Building Relations, Strengthening Bonds

"Ok, so before we start… I have a question…"

"A question?" Ron asked, confused.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, her excitement palpable.

"Why do we use words when casting spells?"

"To power the spell?" Ron tried and I shook my head.

"No, that's not it. What about you 'Mione?"

"Uh… to create a connection with the spell?" Hermione tried, a little stumped that she hadn't thought of this question before.

"Nothing like that," I waved my hand. "Let me rephrase my question. What is the most important aspect to cast any spell?"

"Focus and Precision, Intent and Willpower, Magic and Magical Theory, and Imagination," Hermione recited a well-rehearsed answer eliciting an eye roll by Ron.

With an exasperated smile I said, "Yes, all of them are the important component to casting any spell. But none of these components include speaking the spell out loud. Hell, it doesn't include the need to use Latin to cast the spell like we usually do! So what is it? Take a guess from your last answer."

After a few seconds Hermione said, "uh… Focus?"

"Exactly. That's it. We use words for focus. The words we use in Latin are almost engraved in our skulls after reading many pages of theory. So, speaking the incantation allows us to directly focus on the spell's effects, its intent and uses."

"So… nonverbal magic is doing all the focusing without speaking the words?" Ron asked, fidgeting with his wand.

"Not exactly… but mostly yes," I said and twirled my ring, summoning my wand, "Let's start from the basics."

"Basics?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," I said as the tip of my wand started glowing. "Firstly, cast the wand-lighting spell. Don't worry, you guys can use words for now."

Though confused both of them followed my instruction and bursts of light erupted from both their wands' tips.

"Now you have to concentrate to brighten and lower the intensity of the light," I said, and the tip of my wand started glowing brighter and brighter before holding at an intensity. And then the glow started getting dimmer. "Do this until you two can perfect it."

"Just that?" Ron asked incredulously.

I rolled my eyes and looked at both of them, "Yes, just that. Once you master it I want both of you to try changing the light's color on will."

"And we have to do—" Hermione started, and I cut her.

"Before the next lesson. Which I will only give after you two have mastered it," I spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "And no ifs and buts," I said looking at Ron who was preparing a retort. "Now chop-chop, get started." I said before settling down on a chair in the abandoned classroom.

I knew both of them were irritated by my instruction. I had essentially told them to go to level one of learning magic. But it was the most reliable and safe method to learn nonverbal magic, one that would also help them strengthen their connection with their magic.

I sighed, glancing at the two trying and failing to control the light's intensity properly. They are not ready for the world. I don't know how unprepared students like me and them fought death eaters in our fifth year. I picked up today's newspaper that I had placed on the table. Apparently, it had a very interesting article today.

Magic duels through the ages—the culmination of light, darkness, awe and beauty

Over the last many years, a blanket of stillness and tranquility has shrouded the Magical world in a comfortable embrace. We are currently in a time of change, innovation, prosperity and peace that has never been experienced by anyone before our time. But this year, many terrible catastrophes have been seen occurring in British Isles. The Quidditch World Cup finals was a terrible incident and on Saturday we saw another terrible incident occur at Hogwarts after the first task of the Triwizard tournament.

On Saturday many witnessed the magical prowess of the Triwizard Champions, a title that has always been held only by the greatest among witches and wizards. And this was the first time that all the champions had finished the first task successfully in the history of the tournament. After the task had ended, because of a terrible blunder, all the beasts except the Chimera and the Hebridean black (both of whom had fainted after their tasks with Harry Potter and Anastasia Petrova respectively) escaped from their enclosures. Among the confusion and panic due to this incident, we witnessed two terrific displays of pure magic—Albus Dumbledore's duel with a Nundu, the most terrible beast in existence, and Harry Potter's duel against a Common Green Welsh.

