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batsutousaiTitle: Wand and Dagger
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Beta:tsuki_no_suzu
Rating: PG-13?
Pairings: undecided, but most likely some form of SLASH
Warnings: OCs, OoC
Summary: The war is coming too quickly for comfort and Harry wonders if it isn't time for him to find a school that will actually teach him what he needs to learn to defeat Voldemort.
Disclaim Her: Mokkun's name is stolen from Shara's cat, who is slightly feral, unless you've got food for him. I considered naming him after my cat, who loves humans, but it seemed somewhat wrong to have a pet dragon named Tom in a school run by a man with the name. (Never mind that Voldie is the reason Tom has the name he does. XD)
A/N: A number of people have asked about Voldemort/Gaunt. Gaunt is Voldemort, not a Horcrux that's taken a human form. The Death Eaters aren't aware of Voldie's other life, as it were. (But, then again, he's gotta have something to do in his free time, right?)
The DEs are also where Voldie got the money to start the school, though they don't know that. Since then, a couple galleons every couple of months and any donations from alumni are what's kept the school running. (It was all donations, during the thirteen years that Voldie was missing, since there was no Head to get money from the DEs.)
-0-0-0-
Chapter Three – Shocks and Explosions
-0-0-0-
At breakfast, Tuesday morning, Harry waited until Ren sat, then asked, "I've got a letter I need to send the muggle way. Do you know how I might go about it?"
Ren took a bite of cereal and chewed thoughtfully for a few minutes. "Got any stamps?"
"Stamps?" Arcturus asked, confused.
Harry shook his head. "Never needed them before," he told Ren, then turned to Arcturus and said, "Muggle way of paying to send a letter through the post. Pre-buy the stamps and stick them on the envelope."
"Huh. Muggles are so strange..."
Jacob snickered across from them. "Purebloods are weird, thanks. Muggles make sense."
"You're just saying that because you grew up around them," Arcturus shot back.
Harry rolled his eyes at the two and turned back to Ren, who grinned. "I was going to say, if you have a stamp, you can just put it in the box out front. Supposedly, this is muggle land, so Gaunt pays for the land and water and everything the muggle way. Which means muggle bills. There's two boxes out front, one for outgoing mail, and the other for incoming. Students don't usually use the boxes, but some of us have muggle families who are a little weirded out by birds making deliveries."
"Yeah," Jacob added. "Mum hates owls. I couldn't send her letters from school because there wasn't any way to send muggle letters."
"Huh. Never even thought about it," Harry admitted. "I never really wrote to my aunt in school; we don't get on that well."
Ren gave him a knowing look. "Asking her about your hair?"
Harry blinked, then grimaced. "Oh, yeah. Not that I think she knows anything, mind..."
Ren nodded. "Well, on weekends, we're allowed into the village. You could wait until then and buy some stamps at the post office. Or you could ask Gaunt for one. I think it's twenty knuts for a stamp."
Jacob whistled. "That's steep."
Ren shrugged. "He just asks a couple extra pence for the cost of him having to go out and get more."
Harry hummed. "Maybe I'll go see him after lunch, then."
"Desperate to find out?" Jacob teased.
"Something like that," Harry agreed as Gaur rose. "Bugger. Come on. Time to get sweaty."
"You have such a way with words," Arcturus complained.
-0-
After buying a stamp from Gaunt and putting the letter to his aunt in the mailbox out front, Harry wandered up to the common room, where Arcturus and Ren were playing with Mokkun.
"I can understand why Rai is taking Dark Magics," Ren was saying when Harry walked in, "but why Jacob? He's such a good kid."
"He's taking Light Magics, too," Arcturus pointed out. "Maybe he's just seeing which one he likes. I might have done the same, but I went to Durmstrang, so I already know I hate Dark Magics."
Harry sat down in one of the free chairs around the pseudodragon. "I don't see how someone can stand using Dark magic. Doesn't it rot your brain or something?"
"No," Ren said, looking surprised. "What gave you that idea?"
"Voldemort," Harry said with a shrug. When his two friends shuddered, he rolled his eyes. "It's just a name, you know."
"Ugh. Just, do me a favour and don't say it again?" Arcturus requested.
Harry huffed. "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
"He spent five years with Dumbledore," Ren said, as if it explained everything.
"I don't care if it increases my fear of Him, just don't say it, okay?" Arcturus complained. "At Durmstrang, if you said His name, you got caned."
"But this isn't Durmstrang," Harry pointed out.
"It isn't Hogwarts, either," Ren pointed out drily. "And, here, everyone calls Him the Dark Lord. You might as well take it up. Unless you want to draw attention to yourself."
Harry frowned a bit. "No..."
"Good. Now, Dark magic," Ren said, trying for a cheerful tone. "Here, look at Arcturus. He's not rotted, is he?"
Harry shook his head. "No. But he's a Light wizard."
"Five years with Dumbledore," Ren muttered, rolling his eyes. "Okay, so most of his family line is Light. But he's still been using Dark magic for four years at Durmstrang."
"But he didn't want to use it," Harry replied.
"It's not going to work, Ren," Arcturus commented.
"No, wait. What about Rai? He's half Dark creature, and he's been using Dark spells his whole life. He's not rotted."
Harry bit his lower lip and thought about that. It was true, incubi were Dark creatures, and if Rai had gone to Durmstrang, he would have been using Dark magic for years. But Rai was fine. He was quiet, but it wasn't like he was power hungry or mad or anything. Not like Voldemort. "I don't know," he finally said. "But, okay, if it's not the Dark magic, why is Vol– sorry, why is the Dark Lord so nuts?"
"Ask a psychologist," Ren deadpanned.
"Psychologist?" Arcturus parroted, looking confused.
"Muggle mind healer," Harry said absently. "Are you saying he was nuts before the magic?"
"I'm saying I don't know, okay. It's not like anyone's done a study on the guy. Most people run away from him or bow really low, not wonder about how he got to be so crazy."
Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Whatever."
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose briefly before pulling out his wand. "Let me teach you a spell, okay?"
