A little while later, Lina learned that the weekend was an unusually early Hogsmeade visit. With the majority of Hogwarts's students enjoying the village, Lina could give her demonstration in peace.
No one really considered that Lina Inverse attracted peace like Percy Weasley attracted jocularity. Indeed, if the upperclassmen were too distracted to learn of the demonstration, fate would be all but forced to provide another party crasher. But no, the demonstration went forward with nary a thought towards what agent of fate would be sent to haunt Hogwarts this day.
Lina, Harry, and Gourry were together, facing a simple majority of the Hogwarts staff. Even Madam Pomfrey was in attendance, as the school year was young and she was yet to be besieged by the accidents and prank victims that occupied her days and stole her nights. Dumbledore was obviously most prominent among their number, however. "Now then, I would like you to start with an example of each school of magic you know of, please."
Lina had been expecting this and spun on her heel to face the lake, cocking an arm back as she did. "Fireball!" She hurled the glowing ball of energy into the lake, where it promptly detonated.
The gathered wizards were surprised by the scale of the explosion, but not particularly shocked. Behind each set of eyes was a wizarding mind comparing the fireball to various blasting curses.
Harry wove his own hands in the air, a sizable bolt of ice forming in his hands. "Freeze arrow!" he shouted. The shaft flew out over the lake and pierced the geyser caused by Lina's fireball. The water froze instantly, leaving a violently formed iceberg drifting in the lake.
"That was Fire and Water shamanism," Lina announced. "The fireball is the single most common spell in my world and makes the bulk of a sorcerer's self-defense arsenal. The freeze arrow is perhaps the third most common, and the least effective. However it is useful for capturing live targets."
"What is the second most common spell?" Flitwick asked.
Lina waved negligently at the iceberg. "Flare arrow!" The iceberg quickly attained the past tense.
"Oh," Flitwick said, completely at a loss.
"The full incantation is generally silent for such small spells," Lina said. "It's faster, gives enemy sorcerers less time to react, and after a certain degree of familiarity it's so reflexive as to be easier. Casting the spell without the power words – the name of the spell – is possible but harder for all but the simplest spells." To demonstrate she created a globe of light in her hand. "The basic Lighting spell for example. Completely silent spells are almost always the most basic version of the spell possible, which limits flexibility, but offers tactical advantage." She formed another ball in her other hand and threw it into the sky. The fireball detonated above her. "I've ended a few battles by bluffing with idiots that couldn't tell between a Lighting and a Fireball without hearing anything."
Snape sneered. "Given your true age, it would be embarrassing if you didn't know such simple tactics. Do not presume to lecture us on combat theory."
McGonagall nodded slightly. Silent spells were NEWT level, but Lina was old enough to be a NEWT level student so it was expected. "Yes, please Miss Inverse. So, shamanism consists of spells that manipulate basic forces like heat?"
"Not entirely," Lina corrected. "The four elements of air, fire, water, and earth make up most of shamanism. However astral or spirit shamanism makes the fifth branch, and deals entirely in such energy." She went on to demonstrate earth shamanism with Vu Vraimer, creating a golem, and air shamanism with a wind shield, which the golem punched repeatedly to no effect. After a few blows the golem stilled, being no more than a statue, and Lina dropped the shield.
The Elmekia Lance provided the astral demonstration. It shot into the sky like a beacon. "Unlike elemental shamanism, astral spells attack the spirit, making them effective against ghosts and demons rather than humans, and utterly useless against the nonliving."
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "I think St. Nicholas is well pleased to not have received that particular spell."
Lina ducked her head in a nod. "If I may ask, sir, why is Hogwarts haunted?"
"Oh, these reasons and those," Dumbledore said easily. "I believe there were magics other than shamanism?"
Lina knew better than to ask again…for now. Maybe there were bandits nearby who would know… "Ah, right," she said, recovering her line of thought. "My own specialty is black magic."
