"This is why almost all animancy is illegal in most countries. The cost is considered too great. Even in morally grounded animancy. Should I heal you of your fatal illness, what happens to that promised death? It must go to someone, and so it shuffles down the line to another being. It is also why there is a long and complicated history surrounding why necromancy and animancy have come to be considered separate practices, but in short, the more Light magic-minded animancers did not appreciate the association with their corpse-defiling cousins, and made it clear to separate the two, in hopes to keep their practice legal."
"Isn't it good that it's illegal then, objectively? If there is such a high cost, then why do it at all?" Ron asked.
"With high risk comes high reward," She explained. "Necromancy can make you very powerful, and most people simply don't care. As I said, these magics can twist your mind. Many amateurs become addicted to the rush that comes from Dark magic. This is not instantaneous, however. It takes long-term, repeated use to do permanent damage to your soul barring a few high-concept spells. Granted you could still end up possessed, depressed, and missing a few limbs. The more nebulous areas such as occlumency and the Patronus are fairly safe, that's why they are more widely known and used. The price is not always permanent or negative, although these examples are much rarer than the cases where there is serious danger. Most practitioners die within a decade, and of those that do not, most end up with deeply wounded souls.
Plenty of necromancers find even the most serious costs negligible. For example, Harry's birth mother used some form of soul magic to protect him from Voldemort, even if it cost her life, there's no doubt she considered that worth it. Voldemort and his followers clearly don't care about the dangers either, although they all have a single brain cell to share amongst themselves. With the amount that Voldemort has shredded his soul, I'm shocked he's functioning at all. Are you familiar with the Dementor's Kiss? He has essentially done that, willingly. He has such a small amount of soul left he should be brain-dead. I imagine he's running on greed and spite alone. It's no shocker he was defeated by a literal baby, no offense dear."
"None taken," Harry said.
"But Professor Adams, you and Harry are using it repeatedly and over long periods!" Hermione said in a worried tone.
"There are some safer ways to practice necromancy. Harry and I are natural-born necromancers, the talent runs in our bloodlines, so it is safer for us. Additionally, those who have had soul-altering brushes with magic or mortality may be blessed with an affinity. I once trained a muggleborn wix who had been resurrected by some muggle means. Their heart had stopped, but not their brain and they had been healed. That gave them quite the talent for animancy. Such a shame they got crushed by that piano, though. I could barely tell what was their body and what was the pavement at that point, there was no reviving them."
"A piano?" Ron questioned.
"Yes, it was a tragic accident really. I should have expected it. When one cheats death, death is not so willing to let that go. We were walking down the street when a piano fell from the third story of a building. They had been attempting to leverage it through the window and the rope snapped. I have no idea who thought that was a good idea. Anyway! -" She began to roll up her sleeves, exposing the swirling patterns of runes and demented images which covered her arms.
"The safest way to practice necromancy is in the form of sacred tattoos. These can only be given by a master necromancer and act as a blessing from the Death Gods. They can counteract most of the negative side effects of necromancy - possession, insanity, nightmares, and soul damage."
"Death is real? As in as a physical being and not simply a concept?" Hermione asked.
"Can I get one?" Ron shouted.
"How many Death Gods are there? Necromancy is a religious practice then?" Luna pondered.
"Hang on, Harry, you have tattoos?" Sirius grumbled.
"Hush, all of you! No, Ron. You do not get one. Tattoos are sacred, to get one is to commit yourself to Death. Because yes, it does have religious elements. It is said that Death is our most sacred, unbending God, and necromancers its most humble servants. We do not worship, but work as their mortal hands upon Earth, in exchange for knowledge and power. And yes, Death is real. Whether as one singular being or divided up into godly aspects such as Hades or Anubis or Yama, whichever faith you prefer, is a matter of personal belief - but it is real. Not only have I met Death personally, but Harry has one of its earthly blessings, the Peverell Cloak."
"Wait! You've met Death? And you never told me!?" Harry complained. "That is so cool!"
"It's quite a personal story. But I have always been in tune with the whispers from beyond our realm. It is Death who urged me to the location where we first met, Harry. Most have no patience or faith in this aspect of practice, and since it is not strictly necessary, most do not bother. But I have come to find that if you are willing to listen, then the gods have a great deal with which they are willing to share. And, as I said, it certainly makes things safer."
"May I ask, what sorts of things do the gods ask of you?" Luna asked. She herself was a self-taught mix of beliefs she roughly called Paganism, and other religions were very interesting to her. If only necromancy was not illegal, she would love to sit down and do a proper interview about it for The Quibbler. Hermione, on the other hand, was a classic science-fearing atheist who was still trying to grapple with the fact that Death was real. Regardless of her belief in the content, she scribbled down every word Alabasandria said as knowledge was her ultimate gospel.
(Ron was just mad he didn't get any sick tattoos like Harry's and contemplated how he was supposed to tell his mum he was planning on converting to Spooky Paganism as soon as possible.)
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