Chapter 4: Indomitus

"The Summoning Charm is a simple spell but something that has quite a versatile use in our day-to-day lives and duels. Very commonly used for finding objects and is preferred for the sake of convenience. There is no complicated wand waving for this spell. The only criterion for mastering this spell is concentration. Observe."

Flitwick pointed, held his wand upright and said, "Accio book."

A book flew right off the shelf at the corner of the classroom into Flitwick's waiting hand.

"Now that you have observed the spell, are there any questions?" asked Flitwick

Harry raised his hand as he was curious about the mechanics of this specific spell.

"Yes, Mr Potter." Flitwick squeaked excitedly.

"Sir, how did the spell differentiate the book that was summoned from any other book in this room?"

"Visualisation, Mr Potter. I knew which book I wanted, and the magic responded accordingly."

"I understood that part, sir. But my question is focused on whether the spell depends on the visualisation and familiarity of the object by the caster. For example, say that there is a red diamond in this room that I want. I only know the existence of this diamond from a friend. I have never seen it, nor have I ever known about it. This room is filled with other red diamonds as well. But I want the specific diamond that my friend mentioned. Keeping all this in mind, if I use the Summoning Charm, would the diamond that my friend mentioned would be summoned by the spell?"

"An excellent question Mr Potter." Flitwick nodded with a smile. "In this scenario that you constructed, the Summoning Charm would work, but it will summon every red diamond in the room. Why? Simply because your information about the red diamond that you want is sorely lacking. When I summoned this book, I knew which book I wanted. I didn't have to specify its name or any other attributes because I knew the book I wanted. Hence magic works its wonder. Remember, children. Your knowledge, concentration and imagination are the limits of your magic, nothing else."

At that moment, the time for the class came to an end.

"Remember to read the chapter about the Summoning Charm. Tomorrow will be a practical class." said Flitwick before dismissing the class.

Harry packed his bag and joined Neville on the way out of the class. He could see Hermione speaking with Ron, so he shifted his plans a bit. The next hour was free for them, and he intended to get some reading done.

"Hey, Neville. I am going to the library. Want to join me?"

"Sure, Harry."

As the two of them were about to take a flight of steps, Draco Malfoy and his cohorts blocked their path.

"Oh look, the champion is here." said Draco followed by some snide laughs from his Slytherin buddies.

"And the resident inbred morons are here. What is new?"

"What?" Draco hissed

"Oh, look. The inbreeding has taken poor Malfoy's hearing as well. Perhaps you need to see Madam Pomfrey Malfoy."

"How dare you insult me, you filthy half-breed?" Draco snarled and pulled out his wand in a threatening manner.

"I dare because I dare filthy trash-blood. If you are intent on insulting me, get ready to be returned that favour, else get lost, Malfoy." said Harry as he pointed his own wand at Malfoy.

"What is going on here?" Flitwick asked as the little professor managed to barge in.

"Oh, nothing, professor. Malfoy here is under the delusion that his self-proclaimed 'pure' blood is superior. I am waiting to see whether his claims hold any truth. I have to say the last three years have so far been a string of disappointments. I fear that is all we can expect from Malfoy." Harry smoothly interjected before Malfoy or his gang could say a word.

"I will not have any of you using spells in the corridor." said Flitwick with an uncharacteristic stern look from the usually bubbly persona the professor projected.

"Gladly, professor. Just ask Malfoy and his gang to remove themselves from my path." said Harry. 

"Mr Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, Mr Goyle and Mr Crabbe, please remove yourselves."

"Thank you, professor. Have a good day." said Harry. After giving a brief nod of respect, he moved forward with Neville right behind him.

"I don't think Malfoy would forget that. Calling him and his friends trash-blood!" said Neville, and Harry couldn't precisely pinpoint whether his new friend was afraid or ecstatic.

"It is better that he does not forget. He doesn't have a monopoly on insults. So long as he confines himself to insults, then that is fine with me." said Harry, climbing down a set of stairs with Neville. 

