Chapter 11 - The Blackhand

The next few weeks were amazing, and I hadn't felt this happy in a long time. We had one more Quidditch game during that time, it was Slytherin versus Ravenclaw. Imelda was exceptional on a broom I must say, and she won the game for her team with little effort. Ravenclaw were more academically inclined if we were being honest, Quidditch wasn't their strength. The Christmas holiday period was upon us and while most students were planning on heading home for the break, a few of us decided to remain at Hogwarts including myself, Ominis, Poppy and Natty, with her mother Professor Onai of course. My parents were planning on visiting my aunt in Wales over the festive period, I had asked to stay at Hogwarts and my mother was thrilled to hear I that I was doing much better and spending more time with my friends. Imelda and Garreth were spending Christmas together with their respective parents. Their relationship got quite serious since that eventful night of the Hufflepuff party. They were constantly at each other's mouths. Their public displays of affection even got a telling off from Professor Weasley one day after class in the Transfiguration courtyard. Ominis and I were a little more private with our affection. We would only kiss in the Undercroft, he said it wasn't proper to be showing such affection around the school. Merlin's beard though, did we spend a lot of time in the Undercroft. I found kissing was like a drug, each time I got a taste of Ominis I wanted more, it was so addictive.

One afternoon, just before the holidays, things got a little heated so to speak. We were lounging about on one of the sofas, bored of our assignment on the healing properties of phoenix tears. Ominis had his head on my lap as I read out loud from my textbook.

"The tears of a phoenix have immense healing powers. It is the only known cure for the basilisk venom. It is also capable of reviving a person from any injury, even if the person is at the brink of death."

As I spoke I couldn't but let out a big sigh.

"What's the matter?" Ominis asked as he lifted himself from my lap.

"I wonder if phoenix tears would be able to revive from us from this boring assignment?" I complained.

Ominis laughed and took the book from me and threw it across the floor.

"Did you have something else in mind that you'd rather do?"

I grinned at his tease and proceeded to straddle him, throwing my legs on either side of him.

"Riley, this is not proper at all!"

He was taken aback by my forwardness and put his hands up in surrender, but he still had a smile on his face. I laughed at his uncomfortableness. I grabbed his hands and placed them on my hips as I leaned in and kissed him. He didn't object this time and he kissed me back. I could feel him squeeze my hips as our kisses became more passionate. Our breathing was intensifying and Ominis pulled me closer to him. I could feel him hardening beneath me, I pushed myself more intently against him and I let out a small groan. Ominis pulled away from our kiss and cleared his throat.

"R-Riley, we need to slow down. This is not the proper way to court a lady."

I was getting frustrated at his retreats. Every time we got close to being more intimate, Ominis would pull away. This gentleman demeanour was starting to annoy me.

"Ominis, I think we are past the formalities."

He smiled but shook his head.

"Perhaps you are, but one of us needs to be the responsible one here."

I let out a frustrated groan and slumped back down next to him.

"Accio!"

I summoned my book and reopened to the chapter I was reading.

"Hey," he reached for my chin and lifted it, planting a small and quick kiss on my lips. "All in due course my dear."

I was getting impatient.

²

Amongst all the schoolwork, I had been practising controlling my mind and thoughts as Professor Sharp had encouraged. As I result, I was able to hone in on my magic with more precision than ever before. Last year I had only really used my ancient magic in duels against the poachers and Ranroks' loyalists. I remember seeing Isidora being able to create beautiful pillars with her magic and the Keepers had even managed to rid Feldcroft of a drought. I practised endlessly over the weeks. I started small, trying to create things just as Isidora had done. It took a lot of focus, and it gave me severe headaches concentrating for so long. It took me a while, but soon I was able to conjure almost anything I thought of. I had to picture the object very clearly in my head and almost imagine it expanding into the space in front of me. I started small, with flowers and fruit, eventually I was able to create even larger objects such as furniture, although I always felt quite tired after these sessions. I remember Professor Weasley explaining Gamp's Law in one of our Transfiguration classes and how it governed the use of magic to create objects. Whoever this Gamp fellow was, he had obviously never encountered ancient magic before. I did try creating living things such as a bird or a cat, but to no avail. Perhaps creating a living thing was more complex, as that would've included things like emotions, senses and perhaps even a soul. No, perhaps it was best to leave that sort of thing to the natural order.

