slipped into the library quietly, mindful not to disturb the Librarians as they worked, nor the various students that were already present. Xeno wasn't with me, both because he preferred to laze around on my bed, enjoying the privacy of the room I now had to myself, and because the chances that something might happen while he was present in the Library had the chance to be more disruptive to my education than I'd like.
As Miss Pince wasn't on duty today, or at least wasn't the Librarian manning the desk, I didn't have to explain to her why Xeno wasn't present. As much as she enjoyed the quiet of her library, she had taken a liking to Xeno and enjoyed watching over him whenever I was present in the Library.
I moved past the rows of single desks that dominated the central area of the ground floor of the Great Library, noting a few familiar faces from the senior years. Even though we were only just into October, it seemed their work for preparation for their NEWTs was already taking up a considerable amount of their time. I offered Alihandra Montague a nod after she sensed my presence and offered a nod to me first, while I pretended to ignore the glares that came my way from Rabastan Lestrange, Andrew Richardson, and Marcus Sullivan.
The first was glaring at me, no doubt, because I remained close to Bella as she was one of my tutors. As I was in Third Year, the need for a tutor was minimised, but Bella still made time to mentor me when she could. Something that others in the senior years – in Slytherin and beyond – had made note of. I'd heard the odd rumblings that Rabastan was reporting my continued closeness to his elder brother, and Bella's betrothed, but I wasn't focusing on it. If he made a move against me, I would be ready, and he, along with his brother and cousin, was on the list for removal.
The other two were the younger brothers of two of the group that had disappeared at the end of the last year. There was no proof that I had anything to do with the disappearance of those boys, at least nothing public, but it was clear the boys suspected me. They weren't wrong as I had removed the five then Seventh Year boys after discovering they had been behind the attack on me, but since I had used the Shadow Realm to secure the boys while I extracted any useful information from them before disposing of their stunned bodies with Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest, the younger brothers and others had no proof of my involvement in the disappearances.
I had, just after the last school year had ended, been interviewed by Aurors investigating the matter. They saw a link between the attack on me and the disappearance of the five older boys, but they had no proof. At the very least, they never hinted that they had anything linking me beyond the potential that the group had been the ones who had attacked me. If they did, I would've been brought before the Wizengamot already over the matter, but even if they did, I had a strong justification. As the head of my Clan and one of only three members of the main bloodline, I could easily claim the five had attempted to annihilate my Clan.
The Lords of the Houses the five came from could, in theory, argue against it, but I doubted they would. None of the boys had been from the main lines, though the Lords might still have enacted Blood Feuds with my Clan. Still, since the matter had slipped onto the back burner with nothing new occurring in the investigations, the matter was one I had placed in my rearview. However, if the younger brothers of the missing boys choose to confront me, then I would deal with them accordingly, though not in the same manner as last year; otherwise, attention would land squarely on me, which would disrupt many of my plans for the coming years.
I pushed such thoughts aside as I moved deeper into the library, and then, as I slipped between two bookshelves, turned my focus to the reason I was here today. "Sorry I'm late," I said as I neared the table in the corner of the ground floor, "it took me longer to finish a Transfiguration assignment than I expected."
"It's fine," Áine replied as she shifted slightly, creating room for me to slip in beside her and one of her friends, Annie Cowrie. "We were just checking over our work for Professor Buckland."
I nodded, remembering the DADA Professor. He only handled students from the first two years, and as such, this year we had gotten a new Professor for the subject, Professor Jasmine Dewar. Where Professor Buckland had been soft, charming, and friendly, Professor Dewar was cold, clinical, and critical of anything more than a minor mistake. So far, I hadn't drawn her ire, but several others had. Bradley Cooper and three others were currently in the middle of a two-week after-dinner detention with her.
I looked around the table, and a small frown slipped onto my face. "Where's Severus and the other boys?" I asked as I noticed that it was only the girls who gathered with Áine and Lily who were present today.
"Ugh," Maggie Potter began with a good hint of anger; something shared by the others at the mention of Snape. "Snape's not here as he's off with Avery and Mulciber." The names were known to me as both came from families that I expected would align with Voldemort once he rose to prominence.
"Ugh, Mulciber," Issa repeated with a shudder, and I turned to her, wondering if there was an issue with the Second Year Slytherins that I needed to be made aware of. "There's something wrong with that one."
"I know," muttered another of the girls, one from Gryffindor, "he's been harassing muggleborns regularly, but he's smart enough to avoid making the first move."
I looked around the group, noting the fall in the mood as they dwelt on Brandon Mulciber. I barely knew the boy, having seen him only in passing around the Slytherin Chamber, but it seemed my expectations for him aligned with those of his family. If Snape was beginning to hang around with such individuals, it seemed I would need to both speak with him and, if necessary, educate Mulciber and those of his ilk on the order of things in our house.
That latter point was going to be hard to do, however, as I had yet to secure my year, never mind begin expanding my influence into the lower years. It would come in time, but I couldn't push the matter currently, certainly not as openly as I wished. Still, I would be speaking with Snape and seeing if there was a way to lessen the influence of such undesirable figures in his circle of friends.
"As for Rowan, Grant, and the others, they're staying away because of my cousin," Maggie continued before sighing loudly. "James' gathered a group to him in Gryffindor; one that includes Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. He spent time last year pushing his ideas onto others, and now he's starting to pressure those in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. At least those not connected to certain Houses."
"Do I even want to know?" I asked, though I already had a fairly good idea of what the issue was.
"They're telling everyone that Slytherins are all evil," Lily all but spat out as she scowled deeply enough that she might pass for a demon. "That prat was even saying you're a monster that shouldn't be at Hogwarts!"
"What makes it worse is that he's quickly become the best duellist in our year," Tara Griffin, a Ravenclaw friend of Áine's, added. "And whenever he duels a Slytherin, even a girl, he tries to go further than he should."
"He hurt Sev," Lily slipped in, her scowl somehow deepening. "Not enough that he missed classes, but he still spent a night in the Infirmary."
I sighed loudly and ran my fingers down my face. "I see," I muttered as my mind started processing the information. "Well, there's nothing we can do about Potter and Snape currently, but if you all could, let me know if the issues continue."
I'd be intervening in each of them as I wouldn't allow Snape to be dragged down the road that would see him fall into Voldemort's lap, nor would I accept James Potter spreading his hatred to others and poisoning the relationship between houses in Hogwarts. Oh, there were students in my house that he wasn't inaccurate about, but labelling all of us with a broad brush not only was fucking childish and pathetic, but would make my efforts in the coming years more difficult to manage.
