[X] Alive and well - Prioritize keeping Black, Pettigrew and Lupin alive. This will impact the rolls against you. When one tries to get it all … one might lose it all.
[X] Plan for Victory– 6 TE for [Werewolf Fight], 4 TE for [Saving Potter], 3 TE for [Last Act]
Yep, I'm using most of the time echoes, the truth is we're just not shit hot enough to get through without some serious bonuses. Until we start getting some of our core skills to 13+ and learning combat and utility spells to mastery. I don't feel we're in a good place for the stakes were dealing with in escalating fashion.
Honestly most of the shit that happened in the HP books should have absolutely stomped the protagonist if it wasn't for copious amounts of plot armour which we don't really have.
Yep, I'm using most of the time echoes, the truth is we're just not shit hot enough to get through without some serious bonuses. Until we start getting some of our core skills to 13+ and learning combat and utility spells to mastery. I don't feel we're in a good place for the stakes were dealing with in escalating fashion.
Hey, the rest of the plans are using ALL the time Echoes... So you are trusting the dice Gods significantly more than the rest of us...
But yeah we have to train all the attributes at least up to 6 and then get use the level-ups to advance... And then train the core skills significantly Without forgetting to do other things to keep Our Dude sane... TBH I hope that we manage to keep the time turner at the end of the month so that we can use Hermione´s Technique to get into more classes and cubs the next year...
And about the Mastery thingy... Seeing that the Protego (Mastery) requires arithmancy I am pretty sure that for most Spells the Deep Understanding is the most we can do by "learning" to go beyond that is actually creating a new spell.
"Come in." Was the response to his knock on the door.
After a moment Jacob entered the room, looking none the worse for wear given the previous night's activities. Lupin and Sirius watched him enter with smiles on their faces.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Bas… You know what, I'm not really a teacher anymore after last night. What can I help you with, Jacob?
"After explaining things to my friends, they… took my actions poorly. Megan and Tracey demanded I come to apologize and for some reason both started butting heads over the fact one of them should be with me in the future to stop such a situation occurring again." Jacob appeared confused on the last part.
Sirius snorted and seemed about to start laughing or saying something before Lupin forced his hand over his friend's mouth. "I'm afraid," Remus answered while looking amused, "that that is a mystery you will have to work out for yourself."
Jacob looked thoughtful as he nodded and began speaking again. "Regardless, I do want to apologize. For calling you a bad teacher and, how did Justin put it, smashing on all your triggers."
Sirius did laugh at that.
"Jacob, while I may have been a competent teacher, how I treated you was wrong. Both you and Harry proved me wrong last night after all. I do apologize for that. So, tell me, what form does your patronus take?"
"A wolf." Jacob answered bluntly. Lupin raised his eyebrows, impressed while Sirius let out a whistle. After a moment of silence to see if he would say any more, Lupin continued.
"In spite of what my feelings were, last night proved I should not have been a teacher. I put everyone in danger. I really have you to thank, Jacob. For so much. You saved many lives last night. You made sure Harry, Ron, Hermione, and yourself weren't bitten. You made sure I was trapped in the forest until the night was over. You even caught Peter, ensuring that Severus, in spite of his feelings, would do the right thing. And because of that, and your and Harry's patroni, Sirius won't get kissed."
"He's right, kid. Last thing I want is to snog a dementor. I owe you a lot."
"Well," Jacob said turning to Sirius, "I heard that your family had a sizable library, or barring that," The two adults had had surprised and slightly antsy looks on their faces for a moment, "I certainly wouldn't mind the assistance of two wizards that were able to learn the animagus process at around my age."
"You want to become an animagus? Excellent! While you may be the most Moony like of the old Marauders you could definitely join Harry in the next generation."
Jacob didn't look entirely pleased with that sentiment but before he could respond there was a pounding on the door.
"Come in!" Lupin called, like he had only several minutes earlier. The door was flung open to reveal Harry Potter panting, probably from running all the way from the Great Hall to the office after hearing the news of Lupin's exit from the school.
"You… you… aren't leaving are you?
Jacob hadn't really been dismissed, but he started to edge his way out as Harry came in and took more of the attention. Lupin came forward and started talking with Harry but before Jacob could fully make his escape Sirius put his hand down on the boy's shoulder.