Harry looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"I want you to know what it feels like to cast a Dark spell, that's why. Now–"
"I've cast Dark magic before," Harry said.
Ren paused and both he and Arcturus stared at him in surprise.
Harry sunk down into his chair.
"Really?" Arcturus asked, leaning forward. "Which spell?"
Harry swallowed, then whispered, "The Cruciatus Curse."
Ren whistled, while Arcturus shook his head. "No wonder you've got such a bad impression of it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry snapped, sitting up straight.
"It didn't work, did it?" Ren cut in, before Arcturus could respond. "You're too nice to actually want to hurt someone."
"No, it didn't," Harry agreed.
Ren sighed. "Let me teach you one that you can cast, then."
"I don't want to learn Dark magic, Ren."
"Shush. Now, the spell is Flagrante. You touch your wand to an object and cast it."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest again. "No."
"You're acting like a child, Barak," Ren told him.
Arcturus shook his head. "Harry, that particular curse is meant to keep people from touching things you don't want them touching. If anyone besides the caster, or someone the caster adds into the spell, touches the object, they get a nasty burn. Nothing a good healer can't fix, mind."
Harry blinked at them both for a long minute before saying, "It's Dark?"
"It causes pain to the victim, so it's technically Dark," Arcturus affirmed.
Harry thought of his Invisibility Cloak and photo album, both of which he would be devastated if he lost. (And one of which would completely destroy him.) He swallowed and sat forward. "Show me again?"
Ren grinned at him and taught him the spell.
-0-
"This class, is not a game," Gaunt said after Kathy and Harry had both taken seats in the classroom. Behind them, Rai and Rick Rosier were working on some things Gaunt had directed them to as soon as they'd entered the room. "I have had students in this class that did not heed that warning and they killed themselves in a ritual they tried to perform. Yes, before you ask, we will be learning some rituals and, if you wish, you may perform them. But not without my assistance. Is this understood?"
Harry nodded nervously, while Kathy looked pleased.
Gaunt frowned at her. "If I think you're not taking this class seriously, Miss Carrow, I will remove you."
Kathy frowned a bit. "Yes, sir."
Gaunt nodded. "Mr Barak, I believe I saw a rune on your forehead last night?"
Harry nodded. "Algiz, sir."
"What do you know of that rune, Mr Barak?"
"It symbolizes protection, sir. It can mean a shield, which can take form in the urge for one to protect themselves, or others. It can also be used to ward off evil, or as a reminder to trust your instincts," Harry said, remembering what he'd read in his books while he was in The Leaky.
Gaunt smiled. "Very good, Mr Barak. It can also be used to channel your energies. You may have noticed that your magic is stronger, since you got the rune?"
Harry blinked and nodded. He had noticed that his shield charm had been a lot stronger in class the day before, but he hadn't really thought about it.
"Runes," Gaunt continued cheerfully, "can be used to augment abilities we already have, and a ritual which uses runes is always stronger than one that doesn't. Once you have a deeper understanding of runes, you may begin to notice them in magical objects you own. Later this year, I will be teaching you how to cast the magic sight on yourself, which will allow you to see the magic around you. You will find that most spells have a runic component, and anything imbued with magic will have a rune.
"For example, I can see that Mr Barak's hat has a full-body shield charm on it, and Miss Carrow's robes are spelled with a warming charm, which is currently inactive. I can also see where your wands are," Gaunt added with a smile. Harry, who was keeping his in the back pocket of his jeans grimaced and carefully pulled his out. Gaunt's smile got wider and he suggested, "You may wish to look up a spell to attach your wand to your forearm, Mr Barak. You chance breaking it in its current home."
"Yes, sir," Harry said, flushing.
Kathy snorted. "Half-bloods."
Gaunt frowned at her. "Miss Carrow, I have warned you once; if you do not curb your tongue, I will curse it off. This is your last warning."
Kathy scowled, but didn't say anything again.
Gaunt nodded and continued with the lesson, going over the runes that were in their book, then setting them to coming up with ways the runes could be used while he went back to help Rai and Rosier.
Despite having to share the class with Kathy, Harry thought he might enjoy it.
-0-
The next morning, during breakfast, Arcturus received an owl from his family. He popped it open and read it over quickly, smiling at whatever he found. When he looked up and found Harry and Ren looking at him curiously – Jacob was half asleep in his bowl, and Rai was picking over the buffet for the third time – he smiled at them and said, "Just trading owls with my cousin. Like I said, he really wanted to come here. I told him I'd let him know how it is."
Harry blinked, and had a sudden horrified thought: what if Arcturus had asked about him? He cleared his throat and looked at his new friend nervously. "I don't suppose you mentioned me?"
Arcturus smiled. "Yeah. Wondered why he'd never mentioned you, since you two were in the same year, right?" Harry nodded faintly, getting a sinking feeling. "Well, he said you just weren't all that noticeable, s'all. Didn't really have any close friends in Gryffindor, so you didn't spend a lot of time with your own house. Made sense, I suppose."
Harry let out a faint breath. Neville had covered for him. But, how had he known to? Unless...
Hermione.
Harry made a mental note to get his best friend a lot of books for her birthday. Enough that he'd need three owls to carry them all.
"What houses?" Ren asked curiously.
Before Harry could come up with an answer, Gaur rose and smiled evilly at the students.
And, for once, Harry really loved the man.
-0-
After a rather boring Light Magics class, Harry begged off and returned to his room. Much to his relief, Hedwig sat on her perch next to the window, looking quite pleased with herself. Three letters sat on Harry's desk next to his pile of notes.
"You're brilliant, you know that?" Harry commented to his owl, pulling out a few treats for her. Hedwig practically glowed under the praise and demanded Harry pay more attention to her, which he gladly did.
When Harry finally managed to get away from his owl, he sat at his desk and looked over the three letters, all of which, he was relieved to see, were address to his assumed name. One was definitely from Hermione, and another from Dumbledore. The last, Harry was fairly certain came from Neville, and he popped that one open first.