I had already accepted that Potter was likely to become a foe of mine while we were in Hogwarts, and probably beyond. However, the less influence he had to sprout his bullshit – or more accurately, for others to buy it – the fewer problems I would face in my later years at school. I couldn't, as much as I might wish it, have him vanish as I had with the boys last year. Not just because if that happened too often, the DMLE would start posting Aurors and the like in Hogwarts, which would limit my freedoms, but also as he was the firstborn of an heir to an Ancient House.
House Potter was going to side with Dumbledore in the coming war, of that I was certain. However, I didn't want to start blood feuds with every Clan or House that allied with the Headmaster or Voldemort. Not every member would willingly follow the orders of their Chief or Lord, at least not to the point of being fully committed to a cause. They would, however, if a Blood Feud was instigated against Clan MacLeod, and as such, I wanted to avoid such things.
There were a few options for handling Potter that wouldn't see me seeking to remove him from the board currently, and I would consider which ones to use in the coming months and years. For now, it was best to remain vigilant and monitor the situation before acting, lest I do something that would only help instead of hindering his reputation and ideals.
"Um, can you help us with this assignment for Professor McGonagall?"
I turned to the speaker, my cousin Assa, and smiled as she passed a sheet of parchment towards me. A glance at the sheet had me remembering the lesson in question, and I quickly recalled not only my answer to that assignment but the methodology behind it. While it wasn't directly stated in the lesson, much of what was being hinted at in that particular lesson, and those that followed it, aligned with the rules of conservation of mass and energy in the muggle world. Now, magic allowed one to circumvent those rules to an extent, but that was by drawing on magic itself to, in essence, fill in the gaps created by whatever transfiguration was being attempted.
After offering Lily a smile as I glanced at her, not that she understood why, I began speaking. "The answer is, oddly, one that has some roots in muggle science, though I admit that I only discovered that because others mentioned it to me over the summer." The girls around the table all looked at me with various expressions that did little to hide some or all of their surprise and shock. "Those ideas don't entirely align with magic, because, well, magic," a few giggled at the bad joke, "but they can provide a basis to work from if you want a different approach."
I continued from there, guiding, I hoped, the Second Years towards not just completing the assignment but hopefully understanding the subject matter better than they would have otherwise. I didn't linger on the muggle comparison, as there was no need to bring that up and risk confusing them, but I wondered how they might react to hearing not only that there was a small degree of crossover, but that I was someone who knew of that. As I guided them through that assignment and others they wished for help with, I couldn't help but remember helping my daughter in my previous life with schoolwork.
It wasn't the same situation or conditions, but I enjoyed helping these girls and other students, in my year and below, with schoolwork. Perhaps it was an inefficient way to gain influence in the years, but it helped show another side of me to others and was a decent way to pass time in a so far slow and boring year.
As with previous years, I already knew all the textbook topics for my classes along with most of the practical challenges that awaited me. As much as I wished to focus on other matters, I couldn't be seen to appear too disinterested in the school, my work, or my fellow students. Still, even as I helped the girls, my mind was ablaze with plans that may or may not be activated this year to further solidify my hold over not just the Slytherins, but also the year in general, if it were possible.
… ...
… …
"There, that's it," I called out as I watched from the sidelines as Snape cast the charm I had him focusing on at a faster rate than he had previously done. "Keep doing that and try to cast faster each time. As you repeat the action, the movements will become second nature to you, and your ability to cast it even under pressure won't be lost."
Snape did as I asked, repeating the casting of the charm, a relatively simple one but with the potential to be useful in the right situations, as I instructed. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his brow, and his jaw was clenched as he cast. Given we'd been at this for nearly an hour shifting between charms, jinxes, and hexes without him having much chance for rest, it wasn't a shock he was beginning to struggle. Still, I was impressed that he kept going without any vocal complaint.
The reason that I was helping Snape with his casting was threefold. First, the better he got at casting, the more comfortable he would become at duelling, which would help him improve his standing within Slytherin. I didn't expect him to become the best in his year by the time of the tournaments next year, but it was a way to help him improve his standing among his peers. Doing so would also grant me influence with them, as it was well established that I was watching over Snape, though I was no longer the only one doing so.
Lucius Malfoy had, due to my interest in Snape and others, begun helping the halfblood. I wasn't yet sure of the reason for him doing so, not even after speaking with Lucius, but I didn't regard it as a threat to my control over Snape; at least not currently.
Lucius was far more cordial to me this year than last, which, given I was betrothed to his sister, wasn't a shocker. However, it felt like there was more to it than him simply showing interest in the activities and actions of his future brother-in-law. I didn't know yet if he was seeking to amalgamate my influence into his, but that was what I expected his reasoning to be. That wouldn't happen. I would make sure of it, and because of his choice to grow closer to me, I planned to turn things around on him and take control over his influence.
To do that wouldn't be easy, not least as he was older, more experienced, and remained a pathway ahead of me in how much of his potential he had unlocked. I didn't know his potential, though given Vesta had Hyperýpsilos – Very High – Magical Potential, it was safe to assume he was at the same level. Of course, the chances that they had the same potential for depth and size of their magic were unlikely, but there was no denying that Lucius was powerful and had the ability to become more so.
The only way for me to assume authority over him was to prove I was superior, and the best way to do that was in the duelling tournaments at the end of the year. That was why, whenever I was able to do so, I headed through the Vanishing Cabinet in my chest and returned to Dunscaith to practice in the room I had crafted for improving my combat efficiency.
I could very well have used the Room of Requirement for that, but the more often I visited there, the more chance that others learned of it from me and, thus, its hidden potential would be shared with them. There was also the issue of Dumbledore learning that I used the RoR regularly, and I didn't want him to be aware that I not only knew of the RoR, but could use it to be something he focused on.
The Room of Lost Things had been a gold mine in First Year, and almost everything of value that I could remove without risking the school elves learning of my actions had been taken. One of the few things that hadn't taken was Ravenclaw's Diadem. That, I intended to change this year, as, from the Goblins of Gringotts, I had commissioned a case capable of holding artefacts seeped in Dark Magic while ensuring that no one could sense said magic once an item was placed in the case. I'd left the Diadem in the room for two years now and no longer felt comfortable leaving it there. Yes, in the other timeline, it had remained seemingly hidden there until being destroyed in fiendfyre, but I couldn't continue to take the risk that the same would hold true in this timeline, nor did I wish for it to remain there for so long, as it would mean defeating Voldemort would be impossible to accomplish properly.