"If you want some pointers on the animagus process, I'd be happy to help with that. It wouldn't take out even half of the debt I owe you. Feel free to head out. Update those two girls on everything and make sure they know you took their advice to heart. Trust me, they'll be happy to hear it if you word it like that." Sirius patted his shoulder once before letting go and letting him make his way out the door. "I'll try to give you help with that mystery too if you don't figure it out yourself." Jacob was already a few steps out the door when he thought he heard Sirius mutter, "Will probably need all the help he can get to solve that one."
"Come in." Was the response to his knock on the door.
After a moment Jacob entered the room, looking none the worse for wear given the previous night's activities. Lupin and Sirius watched him enter with smiles on their faces.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Bas… You know what, I'm not really a teacher anymore after last night. What can I help you with, Jacob?
"After explaining things to my friends, they… took my actions poorly. Megan and Tracey demanded I come to apologize and for some reason both started butting heads over the fact one of them should be with me in the future to stop such a situation occurring again." Jacob appeared confused on the last part.
Sirius snorted and seemed about to start laughing or saying something before Lupin forced his hand over his friend's mouth. "I'm afraid," Remus answered while looking amused, "that that is a mystery you will have to work out for yourself."
Jacob looked thoughtful as he nodded and began speaking again. "Regardless, I do want to apologize. For calling you a bad teacher and, how did Justin put it, smashing on all your triggers."
Sirius did laugh at that.
"Jacob, while I may have been a competent teacher, how I treated you was wrong. Both you and Harry proved me wrong last night after all. I do apologize for that. So, tell me, what form does your patronus take?"
"A wolf." Jacob answered bluntly. Lupin raised his eyebrows, impressed while Sirius let out a whistle. After a moment of silence to see if he would say any more, Lupin continued.
"In spite of what my feelings were, last night proved I should not have been a teacher. I put everyone in danger. I really have you to thank, Jacob. For so much. You saved many lives last night. You made sure Harry, Ron, Hermione, and yourself weren't bitten. You made sure I was trapped in the forest until the night was over. You even caught Peter, ensuring that Severus, in spite of his feelings, would do the right thing. And because of that, and your and Harry's patroni, Sirius won't get kissed."
"He's right, kid. Last thing I want is to snog a dementor. I owe you a lot."
"Well," Jacob said turning to Sirius, "I heard that your family had a sizable library, or barring that," The two adults had had surprised and slightly antsy looks on their faces for a moment, "I certainly wouldn't mind the assistance of two wizards that were able to learn the animagus process at around my age."
"You want to become an animagus? Excellent! While you may be the most Moony like of the old Marauders you could definitely join Harry in the next generation."
Jacob didn't look entirely pleased with that sentiment but before he could respond there was a pounding on the door.
"Come in!" Lupin called, like he had only several minutes earlier. The door was flung open to reveal Harry Potter panting, probably from running all the way from the Great Hall to the office after hearing the news of Lupin's exit from the school.
"You… you… aren't leaving are you?
Jacob hadn't really been dismissed, but he started to edge his way out as Harry came in and took more of the attention. Lupin came forward and started talking with Harry but before Jacob could fully make his escape Sirius put his hand down on the boy's shoulder.
"If you want some pointers on the animagus process, I'd be happy to help with that. It wouldn't take out even half of the debt I owe you. Feel free to head out. Update those two girls on everything and make sure they know you took their advice to heart. Trust me, they'll be happy to hear it if you word it like that." Sirius patted his shoulder once before letting go and letting him make his way out the door. "I'll try to give you help with that mystery too if you don't figure it out yourself." Jacob was already a few steps out the door when he thought he heard Sirius mutter, "Will probably need all the help he can get to solve that one."
"Come in." Was the response to his knock on the door.
After a moment Jacob entered the room, looking none the worse for wear given the previous night's activities. Lupin and Sirius watched him enter with smiles on their faces.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Bas… You know what, I'm not really a teacher anymore after last night. What can I help you with, Jacob?
"After explaining things to my friends, they… took my actions poorly. Megan and Tracey demanded I come to apologize and for some reason both started butting heads over the fact one of them should be with me in the future to stop such a situation occurring again." Jacob appeared confused on the last part.
Sirius snorted and seemed about to start laughing or saying something before Lupin forced his hand over his friend's mouth. "I'm afraid," Remus answered while looking amused, "that that is a mystery you will have to work out for yourself."
Jacob looked thoughtful as he nodded and began speaking again. "Regardless, I do want to apologize. For calling you a bad teacher and, how did Justin put it, smashing on all your triggers."
Sirius did laugh at that.
