Shape of Magic 9: Perspectives

[center]<<<Professor McGonagall>>>[/center]

Through her career as an educator and a professor, Minerva had developed a sixth sense concerning students. Generally after a few days she could reliably identify the troublemakers, the gifted students, and the special ones. And in all honesty she expected young Harriet Potter to be a blend of a troublemaker and special one.

She had no doubt young Harriet would take after her parents somehow. Preferably both, but Minerva wouldn’t mind if she took more after her mother than father. Merlin knew she didn’t need a Second Coming of Prongs in her life.

Still, she hadn’t expected Harriet to make friends easily, she’d never approved of Albus’s plan to leave her with the Dursleys. Having observed them for most of the day she’d deemed them the worst sort of muggle. And she was well aware of how petty Petunia could be, having spent many long hours comforting Lily who was grieving over her petty and jealous sister. How she repeatedly tried to reach out only to be rejected at every turn.

So seeing her surrounded by friends at the Opening feast gladdened her heart, and made her wonder if she had been a bit harsh in her initial assessment of the Dursleys.

Miss Rose and Miss Carlson were absolute delights to teach as well, not even being in rival houses could ruin the bonds they shared. And how they focused during their lessons, they were gifted students, certainly. She just never realized how gifted they were.

Or rather how Miss Rose was, given what she witnessed at the duel and the admission afterwards! She’d heard of self-study but the rate the girl learned was frankly intimidating!

Miss Carlson was advanced, certainly, but it was far more focused. Transfiguration came easily to the girl right alongside Herbology. Had she been taking Care of Magical Creatures, Minerva was certain she’d do just as well!

Still though, despite how impressed Miss Rose made her…

“Albus? Was it necessary for that duel to proceed?” She couldn’t help but ask, though she couldn’t deny it was surprisingly cathartic to watch Malfoy’s spawn getting a thrashing he’d been asking for.

Not that she’d ever willingly admit it, of course.

“Necessary?” He replied, “Likely not. But Mr. Malfoy did agree to it and Miss Rose restrained herself quite well. She humiliated him, but she could have done much worse.”

“Perhaps this will force him to think before he speaks,” Snape said in his usual caustic and arabic manner, “The boy is arrogant, thinking that just because his father is on the Hogwarts Board means he has run of the House. Already he fancies himself the Prince of Slytherin!” The sneer alone told all the professors what he thought of that, “Miss Rose is more likely to take that lofty title.”

“Perhaps,” Albus started, reaching for his tea, “But she does not seem to be the type to reach for it.”

Snape just snorted, “We’ll see.” He drawled.

“I, for one, have vastly underestimated the sheer depth of her control of the insect population,” Professor Flitwick announced, “The fact that she could learn so much from observation and reading alone! She’s made every Ravenclaw in my tower green with envy! Merlins’ sake, I’m a little jealous myself!”

Albus just chuckled, “According to Hagrid, Miss Rose is keeping the more aggressive spiders in the forest contained and away from the school,” He said, “Speaks rather well of her character, I think.”

Pomona Sprout nodded, “She told me she could see out to Hogsmead,” She noted, “I hadn’t thought her control of them was so precise, but if it is…” Her head shook, “There are not many wizards or witches that could deal with it.”

Albus nodded, “Rather intimidating, isn’t it?” He commented with a chuckle, “I can only imagine the circumstances that could result in the development of such a magical ability.”

“Does Miss Carlson have a unique ability like Miss Rose?” Septima asked curiously.

“She doesn’t advertise it as much as Miss Rose,” Albus said, “But from what she said to me when we first met? She has remarkable potential as a healer.”

“Oh? Then why hasn’t she approached Madam Pomfrey?” Septima asked, genuinely curious.

Before Albus could answer, Minerva cleared her throat, “May I Albus?” He nodded his head as she looked at Septima, “While I haven’t had the pleasure of talking to her properly, I like to think I’ve gotten a good judge of her. And I think she doesn’t advertise it because she doesn’t want the attention it would bring her.”

Septima nodded, “I can understand that, I certainly haven’t advertised some of my knowledge for the same reason…” She paused before smirking and saying, “I don’t want to steal Filius’s job, after all.”

Filus chortled at that, “I’d like to see you try, young lady!”

Minerva just smiled in amusement, though she didn’t further comment. But she did wonder how Septima would react if she learned that Miss Carlson could put a man into a deep sleep similar to the Draught of the Living Dead with a single touch?

“I really should ask them if they’d be interested in my class,” The woman continued, “Perhaps they’d enjoy applying their muggle maths knowledge to Arithmancy in their third year.”

“I give it good odds, Septima,” Minerva said with a smile, “Merlin knows how far ahead Miss Rose has already read,” She added with an amused chuckle.