The last reason for helping Snape with this training was, in many ways, linked to the first reason. The better Snape did in the end-of-year tournament, the greater the chance that he'd one day be able to surpass and defeat James Potter.
It had been three months since school had resumed, and while his actions were still being generally ignored by the majority of the school, and even his year, I felt the potential for disunity he was slowly causing had to be stemmed. I couldn't directly deal with him because, as I was a year older than him, to do so would seem to many to be nothing more than bullying at best. I could, if he approached, agree to a 'friendly' spar in the duelling clubs; however, he hadn't yet chosen to do so, and I felt he was unlikely to ask for a spar this year at least. Therefore, my best method for taking him down, and thus undermining his actions and opinions, was to train another to do so in my place.
Now, I wasn't just focusing on Snape to do this, but he was my best option. While it would offend some, the fact was that as people matured, the physical differences between boys and girls increased to the point that few ladies were able to compete against men in the British and European duelling circuits. There were a few outliers, and one such case in Hogwarts was Bella, who was regarded as the clear favourite to win the Senior wand-duelling tournament this year, but by and large, in a case of equal skill, power, and ability, a wizard would defeat a witch at least eight out of ten times.
I was giving training similar to this to Lily, Áine, Issa, Assa, and a handful of others, but I didn't feel they could, if they managed to defeat James Potter this year, sustain that success into the later years. Now, barring when I was in Fifth Year, and he was in Fourth until I graduated, I would remain a block to Potter winning a tournament, but I needed to ensure he didn't reign as the top duellist in his year and thus gained the largest potential sway over those who placed importance on duelling performances.
"That's it," I said, offering further encouragement to Snape as he continued to cast the charm he was focusing on. "Keep the movements of your hand as small as possible so you can accelerate the casting speed." The tricks I was imparting were ones I had learnt before coming to Hogwarts, and no doubt something James Potter and others raised in magical households had learnt as well.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if Snape could defeat Potter, and even if he did, he'd still have to contend with Sirius and others in the slowly growing circle that was forming around Potter in his year.
Ever since Lily, Áine, and the others had brought the matter to my attention, I had watched from the shadows as Potter had gathered more and more converts and sycophants to his side. I might not like him on a personal level and understood he had a high probability of becoming a dangerous opponent in the future, but I could respect Potter's ability to influence others and gain their support.
He was much more sociable and outgoing than I was, and generally tried to help everyone when he could. Well, so long as that person wasn't from Slytherin, had friends or family in the house that they weren't willing to cut off, or didn't dare to challenge him publicly. So far, his influence barely extended beyond Gryffindor, but I knew that wouldn't remain the case. It was better to nip the issue in the bud if I could, or at the very least craft someone to stand against him. Snape was far too socially awkward to truly do that, but, as my proxy, he had potential until I found someone more suited to being front and centre among the Second Year Slytherins.
I sighed to myself, irritated that I was having to focus this much on James Potter this early. I knew it would become an issue, but I thought I'd have until at least Fourth Year and the expected emergence of Voldemort before I would be forced to actively intervene to undermine the prat. Still, if I had to face the issue now, at least it gave me something to fill some of my time during Third Year. At least time that I hadn't otherwise intended for other plans and actions.
… …
… …
"Come on," Damien Blackwood said as he moved ahead of me, his voice soaked with excitement, "if we take too long, we'll never get a good seat."
I chuckled at his behaviour and rolled my eyes. "I don't recall you being this excited for anything other than duelling club," I replied as I moved along with him and a large group of our fellow Slytherins as we moved through the grounds of Hogwarts, while staying within the walls, towards a collection of ancient oaks that towered over almost everything in the corner of the grounds that they dominated.
Ahead of us was a trail of other students from the different houses, though not everyone was coming. While the class this evening was an introductory lecture for a non-elective we could choose to add to our timetable for Fourth Year, everyone was expected to attend it, along with those of the other non-electives. Given that would mean four hundred students appearing at the same time, the class, along with the others that would be happening throughout the year, had been split into eight.
Along with Damien and a dozen other Slytherins, I'd drawn the straw for attending the class at this time. Xeno wasn't with me, choosing instead to spend the evening in Vesta's room with her and her friends as they studied or worked on assignments for our various classes. The others with me from our house were either ones that I didn't have much interaction with, but weren't anyone I considered a problem – indeed, most had slowly gravitated to the outskirts of the group I was at the centre of, or those I wished to have nothing to do with.
"Ugh, why did we have to have the class with him?"
I didn't need to look to know who the speaker was. Amycus Carrow, along with four of the ten who still followed him around, was present in this class. If not for Daimen's presence, I would've been forced to either sit near Amycus or choose to step away from my house and mingle with the others. While that wasn't a huge issue, as I saw Lucian Mortigast in a group of Ravenclaws ahead of us, the image it would present held the potential to be problematic.
I angled my path so that I shifted away from Amycus and his ilk and angled it towards where Lucian was gathering. As I expected, Daimen followed me, though it was interesting that the other Slytherins, after hesitating, chose to follow after me instead of Amycus. A sign that my domination of our year in Slytherin was growing at an acceptable rate.
"Lucian," I said as I neared the group of five Ravenclaws that were part of the fifty present for this lesson, "a pleasure to see you here."
Along with the other eagles, he turned. His eyes fixed on me for a moment, and I felt the faintest of brushes against the outermost mental defences I had. Lucian wouldn't attempt to breach them, but the surface scan was something he commonly did, though I wasn't sure if it was just with me he did that or with others, as I hadn't brought the matter up with anyone.
"Dòmhnall," he replied with a slight nod, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" His eyes drifted as he looked over my shoulder. "Or perhaps I should ask why you are coming here instead of staying with your friends?"
My arms extended to my sides slightly as I chuckled. "Why would I seek their company when none are able to keep up with me as easily as you can."
"If I recall, I am above you in the overall academic tables. As always," Lucian countered with a small smirk.
"Yes, but we both know that simply being good at our subjects doesn't ensure one is the best in the year," I countered as I matched his smirk. "Besides, there are certain elements in my house that are so unappealing that I would rather spend a week enduring the Gryffindor common room than spend a lesson within earshot of them."
I didn't need to gesture at Amycus for Lucian to know of whom I was speaking. The animosity Amycus showed me extended beyond the walls of Slytherin, something that had seen him warned by the house's Prefects and Professors.
