Harry Potter: The Mage's Path Chapter 33

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Harry continues to learn under Professor Flitwick, and Hermione and Neville join in on the fun.

7th August

The Charms classroom was filled with one overenthusiastic taskmaster and three prone students on the floor. It was mid-afternoon, and Harry was having his second lesson with Professor Flitwick, but he wasn't suffering alone.

"You're improving fast," Flitwick said with approval. "It's amazing how much stamina you have at your age. Compared to Miss Granger and Mr Longbottom, you are miles ahead."

"He's not human," Hermione complained from her position on the side of the classroom, still exhausted from the vigorous exercise training. Neville sat beside her, looking even more miserable. At least Hermione was somewhat prepared after training with Harry outside.

Earlier this morning, he had been ambushed by Hermione, who discovered that he was getting lessons from Professor Flitwick. She asked him if she could participate. Neville overheard their conversation and asked if he could join them as well. Harry had not been able to say no to them, so he brought them along for today's lesson. Professor Flitwick had been gracious to allow them to join, so he retrieved another dummy from the storage closet and split the room in two for the three teens. Harry was already at a different level, so it would have been a waste of time to combine their lessons.

Hermione was dismayed when she learned that the lesson involved a lot of exercise. It seemed as though she was about to escape from the classroom when Harry stopped her. There was more to this than being mean. He wanted her to learn to protect herself as much as possible.

Harry sat up after recovering somewhat from his intense workout. Even with his enhanced stamina, Professor Flitwick had pushed him hard in training. The professor conjured several small plastic rings and placed them on the floor. They were supposed to help increase his training efficiency with lateral movement speed. He had to step sideways into them as quickly as possible, while in his duelling stance. It was easy at first, as the rings had a large circumference, but Professor Flitwick gradually shrunk them, giving him less room to work with.

It would increase his lateral movement speed and dodging ability. He had practised for an hour, with only one small break in between. Professor Flitwick spared him no mercy unlike the other two. This is probably because he was more invested in Harry's training, considering he agreed to participate in the Duelling Competition.

"Now I am going to turn the practice dummy up to level two. It is much faster than the first level, so be on your toes," Flitwick warned.

"Give me a little more time to catch my breath," Harry huffed.

"Two more minutes," Flitwick said cheerfully, bouncing over to Hermione and Neville to get them moving again.

Training Harry brought him immense pleasure. Perhaps he was a masochist and enjoyed torturing his students and inflicting pain on them.

When his break was over, Harry stood in front of the dummy and waited for Flitwick to activate it. As soon as he turned it on, it sent a red beam at Harry, which Harry dodged by stepping to the left, followed by a step to the right to dodge the next one. In terms of speed, it was a step up from the previous difficulty level, but it wasn't too bad. Just as he thought this, the dummy changed it up and cast two spells in rapid succession. Harry had to contort his body to dodge the second spell. It left his body unbalanced for the next attack, and he could not avoid it.

"Damn it," Harry muttered.

"Reset," Flitwick chirped, tapping the dummy with his wand.

After another hour of training, Harry adjusted to the increased difficulty. He still got hit occasionally, but that happened less often as time passed. Hermione and Neville continued to train with their own practice dummy, each taking turns, but they received more time to rest. Flitwick called a stop and Harry placed his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

"Good work," Flitwick said. "I want to show you some vertical movements next. The first thing that I want you to practice is placing a knee on the ground and firing from that position. It can catch the opponent off guard as it changes the angle of attack and is also another method to avoid some spells."

"Okay."

"Of course, it can make you vulnerable if you are not fast enough," Flitwick said. "How fast you can change from a standing position to a half kneeling one, and vice versa, will go a long way in any duel."

Professor Flitwick continued to teach him for another hour before he called for a stop. Harry was glad because he was about to protest that he was beyond exhausted. He sat down and checked his notifications, glad to see he gained something from the effort he put in.

=====

The player has learned a new skill!

Nimble Steps | Active | Level: 1 | Next: 1% | Cost: 0 |

Description: Footwork is important in a variety of disciplines, such as martial arts and sports like boxing. Wizard duels are no different. In fact, it is the single most effective way to avoid spells while also being able to attack your opponent effectively. As the skill level increases, it allows the player to move more efficiently, unlocking his agility's full potential.