“It’s a shame I’m going to retire before Miss Carlson can take my class,” Silvanus Kettleburn stated, scratching his face with his wooden arm, “Wonder if she’d make a good magizoologist. The next Newt Scamander, perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” Albus commented with a chuckle, “But it’s far too soon to guess where their futures will lead them.”

“Forgive an old man for his wanderings,” He replied, “We do it for you often enough…”

Minerva and Hagrid chuckled together for a few moments. “Such cheek. Ah, yes, Miss Potter has inherited her mouth from her father… though she’s thankfully much more careful about how she uses it.”

“Thank Merlin for small favors,” Snape snarked, “Thankfully, she seems to take more after her mother than her reprobate of a father.”

Minerva wanted to defend her late student and friend but… she couldn’t really disagree with the surly professor. James was a wonderful student but was quite the… hellraiser, to put it crudely, when the mood struck him.

Still, he’d cleaned up his act by his fifth year, Lily’s influence no doubt.

“Personally,” Quirrell started, “I was impressed by the duel.” His voice was quiet, “I-it was very impress-sive.”

“Very efficient as well,” Fillus added, “Granted her opponent was a first year, but I imagine that combination would work on quite a few rookies on the dueling circuit. A very cunning strategy I admit, though I don’t think she was expecting Mr. Malfoy to faint,” He added with a faint chuckle.

Minerva knew she shouldn’t be amused but she couldn’t help it, she simply didn’t like the Malfoy family in general. And the knowledge that Mr. Malfoy’s reputation in his own House was utterly ruined left her darkly amused.

“Maybe he’ll not mock an orphan in the future?” She doubted it, but well Hope Springs Eternal and so on.

“She needs a t-teacher for s-silent casting,” Quirrell stated, “I-it would ha-have helped her c-cast faster.”

“Yes, but she’ll learn eventually,” Snape said curtly, making Minerva sighed internally as Snape was still sore over being passed over the DADA position.

“Yes, and about that learning…” Albus started, leaning in, “What are her grades again?”

“Steady Acceptables and Exceeding Expectations,” Snape said, “Though whether that is due to her… extreme self-study and spying or natural talent I can’t say.”

“Oh, yes, that does remind me!” Pomona started, “Of two things, really! First she compared Potions to baking and suggested that a baking club should be started to familiarize students with it and help them with potions and second… she gave me a list of rooms she’d like to have bug nests in.” She coughed lightly to clear her throat. “I said I would consider the second if her grades remained the way they were, but really I wanted to clear it by you, Headmaster.”

Albus gave a full belly laugh, and even Minerva smiled at how eager Pomona sounded. And, honestly, the suggestions sounded good to her, and glancing over at Snape while he didn’t look pleased, exactly (no doubt having his art compared to something as common as baking), he didn’t look totally against it either.

“My dear Pomona, I have no problem with it,” He said, still chuckling, “Oh, I haven’t laughed like that in years now.”

“I’ll give you the list she made,” She replied, passing the paper over to him, “I think one of the rooms more central to the castle would be wise, simply to prevent people from stumbling upon them without meaning to.”

Albus nodded, “The last thing we need is a student stumbling into a giant spider nest,” He mused as he looked the paper over.

[center]<<<Gryffindor>>>[/center]

Ever since Taylor gave Malfoy the thrashing of a lifetime, the Gryffindor House had been a combination of amused and intrigued. No one had forgotten when she’d essentially invaded their House and proceeded to swarm all the dorms with her bugs just to get Harriet. In fact, if she were any other Slytherin, they normally wouldn’t have cared, but because she was Harriet’s friend and her very public challenge?

The Gryffindors were intrigued by the Slytherin that didn’t act like any other snake they had ever known. She didn’t act like a sneaky silver-tongued deceiver, if anything she was acting like how Gryffindors should act and wished to be.

“Do you think she’s going to become the Queen of Slytherin after this?” One of the second years asked with wide eyes, still reeling over such an impressive duel.

“I doubt it,” An older student said, “If anything the infighting will probably increase. Slytherins will probably be lining up to get on her good side. Either that or try to prove themselves superior,” She added with a shrug.

“And I would pay to watch it!” One of the redheaded twins announced, “In fact… Hey Taylor! If anything funny happens, you’ll tell us, right?” He asked, prompting a few dozen fireflies to make a thumbs up sign before flying away and out the window.

The twins cheered while one of the other students shuddered.

“I don’t know how I feel knowing she could be watching us whenever she wanted,” She said with a whimper.

“Don’t worry,” Amy said, “Taylor’s gotten pretty good filtering out what she observes and hears. Besides, she can’t actually help it, it’s just how her ability works.”

“Wait. How’s that even work!?” One of the first years, Seamus, exclaimed.

Amy just sighed before she settled in to explain how Taylor’s abilities worked, well the basics anyway. If she gave them the in-depth explanation they’d probably start torching bugs wholesale.

