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Chapter 15: Shadows of Reflection.
🕑 Added 2024-12-30 12:20:20 +0000 UTCCelestial Ascendancy.
Chapter 15: Shadows of Reflection.
Elias Blake.
Hogwarts.
Watching Newt adjust his coat at the edge of the school grounds, I reflected on the past few hours of lessons. He was a surprisingly excellent teacher. From what I knew, geniuses in their fields sometimes struggled to explain their knowledge to others, but Newt had none of that. He was helpful and patient, and above all, he genuinely loved magical creatures more than anything else in the world. His passion and excitement made every moment of the lesson captivating.
I had to admit, it was nice learning from him. I'd learned a lot. All of us had.
Smiling warmly at the Magizoologist, we waved in his direction, Ash chirping a soft trill from my shoulder.
"I have high expectations for all of you," Newt said, his back turned to us. "You're now among the few people in history with such a connection to a phoenix. Treat her well, and she will protect you in return."
"I'll do my best, Professor," I replied earnestly.
"See that you do, young man," Newt said firmly, his tone filled with authority that belittled his aged form.
"Thank you for the lessons, Professor Scamander." Hermione stepped forward, her gratitude easy to see. "I loved learning from you, and it's incredible how much more there is to magical creatures than what we study in class."
Newt chuckled softly. "There's far more to magical creatures than you'll find in a book, Miss Granger. Remember that. Going out, exploring, and meeting these creatures will teach you lessons you'd never understand from simple words."
Iris grinned, her excitement bubbling over. "You tell her, Professor! She spends more time in the library than anywhere else. And next time we meet, bring some creatures for us to see! I'd love to meet a Niffler… or maybe even a Thunderbird!"
Newt shook his head with a wry smile. "Be careful what you wish for, my dear. Nifflers are delightful but dreadful for keeping a tidy life. And as for Thunderbirds, I suspect Headmaster Dippet's spirit would appear and haunt me if I brought something that dangerous to the school again."
We all laughed at that, imagining a ghost from the late headmaster flowing out of his paint just to shout at Newt for his carelessness.
With a final wave, Newt took hold of his suitcase and Apparated, the faintest pop I've heard echoing in the air, showing his mastery over the spell.
For a moment, the four of us stood in silence, enjoying Ash's last thrill as she said her goodbyes.
"Blimey," Hagrid said, breaking the quiet with a hearty laugh. "Mr. Scamander is something else, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is," Iris agreed, snorting softly. "I'd love to see what kind of creatures he has hidden in that suitcase of his."
Since he was old, we were mindful enough to avoid asking him to spend more time than necessary in school, even if Iris was pouting and fidgeting with excitement about his suitcase. I understood the sentiment, and in truth, I also wanted to enter it, but I could control myself better than she could.
Hermione shook her head in amazement. "I can't believe how much he taught us in such a short time."
"It's his love for the subject," I said quietly, still processing everything we'd learned. I was deeply grateful for Newt's effort in the lesson.
Now, Iris, Hermione, and I knew what to do about my baby bird instead of trying everything once, and taking care of Ash properly was incredibly important to me. She was just so damn adorable, and I wanted to be the best I could for her.
If I ever rolled another magical creature from a different world, I'd seek him out. He likely knew everything about magical creatures in this world, but maybe I'd get something he'd never encountered. The idea of surprising him with something new that could bring him joy was irresistible.
I could only hope I'd manage it before his time ran out. Though he appeared in good health, the constant dangers he faced made me uncomfortable. He shared with us that, ever since his wife's passing, he'd returned to adventuring in his free time, taking care of multiple magical creatures whenever possible. It was his way of coping, of trying to dull the ache of her absence; though he embraced significant risks, he did what he loved, and I was sure that he would die with a smile on his face when his time came.
Two Hours Later
After spending some time with the gentle half-giant, we wandered around the castle grounds. It was a lovely morning, but an uneasy feeling lingered in the back of my mind, refusing to let me enjoy the peace.
"What's wrong, Eli?" Hermione asked, sighing softly as she rubbed soothing circles on my back.
"I feel like we made a mistake, Mione," I admitted, shaking my head before grabbing Iris's hand with my free hand and pulling them both toward the headmaster's office.
"What's gotten into you?" Iris grumbled, quickening her pace so I wouldn't have to drag her.
"We need to do something about Crouch," I said firmly. "I know it's my fault we're in this situation, and I'm sorry. We left the real Moody in the hands of someone impersonating him because we wanted to handle the problem ourselves. That was a mistake. We don't know what's happened to the real Moody, and we can't ignore it any longer."
