A quick announcement before we dive in! đź”´đź’€
I've just started a new project called Reaching the Apex. It's a Pokémon Self-Insert (SI) and a gritty, "zero-to-hero" journey fic. If you've ever wondered what a darker, more realistic Pokémon world would look like—where the stakes are life or death and every step of the climb is earned—this is for you.
If you're interested, you can find it on my profile. I'd love to hear what you think!
Now, back to the story...
***
The following day went by quite fast, even though the classes were a bore as usual. We had our last period of History of Magic with Binns. As always, most of the class was asleep, while I was intensely thinking about the best and simplest way to free Sirius Black.
In the background, Binns lectured in his dry, dull, and absent voice: "...goblins... as you surely... all know... never... accepted... the supremacy... of wizards... Their... constant... desire... for... equality... led... to repeated... armed... conflicts... The first... recorded... rebellion... took place... in the year... 1192... and ended... exactly... like... all the others... In failure... The reason... was... their mistaken... notion... of ownership... and their... inappropriate... interest... in using... wizarding... wands... Take... notes... on this... chapter... it will be... on the... test..."
To be honest, I wasn't surprised that no one was listening to him. His jerky and absent speech was absolutely shit; even the biggest history fans couldn't pay attention... Well, except for Granger, who was diligently writing down every single word.
Agnes sat next to me, as always. Of course, while I was thinking, she was sleeping. I nudged her to wake her up and whispered: "Agnes, wake up. The lesson is almost over."
"Uuuugh... I'm waking up, stop poking me," she muttered.
She woke up with a yawn, rubbed her eyes, and slowly started packing her things.
"Agnes, duel after class?" I suggested.
Agnes yawned again and just gave a tired nod.
"Call Yaxley and Nott too and bring them to the room. I'll wait there," I commanded.
Finally, the gong sounded, announcing the end of the lesson. Interestingly, this gong only rang during History of Magic. Other teachers kept track of time and always ended the lesson verbally, whereas Binns would go on forever without it... Foolish Dumbledore. History is important, and I bet Binns taught even my grandfather.
I quickly dashed out of the classroom and headed for our training room. However, I felt a gaze on my back that practically burned. Ever since our confrontation, Granger had been watching me like a hawk.
The first thing I did after arriving in the classroom was stretch and loosen my joints to avoid injury. I did some shadow boxing to warm up, a few quick jump squats, and once I felt my muscles were ready, a series of short sprints followed.
I ran from corner to corner—sharp stop, touch, and an immediate start to the next one. The classroom wasn't large, but it was enough for agility and conditioning training based on HIIT principles. When I had run across the room ten times and Agnes and the others were still nowhere to be seen, I moved on to push-ups.
I started with classic ones, but after a while, I switched to clap push-ups. People think it's hard, but honestly? It's just about fear. You just need to push off hard and not be afraid. It was great explosive training for the chest muscles. I was just finishing a set when the door opened and a trio in robes with embroidered snakes entered.
Finally. On the last push-up, I pushed off sharply, tucked my legs forward, and stood up gracefully. With a thought, I summoned my wand into my hand and removed the sweat from myself with a short wave.
While Agnes was already used to my physical training, Nott and Yaxley stared at me like I was a ghost, completely surprised.
"Hey. Agnes told me you wanted to join us for training. Correct?"
They both nodded silently; they probably didn't know what to expect.
"What specifically would you like to train, and for what purpose?" I asked curiously.
"Magic and combat spells," Nott replied immediately, while Yaxley just shrugged as if he didn't care. Nott didn't answer the "for what" part, so I kept staring at him intently. Yaxley was clearly only here because of Nott.
After a moment, Theodore couldn't stand my gaze anymore and forced out: "I want to be powerful enough so that I don't have to bow to anyone."
That was understandable. His father was a Death Eater, and Theodore had likely heard stories about how Voldemort treated his followers. He wanted power to maintain his freedom.
"I understand. You have an ambitious goal," I replied with a smile. His motivation was essentially the same as mine—to gain enough power to be completely free. I liked him immediately.
Nott just nodded silently, while Yaxley and Agnes watched our conversation with interest.
"He doesn't say much," I thought to myself, amused. After a moment, I decided to test them.
"Alright then. You two against me—a duel. Let's see where you stand."
As soon as I said the word "duel," they both turned pale. I quickly added: "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Relax." I didn't need to boost my ego; I needed to pull the others up high enough so that I could constantly progress myself.