'Harry,
'You're lucky Hedwig got here with a note from Hermione when she did! I got a letter from my cousin just after, asking me if I knew a Harry Barak, which, of course, is you. Hermione, being the brilliant witch she is, told me that you were pretending to be another Gryffindor boy in our year. She figured that, since you didn't really exist, we should just pretend you didn't spend any time in the house for one reason or another. I told Arc that you had friends in a different house, so make something up.
'You owe me, by the way.
'What do you think of the school? You're supposed to start it in your fifth year, you know, because it's a three-year school. You're a little late, I guess, but they probably don't mind that much. I'm madly jealous, of course. Wand and Dagger is such a good school for defence, and now that I believe I can do defence... Well, I'm sure you understand. Thanks for that, by the way. Last year, I mean. Without you teaching us, I'd still be a clumsy idiot. (Well, I still am, a bit, but now I know I can be better.) Gran was so proud of me when I got home.
'It won't be as much fun without you at Hogwarts this year. And who am I supposed to talk to now? Not Ron. (How's he taking this, by the way? Not well, I imagine.)
'Hoping you're doing well,
'Neville'
Harry smiled sadly at Neville's letter. "You're not a clumsy idiot, Neville," he told the letter, then pulled out some paper and a quill to write a letter telling his friend just that. He also answered the boy's few questions and assured Neville that he was well aware he owed both him and Hermione big-time. He promised a rare plant for Christmas, or something else, if Neville wanted.
Finished with Neville's letter, he turned to Hermione.
'I almost screamed when I realized you've made friends with Neville's cousin, and we never told Neville about you changing schools. So I'm sending this and another letter to Neville now so he can, hopefully, keep from giving you up. Don't scare me like that!
' 'Mione'
Harry laughed – he could almost see Hermione's panicked hair-pulling as she wrote both him and Neville letters. So he wrote her a letter back saying thanks and that he owed her and Neville for saving his skin. He also told her about the past two days of classes, since he knew she'd want to know.
When Harry was done writing Hermione back, he pulled over Dumbledore's letter and, with a deep breath, opened it.
'Harry,
'If I cannot talk you out of this, I shall have to give you what lessons I'd planned by owl, as they are not of the magical defence sort. I had intended to teach you something more of your enemy, so you might defeat him even with your limited experience in the magical world. If you will consent, I would like to send you some memories I have acquired regarding the young Tom Riddle and his adventures previous to his first reign. There is a spell to view memories without a Pensieve, though you will likely find it easier to obtain the artefact than learn the spell.
'I am not convinced Thomas Gaunt isn't Voldemort, so I ask that you remain on your guard, no matter how kind he may seem to yourself and your fellow students. You know from the diary how compelling he can be, when he wishes your trust. If you can find and perform a spell to safe-guard your things, do so.
'As for your hair, I am not certain why it might be auburn. I know your hair was quite a bit lighter before your family went into hiding, and you might ask Remus if he knows. I will assure you now, however, that your parents were Lily and James, not someone else. A paternity test is run on each baby that is born at St Mungo's, so the right information is correct on the birth certificate. Knowing your father as I do, it's possible your hair was the result of a prank that was played upon you shortly before Voldemort came. The answer is likely lost to time.
'Please take care,
'Albus Dumbledore'
Harry stared at the letter for a long time after he'd read it, not sure how he felt. He was disappointed that the Headmaster thought him weak enough that he mightn't survive even if he learned more spells, and disgusted that the man thought memories of Voldemort would help him defeat the man. At the same time, however, he was glad to know he wasn't a literal bastard, and amused by the thought that his hair could have just been a trick gone wrong. He was overjoyed to think that, right before those moments of fear when Voldemort came for them, his parents might have been happy.
Rather than reply to Dumbledore right that moment, Harry shoved the letter under the pile of notes and grabbed his Firebolt for a fly in the forest. He wouldn't manage the speed or height he would have gotten at Hogwarts, but any flying was better than none.
-0-
With Ren's help, Harry found a spell which allowed him to stick his wand to his forearm. Writing and eating with it attached took some getting used to, but he was able to cast spells without his wand in his hand, making him look like he was casting wandlessly, a trick his four friends quickly learned as well, though it wasn't as easy for them as it was for Harry. When Harry had wondered about that aloud, Rai tapped his forehead and said, "What did Gaunt say about that rune?" Jacob had promptly re-created the rune on his own forehead and found his own 'wandless' casting to be easier.
Healing after lunch on Thursday turned out to be exactly like Ren had unknowingly suggested it might be on Monday. Doe was a no-nonsense sort of woman who believed that, after she had taught you something, you'd best know it enough to fix it yourself. She cheerfully taught them how to heal a small cut, then cast diffindo on each of them and watched as they tried to fix it themselves. If they weren't able to, such as Pearl, she tutted and told them to ask one of their other classmates to do it for them. (Arcturus had been closest and healed Pearl before she'd had to actually ask.)
After Healing, Harry and Arcturus sat in the atrium on the second floor, practising healing spells and wistfully listening to the explosions coming from the Potions classroom, where Jacob was having class with the mad Smith.
-0-
Friday the three first years finished up their homework in Harry's room. They had asked their second year friends to join them, but both Ren and Rai had a few questions to run by their professors, as their work was harder. Ren had said he might join them later, but Rai had simply shrugged.
"Are you ever going to decorate this place, Harry?" Jacob asked, glancing around the bare room curiously.
Harry looked around himself. He'd carefully put his cloak and photo album, as well as the two photos he had of himself and his Hogwarts friends, into his trunk before inviting his two friends in. Without those little decorative touches, all he really had out were his broom, his books, Hedwig's empty perch and his tiny models of the dragon from his fourth year and the Firebolt he'd gotten from Tonks the previous Christmas. "Erm..." he said, trying to find something to say.
"Because you're one to talk," Arcturus came to Harry's rescue. "I've seen your room, Jacob, and it's emptier than Harry's. At least he's got his books and broom."
"Hey! I've got pictures up!" Jacob complained.