Hermione's face brightened at my words. "I've wanted to say this since yesterday but feared how you two would react."
"Mione?" Iris looked at her, surprised and a little guilty. "You should have said something. I know I can be hotheaded, but someone needs to tell us if we're making a mistake."
Hermione shook her head, looking regretful. "I know. I should have said something, but I hesitated. We've done so much on our own, but we left someone to suffer this time. I feel awful about it. I should have taken you to the headmaster when we realized someone was impersonating a professor."
"Don't say that," I said firmly, pulling Hermione into a hug. "If anyone's to blame, it's me. I'm the reason we don't trust the professors enough. We could have avoided so much trouble in the past just by asking for help."
Iris sighed in frustration. "You're both right. We made a mistake, but it's not too late to fix it. We need to save the real Moody and stop that impostor."
"With the headmaster's help," Hermione added firmly. "I spent last night thinking about this, and something doesn't add up. From what I read about the war, Crouch was known for his hatred of the Dark Arts. He was one of the leaders who pushed for the bans on dark magic. There's no way he'd teach about the Unforgivable to fourth years."
"You're right," Iris nodded. "I remember you mentioning that last year when we read about Padfoot. Crouch even sent his own son to Azkaban. He was a real hardass."
"Exactly," Hermione said, frowning. "None of this makes sense. Teaching Unforgivables? Pretending to be Moody? It's completely out of character."
"Unless Dumbledore knows something we don't," I suggested, playing the devil's advocate. "If Moody was investigating something for the headmaster, it might explain why he was in the classroom waiting for students—it could have been a cover for giving a report."
"That's possible," Iris said thoughtfully, "but I have a bad feeling it's not that simple."
"Oh? Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I wanted to steer the conversation toward the idea that Crouch's supposedly dead son might be involved without revealing my knowledge. Some things needed to stay buried.
"Because it's Hogwarts," Iris said dryly. "And something bad always happens on Halloween. Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, and three times is enemy action. According to Angelina, the champions will be chosen on Halloween. I don't like it; it feels like a setup."
I struggled to suppress a snort at her morbidly accurate observation. She wasn't wrong—it was fate, and I hated it. I didn't know if stopping Barty Crouch Jr. would derail the larger plot, but at least I had to give it my all.
"Let's talk to the headmaster before making any moves," I said. "Iris is right; something feels off, and we must act before it's too late."
As we walked, I tried to steer the conversation to what I wanted. "Hermione, do you remember Crouch's son's name?"
Hermione pursed her lips in thought. "Barty Crouch," she murmured. "I think they had the same name. I don't remember seeing any other names in the articles I read with the last name Crouch."
"Talk about imagination," Iris snorted, but then she froze. "Eli, you don't think—"
"He was declared dead in Azkaban," Hermione said quickly. "The prison is impossible to break out of."
"Like Sirius?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and enjoying the blush that crept across her face.
"It's possible," Iris admitted softly. "But the headmaster will know for sure. Let's focus on that first."
"Lemon drops," she said as we reached the gargoyle.
As it moved aside, I took a deep breath. Since I decided to stop being an idiot, I'd wrestled with involving others in our plans. Trusting Dumbledore wasn't easy for me. I still doubted him, not as a dark lord, but I did not agree with his methods, but I had to admit that he was a good person at heart.
Pushing the girls gently, we entered the headmaster's office and found him conversing with Professor McGonagall.
Dumbledore looked up from the papers he was signing as we entered his office, his half-moon glasses glinting with the sunlight streaming through the window. Beside him, Professor McGonagall stood stern and composed as ever, her sharp gaze locking onto us when we became visible.
"Ah, my students. How was the lesson with Newt?" Dumbledore greeted us warmly. "It took less time than I expected. I could feel him crossing the ward line as he left the castle."
"He was a surprisingly good teacher," I replied with a smile. "Thank you for arranging this for us. There was so much we didn't know about phoenixes, and we learned a lot." I grinned teasingly, gazing at Iris, who was almost jumping in her place. "Even Iris paid attention the entire time."
"Hey!" Iris pouted, swatting my arm playfully. "I pay attention when the class is interesting."
"Is that so?" McGonagall's lips thinned, and her eyes gleaming with sharp amusement. "Are my lessons not interesting, Miss Potter?"
Iris's cheeks flushed as Hermione stifled a snicker, quickly disguising it with a cough when Iris shot her an adorable glare.
"It's not like that, Professor," Iris protested. "It's just... Ash is so adorable, and I want to do the best I can for her."
"Ah..." McGonagall sighed, shaking her head. "I should have known."
