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dropsofnightshade · 20 days ago

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Recapping Chapters 91 - 95

In Harry’s third week of term he receives a letter from Dion Lykaios, whom he met at the DAYS gathering, the two boys having become something like pen pals. Harry looked up the Lykaios family to see if there was any confirmed non-human heritage in their bloodline, but had not been able to find anything other than some interesting speculation around the origins of the family’s name. Apparently, some believed there was a connection between the modern Lykaios family, and the festival of Lykaia once observed in the Arcadia region in ancient times - which in turn was connected to the myth of Lycaon.

Harry is meeting with Kasia fortnightly for duelling sessions, and he plans to meet on the alternating weeks with Liam, who was keen to organise something after hearing Harry and Kasia were meeting up.

The first Phoenix social event for the year is organised by house captain Léna. Harry notices Mira does not attend, and Astrid confirms the girl never attended any events last year either.

Harry meets fourth year Mihaela Gogova, who plays Chaser for the Foxes. Mihaela is sympathetic that Harry’s reserve is Dominik Iločki. She explains that there are some students at Durmstrang, Dominik included, who come from families that still carry titles. Dominik is from the House of Ilok — a Croatian-Hungarian noble family. Mihaela also explains the real power in European society lies with the Dark Alliance council, the European Light Federation and the International Confederation of Wizards. There can be tensions between the aristocracy and those who are now in power.

At a session with Ezra, Harry realises he might be capable of learning how to cast using his wand and to perform wandless spellcraft at the same time - simultaneous casting. However, it is going to take a lot of time and practice to explore the potential.

On the eve of Mabon the Wizengamot votes in favour of the bill to improve werewolf rights. Sirius, Arcturus, Remus, Rosie and Gareth drink to celebrate, but it is tempered by the knowledge that the bill that had passed was very different to the one that had been first proposed, the potential advancements for werewolves severely undercut by amendments following the House Committee enquiry. The bill will now be debated in the Senate, who had the power to send it back to the Wizengamot with further amendments sought. Remus shares with everyone that even if the bill passes, he is not sure if he will use the clemency period to register as a werewolf. Instead, Remus is considering moving overseas and exploring training to become a teacher in the Scandinavian region, which is lot more accepting of werewolves.

Later, Remus and Sirius discuss whether there is much point to Remus remaining in the Order, given Remus’ suspicions that he is not being invited to all of the meetings. Remus brings up Ezra, speculating if something happened between he and Sirius. Sirius denies anything has happened - but confirms it is because Sirius will not allow anything to happen. Remus expresses his wish for Sirius to be happy.

On Mabon, students at Durmstrang get the day off. Harry joins his friends hiking and they have a picnic together. Harry finds himself feeling regretful over the fact Daphne is not here with him, experiencing all of the opportunities at Durmstrang.

At dusk the students gather for the Mabon ritual and feast, which is led by Professor Falk as the head of the House of the Phoenix. Harry releases his regret about Daphne into the fire, and is hopeful she might one day attend Durmstrang.

At the end of the night as the students are returning to the residential building, Harry notices Astrid split off from her friends and head outside of the main gates to the grounds. He follows her, and observes her approach a tree off the path. She leaves something in the roots of the tree, and continues on her way.

Harry approaches the tree, sensing with his magic that the tree has the same flickers of ritual magic he has previously sensed on other trees. He can also observe some lights in the branches. When Harry gets close enough to see what Astrid left in the roots of the tree, he finds what looks like an offering of some sort.

Whatever Astrid was making an offering to, Harry senses they did not want to interact with him. Out loud, he wishes Mabon blessings and apologises if he caused any bother. As he returns to the path, the wind blows towards him, and he heard a voice in his ear whisper, “Mabon blessings to you, child.” Then the food vanishes before Harry’s eyes and the presence he could feel vanishes too.

Harry is left with many questions, and as he struggles the following day with how to ask Astrid about what he saw, he is surprised when she brings it up. Astrid had not been aware Harry had followed her at the time, but she somehow now knows, and she is willing to answer Harry’s questions about what he saw. They plan to meet up to speak privately that night, after Harry’s First Aid class.

