31. Water Whips and Secret Truths
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PatrikWriter
Master of the Forbidden Arts
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Hi everyone! Recently, a few readers (not many, but they're there) have voiced their dislike for the torture, violence, and overall darker themes in the story.
I want to be clear: I truly appreciate everyone who comments, discusses the magic system, or offers constructive criticism. I love the engagement! However, I have little patience for 'snowflake' behavior. In the real world, we see theft, murder, drugs, torture, and war every single day. I strive to write a realistic world, and that means depicting both the kind and the cruel sides of life.
If you have a problem with a gritty, realistic world, this story might not be for you, and that's okay. You are free to stop reading.
To everyone else—including the objective critics—thank you! I value every single one of your comments and your support.
I spent the rest of the day training, specifically focusing on water manipulation. While practicing the spell Os frangere—the Bone-Breaker—I realized that I was using magic too much like a butcher, when I needed to become a surgeon. I had already gained some precision while training common spells and hexes, but it hadn't yet reflected in my elemental magic.
Aside from drowning things and using brute force—where I simply swept away everything in my path with a wave—I had to learn how to conserve energy. At least as preparation for the future...
I could vividly imagine assassination attempts on my person. How do you kill a powerful mage, directly or indirectly? Plenty of indirect ways came to mind, but what if they wanted to take me out directly? They could just send waves of weak wizards. Someone wealthy would have no problem paying for them. Since there would be many of them, I'd be forced to sweep them away with brute force every time, which drains too much magic. So, how could I optimize energy output for elemental spells? And what if I encountered another powerful elementalist?
Borgin's book only contained the basics. I had to either get my hands on more advanced texts or invent my own techniques. And that was exactly what I was attempting.
"Aguamenti!"
I sent out a weaker stream of water, which formed into a water whip in a fraction of a second. It lashed violently against the opposite wall. There was a wet slap, followed by the cracking of stone and a dull thud. It had immense power, but the swing itself was still too slow. For actual combat, I definitely needed to speed it up.
"Aguamenti!" "Aguamenti!" "Aguamenti!"
By the end of the day, just before dinner, the speed of the whip was substantially higher, though it still wasn't ideal. In terms of pure impact, this spell was probably the strongest direct attack I currently had in my repertoire. It consumed less energy than Os frangere, and thanks to physics and dynamics, it had become a truly powerful weapon. I decided I would invest much more time into this technique.
I automatically tried to optimize the speed while developing other possibilities in my mind: "If I could cool the water instantly, it would turn into ice. What if I created a water dragon, let it petrify into ice mid-flight, and slammed it directly into the target?"
I recalled Hitsugaya from Bleach and his techniques.
A technique like that would be truly devastating. Hectoliters of water and ice would hold massive power, but the casting speed would have to be perfectly polished. I also had to think about the risks. What if I met an earth elementalist? They would be a direct counter to me. Flying using water would be inefficient, but what if I turned the water beneath me into an icy surface? I could fly through the air on ice platforms.
However, I was looking too far into the future; in terms of my actual current abilities, I was still just an amateur. But I certainly didn't compare myself to ordinary students. Power is freedom.
Just as I began to feel completely exhausted—both magically and mentally—I decided to end the session and headed for dinner.
With a feeling of immense satisfaction, I entered the Great Hall. Honestly, at that moment, absolutely nothing bothered me. Everything was going according to plan. My... friends, I guess? Yes, friends—were already sitting at the Slytherin table. I spent a lot of time with them, though I probably considered only Agnes a true friend.
With a smile, I sat down with them and immediately started piling food onto my plate. I skipped the meat today. Not that I planned on becoming a vegetarian; I just had a massive craving for sweets, and those pancakes looked divine. I immediately took a generous portion. There were bowls of maple syrup, chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream on the table. Have I mentioned that I love the wizarding world? At least for the food, definitely.
As you can probably tell, I'm quite a "foodie." I'll have to invent a fat-burning potion sooner rather than later!
Theodore, Tobias, and Agnes were looking at me with surprise. I didn't blame them. Over the last few days, I had seemed nervous and chaotic, whereas now I was beaming with satisfaction, humming appreciatively with every bite. Agnes was used to me not talking while eating, but she clearly couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, Patrik, spill it," she started right away. "What was up with you these last few days? I can see by your face that everything is perfectly fine now."