"There's no need for thanks, my boy," Dumbledore said with a dismissive wave. "It was the least I could do. But this visit was unexpected. Is there a problem?"
I hesitated, searching for the right words to explain our visit without hinting at my knowledge. My gaze flicked to Iris and Hermione, both of whom nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.
"We discovered something that didn't make sense last night during dinner," I began in a firm voice. "But before I explain that, I need to give some context."
"Are you aware of what the Defense Against the Dark Arts class covered two days ago?" I asked, frowning deeply.
"I'm afraid not, my boy. I've been preoccupied with preparations for the arrival of the other schools and have barely left this office," Dumbledore admitted, glancing at McGonagall with a confused frown.
"I was here with you, Albus, planning the event," McGonagall said, shaking her head. "I haven't heard anything."
Brushing a hand through my hair, I continued, "Professor Moody began the class by saying he would teach us differently from past professors. He claimed he didn't trust the ministry's curriculum and that the best way to defend against the Dark Arts is by understanding them."
"Oh dear," Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alastor can be eccentric, young Elias, but I can assure you, his intentions are always noble."
"If that was all, I'd agree with his methods," I said with a humorless laugh. "But the problem lies in what he showed us."
"What did he do?" McGonagall's tone was sharp with impatience. "For Merlin's sake, did he harm a student?"
"He used the Unforgivable," Hermione said grimly, clutching Ash tightly.
McGonagall gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "The Unforgivables!? Albus, how could he be so reckless? Even Alastor wouldn't be foolish enough to cast those in front of the heirs of prominent pureblood families."
The warmth faded from Dumbledore's expression, replaced by a grim resolve. "That is... troubling. Are you certain?"
I nodded. "He cast them on us, claiming firsthand experience was the best way to defend against them."
"Impossible!" McGonagall exclaimed. "Albus, this has to be addressed immediately."
"There's more," I interjected, drawing their attention back to me. "I found it suspicious, so I asked Iris for the map—you know which one."
Dumbledore's expression darkened slightly the longer he thought about Moody's actions, though he nodded with bright eyes at the mention of the map. "An impressive piece of magic created by some remarkable students. I assume it's in your possession now?"
"It's one of the few things I have left from my parents," Iris said softly, holding her chin high with a mix of pride and sadness.
Dumbledore gave a small smile. "I suspected it had been lost to time. Where did you find it?"
"I think the twins nicked it from Filch," Iris said with a sheepish laugh before clapping a hand over her mouth. "They won't get in trouble, right?"
McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Those two. I swear."
Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "They're safe from me, Miss Potter. Please, young Elias, continue."
I took a steady breath to calm my nerves. "I used the map to track Moody. In the morning, he was in his office, but when I knocked on his door, there was no response. Later, during dinner, I rechecked the map while we were in the Great Hall. Imagine my surprise when I saw his name still in the office while someone with his face was sitting at the staff table."
"What was his name?" Dumbledore asked with narrowed eyes. I noticed the fury flickering in his eyes. He truly cared for the school's students—that, I didn't doubt.
"Barty Crouch," I replied seriously.
"Why didn't you come to me as soon as you found out, my boy?" he asked, his tone steady, though it deepened my guilt. The weight of my earlier stupidity pressed harder on my chest. I truly needed to change my way of thinking; I have made too many mistakes in the past few years.
"Because I was foolish, Headmaster," I admitted, my voice heavy. "We thought we could handle it ourselves. But today, I realized how reckless I've been. So many times over the years, we could have asked for help during our... adventures. But I didn't. I thought we could manage alone."
Dumbledore's disappointment was palpable, and my guilt increased. He really had a way of making you feel bad. I mean, I knew that I deserved it, but it was surprising to see how bad he could make one feel with a single gaze.
"It's not just your fault alone, Eli," Hermione interjected softly but firmly. She grabbed my hand, her eyes locking onto mine. On the other side, Iris did the same. "We're just as responsible. We knew it was wrong and kept going. I think... I think it stems from you not trusting us when we thought Professor Snape was after the Philosopher's Stone in our first year. Even though we were wrong, Voldemort was here…"
Professor McGonagall's expression darkened with guilt, and Dumbledore sighed deeply.
"We've all made mistakes, my dear students. Everyone here has done something wrong," he said gently. "But please, if something like this happens again, come to me immediately. I will not allow such a danger to go unchecked. I learned my lesson three years ago."
"But it doesn't make sense, Albus," McGonagall muttered, her brows furrowing. "Why would Barty Crouch impersonate Alastor? And worse, teach about the Unforgivables to the students? You know how he feels about dark magic after what happened with his son."
