Chapter - 54 : Resurgence Part - 3

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Snape, Harry decided, was not just a jackass; he was an incompetent jackass. Even though he had not yet met the man in this dimension the dungeon bat would come to regret inviting Harry to the staff table this year.

Harry practised his maniacal laugh. Oh yes.

Full of fire and determination Harry had committed himself to learning Divination and becoming the best teacher the course had seen in the past few hundred years. After speaking with the portrait of Cassandra Trelawney that seemed both a very favourable comparison and an achievable goal.

With the field as vast as it turned out to be Harry had to choose something to focus on. Since he was still a little biased against the woolly discipline of Divining despite his recent success in that area he had instead focussed on the Mind Arts, something that he felt he needed anyway.

Surprise number one: there existed more in that branch of magic than just Legilimency and Occlumency. Surprise number two: despite his suspicions to the contrary Snape's method of 'teaching' – barring the bastard's choice of memories to seek – was the most commonly accepted method and a valid one. Surprise number three: that it hadn't worked for Harry wasn't because he was dumber than a box of rocks, but rather because the beneficial effects of regular mind-torture were siphoned off in a completely different direction.

The book, A Magical Mind, explained that the Mind Arts generally referred to training specific properties of the mind by flooding them with magic, resulting in all kinds of interesting effects such as the ability to read memories. Exposing a mind to Legilimency was like scratching at it. In response the body would divert magical energy to fix the damage and try to prevent it from happening again. Like exercising a muscle, regular training sessions would build upon each other until the effects of a Legilimency attack were diminished or even negated completely. This was known as basic Occlumency shield. At that stage magic allowed someone to manipulate it for higher levels of Mastery.

However, if someone had, say, a shard of soul constantly digging holes in his mind, all available magic was diverted to shoring up the damage. Snape's Occlumency training had done as much good as trying to fill a well with an eyedropper.

Which is why Harry was currently practising Augeomency, the ability to discipline and grow the mind by consciously deciding where the available magic would do the most good.

Harry sat cross-legged on his living room floor, eyes closed and deep in meditation. His wand was in his hand, levitating two marbles in a circle around him like a solar system. A sudden pop caused him to break his concentration and the marbles clattered to the floor.

"Master Harry has a letter," Dobby said, lobbing a rolled up parchment at his head. Quick as a cat Harry snatched it out of the air. The elf frowned in disappointment and disappeared with another pop.

Rolling his eyes at the insolent creature, Harry eagerly unrolled the missive and laughed out loud as he read Iris demeaning nickname for him. It wasn't flattering in the slightest and yet it made him feel warm inside that she was comfortable enough to not snitch to Dumbledore about the letter and even tease him.

As things stood, though, he felt no remorse for making Dobby feel bad in the slightest and he set out to write back immediately.

Dear Iris,

Thank you in return for the nickname. I will try my best to feel flattered by it. At least I no longer feel the need to be formal with you. I'm curious though, do you have a nickname of your own?

I'm not sorry for hurting Dobby's feelings. He is like no elf I've ever met and that is not just because he wants to be free. Before he agreed to deliver my letter he blackmailed the shit out of me like a Slytherin. I knew he was cunning and yet his ruthlessness took me by surprise. The fact that I got him to keep my identity secret was the least he could do in return but judging by the way he threw your letter at my head just now he is nevertheless upset with me.

To answer your question, most of what I know about you was learnt indirectly and augmented with a number of guesses. Sorry if that's vague. I do promise I'm not stalking you or anything else creepy.

With regards to why I feel the way I feel... I dislike murder and mayhem, which should be enough as far as the Death Eaters go. As for the Ministry and the Order, I loathe manipulation, whether they try that badly or are very skilled at it. On top of all this, I have grievances with all three, though those are personal. I am willing to share them with you, but you would have to promise not to divulge my secrets to anyone, friend or foe.

Beyond that, I'm not all-knowing, so if there's anything you need to improve your life in prison that I haven't thought of, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

A.P.T.S.

"Dobby," he called as he used the same bit of twine that held shut Iris letter to tie off his own. The elf popped in behind his back and Harry turned to hold out the roll of parchment. "My reply for Iris."

Dobby narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. "Dobby agreed to deliver one letter," he said slowly. "Master Harry will need to swear more years of helping Miss Iris Potter for-"

A very familiar blue-green light flared around the elf's wrist for a second, stopping him in his tracks.

Slowly the corners of Harry's mouth curled upwards into a shark-like smile. "Annoying, isn't it?" he asked innocently.

The elf scrunched up his nose as if he'd smelled something foul.

"Here you are," Harry continued blithely, "perfectly happy doing something, when suddenly... poof" - he clapped his hands - "you're reminded you have to do something else."

Dobby glared at him and Harry dramatically shook his head. "If only you hadn't insisted on a vow. You would be free to do as you like-"

"Fine, fine," Dobby groused. "Dobby is sorry for trying to trick Master Harry."

Harry nodded decisively and the smile drained from his face. "Good. The vow was for all our correspondence, as you well know." He frowned in confusion. "Why are you even trying to get around this? Iris wants me to write to her, so by delivering my letter you're doing her a favour."

Dobby perked up. "Dobby didn't realise." He snatched the roll of parchment out of Harry's hand. "Dobby will go do as Miss Iris Potter wishes."

With a pop he disappeared, leaving Harry staring, looking bemused.

Before he could return to his Augeomency, however, Cassandra Trelawney sidled into her portrait and coughed. "Sorry to interrupt your studies, but the Deputy Headmistress wants to talk to you. She has questions about your class."

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