10 Chapter 10: Eagles Soars Above the Storm

The last night of the tenth month saw the world enter a stage of transition, as the barrier between the living and the dead thin out and magic is at its finest.

This liminal reality was reflected in the castle of Hogwarts, where the children were treated with all the joy and festivities linked to Samhain.

It was All Hallows' Eve, which the wizarding world celebrate just like it's muggle counterpart. Except that the pumpkins talked, the bats were real and witches were just about everywhere.

And as the students and staff were happily feasting, the doors were suddenly opened as the purple clad turbaned professor dashed inside.

"Troll in the dungeons!" He shouted "thought you ought to know." Quirrell promptly fell down in a dead faint.

This, my friends, is how to cause pandemonium. Something very useful when you are a dark lord trying to steal a very valuable little something.

Panic was the emotion everyone settled on, as the staff broke into a fit of whisperers while the students could hardly believe what was happening.

Hogwarts was after all the safest place in the world…sometimes.

The uproar ended when Albus Percival fill-the-word-count Dumbledore cast a few firecrackers charms, claiming the attention of the entire hall.

"Prefects" his voice was like thunder cutting through the heavy silence" lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately."

As Penelope Clearwater started gathering the Ravenclaws, a rather famous eagle eyed first year approached her.

"Aren't the Slytherin dormitories in the dungeons?" He asked, disbelief in his voice.

The Prefect, and all those who heard him for that matter froze in place. The Slytherin common room and dorm were indeed located in the dungeons, where a troll has been sighted.

"I'm sure that Dumbledore has a plan…" Started the Prefect to reassure the first-years, and herself, yet she was interrupted by the same student.

"That involve throwing Slytherins at it till it dies?" he asked innocently.

"Yes, wait No!" answered a scared and confused Penelope Clearwater.

"Not that I'm against sacrificing some children for the greater good, but wouldn't it be better to stay in the great hall where all the teachers can actually protect us instead of wondering off in the castle?" The transfiguration virtuoso asked yet again, putting yet more doubt in the minds of the young Ravenclaws.

While the intellectuals were lost in their thoughts, he stepped forward holding the prefect's sleeve to guide her, the later having entered a semi-vegetative state to comprehend the absurdity of the situation.

"Are you coming? The dormitory is right there." Called the amber-eyed young man in a sing-song voice.

This charming gentleman was obviously Magnus Arran, wizard-in-training and reincarnated ubermensch in all his glory.

The Goldberg incident, as some Ravenclaws started calling it, and the subsequent new arsehole Flitwick ripped in the first-years' collective were still fresh in the students' mind. As the changes in the balance of power and inner structure of the first-years were changed dramatically, as power-plays like this one were prone to do.

Magnus had essentially put himself in the best position possible, at the top of the academic food chain in his house, receiving the Bravo of both charms and transfiguration teachers where he was unbelievably gifted. While also maintaining a good standard in other subjects, going as far as to be tolerated by Snape while having neither green robes nor green eyes.

His show of superiority was enough to quell his housemate's hunger for greater academic prowess, giving him a degree of peace and quiet and dissuading them from further antagonizing him.

With most detractors being dealt with, he could now focus his attention on the development of his own network. One of the things young Tom Riddle was right about is that muggleborns and even some half-bloods needed all the help they could get to establish themselves in the wizarding world, it's important to know be and be known by the right people.

His friends were few and far between, and he could not say that he truly trusted them as much as he trusted his own ability to predict their actions and counterattack if necessary. Through that limited circle, he met many students in whom he tried to make the most advantageous impression possible, the one he was trying to build since he came here;

A kind and charming young man, gifted in all things magical and a genius of Transfiguration and Charms. He did not seek conflict, but when pushed, he was capable of mercilessly crushing all opposition.

Looking at the first years who once schemed against him, following him like sheep while they tried to comprehend the implication of Dumbledore's orders, he could not help but think he succeeded.

'I hope Granger will be okay.' A small prong of guilt made his way into his thoughts, before being silenced by his reason.

'Potter and Weasley went after her, and I did not interact with any of them. So far, they've already had their interaction with Malfoy and the events were relatively unaltered.' Thought Magnus, his face impassive 'The current changes do not warrant my own intervention, nor would it benefit me to get involved with these troublesome people…not yet.'

His mind went back to a certain object he sought out, a tool he'd need for the sake of his peace of mind if not for the advancements of his plans.

'But obtaining it would mean interacting with some rather important characters, and might put me in the radar of some big fishes' He thought as came face to face with the bronze knocker.

"What is the end of everything?" Asked the animated eagle.

'But stopping myself from growing because it would attract attention would be disgraceful, the events might change, but it would simply mean that I'd need to be more careful.' Thought Magnus, finally coming to a resolution.

'Anyone can use foreknowledge to guide their steps, but it would bind them to the shadows and chain them with the fear of change. I want to be free, not the slave of someone's plots. If I change people's narratives, I just have to predict their actions.' Decided the young wizard.

"The letter 'G'" Answered Magnus with a smile.

"Hehe, well thought." Chuckled the bronze bird of prey.

'I'm done playing by the rules.' Thought the amber-eyed eagle, as stepped inside the common room.