"That's what puzzles us," I said quietly, drawing their attention. "But then we had an idea: what if it's not Barty Crouch himself, but his supposed son?"
McGonagall gasped, visibly shaken. "Barty Crouch Jr.? Albus, that boy was sentenced to Azkaban for life! He was declared dead years ago."
"We know Azkaban isn't impossible to escape from; remember last year," I pointed out firmly, watching Dumbledore and McGonagall exchange troubled looks. "What if it really is Barty Crouch Jr.? If so, we have a Death Eater in the school, impersonating an Auror."
Iris stepped forward, her green eyes hard as steel. "Professor, we don't have time to waste. Whoever he is, this situation isn't right. He clearly planned this; his presence during the Triwizard Tournament is no coincidence. The champions will be chosen on Halloween, and nothing good ever happens to me on that day in this school," she added, her voice tinged with bitterness and anger.
I sighed, hating how right she was. I approached her and rubbed her back soothingly with my hand as I hugged her, smiling when I felt her leaning into my embrace.
Dumbledore studied us for a long moment before nodding gravely. "You are right, Miss Potter. Time is of the essence."
He rose from his chair, his horrible purple robes billowing around him. "Minerva, alert the staff. Tighten security around the castle. I will investigate Moody's quarters to confirm his identity."
"Of course, Albus," McGonagall replied briskly, already heading for the door.
Once she left, Dumbledore turned back to us, his piercing gaze softening slightly. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Your vigilance may very well have averted disaster."
"Professor," I lifted my hand hesitantly, "what should we do in the meantime?"
"Stay vigilant," Dumbledore instructed. "And trust that you have done the right thing by coming to me. Leave the rest to the staff."
His reassurance helped, but I couldn't simply let it go. No, I needed to see this through. This would be my first time interfering at such a critical level with the plot, and I couldn't ignore it. I needed to see firsthand the repercussions of my meddling, to see if things were better or worse. I hoped that I was doing a good thing right now.
As we left the office, Hermione exhaled shakily. "Did you guys feel the weight of the Headmaster's magic?"
"I could barely breathe," Iris admitted, collapsing into a nearby chair and wiping perspiration from her forehead. "It felt like I was drowning."
I nodded grimly, still unsettled by the memory. Dumbledore's strength was staggering, far beyond what I had anticipated, even with my knowledge. It was no wonder Voldemort feared him. He was the only person Voldemort really respected, even if he hated Dumbledore. He always cut his losses whenever the headmaster arrived at the scene.
"What should we do, Eli?" Iris asked once she regained her composure, pressing herself close to me.
Pulling Hermione into the hug, I also rested my head on their shoulders. "We're going to watch. From the shadows. Maybe we can help if things go sideways."
"It could be dangerous," Hermione murmured, her voice filled with worry.
"Life's dangerous, Mione," I replied softly. "Besides, did you see Dumbledore before he left? He looked ready for war. I… We need to see how this ends, please?"
Iris snorted and looked at Hermione teasingly. "Aren't you curious to see the headmaster in action when he's serious?"
"A little," Hermione admitted shyly, a small smile tugging at her lips and her eyes bright at the opportunity to see something so rare.
"We'll go," she said at last. "But we stay at a distance and only interfere if there's no other choice."
"I don't think we'll be needed, Mione," I reassured her. "Whoever he is, whether Crouch or his son, he's nothing compared to the Headmaster."
With a firm nod, Iris added, "Using the hidden passages, we can get there before anyone else. Let's make a plan first, just to be safe."
"That's a good idea," I agreed. "But first, Ash is going back to my hollow."
Ash chirped in protest, but I wouldn't budge, and the girls backed me up. She was too young to be in a fight.
"Ash," I coaxed, stroking her feathers gently, "this isn't safe for you yet. Wait until you can use your fire at the very least."
Ash chirped softly, a note of reluctant understanding in her voice. Through our bond, I felt her acceptance, though she still sulked like the baby she was.
"Let's step outside," I said, not wanting to use my trunk in Dumbledore's office with the watchful eyes of the portraits surrounding us.
The girls followed me out, closing the door behind us. I tapped my trunk twice, and Ash reluctantly entered. Her mood brightened slightly as she settled inside.
"She understands," I told them with a small smile. "She's just throwing a tantrum."
"She's so expressive," Hermione said with a pout. "Her eyes remind me of Luna's."
"We should check in on Luna during dinner," Iris suggested with a warm smile. "Her housemates have backed off after Eli put the fear of God into them, but she still seems lonely. I think they decided to ignore her completely instead of normal bullying," she finished with a scowl.