I waited for them to calm down and then moved to the end of the room opposite them.
"Ready?" I asked. They both nodded hesitantly.
"Agnes, start us on three," I ordered the redhead. She had an amused smile on her face. She probably knew exactly how it would end and was glad she finally wasn't the only one losing.
"One... two... three... START!" she shouted.
"Flipendo!" "Petrificus Totalus!" they fired at me immediately, while Yaxley just waited to see if they would hit me.
With a simple dodge to the right, I avoided both spells, which flew harmlessly past me. I immediately returned fire: "Flipendo! Expelliarmus! Everte Statum!"
Nott managed to jump away from my spells and countered instantly: "Everte Statum!" Yaxley, however, wasn't so lucky. He was hit by both my Flipendo and Expelliarmus. The first spell threw him back three meters, which only set up the disarming charm; it slammed him hard against the wall, and his wand flew toward me. But I had no time to catch it; I had to dodge Nott's orange beam, which almost hit my left hip.
Now it was just between us. Yaxley was without a wand and still hadn't picked himself up from the floor.
"Flipendo! Petrificus Totalus!" Theodore yelled angrily. The spells were accurate, but I decided to show a bit of power.
"Protego!" I poured more magic into the shield. The blue outline pulsed, and both the blue and white beams splashed harmlessly against it. I immediately dropped the shield and fired: "Everte Statum! Aculeus! Incarcerous!"
Nott knew he couldn't dodge, so with the last of his strength, he attempted one final attack: "Everte Statum!" A rich orange beam shot from his wand; I could feel he put everything into it. I calmly watched as my Statum slammed him against the wall. The purple Aculeus narrowly missed him, but Incarcerous hit precisely—ropes wrapped tightly around him, and his wand fell from his hand. His spell was aimed at my shoulder, but with a simple change of stance, I pulled back, and the beam flew past me.
"Accio wands!" I called out. I concentrated so that Yaxley's wand flew around me from behind directly into my palm, while I caught Nott's from the front.
The duel was won. Agnes clapped enthusiastically with a smile like a cat that had just eaten a treat. Nott sat bound on the floor, scowling, while Yaxley finally started to pick himself up. A little longer and I would have sent him away... combat training isn't for the weak.
"Finite!" I waved my wand toward Nott. The ropes vanished, and a scowling Theodore stood up. I levitated both their wands into their hands and waited for them to come to me.
"Both of your stances and movements are shit. Honestly, I wasn't even trying to hit you, and I didn't use any strong spells, just the basic ones. Theodore, you were more mobile and didn't wait for the spell to hit but kept firing. If you had a better stance and movement, you'd be a better duelist. Power comes with time, as does spell-casting speed. Right now, though, you're far too slow—I could literally dance around you," I began with honest criticism.
Then I turned to the other one.
"Tobias, what are you even here for? After one ordinary, weak spell, you didn't get up for the rest of the duel. If this were something serious, your friend would have been left alone! You watch to see if the spell hits, you move like a block of wood, and you don't dodge at all... Either start working hard or just give up and leave," I criticized him much more harshly. There was no point in beating around the bush. If they didn't accept honest criticism, they would never be able to improve enough for me to get anything out of them.
Nott was still scowling angrily but nodded in understanding. Yaxley looked as if I had killed his puppy, but after a moment, I saw he had found his resolve. "I want to get better. I have to learn how to fight," he spoke up.
"Fine then," I nodded and immediately turned to Agnes. "Show them how they should stand and how they should move," I commanded. I could feel that it pleased her.
For a moment, I felt like Voldemort with Bellatrix, but I immediately dismissed the thought. Agnes isn't insane like my aunt, and I don't want to rule the world.
Agnes got to work right away. She enthusiastically explained the stance and dodges to them and cheerfully added that this style was invented by Muggles. Tobias curled his lip in disdain but copied her, while Theodore didn't care at all. He was seriously trying to get stronger.
I waited a few minutes until they grasped the basics of movement and spoke with a smile: "Now, all three of you against me. It will be good training, and at least you'll have room to dodge."
Agnes immediately put on a determined expression and took charge like a general. She pulled them to the end of the classroom opposite me and whispered instructions. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but I saw them spread out evenly so they wouldn't get in each other's way and to eliminate the risk of being hit by a spell flying nearby.
"Smart girl," I thought contentedly. I was truly proud of her.
"Ready?"
