The Awakening of a Magus

The Awakening of a Magus
Chapter 7 - Fri, Jul 21 - Day 1
Sylvia blows up and Harry settles in

Sylvia Forester was ... peeved is a polite term. "Paperwork! Bureaucracy! Bah Humbug!" Since there hadn't been a Magus discovered in over 600 years, no one really knew what to do. People were looking up old directives, digging out forms, calling meetings, and making a right mess of the whole matter. "Just log it somewhere: Magus identified, discovery team Forester and Trelawney, Mentor Albus Dumbledore. Everything else is classified, so what more do you need? Too many people around here already know about him than are supposed to. Doesn't anyone understand what Code Purple means?" She was shouting by now.

Erasmus tried to calm her down, but since he mostly agreed with her, it didn't help much. Normally, he was the one with a temper. It was actually funny to see Sylvia having a tantrum ... in a way ... as long as she wasn't aiming it at you. "And if you ask me one more time 'are you sure', I may get him to zap you long distance to prove it!" she shrieked.

"Actually, Ms Forester, I believe I will require proof." The Minister of Magic himself, Cornelius Fudge had come down to the clerical section after several of the people in the office called for help from Sylvia's temper. As pompous as ever, Fudge continued. "This is just something Dumbledore cooked up with that Potter boy to make me believe that You-Know-Who is back, which is absurd. I insist on meeting this so-called Magus and seeing for myself. If you don't tell me who it is, I'll authorize Veritaserum to force you to tell me the truth!" he blustered.

"It wouldn't work," Sylvia lied. "We've already been spelled with the Sodalis security spell, which, if you recall, is immune to Veritaserum and all truth-spells." Sylvia glanced at Erasmus, hoping he wouldn't contradict her. There hadn't been time to have Harry learn the Sodalis, let alone have him perform it. Erasmus nodded in agreement, wanting to avoid the Veritaserum at all costs. Fudge would have fits if he found out it was Harry, and Harry wasn't ready for this garbage.

"Then I'll fire you both for calling a false Code Purple!" he spat out.

"You can't do that without evidence!" Erasmus was now losing his temper as well.

"Then. Give. Me. Proof!" Fudge sneered triumphantly. As he stood there, his arms crossed in front of him, a gray circle began to form in front of Sylvia.

Surprised, Sylvia spoke the ritual question, "Quis Vocatus?" When she heard her uncle's voice say "ab Albus", she quickly refused the call with "Nolo!" She was sure Dumbledore would understand she didn't have enough privacy. She was sure it was about Harry.

"Why did you refuse that call? Afraid Dumbledore won't back you up?" Fudge leaned forward gleefully.

"No, I refuse to discuss an ultra-top-secret matter in a rather public clerical area any longer." Sylvia called up all the confidence and dignity she had inherited from the Dumbledore side of her ancestry. She looked at Erasmus, who nodded slightly to show he would follow her lead. "You'll have proof of the Code Purple, but we will not discuss it here. I insist we go to your office to discuss it ... under shields ... where we can call the Mentor," she emphasized Dumbledore's new title, "and arrange for your proof. I do not promise, however, to reveal the identity of the Magus. It is far too soon for him to have to deal with anyone outside his inner circle."

Fudge stood there, a sour expression on his face, looking at the determined expressions on both Sylvia and Erasmus, then spat out, "Very well. Follow me." Then Fudge stalked off to the private office of the Minister of Magic, closely followed by the discovery team.

No one noticed a clerk sneaking out of the office, on his way to send a message to Malfoy Manor.

(-letter-)

Ron and Hermione
(I don't have a lot of time so I'm making two copies of this note).

I've moved to Hogwarts, permanently! I don't have to live with the Dursleys ever again. I can't talk about the details, at least not in a letter. I'm fine, but something happened that made Dumbledore decide that 'for the safety of all concerned' I should move here. It involved D.E.s, if you know what I mean. He said something about extra training. You can guess why.

Dumbledore said that you can come over for my birthday and that 'transportation will be arranged'. I hope you can make it. I will probably be able to tell you a lot about what happened today by then.

Well I'd better get going. I still need to put all my stuff away and I need to do some studying (don't faint Hermione). And since I don't have to worry about Muggles anymore, I should be able to get some flying time in around here.

Later !
Harry

Well, Harry thought, they'll probably go crazy trying to guess what's going on. They should figure out that D.E. means Death Eater. He put the note flat on his desk, took another piece of blank paper and placed it on top of the note. Holding his hand over the papers, he carefully focused on the ink on the bottom sheet, which began to appear on the top blank sheet. In a moment, he had two copies of the note, and was quite pleased with himself. He was tempted to try to use his new magic to put all his things away, but decided it was asking for trouble so he unpacked everything by hand. When he was done putting everything away, he just stood in the middle of the room and slowly looked around.