"That's a plan," I said, nodding. "Luna's a good friend." And she was, even if we didn't interact that much. She was quirky and funny if you could see past her eccentricities, and watching Hermione fume at Luna when she talked about those magical creatures was hilarious if I do say so myself.
"Now," I continued, my tone sharpening, "what's our next move?"
"Can you cloak us, Eli?" Hermione asked, her bright eyes shining with eagerness.
"No problem," I said with a smirk before my expression turned serious.
With my latest roll, I could see the flaws in the cloaking spell I'd used during the World Cup. Thanks to it, I also knew how to fix them. I focused on improving the spell's effectiveness, even if it meant reducing its duration and making it unusable in combat. I could work on something to cover those bases later.
Stepping in front of the girls, I prepared to explain.
"My latest perk showed me some mistakes in my original spell," I said slowly. "This one I'm about to cast will keep us hidden, even from the headmaster, maybe. But there are a few drawbacks. We'll need to stay close to the shadows, and bright light like a Lumos maxima could interfere with my spell. And I also have to concentrate on the spell at all times. That means you'll need to protect me. Is that understood?"
The girls nodded, their expressions grave.
"Don't worry about that. We won't let anything happen to you, Eli," Iris said firmly. She leaned in, giving me a soft kiss before stepping back to whisper something in Hermione's ear.
Hermione's face turned crimson as she shook her head in reluctance, but Iris grinned and kept whispering until Hermione eventually nodded, albeit embarrassed.
"You're ours. Nothing will happen to you," Hermione said shyly, her cheeks still bright red. Then, standing on her tiptoes, she kissed me directly on the one place she had avoided these past days.
Her lips were different than Iris's; they were softer and fuller and had a sweetness that lingered with a faint taste of strawberries. The contrast was surprising. Her kiss was so gentle and pure that I couldn't avoid leaning into it. Unlike Iris, who was domineering, Hermione's everything felt softer, quieter, and more vulnerable. It was a fleeting moment that ended too soon for my tastes, but the memory of it would fill me with joy in the conceivable future.
"I have no idea how you expect me to concentrate now," I quipped, smirking at Hermione to hide my surprise and giddiness, though I couldn't help but feel elated, and it clearly showed on my face.
It was the first time Hermione had done something like that since Iris and I had started our strange relationship. The tension had always been there, but we'd never crossed that line until now.
"Prat," Hermione muttered, blushing as she swatted my arm shyly. "Was it good?" she asked nervously.
"I think I need a repeat... for luck," I whispered, locking eyes with her. Slowly, I leaned in, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to. But she stayed still, even pursing her lips and closing her eyes.
I kissed her, and the world around us seemed to melt away, leaving only the feel of her lips against mine. They were soft, impossibly so, like velvet brushing against my skin, and the warmth, Merlin, the warmth of her lips was otherworldly. It wasn't just a kiss; it was the beginning of a great thing, I suspected.
Her lips trembled slightly, mirroring own nervousness, but as the kiss deepened, that hesitation dissolved, replaced by something raw and untamed. I could feel her trust in how she leaned into me, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm as though grounding herself. Obviously, she was not an experienced kisser, but the same could be said about me. Even then, the emotion she put into it made this one of my favorite moments in this life.
When we broke apart, she had a dopey grin on her face. I glanced at Iris, unsure how she would react to seeing me kiss Hermione like that. But her happy grin and slightly teary eyes made my heart flutter.
"Thank you," I mouthed at her, "I'll pay you back later."
"You better," she mouthed back, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I'll start the spell. Girls, get ready. Put one hand on my shoulder," I said seriously. As much as I wanted to keep enjoying the moment, now wasn't the time. We'd have all the time in the world for that later.
With a tight grip on my wand, I pointed its tip at my chest and drew a tight spiral in the air, focusing on the concepts of shadows, concealment, and becoming a void in the world.
"Umbris Abscondere," I whispered. Meaning conceal by the shadows.
The spell's effect was immediate. I felt a significant portion of my magical energy drain away as shadows came to life around us. A pool darker than black formed at our feet, rapidly expanding until it enveloped us completely. Light bent around us, and the world seemed to grow muted. A metaphysical weight pressed down on my body as the shadows of the world cocooned our bodies.
Looking down, I saw nothing, the spell had worked and we had vanished entirely from sight.
"We should get moving; the effect will disappear in twenty minutes," I said, my voice echoing strangely, like a blend of many voices.
The girls tightened their grip on my shoulders in response. I knew we were ready.
200 CP awarded, 500 CP in total.