What I was most keen to learn was how to heal. I hadn't forgotten Isidora and her goal to take away the emotional pain of her father and the students of Hogwarts. In doing so, she removed almost all emotions from them, as pain is usually associated with an emotional trauma. Even Percival Rackham, one of the Keepers said that human emotion was a potent force upon itself. My goal wasn't to heal emotional pain, but rather to heal injuries, there was only so much that Wiggenweld potion was capable of healing. I expected this to be considerably less complex, as trying to understand human psyche has always been an unanswered question for mankind.

I tried and failed many times. It wasn't ideal, but I had no one to practice on besides myself. With a small dagger that I had managed to summon, I used it to prick my finger. From there I tried to heal the spot where the blood was trickling from. It took me a few days and a few more pricks before I finally made progress. I envisioned the blood flowing back into my finger and the cut sealing itself. At first nothing happened, then I realised that the blood had stopped trickling down from my finger. I willed it to return to its source and the blood droplets started sliding back up my finger at a snail's pace. Eventually the blood was no more, and the cut started to heal. I was overwhelmed with joy. It was only a small cut, but it had taken all my effort to heal it and I had to lie down for a while after that.

With further practice, I was able to heal the cut on my finger almost instantly and I grew resistant to the tiredness. It felt like my mind was getting stronger, able to recover more quickly from the intensity of my magic. It was like that when I first started to wield my magic back in fifth year. At first, I would find it draining and it took me a long time to build it up again in time for the next fight. Eventually my tolerance and my threshold grew, and it was the same now. I was able to wield my magic without the use of my wand, but when I did have my wand, it was considerably easier to harness. I remember when I first got my wand at Ollivander's and he said, "Do not be surprised at your wands ability to perceive your intentions."

As Christmas was approaching, I needed to practice on something other than myself, to see if I was capable of healing others. I had no idea how I was to accomplish this, was I just supposed to walk up to a stranger and ask, anyone in need of some healing? I tried to think of a good cover story, like I was studying to become a healer at St. Mungo's perhaps. I travelled quite far up north, making use of the floo flames as much as possible as the temperatures had dropped, and the flight winds would've been unbearable.

I was wondering the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest near the Northern Hogwarts region, when I saw dark smoke drifting above the trees further into the forest. Even after the defeat of Victor Rookwood last year, there were still the poachers in the area, not even the untimely demise of their former boss would stop them from capturing beasts for profit. An opportunity had presented itself so graciously and an idea popped into my head. New plan. Subdue these poachers and then practice healing on one of them, a win-win scenario truthfully.

I cast a Disillusionment Charm and started to sneak towards the source of the smoke. It wasn't long before I heard voices, I climbed over the roots of a large tree that had started to lift the ground beneath it and I was peering into a clearing. I wasn't prepared for what I saw. There was not a poacher in sight.

About fifty feet into the clearing, there were at least ten men and woman in emerald-coloured cloaks gathered around a large fire, the flames were not their usual red colour, but rather flickered black and green. The fire reminded me of the one I saw in my dreams, and it gave me an uneasy feeling. All their faces were covered with black masks that were in the form of two hands, the fingers parting at the eyes. I noticed an emblem that was embroidered on their cloaks, I couldn't make out the detail but in the centre was the letter R.

"Welcome brothers and sisters!"

The woman spoke amongst them, I couldn't see what she looked like other than that she had long auburn hair that was in a braid down her back. Her voice was captivating those around her and they all stood in silence. The only movement was from one of the wizards, who was shorter than the rest, he kept fidgeting as if he was nervous.

"Tonight, we welcome our newest member, come forth."

The nervous wizard hesitated for a moment, but then stepped forward. The witch's body language revealed that she was unimpressed with the specimen that stood before her.

"Before we admit you into The Blackhand you will need to prove your devotion and loyalty to our cause and to our master. Bring out the muggle!"