“... She’s known about our planned prank on her since we started, hasn’t she?” Fred, maybe George, asked, “Well, I suppose we’ll just do it to someone else then, does she have any Slytherins she doesn’t like?”

The fireflies flew around before they started to glow, ‘Malfoy’ and then, after a moment, ‘Nott.’

“Not surprising.” Amy said, “Though according to Taylor not many in his own House actually like him. As for Nott, apparently he was bullying another student in Hufflepuff.”

“Hey, Amy,” Parvati spoke up, “Do you think Taylor would be interested in joining us girls for a makeover next weekend?”

Amy started laughing, choking on air, “She might, but I think your question stunned her a bit.”

‘What?’

“Come on, Lavender,” Hermione said to the quiet first year, “You’ve seen how she acts, despite the beating she gave Malfoy, she isn’t that intimidating,” She stopped, “Well… she is, but she only does that when people give her a hard time… or are stupid… or… she actually is rather intimidating, isn’t she?”

A frowny face appeared in the air.

“I will invite Taylor on her behalf, because if I do that she can’t refuse!” Amy announced to Parvati. “She’ll enjoy it and she needs hobbies other than reading all the time.”

“Does anyone else find it creepy that we’re having a conversation with someone through bugs?” Fay Dunbar, another first year, asked dryly.

Ron shrugged, “I’ve gotten used to it. And her spider.” Even saying that, he did shudder a bit looking at Steve, still atop Hermione’s head.

“Steve is a perfect gentlelady Ron!” Hermione said, “You know she wouldn’t hurt you.”

“I know that, but I’m still blooming terrified of spiders,” He replied, “If anything, blame the twins for that one.” 

“Guilty,” They said as one.

“I’m… pretty sure you’re supposed to deny it…” Dean slowly said.

“What’s the point in denying something that’s true?” Fred(?) asked, “It was too far, and we apologized for it anyway.”

Hera just looked like she was glad the topic of conversation wasn’t her for once, and so she was content to just… listen.

[center]<<<Ravenclaw>>>[/center]

If the Gryffindor House was the epitome of barely contained chaos then the House of the Raven was having the single most intense debate in the House's history. If Professor Flitwick had seen it he would’ve been so proud of his Ravens, even when some of the students got overly emotional they were quieted down by a prefect.

The leaders of the debates were the first and second years, while the upper years provided occasional input and commentary to further prod the lower years into deeper speculation and theorizing.

In fact, the oddest addition to this whole thing was the presence of Taylor, through her bugs of course, holding multiple conversations with various Ravenclaws.

The topic? How to counter Taylor in a duel if she was allowed to freely use her magical ability to its fullest.

Which, many Ravenclaws realized, was so much greater than they had ever theorized! Her ability to hold multiple conversations without getting anything mixed up alone had many Ravens salivating and hoping this ability could be taught!

“Listen, all I’m saying is incendio would solve everything,” One student insisted, “I mean they’re just bugs, and none of the local insect population have any particular resistance to fire.”

“If you have enough stamina to keep casting it repeatedly until all the bugs in the entire area are gone? Sure, however the impact on the ecosystem wouldn’t make it viable or worth it,” A fourth year student countered, “Besides, for all we know Taylor’s range is even larger so she could just bring in more bugs.”

“Lord Almighty, she’s practically a biblical plague!” One of the first years squealed as she held a small crucifix in her hand for comfort.

Taylor chuckled at that, “Not incorrect, but I recall that story… didn’t the plagues only happen because the Egyptians owned slaves?” She asked, “I don’t think any of you own slaves… unless you do, in which case I might need to actually do something biblical. Also incendio wouldn’t work because I would just crawl up your legs through the ground with ants.”

“How curious, so you’re using the sounds generated by the bugs to actually talk?” Another student asked curiously, “Your level of control is frankly ridiculous.”

A few swarm clones formed in the room, the needed bugs flying in through the windows they’d opened for her. “An understatement,” They said in unison.

“I’m actually planning to study entomology after Hogwarts,” A half-blood said, “I was wondering if you’d be open to a monthly studying session?”

“Happily,” She replied, “But I believe that is off topic?”

“Perhaps, but I can tell when a topic is going in circles,” He said, “And while I’m glad to see this is forcing us to think outside the box, I can see the metaphorical writing on the wall. I’m just enjoying seeing this happen, and I know Professor Flitwick will appreciate it when I share the memory with him.”

One of the clones waved its hand and said, “Bubble shields combined with flight would work, I think. It would give me a place to target with spells, but if you can deal with that you could win.” Then it shrugged. “Intangibility or something to allow self immolation would cause problems as well.”

“Hmm, hadn’t considered that.” The half-blood admitted, “Though then it comes down to cost, cause magic like intangibility is not something most could use easily.”

