She/her, 90's spawnKnee deep in Hogwarts LegacySteady diet of Bioware Games, Baldur's Gate 3, Harry PotterMinors DNI đ
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A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Chapter 20: "Devil's Guts"
A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 20: "Devil's Guts"
[AO3]
Floriography: Parasite
Summary: The Keepers are *actually* teachers, and Halloween with the Helm of Urtkot.
An excerpt is under the cut as usual; the full fic is located in the AO3 link above!
Long before the sun rose, she opened the grandiose double doors to the Map Chamber. The two professors slid into their frames as if they were alerted to a visitor.
âAh, Artemis. What a pleasant surprise,â greeted Professor Rackham.
âI presume youâre here regarding our previous discussion,â said Professor Rookwood.
Artemis nodded. Yesterdayâs discoveries in Feldcroft hastened her need to learn as much as she could. It was clear they wanted her, at least partially, as a hunting dog. If the size of those drills were anything to go by, they were digging for something big.
Professor Rackham cleared his throat. âWe have come to a decision. With provisions, we will teach you how to hone your ancient magic.â
Artemisâ thumb subtly rubbed her scar. âProvisions, sir?â
âYes,â started Professor Rookwood. âFirst, is that we decide which questions we will answer. Not to say we wonât in time, but it will depend on your trials. Second, what is taught here is to be kept between us.â
âThe sole exception would be Professor Fig. There is an importance of a guiding hand,â added Professor Rackham. âFinally, we will expand on what you already know. Until you progress further in the trials, we will not teach you anything that is wholly new. Do you accept these conditions?â
It wasnât as much as sheâd like, but sheâd take it. She was patient enough.
âYes, sir.â
The professors nodded, and she was glad portraits could not read minds. She was going to take some creative liberty in comparing their teachings, the bookâs contents and Sebastianâs thoughts.
âGood. I believe we should start with seeing what you can do.â
Professor Rackham waved his hand as the floor shook. The pointillistic stars lifted from their pooled map and formed a statuesque shape. Artemis whipped out her wand and had a hand on her legside bag.
âDo not worry; it will move and attack but wonât hurt you. After all, stars are a million miles away from us.â
âPercivalâŚâ deadpanned Professor Rookwood.
Professor Rackham chuckled. âUse both ancient magic and regular spells â Iâd like to see it. Begin.â
For a statue made of pointillistic stars it moved abhorrently fast. She felt the arcane coolness wash through her as she dodged the sword sings and landed more than ten feet away silently. Silvery petals flitted as she brought forth the tempest. In this arena, she could see clearly how blips of ancient magic existed in the very air that surrounded her and how they wove together at the tip of her wand as it interwove with her standard spells. The oil paintings remained silent as she flung spell after spell with practiced footing.
When the stars returned to the black pool underneath, she looked back toward the portraits. Her heartrate was elevated, but her breathing was relaxed.
âWell. I daresay that was⌠impressive,â said Professor Rookwood.
Professor Rackham stroked his beard. âAllow me to confirm a theory. When was the first time you saw the silvery petals?â
âWhen I cast Protego,â answered Artemis.
âIn what circumstance?â
âRanrokâs troll tried to crush a boy in Hogsmeade.â
âI see,â said Professor Rackham. âYou mentioned my ancient magic shimmered like stars before.â
âYes, is that tied to our individual cores?â Artemis asked.
âNiamh is going to adore you,â commented Professor Rookwood.
âCorrect. To start, our magical cores are different even among wizardkind. We werenât able to research as thoroughly as Charles wouldâve liked, but people like us have a few specific requirements for our magic to manifest.â Professor Rackham counted off his fingers. âA longer gestational period, a specific mixture of blood, and a powerful catalyst. The first is because we can naturally access the foundational levels of magic â latent or active. That is why when we use the same incantations and wand movements as others, the effects are slightly different. More diverse. We surmised this ability means that it takes double the time for the magical core to develop. This allows us to, for the lack of better term, soak up ancient magic around us and channel it into our spells.â
âThe second,â said Professor Rookwood as he pulled out parchment, âis a specific mixture of blood. It is a theory, mind you⌠this ability only seemed to surface within half-bloods. Unless you would like to provide contrasting data?â
âI â frankly I donât know my blood status, sir,â answered Artemis honestly. âBoth my parents were magical, but status never came up in discussion.â
If true, then Artemis learned something new about her own lineage. She wondered who was which⌠not that it mattered in the end.