This, my dear readers, made me wonder. What are those duels, those legendary magical skirmishes, that have occurred in our history? So, here, after hours of research, I have compiled a list of some of the greatest display of magic—

1) Albus Dumbledore vs Gellert Grindelwald: Gellert Grindelwald, considered by any, the most terrible and influential dark wizard in history, whose influence spanned from the Americas to Asia met Albus Dumbledore, who by this time was just a Hogwarts Professor in a ferocious duel at the dawn of second November 1945. Eve witnesses of this duel included many great wizards included Newt Scamander, Porpentina Goldstein, Jacob Kowalski, Queenie Kawalski, Nicolas Flamel, Perenelle Flamel, Chales Potter, Dorea Black, Arcturus Black and many other great wizards. This duel, famously known as the Duel of the Millenium and the most legendary duel in history. Even the famous immortal alchemist shuddered when talking about it, saying that the world was flashing before his eyes and the two hours felt like a lifetime longer than he had lived.

2) Merlin vs The Horde of Quintaped: Knowledge about one of the greatest wizards in history is sparse even though his influence spans even the muggle world. Merlin, famous for his friendship with the Muggle king Arthur and his rivalry with the terrible Morgana Le Fay has only a few documented incidents. Among them we have, what is considered as his greatest magical feat, his battle against a horde of Quintaped. The Quintaped is a highly dangerous carnivorous beast with a particular taste for humans. Its low-slung body is covered with thick reddish-brown hair, as are its five legs, each of which ends in a clubfoot. Defeating a single Quintaped would be impressive, but not enough to be on this list. But according to documents, Merlin had gone against nearly a hundred to two hundred Quintaped, cementing this as one of the greatest feats of magic.

3) Herpo the Foul vs The Terrible Cretan Basilisk: Among us, we only have a little knowledge about the dark wizard with the moniker of Foul. Considered as one of the worst in history, he is famous for defeating a 20-meter-long basilisk and harvesting it to create some of the worst rituals, potions and alchemical substances. It is believed that with his creation he created many plagues and killed up to forty million people across Eurasia and Africa.

4) Dumbledore and Newt Scamander vs Grindelwald's Manticore Army: The worst dark wizard in history had many dangerous people and beasts under his folds. This included over a dozen Manticores who were always ready to unleash carnage when given orders. On a faithful day in French landscape, Dumbledore and Newt Scamander, along with some other wizards were trailing something when they were ambushed by 15 fully grown Manticores. A huge battle ensued which eventually led to only Dumbledore and Newt Scamander surviving. Newt Scamander, the legendary magizoologist used his knowledge and assisted Dumbledore to dispatch the beasts, but in the skirmish all of their companions perished.

5) The Paris Blue Flames: In the September of 1947, Grindlewald rallied his forces across the streets of Paris and delivered a speech in the Lestrange Mausoleum. After the speech, he casted a spell, the likes of which the world had never seen before and has never seen since. Blue flames erupted from his wand and engulfed everything in its path. But the interesting and terrible thing about the flames was that they only burned Grindelwald's enemy. To his allies, the flames did nothing, and they could just simply walk past it. The flames grew and grew until they were taller than the Eiffel tower itself. The entire Paris would have burned that night, but then Nicholas Flamel arrived. With his help, Newt and Theseus Scamander, Porpentina Goldstein, Yusuf Kama and a few surviving Aurors managed to subdue the flames. To this day, we can still find images of blue flames over the French skies in many textbooks, a reminder of how close the city was to complete and utter destruction.

6) Albus Dumbledore vs The Nundu: On Saturday, we witnessed why Albus Dumbledore is considered as the Greatest Wizard in history once again. After the escape of many beasts from their enclosure, everyone was in disarray. Dragons were flying everywhere eliciting mass panic. But a beast, much worse and ferocious, had also escaped—A Nundu. To put in Perspective, at least a hundred well trained wizards are often not enough to capture a single Nundu. And this beast was open in Hogwarts ground where thousands of students and hundreds of spectators were present. Against the ferocious beast, Albus Dumbledore, his eyes glowing blue, a sight that was enough to even make You-Know-Who flee during the blood wars. The wizen Headmaster fought against the Ferocious beast, not only defeating it, but also preventing even a single breath of its poison from mixing in the air. Before this, no one in history had ever defeated a Nundu in a single combat. Newt Scamander was the only man to have ever tamed a Nundu. Otherwise, all the other Nundu's in captivity were either bred there or captured by the efforts of over hundreds of wizards.