"Sadly, that is a failing of both snakes and lions," Lucian remarked without giving any hint of his opinion on the matter by way of his facial expression. The boy was extremely skilled at keeping his thoughts and feelings under wraps, and beyond the challenge he presented in class, this was one of the reasons I enjoyed being around him. It probably helped that House Mortigast were seen as Traditional Scholars within the Wizengamot and more often than not voted along the same lines as Houses Black and Malfoy.
"Are you saying that all eagles and badgers get along?" Daimen asked, "I recall seeing Morris and Fielding arguing quite loudly and publicly just yesterday." The students in question were two from Ravenclaw, and while I had heard of the argument, I had no idea what it had been over.
"If I might have everyone's attention," the Professor for the class called from the front of the area where we were gathered, "please be seated so that I might begin your lesson."
I sat down as instructed, shifting slightly on the half-log bench to try and get comfy as I looked at the Professor. I had seen her at meals, but I never had any interaction with her. She wore robes that one would expect of a Professor, though I easily picked out the subtle stitching of Celtic symbols and patterns into them. Ogham symbols that I knew well were interwoven with Elder Futhark runes in ways that seemed to hint at more going on with the robes than just decoration. However, given the faint light of the evening and the distance between myself and the Professor, I couldn't be sure if they had some interlinked functions or not.
While we were all seated on the half-log benches, along with the giant oak trees that partially encircled the location, there were several stones. They were all standing and arrayed in a manner that reminded me of Stonehenge and other such ancient circles, which, given the topic of the lesson and the purpose of having this classroom outside, made perfect sense.
"My name is Eira Rowan, and I am one of the Professors for classes on Elemental Magic, Ley Line Manipulation, and how it interacts with Celtic and Druidic traditions of the British Isles and elsewhere." Her eyes gazed over the class as if making note of the various students present and trying to determine who, if any, were truly interested in the class.
Daimen was one of those who was interested, as he was already leaning forward, his fingers moved impatiently on his knees. I shared his enthusiasm but kept my reaction more controlled. I had affinities for fire and lightning magic, and while the latter wasn't likely to be touched on in this subject, which I was semi-certain I would be taking next year, fire was one of the base four elements covered in the coursework.
Well, there were technically five elements, but the fifth, Aether, wasn't something that was touched on during the Owl-level course. At least it wasn't from all that I had read about elemental magic and how it was taught at Hogwarts.
"Now, this class isn't to begin your education in understanding the topics I mentioned, but to give you an overview of the class that you have the option of selecting in Fourth Year. As you are all aware by now, there are several non-OWL electives on offer, and it is entirely up to you if you wish to take any or all of them or not, though your ease in choosing is determined by your performances within the walls of Hogwarts."
"I will warn you that, even though none of these so-called Fourth-Year non-electives is covered by OWLs, you will still be graded for them, and they can affect your overall standing within the year. However, if you select any, then as you near the end of Fifth Year and move to select your NEWTs, new classes will be offered for you to study."
"I'm sure all of you are familiar with elemental magic, not least the simple Fire Making and Water Summoning charms taught in previous years. However, what is often overlooked by many, even in these Isles, is the importance of understanding the base four elements – and the fifth element, Spirit or Aether – and how each of us gravitates towards one or more of them."
"If you select this course next year, we will dive into the ancient and often misunderstood arts of elemental magic, the purpose for and manipulation of ley lines, and why the ancestors of these isles focused their intent on understanding and using such magic. Much of this history is barely understood by the majority of the wizarding population, with only those Houses, or should I say Clans, that still follow the Old Ways, and others like myself who have devoted ourselves to the subject, knowing truths long forgotten and overlooked by others."
While she didn't seem as friendly and outgoing as Professor Rhys, Professor Rowan gave the appearance of being knowledgeable about her chosen subject. Hardly a shock since none of the teachers at Hogwarts was lacking in experience, though a few weren't the most enjoyable educators to have to sit through lessons for.
"Now, what I want everyone to do is to close your eyes." There were a few murmurs of confusion, which caused the Professor to smile. "Don't worry, I don't intend to hex or curse you while you do so." Some students laughed nervously at the joke. "What we're going to do is see if you can sense the magic that is around us."
She closed her eyes first, seemingly as proof that she had no ill intentions. "Close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths." I did as she asked and assumed the others did likewise. "Now, as you control your breathing, I want you to look inward and grasp your magic. All of you will know how to do this by now, having opened at least your third pathway.
"Now, once you have grasped your magic, I want you to use that to reach out and sense the earth beneath your feet, but don't focus on the dirt. No, reach into each grain of earth beneath and around you. Feel the energy, the heartbeat of the land that rests within the charged grounds of Hogwarts."
I felt myself frown as I strained to do as she instructed. It was relatively simple to sense the magic in the ground under me, as I was used to feeling magic in the air as I moved around Hogwarts. The same sensation, though weaker, was prevalent at Dunscaith as well, so I was already partially attuned to sensing magic like this. Where I was struggling was finding the rhythm in the earth that she was speaking of. If there was anything close to a heartbeat, or pattern that pulsed in the magic, I couldn't sense it. Or perhaps more accurately, I couldn't sense it clearly.
"I don't expect all of you to feel the beating heart of the land in your first attempt; generally, it only comes easily to those with a connection to the planet. Something that shows in how elegantly you learn Herbology, have an interest in the magical creatures of this world, or similar ways. What you should all be able to sense, however, is the energy that radiates beneath our feet. A faint thrum or warmth that seems to spread through your feet and up your legs as if offering your power to draw upon."
That I could feel, and I already knew this was how magic was drawn into the body by those able to wield it. In places with strong connections to magic, which in the British Isles were often places that were built upon ley lines, sensing such energy was relatively simple if one knew what they were searching for.
"Open your eyes." When I did so, I saw she was smiling warmly at us, her gaze sweeping over the class expectantly. "This is the magic of the earth and ley lines. The magic that the druids who once ruled these lands used to empower their spells and rituals. Hogwarts was built where it was not just because it offered refuge far from prying eyes, but because that energy was strong in this place, as it lies on the intersection of several powerful ley lines that run across the breadth of the Isles and into the seas around them."
She paused there as if granting us a moment to take in what she was saying. Those who had grown up in the magical world seemed less impressed by her words than those who hadn't, but that made sense. Ley lines weren't an unknown quality, though they also weren't something that most paid much attention to. I was one such student, though not because I found the concept of rivers of magic flowing through the Earth unappealing, but because I had focused my energies on other matters in preparation for Hogwarts and surviving in this world.
