บท 18: Newt's questions
Tell me some of your ideas on how his country should be called. The one with the most likes wins.
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(Newt POV)
I walk from the 'History of Magic' lesson to the dining hall, for lunch. I am playing with my Bowtruckle and am deep in thought as I am walking.
"Can you imagine?! A wizard is actually the leader of the Imperium and the muggles don't even realise it."
"What are you talking about? That happened in the second century BCE. No one lives that long. The current leader is not the same one we just heard about.", someone else says. I have to agree. Living that long seems impossible. Nicholas Flamel is said to be about 600 years old, but even that is only one-fourth of the life, that the Anathema would have had to live if he was still alive.
"Huh, I guess you're right. That would make sense. Then do you think it's one of his descendants? That would still be cool. I wonder how powerful he would be then?"
"That would make the most sense.", Finnigan says.
"Heh, what's so great about the Anathema, anyway? He killed a few muggles, big deal! I can do that too.", one of the Slytherin sneers.
"Sure, if we're talking about two or three at once, I would agree. But we're talking about 24'000 men, soldiers even. No wizard should be able to do that.", one of my housemates argues.
"You have no idea. Do you know some truly powerful and dark spells? Something like that should be simple for a pureblood. But I can understand you not believing that, since you're a halfblood.", the same Slytherin says.
"Shut up, Slane. You don't know anything about such things.", Leta says and hits Slane on the head. He looks at her with contempt but doesn't say anything. The Lestrange name ... it has an effect.
"Uuh the Strange one. Don't touch me like that.", Slane says and threatens Leta. I don't like this and want to step in when a hand grabs me from behind and I hear the voice of my brother.
"Oi oi oi, what's this? Are these little snakeys bothering you Newt?"
"No, Theseus. We are just discussing things amongst each other."
"Hm? Is that right? Well, what were you talking about that it almost made you fight?"
"The Collector.", I say.
"The Collector? Which-"
"The Anathema."
"!!! You had a lesson about the Anathema?! When?"
"Just now, I asked Professor Binns about the Collector after hearing about him in 'Care of Magical Creatures'.", I tell my brother and he sighs. It seems like he knows something.
"Binns did that? I'm surprised he does something like that. The Anathema is only supposed to be discussed in the Fifth years and above."
"So you know about him, Theseus?", I ask him with great interest.
"Well, only a bit. And that already seems like an exaggeration. Apparently, he truly lived, but some of the things he did, are simply mind-boggling and make it hard for me to believe them. It doesn't matter now anyway. If the stories are true, he is either dead or so old, that opening his eyes will cost him all the energy he has left. No one lives for that long without paying some form of price. Ask Flamel."
"What do you know?", I ask him.
"Now, Newt. Is my little brother interested in something else than magical creatures?", he teases me and I look to the side again and then walk away.
"Hahaha, if you want to know more, just ask the Professors. Especially Charms, Potions, Transfiguration and DADA. They will tell you some things that will either be enough for you and stop your interest or ... you will get even more interested. So think about it before you dig deeper.", Theseus warns me.
.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Newt?"
"I was wondering ... do you know anything about 'the Anathema'?", I ask.
"Where did you hear that? Did Theseus tell you?"
"No, I heard about it in 'Care of Magical Creatures' and then asked Professor Binns. He told us about the first time the Anathema was seen."
"Did Binns say that? Well, then Binns has gotten bad. That was not the first time he was seen. The Anathema is a big topic in Alchemy and those who study Transfiguration. You see this is a topic for the fifth year and not the third. Why are you interested in him? ... Oh wait. Is it because of his title 'the Collector'?"
"Yes."
"I understand. Yes, that is indeed an interesting topic. And that's why the Anathema is a special elective class in the fifth year. But due to the OWLs, no one really takes it. I don't even think that someone is really teaching this right now."
"But what can you tell me about him? Did he do something in the magic branch of Transfiguration?"
"Ohoho, now you are getting deep into Transfiguration lore. The Anathema is a very complex and unbelievable man. Due to his innovations in magic, if he were more active in the public, he would have many more titles than he already has."
"So he's alive then? And what did he do?"
"The opinions vary. Some say he does, others say he died a long time ago. And then those who know the truth, but they are very tight-lipped about it. What is known for sure, is that he built the Imperium from the ground and it didn't change its shape since he finished conquering all of it, over 1'500 years ago.
What he did in Transfiguration... is hard to say. The better question would be, what didn't he do for Transfiguration? He was the first one to truly dive deep into Conjuration and Human transfiguration. And he is also one of the very rare people in the history of magic, to ever use air, as a 'material' for Transfiguration."
"Who would know about whether he was alive? And whether his 'collection' of magical creatures is still around?", I ask her.
"The only wizards who would know that, are the students of his magic school, 'Aquila School of Magic'."
"School of magic?"