7) Albus Dumbledore vs The Inferi Army: During the Blood War, You-Know-Who often sent armies of Inferi to magical settlements. It was one of the darkest times in British history. This is one incident that even I remember distinctly. I was present there, only a young 15 year old visiting Hogsmeade on a weekend. And then suddenly hundreds upon hundreds of undead white corpses started rushing towards the village. I remember freezing on the spot, fear stricken. And then suddenly Headmaster Dumbledore appeared out of nowhere and conjured the most magnificent golden flames, engulfing all the Inferi one by one.

8) Ekrizdis: Not much is known about Ekrizdis. He was a dark wizard. He created Azkaban. He found a way to create Dementors. This is all we know from the history we are taught at Hogwarts. After a bit of digging, I found some scary facts about the dark wizard. He was the darkest practitioner of magic at the time and had created Azkaban from scratch, a place over a bottomless sea. He not only lived among the Dementors, but according to files about him that are released by the DOM he had to everyday defeat the dementors one by one to establish himself as their king. By the end of his life, it is believed that he had lost his feelings, his senses, his mind, and most of his magic. He died alone surrounded by almost four thousand dementors, insane. After his death, Azkaban was revealed to the world, unplottable till his death. And upon inspection his body was found grayish color, bony, wrinkled and littered with scars. He had left behind nearly two hundred books, most of which are still with the DOM to this day.

These were some of the most unbelievable ones I could choose among the list I had. If I had more time and my heart could take it, I would have written more. But looking at all the grotesque accounts of these duels are too much for my heart. The rest of my list I would just give to you without much elaboration, allowing you to research if you wish to do so—Alastor Moody and Aurors vs Rodolfus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Junior; Albus Dumbledore vs The Ukrainian Ironbelly; Quong Po vs The Chinese Fireball, Harry Potter vs The Common Green Welsh; James Potter, Lily Potter, Alice Longbottom and Frank Longbottom vs Voldemort and Death Eaters; Grindelwald vs MACUSA Aurors and Newt Scamander vs Obscurial; and Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin vs The Great Scottish Cockatrice.

There are many more great skirmishes that I choose to not include for some reasons or others. Among the ones not chosen, there are nearly a dozen Triwizard tasks. For more information about these books regarding the tournament can easily be bought.

I folded the newspaper and exhaled a shaky shuddery breath. Albus Dumbledore… he truly is a wizard of the ages. I gazed at Hermione and Ron and noticed them trying to get results. They were nowhere near close, nowhere near ready for the real world. Honestly, I wasn't either. But I had to get better.

"Guys." I called and they both turned to look at me. I gulped and said, "I will see you guys later. You two should also go, History class will be starting…"

"Ok Harry," Hermione said in a soft tone though I could sense her frustration at not getting the basic spell right. Ron didn't even try to mask his annoyance, just giving a moody nod, his face twisted in a scowl.

"Try to calm your mind, it would help with this," I suggested, and Hermione nodded. "I will see you guys later," I said before exiting the abandoned classroom.

I quickly casted the disillusionment charm and started walking through the corridors. A few days ago, I had gotten a letter from Sirius that he had reached Britain and wanted to meet me. I had sent him one back telling him to wait in the Shrieking Shack and that I would visit him soon. I am thinking about visiting him right now.

I started walking through the hallways and quickly reached the Grand Staircase. Descending them while crossing dozens of students, I finally reached the entrance and started walking towards the Whomping Willow. I quickly entered the secret passage, removed the disillusionment and started walking in the long, drawn, and dark passage.

After what felt like eternity, and was probably a good thirty minutes, I finally reached the other side. Discreetly, I started looking around the house for Sirius but couldn't find him. With a sigh I casted the Disillusionment charm again and exited the shack. Probably at Hogsmeade.

I quickly started walking towards the village, keeping a lookout for his Animagus form—A black dog. After reaching Hogsmeade, I started walking around to find him and—" Jesus Christ," I muttered as I noticed Sirius, well his Animagus form to be precise. And the guys had no chill. He was walking with a group of women, brushing against their legs as he walked beside them—that perverted dog!

After about twenty minutes, the women entered The Three Broomsticks and Padfoot had to finally stop following them. Quickly seizing the opportunity, I went to him and quickly muttered, "It's Harry, Reach Shrieking Shack, I am invisible."

Surprised, he jumped around looking everywhere like a cat caught stealing and sniffing catnip, surprised by the sudden noise before registering what I had said. Soon he started walking towards the Shack and I also soon followed.

