Changes?

With the first week out of the way, I found my routine and settled in. In my very limited free time, I turned my attention back to the project I wanted to get done by Christmas.

Creating a spell was a new experience for me, one that many witches and wizards are never able to achieve. But, I knew that this step was necessary for my development and would help me along my path to power.

I knew that spell creation was complicated from my reading, but knowing something is difficult and finding out firsthand how hard something is to do are two entirely different things.

Initially, the spell I had in mind would somehow create an invisible bubble around a broom that would reduce drag to zero. I religiously studied the muggle textbook I got on aerodynamics and ended up going down a never-ending rabbit hole with exactly how the spell would work.

After weeks of frustratingly slow progress, I found a tip in one of the journals that the heirs left behind. It suggested that when creating spells, especially for the first few times, it's better not to focus on all the little details.

It explained that while it is essential to know what you want your spell to do, trying to micromanage every aspect of the spell can sometimes be counterproductive. It's far more likely that you will get distracted, and your spell will be all over the place and will not form correctly.

After some thought, I decided that it made sense. I doubt whoever invented spells like apparition or the animagus ritual sat down and tried to reason every inch of their spell. No, they simply had an end goal in mind and let magic take care of the rest.

So, I abandoned my detailed plans for the spell. Now, I have decided that the charm will just remove any sort of drag from the broom and by extension, the rider. As for how magic goes about and accomplishes that, I have no idea, and as long as it works, I don't care.

As the weeks flew by, I moved on to the next step in the process, binding an incantation to the spell. This is one of the more challenging aspects of bringing a spell into creation. The best way I can describe the process is that it's like putting together a puzzle in the dark, and as a plus, you can't feel the pieces to know if you are doing it right.

One thing I learned was you couldn't just make up a random incantation, slap it on a spell and expect it to work. It's interesting how contradictory magic can sometimes be, the language used to create the spell matters, and yet at the same time, it doesn't.

While in Europe, we tend to use Latin for our spells, Latin isn't necessarily required. Most other countries use different languages to base their spells on, which indicates that magic doesn't care what language is used. It's all the same.

From everything I could piece together has led me to believe it has something to do with communication and intent. Humans use language to communicate their wants and needs, and I think that's why specific phrases are important.

As strange as it sounds, I come to believe that when someone creates a new spell. They need to use a phrase that explains their intent with the spell. Fusing an incantation that describes what we intend to happen makes it easier for magic to recognize what we want to happen, which in turn makes it easier for the spell to form.

I think the best examples are the fire and water charms. The fire charm incantation 'incendio' literally means fire. Similarly, the water charm 'aguamenti' can be broken down into two words, water and mind, which could represent the mind concentrating on water.

Another weird thing about creating a spell is how once it is created, anyone can use it, even if they have no idea what the spell entails. It's like once you've created a pathway for the spell, anyone can traverse the path. It's something I want to study, maybe once I get some free time.

The weeks blurred together and soon it was October. After a lot of research and narrowing it down, I had come up with a few different possible incantations that could work. But, the whole process was annoying. Most of the books I read claimed that you would just know once you've found the perfect incantation. Vague much?

After a lot of research, I narrowed my choices down to three different incantations, Nulla Resistentia Aeris, Nihil Sentire Aeris, and Ne Caeli Tactus.

On the first Tuesday in October, I found myself deep in Ravenclaw tower's sanctum, glaring at the Eagle Statue in annoyance.

Gritting my teeth, I demanded, "Can I get some peace and quiet? I'm trying to work on something."

The bronze statue puffed up its feathers and sneered, "This is my house. I don't come to yours and tell you what to do."

Hearing his childish reply made the vein in my forehead throb in annoyance.

Resisting the urge to blast the eagle into oblivion, I pointed out, "Yes, you do, I've caught you in my tower more than a dozen times, and you constantly made snide remarks."

The statue shrugged its wings, "I was just messing with that grumpy old wizard."