Professor Rookwood tutted. âPity. I couldâve added to my notes.â
âCharles,â admonished Professor Rackham quietly. âNow, the most important â the catalyst. The gestation period, the blood â those are just the foundations. What our core needs to activate is an emotional trigger so the foundations can take root. Something profound, and it must be before the person turns sixteen.â
Artemis raised her hand out of habit. âSo, thereâs a chance there have been others like me, or, like us, within the past four hundred years? Just, they didnât experience the catalyst?â
âPotentially, yes. There are many unknowns. I wonât ask of yours, but I can tell you, my catalyst⌠was seeing the most profound meteor storm and being completely swept in awe.â
She sucked in a breath. She knew exactly what hers was â the one-year mark when Leto and Kierston rescued her from the depths of limbo. It felt then, truly, that it was real, that they were there to stay, and she felt completely and utterly safe for the first time in years.
âThe reason the catalyst is so important is because your instinctive ancient magic is tied to that trigger. Yours is, I dare say, something protective,â analysed Professor Rackham.
âThe best defence is a good offense,â said Professor Rookwood.
âThat tempest was a marvel, but you must learn how to control the power levels. I suggest practising by thinking of a single lightning bolt, and tempering the intensity. You will need both discipline and patience in yourself; it will not be resolved overnight. Now, I believe weâve given you enough to digest for today. I suggest a bi-weekly visit; you will need to concentrate on your regular schooling as well,â said Professor Rackham.
âWait, I have one more question, sir,â called out Artemis hurriedly as the portraits made to leave. She turned to Professor Rookwood. âItâs about the memory of Feldcroft. Were you able to wield ancient magic? Or did you augment Professor Rackhamâs magic?â
The portraits exchanged a glance. Professor Rookwood sighed.
âI only tell you this because youâd piece it together on your own at this rate. Those of us who cannot see ancient magic cannot cast ancient magic out of nothing. But we can wield, and augment, existing pieces.â
Not ten minutes later, she sent out a letter to Professor Fig. An hour later, she sat in her designated arm chair within Professor Figâs office with Nocturne in her lap. She spared no detail in what sheâd discovered over the past two days.
Professor Fig fiddled with his scarf. âIntriguing. The fact thereâs been a consistent Loyalists presence so close is disconcerting... as is the fact that itâs becoming more and more likely theyâd repurposed existing ancient magic from somewhere. You did the right thing, to not engage them with Mr. Sallow.â
Artemis sighed as she sipped the warm chai. âDo you think itâs possible theyâre⌠mining for more ancient magic? I canât imagine the Keepers would leave ancient magic just lying about in the open.â
âPossibly. There is the matter of how they found out in the first place. With their generally reticent demeanour, I canât imagine the Keepers left their findings in easily accessible places ââ
ââ Aside from Peeves,â they said in unison.
Artemis briefly smiled before her eyebrows furrowed. âProfessor, is there anything we could do for Feldcroft? I just⌠Anne lives there and, well ââ
âConsidering Minister Spavinâs response about the dragon, I do not think we should bank on the front-line aurors,â said Professor Fig. âBut perhaps I can call in a favour and see if patrols can be brought to the area. How is Miss Sallow?â
âSheâs⌠unwell, but sheâs trying. Sheâs agreed to Letoâs check-up; Iâm currently waiting on his response,â answered Artemis.
The older wizard gave a small, comforting smile as he nodded. âAnd what about your friend? Richard Jackdaw, was it? He is helping clear up a murder case, yes?â
The grip around her cup tightened.
âYes, but it going at a snailâs pace. It seems the Ministry is⌠reluctant, to release Ms. Thisbe. Citing her long stay in Azkaban and the danger she possesses to the community,â said Artemis, repeating Ms. Thistlewoodâs latest missive. Nocturneâs tail swished.
âMore like Azkaban made her dangerous,â sighed Professor Fig. âYouâll unfortunately find that, though there are plenty of good people that work at the Ministry â Leto, Kierston, and George to start â there are those that are not and only care for their self-interests.â
Artemis nodded as she sighed. Richardâs bones remained in the jewellery box inside her legside bag. She never parted with it; it was the safest place to keep âhimâ until he came back. Nocturneâs and paper tongue licked her fingers.
âBy the way, did you manage to meet Lodgok?â
âNot yet, sir. Sirona suggested I meet him on Halloween considering,â trailed off Artemis as she gestured to her hair. âThough, it may be best to go alone. He doesnât trust wizards, and even with Sironaâs recommendation, he may not meet me. Especially with another person.â
Professor Fig looked at her with those English greys, and she could visualise the mental scales as he contemplated her suggestion.
âI presume this is what you would like to undertake during independent study?â
âYes, sir.â
âHm. Considering everything that is at stake⌠you will write to me if it will be longer?â
âOf course, sir,â answered Artemis.
Professor Fig gave a relieved smile. âRight. Now, I think itâs high time for breakfast. Then we can check on the lacewings for the Polyjuice.â
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