When Harry meets up with Astrid, Kasia comes up in conversation, and when Harry asks Astrid if something happened between the two girls she grows noticeably cool. Harry realises he has misstepped in asking Astrid about Kasia, but Astrid readily accepts his apology and they move on.

Astrid asks Harry to outline exactly what he saw when he followed her, and seems relieved when Harry tells her he didn’t follow her further down the path. She confirms what she left at the tree was an offering. She is shocked though when Harry tells her he heard a voice wish Mabon blessings on him. Astrid confesses she was prepared to talk with Harry about the offering, but she didn’t know about the rest. She hesitatingly explains she needs something, but cuts herself off. Harry latches onto her train of thought and asks her directly if she needs permission - to his surprise, Astrid confirms she does.

Harry understands there are rules around the knowledge of what is going on, but asks Astrid what if he works it out on his own. Astrid is vague, but points out Harry seems to be able to identify the right trees - there is nothing stopping him from making an offering of his own and seeing what happens. Harry gets the impression although Astrid is bound to some sort of secrecy, she is trying to point him in the right direction.

In the days following their conversation, Harry notices Astrid is starting to distance herself from him, which is upsetting. He meets with Ezra that weekend, and loops Sirius and Arcturus into the meeting via the mirror in order to discuss the mystery around the trees and what Astrid made an offering to.

Arcturus speculates that Astrid made an offering to a magical creature of some sort, one capable of human speech.

It later clicks for Harry - he recalls how he senses ritual magical strongly from Taras and Professor Lis, and how Arcturus had previously theorised they might have non-human heritage, even though they feel differently to Harry than Ylva, who he knows for a fact has non-human heritage.

Harry doesn’t know what might differentiate them - but he thinks some non-human beings, and those who are descended from them, register strongly with ritual magic in his senses. Ergo, the ritual magic he is detecting in the trees might be the traces of a non-human being.

It begs the question though exactly what non-human being they are dealing with - nothing really fits. Sirius is the one to speculate if it is not a recorded being - Arcturus agrees it is a possibility that their answer lies in myth.

Ultimately, Arcturus expresses concern about the situation and the unknowns. Sirius supports Arcturus’ order that Harry is not to make an offering or interact further, until they know what they are dealing with. Harry understands there is a risk in interacting with something he does not entirely understand - the diary comes to mind as a prime example - but he feels sometimes there is no reward without a bit of risk.

He begrudgingly agrees to his guardians’ rules.

Later, Sirius and Arcturus speak privately. Sirius can’t shake the feeling that Harry won’t listen to them. Arcturus also raises a concern over Sirius’ presentation lately - he seems tired and has been working late hours. Sirius grows evasive, and Arcturus senses Sirius is keeping something important from him.

Harry has his second duelling session with Kasia, but performs poorly due to his distraction with everything going on. Kasia informs him she has noticed Astrid has been distant from him that week, and seems sympathetic. Harry is defensive about the situation, which just makes Kasia feel more sorry for him.

Throughout the next week everyone seems to pick up on the undercurrent of tension between Harry and Astrid, and the fact Astrid is distancing herself from Harry. Harry grows frustrated with his friends probing the situation, although he is grateful they care.

He finds solace in writing to Tom, who gives him some advice about the situation with Astrid. Harry realises he does not actually know much about Astrid or her motivations, and as Tom points out, Harry needs to understand her agenda before entertaining the clue she has given him about leaving an offering. Tom also suggests Astrid is distancing herself from Harry because she knows how desperate Harry is for answers. He encourages Harry put on an act if necessary to calm her worries, and focus on being his usual self around her.

The Wolves win the first Quidditch game of the season against the Bears, and after the game, Harry finds himself followed by Dominik Iločki. Dominik questions if Harry is up to the task of Seeker after seeing what he will be facing. Harry’s calm in the face of Dominik’s challenge riles the other boy up, who tries to physically intimidate Harry. They are interrupted by the arrival of Harry’s housemate, Mira Zamfir, who shoulder-checks Dominik as she passes him on the stairs.