"Jacob, while I may have been a competent teacher, how I treated you was wrong. Both you and Harry proved me wrong last night after all. I do apologize for that. So, tell me, what form does your patronus take?"
"A wolf." Jacob answered bluntly. Lupin raised his eyebrows, impressed while Sirius let out a whistle. After a moment of silence to see if he would say any more, Lupin continued.
"In spite of what my feelings were, last night proved I should not have been a teacher. I put everyone in danger. I really have you to thank, Jacob. For so much. You saved many lives last night. You made sure Harry, Ron, Hermione, and yourself weren't bitten. You made sure I was trapped in the forest until the night was over. You even caught Peter, ensuring that Severus, in spite of his feelings, would do the right thing. And because of that, and your and Harry's patroni, Sirius won't get kissed."
"He's right, kid. Last thing I want is to snog a dementor. I owe you a lot."
"Well," Jacob said turning to Sirius, "I heard that your family had a sizable library, or barring that," The two adults had had surprised and slightly antsy looks on their faces for a moment, "I certainly wouldn't mind the assistance of two wizards that were able to learn the animagus process at around my age."
"You want to become an animagus? Excellent! While you may be the most Moony like of the old Marauders you could definitely join Harry in the next generation."
Jacob didn't look entirely pleased with that sentiment but before he could respond there was a pounding on the door.
"Come in!" Lupin called, like he had only several minutes earlier. The door was flung open to reveal Harry Potter panting, probably from running all the way from the Great Hall to the office after hearing the news of Lupin's exit from the school.
"You… you… aren't leaving are you?
Jacob hadn't really been dismissed, but he started to edge his way out as Harry came in and took more of the attention. Lupin came forward and started talking with Harry but before Jacob could fully make his escape Sirius put his hand down on the boy's shoulder.
"If you want some pointers on the animagus process, I'd be happy to help with that. It wouldn't take out even half of the debt I owe you. Feel free to head out. Update those two girls on everything and make sure they know you took their advice to heart. Trust me, they'll be happy to hear it if you word it like that." Sirius patted his shoulder once before letting go and letting him make his way out the door. "I'll try to give you help with that mystery too if you don't figure it out yourself." Jacob was already a few steps out the door when he thought he heard Sirius mutter, "Will probably need all the help he can get to solve that one."
But I feel like this could be a really funny contrast to what we get in the quest, if the rolls don't favor us. Let us hope it doesn't end as a dream, that Jacob wakes up from to realize most of everyone is dead or a werewolf now.
Hey, the rest of the plans are using ALL the time Echoes... So you are trusting the dice Gods significantly more than the rest of us...
But yeah we have to train all the attributes at least up to 6 and then get use the level-ups to advance... And then train the core skills significantly Without forgetting to do other things to keep Our Dude sane... TBH I hope that we manage to keep the time turner at the end of the month so that we can use Hermione´s Technique to get into more classes and cubs the next year...
And about the Mastery thingy... Seeing that the Protego (Mastery) requires arithmancy I am pretty sure that for most Spells the Deep Understanding is the most we can do by "learning" to go beyond that is actually creating a new spell.
I can see three possible ways for us to snag a time turner.
1) We steal Hermione's one (It was destroyed by the werewolf mr auror, I promise!")
2) We get Nicholas to make us one/teach us to make one
3) We get one from the ministry the same way Hermione did.
In fairness I hadn't read any of the discussion after the update yet, I've been away from my computer since saturday and wanted to get my thoughts down before the vote ended. Nice to see every one is already feeling we need to be cautious frankly I'm more or less okay with any of the TE plans winning.
Thanks for the Timeturner! I am keeping this! Woop Woop Woop Woop!
But more seriously, if this ends up working I can see Dumbledore and McGonagall allowing us to keep it, since getting it back from a Werewolf, using it to save our companions, and figuring out how to create a stable time loop to resolve this seems to suggest that we would be relatively worthy of using it.
Thanks for the Timeturner! I am keeping this! Woop Woop Woop Woop!
But more seriously, if this ends up working I can see Dumbledore and McGonagall allowing us to keep it, since getting it back from a Werewolf, using it to save our companions, and figuring out how to create a stable time loop to resolve this seems to suggest that we would be relatively worthy of using it.
I could see Dumbledore letting us keep it, maybe Flitwick, but McGonagall is much too strict imo. I do think keeping the time turner would be amazing and absolutely something we should do if possible. But if it doesn't work out that way then we can probably get one via Nicholas somehow or through the ministry legitimately next year because our grades will be amazing.
