The Sun and Moon: Chapter 7

TINK!

The hammer made a small chime like sound after it hit Athena. Despite only barely tapping it against her, she seemed to have not liked that. As she immediately decided to nip my fingers. Drawing a small amount of blood as I pulled it back.

I frowned as Athena started to fly away. At the same time, the hammer started to fade away as well.

Almost immediately Athena fell to the floor. Not in a ‘bag of rocks’ kind of way, but something a bit more…graceful. But obviously not in a planned way.

Athena attempted to take a few steps forward and fly, only to suddenly spasm and stop. She spasmed a few more times on the floor before raising her wings…

Which have steadily gotten bigger. It was a small thing. Something I only noticed due to constantly observing her. Her form seemed to pulsate before steadily growing larger.

After what seemed like several inches of growing, Athena suddenly stopped. There was a lengthy pause before she took off the ground successfully this time. Flying around the room before coming towards me. Perching right on my shoulder.

Usually, she’d dig her talons into my shoulder, but this time she seemed to refrain. Which was quite nice as the length of said talons looked downright dangerous and might require a trip to the hospital wing.

So I was quite happy that she didn’t do that.

“Thank you for not hurting me, Athena.”

“…Hoot.”

Athena answered back. Which was slightly odd. Mostly due to her very rarely making vocal sounds. Perhaps the hammer has made her more talkative?

Interesting.

[BOND LEVEL WITH ATHENA HAS INCREASED TO 2/10]

Oh? It would seem the hammer also upgraded my bond. Though what exactly that means still eludes me. Well, that didn’t sound quite right. Obviously, it was indicating the level of affection Athena had towards me. I guess what I was really wondering was…to what end?

What did a higher bond with Athena give? Did it benefit me in some way? Or was it just a stat like the others?

In the middle of my thoughts, Athena started to headbutt me softly. No, that wasn’t quite right. Athena was…rubbing her head against mind.

Her feathers were nice and clean. Likely due to Athena’s preening and my own attempts to clean her. Something that was made easier due to Marie’s instructions. Though I also got the impression that since I was able to clean my owl much, much faster than Marie that my cleaning skill must be in effect.

Hmm…I’ve never heard of a owl rubbing themselves against their owner. That always seemed like a dog or cat thing. So why was my owl doing it?

…strange.

After a few minutes, Athena stopped. Gazing around the room before flapping her wings and flying out of the nearby window. I watched her leave with a frown.

It was an odd and out of place act. Something that was probably a one-off thing.

Even so it wasn’t…disagreeable…

Now that I think about it, it’s been a bit since I last fed Athena, hasn’t it?

*~o~*

I’ve noticed something about these ‘level ups’. A fact that has become immediately apparent to me. They were…

Really hard to get.

It’s been over a month since the last one. It had been so long that I started to doubt whether or not it had actually happened. Of course, that was pretty easy to prove, seeing as I could just easily check my stats.

Which is how I also noted that the bonus given to me by Athena to my wisdom had also increased.

It was strange. Last time I only had to kill one measly vole. And by now I’ve killed dozens. So much that I had to go deeper into the edges of the forbidden forest in order to even find any. A fact that made Marie rather unhappy.

Thankfully she wasn’t here. Otherwise, I’d have some measure of difficulty explaining why I was hunting down so many voles for Athena. Though I guess her newfound growth would be a decent answer.

My eyes darted to a nearby bush that started to rustle.  I was deeper into the forbidden forest than I have ever been, but not by much. It would only take a few minutes of lightly walking to get back to the treeline, and Hogwarts was always in view.

Not only that, but it was still bright and sunny outside. Despite the best efforts of the trees trying to cover everything in their shade.

The bush suddenly stopped shaking. Causing me to lower my arm before staring at it suspiciously. Picking up a nearby rock, I tossed it towards the bush to see what would happen.

The moment it made contact a MASSIVE spider burst out of it and began to run. Thankfully not towards me, as the sheer suddenness of it was startling. Causing me to fumble with my wand for a second before I pointed it at the fleeing spider.

“Sleep!”

It was the first time I had actually used the spell itself. Though I have been reading and studying the book itself. Unfortunately studying didn’t seem to make me any better at the specific spell. Only actually practicing it did.

Something that could be said for every spell I’ve learned.

Due to both spells having similar effects, I assumed the spell would have similar results to petrificus totalus. But instead of immediately freezing in place, The spider seemed to trip. Smashing itself into the ground with a thump and impaling itself on a branch.

Despite face planting onto the ground, the spider still seemed to be awake, as it’s legs curled up towards the sky above. Despite being impaled, it wasn’t very deep. Which likely means that if I really wanted to kill it, I’d need to-

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED-]

[SLEEP SPELL HAS LEVELED UP!]

[SLEEP IS NOW AT 11/30!]

[SLEEP UPGRADE OBTAINED! SLEEP CAN NOW TARGET AND BE USED ON MULTIPLE OPPONENTS.]

-I was immediately flooded with notifications. Causing me to take a step back to scan them all before swiping them out of my face. Well, that was a first. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a skill upgrade that quickly before.

Was it because it was easy? Or perhaps, was it somehow because I studied it?

Hmm…it actually made a bit of sense now that I think about it. Knowing how to cast a spell or perform a skill was just as important as doing the act in the first place. I had assumed that repetition of an ability was how it leveled up, something that had been for the most part corroborated by the lack of level ups when I studied.