Arcturus just sort of looked at him.
Jacob pouted a bit, then suddenly smiled. "We could look up a spell to change the colours of the walls and bedding, at least. Then maybe our rooms wouldn't look so boring."
Harry brightened at that suggestion. "We could, couldn't we?"
Arcturus looked thoughtful for a moment before getting up and walking next door to his room. Harry and Jacob traded confused looks, which they turned on their friend when he returned with a book. "Aunt Augusta got this for me a couple of years ago," he explained, holding the book up. "It's got a bunch of housekeeping charms in it, including ones to change the colours of things."
"Your aunt is really useful," Jacob decided, then glanced at Harry. "Why couldn't yours be as cool?"
Harry shrugged. "She's a muggle."
"Never mind that!" Arcturus opened his book up to the page for colouring walls and sat back down on the floor with them. "Here. Looks like you just flick your wand at the wall and say the Latin name of the colour you want. Mmm... Wait, you also have to visualize the shade you want."
"They don't have words for lighter or darker?" Jacob asked, half-teasing.
Arcturus rolled his eyes. "How would it be easier to keep spelling the walls lighter or darker until they’re just the right shade?"
Harry snorted and took the book. Standing, he flicked his hand – with his wand hidden up his sleeve – at the wall he shared with Arcturus and intoned, "Ruber," envisioning the bright red of the Gryffindor common room.
"Oh, dear Merlin," Jacob groaned. "Why such an obnoxious colour?"
"There's nothing obnoxious about red!" Harry complained, shooting another spell at the wall with the door.
"It is a bit... bright," Arcturus commented diplomatically.
Harry paused after colouring the third wall and looked around. "Looks fine to me," he replied, then hit the last wall with the spell.
Arcturus closed his eyes helplessly while Jacob commented, "I think you're colour blind."
Harry scowled at them for a long minute before quickly hitting each wall with a slightly darker red. "Better?" he inquired.
Jacob eyed the walls critically for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. What are you going to paint the ceiling?"
Harry huffed and shot an even darker red at the ceiling, then, without really thinking about it, gold at the carpet.
"It works on carpet?" Arcturus asked, looking down at the glinting carpet. "Wicked."
When Harry looked at Jacob pointedly, he grinned. "It's your room, you know."
"I hate you," Harry informed him, then stalked into the bathroom to colour it a light blue.
"Any bets on if you're getting that book back?" Jacob said to Arcturus.
"Shut it!" Arcturus hissed back. "Before he throws it!"
Jacob shrugged and grinned. "What colour are you painting your room?"
Arcturus sighed. "Blue, I think. Or green. Maybe brown?"
"Earthy colours. Should have guessed." Jacob rolled his eyes up at the ceiling, as if asking for patience.
"What about you?"
"Light blue. Really, really light blue. With a gold carpet, like Harry's. Just like home." Jacob smiled in memory.
"You might need Harry's help making your carpet this gold," Arcturus pointed out drily. "If I didn't know it was soft, I'd think it was real gold."
Jacob glanced down at the carpet, then grinned. "Might."
Harry rolled his eyes at them and sat back down. "Here," he said, handing over the book. "Have at."
Jacob took the book, then looked at Harry curiously. "You're not really mad, are you?"
Harry sighed. "Mildly disgruntled," he decided.
Jacob grinned again. "Excellent! I'll be back!" Then he bounced up and hurried down to his own room.
"What did you paint the closet?" Arcturus asked with a hint of amusement.
Harry smiled faintly. "Green and silver. How'd you know?"
"Heard the door."
Harry shook his head in amusement. "Just don't tell your cousin, I'll never live it down."
"I'll take that into consideration."
-0-
Saturday, Harry and Jacob dragged Arcturus into town. Harry wanted to get some stamps, in case he or one of his friends needed them, and some extra odds and ends for his room, since Jacob had pointed it out. Jacob wanted a camera, so he could take pictures of things. They'd both decided Arcturus needed to see some of the muggle world.
The town was small, and the townspeople had a distinct Welsh accent. There weren't a lot of shops, but Jacob managed to find an antiques shop not long after Harry had found the post office. Inside, there were loads of things for reasonably cheap, and the three boys went a little nuts finding things to decorate with, especially Harry and Jacob.
Harry ended up with a couple of fanciful paintings that reminded him of Hogwarts, a handsome gold lion sculpture and a clock from a ship during the 60s.
Jacob found himself a muggle camera that wasn't too old, a large globe, and a couple Renaissance pictures of half-naked women, which the owner had looked at him oddly for.
Arcturus found a couple delicate glass sculptures of animals, which he said were like the wizarding ones he collected.
The three friends bought everything – Harry and Jacob pooling their muggle money together to pay for Arcturus' findings, since he didn't have any – and then hurried back to the school to put their things away. When they were done with their additional decorating, they retired to the common room, where Jacob tried to figure out his new camera and they took pictures of each other.
At dinner, they got Pearl to take a couple pictures of the three first years with Ren and Rai. Somehow, Smith got into a couple of them, and Jacob joked that the pictures, when he got them developed, would probably have the crazed professor bouncing all over the place.
When Harry went to bed that night, he reflected that coming to Wand and Dagger had been the best choice of his life.
-0-0-0-0-0-
A/N: Not sure when the next chapter's going to be out. The lot of them are giving me some trouble. (I have a plot, sorta, but I need characterization first, which I hate. As Shara put it, I need you lot to know the characters like I do.) I hope to get it up next Wednesday, since once a week sounds like a good updating schedule, but I'm on a role with Broken right now, so it's taking a fair bit of my time. (Plus papers. Being a grad students almost sucks more than being an undergrad sometimes.)
I was also, for a bit, using a semi-assignment to make a website for this fic, since I made Sims of the OCs, but that's been put a bit on hold because of papers. (And because the site-making site my professor directed us to was driving me bonkers.) I'll let you know if that ever actually goes anywhere.
~Bats ^.^x
Chapters:
1 - The Wolves ||| 2 - The First Day |||3 - Shocks and Explosions
4 - Socialising ||| 5 - The Patronus ||| 6 - ??