Grunting, I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the giant bronze eagle who was currently acting like an annoying five-year-old.

In an attempt to bind one of the incantations to the spell I was working on, I muttered "Ne Caeli Tactus," while concentrating on how my spell was supposed to work.

After a few minutes of this, I was once again distracted by a snide remark.

"I don't recall any of the other heirs having this much trouble creating a simple spell."

My eyes shot open in annoyance, "That's it," I snapped. "You are officially in timeout."

I pulled out my wand and snapped it towards the bronze statue.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Silencio."

As silence rang out in the sanctum, the eagle glared death at me, and threateningly waved his wings at me, promising revenge.

"Keep it up," I warned. "I've come a long way with my transfigurations. I could always use more targets to practice on and I think you would make a good pig."

The eagle shot me an unsure look that seemed to say you wouldn't.

My only reply was an evil grin that promised I would.

With the eagle silent and cowed, I turned my attention back to the incantation. By the end of the night, I officially crossed that particular phrase off the list. Over the past couple of weeks, I had tried every combination of it and was finally convinced that it wouldn't work.

Hopefully, I would have better luck with one of the other two incantations. If those didn't work out, I would have to reevaluate my plans.

With Halloween fast approaching, I could tell that the timeline was moving right along. Harry had just made the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and outside of his house, there were a few raised eyebrows and complaints. The complaints mainly came from some of the jealous first-year Slytherins.

As for the rest of the students, most didn't care. The glow of Harry Potter was still going strong, and while it had been a long-standing rule that no first-year could join the quidditch team, it was mainly meant to protect the first-years because many of them didn't have a lot of experience riding a broom. Since his appointment to the team came from Professor McGonagall, most everyone was satisfied that Harry would do just fine. I don't think anyone had the stones to say that she would endanger her students for a quidditch match.

As the Halloween feast approached, I had to admit to myself that there was a strange sense of enjoyment of knowing what would happen before anyone else. I was very much looking forward to the play that Professor Quirrell was going to put on when he runs into the hall and says there is a troll in the dungeon.

I had to hand it to him. Quirrell was genuinely dedicated to his performance. If I told any student at Hogwarts that he was Voldemort's vessel, I would have been laughed out of the room, and I didn't blame them.

Had I not known the truth and someone told me that, I would do the same. Since the beginning of the term, Professor Quirrell had fainted in fear no less than six times, and as long as nothing in the timeline had changed, tonight would be his seventh.

As we all settled in for the Halloween feast, I found myself ignoring my friend's conversations. It didn't take long for the double doors at the far side of the great hall swing open, revealing a pale and sweaty Professor Quirrell. I leaned back into my chair and decided to enjoy the show.

With the doors wide open, Professor Quirrell sprinted into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. He was so eye-catching that he had that majority of the hall's eyes upon him as he reached Professor Dumbledore. He slumped against the table, trying to catch his breath.

Once he caught his breath, he shouted, "Trolls! Down in the dungeons, thought you ought to know."

Having delivered his warning, Professor Quirrell's eyes promptly rolled up into his head, and he collapsed to the floor.

As for me, my enjoyment of the play faded away. Did he just say Trolls? As in more than one? That wasn't supposed to happen.

Sensing that things weren't going to plan, a curse escaped my lips.

"Merlin's Saggy Nutsack."

It seems as though ripples of my being born in this universe have already affected the timeline. Instead of Professor Quirrell bringing in one troll, he seems to have brought a pack of them.

I rubbed my temples, feeling a slight headache forming. Damn it, why did it have to be tonight of all nights for the timeline to have changed? It was when Harry and Ron's friendship with Hermoine was set in stone.

They barely survived one troll attacking them. I doubt they could survive a second. I knew from the prophecy that I probably didn't have to worry about Harry dying. But, Ron and Hermoine were fair game. If one of them died, it could change everything about the timeline. All my future knowledge could go up in smoke.

A plan instantly formed in my head. Even though I had planned not to involve myself, it would seem as I had no other choice. I just needed to make sure I blended into the background. Thankfully, I had learned the perfect spell for this over the summer.

