November 14, 1944
Friday Evening
"I'm gonna be honest, I didn't think you'd come to Reinhard and I to practise your fighting," Aster said as he huffed from all the stairs they'd gone up.
"I didn't think he'd ask for our help either mate, goes to show what we know, huh?" Reinhard agreed as he elbowed Aster before turning his attention to Harry. "You don't have to tell us, I suppose, but what made you come to us instead of anybody else? Corene's pretty talented, Elaine is absolutely devastating and then you have those Gryffindor friends too - woulda figured they would be first, is all."
Harry shook his head and patted the larger boy on his shoulder, an action he had to stand on the tips of his toes for. "Why wouldn't I come to someone who fights for fun and his mate? We haven't practised together before, all the pranking and classwork skipping can be blamed for that, but really it's a no brainer to get your guys' help."
"Turn here," Aster said, surprising Harry with his memory and ability to lead them correctly considering he'd only given descriptions to get here.
This room was his and Elaine's home away from home, as it was. Sure they had the Chamber, a place where they'd only brought one other friend of theirs and that other classroom, but this one at the top of the school was so far away from the general population that it made it wonderful.
"Reinhard, I don't think I've ever asked, but could you tell me a bit about your style? Never came up during all the months we've known each other," Harry asked, the trio now close to their destination and the details finally being gone over.
"Style?" Aster snickered. "Reinhard doesn't have a fighting style, believe me, I'm the poor sod who always has to practise against him over the summer. All he does is rely on brute force and his sheer willpower. It's annoying to go against."
Reinhard narrowed his eyes, then after a moment or two of deliberation, he dropped a large fist on top of Aster's head. Harry thought he could speak for Reinhard and himself when he was surprised the sound that came from it wasn't hollow. Ah well, Aster's brain may very well be one hundred per cent History and Strategy with little to nothing else included.
"Aster isn't completely correct, though he likes to think he is. Even if he becomes an analyst for the Ministry or the Prophet as a side gig like he wants, I suspect he'll not know a good fight when he sees it," Reinhard said with a scoff and glare at the smallest of the three. "Pev, mate, I'm sure by now you know every person has a different amount of power, yeah?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I know that."
"Do you know what goes into determining that power? Has Elaine or anybody else explained it as we know it?" Reinhard questioned, the entrance to their destination coming into view.
"No, at least not entirely," Harry said back to the boy as they drew closer to it.
"Magical strength is the sum of your physical health, an inherent magical ability thanks to your lineage - that doesn't necessarily mean parents alone - and how much you use it. Think of it to some degree like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets. You following me, mate?" Reinhard paused then, hoping what he was saying was clear and concise.
Harry nodded, it made sense… theoretically. Truth be told, Harry wasn't sure anybody really knew what made each person different, but they all had their own ideas. That much was certainly true.
"Wicked," Reinhard said as he flung open the door with a push from one meaty hand as he used the other to usher the two boys in before he closed it behind himself. "Now you know why Elaine and a few other people send me out as often as they do. Sure, it's not a real fight as far as fights can go, but every little bit helps. Speaking of that, did you want me to tell you the spells I use, or did you just want to duel and see what happens?"
"The latter," Harry quickly said. "I'm sure you could teach me a fair few spells, but I was really hoping to learn by doing for a change. Elaine's fun and all, but she's a bit too tough to beat."
Aster blinked at him. "You fought Elaine?"
"Yeah," Harry said, shrugging as he looked back to Reinhard to see a similar expression on his face. "What's wrong with that?"
"How'd you do?" Reinhard asked, avoiding Harry's question and asking one of his own.
"I lost," Harry said, then he went on to repeat his earlier question. "What's the big deal with it?"
Reinhard shook his head. "There isn't really a big deal, it's just… Elaine doesn't usually duel anybody. I don't believe she's done it since her first couple of years at Hogwarts, usually if she casts a spell nowadays, it's for privacy or punishment."
Harry snorted. "Punishment? I remember her hitting Abraxas with something a year ago or so, but I didn't think she did anything overly cruel."
"Elaine expects the best and offers much should you meet her lofty standards. When you fail, there's a penalty and depending on how bad of a failure it was, there could be a physical reprimand. It's not happened to most of us, and it's not likely to since you're a good friend of ours, but Elaine's definitely still, well, Elaine," Reinhard blinked a few times, shot Aster a look, then looked at Harry once more with a more eager expression on his face. "How long did you last against her? I remember Cade fought her to a standstill, so they say, but most people don't think that fight really happened in the first place."