Incomplete
Author:
batsutousaiBeta:
tsuki_no_suzuRating: PG-13?
Pairings: undecided, but most likely some form of SLASH
Warnings: OCs, OoC
Summary: The war is coming too quickly for comfort and Harry wonders if it isn't time for him to find a school that will actually teach him what he needs to learn to defeat Voldemort.
Disclaim Her: Mokkun's name is stolen from Shara's cat, who is slightly feral, unless you've got food for him. I considered naming him after my cat, who loves humans, but it seemed somewhat wrong to have a pet dragon named Tom in a school run by a man with the name. (Never mind that Voldie is the reason Tom has the name he does. XD)
A/N: A number of people have asked about Voldemort/Gaunt. Gaunt is Voldemort, not a Horcrux that's taken a human form. The Death Eaters aren't aware of Voldie's other life, as it were. (But, then again, he's gotta have something to do in his free time, right?)
The DEs are also where Voldie got the money to start the school, though they don't know that. Since then, a couple galleons every couple of months and any donations from alumni are what's kept the school running. (It was all donations, during the thirteen years that Voldie was missing, since there was no Head to get money from the DEs.)
Chapter Three – Shocks and Explosions
-0-0-0-
At breakfast, Tuesday morning, Harry waited until Ren sat, then asked, "I've got a letter I need to send the muggle way. Do you know how I might go about it?"
Ren took a bite of cereal and chewed thoughtfully for a few minutes. "Got any stamps?"
"Stamps?" Arcturus asked, confused.
Harry shook his head. "Never needed them before," he told Ren, then turned to Arcturus and said, "Muggle way of paying to send a letter through the post. Pre-buy the stamps and stick them on the envelope."
"Huh. Muggles are so strange..."
Jacob snickered across from them. "Purebloods are weird, thanks. Muggles make sense."
"You're just saying that because you grew up around them," Arcturus shot back.
Harry rolled his eyes at the two and turned back to Ren, who grinned. "I was going to say, if you have a stamp, you can just put it in the box out front. Supposedly, this is muggle land, so Gaunt pays for the land and water and everything the muggle way. Which means muggle bills. There's two boxes out front, one for outgoing mail, and the other for incoming. Students don't usually use the boxes, but some of us have muggle families who are a little weirded out by birds making deliveries."
"Yeah," Jacob added. "Mum hates owls. I couldn't send her letters from school because there wasn't any way to send muggle letters."
"Huh. Never even thought about it," Harry admitted. "I never really wrote to my aunt in school; we don't get on that well."
Ren gave him a knowing look. "Asking her about your hair?"
Harry blinked, then grimaced. "Oh, yeah. Not that I think she knows anything, mind..."
Ren nodded. "Well, on weekends, we're allowed into the village. You could wait until then and buy some stamps at the post office. Or you could ask Gaunt for one. I think it's twenty knuts for a stamp."
Jacob whistled. "That's steep."
Ren shrugged. "He just asks a couple extra pence for the cost of him having to go out and get more."
Harry hummed. "Maybe I'll go see him after lunch, then."
"Desperate to find out?" Jacob teased.
"Something like that," Harry agreed as Gaur rose. "Bugger. Come on. Time to get sweaty."
"You have such a way with words," Arcturus complained.
After buying a stamp from Gaunt and putting the letter to his aunt in the mailbox out front, Harry wandered up to the common room, where Arcturus and Ren were playing with Mokkun.
"I can understand why Rai is taking Dark Magics," Ren was saying when Harry walked in, "but why Jacob? He's such a good kid."
"He's taking Light Magics, too," Arcturus pointed out. "Maybe he's just seeing which one he likes. I might have done the same, but I went to Durmstrang, so I already know I hate Dark Magics."
Harry sat down in one of the free chairs around the pseudodragon. "I don't see how someone can stand using Dark magic. Doesn't it rot your brain or something?"
"No," Ren said, looking surprised. "What gave you that idea?"
"Voldemort," Harry said with a shrug. When his two friends shuddered, he rolled his eyes. "It's just a name, you know."
"Ugh. Just, do me a favour and don't say it again?" Arcturus requested.
Harry huffed. "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
"He spent five years with Dumbledore," Ren said, as if it explained everything.
"I don't care if it increases my fear of Him, just don't say it, okay?" Arcturus complained. "At Durmstrang, if you said His name, you got caned."
"But this isn't Durmstrang," Harry pointed out.
"It isn't Hogwarts, either," Ren pointed out drily. "And, here, everyone calls Him the Dark Lord. You might as well take it up. Unless you want to draw attention to yourself."
Harry frowned a bit. "No..."
"Good. Now, Dark magic," Ren said, trying for a cheerful tone. "Here, look at Arcturus. He's not rotted, is he?"
Harry shook his head. "No. But he's a Light wizard."
"Five years with Dumbledore," Ren muttered, rolling his eyes. "Okay, so most of his family line is Light. But he's still been using Dark magic for four years at Durmstrang."
"But he didn't want to use it," Harry replied.
"It's not going to work, Ren," Arcturus commented.
"No, wait. What about Rai? He's half Dark creature, and he's been using Dark spells his whole life. He's not rotted."
Harry bit his lower lip and thought about that. It was true, incubi were Dark creatures, and if Rai had gone to Durmstrang, he would have been using Dark magic for years. But Rai was fine. He was quiet, but it wasn't like he was power hungry or mad or anything. Not like Voldemort. "I don't know," he finally said. "But, okay, if it's not the Dark magic, why is Vol– sorry, why is the Dark Lord so nuts?"
"Ask a psychologist," Ren deadpanned.
"Psychologist?" Arcturus parroted, looking confused.
"Muggle mind healer," Harry said absently. "Are you saying he was nuts before the magic?"
"I'm saying I don't know, okay. It's not like anyone's done a study on the guy. Most people run away from him or bow really low, not wonder about how he got to be so crazy."
Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Whatever."
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose briefly before pulling out his wand. "Let me teach you a spell, okay?"