"You know it won't end there, Harry."

"I am counting on it."

"Shouldn't we avoid fighting?" Neville asked

"There is no use in running when we are chased by idiots that refuse to learn. There comes a time when we either make a stand else we will be running to the ends of the world our whole life." said Harry, only to receive a confused stare from Neville.

Harry berated himself for speaking as if he was a wise old guy. He had to remember that he was dealing with a bunch of teenagers, and he himself was one. It was getting harder to pretend to be a teenager. Not to mention the sheer unfamiliarity that he was feeling even with the memories of Harry Potter.

"Last time Malfoy tried to be a pain in the ass, Hermione punched him on the nose. The rest of the year, the fool was bearable. I think it is time he gets another bloody nose." Harry explained, and Neville nodded in understanding.

"So, what are we searching for in the Library?" asked Neville changing the topic to which Harry was thankful.

"How about you look for any information on Grindylows while I search for spells that allow one to breathe in water." Harry suggested.

"Sure, Harry." Neville said happily. 

*******

"I never thought there were so many shield spells." said Harry as he leafed through the book he borrowed from the library.

"Are there that many?" asked Hermione, leaning forward on the table with interest. 

"Oh, yes. There is the commonly used Protego charm that lets you defend against most spells. But the charm can be brought down by some shield breaker spells."

"I read about that spell in the fifth-year spell book." said Hermione

"It is the common shield charm preferred by many wizards as it is simple to learn and cast. There are other shield charms, however, and I think I found something that would be useful." said Harry with a nod towards Hermione.

"Oh. Let me see." said Hermione excitedly as she took the book he was reading and began to search for the spell.

"The Indomitus charm is a shielding spell developed by Eugene Rosier in 1607. The charm, when cast, creates a bubble of magical shield around the castor. Goblins regularly threatened his hometown, and he thought to create a shield that would help him protect his home from physical harm. The Goblins used metal hammers and boulders to smash homes and castles. Eugene Rosier wanted to cover his home with a shield that would physically separate his house from the rest of the town. While the spell didn't have the intended effect of protecting his home, it could protect the castor and those who are immediately close to the castor. In 1651 this spell was further modified to create a ward that had the effects Eugene Rosier desired." read Hermione, but Harry could see that his friend was not that much impressed.

"What?" Harry asked, looking at the bushy-haired girl. 

"Well, it is not so different from Protego."

"Turn the page Hermione." said Harry

On the other side of the page, the historical uses of the spell were listed.

"Indomitus was used by Gabriel De Cruz against the Hydra of Thessaly in 1707. The spell proved to shield Gabriel De Cruz from fire spat out by the Hydra. In his book 'The Dance with the Hydra' Gabriel De Cruz claims that the seven heads of the Hydra he faced couldn't break the Indomitus." read Hermione

"So the spell can block anything physical or even fire. Can it block spells as well?" asked Neville, who was silent throughout the conversation.

"The book doesn't say. But Harry, this is a powerful spell." said Hermione

"I know. I am just keeping my options open. Besides, I do have a few weeks before the first task. I could learn the spell in that time frame."

"Hmm… There are also a few variants of the spell listed here, Harry. Are you sure you want to learn this spell? The Protego charm could be simpler." said Hermione, turning a few pages of the book. 

"It wouldn't hurt to try." said Harry with a shrug before accepting the book back from Hermione.

"If you are sure." Hermione said before turning her sights on Neville, who was reading up on the Summoning Charm. "Did you find any water creatures from the library, Neville?"

"Huh...Oh, yes, Hermione. We read about Grindylows and some Sea Dragons. Harry even found a spell that allows you to breathe underwater." said Neville

"Really! What is the spell?" she asked excitedly.

"It's the Bubble-head charm. I took some notes. Want to see it?"