I think my biggest question about the situation is
where did the first jacob get the time turner he used on lupin from?
it's not the one from hermione because peter stole that one, and jacob doesn't go in until after that happened.
and as for as I can see peter just ran away with the one he stole.
I could see Dumbledore letting us keep it, maybe Flitwick, but McGonagall is much too strict imo. I do think keeping the time turner would be amazing and absolutely something we should do if possible. But if it doesn't work out that way then we can probably get one via Nicholas somehow or through the ministry legitimately next year because our grades will be amazing.
I think my biggest question about the situation is
where did the first jacob get the time turner he used on lupin from?
it's not the one from hermione because peter stole that one, and jacob doesn't go in until after that happened.
and as for as I can see peter just ran away with the one he stole.
I was meaning that we could use our amazing grades as justification to gain a timeturner and take more classes. I'd also like to do more clubs as well, charms and potions club are the ones I want to do the most, I think we could have some cool interactions and get some very nice bonuses.
I was meaning that we could use our amazing grades as justification to gain a timeturner and take more classes. I'd also like to do more clubs as well, charms and potions club are the ones I want to do the most, I think we could have some cool interactions and get some very nice bonuses.
Well, I would personally prefer to go for Care of Magical Creatures and Magical Creatures club... As we have seen Hagrid is awesome an the projects unlocked by it are really cool...
Those are nice options as well, I'd definitely want to take the COM class and I'd be willing to swap creatures club for potions, but if we had to go for only one extra club I'd rather go charms club personally. Learning more spells is always good and will help us on our adventures more I feel.
But that all comes down to just how many extra actions a timeturner would give, maybe we'd get enough actions to make an extra class and three clubs worthwhile and we wouldn't have to choose.
Those are nice options as well, I'd definitely want to take the COM class and I'd be willing to swap creatures club for potions, but if we had to go for only one extra club I'd rather go charms club personally. Learning more spells is always good and will help us on our adventures more I feel.
But that all comes down to just how many extra actions a timeturner would give, maybe we'd get enough actions to make an extra class and three clubs worthwhile and we wouldn't have to choose.
I mean we can already choose another class and another club in exchange for having 8 actions instead of 10
With the timeturner we should at least be able to take those extra clubs/classes for free, an probably get another 2-4 extra class/club without sacrificing any actions
"Come in." Was the response to his knock on the door.
After a moment Jacob entered the room, looking none the worse for wear given the previous night's activities. Lupin and Sirius watched him enter with smiles on their faces.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Bas… You know what, I'm not really a teacher anymore after last night. What can I help you with, Jacob?
"After explaining things to my friends, they… took my actions poorly. Megan and Tracey demanded I come to apologize and for some reason both started butting heads over the fact one of them should be with me in the future to stop such a situation occurring again." Jacob appeared confused on the last part.
Sirius snorted and seemed about to start laughing or saying something before Lupin forced his hand over his friend's mouth. "I'm afraid," Remus answered while looking amused, "that that is a mystery you will have to work out for yourself."
Jacob looked thoughtful as he nodded and began speaking again. "Regardless, I do want to apologize. For calling you a bad teacher and, how did Justin put it, smashing on all your triggers."
Sirius did laugh at that.
"Jacob, while I may have been a competent teacher, how I treated you was wrong. Both you and Harry proved me wrong last night after all. I do apologize for that. So, tell me, what form does your patronus take?"
"A wolf." Jacob answered bluntly. Lupin raised his eyebrows, impressed while Sirius let out a whistle. After a moment of silence to see if he would say any more, Lupin continued.
"In spite of what my feelings were, last night proved I should not have been a teacher. I put everyone in danger. I really have you to thank, Jacob. For so much. You saved many lives last night. You made sure Harry, Ron, Hermione, and yourself weren't bitten. You made sure I was trapped in the forest until the night was over. You even caught Peter, ensuring that Severus, in spite of his feelings, would do the right thing. And because of that, and your and Harry's patroni, Sirius won't get kissed."
"He's right, kid. Last thing I want is to snog a dementor. I owe you a lot."
"Well," Jacob said turning to Sirius, "I heard that your family had a sizable library, or barring that," The two adults had had surprised and slightly antsy looks on their faces for a moment, "I certainly wouldn't mind the assistance of two wizards that were able to learn the animagus process at around my age."