Theo immediately nodded in agreement, while Tobias continued to focus silently on his portion.
"Mm-hmm," I hummed with my mouth full, but I conceded that they deserved at least a brief explanation. I swallowed the bite, washed it down with plain water, and began to speak quietly.
"There was a dangerous Animagus hiding at Hogwarts, responsible for several lives. I figured him out and, with a little help from two other students, I captured him. I locked him in a cage, and today my aunt took him directly to the DMLE."
"Wait!" Theodore blurted out. "You had a dangerous wizard in our room? Sallow has been complaining non-stop in the common room for the last two hours! He was telling anyone willing to listen about some rat of yours!"
"Well, yes. I had nowhere else to put him. I don't really trust the teachers right now, and I wanted to make sure he got to the Ministry safely. Don't worry, he didn't have the slightest chance of escaping. That cage was a masterpiece."
He didn't look like that reassured him, but before he could respond, Agnes spoke up.
"Who was it? And how did you even find out that the rat was an Animagus?"
Before she could finish the question, I stuffed another piece of pancake into my mouth and chewed contentedly while Agnes shot me murderous glares. I intentionally dragged it out until she couldn't stand it.
"Patrik!" she shrieked and threateningly raised her fork. I didn't want it stuck in my hand, so I obediently swallowed and began to explain.
"Hmm... as for who it was, you'll find out very soon. I believe it'll be on the front page of the Prophet shortly. And how did I find him?" I asked, stretching out the answer a bit longer on purpose. I took a sip from my glass and finished with a satisfied smile: "That's a secret."
Agnes literally growled and waved her fork at me threateningly, but fortunately, she didn't actually dare to stab me with it.
"But why did you keep him in the room if he was a dangerous wizard? An Animagus, even! Not just anyone can do that. Why didn't you trust the teachers? I don't believe they wouldn't hand a criminal over to the Aurors. Dumbledore certainly would!" Theodore spoke up again.
"The point is exactly who that 'guilty' wizard rotting in Azkaban for life is. If it were anyone else, it wouldn't be a problem. But he's an important person with many enemies, and I wasn't going to take any risks. I know of at least two professors who wouldn't be thrilled if he were set free."
Maybe Dumbledore—so that Harry Potter would stay with the Dursleys and not pass under the protection of Sirius Black. Though I had probably already disrupted his stay with the Muggles with that echo-message to the police. Then there was Snape, whom Black had bullied in his youth. I wasn't going to risk his childhood bitterness burying Black's exoneration.
And what about the Malfoys? What if they were eyeing the Black family estate? They have no idea that, in terms of blood, I am in the same position as Draco. Or Crouch, who might want to cover up his own old failure in the case? He might not have as much power as he once did, but an old, experienced politician always has his contacts. Plus dozens of other families... It was simply too dangerous a situation.
"You could tell us, Patrik. No one will find out from us," Agnes pried. I could feel she was genuinely curious, so I didn't hold it against her.
"No, dear Agnes. You'll have to wait for the newspapers. There's still a high risk that something might go wrong. You'll know soon enough."
"Let it go, Agnes. It looks like he has big plans for that person in Azkaban," Theodore cut in. After a moment, however, he added with a frown: "But I don't like the fact that there was a dangerous wizard in our room at all! Next time, please let me know. At least so I know I'm in danger!"
"Mhm," Tobias agreed curtly.
"Anyway, what were you guys up to? I didn't see you in the classroom today," I brought up a new topic.
All three of them replied with a smile at the same time: "That's a secret!"
I confess, I quickly slipped into Agnes's mind. I saw that they were learning spells in a different room in the castle—presumably, they wanted to surprise me in our next duel.
"Hmm, and can you tell me something that isn't a secret?" I asked with a laugh.
"Next year, I'll have to start teaching Agnes Occlumency at the very least," I commanded myself mentally.
"Well, I was thinking," Tobias started cautiously. "That I might start learning how to heal. Honestly, I don't enjoy fighting that much, though I want to be able to defend myself."