Snape leaned forward, eyes flashing. "You practice Dark magic?"
Lina had been expecting that question. "Black magic draws on the powers of the mazoku and are by and large extremely destructive. Many practitioners consort with such powers and sign contracts for power, long life, wealth, or some other vice that can be preyed upon. I do not consider any such creature my friend."
Harry smirked. "Even Xellos?"
Somewhere in the world of Cephieed, a certain pain in the ass baka mazoku sneezed. He looked up to the sky and scowled. "What has Lina done now?"
"Er, anyway. Well, a demonstration of black magic. Most of those spells draw on mazoku of my world, and here I cannot cast them." without first linking to the Dark Lord Shabranigdu with my talismans, she finished silently. "So a black spell that does not draw on specific mazoku is all I can use here. They aren't as powerful, however. For example, Balus Rod!" Lina waved the whip of energy a moment, and then took it to the statue left by her Vu Vraimer. It fell apart into several pieces. "Black magic is useful against astral and physical targets, which makes it the most versatile part of my arsenal."
"That leaves white magic. It's mostly used by priests, but most simple spells are part of it, like Lighting. I only know a few other spells, and I can't exactly show off Recovery without someone to heal."
"There is also the matter of your talismans," McGonagall pointed out.
Lina nodded and silently crossed her arms, bringing the talismans into a single line. The gems glowed briefly as she silently ran through the amplifier spell. No way she was going to offer that secret just yet. "Fireball!" she called yet again, pointing straight up. The resulting explosion was brighter than the sun and louder than thunder.
The professors looked universally shocked at the demonstration. Even Snape had paled. "That was certainly amplified," McGonagall allowed.
Dumbledore gave Lina a hard look. "Do not let those talismans far from your reach, young lady," he advised sternly, "but I must ask you not to use them at Hogwarts again."
Lina nodded. "I use them only when I must, professor."
After the introductory demonstration, Lina and Harry described the enchantments on their headbands, capes, and now their Hogwarts robes. Gourry demonstrated his Sword of Light briefly, but interest in that artifact dropped off after he made it clear that he had no idea how it worked and no one would be allowed to take it apart to find out.
"But it would be accurate to say most of your spells would be considered curses?" McGonagall asked.
Harry nodded. "Almost all of the spells I know, yes." He didn't know that much really strong magic yet, unlike Lina, so it was mostly accurate.
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "However, we will have to continue some other time." He gestured back at the castle...and the many first years staring in rapt attention
Lina looked back and scowled slightly. "How much do you suppose they saw?"
"Doesn't matter," Harry said. "Everyone knows our spells are flashy, and now they've seen at least Gourry's sword and probably that last big fireball."
"Dammit," Lina muttered. "I really didn't want another go at teaching so soon."
Lina's comment did not go unheard. "Are we to understand that you have taught students?" McGonagall asked.
Lina shrugged. "I've taken a few apprentices, and I tutored Harry through most of his lessons. I've gotten a few potentials the past week…"
"Absolutely not," Snape said immediately. "Teaching at Hogwarts is no small thing, Miss Inverse."
"Professor Snape is correct," Dumbledore said mildly. "Such complicated, dangerous magic can only be taught with the utmost care and responsibility."
Lina nodded. "I don't suppose I could have that in writing?" she asked. "Last time I refused to teach a friend, I had to dragonslave a mountain to shut her up."
"Oh, I'm certain something can be arranged."
That evening, the Gryffindor common room boasted a small but clearly visible notice.
To all STUDENTS of HOGWARTS
The unusual branch of magic practiced by the Inverse family, henceforth known as SORCERY, is a matter under investigation by the staff of Hogwarts. Under no circumstances is sorcery to be taught on Hogwarts grounds without the explicit, written consent of a professor.
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Lina smiled slightly and simply let her classmates worry over that themselves. One less complication in her life...that was a rather nice feeling.
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(Posted Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:30)
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