“How about a befuddlement charm?” Another student suggested, “If you can’t think clearly then you can’t attack well.”

“Oh, that’s a good one!” Another student said, “But the question is would the charm only affect that single bug or would the befuddlement actually spread to all the bugs under her control?”

“If you found one that hit all of them, that would work,” Taylor agreed, “More effective would be hitting me directly, but then I’d just, well…” The bugs swarmed around the room for a few moments, “Do that and sting everything in range.”

Several of them shuddered at that and began discussing how to prevent the ‘getting stung’ part.

[center]<<<Hufflepuff>>>[/center]

In Hufflepuff the students weren’t talking about how impressive the duel was (though none of them denied it) or even talking about how to deal with her bugs. Instead they were talking about how well she could do in various areas.

Keeping invasive insects contained for removal or extermination, removing pests from entire areas such as cockroaches and other creepy crawlies, and that wasn’t even touching on how her bug control could assist her in herbology!

“Imagine being able to remove any bugs that eat plants with just a thought!” One first year said excitedly, “I’m kind of jealous, honestly.”

“Never mind how it would help her if she decided to become an Auror,” Susan commented, “It’d be damn hard for anyone to get the drop on her. Information gathering alone would be smooth sailing.”

“Mad Eye would have competition,” An older student said with a grin, “He’d probably die from jealousy!”

“Now that’s an encounter I’d love to see,” Susan admitted without a lick of hesitation.

Several butterflies fluttered through the room to land on her head, giving her a tiara of blues. Other students were given oranges, reds, and grays.

Some of them formed a ‘Who?’ in the air.

“The most famous auror of all time,” Susan answered, “I don’t know him personally or anything, but from what my aunt says he’s still the single best auror she’s ever worked with. He’s got a magical eye that lets him see through surfaces, he’s called Mad Eye cause the eye is always rolling around… well madly. He can even see out the back of his head.”

“He’s really paranoid though,” Said another student, “Really, really paranoid.”

“According to my aunt, it isn’t paranoia if they’re actually out to get you,” Susan commented with a faint smile, “And Moody has gotten a lot of enemies.”

‘I want to meet him and compare notes,’ Taylor ‘said’ through the swarm.

“This sounds like a horrible idea, but… I want to see what happens.” Susan admitted with a laugh.

‘Can you get your aunt to put in a request?’ Taylor asked, ‘Asking for a friend. The friend is Taylor, you might know her.’

“I’ll see what I can do,” Susan said with a roll of her eyes.

[center]<<<Slytherin>>>[/center]

Unlike the other houses where Taylor was interacting with everyone, in her own House Taylor was more observing than anything. For the most part, the students were mocking Draco, a lot of the students having been cowed into obedience by the arrogant brat. And now, with Draco’s reputation thoroughly destroyed, they were effectively free to vent their own grievances as well as praise her actions.

Some of the more politically savvy Snakes were wondering how this had thrown the whole dynamic of the House’s internal politics out the window. Daphne Greengrass, already having earned the moniker of Little Ice Queen, didn’t overly react much to Draco’s humiliation but Taylor had seen how the Malfoy heir tried to take a domineering lead over her, why she hadn’t the faintest clue.

Maybe something related to their families?

She didn’t know, but she knew that Daphne was grateful even if she refused to show it.

Pansy was complaining about how she must’ve ‘cheated’ to defeat Draco, her tone simpering and frankly unpleasant to hear. She really didn’t see what the girl saw in Draco, but it was none of her business.

Blaise Zabani, however, was vocally appreciative but otherwise didn’t talk about it, which surprised Taylor as the boy was a massive pureblood supremacist. But she figured it was because she thoroughly humiliated his ‘rival’ and for that he was going to overlook her blood status. He mostly seemed to wheel and deal trying to secure whatever position Draco was jockeying for.

Taylor certainly didn’t understand why he was bothering, any power the position gave him was entirely limited to Hogwarts itself. And would mean shit once they graduated.

At least Taylor was making inroads, forging friendships that would grow into alliances, and forging connections all over. If anything, she had all the power that Draco coveted, only she wasn’t obvious about it.

She actually preferred pulling the strings from the shadows. Prefect, Head Girl, why would she want any of those positions? No, she was more than happy being in the background as she silently made everyone dance to her tune.

Though… she felt for a second a sense of kinship with the wannabe Bond villain Coil, until she remembered he’d drugged a little girl senseless and made her into his pet. Then that kinship vanished.

The teachers were adoring, the students either fearful or interested in knowing her, and she was… actually making friends. That was nice.

Machiavelli said it was better to be feared than loved if you couldn’t be both. She happened to agree with him, being feared and loved at the same time was a high she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. And the best thing was that she was doing it the right way, for the right reasons, and with the right people.

There was still much to do, people to speak with, things to learn, but it was progress and she liked making progress.

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