Just as he entered the shack he transformed into Sirius and I also quickly put my disillusionment charm off. Immediately he engulfed me in a hug. I hugged him back, almost overwhelmed with the warm feeling that his hug gave me. I had lost him so soon in my last life… It won't happen again… I would make sure of it.

"Harry! Breaking rules I see…" Sirius said, a smirk on his face, as he hugged me tightly. His figure was bony, but better than it had been in third year. He was wearing black clothes from top to bottom. "So, I heard that…"

"Yes," I said before he could finish, "And you look better than last time…"

"Really?" He choked out, "You really had to fight a—"

"Please," I pleaded, "Something else for now."

"Okay, okay," he said, seeing my expression. I didn't want to talk about all these things. I wanted to just spend time with him, find out about him like I couldn't last time. "So how are you?"

"I have been good," I said as both of us sat down on a creaky, wooden bed adorned with torn bed sheets. "I have been practicing magic and stuff for the tournament and all, you know?"

"James would have loved this…" He said wistfully, "You entered the tournament… Though he would have been worried too." His eyes had a faraway look, as if remembering an old memory, "And Lily would have been against it," He said and then smiled, "Though she would have secretly wished that you would participate anyways," He chuckled, "She was a true Gryffindor at heart."

I nodded and a comfortable silence fell upon us. After a while I started, "Are we going to ignore what you were doing in the Hogsmeade earlier?"

Sirius guffawed, "Let an old man have his fun, will you?" His tone was playful, a roguish smile on his face that showed his handsome features a little better.

"Yeah, Yeah, Fun," I said, creating air quotes with my finger at the word fun, "Does it include being a creepy pervert, old man?"

"Aww," Sirius said, placing his hands over his heart, "My Godson scolding me, what has the world come to! I blame you, Lily!" He said dramatically, pointing his index finger up accusingly and I rolled my eyes.

"So how have you been?" I asked after a while of inspecting his appearance.

"Oh I have been amazing," He said excitedly. "The best time of my life, really. First I was just traveling across Europe. And here, I am just spending time with the locals in my animagus form."

I rolled my eyes as he talked about spending time with locals in his animagus form. I said in a dry tone "Of course my dear Dogfather."

He chuckled, rubbing his neck though his smirk spoke a different story.

"Hey…" I asked after a while, "What have you been eating?"

"Uh—you know… stuff…" He said awkwardly and I sent him a glare, "Locals sometimes give me stuff to eat… and I make stews and stuff…"

"Yeah… No, not happening," I said, "I will arrange you some food. Give me a day."

"Harry, you don't need to—" Sirius started but I cut him.

"Oh shut it!" I exclaimed, "You are not starving because you want to stay near me!" I huffed angrily.

"Uh… Okay Harry," He said, surprised by my outburst.

"I am not losing you because of your stubbornness, got it?" I asked, a hint of vulnerability in my voice. I longed for him—in both this world and last I longed for family. I always will. He was among my greatest regrets.

He pulled me in a hug, firmly rubbing my back. "I am proud of you, pup."

Hearing that felt nice, nicer actually. It felt more sincere than hearing that my parents would have been proud. They were not here. Dead had no opinions, only imprints.

We talked for a while longer before leaving for the castle once again.

Soon after reaching the castle I started walking down the hallways towards the dungeons. Soon, I reached the staircase and descended to the Dungeons and started walking towards the Hogwarts Kitchen.

After a while of walking, I stood in front of the portrait of a fruit bowl. With an amused sigh, I tickled the pear. The bowl transformed into a nymph who giggled and opened the door before turning back into the bowl.

The Hogwarts kitchen was huge, filled with hundreds upon hundreds of house elves. I looked around and noticed Dobby and called, "Dobby," Immediately he turned, surprised that someone had called him, but his face lit up as he saw my face.

"Harry Potter sir called for Dobby?" Dobby asked in his squeaky excited voice, "What can Dobby be doing for Great Harry Potter sir?"

"Hello Dobby, how are you?" I asked him politely.

"Do-Dobby be fine sir," He said, immediately bursting into tears in his usual excited manner, clinging himself to my leg, "The Great Harry Potter sir asked how Dobby is," He exclaimed between his sobs and I almost grimaced.