As the noise level in the great hall grew out of control, Professor Dumbledore pulled out his ringed wand and shot purple firecrackers, which exploded and silenced everyone in the hall.

"Prefects," he rumbled. "Lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

Students at every table rose and began heading out of the hall. The first years quickly followed the prefects as everyone left the hall.

I bided my time as we traveled through the halls, and when no one was paying attention, I slipped into an unused classroom.

I quickly pulled out my wand and pointed it at myself.

"Indespectus."

Immediately I felt the sensation of a raw egg being cracked on the back of my head and the yoke running down my neck.

With the disillusionment charm successfully cast, my body blended into the background. Once the hall was mostly clear, I slipped out and went troll hunting.

As I started roaming the halls, I quickly realized an embarrassing thing. While I knew that Hermione was in the girl's bathroom, I had no idea on which floor. They could be anywhere. I quickly ruled out the top floors and decided to work from the ground up.

On my way to the girl's bathroom on the first floor, I froze in place when I rounded a corner. Less than a few steps away was a huge green and shaggy forest troll.

At twelve feet tall, I had to crane my neck to get a good look at the troll's face. To be honest, it looked confused, as if it had no idea where it was and how it got there. But, who knows, that vacant look may just be its normal face.

I couldn't help but eye the large wooded club in its right hand. The club was about my height, and I could only imagine the damage it could if it hit someone.

Although the forest troll couldn't see me, it sniffed the air suspiciously.

After first, I didn't think it mattered. Surely the troll couldn't possibly smell anything over the foul and rotten odor it was emitting.

But, as it turned in my direction, I sensed the jig was up. I raised my wand and readied a spell. One of the reasons why I was confident to hunt down trolls all by myself was because I had prepared for this moment.

Even though I originally had no intention of helping, I've learned through experience that it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. So, before this year had even started, I had studied the best spell to deal with trolls.

I pointed my wand at the green troll and spun it in a circular motion.

"Ebublio "

When the spell hit the troll, a transparent bubble formed around it, trapping it inside. At first, the troll was confused and poked the bubble with its fat finger. But, when the bubble didn't pop, a look of rage appeared on its square-like, hairy face.

Raising its huge club, the troll roared its anger and swung with all its might.

As for me, I held my breath. Even though the book I read said, this was the best way to deal with a troll. A small voice in the back of my mind whispered that the author had probably never been face to face with an enraged troll swinging a club that was as thick as a tree trunk.

A sigh of relief escaped me when the club smashed into the bubble, and nothing happened. The spell I used was the Ebublio jinx. It trapped a target inside a bubble that could not be broken by physical force.

The spell was absolutely useless against anything that could use any drop of magic. But, for trolls, it was the best thing to use. While they had incredible strength, it was all they had.

Satisfied that this troll was secure, I moved on. As I neared the girl's bathroom, I caught sight of the two small first years rounding a corner at the far end of the hallway. Seeing how one of them had bright red hair and the other black, I figured I had found Harry and Ron.

Now all I had to do was follow and make sure the timeline stays on track, at least for now.

I kept a reasonable distance between us so they wouldn't discover me.

When they caught sight of the grey mountain troll, they both froze, hoping not to draw its attention.

When the troll ducked into the girl's bathroom, I shook my head in dismay when I saw Ron and Harry lock the door, hoping to trap it inside. It didn't take long for a loud girlish scream to inform them that they had indeed trapped the troll, but they had locked Hermione in with it as well.

I had to admit both of them were pretty brave to go back and unlock the door and follow the troll into the bathroom. Both of them had only been at Hogwarts for a couple of months and only knew a handful of spells.

As I stepped in front of the door, making sure nothing else got through, I felt like a bit of a bastard when I heard the troll start smashing things inside. I tried to comfort myself with the knowledge that they needed this bonding moment. It helped soothe my conscience, but only slightly.

