AN at the end of the chapter
Chapter 7
A New Illusion
"III"
May 8, 1997
"I ask that you bear with me as I work my way through explaining some basics of muggle science," Dumbledore says, peering at her over his half-moon glasses.
Ginny nods her head enthusiastically.
"Very well.
"Beyond this planet we live on, there is the universe. It is made up of the things we can see, and the things we cannot. The things that we can see are called normal matter and energy. Matter is all material substance, and energy is anything with the ability to perform actions.
"Then there are the things that we cannot see — muggles call these things dark matter and dark energy. Dark matter is matter that is unobservable by humans. It does not emit, reflect, or block light on any spectrum. Muggles know it exists because they are able to see the force it takes on its surroundings. All objects with mass exert a force called gravity, do you know what this is?"
Ginny nods again, "Yessir, as things gain mass, they basically create a dent in the space-time continuum. This is gravity. That's how objects attract other objects to themselves — through gravity."
"Very good. That is exactly how it works. So through this attraction, muggles were able to posit that there is more gravity being exerted upon celestial bodies that they cannot account for from normal matter alone. Therefore there must be something that we cannot see; ergo: dark matter.
"Now dark energy, as the muggles explain it, makes up sixty-eight percent of the universe. Dark matter makes up twenty-seven percent, and the remaining five percent is made up of normal matter. Dark energy is a force that works in opposition to dark and regular matter; it is a force that works in opposition of gravity. The muggles have known for around a century that the universe is expanding. Now, as we know, matter cannot be created or destroyed, so as the universe expands, it becomes less dense. This means that the rate of expansion should slow down as it grows ever larger. However, the muggles have noticed that galaxies at the edge of the observable universe are moving away from us at a much faster rate than the galaxies that are closer to us; therefore positing that there is a force that is speeding up the expansion. And that is where dark energy comes in.
"Do you have any questions?"
"So basically, to muggles, dark matter and dark energy are two things that they cannot see but explain things they cannot explain?"
Dumbledore chuckles, "That sounds about right, yes."
"Okay, I understand their version, what is ours? What is magic — dark energy — to us?"
"Magic exists all around us. It is an integral building block of nature — of you and me, this desk, the air," Dumbledore states, gesturing to the room around him.
"We, witches and wizards — well some of us — are able to sense it. We can feel its influence on the natural world; and as wizards, we are able to interact with it. Muggles do not have this ability.
"There are those who would have you believe that magic is dwindling in our world. The Pureblood sects, Voldemort's old followers, the Ministry, they all are perpetrating that myth and propaganda. However, if one is to study Magic, as we are now, they would know that this just is not true. In fact it is impossible. Magic is consistent throughout time. That means that it cannot grow or subtract ever.
"Let's go back to the idea of the universe expanding. Dark energy is what muggles call the 'cosmological constant.' It is a constant force that is unchanging over time. This explains the increased rate of expansion. As forces such as gravity weaken their grips between galaxies, the force dark energy pushes on them increases its effect—"
Dumbledore glances at her mid speech. "I apologize, I quite enjoy muggle hypotheses and science; I can prattle on for ages. But let us get back to Magic."
"It's okay Professor, I find this all very interesting."
He smiles at her, "Yes it is, isn't it? Alright, where were we— Ah, yes.
"Magic is constant throughout time, it cannot grow, diminish, or fade away. We — and I mean wizards in general, present company excluded," he says, eyes twinkling, "are just losing our creativity."
"III"
February 15, 2008
There is something dripping — a persistent sound echoing around the chambers. Each drip, drip, drip, crawls across her skin like a nail snagging on clothes. She grits her teeth in annoyance. This had better be worth it.
It's almost been seven years. Seven years since she visited Svartalfheim. Seven years since she first came back to England. Seven bloody years she's been looking for Gleipnir. This lead had better fucking pan out.
She is tired. The purpose behind her search is mired in the muck each passing year leaves in her mind. Or perhaps that's just now, far beneath the earth as she is, far away from the sea, far away from the tumbling streams, far away from windswept lakes. The only bit of water here is in the drip, drip, drip.
Her mind grows foggy here. So far beneath the earth.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Tck.
She pauses, what was that?
Tck.
It sounds between the irritating dribble.
Tck.
Her mind clears in an instant. Adrenaline and experience pushing out the fog. She whirls in a quick circle, hiding her presence behind a spell-line, extinguishing the light from her wand as she does.
The deep pit goes dark without her spell-light. Only a slight glimmer of light high above the chambers allows her to see the faint outlines of the rocky walls.