She lifted her wand, and without speaking the incantation, a small flame rose from the tip, drawing the focus of most of the class. "Everyone here can cast the Fire Summoning Charm, but have you ever wondered why spells like this and others come more easily to some, but others struggle to control them much beyond the basics? The reason is quite simple. Just as almost all of you have a natural inclination towards certain branches of magic – be that Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, the Dark Arts, or others – so too do most witches and wizards have leanings towards one of the elements of nature." She swished her wand, extinguishing the flame. "Now, who can tell me the four base elements?"
The hands of several, including almost all the Ravenclaws, rose into the air. "You there," Professor Rowan said, using her wand to point at a group of girls. "The blonde girl from Hufflepuff."
"Sarah Millar, Miss," the girl supplied, though I wasn't sure the Professor wanted or cared about the student's name.
"Miss Millar, what are the four elements?"
"Fire, water, earth, and air."
"Correct. Ten points to Hufflepuff." The Professor's gaze once again swept over the class. "Each of you knows and will learn spells that use these elements, and as you do, you will find some easier to cast than others. That, if you are willing to delve into the subject deeply, is a hint as to your affinity for an element, or elements in some cases, that can be trained and exploited to allow even simple spells to become almost infinitely more powerful without the caster needing to push greater intent or power into the spell."
She flicked her wand, and along with the rest of the class, I was almost blown back, and off the log bench I was sitting on. "That," she continued with an amused smile, "was nothing more than a basic wind charm, yet because I have a powerful affinity for such magic, I was able to almost knock over several of you without generating the intent as I cast the charm.
"You should already know the usages for elemental magic, but what you might not understand is the beliefs that the ancient druids held for each. If one, such as myself, was capable of channelling the air with grace and style, then they were considered to be thoughtful and insightful beings who embraced change as a natural thing that happens over time.
A ball of water appeared from the tip of her wand and shot upwards before exploding. "Those with an inclination towards water were often said to be in command of their emotions, and regularly, the best healers have been discovered to hold strong affinities towards water magic."
From her wand rose a small ball of fire, it shifted in the air and became some form of bird, possibly one modelled on a phoenix. "Those who have the ability to call on flames with ease are said to have wills of unquenchable power. If they are not careful, become sources of destruction and devastation. Yet from such calamity, nature will recover and craft new life, so fire magic was also regarded by the druids as a source of creation."
I already knew that was where my elemental affinity lay, though learning that fire magic was associated with destruction had me wondering if there might be some synergy with Destructive Magic. I wouldn't be testing that theory at Hogwarts, not least as the spells I had learnt from Banidar Vlidmar's book were both devastating and generally outlawed; however, it would be an avenue to research to commit more time to in the coming years.
For the final element, she pointed her wand at the ground. Again, without saying any words, she cast her spell, and a small circle of earthen pillars rose in front of her. My eyes glanced at the stone pillars that stood around the area. I quickly saw she had mirrored the alignment of those stones with her earth magic.
"For those inclined towards manipulating the earth, druids claimed that they were beings of stability and growth. They provided support to those around them while lifting them up as time passed, protecting them as they grew like trees in a forest."
With a flick of the wand, the earth pillars fell apart, the dirt landing on the ground before her feet. "If you take this class, then you shall learn which element, if any, you have an inclination towards and how strong that disposition is. Most witches and wizards only have small affinities with an element, though certain Houses are famous for the manipulation of an element, such as House Sallow for manipulating the movement of water and House Humber for their ability to craft wonders from dirt. Then there are the Clans who still follow the Old Ways. In general, children of those Clans have an affinity for an element that is stronger than those who either abandoned the Old Ways or never followed them to begin with."
Her eyes scanned the class as if she were seeking out students of the Houses mentioned or, like myself, from a Clan. Her eyes didn't linger on me, which was a relief as I remembered how Professor Rhys had made me and Xeno the centre of his first class. As much as I felt I could use such attention if it happened too regularly, then it could easily turn others against me by making them think the staff were showing favouritism toward me.
"Interestingly, there is a fifth element in Celtic and Druidic cosmology and magic. That is termed Aether, though it is more commonly known as spirit magic. We will not be touching on that branch of elemental magic in Fourth Year, but it is important to understand the importance of it in relation to the base four elements if you have any interest in learning this course." As she spoke, Professor Rowan's wand danced in the air, and slowly a pattern appeared before her. I knew instantly what it was, as it was a symbol carved into many pieces of furniture at Dunscaith, including some of the base wards that worked with the core to protect the castle and grounds.
"This, for those who don't already know, is the Triskelion. Its purpose is to show the balance of the elements as they continually move and flow around and with each other. It is one of the most important symbols in Druidic magical studies and is found in many places in the Isles, including, if one searches carefully, throughout the halls of Hogwarts. Rowena Ravenclaw was a devout believer in the Old Ways and incorporated much of their teachings into her work, helping craft, design, and protect this castle and its grounds."
Beside and around me, Lucian and the other Ravenclaws sat up straighter, showing pride in their House. Understandable, but not something to focus on, particularly as Professor Rowan continued her lecture.
"Now, moving on from the elements, we come to ley lines. For those who don't know about them, which shouldn't be any of you, as they are covered in passing in several classes in the first two years, ley lines are in essence rivers of magic that are beyond our ability to see that flow within our planet. They connect magic around the entire world and have been used since the dawn of civilisation.
"Sadly, the way the ancient Sumerians and other fallen empires and cultures used ley lines and magic has been lost to time. Or, for empires that still exist to this day, such as the Egyptians, Native American tribes, and others, the knowledge is heavily restricted and not told to others. Indeed, if you study History of Magic, then you will soon learn of the wars – external and internal – that have been fought over the preservation and restriction of methods to control and draw upon the magic that flows within our world."
She stood still as she talked, not as active or engaging as other Professors. However, it was easy to see her passion for her subject. "Whenever one stands on a ley line, they can draw upon the magic flowing beneath them to strengthen their spells, though this is true of others as well. There are hundreds of places on the planet where ley lines, be they minor, major, or even extreme, cross. Those points are what we call nexuses, and Hogwarts itself is built on one of the largest nexuses in the Isles, though it isn't the only one.
"I am sure you all know of Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor. However, there are other nexuses of note, including ones of the islands of Skye and Lewis." The mention of Skye had me wondering if she was talking about where Dunscaith was located. It was linked to the Ulster Saga of Celtic history, in particular Scáthach, and I wondered if the nexus was why she had made her Fortress of Shadows where she had. "Magic rituals and runic arrays cast and formed at these nexuses become infinitely more powerful, and for the Clans that still do, and Houses that no longer do, many of their castles and homes were built on minor nexuses so that the magic that flows beneath the earth could be used to power the wards protecting them."