He looked as if he expected me to dismiss him immediately. Of course, he was wrong. Every party needs its "healer." He's a valuable team member. In an MMO, I would be an extremely powerful tank and "carry," while Agnes and Theo would be lower DPS. Tobias as a healer would complete the lineup perfectly. In the real world, it was a great contact, so I supported him immediately.
"Excellent choice, Tobias. We can adapt your training to healing. We'll focus on defensive and neutral magic," I suggested without hesitation. "Do you need any help with that?"
He looked surprised, but after a moment, he smiled with relief: "No, no, I have everything. The foundation is biology and the Episkey spell. I can heal your bruises and injuries during training; it'll be good practice."
"I told you he wouldn't have a problem with it," Theo said, while Agnes nodded in agreement.
"I have no reason to have a problem with it; everyone's talent lies elsewhere... some are great at Potions like Draco, some at combat magic, some at runes and charms... others at transfiguration. The main thing is for everyone to improve in what they enjoy. And honestly? A healer is really useful to us. We already know almost all the common spells; so far we haven't used many spells that cause actual injuries, which is a mistake... real fighting hurts."
While Theo had no problem with that, I could see a slight worry about the future in Agnes. So, I decided to calm her down.
"Relax, Agnes. You're talented, and pain only hurts at the beginning. In time, thanks to the adrenaline, you won't even notice it."
It didn't seem like that calmed her much, though.
"How is it possible that you don't have a problem with pain? Who hurt you?" she paused for a moment, but immediately added: "Was it there?" I knew she meant the orphanage.
I couldn't tell her I was a grown man in a child's body. My mind was used to pain from a completely different life.
"It's not that anyone intentionally hurt me, but in the Muggle world, I did combat sports. They teach a person to accept pain as part of the game. It's completely normal and safe; you don't have to worry, Agnes."
Before Agnes could reply, an owl descended toward me. Without hesitation, it dropped an envelope into my lap and immediately, without waiting for a treat or rest, flew back into the night.
I immediately recognized our family crest. It was a message from Vespera. Without hesitation, I tore the envelope open and started reading.
The letter was brief but packed with information. I quickly scanned the lines:
Dear nephew,
The rat has been delivered. Bones received me neutrally. It was the right choice; she went to work immediately and the investigation has begun. She approved of your strategy and immediately called the Minister. He was persuaded and will use the Black case to consolidate his power and demonstrate the incompetence of the former administration. Expect news of Black's new trial and the discovery of Peter Pettigrew in the Daily Prophet soon.
By the way, Bones is interested in meeting you. She's curious about how you discovered his existence and how you captured him. She saw through me instantly—she knew it wasn't I who captured him, so I had to admit it was your work. Since she is someone I consider trustworthy, I had no problem with it, and I believe you can handle it. In case you find out when she's coming and need me, send me a message immediately and I will be there without hesitation!
With love, Vespera Rosier.
As soon as I finished reading the good news, a second owl arrived. It was curt, boring, and bland—I knew instantly that this was a bureaucratic owl. The envelope was adorned with a simple seal: a purple letter M and crossed wands. The symbol of the Ministry of Magic.
Without hesitation, I started reading:
Dear Mr. Rosier,
Expect me on Wednesday at 5:00 PM. We require additional information regarding the investigation of Peter Pettigrew, which your aunt was unable (or unwilling) to provide.
Sincerely, Amelia Bones Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
I had no plan to write to Vespera. I could handle Bones myself without any issues. I would justify finding Pettigrew with magical sensitivity, which was essentially the truth—as a wizard, he radiated a completely different energy than ordinary owls or rats.
I could see that the others were burning with curiosity, but no one dared to pry after I had closed the subject. So we finished our meal in peace and headed to the common room. While they started a game of chess, I decided on a relaxing bath. Later, once in bed, I wanted to focus on Vespera's book in peace. I was immensely curious about everything she had written in it; the book was impressively thick.
I quickly flipped through the entire book. It contained spells from white, black, and neutral magic, supplemented with practical tips and tricks. There were guides on how to handle combat transfiguration, descriptions of various shields, and even legendary spells. Vespera had written it purely practically—no unnecessary theory. Just the effect, common usage, and specific situations where a given spell was more suitable than others.
She had even included Protego Diabolica and Fiendfyre.