"You want to become an animagus? Excellent! While you may be the most Moony like of the old Marauders you could definitely join Harry in the next generation."
Jacob didn't look entirely pleased with that sentiment but before he could respond there was a pounding on the door.
"Come in!" Lupin called, like he had only several minutes earlier. The door was flung open to reveal Harry Potter panting, probably from running all the way from the Great Hall to the office after hearing the news of Lupin's exit from the school.
"You… you… aren't leaving are you?
Jacob hadn't really been dismissed, but he started to edge his way out as Harry came in and took more of the attention. Lupin came forward and started talking with Harry but before Jacob could fully make his escape Sirius put his hand down on the boy's shoulder.
"If you want some pointers on the animagus process, I'd be happy to help with that. It wouldn't take out even half of the debt I owe you. Feel free to head out. Update those two girls on everything and make sure they know you took their advice to heart. Trust me, they'll be happy to hear it if you word it like that." Sirius patted his shoulder once before letting go and letting him make his way out the door. "I'll try to give you help with that mystery too if you don't figure it out yourself." Jacob was already a few steps out the door when he thought he heard Sirius mutter, "Will probably need all the help he can get to solve that one."
Thank you for writing the first Omake of the story As we are in the midst of the third-year epilogue, I will bank the bonus for a moment. Feel free to write me a PM if you have an idea for something that you could get for this (Story-wise or non-story).
[X] Alive and well - Prioritize keeping Black, Pettigrew and Lupin alive. This will impact the rolls against you. When one tries to get it all … one might lose it all.
[X] Plan As All Things Should Be – 5 TE for [Werewolf Fight], 5 TE for [Saving Potter], 5 TE for [Last Act]
Present Date: 16th June 1994
Current Wand: Fagus wood, Phoenix feather core
Running on air, your feet were pounding against the invisible surface below your boots as you raced towards the Forbidden Forest. The warm wind of the summer night whipped through your hair. Tonight, you could feel the magic coursing through your veins and it was fueling you, adding energy to your movements.
With every step, you fell deeper into a zone that you had rarely experienced before. Doubt left your mind, leaving clarity and a calm self-confidence in its wake. Superfluous thoughts stopped bothering you, emotions, both negative and positive lost their vibrance.
Soon, you reached the border of the Forbidden Forest. As you continued over it, you could see the trees rush past below you, their leaves rustling in the breeze. The sense of freedom and exhilaration that you would usually feel, was now far away and faint. You were defying the laws of physics and gravity, but tonight, it was simply not important.
The Ghostly Goggles on your eyes made the forest below look almost otherworldly. Looking through the enchanted glasses, the world around you was tinted in a faint silvery color as you saw some traces of life. You had built a tool that had come naturally to you, allowing you to see into a different world. A dimension that was inhabited by souls, ghosts and spirits. You were closer to this place than most people who had lived a hundred years longer than you.
It felt familiar to you, because you knew; deep down, a truth was clear. This world between death and life was the place that you had been born in. The sensation that had went through you, when you put on the Goggles … it was like returning home.
Even before your body had been growing inside your mother's womb, your soul had been created in this very place.
Breath in. Breath out.
You continued running.
First you passed a deer mother and its children. They were sleeping calmly as you ran above the trees, high up in the sky. Then you passed a flock of resting birds, their silvery frame shining up to you through wood and leaves. A pack of wolves was wandering towards the same direction that you were running too. The silver trails that they left behind showed that they were unsure if to further approach. Their souls were agitated.
On any other night, the night feared them.
This time, the wolfs feared the night.
You continued running towards the north, in search of the king of the forest that was Remus Lupin. A time traveler that had the one tool you now needed the most.
As you continued running, you spotted something strange in the distance. The goggles on your eyes revealed a massive nest of Acromantulas, their silvery bodies wriggling and moving in unison. You slowed your pace, trying to be as faint a present as possible as you moved above the nest, trying to cut the closest route towards your goal. The spiders were so focused on their work and the forest around them, that they didn't seem to notice you at first. But as you got closer, one of them lifted its head and looked directly at you.
The spider that had noticed you was the largest among the horde. It was as wide as multiple trees and as long a cart. When it looked up at you, it called to war.
A shriek went through the night. A battle scream that should, but did not agitate you in the state of mind you were in. With a burst of energy, you took off running again, as some spiders tried to climb up the trees to reach you, only to come short in their jump and fall towards the ground again.
You did not wait for them to try new and more creative methods.