All three nodded determinedly.
"START!" I shouted.
By the time I started, they were already casting.
"Petrificus Totalus!" "Flipendo! Everte Statum!" Tobias and Theodore fired, and Agnes immediately followed up: "Locomotor Mortis! Everte Statum! Incarcerous!"
While I dodged the boys' spells without any problems, Agnes was more experienced. A purple beam flew to my left side, an orange one to the right, and conjured ropes aimed directly at the center. Through this cannonade, I had no time to return fire; the only thing I could manage was to dodge lightning-fast and register what was flying at me.
At the same time as the ropes, Theo managed to send another "Flipendo!". Tobias was visibly slower in his casting. However, Agnes and Theo had me cornered, and I had only a fraction of a second to defend myself.
"Depulso! Protego!" I violently repelled the ropes back at Agnes, while Theodore's blue beam splashed harmlessly against my shield.
I immediately countered and targeted Tobias: "Flipendo! Expelliarmus!" But I had to throw myself to the side right away. An orange Statum from Agnes flew past me by a hair, followed immediately by a white beam. I was losing track of who was casting what, but I noticed that Tobias had managed to dodge my spells.
"Everte Statum! Flipendo! Petrificus Totalus! Locomotor Mortis!" Agnes shrieked in a rush of adrenaline. Theo added an "Everte Statum!" and Tobias another "Flipendo!".
I knew I wouldn't be able to dodge; it was too many spells at once.
"Protego!" I yelled, and an overpowered blue shield flashed before me. The colored beams began to splash against it one by one; I felt like I was in a fairy tale, with a pure rainbow before my eyes. I didn't even have time to think about a counter-attack before another volley flew at me, crowned by Agnes's "Incarcerous!". It was an incredibly annoying spell—physical and animated. The ropes wrapped around my shield, and I felt them trying to crush it. The pressure was building, and my shield was starting to crack under it. I had to feed it more and more magic; I had no choice.
Two more orange beams hit the shield, followed immediately by a purple one. The cracks were widening. I knew there was no point in continuing this way; those ropes would drain me to the point of complete collapse.
I decided to get rid of the weakest link. "Depulso!" I blasted the ropes away from me and immediately sent my own combination: "Everte Statum! Flipendo! Expelliarmus! Aculeus!" Without waiting, I jumped away, dodged the beams, and targeted Theodore: "Furnunculus! Flipendo! Stupefy!"
I immediately jumped to the right again.
It was a mistake, though. In the middle of the jump, a blue beam hit me. It threw me back and rotated me ninety degrees. As I landed, I managed to tuck my chin to my chest so I wouldn't hit my head on the stone floor. It hurt, but I immediately did a backroll—just in time for an orange beam to splash on the floor where I had been lying a second ago.
"Protego!" I called out again. The shield pulsed a bright blue; I didn't plan on losing. While I was getting to my feet, a white beam and then a blue beam splashed against the barrier.
When I finally stood up, I saw the result of my work. Only Agnes was still standing against me. She was breathing hard, she was tired, but the determination was still in her eyes. Tobias was leaning against the wall, holding his face, which was swollen from my Aculeus spell. Theo was lying unconscious on the floor, his face covered in prominent acne.
"You were close," I acknowledged with a smile, but immediately started casting: "Flipendo! Everte Statum! Aculeus!"
Agnes dodged the first two spells, but the purple beam hit her in the shoulder, causing her to hiss painfully like a snake. However, she immediately returned fire: "Locomotor Mortis! Expelliarmus!"
I didn't know that purple spell, but I knew I didn't want it to hit me. I dodged it, while the red Expelliarmus flew way off—that Aculeus had clearly messed up her aim.
I didn't wait: "Expelliarmus! Everte Statum! Aculeus! Petrificus Totalus!" Agnes tried to surprise me and yelled: "Protego!" Her shield flashed in front of her, but I knew it wouldn't hold. The frustration of barely keeping up in this duel forced me to put more power into the spells than usual.
My assumptions were confirmed. The red beam splashed against the shield, which immediately cracked, and the orange beam shattered it completely an instant later. Agnes was thrown back a little. The purple beam hit her in the stomach instead of the chest, and immediately after, the white beam of the Petrificus hit her too. I only heard a short hiss, and Agnes fell to the ground like a felled tree.
"Lok'tar ogar!" I whispered victoriously to myself.
