was understandable considering her elder sister Missy had been one of the Prefects let in on the secret of the Lair. Tracey's was more intriguing, and he wondered if the girl's muggleborn heritage was the driving force behind her decision.
Eurus and Luna's letters had plainly stated that they would support Harry's decision, so long as he made the right choice in supporting Theo. In fact, Luna had outright threatened to ignore Harry should the younger Potter "allow his nargles to be so easily overcome by his own wrackspurts."
Thankfully, Ginny's letter had revealed that Arthur's status as Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office rendered him a part of the DMLE, and therefore excluded his family from the effects of the Ultimate Sanction. It helped that Arthur was not the Acting Lord of House Weasley.
Unfortunately, it would not be the case for Draco, who was Heir Presumptive of an active Wizengamot House. He would also be receiving his Heir's Ring in the coming weeks, strengthening the Sanction's effects. He'd written to Harry to inform him that he'd be undertaking a much more rigorous approach with his Occlumency training to resist the Sanction's effect. Justin's letter had been similar, informing Harry that he and Snape (along with some professional instructor named 'Mr. X') would be working with him to strengthen his fledgling Occludic abilities. Young Justin would be assuming the Heir's mantle of his other ancestral house in the coming Yule, making him considerably more susceptible to the Sanction's effects.
Harry was grateful that his godfather wouldn't be affected. Well…as heavily affected. Though his role as a Senior Auror significantly lessened the Sanction's effects, Sirius was still the Acting Lord Black, and thus was magically bound to all the Wizengamot oaths. Including those indirectly tied to House Nott. While he wouldn't be driven to anger and violence at the sight of Theo, prolonged exposure to the Outcast would incur negative effects.
Thankfully, that was not the case for Tom and Severus. Though they too were Acting Lords of their House, both were accomplished Level 7 Occlumens who could mentally self-abate the effects of the Sanction. It helped that Snape was a Hogwarts Professor, the institution not bound by any Wizengamot oaths.
A nudge from his mum interrupted Harry's musings. "Yeah, I've heard from them. It's a bit complicated with this Ultimate Sanction bullshit (Lily winced at the ferocity of his tone), but I'm fairly certain I'll have it all figured out before the term starts."
"Have…have you heard from Neville?" Harry flinched. His other Gryffindor best friend and moral compass was completely taken by the magic of the Sanction, and things had been a touch…strained between them.
Like Draco, Neville's Heir Ring keyed him in magically to the oaths that bound House Longbottom to the Wizengamot and therefore, indirectly, to House Nott. Because Neville's parents - the current Lord and Lady Longbottom - were completely incapacitated, Neville was being affected as if he himself were an actual Lord, even though he wouldn't be able to formally take that role for several years to come. To compound an already awful point, Neville's deep devotion to his near-comatose parents gave him a strong personal desire to live up to their memories by being the best Lord Longbottom he could be. And like all truly terrible things, the Ultimate Sanction had apparently twisted that admirable impulse to render the boy even less able to resist the compulsion to hate Theo and, increasingly, anyone else who dared to support Theo.
Though Neville was beginning the steps to learn the fundamentals of Occlumency, the little he knew wouldn't be nearly enough to minimize any effect of the Sanction.
Not that his Gryffindor friend even wanted to.
"Nothing so far. We haven't spoken since…well…last time." Lily could only tiredly sigh in recollection.
Merely a day after the Ultimate Sanction went into effect, Neville had returned to Longbottom Manor for a brief visit with his Gran. He'd been met with the sight of Harry comforting Theo in the Family Parlor whilst the boy lamented the official loss of access to his brother as the magical and legal ramifications of the Sanction took hold.
Neville had been furious.
To the shock of Augusta and Lily, the usually amiable boy had launched an overpowered Lacero in the direction of "the filthy traitorous Outcast!", recoiling in shocked anger as Harry's Protego Horribilis sprung over a horrified Theo. Neville had then directed his ire towards Harry, engaging the boy in a furious exchange of spellfire. It was only thanks to Lily's casting of a Protego Duo that prevented the boys from doing any lasting physical damage to the other.