Just as I assumed that everything was on track, I noticed another troll lumbering my way. It wasn't a mountain troll or a forest troll. Considering its hairy purple skin and thick protruding tusk, I figured it was a river troll.

It looked like someone crossed a troll with a hippopotamus, and like the hippopotamus, it was aggressive as hell.

Without warning, the purple troll started charging towards the noise coming from the girl's bathroom. Part of my mind argued that something that big shouldn't be able to move that fast.

By the time I got my wand up, it was nearly upon me. But, then the troll did something that shocked me.

It chucked its club right at me. At first, I thought it was targeting me, but then I realized it was targeting the door behind me.

Not wanting to let the troll distract anyone in the bathroom, I reacted without thinking.

"Reducto!"

As the curse hit the club, it disintegrated into a mist of ash that kept moving and covered me with it.

The troll screeched to a stop, confused about what just happened. But, then I noticed its eyes seemed to narrow and focus on me.

I quickly realized that since I was covered in ash, my form could now be seen.

Before I could do anything, the troll leaped at me. After rolling out of the way, a hint of fear welled up within me when I realized that it was now standing at the girls' entrance.

The troll looked torn between ignoring the blob of ash that just rolled out of the way and all the shouting that was happening in the girl's bathroom. Sensing that the troll may choose to ignore me, I quickly dismissed the disillusionment charm.

Wanting to get its attention, I figured that it probably hates fire since it was a river troll.

"Incendio!"

The hallway temperature rose as a lance of fire poured down the hall and splashed against its back.

Enraged, the troll turned towards me and roared its displeasure.

Pouring more gas on the fire, I mockingly waved at the troll, "Yes, you big dumb bastard. That was me."

While some claim that trolls aren't intelligent enough to communicate, I would have to disagree firmly. From the pissed off look it gave me. While it may not precisely understand what I was saying, I could tell it clearly understood I was mocking it, and it wasn't happy about it.

The troll let out an angry howl, letting me know it was displeased.

So, to piss it off even more, I shot another fireball at it.

I'll be honest; seeing the raw hatred appear in that creature's eyes made me think I had gone a step too far.

But, at least my mission of firmly setting its attention to me was accomplished. I don't think there was anything in the world the troll wanted more than to rip me apart, piece by piece.

I moved on to the now most crucial step of my impromptu plan, running away.

I turned and bolted down the hallway leading it away from the trio.

The troll roared again, this time so loud the windows shook. Part of me wondered if I did too good of a job in pissing it off. Honestly, I need to stop being such an overachiever in everything I do.

Turning around the corner, I ducked behind a

statue of armor and prepared my next spell.

When the hairy purple troll rounded the corner intent on my destruction, I let loose my next spell.

"Offendo."

Yes, the tripping jinx. Some may knock it, but my experience in the dueling ring has taught me that every spell can be used to great effect if used properly.

Promptly, the troll tripped and crashed to the floor. Of course, since it had built up some momentum, it didn't just fall to the ground and stop. The troll rolled some distance and crashed into a stand that held a heavy stone bust of some ancient wizard.

An annoyed voice rang out. "How rude."

The stone bust tumbled off and smashed into the troll's bald purple head.

A laugh escaped me as the stone head proudly proclaimed, "That is what you get for knocking me off my ledge, you stupid troll."

Dazed, the troll put up no further resistance when I trapped it in an Ebublio bubble.

After returning the stone bust back to where it belonged, the nameless wizard continued to taunt the troll about its mighty prowess.

Wanting to get back to the trio, I chanted the Disillusionment charm's incantation and started making my way back to the girl's bathroom. But, when I got back to the right hallway, I caught a glimpse of Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell, making their way into the bathroom.

I let out a sigh of relief. All was as it should be. Harry and Ron had rescued Hermione, and the trio's friendship would be cemented.

Satisfied, I made my way back to my dorm, content to have my work stay in the shadows. Although, I imagined that it was going to confuse some of the professors when they found the other two trolls trapped in the hallways.