Emotions and Facades
Maybe there was something more to the System I had been granted? It never specified any additional functions apart from granting a Template and going into a state of hibernation.
The feeling of being centered in my own mind was something I wasn't prepared for. It felt like being in a deep meditative trance while at the same time being completely aware of my emotions and how they were functioning. Reacting to external stimuli allowed me to feel each emotion and control the degree to which I was affected.
My mind was now encased in an almost membranous film of magic, specific magic for protection, with the affinity of infinity. If someone attempted to breach my mind, they would be lost in an eternal chasm of darkness. Unless they had the power of absolute cancellation, their own mind would forever be lost in my defense if I chose not to retaliate. I now had a passive way to turn someone into a vegetable if I deemed them an enemy. Focus on the word deemed, because I could now selectively choose if I wanted to mind-fuck them for attacking me.
The last addition was the anti-mind attacks. If I deemed someone an enemy and they managed to enter my barriers, their mind would be bombarded with what I liked to coin "You Gone And Fucked Around" magic. Firstly, their own memories would slowly get erased, beginning from the moment they first had memories. From there, the magic would chain towards their body, as their nerves and magical reserves were completely erased, turning them useless.
Sure, it was over the top, but I had to make sure that no one was able to peer into my mind. I had such a large secret that if someone knew how I obtained my powers or that I had reincarnated, I would probably be on the receiving end of a witch hunt.
I had explained to Alice about my defenses, and she could do nothing but shiver at the brutality of it all, but also completely understood the need for protection. I had intended to add some enhancements to her necklace to provide layers of defense for her mind as well, but she told me to hold off for now until we were 100% certain the powers worked that way.
The entire process took all night, from the moment I read about Occlumency to its practical application. Now, I was unsure if it was actually going to work, but then came the System and its status page, which would add new skills or pieces of information every time I learned something new.
**********
Name: Theodore Le Fay Ambrosius (Pendragon/Wyllt)
Age: 16
Template (1/1): Merlin (Nanatsu no Taizai) (12%)
Powers & Skills:
- Extraordinary Genius (Eidetic Memory, Thought Acceleration, Emotional Control (Passive/Active))
- Enhanced Physiology: (Strength, Speed, Durability)
- Original / Unique Magic: (Chantless, Wandless, Mental, Magic Creation, Magic Sense, Absolute Mind Ward, Item Enchanting, Magic Cancel)
- Infinity: (Stamina, Magic, Passive/Active)
- Hogwarts First Year: (Magic Knowledge 100%, Theoretical Knowledge 95%)
(Continue to use the template to increase synchronization.)
**********
The addition of 'Absolute Mind Ward' was a confirmation of my speculations, meaning I had done something right when I applied my own version of Occlumency. Smiling, I also saw that 'Item Enchanting' was an added skill, maybe from when I was creating Alice's necklace.
We had retired from the Room of Requirement a couple of hours ago. Although it was past curfew, I could easily bypass the teachers, ghosts, or even the caretaker with the aid of my Magic Sense. The ability could be toggled off and on now, and with further use, the range was slowly increasing.
For now, I could find anyone, be they stationary, hidden, or casting magic within a 100-meter range. It was a Godsend if I wished to sneak about the school.
Alice was currently sitting on my lap, her back resting against my chest as she read a book. I had transfigured a fireplace in the bedroom because I had always wanted one. The fire crackled in the silence of the night as both of us were in our own worlds.
I was making plans on how to deal with Voldemort, as he was honestly the easier target compared to Dumbledore. I knew the locations of the Horcruxes, and I could get rid of three just from inside the school.
Quirrell was technically classed as a temporary host, but he still had Voldemort's soul as part of him. Then there was Harry Potter, the scar itself being a Horcrux, and the Room of Requirement held Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem. I could theoretically get rid of three in the same night.
Turning to Alice, I poked her cheek, causing her to break concentration. Grumbling, she moved her eyes upward to look at me.
"Sup?"
"Well, I was thinking. Hypothetically, if I finished all my studies at a rapid pace, would you want to go and explore the world a bit with me?" I asked, a little apprehensive at my own question.
Cocking her head, Alice sat up straight and looked at me.
"But, don't you have to graduate from Hogwarts first before you have the freedom?"
"Not exactly. See, the school isn't exactly 'mandatory,' but it does help one move up in the Wizarding World if you were intending on living purely in it. I don't need to find a job; the money I make daily is enough to retire from birth. Especially if I convert a tiny fraction into Muggle money."
My words rang true, as I had looked at some of the documents about businesses my families owned. We had shares in manufacturing tools for the Ministry, farming and agriculture, as well as book publications and fashion. Now everything was almost autonomous, as the businesses had people under magical contracts running them. There was no such thing as renewing magical patent licenses or such, so everything was funneled back to the vaults.
I did want to complete my schooling here and make more friends, but I also felt like it would be a long seven years, and Hogwarts was anything but normal. I would enjoy my time here more if, let's say, McGonagall became the Headmaster, as she would definitely ensure shit didn't hit the fan on a monthly basis.