• Uses 30% of the player's agility while executing footwork.

• -10% less stamina is used with this skill is active.

• + 10% chance to execute a fast recovery from an off-balanced position.

=====

"Alright," Flitwick clapped his hands, getting the three teens' attention. "Since you have worked so hard, I will teach you a spell as a reward."

"Awesome!" Hermione cheered, suddenly gaining a burst of energy and running over to sit down beside Harry, with Neville following slowly behind her. He seemed less than thrilled with the reward. Harry frowned, observing Neville closely. Something was definitely up with the boy.

"I will let you choose the spell you want to learn," Flitwick said, summoning a few books from his desk. "Have a look and decide for yourself."

Neville and Hermione both grabbed a book and started looking through them. Harry wasn't interested as he wanted to learn a spell useful for combat, and the books didn't look like they would provide that.

"Professor Flitwick, these spells don't interest me," Harry said. "Can I pick something else?"

"Oh," Flitwick looked at him surprised. "That's incredible. How many spells have you learned?"

Harry rattled off a list of Charm spells. Most of them were not that impressive, as they were primarily Household Charms he learned to level the now defunct Charms Master skill. Professor Flitwick didn't react to them, as they were far too basic to catch his attention. However, when he mentioned Exploding Charm and the Protego Charm, he looked interested.

"They are not easy spells to learn for a wizard that hasn't even started his magical education," Flitwick said with an excited bounce. "Why don't you demonstrate the Exploding Charm for me? I will set up a target."

Harry nodded. Before he got started, he changed to the Explosion Mage class for the first time. The spell would be boosted slightly, and he wanted to show off a little. Meanwhile, Flitwick set up a barrier around Hermione and Neville to protect them in case of stray spells.

======

Explosion Mage

Level: 1

Governing Attributes: Magic, Intelligence

Derivative Attributes: Potent Magic; Wand Deftness.

Description: The Explosion Mage is one of many classes under the broad branch of magic, Charms. Specifically, it specialises in destructive magic that is designed to cause as much damage as possible to the opponent or the environment. Unlike some spells, those available in this class are considered grey, since they have more uses than just hurting others. It is possible to cast similar spells to earn experience, but they do not receive the same bonuses as spells specific to this class.

Current Status/Bonuses

• Magic + 5

• Intelligence + 5

• Potent Magic + 5%

• Wand Deftness + 5%

=====

Perks:

Charms Expert: The player can learn Charms spells 25% faster.

Explosion Technician: Gain class experience from casting spells that have explosive effects.

Spells: Exploding Charm Lv14.

Level-Up Bonuses: Intelligence +1; Potent Magic + 1%; Wand Deftness +1%

=====

Harry stepped into the middle of the room and held his wand at his side, waiting for Professor Flitwick to set up the target. Flitwick conjured a small stone block on the floor and stepped back and motioned to Harry to cast the spell.

'Bombarda.'

A yellow spell emerged from the tip of his wand and struck the stone block. The entire thing exploded, sending stone fragments everywhere. Harry was amazed at how powerful it was, even though it was already levelled to fourteen previously. He was lucky to receive the benefits of levelling the spell from before, just like the spells from his Fire Mage class. It was sure to impress Professor Flitwick.

He was correct. The professor looked shocked, but quickly regained his composure. Flitwick walked up to the spot where the block used to be and carefully scrutinized the debris.

"You almost shattered the entire thing," Flitwick exclaimed. "I have no doubt that you are well-versed in the spell. Your wand movements were precise, and there was a lot of power behind the spell as well."

"It's a very useful spell to have in the arsenal, so I practised it a lot" Harry shrugged. "However, I don't know how much further the spell can be pushed."

"That's a given. It had a natural limit to how much destruction it could cause. There are stronger versions of the spell. Bombarda Maxima is the most destructive of them, but it takes a lot of magic to cast."

'Why don't you think of a spell to teach me? Something that would aid me in a fight" Harry suggested. "I can't think of anything."

"Then I will teach you the Disarming Charm," Flitwick said enthusiastically. "It is an excellent spell to have in any wizard's arsenal. With your capabilities, it should be easy for you to learn."