Naturally, that did nothing to stop the flow of words between the young wizards. Neville - fully in the throes of the Sanction - had screamed that Harry was a "no-good traitor" willfully choosing to sully himself by associating with the "Outcast filth!" Though he hadn't shown it, Theo had been very hurt by those words.
A heavily Occluding Harry had replied that the only one betraying their friendship was Neville, allowing himself to "easily and foolishly" fall under the thrall of magic that he was too weak to even try to overcome.
An incensed Neville had cast a Boils Hex straight at Harry's face, forgetting the Protego Duo was perfectly capable of rebounding his magic. A face covered in angry pustules, Neville had stormed off to his rooms, furiously claiming that he never wanted to see any of them ever again. Augusta had been both appalled and apologetic for her grandson's reaction, but had insisted that they needed to leave the Manor immediately, as Theo's Sanctuary within the manse could no longer be honored.
Lily had readily agreed, immediately letting the two boys Floo to the Evans Keep whilst she stayed behind to gather Theo's belongings. The ex-Nott would be living in the Keep indefinitely.
"It will all work out in the end, love," said Lily quietly. "It may seem…insurmountable now, but the bonds of your friendship won't be so readily broken in the face of one odious man's cruelty." She sneered as the visage of Tiberius Nott flashed in her mind, bleeding into Bradamante's memories of Mr. Nimrod. Harry's reaction mimicked her own as the boy wondered if it was possible to orchestrate Lord Nott's death without implicating himself.
While it wouldn't eliminate the Sanction, it would make him feel much better.
Mother and son chatted for a few more moments, before getting up to resume their training. Harry loudly groaned as he watched his mother alter the expansive gym's terrain into a rock-hewn surface with several uneven crevices.
"For more endurance," Lily said cheekily.
Harry grumbled under his breath, wondering if he'd even have limbs left to go Granian riding with Sirius later in the week.
Classroom 19 - Temple of Wisdom - Shamballa, 2:19PM
Fighting his nerves, Jim fought not to fidget as he gazed at Elder Yoo Ri-El, who calmly prepared tea whilst telling the boy to "relax and get comfortable". Ever since Healer Gupta's discovery of his latent natural animagery ability, he'd all but ordered Jim to speak with the older witch - a natural Animagus - to gain necessary insight on both accessing and controlling his newfound skill.
Baskar had been sure to willfully omit that Yoo Ri-El's form was that of a serpent, lest Lord Potter forbade his son from her tutelage and whisked him away from Shamballa.
Doing his best to relax, Jim curiously looked around the classroom, unlike any he'd ever been in. Rather than the standard tables and chairs used at Hogwarts, plush and richly colored rugs of amethyst, jade, and emeralds covered the floor, filled with plump cushions in brightly complimentary shades. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows afforded a full panoramic view of Shamballa proper, the sight uncommonly crystal clear due to the ancient charms imbued in the glass. Several portraits lined the wall, depicting the older witch with her family, friends, and mentees. Jim was shocked to see a select few of her with a slightly younger Headmaster Dumbledore and Newt Scamander, almost always accompanied by a tall and prim witch who seemed impervious to smiling.
"Here we are," said the older witch, placing down steaming pots of tea as she elegantly sat on the rug across from Jim. One pot smelt quite bright and inviting, the scent of lemon and orange. The other held an uncommon note of sour apples, causing Jim's nose to wrinkle.
"What on earth is that?" he asked, gesturing to the pot with a faint grimace.
The witch giggled. "Mandrake tea, which we will utilize much later." Her voice was soft and gentle, with the slightest rasp that could lend to sibilance. "It is a methodology utilized by students at Mahoutokoro in their Animagus training course to help slowly achieve the meditative state required to begin the Contemplative Stage of achieving their Animagus form." With a wave of her wand - 11 inch Snakewood with dittany stalk - the scent disappeared as the curls of steam froze. "Minor stasis charm," Yoo-Ri replied to his unanswered question. "Keep it fresh for later."
A flick of her wand summoned decorative tea cups that she filled with the fragrant citrus tea. Comfortably settling against a rug, Yoo-Ri delved into a brief synopsis of her life.