And soon enough, they were left behind by your quick movements up in the sky.
You didn't stop running until you were well clear of the nest. Then you took a moment to catch your breath. You were relieved that you had made it through unharmed, but you knew that you couldn't let your guard down. Lupin was still out there somewhere, and you had to find him before it was too late.
As you continued in a light jog, you scanned the forest for any sign of Lupin again. Now, that you were closer to his location on the map, the goggles on your eyes made it easy to spot the faint traces of his presence. You could see the silver footprints he left behind as he moved through the forest. The Shrieking Shack was a long march away and the werewolf had probably been searching for a victim since your attack on him. He would be agitated and angry.
You focused on your breath as you got closer, tried to calm your mind again. You could hear howling in the distance now, so you tried to stay sharp and ready to fight. The picture of a revolting ocean inside your mind started calming as the waves got smaller and the current weaker. Superfluous thoughts were pushed to the sides of your consciousness.
By the time you were close enough to see the silvery frame of the werewolf hidden below the trees, you were completely calm. This would be the hardest thing you had ever tried … but you knew that you would win.
You raised your wand arm and pointed the wooden tool in your hand towards the werewolf in the distance.
"Fagus wood and phoenix feather," Nicolas had said years ago, when you had first held onto the wand that had chosen you. You were amongst his many inventions in the workshop, with Perenelle, your mother and father watching you attentively.
The process of finding a fitting wand had taken many hours. Not because you tried that many of the wands, but because in between each failing attempt, Nicolas had sat down to think long and hard, before trying a new one with you.
"Beech does not perform well with the narrow-minded and intolerant," Nicolas said. "And phoenix magic is always very picky when it comes to a potential owner." He came closer to you, bowing down with an energy and quickness unbecoming to his old age. His eyes were sharp as he looked at you. "You will be having a difficult time taming this one and win its allegiance, dear boy."
You looked up at your parents. They had waited with you, not leaving your side even though the ordeal had taken most of the day. The sorrow on your mother's face disappeared when she saw you smile at her.
"I got a wand!" You said.
The wand in your hand was lifeless.
You did not notice that it was waiting for something. For months your wand had felt different, but it had been barely noticeable. As if it was waiting, anticipating something.
Remus Lupin. Sirius Black. Peter Pettigrew.
Three names that had meant little to you a year ago who now were at the center of your obsessions. You were confronted with a most difficult decision. What would you do to get what you wanted most? How much did you value other people's freedoms and lives against your curiosity and drive for answers?
The easy way ahead was clear and visible in front of you.
Lupin was alone and you would trap and surround him, all by yourself. You could start by burning his surroundings, forcing him into a specific direction. Soon he would be pushed into a full nest of Acromantula. Not even a transformed werewolf would come out of that fight alive.
And then, once distracted in a full out war between beasts, you would snatch up the Time Turner and disappear into the past. Remus Lupin would not survive the night, but his destiny was not yours to deal with.
Then, once you were in the past, you would wait and let things play out. You would let Lupin hurt Black first and throw the werewolf back in time once he moved against Potter, to be maimed by spiders in a fight against a different version of you. Soon, you would follow up on Pettigrew. You would attack him without mercy and catch him off guard. And you would get all answers out of this Rat-man. Willingly or not.
It would be so very easy to do that.
Your wand pulsed once. Then it lay dormant again. This you noticed. It was waiting for your decision.
"I don't mind hurting Pettigrew to get what I want," you whispered, explaining yourself to the tool that had chosen you in a workshop on a small Mediterranean island.
The rat had lured a werewolf onto children's doorsteps to make his own escape.
"I don't know what happened to Sirius Black," you said. "But I want to find out. And I want to keep him alive, even if it is for egoistical reasons."
Your wand was still waiting.
"And with the professor …" You kept pointing the wand at the silver figure hidden below the trees in the distance. "I might have committed the same mistake again."
The Grey Lady, the Meerpeople and then Lupin. You had been lost in minor and major obsessions time and time again, disregarding the people around you. You thought of Nally saving you in a fight against Dementors, of Megan crying, of Justin sharing his trauma. You remembered Tracey standing up against her peers to support you, Luna without shoes as she climbed the Ravenclaw tower. They had feelings and emotions. Their thoughts and wishes were just as valuable as yours.
You knew that. But there was more to caring for people than just choosing at random who was important to you and who was not.
The silver shadow of the werewolf turned around into your direction, his head high in the air.