As Mira goes to continue walking, Dominik reaches out to grab her, and Harry acts on instinct. His magic lashes out, burning Dominik’s hand and stopping him from grabbing Mira. Dominik, whose back was turned, assumed Harry drew his wand on him. Mira though was facing Harry, and saw him clearly perform magic without a wand.

A passing student runs to get a teacher, and Professor Lis arrives. She heals Dominik’s injury and the heads of houses for the students are called. There is a meeting with Professor Lis, Professor Falk and Professor Niva questioning the three as to what happened.

Dominik tries paint himself as the victim and Harry and Mira as the bullies, but the teachers are not convinced. Given there are conflicting stories, the teachers suggest a Pensieve memory review to see what actually happened. Dominik refuses, obviously knowing the review would show he is in the wrong. Harry refuses too, surprising the teachers - he cannot risk them seeing him perform wandless magic. Mira unexpectedly also refuses, leaving the teachers with no choice but to assume all three share equal fault and all will receive a formal warning. Letters will be sent home to their guardians.

Leaving the office, Harry thanks Mira, who had the opportunity to out Harry, but had chosen not to. Mira says nothing in return, but Harry is not offended - he feels of all people Mira is not a bad option to know about his wandless magic.

Harry tells his friends what happened, and they are all rightly outraged at the situation. By dinnertime he notices people watching him, some merely curious, but others seem suspicious.

Karl, Paul, Ben and Emil find Harry before dinner to ask him what happened, and warn him that Dominik was telling his own version of events in the Dragon common room that afternoon. Karl is honest with Harry that although Dominik is a nuisance, he does have his supporters. The noble families tend to stick together, even when they don’t necessarily agree with what one of their members does. Harry asks if there is anyone he should be worried about, but Karl assures him he does not think anyone would go out of their way to give Harry a hard time on Dominik’s behalf.

The older boys all insist though that Harry comes to them if anyone - Dominik or someone else - do give him a hard time.

Harry finds himself under scrutiny and retires early to his dorm, contacting Sirius and Arcturus to let them know what happened. They are furious on his behalf, but assure him he made all the right decisions, including refusing to undergo a Pensieve memory.

Harry writes to Tom as well, who seems upset at hearing what happened. He expresses his wish that Harry would put the same value on his safety as he does others. Harry realises how much Tom cares, and how he cares for Tom in return, despite him being a construct - an echo of a real person.

The following day Dominik does not attend Quidditch practice, playing up his victim status. Whilst most dismiss his version of events as unlikely, there are some who continue to view Harry with reservation.

Astrid and Harry speak after practice, with Astrid worried by what has happened, and questioning why Harry didn’t tell her anything. He points out that she has been avoiding him for over a week. Harry assures her he understands she can’t tell him anything more than she already has, and he had hoped she would understand in turn that Harry respects her, and her boundaries.

Astrid is remorseful, apologising if she made Harry think that Astrid didn’t trust him, or was worried he would not respect her boundaries. She explains she has been processing everything, and that their conversation led to certain realisations for her.

Harry explains he doesn’t take issue with her needing time to process - his issue was that Astrid didn’t tell him that. Her behaviour could have meant anything.

Astrid apologises for shutting him out, and assures Harry it is something she is working on. Harry tells her he appreciates the apology, and when Astrid asks if they are okay, Harry confirms it, wanting to move on.

Harry finds himself distracted that week in class given all the scrutiny by other students about what may or may not have happened between he and Dominik, and Professor Sylvan warns him if he doesn’t get his act together by the end of October, she will be directing him out of her class.

Dominik returns to Quidditch practice eventually later that week, and Harry plays poorly, riled up by the other boy’s behaviour. He has a rotten week, but when Ezra asks him to come to his office that weekend, Harry is surprised to see Rosie waiting for him on a Firecall. Talking things through with Rosie is exactly what he needed - a mother’s touch, Ezra later called it.