"Yeah, but you still need school, don't you?" Alice asked, a smile gracing her lips. I think she enjoyed being older than me, trying to be the responsible adult between us.
Nodding, I couldn't disagree. Though, I did have an idea on the matter.
"Well, we could always go to a Muggle school at one point, you said your family moved around once in a while."
Sighing, she dipped her head lower.
"Yeah, but let's not think about it now. Maybe we should visit them first and see the situation." She acted with reservation towards the thought of becoming a student, and I could understand why.
**********
"Motherfuckers should let us apparate to classes already," I grumbled as I walked through the halls. Since my little outburst and subsequent training, I felt a lot more at peace, which translated to me enjoying sleeping in bed more, cuddling Alice.
Two weeks had passed since our conversation that late night, and I had completely finished my studies for first-year coursework. Instead of stopping at the second year, I moved swiftly through it, my current focus on the third-year books. I was worried the curriculum would change yearly, but publications of Magical Books happened rarely, unless there was a revolutionary change in magic.
Classes hadn't changed much, as I could spend the majority of my time focusing on further education. Hermione had slowly become more distant towards me, and I was a little hurt by that, but I also knew that the prejudice Gryffindor held for other houses was slowly ingrained into their first years at the beginning of school. She hadn't outright been rude to me or ignored me, but the closeness we held in the first week was distant, and she chose to spend more time with her own house. Unlike in the movies, the bullying she was subjected to wasn't happening here, possibly due to the age difference between being 11 and 16.
"Mr. Ambrosius, please wait." I heard the hot voice of McGonagall call me from behind, as I stopped in my tracks, my thoughts halting.
Turning, I smiled at her, my eyes begging to linger on her body, but I held strong.
"Professor McGonagall, can I help you?" My voice the epitome of politeness to the MILF.
"Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to speak with you this evening," she said, her eyes glittering at the words.
'Fuck, I don't want to deal with Dumbles today. Not like he could harm me, but I just hate the hidden politics.'
Nodding, I smiled.
"Was there any reason in particular the Headmaster wishes to see me? I'm sure he has 'nothing' to gain from seeing a first year." My voice was laced with sarcasm as I spoke the sentence.
"I apologize, but I am not privy to the nature of his request." Pausing, she looked me up and down before walking past me. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear her.
"Though I do
admit you should err on the side of caution, do not expose anything that may allude to your secrets."
After saying that, she moved past me at a brisk pace, her ass jiggling with each step as I was lost in thought. Her words were ominous at best, but also let me know my next course of action.
**********
Standing in front of Dumbledore's office, I released a pent-up sigh that I had been holding throughout the remainder of the day. Alice was aware of the situation, and it had taken more than a couple of kisses to calm her down, stopping the yandere vampire from storming the office and killing the old coot.
Without waiting for Dumbledore to allow me entry, I pushed the door open, closing it as I walked deeper into the room. This time Fawkes was nowhere to be seen, as Dumbledore smiled at me 'kindly', but I couldn't believe that anymore.
"Ah, young Theodore. I thank you for granting me some of your time this evening." He placed tea on the table, and both cups filled up magically in front of me.
'Not touching that shit with a ten-foot pole,' I thought, watching the cup move closer to me as I took a seat directly in front of him.
"So, how can I help you, Headmaster? Your invitation confused me, as I don't believe I've done anything to grant myself a meeting." Smiling, I leaned back in the chair, looking directly into his eyes. Now that I had further understood magic, and had gained Magic Sense, I could see a torrential amount of magic hiding inside his body. The highest that I had seen, though McGonagall was fairly strong herself.
"Nothing of the sort, Theodore," he said, drinking the tea. "I merely wished to see how your visit to Gringott's had been. Professor McGonagall spoke about her leaving the meeting in the middle, at the behest of yourself and Clawgrab."
'Motherfucker is trying to ask questions he's not allowed to know about.' I sneered deep inside. This wasn't anger anymore, it was loathing for the old man. He thought that because I was young, I didn't understand his hidden intentions mixed in his words.
"Oh, I apologize, Headmaster. Clawgrab informed me a little about an additional property my family owned, but due to it not involving the Professor, we excused her." I smiled, a smile of smugness as I spoke the words.
He nodded, choosing not to speak, but finish his tea in one gulp. Looking to the drawer, Dumbledore placed his hand on it before pulling it open. Unable to see what he was doing, I pushed my Magic Sense to see where his hand was going. Slowly, he reached inside the drawer, his fingertips softly caressing the wand that was placed there.
'Is he going to attack me? Like, actually attack me in the school?!' I was stupefied at the current situation.
Dumbledore sighed, as I watched him release the wand with a shaky hand. He then closed the drawer, and smiled at me once again.
"I understand, dear boy. I had concern stem from how tricky the Goblins could be, especially to someone at such a tender age."
"I can assure you, Headmaster. I am aware of when people are trying to gain something from me, they tend to disregard a teenager's ingenuity." Standing up, I pushed the chair back in its place. "I apologize, but I have classes in the morning. Have a good evening, Headmaster."
Without looking back, I walked through the office, my Magic Sense up and ready for any retaliations, but fortunately, he left me alone as I closed the door.