Two of the other masked ones moved towards a small tent and exited with a woman who was bound at her ankles and hands. She had a gag in her mouth, she looked exhausted and terribly thin, her eyes were barely open as the wizards dragged her from the tent and dropped her in front of the red-haired witch. She hit the ground with a loud thud and the new applicant recoiled slightly at the sight of her. The green flickering flames of the fire revealed bruises all over her face, she had been beaten to the point where her lip had split, and traces of dried blood were speckled on her thin face. The witch spat at her, and this made my blood boil. I needed to intervene. I had a terrible feeling about what was going to happen next.

"This muggle was found stealing from our supplies, claimed that the children in her village were starving. Our master does not take kindly to thieves, she must be punished. If you are to join The Blackhand this is how you will pledge your allegiance."

She looked at the wizard who was still staring at the woman bound on the floor.

"What, what would you have me do Madam Towe?" His voice sounded so young and there was a hint of terror in it.

"The Cruciatus curse will suffice."

She almost looked bored at the situation with her hands crossed over, whilst the young wizard looked shaken.

"The torture curse? Madam Towe, if-if I may? Is that not a bit excessive for mere theft?"

Towe glared at him.

"If you are not capable of issuing punishment when it's due then you have no place here."

He looked around, possibly for an escape but responded, "Very well."

The others standing around them began to chant in a language I didn't understand, the fire in the centre seemed to be fuelled by their chants as it started to grow larger, and the flames flicked more erratically.

I was running out of time, I scanned the area but there was nothing that could help me cause a diversion, I had no choice but to attack with full force. As the wizard raised his wand pointing it at the woman lying on the ground, rage filled my veins. Before he could utter the curse from his mouth, I revealed myself at the top of the clearing.

"Hey!"

The group of dark wizards and witches stopped their chants and spun around to look at me. Fear started to filter the rage flowing through me, but I had to ignore it. There was a moment of silence, all I could hear was the crackle of the fire.

"Depulso!"

My spell shattered the silence, and it sent at least half of them flying backwards, including their newest recruit, slamming them into the trees behind them. The witch called Towe blocked the spell along with a few closest to her. They immediately responded with curses screaming in my direction. I dodged behind a tree, one of the curses missed me be an inch. Their accuracy was unbelievable, and their curses were relentless. I waited for a break and jumped out from behind the tree and aimed for their leader. Perhaps if I took this Towe woman out, the others would flee I thought to myself. She deflected my blasts without so much as breaking a sweat. I used Protego as their curses resumed, I managed to stun one more of them, but I could see from the corner of my eye that the others near the trees were starting to stir. The bound woman was still lying near the fire, she had started to come to with the commotion erupting around her. If she was to stand, she'd be right in the middle of the crossfire, the thought made me panic. I needed to lure this lot away from her. They weren't expecting it as I yelled "Accio!" and I summoned those still standing so that they were only now twenty feet from me. Such a simple spell yet so effective.

"Enough!" Towe was getting frustrated, her followers ceased their spells at me. "Who are you?" she yelled up at me.

This was my opening, the green flames were now dancing on their backs. I summoned the ancient magic within me, I could feel it stinging my fingers and my hair started to lift with the static. My eyes locked with their leader. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of answering her question. I raised my wand to the heavens, the electricity connecting my wand to the sky and swept it down towards them with all my force. The lightning hit the ground near them with a loud CRACK! The three closest to the point of contact incinerated on the spot, Towe and two others were blasted backwards from the force. Those that had started to stir from earlier just stared at the scene that unfolded before them. Everything stilled as the dirt and dust particles hung in the air around me.

My practice over the past few months was paying off, I had never felt more powerful as I stood there, my breathing heavy. Towe managed to recover herself and raised slowly to her feet, the others that were rebounded remained on the floor. She looked at with me eyes wide open, the blast had caused her mask to fall from her face. She had an upturned nose, like she had a permanent scowl and a scar that ran from her left brow down to the corner of her mouth.

"Antiqua potentia" she said in a raspy voice.

It didn't sound like she was speaking English.

The floating particles around me fell to the ground. The others looked around in panic and started to Dissapparate one by one. Towe was the last to Dissaparate, but not before an evil grin appeared on her scarred face, it made her look even more terrifying. With the last popping sound, the clearing was now silent and all that remained was me and the barely conscious woman.