Harry reapplies himself the following week in classes and practice, and then it is his first game of the season - Ravens v Foxes. Harry succeeds in catching the Snitch, winning the game of the Ravens. Dominik makes himself scarce afterwards, not attending the celebratory party and skipping practice the following day to presumably sulk about Harry pulling it off.

In the lead up to Samhain, Harry notices Sirius is strangely absent, seemingly working extremely late hours at the Ministry. Arcturus is worried too, but given the nature of Sirius’ work, they know he cannot tell them what he is working on so intensely.

Arcturus enlisted the help of Aunt Cass, with Harry’s permission, to research myths and fables for stories of magical non-humans who might fit the criteria for the being that spoke to Harry on the evening of Mabon. Harry felt no urgency in hearing their shortlist of possibilities, given the trees around Durmstrang had remained totally normal since Mabon - almost suspiciously so.

On Samhain, the Department of Mysteries conducts a special operation, months in the planning. After Sirius disclosed he knew the existence of a nest of Inferi, it had become the goal of the Department to investigate and eventually exterminate the threat.

Sirius, Regina Rowle, and another colleague, Niamh, are the only ones in the Department with dark magical cores. They will be leading a ritual to undo the necromancy powering the Inferi.

Towards the last step of the ritual, the Inferi are triggered, and the Department are forced to fight for their lives to keep back the Inferi and allow Sirius, Regina and Niamh enough time to finish the ritual.

Sirius is grabbed by one of the Inferi, and has to fight to free himself with the assistance of a couple of his colleagues. He makes it back to Regina and Niamh and together they finish the ritual. It seems to work, leaving the Inferi nothing more than normal corpses.

The Department will be slowly documenting, identifying and then buying the bodies in unmarked graves over the next few days and weeks, but Sirius asks Regina permission to perform another ritual now.

Regina gives him permission - she alone was aware that Sirius’ brother had died in this cave, having questioned him privately off the record how he knew about the Inferi infestation. She had promised Sirius time to locate and recover his brother’s remains.

Sirius performs a tracking ritual, but is shocked when it fails - Regulus Black, dead or alive, is not in the cave.

Meanwhile at Durmstrang, Harry is performing a Samhain ritual with his friends. He notices Arie lighting over a dozen candles, which marks a significant loss of life in his family.

During the meditation Harry seems to fall asleep, and he has a particularly strange dream, his second year in a row of such a dream on Samhain. In the dream it is like he is in another person’s body, with very pale skin and strangely small hands, like a younger child’s.

Harry speaks with Liam following the ritual, asking him if he has ever dreamed he was in someone else’s body. Liam denies ever having a dream like that, but speculates a divination enthusiast would likely have a lot to say about it. It gets Harry thinking, and he decides to visit Professor Falk, who is the Divination professor.

When Sirius returns to Grimmauld Place he questions Kreacher on what exactly he saw the night Regulus died. Kreacher is upset to be questioned, but informs Sirius he saw Regulus go under the water and not come back up. Kreacher also confirms no one noticed the family tapestry had updated until the following morning.

Sirius knows Regulus did not die in the cave, but he might have died somewhere else in the hours before his death was noticed on the tapestry the following morning. Alternatively, Regulus could be alive out there, after finding some way to trick the tapestry. Sirius knows Rabastan Lestrange might have answers, but he doesn’t want to risk alerting the man to what he knows, given Rabastan remains a loyal Death Eater. He also does not wish to raise his grandfather’s hopes, only to dash them. Sirius will have to figure this out on his own.

Harry meets with Professor Falk, to tell her about his strange dream. She cannot offer much clarity, other than recommending he keep a dream journal to see if he experiences any recurring dreams.

Harry asks if what he experienced could be dream walking - Professor Falk denies it - dream walking requires extensive training and a sound grasp of both legilimency and divination. You can only project your consciousness into the mind of a person who is asleep, and you must be close to your target to dream walk.