While for Fiendfyre she provided the exact procedure, warnings, and theoretical usage scenarios, the instructions for Protego Diabolica were missing. She only noted that few wizards had ever managed to use it, the last being Gellert Grindelwald, who famously used it in Paris, which nearly burned down. It was an extraordinarily difficult spell; many wizards who attempted to cast it were consumed by their own flames.
The book further offered advice on how to destroy transfigured monsters, how to take control of them using Legilimency, or how to simply end the transfiguration.
The more I flipped through the book, the stronger the feeling grew that Vespera had put it together in a hurry. It felt like insurance in case something bad happened and she was no longer here to teach me these things personally. It was her way of ensuring my power in the future, even if she remained only a memory.
Immediately, I felt a dark, burning rage. If anything happened to her, I would slaughter entire responsible families down to the last member. I had no choice but to grow powerful as quickly as possible and become the shield of my house. Let everyone think twice before they dare to attack. I would have to deal with Gregor as soon as possible; clearly, he wasn't as simple an obstacle as I thought if Vespera had real concerns.
Perhaps she didn't want to burden me? Did she still see me as just a kid—capable, but a child nonetheless? Hmm…
With restless thoughts, I finally fell into a deep sleep.
Author's note:
I've always found it strange how Fudge is often portrayed in fanfiction as someone desperately trying to get rid of Black. Sirius's case didn't happen during his time in power, so any halfway decent politician would jump at the chance to use the situation to their advantage. It's the perfect opportunity to consolidate political power and demonstrate "Justice" while cleaning up a mess left by the previous administration.
Then we have Vespera. Even though she doesn't show it, she's clearly worried about the future, which is why she decided to prepare a proper grimoire for our MC. What do you think about her motives? And more importantly—do you think she'll survive the coming events, or is she destined for a fate straight out of a G.R.R. Martin novel?
Patrik has a meeting with Amelia Bones coming up soon. Things are about to get interesting.
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Upcoming Chapters – Already Written:
32. The Echo of Wool's
33. In the Shadow of Lineage
34. The Greater Good's Echo
35. Memory: Dumbledore vs Grindelwald
36. The Bitterest Ink
37. The First Blood
Hi everyone! Recently, a few readers (not many, but they're there) have voiced their dislike for the torture, violence, and overall darker themes in the story.
I want to be clear: I truly appreciate everyone who comments, discusses the magic system, or offers constructive criticism. I love the engagement! However, I have little patience for 'snowflake' behavior. In the real world, we see theft, murder, drugs, torture, and war every single day. I strive to write a realistic world, and that means depicting both the kind and the cruel sides of life.
If you have a problem with a gritty, realistic world, this story might not be for you, and that's okay. You are free to stop reading.
To everyone else—including the objective critics—thank you! I value every single one of your comments and your support.
I spent the rest of the day training, specifically focusing on water manipulation. While practicing the spell Os frangere—the Bone-Breaker—I realized that I was using magic too much like a butcher, when I needed to become a surgeon. I had already gained some precision while training common spells and hexes, but it hadn't yet reflected in my elemental magic.
Aside from drowning things and using brute force—where I simply swept away everything in my path with a wave—I had to learn how to conserve energy. At least as preparation for the future...
I could vividly imagine assassination attempts on my person. How do you kill a powerful mage, directly or indirectly? Plenty of indirect ways came to mind, but what if they wanted to take me out directly? They could just send waves of weak wizards. Someone wealthy would have no problem paying for them. Since there would be many of them, I'd be forced to sweep them away with brute force every time, which drains too much magic. So, how could I optimize energy output for elemental spells? And what if I encountered another powerful elementalist?
Borgin's book only contained the basics. I had to either get my hands on more advanced texts or invent my own techniques. And that was exactly what I was attempting.
"Aguamenti!"
I sent out a weaker stream of water, which formed into a water whip in a fraction of a second. It lashed violently against the opposite wall. There was a wet slap, followed by the cracking of stone and a dull thud. It had immense power, but the swing itself was still too slow. For actual combat, I definitely needed to speed it up.
"Aguamenti!" "Aguamenti!" "Aguamenti!"