"Elaine beat Cade last year," Harry said off-handedly. "As for how I did? I lasted half a minute to a minute against her, I wasn't really paying attention to the time. Believe it or not, when she's casting at you, it's a bit hard to. Nobody I've ever seen is as fast, strong or dangerous as her."
"Some bird you've got yourself, huh?" Aster remarked, winking at Harry when the boy turned to look at him.
Reinhard wasn't nearly so playful at Harry's duo of revelations. "Elaine beat Cade, the boy widely considered the best at Hogwarts, and you lasted that long against her? I'm sorry mate, really, but I don't think duelling me is gonna help you any. I'm good and all, great even, but she's on another level."
Harry sighed and ran his hand down his face. "Can you think of anybody else I could practise with if you won't do it? Anybody at all will do, so long as they're close to my skill level."
"I don't know what you fight with," Reinhard said, shaking his head in the negative as he fell backwards into his seat, the chair creaking the whole while. "Do you use transfiguration in the midst of a fight? Charms to distract blokes and birds? Tell me a bit about how you do it or use Aster as a dummy so I can see."
Aster raised his hand. "Don't use Aster as a dummy, I don't think he'd like it very much."
Harry grinned at the boy, laughter imminent until Reinhard snapped his fingers. "Corene, Daphne or, as much as it pains me to say it, Abraxas. I know one's a Professor now, and the other two wouldn't be all that fun for you, but those are honestly the best I can think of. There could be others who're better, but they'd be in another house and I wouldn't know who they are."
"Right… you two didn't want to face Abraxas back in that Defence class last year. He didn't seem like much, but I'm sure he'd be glad to have the chance to beat me," Harry said casually, fingering his wand as he mulled over his options.
"Abraxas has gotten better, believe me when I tell you that, mate," Reinhard said, his tone deadly serious. "Ever since you beat him and he lost prestige because of it, especially with Elaine, he's been taking lessons and studying by himself. I reckon he's a lot more potent than he used to be, so if you do try him, be careful - Daphne's obviously a right wicked bint, but you know that already, and Corene…"
"Corene can be nasty," Aster said, cutting off Reinhard as he spoke loudly. "She's got a sweet spot for you, but don't be fooled by her soft, quiet tone and bland mannerisms. No sir, no Pev, she's a wicked piece of work that's faster than anybody I've ever seen."
Harry looked from Aster to Reinhard for confirmation, but the larger boy simply shrugged, the motion making the chair creak as it had earlier. "I couldn't tell you the truth of it. Aster was the only one to see her deal with somebody back in our fourth year, bloke thought he could squeeze himself a Carrow bun. Don't think you've ever met him because of how reclusive she made him."
"Oh," Harry said, startled.
The guy definitely deserved it, but Merlin, what did Corene do if he's that scared of leaving the dorms or talking with others?
"Any idea as to what she did, Aster?" Harry asked, leaning forward as his curiosity got the better of him.
"Not a one, mate, not a one. All I know is what I saw, and what I saw was her moving faster than anybody has any right to. If I knew what spell did that, the level of my pranking game would be higher than anybody else in the history of the game," Aster shook his head sadly when he finished, the look so genuine Harry would think the boy truly was sad for that singular reason.
Obviously, he knew that Aster was still feeling the effects of Yaxley's betrayal, especially with the invasion on home soil and the lack of mentions of his former friend, but that was a matter for another time. One where they could have the luxury to think about their former bunkmate.
"I suppose I'll have to try and see if Corene or Daphne will duel me. My pride couldn't take a loss to Abraxas if he's actually gotten that much better," Harry said, earning himself laughter from the other two boys.
"Now now, don't be hasty," Aster said, raising his hands before Harry could fully stand up from his seat. "We've come all this way for more than a conversation, so why don't you tell us a few things. yeah?"
"Such as?" Harry asked, easing himself back down.
"Elaine and all the other girls you've had falling for you. Why don't you share your secrets to getting yourself a personal coven?"
Harry sighed.
The trip had been worth it… until that point.
Druella was certainly getting a letter when he had free time.
November 15, 1944
Saturday Morning
"Corene, there you are, good morning," Harry said, his tone eager and his words flying out of his mouth.
For her part, Corene didn't wince or otherwise outwardly react to his unusual behaviour. She simply blinked at him, her eyes taking him in with curiosity… the slight, ever so slight, widening of them was proof of that.
"Good morning, Harry," Corene responded. "Why were you waiting for my arrival, is there something I can help you with?"