Harry had fun learning the Disarming Charm. Professor Flitwick was not wrong in how useful the spell was as witches and wizards were dependent on their wand. If you disarmed the wizard and took their wand away, it would render them helpless. Of course, there were measures you could take to counter the spell, such as keeping a second or third wand and storing them in wand holsters with anti-summoning charms on them. Also, the spell placement had to be very precise, hitting the wand or the wrist of the opponent, otherwise, it wouldn't work.

Harry looked over at Neville, who was practising a spell off to the side on his own. He looked frustrated, as the only thing emerging from the wand was a few feeble sparks. Professor Flitwick hadn't noticed Neville's problem as he was distracted by Hermione asking him questions. Harry approached Neville and observed him closely. There was no way the boy could cast the spell in his current mental state.

"What spell are you trying to learn?" Harry asked.

"The Freezing Charm," Neville said with frustration. "I work with some dangerous plants in my greenhouses at home. It is an excellent spell that allows me to protect myself without harming the plants."

Harry grabbed the book Neville got the spell from and searched for the specific method to cast it. He asked Neville to try and cast the spell again. Observing the boy, he noticed that Neville had performed the wand incantation and wand movement correctly, but once again, only a few sparks emerged. What could be causing the problem? Was he lacking in magic?

Deciding to read Neville's parameters, he used observation.

=====

Neville Longbottom

Age: 11

Title: Pureblood Wizard

Job: Budding Herbology Master

Level: 7

Resources

HP: 300/300 Regen: 15 per hour

MP: 290/460 Regen: 23 per hour

Attributes

AGI: 8

VIT: 15

MAG: 23

INT: 15

WIL: 10

PER: 7

CHA: 6

RES: 12

Description: Neville Longbottom is a pureblood wizard belonging to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. He lives with his grandmother as his parents were tortured into insanity when he was a baby. As a result of his overbearing grandmother and the belief that he is almost a squib, he lacks self-confidence. He enjoys attending to his plants and is already an expert in Herbology and is the most likely candidate for an apprenticeship in the subject.

=====

Neville's magic was not the issue. Instead, it was his best attribute and quite high for a wizard of only level seven. It still left Harry without answers, however. Harry racked his brain to figure out the problem. Maybe there was a mental component? Was it a lack of intent?

His eyes fell on Neville's wand. Maybe it wasn't the wizard but the tool he used. He examined the wand and was surprised to discover that it wasn't actually a wand attuned to Neville, but his father's wand. Part of the description stated that it had low compatibility with him, which meant he had to exert more effort to perform magic.

"How are you doing, Mr Longbottom?" Flitwick asked as he walked up to him and noticed Neville's lack of success.

"I'm just not getting it. I am not even close." Neville groaned.

"It's a second-year spell," Flitwick said patiently. "You are not expected to get it right away. Give it time."

Harry decided to speak up and share his findings. "Actually, I think I have an idea of what's wrong. Neville, is that your own wand or is it someone else's?"

"What?" Neville looked at Harry with surprise. "How did you know? It belongs to my father."

"Did you have it tested to see if it is compatible with you?" Flitwick asked sharply.

"No," Neville said with a confused look. "Grandma gave it to me. She said I needed to live up to my father's legacy, and using his wand would help."

Professor Flitwick unleashed a barrage of words in a strange language. Considering how grating it sounded, it must be Gobbledegook, the Goblin language. Harry was certain that the professor was cursing up a storm but didn't want the teenagers to hear it.

"This lesson is over today," Flitwick said. "Mr Longbottom, come with me. I think it is time to speak to your grandmother and find out if the wand is holding you back from your true potential."

Neville swallowed heavily but followed the professor out of the classroom. Harry waved after him, pleased to have solved the issue for him. He was fast becoming a friend, so naturally, he was going to look out for him.

<====({owo})====>

14th August

A week later, Harry and Celeste were using an abandoned classroom to practice so she could test out her new weapon. Ever since she got her hands on it, she had been acting like a bully, trying to initiate fights with everyone. She seemed to think she was invincible now that she had a powerful weapon to wield. When she got no response from the human inhabitants, she clashed with the owls in the Owlery, which upset them greatly. While she didn't hurt them, there were a lot of feathers lost in the ensuing conflict. Hedwig was not pleased, as she was banned from the Owlery due to her association with Celeste. Harry had to step in and stop Celeste from acting out before she caused a riot.