By the end of the day, just before dinner, the speed of the whip was substantially higher, though it still wasn't ideal. In terms of pure impact, this spell was probably the strongest direct attack I currently had in my repertoire. It consumed less energy than Os frangere, and thanks to physics and dynamics, it had become a truly powerful weapon. I decided I would invest much more time into this technique.
I automatically tried to optimize the speed while developing other possibilities in my mind: "If I could cool the water instantly, it would turn into ice. What if I created a water dragon, let it petrify into ice mid-flight, and slammed it directly into the target?"
I recalled Hitsugaya from Bleach and his techniques.
A technique like that would be truly devastating. Hectoliters of water and ice would hold massive power, but the casting speed would have to be perfectly polished. I also had to think about the risks. What if I met an earth elementalist? They would be a direct counter to me. Flying using water would be inefficient, but what if I turned the water beneath me into an icy surface? I could fly through the air on ice platforms.
However, I was looking too far into the future; in terms of my actual current abilities, I was still just an amateur. But I certainly didn't compare myself to ordinary students. Power is freedom.
Just as I began to feel completely exhausted—both magically and mentally—I decided to end the session and headed for dinner.
With a feeling of immense satisfaction, I entered the Great Hall. Honestly, at that moment, absolutely nothing bothered me. Everything was going according to plan. My... friends, I guess? Yes, friends—were already sitting at the Slytherin table. I spent a lot of time with them, though I probably considered only Agnes a true friend.
With a smile, I sat down with them and immediately started piling food onto my plate. I skipped the meat today. Not that I planned on becoming a vegetarian; I just had a massive craving for sweets, and those pancakes looked divine. I immediately took a generous portion. There were bowls of maple syrup, chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream on the table. Have I mentioned that I love the wizarding world? At least for the food, definitely.
As you can probably tell, I'm quite a "foodie." I'll have to invent a fat-burning potion sooner rather than later!
Theodore, Tobias, and Agnes were looking at me with surprise. I didn't blame them. Over the last few days, I had seemed nervous and chaotic, whereas now I was beaming with satisfaction, humming appreciatively with every bite. Agnes was used to me not talking while eating, but she clearly couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, Patrik, spill it," she started right away. "What was up with you these last few days? I can see by your face that everything is perfectly fine now."
Theo immediately nodded in agreement, while Tobias continued to focus silently on his portion.
"Mm-hmm," I hummed with my mouth full, but I conceded that they deserved at least a brief explanation. I swallowed the bite, washed it down with plain water, and began to speak quietly.
"There was a dangerous Animagus hiding at Hogwarts, responsible for several lives. I figured him out and, with a little help from two other students, I captured him. I locked him in a cage, and today my aunt took him directly to the DMLE."
"Wait!" Theodore blurted out. "You had a dangerous wizard in our room? Sallow has been complaining non-stop in the common room for the last two hours! He was telling anyone willing to listen about some rat of yours!"
"Well, yes. I had nowhere else to put him. I don't really trust the teachers right now, and I wanted to make sure he got to the Ministry safely. Don't worry, he didn't have the slightest chance of escaping. That cage was a masterpiece."
He didn't look like that reassured him, but before he could respond, Agnes spoke up.
"Who was it? And how did you even find out that the rat was an Animagus?"
Before she could finish the question, I stuffed another piece of pancake into my mouth and chewed contentedly while Agnes shot me murderous glares. I intentionally dragged it out until she couldn't stand it.
"Patrik!" she shrieked and threateningly raised her fork. I didn't want it stuck in my hand, so I obediently swallowed and began to explain.
"Hmm... as for who it was, you'll find out very soon. I believe it'll be on the front page of the Prophet shortly. And how did I find him?" I asked, stretching out the answer a bit longer on purpose. I took a sip from my glass and finished with a satisfied smile: "That's a secret."
Agnes literally growled and waved her fork at me threateningly, but fortunately, she didn't actually dare to stab me with it.
"But why did you keep him in the room if he was a dangerous wizard? An Animagus, even! Not just anyone can do that. Why didn't you trust the teachers? I don't believe they wouldn't hand a criminal over to the Aurors. Dumbledore certainly would!" Theodore spoke up again.