She stopped there and moved to one side of the area. An elf appeared as she moved, a large wooden crate floating beside it. Professor Rowan offered a nod of thanks to the elf who then vanished, leaving behind the crate. Like the other students, I was curious as to what was inside the crate.
"If you select his course, beyond covering everything that I have already gone over, we will deal with other historical and cultural events that are unique to these Isles. Seasonal festivals, such as Samhain and Beltane, that have been superseded in many places by muggle religious concepts, will be discussed. We will also spend considerable time learning and deciphering the myths and legends of Celtic culture. From the adventures of the legendary Cú Chulainn to the Tuatha Dé Danann, and how many of them link to one of the elements of druidic magic. There will also be some crossover with Care of Magical Creatures and how certain beasts have links to the elements, such as salamanders and undines. For the rest of this introductory lesson, however, we will focus on ley lines."
A flick of her wand had the lid of the crate lift, and as it moved gently to rest beside the crate, I swore I saw sticks inside. She turned to face us, an amused smile spreading over her features. "First, I wish you to form up in pairs. However, for the benefit of this, I wish for you to do so with someone not from your school house."
I offered Daimen a shrug as my fellow Slytherin had glanced my way at the mention of partnering up, only for a small fraction of his enthusiasm to slide away when Professor Rowan laid down her rules. Turning, I looked at Lucian, who, after an overly exaggerated rolling of his eyes, accepted the idea of partnering up for the upcoming assignment.
"Once you have a partner, please come here together and collect your dowsing rods," the Professor continued. "Each of them is made of willow. The reason for this is something that you might learn if you take this non-elective, or the one on wand lore and manufacturing. Once you have your rod, I wish for each pair to work together and trace, if you can, the ley lines that run under our very feet.
"I don't expect you to focus on the major ley lines that run under the castle, but the myriad of ones so minor that intertwine in the school grounds that if you could see them, you would think you were standing on the web of an acromantula."
The description had a few students, particularly some of the girls, shivering. A fear of spiders was a semi-common phobia; one made worse by the existence of the enlarged and very dangerous magical versions of the species. I knew that none of the beasts was nearby; I had, after all, mapped out several of their colonies in the Forbidden Forest via the Fearann na Scáthanna, but the imagery Professor Rowan had invoked piqued my curiosity. If such minor, seemingly inconsequential ley lines existed at Hogwarts, might they also exist on the grounds of Dunscaith?
… …
… …
"Not fast enough," I muttered to myself as I reviewed my training. I was standing in one of the rooms in the Slytherin chamber, working on my casting speed for my base spells. I knew that to take down Lucius and other Fourth Years during the end-of-term tournament, I would have to overcome the limitations on me because of being a year younger.
Since the use of elemental magic was not permitted in the Junior Tournament, it meant I couldn't use the various charms, hexes, and spells I had been developing that called upon such power. Now, I could slide them into the base bolts, but there was a clear limit as to how much power I could impart into that spell, and the most powerful addition – that of Destructive Magic learnt from The Path of Destruction – was dangerous to call upon.
None of my fellow students would sense the usage of that branch of magic to reinforce my bolts, nor should most of the Professors. However, the chance that Dumbledore or one of his senior staff did, and thus started to wonder about my choices and actions, wasn't something I could risk. Therefore, I was pushing myself hard every day – it was now mid-October – to cast, react, and think faster than I otherwise could.
I moved back to my starting stance and ran through a new sequence of spells. Each of them was planned out to allow me to flow from the end of one to the beginning of the next with as little wasted movement and time as possible. I could cast all of this spell-chain, as I could most of the others I had crafted, without stating the incantation, though, since the room I was in currently wasn't fully private, I made sure not to do so for most of the chain. That caused the chain to be cast a touch slower than I wanted, though the counter was that it was easier to draw on my magic and empower each element in the sequence.
As the last spell, a rather vicious hex designed to melt unprotected clothing into someone's skin, struck the target mannequin, I inhaled deeply. The hex, like others, I was sliding into my chains, wasn't particularly dangerous to any witch or wizard, as every citizen should have clothing imparted with protection charms and runes, as did every student based on their robes. Still, even if the hex didn't melt clothing as intended, I had discovered it caused a nasty shock to the target, even if the protective runes of their clothing negated the worst of the spell.
I had slipped such hexes and jinxes into most of my chains, hiding them as best I could between other less dangerous but more distracting or flashy spells in the hope that they might catch out my foe if they struck anything other than whatever shield charm they cast in defence. Others were doing the same, and I had heard a few incantations that I'd never heard before while moving around this room and others like it in the Slytherin Chambers.
"How did you get so fast?"
I lowered my wand and looked to my right, seeing the speaker in a group of five fellow Third Years. "Practice, Lauchlan," I explained without truly doing so. "You and the others could do likewise if you focused more on your casting and less on other, more trivial matters."
Lauchlan scoffed. "Just because you don't have the skill of someone like myself on a broom doesn't mean you can dismiss Quidditch." The child of Clan McCaul puffed out his chest and placed his hand upon it as he spoke, reminding for some reason, of a peacock strutting around without realising it stood before a viper. "And with you and Malfoy in Fourth Year, we have the points for the Junior tournaments in the bag."
"Don't forget Black in the Senior brackets," added one of Lauchlan's friends. A boy of no real skill or power – at least compared to those just mentioned – from House Rockhold. The boy wasn't from the main branch of his family, nor had he stood out in any class or club, but he was one of about two-thirds of the year who were gravitating towards the power in our year. A power that, as much as some might argue otherwise, centred around myself and Vesta.
"Yeah, with her as well, we're going to rule the duelling tournaments," Lauchlan agreed with the sort of enthusiasm in others I'd expect from a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff.
Deciding the interruption was going to be a good place to stop, I stepped away from the practice range I was using and walked towards the small group. "While we should," I emphasised the word, "win the tournaments, that is no excuse for you to slack off. Have more pride in yourself and your placement in the school."
"Hey! I'm not that bad."
I chuckled as I neared the group and placed a hand on Lauchlan's shoulder as I reached him. "No, you're not, but you could and should be better." I looked at the rest of the group with him, taking note of all the faces present. "While being good at Quidditch, chess, or theoretical studies is enjoyable, in situations where your life's on the line, your skill with a wand, and the strength and variety of your spells, is what will save your skin." I removed my hand as I resumed walking, the group splitting to allow me passage through them. "Unless that is, you expect others to protect you when danger raises its head and threatens all you hold dear."