Born in a small magical enclave near muggle Sangju-si in South Korea, the young witch - along with her parents and three siblings - had been forced to flee her hometown at the age of six to escape the clutches of the Dark Witch Ji-Soo. A powerful Mystic Necromancer, Ji-Soo had intended to use the natural snake animagus girl as a human sacrifice to awaken Baemsillang, the Divine Serpent deity who was fabled to bestow his savior with the forbidden knowledge of the Time Before.
Finding sanctuary in the Philippines, the family of six made a home in a magical enclave within Mabalacat. Yoo Ri and her siblings had attended Mahoutokoro, where they found their passions and respective life paths.
The eldest - Yeong-Ja - had become a senior member of the Japanese Auror Corps, ultimately perishing in a vicious battle against a faction of Dark-aligned onna-bugeisha witches allied with Grindelwald. Her fearless bravery had destroyed the coven of six, leaving only one sole survivor.
The second born - Ji-hun - currently served as the Senior Undersecretary to the Philippine Minister of Magic, a strong favorite to take the Minister's place in the next election cycle.
The third born - Chin-Sun - was the current Head of House Wampus at Ilvermorny, occasionally doing part-time consulting work for the American DMLE.
Yoo Ri - the baby of the family - had pursued a Double Mastery in Healing and Creatures, eventually ending up at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Institute as a Resident Healer. It was there that she'd crossed paths with Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore, and together, the two had convinced Yoo Ri to join their covert operations in defeating Grindelwald.
Jim listened in awe as she recounted her story, not realizing that she'd been speaking in Parseltongue the entire time. It was only when he hissed out a question did he realize what had happened.
"Did…did you mean to do that?" He asked in hesitant English.
The witch smiled amiably. "Yesss," she replied in Parseltongue, before transforming into her massive 20-foot reticulated python form, giving Jim quite the fright. "I did. It is of the utmossst importanccce that you become completely comfortable with your natural ability. It isss highly posssible that your natural Animagusss form may be a ssserpent, and it isss vital that you both underssstand and appreccciate the complexitiesss of the ancccient ssserpent tongue. I am fully aware of Wizarding Britain'sss…dissscomfort with Parssseltongue, but if you are to sssuccceed, you must learn to overcome thessse fearsss and exxxpectationsss if you ssseek to reach your true potential with your giftsss."
Jim fidgeted uncomfortably, not at all disagreeing. Still, the prospect of being a snake animagus was rather horrifying, wincing as James Potter's angry and disgusted visage flashed in his mind's eye. Lord Potter's fear and shame regarding his Heir's status as a Speaker had been bad enough; what would happen if all of Wizarding Britain discovered he'd embraced his ability?!
Sensing the boy's trepidation and mounting panic, Yoo Ri transformed back into her human form and set about making another pot of tea - chamomile and lavender.
If they were to make any sort of progress within the few weeks they'd have together, the boy would have to learn to relax.
Little Eden - Kolumbiko Estate, 4:28PM
Stifling her giggles, Olivia Kolumbiko once more cast "EXPECTO PATRONUM", watching with fondness as her baby sister lightly sneered at the form of Bast. As always, the spectral cheetah prowled around the daisy field in search of danger, coming to her Mistress' side once her task was complete. Purring at the indulgent scratches under her chin, Bast slowly dissipated.
Eurus was attempting (for the infinite time) to summon her corporeal form, but she was having difficulties pushing her misty shield to coalesce into its animal shape. Learning to cast the Patronus would be a necessity upon her return to Hogwarts, and while her parents were perfectly capable of teaching Eurus, Olivia had taken it upon herself to ensure her baby sister would be able to protect herself from the Dementor horde.
The eldest Kolumbiko child was currently visiting her family for the summer holiday, a welcome respite from her hectic schedule pursuing three simultaneous Masteries. Olivia fully intended to savor the personal time with her loved ones, knowing it would only last for a few weeks before she'd have to resume her studies and continue her Primary Quest.
Who knew an Unspeakable Trainee's schedule could be so bloody hectic?
A frustrated growl from Eurus interrupted her musings, causing Olivia to smile indulgently. The witchling was glaring at her shield form, growing ever more agitated at its refusal to just bloody become her animal protector!