A few days ago, the Dwarfs met with them at Gringotts to design a weapon for the fairy. It was not a simple task since there were many factors to consider. The most obvious being that she was tiny, and had no strength to wield anything bigger than a spoon. Like him, she specialized in magic rather than physical combat. So she needed a weapon that was lightweight, utilised her magic power and could cause a lot of damage.

That was a dilemma since there was no weapon he could think of that fitted the category. However, he soon realised that his thinking was too simple. He thought he needed a conventional weapon since Celeste could only cast Shadow magic, which would be a major drawback in the Wandering Aspen Horror Dungeon. The dwarfs had shown him that she didn't need a weapon at all, but merely a foci that allowed her to wield other forms of magic. Specifically, a special foci that came preloaded with spells that only required magic to use.

Harry had no idea it could exist and was amazed by the implications. There were two drawbacks, however. One, their power output was set in stone, and couldn't be enhanced by the user's power. Secondly, spells couldn't be added once the foci were built, which meant that its use was limited.

The dwarfs had to customise a design to fit Celeste's tiny proportions. Harry ordered several foci with a variety of spells on them, but he put a rush on one foci that contained a few light-based spells that would help exploit the monster's weaknesses in the dungeon. Yesterday, she received the foci, which made her feel conflicted. While she was happy that she added some spells to her arsenal, she wasn't particularly impressed with the type of spells themselves.

"This is truly disgusting," Celeste complained to Harry. "Using light-based spells makes me feel dirty. I am sure that the healing spell will not work properly on me, or at least have diminishing effects."

=====

Light-Spelled Foci Ring | Equipment | Rare | Grade: 3

Description: A foci designed to be equipped by a fairy. Allows the user to wield basic spells they normally cannot use. These foci allow the user to avoid the negative side-effects of some mind-manipulating properties such as dark and divinity magic. Has four Light-based magic spells stored inside that can be activated by pouring magic into the foci and saying the spell name. Cannot be removed by anyone other than the user.

• Light Arrow Spell

• Luster Shield Spell

• Healing Light Spell

• Light Grenade Spell

• [Equipment bound to the user]

=====

He ordered some for Hedwig as well, but that would take longer apparently. Her magic worked differently from Celeste's, so the dwarfs would have to research how to create foci specifically for her. They were not urgent, as he didn't really need his familiars to know a lot of different magic. Instead, he would be the one with the different classes. It was only because of Celeste's quest that it even became necessary.

"Take that, minion," Celeste cried as she cast a light arrow at him.

Harry dodged to the side, easily evading the attack, which caused Celeste to scowl. She cast the spell several more times but did not hit him once.

"You're bullying me," Celeste cried.

"Like you bullied the owls?" Harry asked in a sarcastic tone. "It's not like you have to worry about the monsters in the dungeon evading your spells. With your Shadow Cloak skill, and your ability to fly, you should be able to deal with them easily."

"Then why did you suggest that we practice?" Celeste asked.

"Because you have too much energy at the moment," Harry said bluntly. "You are driving everybody crazy."

"Well, what do you expect when you won't take me to explore a dungeon? It's driving me insane being stuck here all the time."

"I haven't been exploring the dungeons either," Harry rolled his eyes. "I want to level my Alteration and Explosion Mage classes first."

Since he could gain experience by casting spells, he decided to forgo grinding dungeons for the time being. He was interested in levelling the two classes to thirty so he could obtain the Novice Mage Job. Then he would be able to equip two classes at once. It would mean he could explore the dungeons with his familiars with more confidence. Equipping the Fire Mage class and the Familiar class at the same time to boost their parameters would make the grinding process a lot easier. Add Titan to the mix, and he could see himself defeating the Peverell Dungeon boss easily, as well as conquering the Nuckelavee Fairways Dungeon.

"I'm ready to finish the quest now," Celeste said. "I have levelled up again. I am currently level seven."

"Wait until tomorrow," Harry said. "There's something I want to give you that may help with your quest, but I don't know what side effects it may have, so I want to give you some time to adjust to it."