In the silence that follows, she realizes the noise is coming from small pebbles falling from one of the cave's walls, pattering onto the hard ground. She crouches, pointing her wand in the direction of the falling stones, wishing she had more cover to crouch behind. The spell she cast on the ground creates a barrier that simulates the natural environment. Anyone who would look at her would see a rock wall three feet ahead of where it actually is. The only issue with the spell, is that it doesn't create a physical barrier — leaving her out in the open if spells start flying, or if anyone decides to lean against it.
But it will have to do for now. She cannot tell why the rocks are falling. Is someone coming down the pit? Or is there a low vibration that she can't feel shaking some of the stones free? What is it?
Her questions are answered just as she thinks them. The wall across from her seems to ripple in the faint light, drawing in on itself. Then with a loud whumpff, the wall explodes outward — rocks and debris flying at her.
Bright and clear spell-light comes spilling in through the gaping hole, illuminating the chamber. The light catches on the suspended dust in the air, refracting around the cave, making it glow with a soft grey radiance. A low muttered spell banishes the dust from the air while another sends an orb of light hovering at the height of the chamber.
Ginny casts a silent spell to muffle her coughs, clearing the dust from her lungs. Her shield spell had protected her from the rocks projectiling at her from the explosion. She tenses as she hears the spells cast, there are wizards here. How did they get here? Why are they here?
Two figures climb over top the pile of rubble that fills the ground of the cave, silhouetted against the light. They're casting their wands across the walls, clearly looking for something.
"Sir," one of them says, pointing towards Ginny. She knows they can't see her but she double checks her spell-line to make sure. And there, at the corner of the line, a large boulder extends across it. Damnit. She recognizes that voice. Damnit, she thinks again. She recognizes them.
Of-fucking-course they'd be here. Of course they'd be here together.
"III"
May 8, 1997
"Magical power doesn't change that much between each individual, no matter how much some people would like you to believe that. Pureblood rhetoric states that they're inherently more powerful than muggleborns or halfbloods.
"This, of course, isn't true," lectures Dumbledore, "Where we begin seeing a lack in magical prowess is in the lack of creativity. Many people accredit me with great power as a wizard. And while I acknowledge these claims, I know that it truly is in my creativity as a spellcaster that makes me great. Of course there are other attributes that lend themselves to achieving greatness as a witch or wizard. Academia lends itself naturally — hence these lessons.
"The more one knows about the subject in which they seek attainment, the more successful they can be. By even asking about the fundamentals of magic, Ginevra, you have set yourself apart from your peers — from most wizards in fact. Many of our kind simply take for granted the marvels that magic allows us—"
A knock sounds at the door, interrupting his lesson.
"Come in," Dumbledore calls, the door swinging open with his gesture.
"Hello Professor, I'm here for our meeting—" Harry Potter walks through the doorway, cutting short when he catches sight of Ginny. "Oh, sorry sir, I can come back later?"
"Ah, Harry, no no, my meeting with Ginevra ran a bit over, please, come in."
Ginny glances curiously at Harry, wondering why he was here to meet with Dumbledore; surely he wasn't learning about the fundamentals of magic?
She hasn't spent much time with the boy other than the fact he is always hanging out with Ron. He spends a lot of time at the Burrow for holidays and is always sitting at the same seats in the common room with Ron and Hermione, but Ginny doesn't hang out with them. Her and Ron drifted apart as soon as he had started at Hogwarts; he gets so wrapped up in Harry and Hermione he doesn't have time for her anymore.
Harry steps into the room somewhat tentatively, glancing often at Ginny, as if he was worried about being near her. She scoffs silently, he always was timid around her, ever since he first came to the Burrow after his first year. She doesn't know why.
Dumbledore turns to her, "Well, our discussion will have to pick up on Friday Ginevra. I'm afraid we ran over. We will get more into working with natural energy and our way of accessing it. If you'd like to read up on the subject, there is a book in the library, the restricted section I believe, called Natural Magic and Ley Lines. I'll send a note along to Madam Pince to have it ready for you to pick. I believe you will find it most delightful, if a bit dense."
Ginny stands up, "Thank you Professor, goodnight." She nods at Harry on her way out the door.
He nervously nods back, his hands clenched in front of him.
"III"
February 15, 2008
She sighs; knowing the confrontation is inevitable, she brings down her illusionary wall, keeping her hands raised and in sight.
"Hello Professor, hello Harry."
The first we've seen of Harry since the prologue.
I hope you all enjoy the way the story is going, as always reviews make me happy! And I love hearing from you guys.
Next chapter will be posted on Thursday.
Thank you Mat94, I hope you enjoy this brief introduction of Harry to the story, he'll be featuring more prominently as we move forward.
Scrappy8, always a pleasure to hear from you.