Capítulo 72: Chapter 72: Healing Touch (3)
Monday evening at eight o'clock, Catherine McMahon was standing in front of a rather ugly stone gargoyle. Though she had anticipated these lessons for a while, now that they were within her grasp, apprehension set in. The thought of using true fire terrified the young witch. Ever since discovering her inclination to fire during the testing, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling of impurity buried within her.
While the knowledge of the demon sealed inside her had been with Catherine as far back as memory allowed, it remained somewhat abstract. Initially, she regarded it as a matter of fact, with little to remind her about the curse on her family except for occasional instances of hearing haunting female laughter. However, everything changed after she used fire to burn her brother several years ago. For months, Catherine grappled with heightened sensitivity to every thought, feeling, and movement, wondering if the demon would break the seal and take control of her body. Although this didn't happen, she couldn't escape the heart-wrenching image of her brother screaming in pain, lying on the scorched grass. Concealing her emotions hadn't produced the expected results, but it was Professor Dumbledore who prompted her to reconsider whether their approach might have been incorrect.
Since her arrival at Hogwarts, the girl felt much better. While she had unintentionally set Snape on fire once, the incident wasn't severe, and he emerged unharmed, unlike Greg. For these reasons, learning how to use elemental magic worried Catherine. In her mind, immersing herself in her fire nature and manipulating true fire could increase the risk of incidents, unless she rapidly gained control over her powers, which was not very likely. Typically, it took at least a year for an Elementalist to be deemed generally safe when using their powers around others. However, the girl was uncertain if the timeframe might be longer for Fire Mages. Information on the subject was scarce.
"Dragonfire Delights!" – Catherine said with a sigh, and the stone gargoyle sprang to life, hopping aside as the wall behind split into two, revealing a spiral staircase going upward like a Muggle escalator. The young witch paused for a second before the gleaming oak door and knocked using the brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.
The door opened, and the third-year entered the Headmaster's office – a large and beautiful circular room full of curious unknown devices, placed on spindle-legged tables. The walls were adorned with portraits of the previous headmasters and headmistresses, most of whom were staring at the newcomer with obvious interest.
Albus Dumbledore occupied a substantial claw-footed desk, with the Sorting Hat perched on a shelf behind him. Lifting his head, he greeted the Gryffindor girl with a warm smile behind his half-moon glasses. The glow from the candles illuminated his wrinkled face and long silver beard, casting shadows on the glossy midnight blue robes adorned with golden stars that draped the Headmaster. Similar to their initial meeting, Catherine sensed the shifting magic around her, affirming Dumbledore's standing as one of the most formidable wizards in history. Despite this, his blue eyes exuded tranquillity and friendliness, immediately putting the young witch at ease.
"Good evening, Catherine." – the wizard greeted her politely and motioned towards one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk – "I hope you enjoyed your dinner. The Yorkshire Pudding was especially delicious tonight!"
"I wouldn't know because I ate Lancashire Hotpot." – the girl replied, mentally kicking herself for once again appearing impolite and sloppy before the person she expected to teach and guide her.
"A fine choice as well." – smiled the Headmaster, his eyes twinkling merrily – "I would like you to feel at ease with me here. You might be wondering why your lessons haven't started earlier. I have been carefully observing your progress at Hogwarts, both academically and in terms of your personal relationships and I would like to say that you exceeded my expectations."
"How so?" – asked Catherine, surprised, earning another smile from the older man.
"Well, for someone who was confined at home, never interacting with people outside of your family, you proved to have quite a gift for making friends." – Dumbledore explained – "Your adaptation to using a wand has been commendable, and I thought it would be a waste if you didn't get the chance to enjoy yourself and develop at your own pace for a while. I understand that things have not always been easy with your fellow classmates, and the teaching staff would certainly appreciate it if you can exercise some restraint with your impulses in the future, especially when students from the Slytherin House are concerned..."
"It's not me who started it!" – the girl couldn't help but interject, blushing and quickly lowering her gaze. Dumbledore chuckled, unfazed, and continued in his wise and soothing tone.