Harry looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"I want you to know what it feels like to cast a Dark spell, that's why. Now–"
"I've cast Dark magic before," Harry said.
Ren paused and both he and Arcturus stared at him in surprise.
Harry sunk down into his chair.
"Really?" Arcturus asked, leaning forward. "Which spell?"
Harry swallowed, then whispered, "The Cruciatus Curse."
Ren whistled, while Arcturus shook his head. "No wonder you've got such a bad impression of it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry snapped, sitting up straight.
"It didn't work, did it?" Ren cut in, before Arcturus could respond. "You're too nice to actually want to hurt someone."
"No, it didn't," Harry agreed.
Ren sighed. "Let me teach you one that you can cast, then."
"I don't want to learn Dark magic, Ren."
"Shush. Now, the spell is Flagrante. You touch your wand to an object and cast it."
Harry crossed his arms over his chest again. "No."
"You're acting like a child, Barak," Ren told him.
Arcturus shook his head. "Harry, that particular curse is meant to keep people from touching things you don't want them touching. If anyone besides the caster, or someone the caster adds into the spell, touches the object, they get a nasty burn. Nothing a good healer can't fix, mind."
Harry blinked at them both for a long minute before saying, "It's Dark?"
"It causes pain to the victim, so it's technically Dark," Arcturus affirmed.
Harry thought of his Invisibility Cloak and photo album, both of which he would be devastated if he lost. (And one of which would completely destroy him.) He swallowed and sat forward. "Show me again?"
Ren grinned at him and taught him the spell.
"This class, is not a game," Gaunt said after Kathy and Harry had both taken seats in the classroom. Behind them, Rai and Rick Rosier were working on some things Gaunt had directed them to as soon as they'd entered the room. "I have had students in this class that did not heed that warning and they killed themselves in a ritual they tried to perform. Yes, before you ask, we will be learning some rituals and, if you wish, you may perform them. But not without my assistance. Is this understood?"
Harry nodded nervously, while Kathy looked pleased.
Gaunt frowned at her. "If I think you're not taking this class seriously, Miss Carrow, I will remove you."
Kathy frowned a bit. "Yes, sir."
Gaunt nodded. "Mr Barak, I believe I saw a rune on your forehead last night?"
Harry nodded. "Algiz, sir."
"What do you know of that rune, Mr Barak?"
"It symbolizes protection, sir. It can mean a shield, which can take form in the urge for one to protect themselves, or others. It can also be used to ward off evil, or as a reminder to trust your instincts," Harry said, remembering what he'd read in his books while he was in The Leaky.
Gaunt smiled. "Very good, Mr Barak. It can also be used to channel your energies. You may have noticed that your magic is stronger, since you got the rune?"
Harry blinked and nodded. He had noticed that his shield charm had been a lot stronger in class the day before, but he hadn't really thought about it.
"Runes," Gaunt continued cheerfully, "can be used to augment abilities we already have, and a ritual which uses runes is always stronger than one that doesn't. Once you have a deeper understanding of runes, you may begin to notice them in magical objects you own. Later this year, I will be teaching you how to cast the magic sight on yourself, which will allow you to see the magic around you. You will find that most spells have a runic component, and anything imbued with magic will have a rune.
"For example, I can see that Mr Barak's hat has a full-body shield charm on it, and Miss Carrow's robes are spelled with a warming charm, which is currently inactive. I can also see where your wands are," Gaunt added with a smile. Harry, who was keeping his in the back pocket of his jeans grimaced and carefully pulled his out. Gaunt's smile got wider and he suggested, "You may wish to look up a spell to attach your wand to your forearm, Mr Barak. You chance breaking it in its current home."
"Yes, sir," Harry said, flushing.
Kathy snorted. "Half-bloods."
Gaunt frowned at her. "Miss Carrow, I have warned you once; if you do not curb your tongue, I will curse it off. This is your last warning."
Kathy scowled, but didn't say anything again.
Gaunt nodded and continued with the lesson, going over the runes that were in their book, then setting them to coming up with ways the runes could be used while he went back to help Rai and Rosier.
Despite having to share the class with Kathy, Harry thought he might enjoy it.
The next morning, during breakfast, Arcturus received an owl from his family. He popped it open and read it over quickly, smiling at whatever he found. When he looked up and found Harry and Ren looking at him curiously – Jacob was half asleep in his bowl, and Rai was picking over the buffet for the third time – he smiled at them and said, "Just trading owls with my cousin. Like I said, he really wanted to come here. I told him I'd let him know how it is."
Harry blinked, and had a sudden horrified thought: what if Arcturus had asked about him? He cleared his throat and looked at his new friend nervously. "I don't suppose you mentioned me?"
Arcturus smiled. "Yeah. Wondered why he'd never mentioned you, since you two were in the same year, right?" Harry nodded faintly, getting a sinking feeling. "Well, he said you just weren't all that noticeable, s'all. Didn't really have any close friends in Gryffindor, so you didn't spend a lot of time with your own house. Made sense, I suppose."
Harry let out a faint breath. Neville had covered for him. But, how had he known to? Unless...
Hermione.
Harry made a mental note to get his best friend a lot of books for her birthday. Enough that he'd need three owls to carry them all.
"What houses?" Ren asked curiously.
Before Harry could come up with an answer, Gaur rose and smiled evilly at the students.
And, for once, Harry really loved the man.
After a rather boring Light Magics class, Harry begged off and returned to his room. Much to his relief, Hedwig sat on her perch next to the window, looking quite pleased with herself. Three letters sat on Harry's desk next to his pile of notes.
"You're brilliant, you know that?" Harry commented to his owl, pulling out a few treats for her. Hedwig practically glowed under the praise and demanded Harry pay more attention to her, which he gladly did.
When Harry finally managed to get away from his owl, he sat at his desk and looked over the three letters, all of which, he was relieved to see, were address to his assumed name. One was definitely from Hermione, and another from Dumbledore. The last, Harry was fairly certain came from Neville, and he popped that one open first.