"What is it?" Celeste asked curiously.

"I will show you later," Harry said, looking at his watch. "I have to go meet Professor Flitwick for our first duel. This is going to be a blast."

"It will be fun to watch," Celeste giggled. "You will feel the same frustration that I feel when I am unable to land a hit on you.

They left the old classroom and made their way over to the Charms classroom on the second floor. As he did so, he did a review of his current progress with help from Gaia. Besides training with Professor Flitwick, he made some impressive gains in other areas as well.

=====

The Alteration Mage has levelled up to level 8!

The Explosion Mage has levelled up to level 7!

Explosion Mage Level 5: Reductor Curse learned.

Nimble Steps Level 1 ➝ 8

Transformation Skill Level 3 ➝ 11

Reductor Curse Level 1 ➝ 6

=====

Reductor Curse | Active | Level: 6 | Next: 5% | Type: Destruction Damage | Cost: 18 Mana |

Description: The Reductor Curse can blast solid objects into pieces, but it is also deadly to living things. There is no wand incantation and the player only has to point the wand at the target to cast the spell. It has more power than The Exploding Charm, and can even reduce an object to a fine powder if the player is skilled enough. Levelling this spell will increase the damage and the area of effect on the target.

• Minimum Damage: 37-57 [Spell Level + Magic + Potent Magic Modifier]

• +7% damage to objects with high density.

• Area of Effect: 2.6mᒾ [Skill + Potent Magic Modifier]

=====

Harry also completed the new tutorial quest that came with the system update, which netted him five thousand experience. It was safe to say that he had a thorough grasp of the new system by now. Hopefully, there are no additional changes in the future, and if there were, he hoped they would be minor.

He entered the classroom to find Professor Flitwick waiting for him. He immediately noticed that Flitwick had built a stage that replicated what it would look like on the stage of an actual competition. It was narrower than he expected, only about five metres across. This didn't give the duellists much room to move around.

"Good morning, Harry," Flitwick said, motioning around him with his arm. "What do you think of my new duelling room? It's bare bones at the moment, but I will add to it as I carry on. Since this classroom won't be used for lessons anymore, I thought I should put it to good use."

"That's a good idea," Harry said. "Maybe you can start a duelling club for those interested in becoming professional duellists."

"Possibly," Flitwick replied. "I may have more time on my hands now that Charms has a second teacher."

"I saw his name on the Professor's list," Harry noted.

"Yes, an old student of mine. He will fit nicely into the second position. Now hop up onto the stage and let's get this duel started."

Harry stepped onto the stage, nervous butterflies fluttering around his stomach. While he understood that it was nothing more than a mock duel because Professor Flitwick was going easy on him, he still was extremely nervous about it. As he got into position, he was interrupted by an urgent notification.

"One moment," Harry said, pretending to stretch his limbs as he read the notification.

Celeste mocked him, "Look who's stalling his inevitable demise."

======

The player is facing his first human opponent in a duel.

Duelling Mode is unlocked!

Gaia has imposed some rules to make fights against human opponents more interesting and thrilling. It is advised that the player reads the following text carefully so he is not caught off guard whilst in the middle of actual combat.

Duels or actual combat against humans work differently from fighting creatures and monsters. It is more tactical and skill-based, as your opponent is more flexible and better trained to fight in most cases. If the player faces a human or humanoid opponent, regardless of whether they use a wand or wield a weapon, this mode is activated. This ensures that the specific rules for this type of combat are followed.

The rules are as follows:

1. The player's Energy Resource is partially disabled. Specifically, it no longer protects him from mental and physical status conditions. This could be something harmless like a colour-changing charm or something more debilitating like a bone-breaker curse.

2. Furthermore, Energy only protects the player against spells that would otherwise kill him. However, it can only mitigate the damage up to a certain point, dependent on his Energy and Magic Defence. This means that if the opponent's spell is powerful enough, it can still kill him.

3. These rules are different for the opponent. If a non-lethal spell hits the opponent, their HP will be reduced by a certain amount, regardless of any additional effects that may affect them. When their HP hits zero, the opponent cannot fight anymore, and they fall unconscious. Of course, they can still be incapacitated before this point, either by non-lethal or lethal means.