As soon as Harry leaves though, Professor Falk immediately summons the ghost of Headmistress Vulchanova to her. She requests permission to visit a vault in the mountains, in order to access a restricted library. Headmistress Vulchanova observes that Professor Falk is concerned for Harry, and informs her that her concern is misplaced.

Professor Falk is distressed, pointing out that the headmistress had revealed Harry was interacting regularly with the diary - the item the headmistress had ordered Professor Falk to return to Harry. Harry is a dark wizard but his roommate is not.

Headmistress Vulchanova insists she keeps an eye on both boys, and in any event, Harry has the right to the diary. She points out she has the better understanding of necromancy than Professor Falk. The headmistress also warns Professor Falk not to interfere if Harry brings the diary back after Yuletide - she is not to confiscate it again.

Professor Falk’s request to access the mountain vault is refused - even though the teacher suspects Harry’s strange dream on Samhain might be connected to his exposure to the diary. The headmistress is clear it is not Professor Falk’s right to access those books, of which many lives were sacrificed to obtain. She insists she will guide Harry when it is the right time, and she will intervene to protect him if necessary.

In week ten of school the teachers begin speaking to students about the winter mock exams - held in the final week before the Yuletide holidays. Professor Sylvan instructed the Mind Arts class bluntly that their winter exam would not be a mock one - if they did not pass the test, they would not be welcome back in her class in the new year.

After his First Aid class that week Harry asks Professor Abioye about tutoring in blood magic. Tom has taken him as far as he can from a theoretical standpoint, but he is reluctant to let Harry practice anything without supervision - Tom couldn’t intervene if something went wrong.

Professor Abioye can’t tutor Harry himself, but he suggests one of his sixth year students, Taras. He will speak to Taras about his capacity to tutor, and let the older boy get back to Harry.

Taras approaches Harry the following evening and confirms he would be happy tutoring Harry weekly if he is okay waiting to commence in the first week back after the Yuletide holidays. Harry agrees, and the boys plan for the tutoring to be on Tuesdays.

While in Harry’s dorm planning the tutoring, Taras notices Harry has the book on his bedside table, The Magical Community Alliance. He seems surprised Harry is reading the book, and when Harry subtly probes the other boy’s thoughts on it, Taras grows evasive. Harry adds it to the mental tally pointing to Taras having non-human heritage.

That weekend Harry speaks with Sirius, Arcturus, and Aunt Cass through the mirror. They had arranged an expert to examine the copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard found in the Potter vault.

The copy was apparently a priceless first edition, and printed above The Tale of the Three Brothers was the same symbol on Ignotus Peverell’s grave. The expert theorised the symbol relates to the three items in the story; the cloak, the wand and the stone.

The adults agree with Harry now that it cannot be a coincidence - the author drew inspiration from Harry’s ancestors.

They theorise that Death might have been in reality a powerful witch or wizard capable of great feats of magic.

Harry ultimately points out he needs access to the Peverell vault to get any more answers. Sirius immediately reminds Harry he promised to wait until he turned fifteen to enter on his own.

After some back and forth, Sirius caves under the pressure to suggest a compromise in the circumstances. He will set up a mock vault for Harry, with challenges set up with Aunt Cass’ assistance. If Harry can pass the test, he can enter the Peverell vault on his own. If Harry fails, he must wait one year to take the test again.

Harry agrees, and it is planned for him to take the test after Yule.

Before leaving for Russia, Harry plans on speaking with Skarde in private to understand better about why his father, James, never claimed the inheritance.

Arcturus has been in talks with some mind arts tutors from the shortlist Professor Sylvan gave Harry. Tutoring should be able to be arranged for Harry following Yule as well.

The conversation turns to Arcturus and Aunt Cass’ research into mythological beings that might fit the criteria for the being that spoke to Harry on Mabon. They agree on one possibility above all the rest - the fair folk - or fey as they are also known.

Harry belatedly notices two things - firstly that Astrid’s surname is Feyling. The second that his ancestor was known as Morgan le Fay. Morgan the Fairy. It could be a coincidence, but everyone agrees it is worth considering further.

Although Harry promises his guardians again not to make any offerings to the trees to lure out the magical beings, he never promised not to go near the trees.