"You think it's quite simple don't you?"
"Yes. For a school of such prestige, I never heard about. I thought ..."
"Haha, yes I know what you mean. But it is honestly not that secret. They aren't even trying to keep it secret at all. It's just that, unlike with other magic schools, each student is chosen carefully. No one truly knows what the requirements are and that is done on purpose, but those who get chosen and graduate, all become impeccable wizards afterwards."
"I see. That is impressive, Professor."
"Yes, it is. And if you are truly interested in finding out more about the collection of the Anathema, then I suggest you find one of the graduates of 'Aquila' and ask them. After all their motto is quite intriguing. I reckon they know more about it. If you want, I'm sure I can ask my friend about it."
"That would be marvellous professor. Thank you very much."
"No problem Newt, now off you go."
.
I left the Transfiguration class that day and the next day after my Charms class was over ...
"Professor, I would like to ask you a question.", I say.
"Sure Newt, go right ahead."
"Do you know anything about the Anathema?"
"Ah, hahaha, are you now going to every Professor and asking them what they know?", he laughs.
"You know about it?"
"Yes, Minerva told me, that you apparently asked Lilian about him after your Transfiguration class. I find it funny that you would be interested in such a figure. But understandable. He is, after all, the greatest mysteries and legend of wizarding kind."
"You know about him as well?"
"Of course. He is known as the Rubix Cube of magic. As he has the gift of solving seemingly limitless problems and creating miracles and new things that revolutionise magic or how we understand it."
"What about magical creatures?"
"Oh, he has written some book about some now, thought extinct magical creatures that we know existed and he for some reason observed personally. He is apparently the possession of the largest collection of magical creatures on the planet."
"Really?", I can't help but get excited.
"Why, yes. The numerous spells he created are some of the simplest and also most challenging Charms to learn, to this day. The hardest ones, only have a handful of people who can use them. I am sadly not one of them."
"What Charm?"
"Ah, there are many. One of the harder ones is 'Calefactio', the heating charm. While it might seem like something second or even first-year students can do, this one is special as it uses the Bubble-Head charm as a basis and then applies two other charms on top of that in a very elegant fashion. I am a fan of 'the Inventor's' work. That's one of the uncountable titles he has acquired over the years.
A very hard charm is 'Colligenis Omnia', a very powerful charm that applies astrophysics and basically creates a miniature black hole in the hand or around the caster. A small mistake can kill a wizard and that has already happened many times, which is also why it is considered to be a Dark Charm and not allowed to be used in Great Britain."
"Wow, I didn't know that. Do you think I can somehow get to see his magical creatures?"
"Hahaha, I don't know. That chance of that happening is basically zero. The Ministry of Magic in the Imperium would probably detain you if you entered the country while searching for him. And they are truly capable wizards and witches. They don't joke around if it concerns the national security of magic. So be careful Newt. Lilian has a friend who graduated from Aquila. I'm sure she will have an answer to your questions."
"Thank you, Professor."
"You are very welcome Newt. I enjoyed our talk."
.
So that was 'Care of Magical Creatures', History of Magic, Transfiguration and charms ... what else is there, DADA? I could ask Professor Dumbledore as well. Yes, let's do that.
"Alright Newt. Be brave.", Professor Dumbledore says as I stand in front of the Boggart. The Boggart changes into that which I fear most in the world ... a desk with papers.
"That's ... an unusual one. So Mr. Scamander fears ... what, more than anything in the world?", Professor Dumbledore asks me.
"Having to work in an office, Sir.", I say and he smiles at me and the others laugh.
"Go ahead Newt."
I point my wand at the desk and then say...
"Riddikulus.", I say and the desk turns into a dragon.
"Well done, Newt.", he says and then it's Lisa's turn. I don't know what she's seeing, but I can tell that she is truly afraid. She will need someone after this. But first, I have to ask the Professor. So I wait until the lesson is over and when everyone has left, Professor Dumbledore smiles at me knowingly.
"You want to know about 'the Anathema', don't you."
"Yes, sir."
"And I assume it's because of the 'collection', am I right?"
"You are, sir."
"Haha, the thing is, Newt. Only graduates of Aquila know more about the Headmaster of their own school. The Ministry of Magic of the Imperium also know, I assume, but they don't talk. Everything concerning their founder is the closest kept secret, that you can imagine. So there aren't that many people who could help you here.", he says and I get a bit sad, but then he gives me hope again.
"However ..."
"Yes?"
"... There is someone I could ask. He might be able to help you with your problem. And if we do it right, who knows, you might actually see some of the magical creatures he has in his large collection.", the Professor says and makes my day instantly. I can't help but smile a bit.
"T-thank you ... Professor."
"Haha, alright then. Off you go. I think you have other things to do, right now, no?"
"Yes. Thank you again."
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I am giving teasers here. The next chapter will be another history lesson.
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