'Harry,
'You're lucky Hedwig got here with a note from Hermione when she did! I got a letter from my cousin just after, asking me if I knew a Harry Barak, which, of course, is you. Hermione, being the brilliant witch she is, told me that you were pretending to be another Gryffindor boy in our year. She figured that, since you didn't really exist, we should just pretend you didn't spend any time in the house for one reason or another. I told Arc that you had friends in a different house, so make something up.
'You owe me, by the way.
'What do you think of the school? You're supposed to start it in your fifth year, you know, because it's a three-year school. You're a little late, I guess, but they probably don't mind that much. I'm madly jealous, of course. Wand and Dagger is such a good school for defence, and now that I believe I can do defence... Well, I'm sure you understand. Thanks for that, by the way. Last year, I mean. Without you teaching us, I'd still be a clumsy idiot. (Well, I still am, a bit, but now I know I can be better.) Gran was so proud of me when I got home.
'It won't be as much fun without you at Hogwarts this year. And who am I supposed to talk to now? Not Ron. (How's he taking this, by the way? Not well, I imagine.)
'Hoping you're doing well,
'Neville'
Harry smiled sadly at Neville's letter. "You're not a clumsy idiot, Neville," he told the letter, then pulled out some paper and a quill to write a letter telling his friend just that. He also answered the boy's few questions and assured Neville that he was well aware he owed both him and Hermione big-time. He promised a rare plant for Christmas, or something else, if Neville wanted.
Finished with Neville's letter, he turned to Hermione.
'I almost screamed when I realized you've made friends with Neville's cousin, and we never told Neville about you changing schools. So I'm sending this and another letter to Neville now so he can, hopefully, keep from giving you up. Don't scare me like that!
' 'Mione'
Harry laughed – he could almost see Hermione's panicked hair-pulling as she wrote both him and Neville letters. So he wrote her a letter back saying thanks and that he owed her and Neville for saving his skin. He also told her about the past two days of classes, since he knew she'd want to know.
When Harry was done writing Hermione back, he pulled over Dumbledore's letter and, with a deep breath, opened it.
'Harry,
'If I cannot talk you out of this, I shall have to give you what lessons I'd planned by owl, as they are not of the magical defence sort. I had intended to teach you something more of your enemy, so you might defeat him even with your limited experience in the magical world. If you will consent, I would like to send you some memories I have acquired regarding the young Tom Riddle and his adventures previous to his first reign. There is a spell to view memories without a Pensieve, though you will likely find it easier to obtain the artefact than learn the spell.
'I am not convinced Thomas Gaunt isn't Voldemort, so I ask that you remain on your guard, no matter how kind he may seem to yourself and your fellow students. You know from the diary how compelling he can be, when he wishes your trust. If you can find and perform a spell to safe-guard your things, do so.
'As for your hair, I am not certain why it might be auburn. I know your hair was quite a bit lighter before your family went into hiding, and you might ask Remus if he knows. I will assure you now, however, that your parents were Lily and James, not someone else. A paternity test is run on each baby that is born at St Mungo's, so the right information is correct on the birth certificate. Knowing your father as I do, it's possible your hair was the result of a prank that was played upon you shortly before Voldemort came. The answer is likely lost to time.
'Please take care,
'Albus Dumbledore'
Harry stared at the letter for a long time after he'd read it, not sure how he felt. He was disappointed that the Headmaster thought him weak enough that he mightn't survive even if he learned more spells, and disgusted that the man thought memories of Voldemort would help him defeat the man. At the same time, however, he was glad to know he wasn't a literal bastard, and amused by the thought that his hair could have just been a trick gone wrong. He was overjoyed to think that, right before those moments of fear when Voldemort came for them, his parents might have been happy.
Rather than reply to Dumbledore right that moment, Harry shoved the letter under the pile of notes and grabbed his Firebolt for a fly in the forest. He wouldn't manage the speed or height he would have gotten at Hogwarts, but any flying was better than none.
With Ren's help, Harry found a spell which allowed him to stick his wand to his forearm. Writing and eating with it attached took some getting used to, but he was able to cast spells without his wand in his hand, making him look like he was casting wandlessly, a trick his four friends quickly learned as well, though it wasn't as easy for them as it was for Harry. When Harry had wondered about that aloud, Rai tapped his forehead and said, "What did Gaunt say about that rune?" Jacob had promptly re-created the rune on his own forehead and found his own 'wandless' casting to be easier.
Healing after lunch on Thursday turned out to be exactly like Ren had unknowingly suggested it might be on Monday. Doe was a no-nonsense sort of woman who believed that, after she had taught you something, you'd best know it enough to fix it yourself. She cheerfully taught them how to heal a small cut, then cast diffindo on each of them and watched as they tried to fix it themselves. If they weren't able to, such as Pearl, she tutted and told them to ask one of their other classmates to do it for them. (Arcturus had been closest and healed Pearl before she'd had to actually ask.)
After Healing, Harry and Arcturus sat in the atrium on the second floor, practising healing spells and wistfully listening to the explosions coming from the Potions classroom, where Jacob was having class with the mad Smith.
Friday the three first years finished up their homework in Harry's room. They had asked their second year friends to join them, but both Ren and Rai had a few questions to run by their professors, as their work was harder. Ren had said he might join them later, but Rai had simply shrugged.
"Are you ever going to decorate this place, Harry?" Jacob asked, glancing around the bare room curiously.
Harry looked around himself. He'd carefully put his cloak and photo album, as well as the two photos he had of himself and his Hogwarts friends, into his trunk before inviting his two friends in. Without those little decorative touches, all he really had out were his broom, his books, Hedwig's empty perch and his tiny models of the dragon from his fourth year and the Firebolt he'd gotten from Tonks the previous Christmas. "Erm..." he said, trying to find something to say.
"Because you're one to talk," Arcturus came to Harry's rescue. "I've seen your room, Jacob, and it's emptier than Harry's. At least he's got his books and broom."
"Hey! I've got pictures up!" Jacob complained.