You were getting strong. Much stronger than was reasonable for someone your age. Soon, you would eclipse any student of Hogwarts, then most adult wizards … and you knew, like you knew that the sun would set in the morning, that at some point you would stand at the highest echelons atop wizard kind.
Your wand started vibrating, like it had years ago in Nicolas' workshop.
There had to be a decision soon what your imprint on the world would be. Was Jacob Marvan Basques a net positive to the world or was he not?
You had never been an unreflective fool. You could see the chaos you left behind in your wake. Acknowledging the sense of superiority that dwelled inside you was easy. And while you could not fight the egoism that defined you, you could acknowledge the hurt it had caused in those around you.
"I do not like Lupin," you whispered finally. "But I can't let him die for this." You could not trample the weak just because it was the easier path.
The simple way ahead closed for you. Instead, a much harder path opened.
"No one will die tonight." You spoke.
Sparks left your wand, before you moved it for your first spell of the night: "Diffindo."
A thick branch of the tree below was cleanly cut off. Before gravity had the ability to pull it down to the ground, your second spell hit home: "Avifors." Wood turned into leathery skin, as a dozen bats began their glide through the forest. They evaded a thick tree, half of the swarm moving right, the other half left. Soon enough they had encircled the werewolf that was still looking up at the sky, into the general direction of yours.
While it could not see you above the trees, it seemed to be smelling you.
Another branch was cut off a tree below. This time it turned into a small dragon.
You moved again, walking over the trees to close in on the position of the werewolf. Soon enough, you were standing high above him. While you were still hidden from his view, you could see that he was turning to all sides, trying to spot where the smell came from that he had noticed.
The dragon would keep the attention of the werewolf first, then the bats would swarm in from all sides and try to take out the Time Turner that was hanging around the werewolf's neck. Simple in and out for you, while you were waiting in a safe spot above the trees.
Problem was, that smooth plan did not work.
Lupin moved a hundred feet below.
He propelled himself upwards, bouncing up from a branch above him to push himself further. High up in the air a face with an elongated snout broke through the leaves.
Twenty feet away, the yellow glowing eyes were laser focused on you as the werewolf shot towards you, ignoring all the bats you had enchanted below. One arm was pointing down, having pushed him up, the other arm was gunning for you.
The werewolf was only five feet away, his arm moving upwards as the curved claws on his long and thin fingers reached for your body. Your wand was already moving.
"Protego!" You shouted. A bright light appeared between you and Lupin.
Your shield stood strong and impenetrable, but the force of the hit was so strong that it threw you away with it. Air was forced out of your lungs when the wolf crashed against your shield and you. Both of you came to a fall from high up in the air.
A hundred feet to the ground. Then only eighty. You fell through branches, scratching your face open. The wand in your hand stayed secure, but you failed in trying to grab on for support, still dazed by the sudden hit.
Sixty feet.
You tried to turn your body around and come down feet first to use your boots against the air but were thrown against a branch that broke a rip. You were forcefully thrown around your axis and crashed against the tree. Your free arm reached out, tried to grab anything. It failed.
Thirty feet.
Your boot pushed against air, almost breaking your leg in return before you let the air dissipate again. Another branch you fell through, hurting you but slowing you down just a little bit. Blinded and disoriented you tried to grab for it, but you were too weak to hold on.
Twenty feet.
Another push against air that you reflexively canceled out before breaking your leg. It slowed you down enough to try again.
Ten feet.
This time you pushed through. The force that went through your legs, hips and back sent a shock of pain through you but with it, you finally came to a stop. The werewolf touched ground next to you at the same moment.
There was a metallic taste in your mouth, and you felt the hot sensation of fresh wounds all over your hands, face and arms. But right now, there was no time to care for injuries.
"Protego!" You screamed just before the wolf crashed into the newly erected shield again. Again, it held … and again were you thrown back by the force of it. You were tossed backwards from your position ten feet above the ground. Even though you were disoriented, you were able to move the swarm of bats and the small dragon with your thoughts.
They shot forwards as one from behind you and pushed against your shoulders and back just with enough momentum for your upper body to move forward. Turning around, you were now able to put your feet up against the direction you had been thrown and push against air.
You came to a stop with your body parallel to the ground.
The wolf had surprised you once with his speed and power. It would not do so again.
Before you fell from the position, you had moved your wand in a circle and said: "Immobulus!" The binding charm hit the werewolf square on, stopping its movement with invisible restrains.