"In such situations, I believe it is important who chose to end the vicious circle. Still, I won't put unrealistic expectations on you, although it would certainly be beneficial if you could be a positive influence on your fellow Gryffindors."
Catherine didn't answer. She knew that Dumbledore was right, and she and the boys had caused a lot of trouble, not to mention all the school rules and laws they were planning to break in the future. However, the young witch decided to keep this to herself.
"Focusing on the topic at hand," – the Headmaster continued – "your father has already informed me that your test showed your inclination to fire, a revelation that, of course, did not come as a surprise."
Catherine nodded silently, her gaze fixed on the floor, once again grappling with an uneasy feeling.
"I should tell you that while your parents insist that you start your elemental training immediately, I believe it is essential to consider your perspective on the matter." – Dumbledore remarked, prompting the young witch to look up in surprise.
"I thought it was best to start as early as possible! I don't want to endanger those around me!"
"My dear child," – said the wizard kindly – "being inclined to fire is not a curse. Quite the opposite! Yes, mastering true fire is undeniably challenging, and it could be dangerous. Fire Mages carry a great responsibility due to the unpredictable nature of their element. However, it does not suggest that you pose a greater threat than any other individual with a strong affinity for their element."
"I am mostly afraid that in my case… that the strength of my element is linked to the demon, influencing how the element manifests." – confessed the young witch, finally finding the courage to voice some of her biggest fears.
"I think you are greatly misinformed about the nature of your power, Catherine." – said Dumbledore gently – "It's not surprising. There are very few Fire Mages. Besides you and me, I am not aware of any others in Great Britain. However, I would like you to remember one thing: true fire is not pure destruction, as it's often portrayed. It possesses a dual nature. In fact, some records documented instances of Fire Mages possessing a rare healing ability. They could control true fire with such precision that they could inject it inside a person, destroying black magic or poison without harming the patient."
Catherine's jade-green eyes grew wide with astonishment. She moved closer to the edge of her chair, completely mesmerised by the Headmaster's words.
"So, you're saying that true fire has sort of purifying effect as well?"
"Exactly!" – nodded the wizard – "True fire is the essence of fire, the purest form in which it exists in nature. Humans born with such a gift learnt how to wield it from the ancient dragons who once guarded it inside their bodies, unlike their present-day descendants. It is the most destructive of the elements, capable of burning even magic itself. Yet, simultaneously, it can serve as a shield and a purifier. Ancient magic rituals were crafted to draw from true fire, creating the most potent protection barriers. Magical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and salamanders, all of which bear traces of true fire, can withstand dark magic and even neutralise it. This is why phoenix tears hold such a tremendous healing power."
"Conversely, dark arts cannot tap into true fire. The Fiendfyre Curse comes close, but it forcefully extracts only the destructive part, creating an abomination in the process. That's why it's often impossible to control once unleashed. What I am asserting here is that a demon, as a creature of the dark, cannot access the essence of nature. What it employs is Fiendfyre, and honestly, you being a Fire Mage might prove to be an additional line of protection against the demon breaking through the barriers that confine it."
Catherine realised her mouth was agape and promptly shut it. Her head buzzed with all the new information, and a rare sense of hope enveloped her. This hope differed from her usual self-protective state of refusal to contemplate the future because she was uncertain if she had one. It was a genuine hope that she could maintain control over her body and soul.
"Sir… do you think I would be strong enough to do this?" – she asked softly.
"I do!" – immediately answered the wizard – "As you probably know, we classify Elementalists in three categories or types per element, depending on their strength. When a person shows their elemental inclination as powerfully as you do, it's safe to assume you do not fall in the first category, which is the weakest so to speak. For Fire Mages, it means you are not a Salamander type. Unfortunately, we can't know for sure how strong you are until a certain point in your training when the Price will appear."
"The Price?" – asked Catherine, confused.
