Ch 6: Deathly Hallows Symbol. Will it work?

The frigid months of January and February dragged on in the Scottish highlands. The snow-covered landscape may have been picturesque, but the biting cold made it almost unbearable for anyone to linger outside for long.

As the weeks went by, the atmosphere in Hogwarts grew increasingly oppressive. Umbridge's tyrannical grip on the school tightened with each passing day. Her new rules were even more severe than before, curtailing the students' freedom in every way possible.

The pink-clad witch was everywhere, like an ever-present specter, watching, waiting for any opportunity to catch the students breaking the rules. It seemed like no one was safe from her prying eyes.

Mike felt like he was walking on eggshells, constantly on edge, always looking over his shoulder. Even with his newfound ability to see into the future, he couldn't shake off the feeling of impending doom.

The DA meetings had become a risky endeavor, with the members having to sneak around like criminals to avoid getting caught. Filch, the caretaker, was like a bloodhound, sniffing out their trail, hoping to catch them in the act.

Despite being cautious, Mike couldn't shake off the growing sense of despair that he felt. He knew that the future held nothing but chaos and despair. He was aware that the battle at the Ministry of Magic would only worsen the situation. This battle would kickstart a long and dark journey, and soon the pages of the Daily Prophet would be flooded with news of murders and disappearances. The grip of fear and uncertainty would only grow tighter.

Mike was aware that he couldn't solely rely on his wand to protect himself. He needed to acquire new abilities and become stronger to prepare for what was to come.

...

On the morning of March 8, 1996, the castle was consumed by a great commotion. Umbridge had mercilessly sacked Professor Trelawney from her post as the Divination Professor. The poor woman was left sobbing uncontrollably, adding to the already gloomy atmosphere that had engulfed Hogwarts.

Mike's heart was filled with a suffocating anger as he watched Trelawney being dragged out of the castle. The pink-clad witch had crossed the line, and he wanted nothing more than to curse her into oblivion.

Umbridge had accused Trelawney of being a fraud, but Mike knew that she was a genuine seer, albeit a little strange. The thought of her being cast out of Hogwarts and the fate that awaited her in the outside world was unbearable.

However, there was a glimmer of hope as Dumbledore stepped in to save the day, allowing Professor Trelawney to remain at Hogwarts in his capacity as Headmaster. Despite this small victory, the sense of impending doom at Hogwarts only seemed to grow stronger.

...

As the clamour of the incident died down, Mike decided to pay the library a visit.

With only one class scheduled for the evening, Mike had the entire day at his disposal. As he stepped into the Hogwarts library, he could feel the musty smell of ancient books pervading the air. He had come here today with a clear purpose in mind. He was going to search for books that would enlighten him on enchanted and alchemical devices.

Until this point, Mike's focus had been incredibly narrow. He had spent most of his time learning about the abilities of magical creatures, but he had forgotten that there were other valuable magical artifacts worth exploring. Now, however, he was determined to broaden his horizons and acquire new knowledge.

As he perused the shelves, he carefully selected books that would aid him in his pursuit. He ran his fingers over their spines, trying to feel for any hint of powerful objects that might be hidden within their pages.

The more he read, the more he discovered about the wonders of enchanted and alchemical devices. He found intricate illustrations of Time-Turners and Philosopher's Stones, among other fascinating objects. The more he read, the more his mind opened up to the endless possibilities that lay before him.

For the first time in a while, Mike felt a sense of excitement stirring within him.

He had already determined which abilities he was going to acquire.

Mike had carefully studied the Philosopher's Stone and concluded that it wasn't useful to him. He was already immortal, so the ability to turn any metal into gold or produce the Elixir of Life was of no consequence.

However, the Time-Turner piqued his interest. The ability to travel through time was an incredibly powerful tool. But, he also knew that it came with serious consequences if used recklessly. The idea of altering the course of history or creating paradoxes was not something he took lightly.