I had a feeling they wouldn't return, I prayed that my power managed to scare them off long enough for me to help this woman. I made my way down the clearing, my legs felt a little wobbly and I nearly tripped over my own feet. As I approached the woman, she seemed to be fully awake now and the sight of me made her whimper under her gag.

"I'm here to help, I won't hurt you I promise. Here, let me untie those for you."

I pulled a small dagger from waistband, and I first cut the ropes by her ankles, then her wrists. I removed the gag from her mouth, and she just stared at me.

"Are you alright?"

I kneeled beside her, now that I was closer, I could get a good look of her face. She looked awful, the bruises were almost black, and she was evening missing a tooth. Her brown curly hair was all knotted and covered in dirt. She looked a few years older than me, with crow's feet forming at her green eyes. Who knows how long they held her captive. She shook her head at my question, as she did, she begun to shake and her lip quivered. I had never seen someone so scared before, she couldn't even speak.

"It's going to be ok. They are gone now, you are safe." I tried to reassure her.

She reached up to touch her face and winced from the pain.

A thought crossed my mind.

"I can heal you, with your permission of course."

She raised an eyebrow at me, she must've thought I was mad, this poor muggle.

I gave her a soft smile. "Trust me?"

She looked at me for another moment, studying my face, deciding whether I was trustworthy. I seemed to have passed, as she slowly nodded her head.

"Ok, try not to move," I said as I raised my wand to her face.

Her eyes widened and she flinched.

"It's ok, I know you're frightened. I can only imagine what they did to you. I promise I will not hurt you. You are badly injured, and I can heal you."

She seemed convinced as she closed her eyes and nodded her head again. I was already quite tired from the lightning blast before, but I focused all my energy and hoped that my wand would aid me as much as possible. Faint wisps of magic floated out from the tip of my wand as I worked. First, I focused on her lip, I imagined the cut sealing itself, just as I had done on myself. It sealed itself in a matter of seconds. Moving to her face, I imagined the muscle fibres beneath and I pictured them rebuilding from their crushed state. I could see the colour of her bruises slowly change from black to yellow and the inflammation started to reduce.

"Open your mouth."

She did as I said, and I looked at the gap between her teeth.

I imagined a tooth growing from the gums, she winced a little as the top piece of the tooth emerged from her gum. I could believe it was a little painful, but she let me continue. This was the hardest part, I could feel it draining me. I had never willed a body part to regrow. The whole process only took a minute, but once I saw that the tooth was fully grown, I dropped my hand holding my wand and panted, trying to get oxygen to my brain. I was looking down at my knees, trying to catch my breath when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I lifted my head and saw the woman's face which now had a small smile on it.

"Th-Thank you," she said in barely a whisper.

I could still see the faint yellow outline of a bruise on her cheek, but she looked a lot better than what she did a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more, that was all I could manage."

"How did you do that? Was it magic?"

I had almost forgotten this woman was a muggle. Muggles weren't aware of the magical world around them, no doubt after this experience she would have questions.

"Um, yes, yes it was magic."

My brain started to go into overdrive, how could I explain everything to this woman? When I first learned of the magical world the notion nearly made my brain explode, and I hadn't even been tortured beforehand. I had an idea, not that I had ever conducted the spell in mind, but it was in one of our textbooks from Muggle Studies.

"Would you mind if I try once more?"

She looked at me quizzically.

"Are you sure? You look quite unwell?"

I felt bad for lying to her, after I said that she could trust me, but it was the right thing to do. She would be safer not knowing about magic and dark wizards.

"Yes, I'm fine." I lied.

She sat back on knees and nodded her head once more.

I aimed my wand at her head and tried to focus on the specific memories I wanted to remove.

"Obliviate."

She blinked several times and then looked around and then back at me.

"Where am I? Who are you?"

I sighed with relief, knowing that the spell had worked.

"You got lost in the forest, it's time for you to head home."

She frowned at me, I managed to stow my wand before she could notice.

"You should also head home, it's not safe being out in the forest so late at night."

I smiled at her kindness towards a stranger, "You're right about that."