With a flick of wand, he summoned a book he studied the last few weeks. He sat on one of the couches and stopped paying attention to the flock of confused ravens beside him.

'But before that, I need to cover my back.' He mused, as looked his tome's cover.

'Defence Against The Mind Arts, by Quincy Westers'

The mind arts were a rather obscure branch of magic that, as the name suggests, studies the manipulation, protection and assault of minds.

Beside some it's more miscellaneous applications, it was mainly divided in two branches; defence and intrusion.

Legilimency was the art of 'reading' one's mind, it allows the Legilimens to passively perceive his targets thoughts through eye contact or to actively attack it in search of a particular memory, emotions and thoughts.

The mind was a complex, multi-layered thing and as such invading it was an exceedingly complex discipline. A Legilimens wasn't really reading a mind as much as he was navigating through it, while interpreting the flurry of thoughts, memories and emotions to find what he wants. Better wizards didn't need a wand or an incantation to use it effectively, eye contact being enough to access their victims mind and read or even implant ideas and memories in it.

It was truly a fearsome ability to have.

Its counterpart was Occlumency, the art of defending your mind against such intrusions. It was ancient and existed since medieval times to protect the sensible wizard from the probes of a Legilimens.

The most basic levels consisted of the repression of thoughts and feelings, effectively clearing one's mind to stop an intruder from learning anything, it was however obvious that Occlumency was being used. More advanced practitioners could engineer a fake layer of thoughts and feelings to foul the Legilimens, feeding him fake information or even assaulting him with visions of nightmare.

'If someone use Legilimency on me, I just have to think of Boku no Pico.' Joked Magnus, but he still kept this tactic as a viable counterattack.

The existence of wizards capable of accessing his mind was enough to push Magnus to practise Occlumency, but the presence of two and half a master of the mind arts in this school only made it more urgent.

He as such made it a priority to discipline his mind, using both the tomes in the Ravenclaw tower and the more obscure books in Room of Requirement to learn the basics of the mind arts, though he was only slightly proficient in their defensive aspects.

Magnus could clear his mind well enough when needed, eliminating all surface thoughts and feelings and repressing it behind a metaphorical shield. He made it a habit to do as often as possible, in order to gain in familiarity with the skill and advance faster in his study of Occlumency.

"Magnus!" The agitated voice of Michael Corner brought him out of his studies.

He was slightly creepy Ravenclaw who attempted to get in the eagle-eyed boy's good graces. Good friend with Terry Boot who attempted to play games he wasn't ready for, regretting it deeply, and Anthony Goldstein, who in addition to having a copious amount of detention with filch, was currently having a nice and long introspection after receiving in pretty nasty howler from his parents.

"What's the matter?" Magnus who was currently practising Occlumency responded indifferently, his face blank as he looked at his interlocutor.

"They say that Hermione Granger, that muggleborn Gryffindor who should've been in Ravenclaw, went to attack the troll by herself!" Exclaimed the raven.

Corner didn't seem to mind Magnus's emotionless gaze, he even appeared to enjoy it somewhat, his eyes shining in a way even Dobby would find disconcerting.

"That's a remarkably stupid thing to do." Answered the fledgling Occlumens.

Trolls were nasty, Magnus's conversations with Barnabas were enough to teach him that. They were big, dumb, they stank and had a magical resistance powerful enough to nullify most charms.

'If I had to battle one, transfiguration would be the way to go.' Thought the young wizard, Potter's stunt with the club could have gone very wrong if not for his plot armour.

"I know, couldn't believe she'd do that. But Harry Potter and Weasley went to rescue her, they say he knocked it out with its own club." Informed the Ravenclaw, pleased at the way he'd just been ignored for a moment.

"I see, thank you for informing me, Corner." Said the eagle, dismissing him right away to return to his Occlumency.

Michael looked like he was about to faint, he left for his room giddy with happiness as he prepared himself to complete his potion essay. He still had a week for that, but even the creepiest claws were very studious.

'Good, things went exactly as planned…' thought Magnus, still busy with the mind arts.

The alternative was the possible death of Granger at the hands of the troll, something he would rather avoid. But his inaction in this event was necessary for his future plans, if he entered that game right now he would doubtlessly be crushed by the weight of its players, becoming but a pawn for the likes of Dumbledore.

That was intolerable.

No, he had to take it slow. Grow his own power and circle inconspicuously while preparing every single outcome of the future events, he would only show himself when his wings were strong enough to carry him above all their squabbles.

Just like with the Goldberg incident, he would blitz his way into an untouchable position. Free from the influence of other players.

'Eagles don't fly through the storm, they soar above it' thought Magnus, but for now, he'd have to carefully let his wings grow.

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Magnus: 'Clear your mind!'

Quirrell: 'Troll in the dungeons! What the heck! is this a Cerberus?'

Hermione: Almost dead.

Michael: *giggles*

Fluffy: is a good boy.

Hey, It's Uncle Sheo!

Here's a new chapter! Magnus dealt with the fallout of the Gold-something incident, managed to navigate into a favourable position and the 'plot' advanced a bit.

Any advise and criticism is welcome, take care guys.

Peace and Cheese!