This room was much nicer than anything he had ever expected to call his own, even for a little while. It had a nice comfortable bed and a linen chest with extra blankets. There was a large desk and bookcase, a cabinet that seemed to be designed for wizardly stuff like potion supplies and equipment, and contained a generous supply of parchment, quills and ink. There was a special rack for his broom, a stand for Hedwig's cage and a nice perch near the window that Hedwig now occupied, napping. The window had a view toward the Quidditch pitch, and on the clothes closet door was a full-length mirror. There was a soft rug on the floor and a small fireplace. He even had a small private bathroom with a sink and shower. This was luxury as far as Harry was concerned.

"You may rearrange things if you like, or change colors. This room is never quite the same two occupants in a row." Dumbledore had been enjoying Harry's reaction to the place he would call home, at least for the rest of the summer. "We'll decide when school starts if you should stay here or move to Gryffindor Tower. If you're finished here, I'm going to call Sylvia now."

"May I send Hedwig out with the messages first? You said the window shield had to be keyed to her."

"Of course, Harry. Fawkes already has permission to use this window, by the way, so don't be surprised to see him at times. Follow my lead, and only allow the minimum amount of energy for the working. First, key yourself to the shield like this." Dumbledore reached his hand towards the window opening on the far right and a silver shimmer appeared in the window.

Harry in turn placed his hand to the open window on the far left, feeling a tingle. Closing his eyes, he sensed a pattern in the shield. Opening them again, he said, "Now what?"

"Now, call Hedwig to you, yes, there on your shoulder is fine." Dumbledore said approvingly. "Touch her and sense how the pattern of her magic relates to the shield's magic. Then in your mind, superimpose the two patterns and send her through the window."

"Are you sure ... " Harry looked uncertain, unwilling to see Hedwig hurt if he made a mistake.

"That's the old first-year Harry talking," Dumbledore scolded. "Harry Magus trusts his instincts. Match the patterns. You'll know when they're right. Your instincts may not always tell you how to do something, but they will always accurately tell you if you can't do something ... if you listen to them. What do those instincts tell you about this?"

Harry took a deep breath, shifted his perceptions, and finally something within him told him it felt correct. /* Go through the window, Hedwig, then turn around and fly back, */ he told her with his mind.

Hedwig promptly took off, flew through the sparkling shield between their hands, turned around as both Dumbledore and Harry dropped their hands, then flew back through the window as if nothing was there and landed back on her perch. /* Was that right, Harry-wizard? */ she asked.

"Perfect, Hedwig," Harry said aloud, pleased and relieved. "Here, I need you to take these messages to Ron and Hermione. It doesn't matter who gets which." He stroked her feathers, then said, "Thanks, Hedwig. See you later!" And she was back out the window and on her way.

"I'm ready now, sir." Harry followed Dumbledore back into the office.

The headmaster indicated that Harry should join him on the couch, then raised his wand and began the Telesensorium. Harry observed carefully with all his senses, old and new. He watched as the floating circle filled with gray smoke, trying to perceive just what was going on.

He heard Sylvia ask, "Quis Vocatus?" then, in what seemed like a panic, shout, "Nolo!" and the circle blinked out of existence.

Dumbledore just stared at where the circle had been, and pondered the situation. "She must have assumed you would be the topic of conversation and was not in a sufficiently private place to talk. I suppose we must wait until she calls us back."

Dumbledore then reached behind the couch into a cabinet, saying, "Have a Chocolate Frog while we wait?"

Chapter 8 - Fri, Jul 21 - Day 1
Malfoy, then Fudge

The elegant, sharp-featured man with long silver-blonde hair read the message he had just received by owl:

(-letter-)

LM -

Forester and Trelawney claim Magus awakening - won't say who - chose Dumbledore as Mentor - Fudge unconvinced, but they promise proof in private - will keep watch.

GS

Draco Malfoy was reading the message over his father's shoulder. "Who is GS and what does he mean by a Magus awakening?"

Lucius Malfoy folded the message, then began tapping one hand with the paper. "Gridley Stump is a clerk at the Ministry who collects information for me. No imagination at all, so he couldn't have made this up. Hmm. Forester is some sort of niece of Dumbledore." He paused, thinking about all the implications and ramifications. "A Magus, dear boy, is a tremendously powerful wizard, an apparently ordinary wizard who suddenly comes to power at his awakening. Only six have been recorded in history, and our Dark Lord is not one of them. This could be a great danger to him. By the accounts we have, a Magus needs time to learn the effective use of those powers, so the sooner I warn Lord Voldemort, the better."

"Father, when you see the Dark Lord, tell him I am ready to serve. I am 15 years old. It's been so hard to wait and do nothing when that blasted Harry Potter is actively opposing Lord Voldemort." Draco drew himself up proudly.

Lucius looked at his son coldly. "He will decide when you are worthy, Draco. You have had a regrettable habit of coming in second to Potter on various occasions. But ... we shall see." Lucius pushed back the sleeve on his left arm, revealing the Dark Mark. "It is fortunate the Dark Lord augmented the Mark to allow us to signal him. Time would be wasted trying to determine where he is at this time." Lucius placed his right forefinger on the Mark, and called up the image of Lord Voldemort as he had last seen him. The Mark darkened and a burning sensation flared, then died. Shivering in reaction to the pain, Lucius slid his sleeve back down. "Now, I wait until he chooses to summon me. Draco, tell your mother I will be leaving shortly. Make the usual excuses if anyone asks for me. Go! I need to think about what all this may mean." He turned his back on his son, and gazed into the fireplace.