He nodded a good half a dozen times. "Yes. There's something I'm trying to d-"
Corene cut him off with a cocked head as she pulled out her wand and led him by his sleeve over to their usual seats in the common room. One wave of said wand later and Harry could feel the familiar feeling of a privacy charm cascading all around them.
"There," She said. "I didn't mean to cut you off, only to preserve your privacy."
Harry smiled, hoping it conveyed his gratitude before he picked up again. "I was wondering if you'd like to practise with me from time to time? I remember that Elaine promised you magical knowledge, or rather, the furthering of it, and so I figured I could help you out a little bit too."
Corene regarded him silently for a few seconds, her head still cocked. "What branches of magic do you believe you could offer me something I don't already know? I'm aware that your Defence, Transfiguration and Charms scores are relatively high, but are they at a level beyond that of mine?"
"I'm sure there's a few spells in the Peverell library you'd enjoy despite them being incredibly old," Harry said with a shrug. "Beyond that, I don't doubt my ability to find something you'd like - I still remember you mentioned something during Yule too, something that involved me but you wouldn't go further in discussing the matter."
"Hogwarts wouldn't be an appropriate place for that conversation. As for access to the Peverell library, I do not doubt there's many a spell that's aged out that I could find beneficial. Your resourcefulness and ability to make friends in so easy a way is a great help in finding something new, like you said," Corene paused, clearly pondering before she said one word. "For the record, I would've agreed to train with you biweekly without the need for a trade, as it were. You've my thanks for that, now, was there anything you'd like to know regarding recent happenings whilst Elaine is still away?"
"Anything?" Harry asked quickly, picking up on her wording and the lack of care she seemed to speak with.
"Whatever you'd like. Elaine may not enjoy certain topics, but all news is impartial and good to know, no?" Corene's wording made it sound like a question, but he knew it was anything but.
"Tell me about Professor Dumbledore, please, and Grindelwald," Harry said politely, his earlier eagerness gone as he buckled in for a long listen.
Corene closed her eyes for a half a minute, maybe slightly longer, then she reopened them with a look of concentration that was clear to see. "Professor Dumbledore's reportedly kept at the Ministry under the care of the Unspeakables. My father and mother both have no clue as to what they're doing with him, but suffice it to say that it's likely an experimental remedy for whatever issue he's facing. I don't believe he'll survive, personally. Not unless they find the cause of his ailment."
That's worrying… it's not supposed to be like this. Grindelwald never invaded, Professor Dumbledore was never this close to death, and the world most certainly wasn't anywhere close to as confusing as it currently is.
"I see… and Grindelwald?" Harry asked after a pause.
"Elaine hasn't been told this as of yet, and so I'll expect your silence on the matter until she has been," Corene prefaced, regarding him with a straight-on look and a piercing gaze before she continued. "There's some degree of evidence of which my parents are unable to uncover that lends credit to Grindelwald having been present at the attack on Saint Mungo's. Should that be the case, it's likely that he's been here all long whilst those sightings of him on the continent are meant to keep the world at large thinking otherwise."
Harry nodded the whole while she spoke, and when she'd finished, he did so for another few seconds. "Thank you," he said. "I won't tell anybody. I think I'll just be thinking what he's doing… not knowing is worrying."
"I agree," Corene said, though her face showed no sign of stress or nervousness. "Whatever plot he's come up with is likely one that'll cause no small amount of damage. Hogwarts, most believe, is a safe castle with strong protections - I'd like to agree, but how many places of interest on the continent had similar degrees of safety through wards and spells as well as the sheer presence of wands but still fell nonetheless?"
He didn't know, so he shrugged.
Corene had raised a good point, and all of a sudden, Elaine's plan of hiding away in the bowels of the school wasn't all that horrible.
Merlin's beard, Harry thought as he stood up and bid his farewell to Corene, Slytherin's portrait…
Harry hadn't stopped coming and going from the study for the books it provided, but he'd only grabbed ones for combat or ones that could be morphed into such a role. It hadn't occurred to him to speak with the man in the portrait again, one that he was increasingly curious about due to the differences of that version when compared to the one in Slytherin's chamber.
It looked like Corene had helped him out in more than a few simple ways after all.
November 15, 1944
Saturday Afternoon
He arrived later than he had wanted to, thanks to a mixture of Elaine's affection and running into a few Gryffindor friends of his, but he'd finally made it to where he was headed: Slytherin's Study in that long abandoned and forgotten room. As he'd always done since first he visited it, he kept an eye out for signs of any other visitors, and like always, there weren't any.