"Alright Yuyu, that's enough. Drop the spell." Eurus scowled for some moments before finally allowing her magic to lapse, lightly panting from exertion. Frau - the little baby clabbert nestled in her hair - tenderly stroked the witchling's cheek with its teeny curled tail in an attempt to comfort her.
"You've mastered the shield form dear." Olivia came to stand by her sister, chuckling when she scowled petulantly. "However, you will not achieve a corporeal Patronus if you allow your frustration to take precedence over the joy of your happiest memories and the urgency of your fear, you will never succeed." Eurus swallowed back the scathing response that sprung on her tongue, not wanting to upset her sister who really was just trying to help.
"I know that, Livvie. But, it's much easier said than done when your bloody spell won't even cooperate with you." Olivia merely quirked her brow as she sat down cross-legged, as if to say 'you're proving my point'. With her pine wand, she gestured for Eurus to sit beside her and do the same. Grumbling, the younger witch plopped beside her sister, before leveling her a look that screamed 'well, get on with it then!'.
"Now now little one, let's go through some meditative exercises." Eurus allowed her breathing to slow as her thoughts and frustration drifted into the quietest corners of her mind, feeling her heart calm into a gentle staccato.
"Good." Olivia's dulcet voice sounded near her ear, a calm and guiding lull. "Now, bring forth your happiest memories, allow them to fill the bulk of your mind's bowl. Bask in their sensations, let yourself be immersed in the joy they evoked within you." A beatific smile slowly worked its way onto Eurus' face as her most cherished memories swam to her mind's surface. "Now, let your deepest fears slink in; not too much, but enough to know they're there." The little witchling frowned as the shadows of her nightmares trickled into her mental bowl, fighting to resist the urge to banish them back into the abyss of her mind palace.
Olivia gave Eurus a few moments, allowing the cues of the girl's contrasting expressions to guide her. "Alright, now focus on the contrasting feelings those memories evoke in you. The anger, the pain, the helplessness, the fear…do you want these to persist within you?"
"N-n-no." Olivia's heart twinged at seeing the distressed look on her Yuyu's face, knowing she was in the grips of her worst memories.
"I'll ask again - do you want these negative feelings to persist within you? Use you? Control you?"
"N-NO!"
"Good. Now, use the light and joy of your happiest memories - envision them as your weapons…they will drive out the darkness. Now…raise your wand…and call forth your arms!"
Eurus' cedar wand raised in a flash as she bellowed "EXPECTO PATRONUM!". A bright flash of light poured forth…before coalescing into the brilliant form of a small and thickly feathered bird that resembled a most cherubic pygmy owl.
"Fwooper," whispered Olivia in open wonder. Eurus laughed in complete delight as the tiny bird flew in graceful arcs around their heads, before coming to land on Eurus' shoulder. It sweetly warbled as she delicately stroked its feathers, before dissipating away.
"Oh thank you Livvie, thank you!" Olivia was swept into a massive bear hug, laughing as she was tightly squeezed.
"You're most welcome Yuyu." Eurus once more laughed in delight, before getting up and racing towards the manor proper, citing that she had Floo-call Luna and let her know "the most exciting news!".
With an indulgent chuckle, Olivia rose and dusted herself off, pleased to have been able to help her baby sister.
As she trekked to the Quidditch equipment shed to grab a broom (she'd promised Yahya she'd go flying with him), Olivia curiously wondered if the song of a Fwooper Patronus could succeed in driving a Dementor insane.
'Man, I bloody hope so.'
AN 1: I went back and forth between Mooncalf and Fwooper for Eurus, but ultimately decided on the latter as more in line with Eurus' personality.
AN 2: Yoo Ri-El and her siblings will be further featured in Boos 4 & 5
AN 3: Yes, there is a Pus Squirting Hex (yuck), but the incantation is purely my own creation as there's not a formal one to be found.
AN 4: An Unspeakable Trainee's "Primary Quest" and what it entails will be explored maybe in Book 4, more than likely Book 5. There'll also be a glimpse into what the recruitment process looks like and what it entails.