Arcturus just sort of looked at him.
Jacob pouted a bit, then suddenly smiled. "We could look up a spell to change the colours of the walls and bedding, at least. Then maybe our rooms wouldn't look so boring."
Harry brightened at that suggestion. "We could, couldn't we?"
Arcturus looked thoughtful for a moment before getting up and walking next door to his room. Harry and Jacob traded confused looks, which they turned on their friend when he returned with a book. "Aunt Augusta got this for me a couple of years ago," he explained, holding the book up. "It's got a bunch of housekeeping charms in it, including ones to change the colours of things."
"Your aunt is really useful," Jacob decided, then glanced at Harry. "Why couldn't yours be as cool?"
Harry shrugged. "She's a muggle."
"Never mind that!" Arcturus opened his book up to the page for colouring walls and sat back down on the floor with them. "Here. Looks like you just flick your wand at the wall and say the Latin name of the colour you want. Mmm... Wait, you also have to visualize the shade you want."
"They don't have words for lighter or darker?" Jacob asked, half-teasing.
Arcturus rolled his eyes. "How would it be easier to keep spelling the walls lighter or darker until they’re just the right shade?"
Harry snorted and took the book. Standing, he flicked his hand – with his wand hidden up his sleeve – at the wall he shared with Arcturus and intoned, "Ruber," envisioning the bright red of the Gryffindor common room.
"Oh, dear Merlin," Jacob groaned. "Why such an obnoxious colour?"
"There's nothing obnoxious about red!" Harry complained, shooting another spell at the wall with the door.
"It is a bit... bright," Arcturus commented diplomatically.
Harry paused after colouring the third wall and looked around. "Looks fine to me," he replied, then hit the last wall with the spell.
Arcturus closed his eyes helplessly while Jacob commented, "I think you're colour blind."
Harry scowled at them for a long minute before quickly hitting each wall with a slightly darker red. "Better?" he inquired.
Jacob eyed the walls critically for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. What are you going to paint the ceiling?"
Harry huffed and shot an even darker red at the ceiling, then, without really thinking about it, gold at the carpet.
"It works on carpet?" Arcturus asked, looking down at the glinting carpet. "Wicked."
When Harry looked at Jacob pointedly, he grinned. "It's your room, you know."
"I hate you," Harry informed him, then stalked into the bathroom to colour it a light blue.
"Any bets on if you're getting that book back?" Jacob said to Arcturus.
"Shut it!" Arcturus hissed back. "Before he throws it!"
Jacob shrugged and grinned. "What colour are you painting your room?"
Arcturus sighed. "Blue, I think. Or green. Maybe brown?"
"Earthy colours. Should have guessed." Jacob rolled his eyes up at the ceiling, as if asking for patience.
"What about you?"
"Light blue. Really, really light blue. With a gold carpet, like Harry's. Just like home." Jacob smiled in memory.
"You might need Harry's help making your carpet this gold," Arcturus pointed out drily. "If I didn't know it was soft, I'd think it was real gold."
Jacob glanced down at the carpet, then grinned. "Might."
Harry rolled his eyes at them and sat back down. "Here," he said, handing over the book. "Have at."
Jacob took the book, then looked at Harry curiously. "You're not really mad, are you?"
Harry sighed. "Mildly disgruntled," he decided.
Jacob grinned again. "Excellent! I'll be back!" Then he bounced up and hurried down to his own room.
"What did you paint the closet?" Arcturus asked with a hint of amusement.
Harry smiled faintly. "Green and silver. How'd you know?"
"Heard the door."
Harry shook his head in amusement. "Just don't tell your cousin, I'll never live it down."
"I'll take that into consideration."
Saturday, Harry and Jacob dragged Arcturus into town. Harry wanted to get some stamps, in case he or one of his friends needed them, and some extra odds and ends for his room, since Jacob had pointed it out. Jacob wanted a camera, so he could take pictures of things. They'd both decided Arcturus needed to see some of the muggle world.
The town was small, and the townspeople had a distinct Welsh accent. There weren't a lot of shops, but Jacob managed to find an antiques shop not long after Harry had found the post office. Inside, there were loads of things for reasonably cheap, and the three boys went a little nuts finding things to decorate with, especially Harry and Jacob.
Harry ended up with a couple of fanciful paintings that reminded him of Hogwarts, a handsome gold lion sculpture and a clock from a ship during the 60s.
Jacob found himself a muggle camera that wasn't too old, a large globe, and a couple Renaissance pictures of half-naked women, which the owner had looked at him oddly for.
Arcturus found a couple delicate glass sculptures of animals, which he said were like the wizarding ones he collected.
The three friends bought everything – Harry and Jacob pooling their muggle money together to pay for Arcturus' findings, since he didn't have any – and then hurried back to the school to put their things away. When they were done with their additional decorating, they retired to the common room, where Jacob tried to figure out his new camera and they took pictures of each other.
At dinner, they got Pearl to take a couple pictures of the three first years with Ren and Rai. Somehow, Smith got into a couple of them, and Jacob joked that the pictures, when he got them developed, would probably have the crazed professor bouncing all over the place.
When Harry went to bed that night, he reflected that coming to Wand and Dagger had been the best choice of his life.
A/N: Not sure when the next chapter's going to be out. The lot of them are giving me some trouble. (I have a plot, sorta, but I need characterization first, which I hate. As Shara put it, I need you lot to know the characters like I do.) I hope to get it up next Wednesday, since once a week sounds like a good updating schedule, but I'm on a role with Broken right now, so it's taking a fair bit of my time. (Plus papers. Being a grad students almost sucks more than being an undergrad sometimes.)
I was also, for a bit, using a semi-assignment to make a website for this fic, since I made Sims of the OCs, but that's been put a bit on hold because of papers. (And because the site-making site my professor directed us to was driving me bonkers.) I'll let you know if that ever actually goes anywhere.
~Bats ^.^x
1 - The Wolves ||| 2 - The First Day |||
4 - Socialising ||| 5 - The Patronus ||| 6 - ??
Incomplete
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