So far as he knew, he was the only person in any of the older bloodlines that still knew of the existence of the room… well, he supposed he was one of the very few living members of the families listed within too. That didn't bode well for the information the book provided, he thought, not if they'd failed to stop ruin from falling upon them.
Harry chuckled to himself, the sound and cause a bit dark for his liking. He hustled over to the door then, pressing his hand to the knob for the familiar taking of blood before it gave way for him. As soon as he was inside the green-torch lit room and the door was sealed shut behind him, he sought out the portrait.
There were a great many things he needed to talk about, and while the portrait had previously been secretive as well as condescending, Harry figured with how often he'd spent time learning from the books within that he was ready for more. If the portrait didn't agree, then Harry would speak with the version in the Chamber.
" Slytherin? " Harry called out to the empty two portraits in the room showing no signs of life.
Nothing.
No voice nor figure returned his call, and he was left alone in the dank-smelling room filled with books.
Harry tried again, and when it failed, he huffed. There wasn't anything he could do to force an interaction, and if the man wanted to avoid him, he would until the time came that he decided enough was enough. It was terribly annoying, childish too if the portrait was truly avoiding him for a lack of attention, but there was still much he could do whilst within the study.
Think Harry, think… no Defence, no offensive spellbooks, not rituals - this time, ah.
He pulled a book off the shelves that was simply titled 'Magic'. There were no more words in the title or even on the front of the very old tome-looking scrap that covered it. When he flipped it over for additional information, he saw that the backside was completely blank.
There weren't any identifying marks, names, symbols or otherwise on it; he felt like he should put it back as a result of that, especially since he wouldn't know what he was reading until he was a few pages in, but he ultimately decided against that course of action. Why would he put it back when he was ascertained that anything within wouldn't harm him?
Beyond that, why shouldn't he learn from any book that he liked so long as it wasn't filled with dark magic or something that was likely to convince you it was all alright to cast at any given time? He was here to learn about anything and everything magic-related, and so that was what he'd do.
That being his decision, Harry opened the book and went a couple of pages in. He did so quickly, but he didn't fail to take notice that there were signatures at the front of the book just as there'd been with the book that certified your entry into the group of his forbearers. As curious as that was, he wasn't all that concerned considering his signature wasn't required to read whatever the contents would be.
' Magic, a description, theories, tips, strategies, and beyond,'
Harry wasn't entirely captivated by that first sentence, but with a shake of his head, he continued onwards. His mind had already been made up, he would read for ten minutes, fifteen at the most, and only then would he stop reading it if he decided it wasn't worth the time.
Thirty minutes later, and still without having made up his mind one way or the other, Harry was left feeling a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, the book didn't seem like it was anything special, but on the other hand, it seemed to hold him captive despite the mundane information that was within.
Nearly fifty pages in, he'd learned that magic's strength was in its diversity, understanding, exercise and natural affinity with its user. That sounded similar to Reinhard's little speech, but those first ten pages telling him that and that alone didn't help him in furthering his already limited knowledge regarding magic.
Only when he reached page thirty and onwards did the explanation start, one that went into far more detail; magic was diverse in the sense that anything could be done with it so long as the user could figure it out. There didn't seem to be limitations, and when one thought there was, another would come along only to prove them wrong. The book promised later on in it that assistance would be given that described how one could prove 'theoretical' limitations incorrect, but he doubted he'd get far enough.
Understanding had come next, and it was something that gave Harry a very hard time. It spoke of Magic being sentient, in a way; it had its own feelings, intelligence, methods in which it learned and more… if you believed the tome's teachings.
" You're reading something that'll come to be beyond your current understanding and abilities, " The voice of Slytherin said from above him and to his right.
Harry had felt startled at hearing it so suddenly, but he didn't give the painting any sense of victory by outwardly jumping or anything like that… if they could even feel such feelings. He was rather proud of himself that his only reaction was a pause before he looked towards the source of the sound. " Where were you earlier? I was meaning to speak with you, but you weren't in either of the portraits. "
" Other things needed seeing to, and as a result, I was absent from a room you barely spend any good deal of time in. As immaterial as it is to us, your lack of attention given to this room and the knowledge it contains beyond taking books out is astounding. Especially when one remembers that the better books are the ones that can't be removed, " Slytherin shook his head at Harry, an annoyed expression on his face. " Go on, ask me what it is that you've come here for. I'll answer it without any deception as you very well know by now. "
As tempted as Harry was to bite back at the man in the portrait, he didn't. There wasn't any real reason too, not with how annoyed he already seemed to be. Beyond that, it wouldn't give him any real satisfaction anyhow; he knew he hadn't spent enough time in here, and it was all a result of his own inability to manage a decent schedule.