"The point is exactly who that 'guilty' wizard rotting in Azkaban for life is. If it were anyone else, it wouldn't be a problem. But he's an important person with many enemies, and I wasn't going to take any risks. I know of at least two professors who wouldn't be thrilled if he were set free."
Maybe Dumbledore—so that Harry Potter would stay with the Dursleys and not pass under the protection of Sirius Black. Though I had probably already disrupted his stay with the Muggles with that echo-message to the police. Then there was Snape, whom Black had bullied in his youth. I wasn't going to risk his childhood bitterness burying Black's exoneration.
And what about the Malfoys? What if they were eyeing the Black family estate? They have no idea that, in terms of blood, I am in the same position as Draco. Or Crouch, who might want to cover up his own old failure in the case? He might not have as much power as he once did, but an old, experienced politician always has his contacts. Plus dozens of other families... It was simply too dangerous a situation.
"You could tell us, Patrik. No one will find out from us," Agnes pried. I could feel she was genuinely curious, so I didn't hold it against her.
"No, dear Agnes. You'll have to wait for the newspapers. There's still a high risk that something might go wrong. You'll know soon enough."
"Let it go, Agnes. It looks like he has big plans for that person in Azkaban," Theodore cut in. After a moment, however, he added with a frown: "But I don't like the fact that there was a dangerous wizard in our room at all! Next time, please let me know. At least so I know I'm in danger!"
"Mhm," Tobias agreed curtly.
"Anyway, what were you guys up to? I didn't see you in the classroom today," I brought up a new topic.
All three of them replied with a smile at the same time: "That's a secret!"
I confess, I quickly slipped into Agnes's mind. I saw that they were learning spells in a different room in the castle—presumably, they wanted to surprise me in our next duel.
"Hmm, and can you tell me something that isn't a secret?" I asked with a laugh.
"Next year, I'll have to start teaching Agnes Occlumency at the very least," I commanded myself mentally.
"Well, I was thinking," Tobias started cautiously. "That I might start learning how to heal. Honestly, I don't enjoy fighting that much, though I want to be able to defend myself."
He looked as if he expected me to dismiss him immediately. Of course, he was wrong. Every party needs its "healer." He's a valuable team member. In an MMO, I would be an extremely powerful tank and "carry," while Agnes and Theo would be lower DPS. Tobias as a healer would complete the lineup perfectly. In the real world, it was a great contact, so I supported him immediately.
"Excellent choice, Tobias. We can adapt your training to healing. We'll focus on defensive and neutral magic," I suggested without hesitation. "Do you need any help with that?"
He looked surprised, but after a moment, he smiled with relief: "No, no, I have everything. The foundation is biology and the Episkey spell. I can heal your bruises and injuries during training; it'll be good practice."
"I told you he wouldn't have a problem with it," Theo said, while Agnes nodded in agreement.
"I have no reason to have a problem with it; everyone's talent lies elsewhere... some are great at Potions like Draco, some at combat magic, some at runes and charms... others at transfiguration. The main thing is for everyone to improve in what they enjoy. And honestly? A healer is really useful to us. We already know almost all the common spells; so far we haven't used many spells that cause actual injuries, which is a mistake... real fighting hurts."
While Theo had no problem with that, I could see a slight worry about the future in Agnes. So, I decided to calm her down.
"Relax, Agnes. You're talented, and pain only hurts at the beginning. In time, thanks to the adrenaline, you won't even notice it."
It didn't seem like that calmed her much, though.
"How is it possible that you don't have a problem with pain? Who hurt you?" she paused for a moment, but immediately added: "Was it there?" I knew she meant the orphanage.
I couldn't tell her I was a grown man in a child's body. My mind was used to pain from a completely different life.
"It's not that anyone intentionally hurt me, but in the Muggle world, I did combat sports. They teach a person to accept pain as part of the game. It's completely normal and safe; you don't have to worry, Agnes."
Before Agnes could reply, an owl descended toward me. Without hesitation, it dropped an envelope into my lap and immediately, without waiting for a treat or rest, flew back into the night.
I immediately recognized our family crest. It was a message from Vespera. Without hesitation, I tore the envelope open and started reading.