Once I had thoroughly enjoyed the sweet victory, I cast "Finite!" on Agnes and „Enervate!" on Theodore.
Nott sat up abruptly with a deep breath and looked around in surprise, while Agnes immediately jumped to her feet and started cursing.
"Did you seriously have to use Aculeus? I can't feel my shoulder, and I feel like I'm going to puke any second from that hit to the stomach!"
"Hard in training, easy in battle," I replied with an amused smile. After a moment, I added: "Don't worry, you'll stop feeling it soon."
Theodore was worse off. His face was covered in rashes, and he would have to use a potion to get rid of them. Tobias's face was swollen from the Aculeus—but that would go away on its own.
Most people who started combat sports lasted training on the bags, but after a while, when they moved on to sparring, they quit. The pain completely discouraged them. I was curious to see how these two would behave. I had no doubts about the "she-dragon" Agnes, though.
"Theodore, you should go to the hospital wing with that face," I informed him. After a moment, I added: "Just don't tell anyone about us or our training."
He nodded with a serious face and asked curiously: "When are we training again?"
"Tomorrow," replied the now-calm Agnes.
Theodore took Tobias, and after saying goodbye, they headed to the hospital wing.
"Do you think they'll train with us tomorrow too?" Agnes asked while smoothing her messy hair.
"Nott probably will; as for Tobias, I have absolutely no idea," I replied honestly. "Dinner?" I suggested.
"Yes, but if I can't eat with my right hand, I'll stab a fork into your hand with my left!" Agnes threatened.
***
To my luck, it turned out that Agnes could eat normally, albeit more slowly. It would have been funny, but also painful, if she had seriously stabbed a fork into my hand.
I was enjoying a proper steak with roasted potatoes and green beans in butter. I washed it down with plain water and felt quite satisfied. The training had taken a lot out of me, but I had improved. I was more powerful. My physical preparation was also progressing great; I was in good shape conditioning-wise, and honestly, nothing was bothering me. I was happy…
Those duels showed me that technically I could handle three wizards at once, even though I deliberately kept myself at their level. If I had gone all out, they wouldn't have stood a chance. I would simply have swept away their spells with elemental magic and drowned them in it. They weren't powerful enough yet to be a real challenge for me. However, I knew Agnes had potential for elemental spells. Like a true "Dragon," she would likely lean toward fire.
To finish, I had a strawberry cupcake that was on the table. Yum.
I was blissfully enjoying the good food while Agnes sat silently beside me, eating chicken and rice. When she first started sitting with me, she had a habit of talking even while eating, but I ignored her, so she learned that I like to enjoy my food in peace.
I had just finished eating when that familiar owl I had sent to Master Vane yesterday descended toward me. It didn't look very happy when it held out its leg. I quickly took a smaller chicken steak from the table and cut off a nice piece for it. Let it be satisfied; it deserves it.
I quickly untied the envelope from it and said thanks: "Thank you very much for the quick handling, dear owl. Those treats I promised you will be delivered as soon as I buy them. Which will be soon."
It eyed me suspiciously to see if I was lying, but after a moment, I must have convinced it because it said goodbye with a hoot and flew away. I immediately opened the envelope, pulled out the parchment, and eagerly started reading:
Rosier,
The sum for the cage you described will be 200 Galleons.
As soon as I receive the money, I can manufacture it immediately—it is nothing complicated for me. I guarantee the quality and assure you that no one will know about this transaction. In the interest of our mutual safety.
Sincerely, Cilian Vane
Now only a few steps remain: get hold of the Map, find out the password to the Gryffindor common room, and find a capable older ally from Gryffindor. Then Sirius Black will finally be free, and my ancestors will be satisfied.
***
Author's note:
Ha! Who would have guessed we'd get two new faces instead of just one? We're officially a team of four now. It makes perfect sense that Nott seeks power while Yaxley backs him up like a loyal friend.
Agnes definitely stole the show by stepping into that "General" role during the duel. And her threat with the fork after the training? Picturing that scene while writing actually made me laugh out loud :D.
I'm also curious—what are your thoughts on the 1v3 duel? Was it well-written? Our MC was holding back quite a bit by not using any elemental spells, but since he limited himself to their level, Agnes's tactics and skill made the fight a genuine challenge. Let me know what you think!
***
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Upcoming Chapters:
27. SaD:Shadows of the Past
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29. The Phoenix's Verdict
30. Pragmatism and Kindness
31. Water Whips and Secret Truths