" How can I get stronger? I've heard about rituals, even learned a small deal about them, but the cost isn't worth the end result. I've studied more this past year than the rest of my life put together, yet there's a huge differential between me and a friend… what can I do? " Harry asked.
He wanted to ask the man about his appearance too, especially as to why it differed when compared to the version of him down below, but he decided against it. Truthfully, he didn't need any more problems or tasks to solve, his hands were full enough.
" Studying can only take one so far, Son of House Peverell. For some, the strength they're born with is beyond that of the bulk of the wizarding world - why do you think others aren't praised when the four original founders are? We were the greatest of our time and would likely remain in such high esteem when compared to any modern era. Rituals could aid you, as you mentioned, but so could other items and most of all, so could time, " Slytherin's portrait paused for a few seconds, looking at Harry intently, before he finished. " When one controls time, death or any other means of escaping the inevitable end of their life, magic knows no boundaries. Anything can be achieved so long as time is immaterial, and should you wish that to be power, it could be yours. "
With those words, Slytherin made his exit from the portrait. He didn't appear in the other frame within the room, leaving Harry to wonder where he'd gone and what exactly he meant by referencing time or death. Regardless of his Peverell heritage and the tales that society seemed to take for facts, Harry wasn't in possession of all three items to determine the truth of them. That cloak of his hadn't made the journey with him, and if he had to guess, it was with Professor Dumb- no.
No, that wasn't right… it should be with Marcus. Yes, Harry remembered now, the cloak had belonged to his family, traditionally the first born if he wasn't mistaken. But if that was the case, the cloak likely belonged to Charles rather than Marcus, unless Fleamont had it rather than either of them.
Harry needed it. He knew he needed it, but that would involve a plan on stealing it from the Potters. That sentence alone didn't make him feel as if he were doing the right thing, and that wasn't to mention the location of the Elder Wand being up in the air so far as he was concerned, as any man - like Grindelwald - could claim to have it. Nobody had spoken to him about it beyond mentioning it in the usually known, common stories save for Elaine.
If he found the Elder Wand - should it still exist - and if it came to be in his possession, Harry would think again about taking or otherwise having the cloak come into his possession. Only then too. Until that time came, which he very much doubted it ever would, he would resign himself to only having the stone that'd come from the centre of Elaine's ring.
That one item alone was incredibly useful, and if he could learn to call forth the dead from his plane or use the item to speak with whatever had sent him to where he currently lived, he would; the thought of that being, the feminine one if Elaine's vision inside his mind was correct, bugged him to no end.
What deal had he made with her… it? Why hadn't he been allowed to remember anything about it?
His thinking was pushed to the side when a book fell into his lap, a flash of light signifying that it'd come from the wall with the same magic that'd originally zapped him when he tried to remove something from that very same shelf without having signed his name in the book.
' Rituum Initia'
Harry didn't know what the name of the book meant until he applied some brain power. Latin was something he'd learned partially just like every other witch or wizard, but Merlin, it took some concentration to translate the titles of books or the words used in spells. Eventually, he determined that it was called something along the lines of 'starting rituals', which was good enough for him.
He shrugged, looked about the room for a few seconds, and then opened it tentatively. His action was so slow that any onlooker in the room would've thought he was scared of the book itself, or expecting something to happen when he opened the first page of it.
Unsurprisingly, there was no reaction by the book, room or his body when the book revealed its first two pages to him.
' Rituals are a path of enlightenment, and like all forms of enlightenment, the journey is different for each being who takes it. Within the confines of these pages, my pupils, you will find the many rituals and dealings with magic that I personally experienced. Many of them, I would not suggest partaking in, for the cost is high and the results, while tremendously powerful, led to my ultimate and inevitable demise. Proceed with caution, an open mind, and most of all, whilst heeding my words, and I promise you the same prestige that I had.
My end draws nearer with every passing day as I chronicle these rituals, and in the event that I finish not this tome, my mind and very being will blend within the pages so that assistance can be provided for centuries, millennia even, after my passing. I am Slytherin, and should you heed the words as written to your individual understandings, so too will you become Slytherin.'
Harry tore his gaze from the page and looked back at the title. For whatever reason that his mind had urged him to do so, it had been right. No longer was the title 'Rituum Initia', but now, it was blank. He suspected the book was similar to that of the diary he'd encountered early on in his time at Hogwarts, and the thought alone was… nauseating.