The following morning Harry visits the same tree where he heard the voice speak to him on Mabon, wearing the Invisibility Cloak. He realises as he walks around the school that the Cloak does not just hide him from sight - but also magical perception.

Harry blankets the tree in his magic, hoping to draw out the magical being that spoke him on Mabon and fool it into thinking no one was present in order to observe it. After a bit of waiting, Harry senses a being arrive, though it remains invisible. It seems curious about his magic, and after a bit of investigation, eventually it settles. Then a friend arrives - likewise invisible. But this one reacts immediately and negatively to Harry’s magic, seemingly knowing something was amiss.

Harry withdraws his magic rapidly underneath the Cloak, and the second being seems to lose the ability to track him. It tries to speak to him in some language that Harry feels is familiar despite not understanding it. When it gets no response, it retreats to its friend. Both disappear soon after.

Harry writes to Tom after the experience, and decides to trust Tom with the truth about his wandless spellcraft and magical sensitivity - having no idea that Tom already knows.

After Tom makes a throwaway comment about the second being speaking to Harry because it might have suspected Harry was one of its kind, it strikes Harry as a real possibility. He theorises with Tom that people capable of wandless spellcraft might have something in common with each other - non-human heritage.

Tom questions the theory, given it does not behave like other magical hereditary abilities.

Harry tells him about what he has seen while being near the ancient altar at school, and the similarities between Harry’s power and the beings he has sensed. He also tells Tom about people who have felt strange to his senses, and whether they might have non-human heritage.

Tom suggests Harry test the theory - find a way to get Taras to the altar so Harry can view his magical core and see if if looks the same as Harry’s or different.

Meanwhile, Tom is privately reeling at the realisation that Harry is the descendant of the Dark Lady Morgana, having gleaned it from his thoughts.

He decides if Harry is willing to share the legacy with him, Tom was willing to part ways with the secrets of his Slytherin legacy. Tom speculates if it might be possible for him to build a body of his own.

In the following week, Harry has an unusual conversation with Finn, who warns him about crossing Dominik and the Iločki family. He hints to Harry that he only recently realised how isolated Britain is, and that Harry might not be privy to something that Finn assumed he knew.

Harry realises Finn’s antagonist behaviour was likely caused by this misunderstanding. Finn is tight-lipped though about it, and informs Harry he needs to talk to his parents.

Harry asks his guardians to speak to Aunt Cass and see what she can dig up about the Vogel family. Sirius also raises that he found a keepsake box of Lily’s in the Potter vault - Harry will have a look at it on the break, and it might be returned to Severus Snape given it is a keepsake box of things he had given Lily.

The night before his next Quidditch game, Harry speaks with his guardians and Aunt Cass, who reveals there was a professional and personal rivalry between the Potter family and the Vogel family.

Fleamont and Euphemia’s company, Potter Potions, competed with the Vogel’s company, Vogel Gruppe. The Potters are rumoured to have caused offence by Charlus selling the company to a French buyer and refusing the Vogel offer to buy. He is also rumoured to have caused offence by refusing a betrothal offer between James and a daughter of the Vogel family.

Aunt Cass also brings up the locket, which she still offers to take to Greece to store. However, Sirius has had an idea - store the locket instead at Godric’s Hollow. Harry can visit the house before this happens, if he feels ready. Harry agrees he will put some thought into whether he feels ready to see it.

The Ravens and Bears clash in Harry’s second Quidditch game at Durmstrang. The weather is foul, and visibility is low.

As Harry almost catches the Snitch, there is a collision with the other Seeker and a Chaser, and he loses track of the Snitch. During the stoppage of play to get the injured Chaser off, Harry helps the other Seeker back on her broom, and realises there is something up his sleeve.

He pulls out the Snitch, and after the other Seeker backs up Harry’s version of events, it is agreed to accept Harry caught the Snitch prior to the game being stopped. The Ravens are declared the winners to a surprised crowd, who react in a mixed fashion to the announcement.

#dark heritage #recap

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