"Ah, yes, this is indeed probably something you are not aware of, but you do need to keep in mind at all times." – said Dumbledore, rolling up his right sleeve. He closed his eyes just for a second, and when he opened them, they were gleaming, casting an ominous red glow. The Headmaster lifted his arm with his hand upward, and a ball of scarlet flames formed above his palm. Catherine couldn't even breathe; she felt shivers all over her body, but she couldn't cast her gaze away from the fireball. She could almost hear it calling her name, inviting her to touch it and feel its intense and all-consuming energy.
Then the young witch finally saw what Dumbledore wanted to show her. His right arm was covered with thin streams of fire, forming strange lines, resembling some kind of a tattoo - fiery phoenixes - running all the way up and hiding beneath the sleeve of the robe.
The fireball vanished abruptly, and the tattoo became pitch black. Catherine looked up at the smiling wizard whose eyes were once again blue behind the glasses.
"Don't worry, it's going to completely disappear in a few minutes." – the wizard explained when he realised the girl was still staring at his arm – "Using the essence of nature has a price, my dear girl. You cannot surpass your own limits. If I continue using my power the Price would have spread to my other arm, my legs, torso and eventually my face."
"And then?" – asked Catherine, somehow already knowing the answer.
"And then I die." – calmly responded Dumbledor – "I would be consumed by my own fire. It rarely happens. Most of us are very much aware of our limits. The fireball you saw drew just a bit of true fire; the rest was regular fire. You will learn how to put the right amount you need, depending on what you're trying to do."
"Sounds very complicated." – admitted the girl, discouraged.
"We often act on instinct. Opening yourself to your element allows you to effortlessly draw fire from your surroundings. Elementalists predominantly harness what already exists. It's akin to a standard Fire-making Spell—not creating fire but attracting it from the environment and enabling the wizard or witch to direct it. However, Fire Mages have the ability to create fire, or more precisely, the essence of fire known as true fire. Through this, you can shield yourself from spells; you can vanquish dark creatures like Inferi, which ordinary fire cannot stop. In theory, you could even block Unforgivable Curses."
"What do you mean 'in theory'? I thought you can't stop the Killing Curse?" – asked Catherine anxiously.
"This is not entirely accurate. Ancient magic was employed to counteract the Killing Curse. The problem is that it requires a sacrifice; therefore, someone still dies due to the curse, even though not the intended target. As I said, in theory, true fire could be used to block the Avada Kedavra Curse. However, the concentration needs to be so dense it might be impossible. I am certain I could not achieve it." – explained the Headmaster.
"So, if I understand correctly, you believe that I belong to one of the two higher types of Fire Mages, but there is no way to know for certain until this tattoo starts to appear?"
"Yes!" – confirmed Dumbledore – "The Price manifests when an Elementalist reaches maturity power-wise and could have access to their full potential. However, in your case, I am certain that you are a Phoenix type, as am I. I assure you that this would place you on par with the Highest types of Water, Air and Earth Mages - at least in terms of raw power. This is crucial when you face the aristocrats as Lady Catherine McMahon."
Catherine was a bit shocked. She realised she had become unfamiliar with using her own name and title, especially inside Hogwarts. Simultaneously, the girl felt an annoying pang of guilt for lying to her closest people – a feeling she had become so familiar with these days. The closer she got to her friends, the heavier the burden was. Thinking of herself solely as Catherine Plantier seemed to help a little, but now, she was brought back to reality by the Headmaster himself. To distract herself from these thoughts, she asked:
"Why wouldn't you consider me belonging to the most powerful type of Fire Mages?"
Dumbledore thought for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"The most powerful types of Elementalists are naturally the rarest among their respective ranks. When we talk about Fire Mages, who are rare in general, the most powerful ones belong to the Dragon type, and they are just a few people in a generation. Among them, we have records of only one woman. For some reason, female Fire Mages are generally an exception, probably due to the way we deal with the element, as you would see for yourself."
"But there was a female Fire Mage who was a Dragon Type?" – asked Catherine, quite curious.
"Indeed. The only one known was the witch Pyrrhia, who lived more than two thousand years ago." – said the wizard – "And I would sincerely hope you do not turn out to be the second one."
"Why?" – inquired the girl, slightly offended.