He had seen what it'd done to Ginny first hand, and there was no part of him that wanted to suffer the same consequences she had.
Without his touching it and seemingly as his trepidation rose, the pages flipped until the very back of the book was visible. Writing left unfinished was sporadically sprawled across those final pieces of parchment, and before his very eyes, the letters moved to and fro until they turned into something coherent.
' No harm can come to any whilst they study within the sanctity of this great room. Read of these pages, my brethren, and achieve all that you desire like those who came before you. Read of these pages, heed the advice of all who used it within their lifetimes, and like them, so too shall you rise to great heights.'
Harry, against his better judgement, grabbed for his quill and ink. He would write within the book just as he'd done to the diary, and he would do so while boldly facing whatever risk came from such a small amount of writing; Ginny hadn't been taken over in one day after all, had she?
' None from the houses before me survived.' Harry wrote, the ink absorbing into the pages of the book as a reply began to materialise almost instantly.
' Many before you rose to power, as was mentioned, but none continued to listen once arrogance took them from the teachings that made their founders who they were. Fall not into the footsteps they left before you, but rise above them and soar to power those from centuries prior could only dream of.'
The book was incessant, Harry would give it that. There was also a touch of charm within its pages too, but he wasn't so easily fooled. Not after having spent so much time with Elaine and the rest of Slytherin house.
' Give me the first ritual they all did. Give me that, tell me everything, and only then will my decision be made,' Harry wrote, the ink taking longer to be absorbed this time.
Eventually, however, it was. When it happened, there was no more writing that appeared without any reason beyond that of magic. No, what happened in response to his demand was the flipping of pages until he was very near the start of the book again. The writing on the pages he saw was done by a dozen people, maybe more, such was the distinct handwriting on it.
' Many who came before you and likely many who will follow after you were felled by various poisons. Potions that can do this are many, mundane plants and inventions by Muggles are just as plentiful. The first step towards achieving permanent empowerment is the ability to survive, and there is no better first ritual than one that can purify all forms of sustenance. The trade-off is light, enough so that it remains one that I regret not. Ingredients are required, many of them easy, but so too is time.
Runes are not needed, nor is any form of chalk or body art like many would believe. There will be no prancing naked nor will there be the chance to draw a flawed design due to a shaky hand. The cost will trigger your ability to taste, rendering it less than it previously was, but nearly all poisons and potions in which you'll come across will be neutralised upon ingestion or inhalation. Never will you know that you partook of it, for magic and the price you pay it shall keep you safe.'
From that sentence on, the book went on to detail in very simple terms what was required to complete this ritual. Harry had to admit, it seemed simple, quick to work, and incredibly worth it. Even the steps to completion and the time it would take to 'recover' from undergoing an influx of magic into one's system was easily dealt with.
All of that combined didn't mean he was any more likely to partake in that ritual than any he'd seen before. It was good to know, and with his understanding of magic having grown thrice over in the past couple of days, he supposed spending time towards magic itself rather than one individual branch of it was warranted. So too was his lack of time spent in Slytherin's study, as it was his one real advantage against anybody; Elaine, Grindelwald, Walburga - none of them would have what was within these tightly-packed walls.
November 19, 1944
Wednesday Afternoon
Harry had spent much of the past half-week thinking about the singular book that seemed to have a mind of its own. He had a sense of horrible curiosity towards it, one that wouldn't go away unless he went back to the tome in which his interest was caught. It didn't matter if he spent his time learning about the nuances of magic - he'd learned only yesterday from that study that permanent magic was nigh impossible for a reason that could only be theorised - or combat, or any other field.
His mind was made up, it wanted to learn from the book just as badly as he wanted to figure out what had sent him back in time.
Magic as a whole was something he'd never cared about understanding, and to a point, he still didn't care about how it worked so long as it did work. But, he supposed, there was credit to knowing the basics if it could help him in learning how to become stronger. Perhaps the trick wasn't better physical health, having strong parents, using magic a lot, or stuffing your mind with an insane amount of knowledge.
Maybe, just maybe, those who understood magic and could get it to understand them were those who were more powerful… he'd have to ask Elaine. She'd be the one to know considering how strong she was.
But… that wasn't what he'd be doing today. As much as he wanted to learn about magic, the theory therein and dozens of other things that he was sure would ultimately prove useful, there was something that caught his attention above all else: Grindelwald. Ever since the news had reached all corners of Magical Britain that Dumbledore had survived the attack on Saint Mungo's - an attack that'd been coordinated solely for him - the war had ramped up again.
