A New Beginning: Trading Favours with Dumbledore (Bonus Chapter to Celebrate 100,000 Words)

Professor Flitwick quickly solved several of the major problems Ezio had encountered with magic. After resolving the issue of spells becoming fixed without any weight, he also explained how Ezio could develop spells of his own.

It wasn't especially difficult, but it required a solid foundation, and Runes were the most important part of that.

The modern system of casting spells through incantations had evolved from the system of casting magic with Runes. In a sense, Runes were the foundation of magic. They were still widely used in Alchemy, where these magical symbols allowed magic to flow across and through materials, giving alchemical creations their extraordinary power.

The reason Goblin magical items were so highly sought after by wizards was that Goblins had their own independent written language. This meant they had developed a system of spellcasting entirely different from that of wizards, giving their magical items certain unique powers that wizards couldn't reproduce. But that didn't mean Goblin magic was superior. Three Goblin Rebellions had cost them dearly; once upon a time, their magical civilization had been able to rival that of wizards.

"Do you know why there's such a huge difference between colloquial magic and the Standard Book of Spells?"

Professor Flitwick posed a key question about spell development, then answered it for Ezio. "The Standard Book of Spells and colloquial magic have one thing in common: both tell magic what kind of power you want it to use, and what you want it to do."

"But the results they produce are worlds apart. The fundamental difference is that the Standard Book of Spells first determines a spell's effect by arranging the Runes, and only then turns it into an incantation. That makes the spell's effect stable and consistent from one wizard to another. That's one of the defining qualities of a standard spell."

"If you want to start studying magic of your own, the first thing you need to do is learn Runes and how to combine them. Memorize the vocabulary, and understand the powers represented by each phrase. For example, if you want to design a new Exploding Curse, you could combine Rune phrases related to fire, impact, energy, and explosion. That would give you a new spell whose fire effects, explosive force, direction, and even target you could tailor."

"But simply finding those phrases isn't enough. You also need to work out the connecting words that link them, so the power can flow between the different Rune phrases and unite them. Only then can you design a proper, effective new spell. It isn't easy. You need to build up your knowledge, have a flash of inspiration, and get a little bit of crucial luck."

"That's also why new spells are invented so slowly. There are too many possible combinations of phrases, and sometimes you can't find one that expresses the power you need. Then you have to research and work out a new phrase yourself."

"The more kinds of power a spell is meant to express, the harder it is to create. That's why standard spells are generally designed to do just one thing. It makes them easier to learn, and it also makes them easier for wizards to adjust when they have a specific need. The simplest examples are the light spell and Lumos Maxima: Lumos and Lumos Maxima."

"Your knowledge isn't deep enough yet for you to develop spells of your own. But since that's what you want to do, you can start studying Runes now. I can recommend a few introductory books."

Ezio left with the reading list, thoroughly satisfied. Hogwarts had far more knowledge to offer than he'd expected. Honestly, outside Hogwarts, getting a lecture from a scholar as accomplished as Professor Flitwick would be all but impossible, even if you were willing to pay.

But at Hogwarts, everything was free. All you had to do was respect your teachers, listen to their instructions, and complete their assignments.

After leaving Professor Flitwick's club, Ezio went to the library. Most of the books on Flitwick's list were available there. He would certainly order his own copies, but he needed to borrow some from the library first. Ezio didn't like waiting.

"So what are they complaining about?"

He watched the young wizards hunched over their homework in the library, looking miserable, and could only think that they didn't know how lucky they were. Still, he wasn't about to force them to see it. Their lives had nothing to do with him, and without something to gain, he couldn't be bothered to care what happened to other people.

After receiving an introduction to magic from his professors, Ezio's life at Hogwarts gradually settled into a routine. Classroom, library, training ground—his days followed the same three-point circuit, but never felt dull. Time flew by.

The changes in Slytherin were plain to see. By the second week of term, Labas had already settled the pecking order within Slytherin. He redefined the elite club that had existed in the House and improved its internal selection and elimination rules, extending them across the whole House.