At Hermione's enthusiastic nod, Harry handed over the notes he prepared to her. As Hermione concentrated on the notes he prepared, his eyes caught Ron giving him a stink eye from across the Common Room. Harry raised an eyebrow challengingly, and Ron turned away with a huff.

Harry shook his head at the attitude of his former friend and decided that it was time to get some good training done. Besides, he had to make contact with Dobby and Winky. Saying a hasty goodbye to Hermione and Neville, he went out of the Gryffindor Tower. Outside the tower, he promptly used the disillusion charm rather than the cloak. Somehow the charm had become familiar to him all of a sudden, and he felt more comfortable without a cloak draped over his head when he was moving inside the castle with moving staircases and whatnot. 

He had at first thought the memories of Voldemort would become an issue, but now he could barely remember them. He would get a strong sense of deja vu whenever he read a certain text or performed a spell. He found it easy to master certain spells occasionally. It was sort of like muscle memory at this point. In his case, he would say that it was a magical imprint or impression.

Perhaps this was what Nobu was talking about in that message, Harry thought.

On the one hand, he was thankful Nobu had given him some aid, however small that may be, but he was not going to forgive that guy for taking his free will. He had yet to reconcile with the reality switch fully, and it was doubtful that he would ever be able to forget his old life. Having said that, he had to look forward rather than fantasise about what could have been.

Anyway, the impact of Voldemort's memories had so far been isolated to spells. He had not gotten some information dump whenever he thought about Horcruxes or even the Death Eater posing as Mad-eye Moody. He was thankful for that as he was sure he wouldn't be enjoying a whole stack of Voldemort's memories when most of them were filled with torture, murder and several violent acts.

He carefully traversed through the castle, dodging several patroling prefects. Finally, he managed to arrive at the seventh-floor corridor. He cast a wide area silencing charm just to be sure and then began pacing before the wall. As a door materialised before him, he called out to Dobby and Winky.

"Master Potter called for Dobby/Winky."

The two elves were excitedly bouncing on their toes. He was frankly baffled at the House Elf mentality. Every time he thought about them, it just didn't make much sense. He was beginning to believe that the Wizarding World thrived on not making much sense. An entire race of work-obsessed slave labourers was certainly a curious thing, but he was not going to complain. But he reminded himself that he ought to be extra nice to these useful beings. It helped that the two elves before him were easily likeable and friendly.

"Dobby, good to see you." Harry patted Dobby on the head before turning his eyes on Winky. "Winky, are you sober now?"

Dobby gave him a big smile at the show of affection, while Winky was shy, and if he looked carefully enough, he spotted fear in her eyes.

"Winky is a good elf now, master." The female elf said with her hands wrenching in anxiety or fear or both.

"Good. Follow me."

Harry walked into the room that the ROR helpfully provided. As the three of them walked into the room, the door vanished, only to be replaced by a plain wall. He sat on a cushion near the fireplace that was providing him with much-needed warmth.

"So did you manage to accomplish everything I ordered last night, Dobby?" he asked

"Oh yes, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby did, sir." The elf excitable said and snapped his fingers.

Five sets of notepads and a bunch of muggle pens appeared in a flash before his eyes. Between the notepads, his eyes found the wand holster.

"Good work Dobby." He complimented as he took the wand holster and strapped it on his left arm.

"Thank you, Harry Potter Sir." Dobby said happily.

"Now, tell me, are the two of you familiar with harvesting parts from magical creatures?" Harry asked

"Dobby/Winky can do, Sir."

"Good. In that case, I have a magical creature that I want you two to harvest. The creature is dead, but it is very poisonous. So I want you both to be very careful."

"Dobby/Winky will be cautious, sir."

The two elves were staring each other down. Harry had the feeling the two were developing a rivalry of sorts. So long as it remained friendly, he was not going to intervene.

"What creature is it, Harry Potter, sir?" asked Dobby, breaking away from the staring contest with Winky.

"A Basilisk."