It didn't matter that the continent was practically done for or that most of Grindelwald's Muggle 'allies' were gone. All that mattered now was the defeat of his forces or the country that he'd invaded. There were nearly two million men in England that didn't belong, men with Muggle weapons and the will to fight to the bitter end so long as it meant an escape from justice. Grindelwald's Magicals were no better than their Muggle counterparts either. There were thousands of them recruited from across the continent, the globe even, and not more than a dozen had chosen to surrender.
Harry was certain the war would go on and on until nearly all of South-Eastern England was reduced to rubble, and then, should Grindelwald win that portion of Harry's homeland, the man would rule from a desolate county. It'd be, as Corene described it, a Pyrrhic victory.
"Come on, Harry," Elaine's voice greeted him. "It's time for us to meet with Corene for today's update."
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be right behind you," He answered, getting a weird look from Elaine though she moved away from him nonetheless with a pep in her steps.
Makes sense, that, Harry thought scornfully as he watched her go. While the Ministry is fighting alongside the Muggle government, with the Aurors and their new recruits getting killed on the daily, she gets to sit back and watch her chances of coming to power rise.
He knew he was a sort of prize to her love be damned. With most people knowing that she and he were serious, especially serious for their age, it helped her. Truthfully, he didn't mind that too much so long as she stayed peaceful and he knew there wasn't much she could do about the war with her still being in Hogwarts, but… she didn't need to look so pleased by the turn of events.
If they were still together and her ambitions hadn't dwindled by the time she deemed herself ready to make a bid for Minister, he decided he'd do more than change her mind every once and a while. Harry would earn a position himself, one that would aid his Wizengamot seat, and then he would keep her in check by force if that's what it took to ensure a peaceful reign.
Regardless of what he'd go on to do or how he'd do it, there was one thing that was absolutely certain: there would be peace.
"Good morning, Harry," Corene greeted when he made his way over to her and Elaine.
"You took longer than I figured you would, my love," Elaine said, narrowing her eyes at him in a way that was teasing and yet, vaguely suspicious. "Did something hold you back?"
He shook his head in response to Elaine's searching question. "No. I needed to take care of something that I neglected earlier this morning and it simply took more time than I thought it would. Don't worry, Walburga still hasn't made a bid to steal me away from you."
Elaine snorted. "That's a concern I've not had since the start of your first year with us. Believe me when I say, Harry, there are few who could offer you near what I could and Walburga is not one of them," Elaine smiled, leaned forward and gripped his arm possessively with a tightness she seldom used. "Corene, if you'd please."
With a dip of her head, Corene started, her eyes switching between the couple. "Grindelwald's forces sans Muggles have completely withdrawn from the Muggle engagements and the Minister is, as of yet, unsure as to where they've gone off to. Should you like to hear the theories, the current working one is that he means to launch an assault on the Ministry or the Muggle government building to wipe cohesion."
"Would that work?" Harry asked.
Corene wasn't given the chance to respond when Elaine spoke up. "Grindelwald means to seize his goal," she said off-handedly, seemingly for herself rather than the other two. That was until her eyes went to Harry. "Grindelwald withdrew the remainder of his magical forces to launch an attack to retrieve what his goal was for ultimately coming to our homeland. Yes, that's what he'll do… it's what I'd do after engaging the Aurors and bunching them all up… it's a brilliant plan. We'll have to hasten preparations, secure the Chamber, finish the wards."
"Elaine?" Harry asked, confused with her rambling and the slightly mad quality her voice had taken on.
"Fret not, my love. I'm only thinking about what our missing Dark Lord means to do, and in the event that his goal is at Hogwarts, I'd rather we be prepared than caught off-guard," Elaine said, smiling at him as the craziness evaporated before his very eyes. "Corene, my dear friend, could you tell Harry the remainder whilst I see to a few errands?"
Corene cocked her head. "Do you mean to use the underpass?"
Elaine nodded with a disappointed, nearly sad look on her face. "I'm afraid it's a matter of the utmost importance. Professor Slughorn will cover for me, as will the two of you with your Prefect status - that should be enough to ensure the few hours I'm gone are spent without anybody missing me."
"I understand," Corene said with a stoic nod and a partial shrug.
Harry looked at Elaine and blinked. "You're going to Hogsmeade? Right now?"
Elaine leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, and then she did it again; she switched cheeks after doing so twice, and then she sought out his lips until a flash of something flashed across her eyes. With a bothered sigh and flushing cheeks, she pulled away from him. "Yes, I'm headed to Hogsmeade to pick up the remaining items needed for our temporary home in the event of an attack. Aid Corene whilst I'm gone, and she'll do the same for you."