"Ms Forester, I must insist you stop this foolishness. I don't know why you insist on helping Dumbledore with this farce. You had such a future in the Ministry, and you could be throwing it all away!" Cornelius Fudge was pacing behind his desk as both Sylvia and Erasmus fought to keep their tempers. They kept thinking, This is the Head of the Ministry, this is the Head of the Ministry, oh heaven help the Ministry!

"Sir, if you would please activate the office shields, I'll contact Albus to arrange the proof you insist on." Sylvia managed to keep her voice fairly steady, but it was an effort. As Fudge muttered the triggering spell, she said, "Thank you."

Just as Sylvia raised her amulet and wand to begin, Fudge interrupted. "With the shields up, how will you reach Dumbledore?"

Seeing Sylvia ready to explode, Erasmus answered, "The headmaster specially keyed Sylvia's amulet to himself. If it can pass the Hogwarts defenses, it can pass any shielding. It only works because they are blood relatives."

"Humpf," was all Fudge would say.

Sylvia realized that Harry probably was with her uncle, and so expanded the spell to warn them. "Telesensorium ad Albus ab Sylvia et Erasmus et Cornelius" indicating that Fudge was with them.

When Dumbledore heard all those who were present at the other end of the spell, he muttered, "Cornelius. Blast! Harry, get your invisibility cloak. I want you here, but I don't want the Minister to know who you are yet." Harry thought, /* Accio cloak, */ and it appeared in his hand from his closet ... it didn't fly in from the next room. Deciding to deal with that another time, he stepped next to Dumbledore, put on the cloak, and Dumbledore finally answered the spell with "Volo".

As the circle cleared, Fudge pushed Sylvia aside and glared at Dumbledore. "Explain this ridiculous story, immediately! Explain why I should not have both of these two fired for a false Code Purple! Explain ..."

"Cornelius!" Dumbledore thundered. As Fudge stuttered to a stop, Dumbledore continued. "The Code Purple is absolutely valid. However, it has only been a few hours and the Magus is not ready for playing social games or giving demonstrations. He happened to be attacked by two Death Eaters, which I'm sure is in the report the discovery team is attempting to file. Though unhurt, I'm sure you can imagine that a period of adjustment is necessary. Which is the exact reason the Ministry decided centuries ago that a fledgling Magus must have a Mentor and anonymity. Are you questioning Ministry decree, Cornelius?"

Fudge muttered angrily, then demanded, "I have a responsibility as Head of the Ministry to obtain absolute proof of such things, which is why I refused to accept your story about ... You-Know-Who last month. I demand to meet this so-called Magus and have unquestionable proof of what he his and who he is." He nodded sharply to emphasize his point.

Dumbledore thought a moment. Then he motioned Harry to precede him around to the back of the circle. "I will consult a moment with the Magus out of sight. Sylvia, keep the connection open." Sylvia answered, "Of course, Mentor. As you say," to emphasize to Fudge just how important Dumbledore's position was in this matter.

Keeping his voice down, Dumbledore signaled Harry to release his cloak, but to keep quiet. "We're going to have to give him something, you know. Do you think you can be ready to face him tomorrow? In disguise, that is. I have several ideas. And we will complete the bindings and security spells tonight. Do you agree, my Lord Magus?"

Startled at the way Dumbledore used his title for the first time, Harry looked at the back of the circle, sighed, and nodded his head. Dumbledore nodded, then signaled him to replace the cloak and follow him back to the front of the circle. "This is what the Magus agrees to, Minister. We will meet you in your office tomorrow. No, don't complain that you don't want to come in on a Saturday, just BE there. 10 am with office shielding at maximum. The Magus will be disguised. You do not need to know who he is at this time, though you are entitled, I suppose, to your proof. You will have it. In fact, you may choose several proofs to ask for, keeping in mind that this is a fledgling Magus, new to his Magus abilities, and that the tests must not produce effects noticeable outside your office. The existence of the Magus is supposed to be secret for as long as possible. Sylvia, Erasmus, the Magus requires his inner circle as soon as you can arrive. There are necessary rituals you must be involved in. Meet us in the private dining room."

"We're on our way, Mentor, my Lord Magus," Erasmus said formally. Glancing at Sylvia, and before Fudge could say another word, Erasmus closed the connection with "Finis! Sylvia, let's go pick up our brooms and apparate up there now. I see no point in continuing this meeting. Minister?" He turned to a stunned Fudge. "If the Magus agrees, we will accompany him here tomorrow at ten. I urge you to be here and prepare reasonable tests for him. Even if you don't believe now that he is a Magus, don't you want to cover your a-... cover all eventualities?"

Sylvia nearly choked at what Erasmus almost said. Then, against all rules of polite conduct, she disabled the office shields herself without a word to Fudge and followed Erasmus out of the office, closing the door behind them.

Fudge just sat down, staring after them, wondering when he had lost control, and if he'd ever had it.

(continued)