4. Official duels are slightly different from real combat in that either the player or his opponent will be knocked unconscious instead of being killed if they are struck by a lethal spell.

5. In a real-world scenario, Duelling Mode will not be activated until the player is aware of at least one opponent who is actively targeting him. Furthermore, the mode will only end when the player thinks combat has ended. It is entirely based on the player's perception of events, and not Gaia's.

6. The one exception to these rules is sneak attacks. If the player catches an opponent unaware, or vice versa, then Duelling Mode will not activate as long as their opponent is taken out with the first attack.

7. Further updates may be added if Gaia thinks of additional rules or features.

======

The First Duel

Description: The player is participating in his first duel with his teacher, Professor Flitwick. Disarm him or last as long as possible to gain some respectability.

Objective: Defeat Professor Flitwick

Bonus Objective 1: Last one minute in the duel.

Bonus Objective 2: Last two minutes in the duel.

Rewards: +2 Explosion Mage Levels.

Bonus Rewards 1: 1000 Experience

Bonus Rewards 2: 2000 Experience

Time Limit: ----

=====

Harry took a breath. Okay, things had just gotten a lot more interesting. Now that he couldn't rely on his Energy to absorb every bit of damage, and protect him from status conditions, it meant that learning how to dodge spells took on another level of importance. It had both upsides and downsides, and he couldn't decide at the moment which side it favoured more.

"Are you ready?" Flitwick called.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts and nodded, taking his duelling stance.

"No lethal spells," Flitwick said. "Only the Disarming Spell is permitted. The first person to disarm their opponent wins. On the count of three. One, two, three!"

Duelling Mode activated! The duel has commenced!

Harry immediately dodged the spell thrown out at him by Flitwick. He was immediately put on the defensive, and could not return spellfire as he was too busy protecting himself from being disarmed. It was scary how fast Flitwick was, and he wasn't even trying that hard. The diminutive professor stood in the same spot and looked at ease as if what he was doing was effortless.

After thirty seconds, Harry adjusted to the speed of Flitwick's attacks and was preparing to return fire when the professor got more serious. He started leaping around and even performing a few somersaults while firing out spells as if he was an acrobat performing in the circus. Immediately, the difficulty increased, as Flitwick fired spells from unpredictable angles, which messed up his rhythm as he dodged them.

A minute into the duel and Harry managed to fire off his first spell, although it missed the professor by a fair margin. Still, it bolstered his confidence, and he got into a groove. Dodging became easier, and he even fired a few more spells as well. At the minute-thirty mark, Flitwick increased the difficulty again by firing off three spells in quick succession. To say Harry was under pressure was an understatement.

Harry was determined to get to the two-minute mark at least. However, it felt so far out of reach. He had to resort to risky manoeuvres to avoid being hit. Flitwick fired off the next set of spells, and this time there were four. He dodged the first three, but his hand was clipped by the last one, and his wand was sent flying.

The player lost the duel. Duelling Mode has been deactivated.

"Good show," Professor Flitwick beamed.

"Boring," Celeste complained, although he noticed her fists were clenched. She was more excited about the duel than she claimed.

He picked up his wand from the stage and returned it to his holster. "What's with all the acrobatics? Are you putting on a show?"

Professor Flitwick looked embarrassed. "I haven't been in a duel in a long time. I'm afraid some erroneous habits have crept back into my duelling style."

"Well, if you have it, flaunt it," Harry grinned.

"Indeed," Flitwick chuckled. "You lasted two minutes. I am impressed that you have already come this far."

"I'm motivated," Harry shrugged.

They finished up and left the room. Harry and Celeste returned to his bedroom where Hedwig was perched on the stand with her head tucked under her wing.

"So what do you have for me?" Celeste demanded.

Harry pulled out the Sacred Nascent Elixir he received from Victor. "I'm planning to have you and Hedwig drink a portion of this to see if you can unlock some hidden ability. Interested?"

So, what do you think of the Duelling Mode aspect? I wanted a system for wizard combat that allows Harry to be affected by abnormal conditions. Otherwise, I would be cutting out a lot of spells from combat, such as Jinxes, Hexes and Curses.

Thanks for reading.