As if the matter were settled, agreed upon and he didn't have a problem with it, Elaine left. She did so quickly and without a glance over her shoulder to the point that Harry half wondered if there'd been any conversation at all.
"My thanks for the gift regarding her family, Harry," Corene said suddenly, the privacy charm still up as she glanced at him with those dark, unblinking and expressionless eyes.
He shrugged. "I promised you it when you helped me decipher the magic on it. You know me well enough now to know I wouldn't go back on a promise."
Corene's lips moved upwards. The action wasn't great enough to earn the title of 'smile', but it was close. "You've not gone back on your word since first we met, such a thing is rather commendable, noble even. Would you like to learn what I learned thanks to your book?"
"That'd be wicked," He said with a smile.
Truth be told, he hadn't had the chance to finish reading the book regarding Elaine's family, so learning more about it from Corene would ultimately prove incredibly helpful, he was sure.
"You know of her mother Merope, yes?" Corene asked him.
Harry nodded his answer; yes.
"I'm sure you've found out that Merope's mother went missing some time after she birthed her second child too, correct?" Corene asked again, her head cocked and that smile of hers getting just a smidgen larger.
Again, Harry nodded a 'yes' to his friend, hoping she'd up the pace.
Corene must have picked up on his impatience, for the next few words that exited her mouth sent him for an absolute shock, one that he doubted he'd recover from in under an hour, perhaps even a day.
"Elaine's missing maternal grandmother is my grandmother, Josephine Carrow."
Merlin's beard.
"Does anybody else know?" Harry asked once the two of them were Spirited Away to their usual hideout; the room towards the very top of Hogwarts.
"No. I have not told a single soul, not even Elaine," Corene cocked her head, an inquisitive look about her as she took her usual seat only this time without some form of hot drink in her hands. "I doubt her response would be overly negative with her yearning for familial relations, yet, I can't find it within myself to tell her. Too many questions would arise, I believe, not to mention she would likely try to further her relations with my parents."
"You're not fond of that?" Harry questioned, his eyes on the fire as it roared to life.
Corene didn't outwardly respond as she answered his question. "Elaine is driven by ambitions as you've seen, and while all within our house are of similar minds to some extent, hers are rather… difficult in comparison to the rest of ours. Hogwarts is one thing, but I've learned from my father that power takes no small amount of time to amass. Nor does knowledge."
"I agree - Elaine definitely has some lofty goals, especially with what she'd like to change. Power and knowledge aren't cheap either, Merlin knows," Harry said with a short chuckle.
"Elaine's wish to receive the name of Gaunt and deal with those of pure Muggle ancestry is certainly lofty, as you said. I do wonder what makes you support it considering the company you keep not within Slytherin, but your views are your own," Corene called her elf and wished for two cups of tea, then she continued whilst a stunned Harry remained silent. "Power I would say is hard to achieve than any great deal of knowledge. As you very well know thanks to our conversation the previous year, Elaine ascertained our mutual friendship on the grounds of sharing power. I would credit that arrangement with raising my understanding of magic and m- you seem confused. Did I miss another social queue?"
Harry couldn't help the snicker that escaped him; Polyjuice had slipped his mind since last they spoke of it, but he was sure by that comment alone that the Corene before him was the real Corene. "No, no you didn't miss anything, I'm just confused."
"On what portion of my speaking did I snag you? My apologies for doing so too, I suppose I grew overconfident in my English," Corene said, dipping her head in such a polite, refined way that he couldn't help but hold his hands out while he shook his own head.
"It wasn't how you said anything, it was what you said," Harry told her, this time receiving the confused look rather than giving it. "You said Elaine wants to take the Gaunt name and 'deal' with the Muggleborn. What do you mean by that?"
Corene cocked her head at him. "I would think you know considering I was assured she had your support in all of her future endeavours; my hand to guide and his to stay it, I believe her words were."
"She never mentioned anything regarding Muggleborn to me. If anything, she actually mentioned handling the Purebloods that were a bit too eccentric rather than them," Harry said, furrowing his brows as he stared at Corene in contemplative silence; one that lasted until he broke it again. "Would you tell me what else she's said?"
"I don't believe I can, Harry. Not without further entrenching myself on your side considering the unified front she likes to present seems to be not entirely unified," Corene said simply, the slightest hint of an apologetic tone creeping into her voice.
"I get it," He said with a sigh that nearly transformed into a groan.
Why couldn't anything be easy?