Life became miserable for the idiots. With Snape turning a blind eye, those who had neither brains nor any special skills were swiftly reduced to Slytherin's untouchables. Anyone who tried to fight back would often find themselves in a toilet stall the next day.

They had no idea when they'd been dumped there, their heads shoved roughly into a toilet. Someone would flush, tormenting them until they were limp and nearly drowned. After that, they didn't dare make another move.

They had considered writing home, but all they got for their wait was silence. Neil had recently put on a good deal of weight.

Under this oppressive silence, that small group of Slytherins finally understood their position. Resistance would only bring terrible punishment and cold pressure from the others in their own House.

Slytherin had become feverishly enthusiastic. Most of its members had benefited from the new hierarchy and enjoyed the thrill of lording it over those beneath them.

Ezio knew exactly what kind of social structure was most stable. It wasn't a pyramid, but a spindle: a tiny number at the very top held most of the power. They controlled the leaders of smaller groups and lived off the support of those below them. Those leaders, in turn, directed the largest group—the middle tier, which made up seventy percent of Slytherin.

Below them were the exploited, who made up about twenty percent of the House. They had to serve those in the middle tier in exchange for the right to survive in Slytherin. They were stuck with some dirty, difficult, exhausting work, but at least they could still get by.

Beneath them were the ones reduced to untouchables. Stripped of their rights in Slytherin, they were fools who contributed nothing of value to the House. They had been driven out of their dormitories. Snape strode coldly down the corridor, and one icy "useless" shattered the last of their illusions.

Naturally, the changes were noticed around Hogwarts. But people from the other three Houses didn't seem surprised. Slytherin had always believed in the rule of the strong; it was just that the practice had become a little more extreme than before.

When people noticed that the obnoxious Slytherin idiots had begun to disappear, some even applauded. Nobody liked troublesome people.

The professors who had intended to urge Snape not to let Slytherin fall into its current state gradually changed their minds when they saw the House's newfound energy. In the past, Ravenclaw students had been the most diligent in class. But now, with competition growing fierce, even those once thought to be stupid had learned to think and to pay attention during lessons—just to avoid falling down the ranks or to climb out of their current positions.

The House points hourglass, with Slytherin two hundred points ahead of the second-place House, was now the best introduction Slytherin could offer.

Ezio had completed his restructuring of Slytherin. He knew the system might not last, because Hogwarts had no true Brahmins. Once the school year ended, a backlash was inevitable.

Some people would leave Hogwarts. Some would have their families put pressure on the school. Dumbledore might step in and dismantle the current structure. But Ezio only needed to make the existence of the hierarchy a certainty. As long as Slytherin kept its class system, he could make use of the House's resources even if the current structure was torn apart.

Having Harry work with Snape to standardize the precise measurements for Potions has been enough to keep him on my side. Harry is a predator at the top of Slytherin's food chain, too, which is exactly what Snape wants to see.

Once things had settled down, Ezio took stock of recent events. "But Dumbledore seems to object. He doesn't like the hierarchy I've imposed within the House, because it's too harsh on a small group. Even Voldemort only formed factions. I've started openly exploiting my fellow students."

Then it's time for the first exchange of favours.

Ezio closed the book on Runes in his hands. How long Slytherin's current system could last ultimately depended on Dumbledore's decision. If Dumbledore deemed it unacceptable, then everything would have to come to an end.

A Horcrux from Voldemort ought to be enough to pay for this, shouldn't it?

He returned the book, then headed up the school's stairs to the Seventh Floor.

I need a room to hide things. I need a room to hide things. I need a room to hide things.

Ezio paced back and forth in front of the blank wall opposite the Tapestry of a Troll Clubbing Barnabas the Barmy, repeating the words in his mind. As he turned his gaze toward the wall, a wooden door appeared before him.

A few lamps glowed in the dim room. The dusty storeroom was filled with secret treasures that Hogwarts students had left behind over hundreds, even thousands, of years.