I walked through the group as they stood in silence. I didn't know if they were shocked by my words suggesting they would one day be placed in danger, or if they simply didn't understand why I, a Third Year and Slytherin, was saying something that could, depending on how it was taken, be seen as a threat, nor did I truly care. As harsh as it sounded, even the lowest and most unskilled fodder could serve a purpose in war, and while I hoped they would be more than that, if that was to be their fate, then so be it.
"Merlin, why do you sound so dark sometimes?"
I paused and turned around, locking my eyes on the speaker. "The reason I am this way, Humber," I began to explain, my tone cold and my voice hardened, "is because unlike all of you, I saw the horrors of this world the day I lost my family. I will not allow myself to ever be that weak again, nor see those I care for taken from me while I stand around as helpless as a fly."
Truthfully, even without what had happened back then, I would still be pushing myself. I knew what the near future held and had a fair idea of some of the horrors Voldemort and his forces would unleash. While I was still committed to defeating him and Dumbledore, what had changed was that I now had those I needed to protect. Not just Vesta, Xeno, Kadic, and Aien, but others I considered friends. That was a change I hadn't expected when I'd first lost my family and begun pushing myself for the chaos that I would face, but it was one I accepted and, in many ways, was glad for. Having a reason to fight, one that went beyond vengeance or survival, was important, and I would burn everyone and anything that tried to take those I held dear from me.
Arnold Humber paled as my eyes tried to burn a cold hole through his skull. "R-right," he mumbled before turning away and rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah. Sorry."
Perhaps there was more to his apology than just for what had been said. At one time, Humber had been a lackey of Amycus', but after the Carrow heir's poor performances in First Year, he had gravitated away from Carrow and now found himself in the group centred around McCaul that had come, to an ever-increasing extent, under my sway.
I chose not to reply and resumed walking away. Perhaps my words would push the group and others to improve; perhaps they wouldn't. Either way, the onus was on them.
As I stepped out of the training room, I moved quietly through the corridor that led to the antechamber of the Slytherin Chambers. As I emerged there, I looked around, taking in the movements of others in the house. Regardless of the year, everyone seemed in good spirits and from what snippets of conversation I caught, it sounded as if everyone was enjoying themselves. Nothing I heard registered as anything of importance, however, and I slipped through the antechamber and quickly made my way to the Third-Year dormitory corridor.
For a moment, I glanced at Vesta's door, contemplating getting Xeno. I rejected the idea and instead slipped into my room. Xeno would, when he wished, return to my room, as he was the only person in Hogwarts I allowed free access to my private space. Kadic and Aien were also on the list, though I couldn't stop the Headmaster, house Professors, or even, it turned out, the Slytherin Prefects from entering if they so wished.
I had discovered the last group could enter as they pleased when Bella had walked in one Sunday afternoon in as foul a mood as I had ever seen her. Once she had stopped cursing so violently, I swore the air had shuddered in sympathy. She had explained that her rage was because of her betrothed.
Apparently, Rodolphus wasn't granting her request to duel, claiming that, as she was still a student, it would be unfair for him to fight her. He claimed to have access to the Lestrange grimoire and family magic and stated that with that magic, he would easily defeat her, and as he didn't wish to hurt his intended, he was denying her request currently.
Bella, of course, saw through that explanation and claimed Rodolphus was avoiding her for fear of losing the duel and seeing the betrothal annulled. I wasn't sure why she felt the need to vent all that to me, but I had let her do so since I was against the pairing for a good number of reasons.
In the end, Bella had left, calming down somewhat without me doing anything more than listening to her rant. Vesta hadn't been pleased to learn that I'd been alone with Bella for over an hour – she had been very fucking angry – but I had eased her concerns with the right words and a promise of a date to Hogsmeade. The date had gone well, save for the comments – some whispered by others, some said openly by our friends – about how close we were without being officially betrothed and the fact that it had started raining halfway back to Hogwarts, but at least Vesta's fears regarding Bella had been eased.
After stripping off my training clothes, I moved to an empty section of the room and placed my hand against the wall. I hadn't realised it for a few days, but the private rooms had ensuite bathrooms. Vesta had been the one to reveal that to me when she'd seen me coming back from the Third-Year showers at the far end of the corridor. She had enjoyed knowing something I didn't, and her reaction had actually helped stem my irritation at myself for not considering that I might have a private bathroom.
Once cleaned, I stepped out of the dorm and moved towards the antechamber again. Passing through it, I slowed as I caught whispers of something I'd never heard of before. A group of Sixth Years that I knew only in the vaguest sense was having veiled conversations about hidden vaults.
At first, I had thought they were speaking of vaults at Gringotts, but it seemed they were talking about somewhere in Hogwarts. Since I didn't wish to make it obvious I was listening in, I moved on and stepped into the main common room of Slytherin.
As always, I paused a few steps into the chamber, taking in the breathtaking view of the Great Lake from underneath that dominated the chamber. Even though it was early evening, there was enough light coming from the room, or perhaps from magical lights fitted on the lakeside of the wall separating the Slytherin common room from the lake, that I could see fish and other things moving in the lake.
I recalled the first time I'd seen the Great Squid through those windows, and how small I had felt in comparison to the beast. I had never heard of it being anything but helpful to students and staff of Hogwarts, but seeing the maw of such a beast, one with a beak longer than the main doors of Hogwarts were tall, and the teeth inside the various suckers on the tentacles of the beast made it hard to consider it anything more than a potential danger. The fact that it was a 5X-rated beast made me even more uncertain about it, though few others shared my concerns. Thankfully, I had not encountered the squid when I had gone swimming in Great Lake, though I had seen a tentacle emerge from the water at times; thankfully, each time, far away from where I had been at the time.
Spotting the familiar faces of my closest friends – and people I was beginning to consider allies, though not to the point I could trust them unconditionally – I moved towards the table they were gathered around. "Evening," I said once closer.
"Oh, will you look at this? MacLeod has finished with his latest training session and has chosen to grace us with his presence instead of Lady Malfoy." The speaker, Weland Brinsop, lifted a hand to his face and mockingly fanned himself with it. "How honoured we are."
"Keep it up and I'll honour you with a curse that'll leave you smelling like Thestral dung for a month," I shot back good-naturedly even as I slid into an empty seat around the table. "Besides, Vesta is, the last I saw her, busy with her friends discussing things I do not need nor wish to know about."