But really, all repetition did was allow me to understand how to perform the act better each time. The more it’s done, the faster and better it’s performed. So it made sense that learning how to perform better would increase the skill.

There was just one problem.

Why did it level up now, and not when I studied it? What made it so much more important that it chose now of all times to filter through all the experience gained by studying?

…The act of it being cast in the first place?

Did I have to see it to believe it maybe?

I guess in a sense there would always be that doubt in the back of my mind whether or not it would actually work. Few spells actually have non Latin names after all. But then, I already had gotten the notification that I learned the spell the moment I started reading the book.

Hmm.

Was that the-

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE LEVELED UP!]

Hmm? Oh, right! I had briefly forgotten about the spider. It hadn’t moved in a while so I just put it out of my mind while I thought. Which wasn’t a big deal. It’s only been about a few seconds.

Still, Tonks did say to never let my guard down in a fight. Not unless it’s over.

‘For sure’ levels of over. Not ‘My opponent surrenders and I turn my back on them’ levels of over. Tonks was very determined in teaching me the difference. To a level that exasperated Penelope.

And it also seemed like spiders were another avenue to go in order to continue leveling up. Which made sense, considering they could be counted as pests as well.

Especially when I consider that mom did not like spiders AT ALL.

[+1 END, +1 LUK]

…Well, that seemed pretty small. Especially considering what the last level up entailed. But then, there was no more rewards after the first level up. No matter how many more voles I took.

So maybe…this was a way to encourage me in order to seek out more spiders in order to get the full rewards for a level up? Perhaps I needed to kill a certain amount of vermin, and anymore above that would not be added to the total.

Like chopping wood for a fireplace. There’s only so much wood that could go inside of it. The rest would need to be set aside for a later date.

But…where the heck am I going to kill spiders like that? And did they have to be that big?

*~o~*

“Mr. Lovegood, a word?”

Observe.

[STRENGTH]

[MINVERVA MCGONAGALL]

Huh. So even my teachers could have Arcana’s as well? ‘Strength’ that was a new one. Though it seemed quite juxtaposed and in ill humor compared to the woman who wielded it.

The head of the Gryffindor and my Transfiguration teacher was many things. A great professor. A very nice lady. Possible one of the best Transfiguration specialists in the country.

But strong?

She was old. Full of wrinkles and quite aged. It wouldn’t be too surprising if she planned to retire any day now. Then again, the headmaster was so old that his beard almost touched the floor. And then there was the fact that the history professor was literally dead, and he was still teaching…

So perhaps age was inconsequential to wizards and witches at a certain level.

“Yes professor?”

Professor McGonagall smiled kindly at me. Placing a hand on my shoulder before giving me a look of affection.

“You are doing quite well in my class, Mr. Lovegood.”

“Thank you.”

I offered as she made small talk. It was a bit odd that she felt the need to say the obvious. She’s already given me several points to Ravenclaw in class, and my quizzes received nothing but full marks.

Perhaps she thought by reaffirming that I was doing a good job that I would be motivated to continue? That wasn’t necessary.

The only motivation I needed was my family.

“Even your other teachers are most impressed with your abilities. Especially Flitwick, though that’s not a surprise.”

It was true. The head of my house did indeed converse a few times with me albeit briefly. But each time he seemed to be in a cheerful mood.

I nodded. Unsure where the Professor was going with all of this.

The smile on her face faded slightly as she gave a more worried look.

“Grades and your studies are important, Mr. Lovegood. Of that there is no doubt. But so too is getting ample amounts of sleep. A well-rested mind is more suited for learning than one without.”

What a strange saying. Unfortunately, while I’d like to take her advice, it was physically quite impossible.

So instead, I decided to offer a thin smile.

“Of course, Professor. It is as you say.”

Unfortunately, it seemed my words didn’t do the job I had intended them to. As the Professors lips seem to tighten in response. A more somber look in her eyes as she spoke again.

“It is not uncommon for students to be nervous in being away from home. Especially for first years. Have you been writing to your family?”

While it was completely true that I’d rather be back home with my family, I was not nervous here. Because being here served a purpose. A purpose that would forge me into someone better to help my family.

“I have, Professor. They are very nice people. Actually, my sister will be joining Hogwarts in a few years. Would you like to see a picture of her?”

The Professor’s eyes seemed to widen in surprise as I started to dig into my pocket, before offering a smile.

“You keep a picture of your sister in your pocket, Mr. Lovegood? Why, I never took you to be so thoughtful-“

The Professor paused as she noted the collection of pictures I had with me. A modest selection of several hundred pictures of Luna. Moving pictures, of course.

Sometimes I would stare at them at night and it’d make time go by quicker.

“Oh…oh my…”

Professor McGonagall offered as she eyed the small collection I had. There was a lot more back in my room with the rest of my luggage. But I couldn’t carry all of them with me all the time.

Not yet, at least.

“This is Luna when she was playing outside on April 3rd this year.”

I showcased to the Professor, causing her to furrow her brow as she gazed intently at the photo. I was happy that she was taking this so seriously.

“…Was there a specific reason she was outside at this date?”

“No.”

I revealed causing the Professor to nod slowly.

“…I see.”

The next picture was already in my hands. I had to be quick about it as the Professor was already starting to move away.

“This is Luna when she’s sleeping.”

“…Ah…”

Professor McGonagall was a good listener.