"Let's talk about this another time." – answered the Professor cryptically – "What I would like you to tell me now, Catherine, is if you feel ready to start learning elemental magic? As I explained, I don't perceive any danger if we wait for a while until you are mentally ready and you grow up some more. This doesn't mean we won't work on something else. As you are aware, elemental magic is just one of the things I agreed to teach you."
Catherine studied Dumbledore's face, sensing for the first time in her life that there was a grown-up who genuinely cared about her thoughts and wanted her cooperation instead of blind obedience. She was eager not to disappoint him, appreciating the choice he presented—the chance to learn what she truly desired.
'Am I ready to use true fire?' – pondered the young witch, briefly recalling her brother's weary face after training with their father. Then, once again, the picture of Greg's burnt body surfaced before her eyes.
"Before we start my training in elemental magic, could you possibly teach me how to heal people?" – the girl asked decisively.
Surprise flickered for a moment on the Headmaster's face, but then he smiled warmly at the black-haired Gryffindor with burning green eyes in front of him.
"If this is your wish. I must warn you, though, that I do not possess that healing ability I mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, I believe there is another form of healing, described in ancient texts, that might be well-suited for someone with your talents."
"I thought you would teach me some spells." – said Catherine, a look of confusion crossing her face.
"I may not be as skilled in healing spells and potions as Madame Pomfrey," – explained the wizard, winking at the third-year – "but you can still learn those from books and even ask Poppy to explain to you what you cannot understand. What I have in mind is a form of wandless magic which relies on using one's magic and mixing it with vital power. This yields much more comprehensive healing effect, even in cases when spells cannot provide complete relief. I am confident that you can learn this because you have a natural sensitivity to magic energy, as evidenced by your ability to invent spells at an early age."
"Then let's start right away!" – insisted the young witch impatiently, jumping to her feet.
Dumbledore stood up and retrieved his wand. With a sharp movement, he slid it across his left hand, leaving a thin incision with a few drops of blood already visible. The wizard lifted his injured hand in front of Catherine's eyes, and a pale blue aura formed around the incision. The young witch watched intensely, sensing Dumbledore's magic quite well. It was almost physical - like she could taste it, feel it, and hear it at the same time. It reminded her of a hot sunny day in the middle of summer. However, there was something else.
'Mixing it with your vital power he said.' – thought the witch, uncertain how to achieve this effect.
The wound on the Headmaster's hand had vanished without leaving the slightest trace. He smiled at the determined focus on his student's face.
"There are three steps to achieving self-healing, arguably easier than healing another person. First, you need to learn how to envelop the wound with your magic, concentrating it evenly. Second, you need to become aware of your vital power. Third, you must learn how to mix them both together."
For the next half-hour, Catherine immersed herself in trying to follow Dumbledore's three steps. Concentrating her magical power at a specific spot was easy enough. However, the other two steps presented a challenge.
"This is enough for tonight. I'll send you a message regarding our next meeting by owl." – concluded the Headmaster, glancing at the young witch's sweaty face – "You should continue practicing, but I would like you to promise me you won't hurt yourself on purpose."
"You have my word, Sir." – Catherine quickly assured the wizard. As she turned around to leave, her eyes caught sight of the golden perch behind the door of Dumbledore's office. On top of the perch, there was...
"You have a phoenix as a familiar!" – exclaimed the girl in awe, carefully approaching the red and gold bird, whose feathers were faintly glowing.
"Fawkes is much more than a familiar." – said the wizard, joining Catherine as she admired the magical creature from a safe distance – "He appeared in front of me, heavily wounded, while I was also in great pain. I suppose you could say that we saved each other, and we have been inseparable ever since."
The phoenix lifted his head, and his black eyes pierced the girl. He gently cooed and stretched his long, graceful neck.
"I believe Fawkes took a liking to you, Catherine!" – smiled Dumbledore – "You can pet him if you wish."
'True fire can't be that horrible if it's in the core of such a beautiful creature!' – thought the Gryffindor while gently caressing the soft feathers of the phoenix.
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