"It is better we don't hear," Godwine agreed with a small nod, though I swore I saw him shiver a little even as he did so. "Adilene is pleased to have another person to speak with about things relating to betrothals."
"I am not officially betrothed to Vesta."
The comment drew snorts and chuckles of amusement from my friends. "Dòmhnall, if you and Vesta are not betrothed, then you are already married," Angus MacLean responded with a smile as his comment drew chuckles from the others. "You two barely do anything without the other knowing, nor do we see you apart if she can avoid it."
"Is it my fault that she understands I'm the best catch in our year and is intent on marking out her claim?" Several of the others groaned at my words, which was about what I expected. "I mean, which of you comes close to measuring up to me?"
"Merlin's balls, when did you get so bloody pompous?"
"He's always been that way, Lovell; he's just usually better at hiding it," Francis explained with a smirk. "Thinks he's magic's gift to the world or something."
"Just because I chose to push myself instead of resting on my laurels doesn't mean I shouldn't be proud of my accomplishments," I countered. "Besides, I recall you rubbing it in everyone's face when you got a perfect score on the last DADA test."
"He's got you there," Lovell agreed with a good-natured chortle. Francis flicked his wand at Lovell, slapping him with a minor hex, though not one that did anything more than sting, so Lovell chose to ignore it. "No reason to get snappy because he's right."
"Anyway, I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," I said, shifting the conversation on.
"No, no. We were just discussing the latest rumour to start shifting around the common room." Weland leaned forward, bridging his fingers under his chin in what had to be an attempt to appear knowledgeable or mature. "Have you ever heard of the Cursed Vaults?"
"I assume that is something to do with Gringotts," I replied, hiding that I'd caught mention of whatever these vaults were just a few moments ago as I'd passed some Sixth Years.
"Oh, there are probably cursed vaults at Gringotts such as the rumoured vaults of Merlin and Morgana, but I wasn't talking about those." Weland looked at the others at our table and then beyond, almost as if he was trying to hide that he had a secret while making it blatantly obvious he was about to reveal one. "No, these cursed vaults are rumoured to be at Hogwarts."
I made a sound that was a half-chuckle, half-scoff. "Don't tell me this is another rumour like the Founders all having secret chambers hidden throughout the school?" I shot back, hiding the fact that I knew of two such chambers. Now, I had no proof that the Room of Requirement was one such chamber, but given its power and potential, I felt Rowena Ravenclaw was, if not the only creator of the room, then the primary one. It was the sort of hidden puzzle/mystery that would fit with the legends of her character.
"It's not a rumour!" Lovell blurted out loudly. Loud enough that several of the others at our table glared at him, which caused him to sink back into his seat.
"What he means is that while there is no proof, most believe the vaults exist. Maybe they weren't something made by the Founders, but they've been here for centuries." Weland smirked conspiratorially as he explained the situation, making it clear he was enjoying knowing something I didn't. Which given how rarely that was the case between us, he had every right to do. "The rumours say someone found a riddle that speaks of where to find one of these vaults. We don't know the details of the riddle, but from what we've heard, the vault is either deep under Hogwarts or at the bottom of the Great Lake."
"So, there's either a secret entrance to some unknown place hidden in the dungeons or that squid is guarding something at the depths of the lake?" I shook my head and sighed. "That's about as likely as the rumours that a thousand-year-old basilisk roams the sewers of the castle, either protecting the students from danger or targeting muggleborns."
I knew that the rumour was true, at least that the basilisk existed, though its original purpose was still unknown. I hoped to one day learn the truth, but for that, I'd have to either subjugate the basilisk or kill it; two things that were so far beyond my current abilities that I had no interest in even planning how to go about doing them, never mind entering the Chamber of Secrets to face the great beast.
"That's about what I said," Godwine said with a chuckle, "though I used the idea of Slytherin having a hidden research room as my example."
"Or that there's a place under the school for using ancient, forgotten magic, that only a handful of people could even see, never mind use," Francis added, drawing amusement from the rest of the table.
"Just because we have no proof doesn't mean they're not real," Weland almost whined. "It's like the legends of Avalon and Atlantis. We don't know where they are, but we know they're real."
"No, you believe they're real. The rest of us just consider them to be gone if they ever truly existed," Francis countered.
"All legends and myths, no matter how outlandish, must have some basis in reality," I said gently, taking control of the conversation. "Such as Avalon being a magical school before the time of Hogwarts, and thus forming the basis of the myth over the hidden lands of Avalon, or for the great flood that muggles believe happened in their religious texts that was actually the work of dark wizards in the ancient Sumerian Empire."
"Exactly!" Weland agreed while pointing at me ecstatically. "The Founders would have had places in the castle for doing private research away from the first students. They wouldn't tell anyone else about them and would have trapped and protected them because of what they might have been researching. Hence cursed vaults."
I leaned back in my chair, lifting a hand to my chin to make clear I was considering the idea and ensuring the discussion stilled as they waited for my response. In truth, I could see the logic in there being more rooms hidden in the castle, the grounds, or even beyond, that were linked to the Founders. Slytherin did have the Chamber of Secrets and his Scriptorium after all. Therefore, the idea that the other Founders had hidden rooms was valid, even a little cliché if I were being honest.
There was also the need to consider that, according to some legends surrounding the Founders, they had not built Hogwarts. Or at least not the original castle that still stood. This place was made for war, which was clear by the ramparts that surrounded the grounds, the tall, defensible towers of the castle, and the location where it had been built. If the Founders built this as a school, then the design was faulty because of that.
However, if the castle predated them, which given the Ancient Magic chamber from Hogwarts Legacy – for which I still had no proof of its existence other than the events of the game being identical to this world's history – was probable, then there could be rooms that were claimed to belong to or have been crafted by the Founders but which were far older than that. The idea that no one had discovered such rooms, or perhaps more accurately, lived to tell of their discoveries, wasn't absurd. Just highly improbable. That didn't, however, make them impossible.
"I am not saying I believe these vaults exist, or that we should even consider searching for them," I said slowly, "however, I am willing to listen to what you've heard, Weland, and what everyone else thinks on the matter."
Even if we discovered nothing about the cursed vaults over the next few years, it would be a good way to begin having this group start working together to solve issues that went beyond classwork. I could easily use it to determine the strengths and weaknesses of my friends so that, when war came for these islands, I knew how best to deploy them if they stood with me or take them down if they turned against me.
It was a dark and cynical approach to take to life, but with what lay before us in the future, it was a method I couldn't ignore.
… …