"Here, Here, Dobby," I patted him.

"Harry Potter sir be so great, so kind to lowly Dobby."

"Uh… Dobby… can you do me one small favor?" I asked.

"What can Dobby do for Great Harry Potter sir? Dobby will be honored." Dobby asked, his sobs slowly reducing to just occasional whimpers.

"Can you deliver food to Shrieking Shack three times a day everyday from now on?" I asked him.

"The haunted place, Harry Potter sir?" Dobby asked, alarmed.

I winced and consoled him, "It's not haunted… Someone I know is living there… Can you do this small favor? I will even pay you."

"Harry Potter sir be so generous," Dobby said and then asked, "5 sickles a month?"

"A four galleon a month," I said and before he could say anything I asserted, "No negotiations."

"But Dobby not be greedy, Great Harry Potter sir," Dobby complained.

"It's final… dobby," I twirled my ring and the pouch of my money appeared in my hand. I handed him 120 galleons, and his eyes almost bulged out, "For the entire year."

"But Harry Potter sir…" He shut up seeing my expression.

"Don't tell anyone that I have asked you this… okay?"

"Of course, sir." Dobby said with conviction.

After a while, "Can I have a piece of Treacle tart?" I asked sheepishly.

"Of course, Great Harry Potter sir," Dobby said and instantly I had a plate of Treacle tart on my hands.

I picked up the slice and placed the plate on a table. "Thank you Dobby. And only call me Harry," I said before leaving the kitchen, happy and with a slice of my favorite dessert in hand.

I started walking down the various cuts and paths of the dungeon, towards the staircase while taking a bite. Eventually I reached the staircase and started walking up, climbing up and reaching the seventh floor. I was walking towards the Room of Requirement when suddenly I felt a familiar presence.

Her aura grazed my skin before her sight graced me and I felt a tingly sensation run across my spine, I turned and noticed Fleur Delacour walking out of Flitwick's office.

"'Arry?" She asked noticing me. Quirking her eyebrows, she asked with a small subtle smile "W'at are you zoing 'ere?"

"Well… The Gryffindor common room is here," I explained, coming up with an excuse.

"Wait… really?" She asked, looking around as if inspecting the place, searching for it. "You leeve in zis corridor?"

"Uh-huh," I replied and then asked, "How are you Fleur?" The question was more loaded than I had wished it to be.

He smile momentarily faltered, "Ah, I am fine Monsieur—"

"Harry," I corrected.

"'Arry, yes," She smiled, "I am fine, just asking some charms doubts. Fleetwick is a famous person zroughout Europe, you know?"

"Of course, he is a many time dueling champion after all," I replied.

"Well, it was nice talking to you 'Arry, Later?" She asked, almost hurriedly, as if talking to me was a little painful. I gave a small nod. Damn feelings, ruining everything.

Fleur started walking away, and I looked at her retreating figure. Gosh she is beautiful… Suddenly a thought went through my mind—Saturday, announcement of Yule ball…

"Fleur," I called, "Hey, Fleur, wait a second," I rushed towards her and she stopped to look at me, wondering why I called.

"Oui? Harry?" She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and some other hidden emotion.

"I was wondering… What do you say about hanging out on Sunday… by the black lake," Her eyes widened as I spoke, her lips giving way to a tentative smile filled with uncertainty.

"Sunday?" She asked, her brows raised. After a moment of silence she said, "Morning, 9 a.m.?"

"Perfect… Same place?" I asked, the vague words enough for her to decipher what I meant.

"Same," She said, a full smile gracing her cherry lips on her perfect face, her sapphire orbs a little less intense than earlier. With a small wave she started walking away once more. This time though, her movement seemed a little more fluid, her shoulders less tense, her hair a bit more flowy, her hips a little more—Okay too far, calm down, I know I have hormones in this teenage body, But seriously?

With a mental note to not get distracted again, I looked at her retreating figure once more; Okay to be fair, she did have perfect hips.

Author's Note: So, Another Chapter done, Hell yeh. Around 4k words... So that's nice. I hope you all will like it. Tell me if you find any mistakes. Also thanks for all the nice comments and reviews, they really mean a lot.