The letter was brief but packed with information. I quickly scanned the lines:
Dear nephew,
The rat has been delivered. Bones received me neutrally. It was the right choice; she went to work immediately and the investigation has begun. She approved of your strategy and immediately called the Minister. He was persuaded and will use the Black case to consolidate his power and demonstrate the incompetence of the former administration. Expect news of Black's new trial and the discovery of Peter Pettigrew in the Daily Prophet soon.
By the way, Bones is interested in meeting you. She's curious about how you discovered his existence and how you captured him. She saw through me instantly—she knew it wasn't I who captured him, so I had to admit it was your work. Since she is someone I consider trustworthy, I had no problem with it, and I believe you can handle it. In case you find out when she's coming and need me, send me a message immediately and I will be there without hesitation!
With love, Vespera Rosier.
As soon as I finished reading the good news, a second owl arrived. It was curt, boring, and bland—I knew instantly that this was a bureaucratic owl. The envelope was adorned with a simple seal: a purple letter M and crossed wands. The symbol of the Ministry of Magic.
Without hesitation, I started reading:
Dear Mr. Rosier,
Expect me on Wednesday at 5:00 PM. We require additional information regarding the investigation of Peter Pettigrew, which your aunt was unable (or unwilling) to provide.
Sincerely, Amelia Bones Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
I had no plan to write to Vespera. I could handle Bones myself without any issues. I would justify finding Pettigrew with magical sensitivity, which was essentially the truth—as a wizard, he radiated a completely different energy than ordinary owls or rats.
I could see that the others were burning with curiosity, but no one dared to pry after I had closed the subject. So we finished our meal in peace and headed to the common room. While they started a game of chess, I decided on a relaxing bath. Later, once in bed, I wanted to focus on Vespera's book in peace. I was immensely curious about everything she had written in it; the book was impressively thick.
I quickly flipped through the entire book. It contained spells from white, black, and neutral magic, supplemented with practical tips and tricks. There were guides on how to handle combat transfiguration, descriptions of various shields, and even legendary spells. Vespera had written it purely practically—no unnecessary theory. Just the effect, common usage, and specific situations where a given spell was more suitable than others.
She had even included Protego Diabolica and Fiendfyre.
While for Fiendfyre she provided the exact procedure, warnings, and theoretical usage scenarios, the instructions for Protego Diabolica were missing. She only noted that few wizards had ever managed to use it, the last being Gellert Grindelwald, who famously used it in Paris, which nearly burned down. It was an extraordinarily difficult spell; many wizards who attempted to cast it were consumed by their own flames.
The book further offered advice on how to destroy transfigured monsters, how to take control of them using Legilimency, or how to simply end the transfiguration.
The more I flipped through the book, the stronger the feeling grew that Vespera had put it together in a hurry. It felt like insurance in case something bad happened and she was no longer here to teach me these things personally. It was her way of ensuring my power in the future, even if she remained only a memory.
Immediately, I felt a dark, burning rage. If anything happened to her, I would slaughter entire responsible families down to the last member. I had no choice but to grow powerful as quickly as possible and become the shield of my house. Let everyone think twice before they dare to attack. I would have to deal with Gregor as soon as possible; clearly, he wasn't as simple an obstacle as I thought if Vespera had real concerns.
Perhaps she didn't want to burden me? Did she still see me as just a kid—capable, but a child nonetheless? Hmm…
With restless thoughts, I finally fell into a deep sleep.
Author's note:
I've always found it strange how Fudge is often portrayed in fanfiction as someone desperately trying to get rid of Black. Sirius's case didn't happen during his time in power, so any halfway decent politician would jump at the chance to use the situation to their advantage. It's the perfect opportunity to consolidate political power and demonstrate "Justice" while cleaning up a mess left by the previous administration.
Then we have Vespera. Even though she doesn't show it, she's clearly worried about the future, which is why she decided to prepare a proper grimoire for our MC. What do you think about her motives? And more importantly—do you think she'll survive the coming events, or is she destined for a fate straight out of a G.R.R. Martin novel?
Patrik has a meeting with Amelia Bones coming up soon. Things are about to get interesting.
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The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.
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Upcoming Chapters – Already Written:
32. The Echo of Wool's
33. In the Shadow of Lineage
34. The Greater Good's Echo
35. Memory: Dumbledore vs Grindelwald
36. The Bitterest Ink
37. The First Blood