The two elves were now staring open-mouthed at him. He could understand Winky's surprise, but he wondered why Dobby was so surprised. Dobby should have known about the Basilisk unless, of course, he didn't. Perhaps Dobby merely thought the Diary was just responsible for all the attacks.

"The Great Harry Potter sir slew big snakey! Dobby should have known how great you are, sir. Forgive Dobby for ever doubting you." The elf was now bowing low.

"Uhh… Dobby, don't do that. You don't have to call me great or anything, and you certainly don't have to bow to me. I would appreciate it if the three of us worked as friends." said Harry as he awkwardly patted Dobby and Winky on their heads.

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to do as the two elves promptly wept and hugged his legs while repeatedly thanking him.

It took him a few minutes to calm the two excitable elves down and direct their attention to the matter at hand.

"So, can you two render the Basilisk and harvest ingredients from its body? I believe I will be having some uses for the venom and its teeth soon."

"Winky knows how to skin big snakey sir, but Winky would need Goblin Steel." said Winky taking Harry by surprise.

"Why is that? Dragons have magic-resistant hide, and yet they have been extracted for ingredients."

"But Basilisks are born out of Dark Magic Harry Potter, Sir. Even in death, the tainted magic won't leave the big snake." said Winky.

Harry looked at the elves weirdly, wondering how they knew about the Basilisk and its birth. But he didn't explore that thought. 

"Then I am afraid harvesting the Basilisk will have to be postponed until I somehow find Goblin Steel." said Harry, as the only price of Goblin Steel he knew was locked away in Dumbledore's office. 

"But you have Goblin Steel in your vaults, sir." claimed Dobby.

Harry blinked in surprise because that was news to him.

"Huh..say that again."

"You have Goblin Steel in your vaults, Harry Potter, sir." repeated Dobby.

"I don't think so, Dobby. The last time I visited my vault, it was only Galleons, Sickles and Knuts in my vault Dobby."

"Oh no, sir. That was just your trust vault. There is a family vault of Potters, and Dobby has seen many Goblin Steel blades in the vault."

"Wait a minute! There is another vault that I didn't know about, and yet you managed to see inside the vault on just a single visit. How?"

"Dobby asked the mean Goblin to show him all the vaults of the Potters, sir. Dobby wanted to arrange the vaults just as he did for bad-Malfoys." said Dobby as a way of explanation, but Harry was only half paying attention. His mind was on the spin as he thought about the new possibilities offered before him.

Harry was now on the floor with his eyes level with Dobby. He put his hand on Dobby's shoulder and pulled the elf closer.

"The Goblins just let you in on the family vault of Potters with no questions asked?" he asked incredulously.

"The mean Goblins took Dobby's magic. Dobby thinks the Goblins were searching for the bond."

"But I am underage."

"Dobby doesn't know Harry Potter Sir. The Goblins are strange and think differently from wizards."

Against that explanation, Harry could hardly make an argument. He just sat there staring like an idiot. He knew the Potters were an old Pureblood family. They were bound to have immense wealth considering the family tree could be traced back to the 12th century. He needed to know more of the Potter history and several intricacies behind his noble lineage. He had yet to broach this subject with Neville, but Neville could hardly know about the history of Potters.

Albus Dumbledore must have known about the Potters well, owing to his long life and his fascination with the Deathly Hallows. But Harry was hardly going to trust a word from the man manipulating Harry Potter all his life.

While he had no concrete evidence, the utter apathy that Dumbledore showed to Harry Potter, knowing that a bunch of lowlifes was abusing the kid, didn't sit well with him. That was not the only reason for his mistrust, but he hardly needed anything else. No, he would never trust the Headmaster with even a paperclip if he could help it.

That left only one other person he could turn to for help. And that person was a wanted fugitive in the eyes of the law. Fortunately, he knew a meeting was coming up soon enough. He would just have to wait for Sirius to contact him. Till then, he would wait and work on other avenues.