The limits of the theory

// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.

I have been doing tests after class for a week now and the only conclusion I can draw is that I am far from being able to start using the ritual on myself.

The unsolvable problem that I am facing so far is the abnormal behavior change on the part of my subjects. At first, I thought it was just instinct that played on the subject's personality, but Hinkypunk don't have strong instincts.

The answer was something much simpler, the personality of the Hinkypunk had merged with that of the Bowtruckle. The essence also contains the target's personality, so the easiest solution is to destroy that personality at the source with legilimens.

And here is where the problem lies, although my parents taught me occlumency to help me control my transformations better. Legilimens wasn't really a part of the lessons they taught me. I bought a book that teaches it in the Knockturn Alley the last time I went to Borgin and Burkes but without a person to practice with in front of you, it's really hard to train.

Lucky for me, I happen to know the perfect person to teach me. He's not as good Legilimens as Voldy or Dumbledore but I have something in my possession that he cannot refuse.

I wait for his shift schedule on Saturdays to come to his office.

"Come in. Ah, Mr. Bones, what bad news bring you you to see me ... on a Saturday ... exactly at the start of my duty time." Snape is sitting behind his desk, in front of him there are homework he must be correcting.

"I would like to ask you a favor. I happen to have mastered occlumency in order to better control my metamorphmagus skills, and I was told you would be an accomplished legilimens."

"I'll stop you right now, I'm not teaching the art of attacking the mind but the art of guarding against the forces of evil." He closes a thick book in front of him, he really likes his little drama.

"That's why, I'm ready to make a trade."

"And what the hell do you have that can convince me to give you my precious free time."

I take three vials out of my robe containing blood and venom from Styx.

"A vial of basilisk blood and two vials of venom."

"And where do you get such ingredients, you wouldn't have stolen them by chance ... No, don't say anything, I just remembered the reptile you dragged everywhere around the castle."

"Is that a yes?"

Snape watches the vials for long minutes before finally answering me.

"Alright, I'll give you two hours every Sunday and you'll give me the same number of vials every week."

"Four hours and I add his molt as soon as he changes his skin."

"Three hours of my Sundays and not one more."

"Sold!" I hasten to accept his offer, I was barely hoping to have an hour of his time a week so for three hours in a row, there's no arguing. "

"Come back to see me tomorrow, one o'clock for your first lesson. And try not to be a mediocre student else it will be the last you will have."

I leave Snape's office, almost jumping in joy. If all goes well, I could practice my first absorption ritual on myself while on vacation.

As I walk into the common room, I come across Daphne and Rose sitting on the dormitory couches. They have become very close since we returned to Hogwarts after the Christmas holidays.

"Well, here's someone that looks happy. It's a change from the other burial head." The other burial head in question is Pansy Parkinson. She's still a big bully but unlike the original story, she has no one to bully others with her and she finds herself alone.

"Let's say I managed to have private lessons with Snape."

"And you're happy for that. I would say you should make an even worse face than Pansy's if you were normal. Aren't you a masochist by any chance?"

"Oh, would you be interested in finding out?" I let go of one of my legendary devastating smiles and I can see Daphne and Rose wobble a little bit. "No, Snape's private lesson is Legilimency."

"What is Legilimency?" Rose asks.

"The art of attacking people's minds to read their thoughts, their memories, and even remove or implant new one if you are gifted." Daphne seems to have some knowledge on the subject like most children of noble families who practice forms of magic relatively unapproved by the ministry.

"What, but why don't we get taught such cool stuff in the classroom." I think Rose has just discovered the path to evil.

"Let's say this is not a branch of magic that the ministry is very fond of. Most Ligilimens learn from master to students, and the ministry is keeping it that way to preserve the capacity without it spilling out. It's pretty rare for someone to agree to teach this skill." I can see sparkle in Rose eyes.

"A lot of people who can read minds end up Aurors, which is a very handy power when hunting down a dark mage. You can tell what spell it will cast in a fight or in which direction it will flee." I remember now that auror was one of Daphne's future plans.

"Maybe I'll teach you when I figure out how it works."

"It might be fun to read what's going on in my brother's head." Rose is still innocent, it's so cute.

"Oh no, I assure you there are funnier places than a boy's head going through puberty. All you're going to find are pictures of boobs and a fantasy or two about the girl he likes. "

"Eurk, you're gross Sean." Rose gives a disgusted pout while Daphne laughs out loud. I can even see Pansy who was listening to our conversation, smirked.