He also considered the flying ability of broomsticks. Being able to fly had proven to be a valuable asset for many wizards and witches. It could be a faster and safer alternative to Apparition and could also be life-saving in certain situations.

After deciding on these two artifacts, he realized that all the abilities he had chosen until now were either passive or life-saving. He had no offensive ability. Mike began to wonder if he needed an ability that could be used in battle or if his current abilities were sufficient.

Mike thought about the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in the wizarding world, currently owned by Albus Dumbledore. The wand had a dark history, causing destruction and chaos in the hands of those who sought power and dominance over others.

As Mike thought about the Elder Wand and its dark history, he remembered the other two Deathly Hallows: the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. According to the legend, these three objects were the most powerful magical artefacts in existence, and whoever possessed all three would become the Master of Death.

He also recalled the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, which was comprised of three shapes: a vertical line representing the Elder Wand, a circle representing the Resurrection Stone, and a triangle representing the Invisibility Cloak. It was said that the symbol represented the unity of the three objects and the power that they held together.

Mike wondered if he could draw the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on the Soul Canvas to acquire the abilities of all three artefacts. However, he remembered that the Deathly Hallows were the subject of a legend and were not necessarily real.

Despite the potential risks, Mike decided to take a chance and draw the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on the Soul Canvas. He felt that there were not many offensive artefacts available to him, and he didn't have the luxury of time to wait for a better option.

Although the Wizarding world appeared to be at peace, Mike knew that it was only a matter of time before chaos and danger returned.

The prospect of gaining the power of all three Deathly Hallows was exhilarating to Mike. He knew that drawing the symbol on the Soul Canvas was a bold move, but he was willing to take the risk. If he failed, there would be no harm done, but if he succeeded, a whole new world of power would be at his fingertips.

The idea that he could potentially gain the power of other legendary artifacts by drawing their symbols was an exciting thought. It would open up endless possibilities for him to explore and expand his magical abilities.

With eager anticipation, Mike made up his mind to draw the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on the Soul Canvas that night.

In the quiet hours of midnight, while his fellow Gryffindors slumbered, Mike remained wide awake, ready to undertake his task. Closing his eyes, he plunged into the void of the soul canvases, seeking out a blank one to paint upon.

His heart was set on creating the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, and he began to paint with purpose. To his surprise, the process flowed almost effortlessly, as if the wand were guided by an unseen hand. As the symbol took shape on the canvas, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Mike flew back to admire his work on the Soul Canvas, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. As he gazed at the canvas, he noticed a warm golden glow emanating from the symbol he had drawn. He couldn't help but feel a familiar sensation of warmth enveloping his body, and he knew that something extraordinary was happening.

As the glow faded away, Mike slowly returned to reality, feeling a sense of wonder and amazement at what had just occurred. With a sense of eager anticipation, Mike lifted his hand and willed the wand to appear. The air above his hand shimmered and twisted, and before he knew it, the wand appeared, solid and tangible in his grasp.

As he felt the power of the Elder Wand in his hand, Mike couldn't help but wonder if the wand in Dumbledore's possession would vanish. After some contemplation, he came to the realization that it was impossible for the wand to disappear. The wand in Mike's hand was not a physical artifact, but rather a result of the Soul Canvas. It was a magical item that was bound to him, and it could alternate between being virtual and real depending on his thoughts.

Although he could only access the power to summon the Elder Wand at this point, Mike had a feeling that there was more to this power than meets the eye. He suspected that he would be able to access additional abilities after filling all the blank Soul Canvases.

Lost in thought, Mike pondered on the possibilities of this newfound power. He wondered how he would fare in battle with such a powerful wand at his disposal.

Regrettably, Mike was unable to wield his wand within the walls of Hogwarts, for fear that the current possessor of the Elder Wand, Dumbledore, might detect its use. He couldn't be sure whether Dumbledore kept an eye on the activities of the students, and so he had to exercise caution.