Gravity pulled you down and you used the speed to spin around just enough for you to jog down an invisible set of stairs.
You had no illusions that the spell would hold for long. And you were right; Lupin was already able to push against the immobilization as his arms started to move forwards in slow motion.
"Glacius" you said, pointing at one of his feet. Some ice formed around his elongated foot, but the spell was too slow. The werewolf was walking in a slow pace again. It pushed against the invisible magic constraining it and the immobilization spell broke.
"Flipendo!"
The next claw-attack missed you. A pushing spell against the head, a half-frozen foot slowing it down and a small dragon that crashed into its side. In total, it was enough for Lupin to lose his footing. His neck stretched when his head was thrown back.
Time froze for a second as you saw the perfect chance to finish the fight.
One cutting charm against the open neck … and the fight would have been over.
Damn the easy path.
Instead, you let your bats swarm him to distract him just long enough for another: "Glacius!" You were running on air around him as you pointed at his legs. Five more seconds. Four more seconds. His feet were starting to catch on to the ground below and his movements were much stiffer than before.
A howl went through the forest. The werewolf was shouting in frustration and anger.
He pushed his arms to the ground, ignored the swarm of bats around him and pushed himself forward again, jumping towards you. This time it was not trying to claw you to death; his mouth was wide open instead. Lupin was going to bite you.
Not today.
The dragon that you had transformed earlier appeared between Lupin and you. You barely moved your wand to end the spell. And suddenly, the dragon was only a thick branch that was levitating between you and a very angry werewolf.
"Flipendo!" You shouted.
The momentum of a lounging werewolf added to the momentum of a forcefully propelled piece of wood was an exercise in Arithmancy that you had not thought of before and while it would take you a little bit to calculate the exact force … you were able to see the effect right before you.
Lupins head was thrown back, while the body below him was still moving forwards. He turned around his own axis twice before crashing down on the ground.
Then something was shining faintly in the moonlight. You reached out to it and caught the necklace that had been ripped off its holder, before you heard the loud 'thump' of the werewolf hitting the ground.
The necklace you held in your hand was thin and made from gold. There were delicate engravings and intricate designs on the exterior, leading down to the tiny hourglass that contained an unknown substance in it.
"Well, Professor Lupin," you said, pulling the necklace over your head and looking at the unconscious werewolf. "That will be quite the headache tomorrow!"
By the time, the beast came back to its senses, he was alone in this part of the forest.
Round 1:
1d100+81 #Jacob Attack I (+5 Time Echoes) = (7 + 81) 88
1d100+80 #Werewolf Defense I = (76 + 80) 156 → Jacob gets hurt!
1d100+90 #Werewolf Attack I = (30 + 90) 120
1d100+96 #Jacob Defense I (+5 Time Echoes) = (12 + 96) 108 → Jacob gets hurt!
Round 2:
1d100+71 #Jacob Attack II (+5 Time Echoes - Malus 10) = (79 + 71) 150
In between the two directions of time, everything had stopped while it waited for your decision to move forward.
Wind did not breeze past you, the world froze its spinning, and people held their breath. An eternity between two seconds, as the construct of the universe figured out in which direction it needed to flow next.
And then, causality returned, the fabric of space and time went back to the perceived normal. The first second ticked by again.
You fell to the ground, panting and gasping for air. Your back, legs and hips hurt. The soft textile that usually covered your underarms had ripped, letting air flow over the bleeding abrasion below. The skin on your face felt raw and you tasted blood in your mouth.
All things considered; this had gone unreasonably well.
Trying your best to sit up, you tried to calm your breath.
The place around you showed nothing of the combat that had happened moments earlier. Well … not moments earlier, but in two hours from now rather.
The ground was covered in thick moss, the trees and branches above were untouched and healthy, the animals around were lazily moving around, not having noticed your arrival from a future unknown to them.
Step one had been successful, but very difficult. How to continue next?
You brought your map out of your pocket and folded it up on the ground in front of you. You let your wand drop next to it and started analyzing the drawings and dots that moved over them.
You were close to the northern border of the map. Here you could see the dot with your name on it, deep inside the forbidden forest. Now you had to see where you would find the other player that was important for this game of time travel.
At this moment in time, Past-Jacob should be walking towards the owlery. Your eyes wandered to the south, searching for a familiar dot in or near the castle; and there you found him. Standing next to a dot with the name Megan Jones. The dots were moving out of the Great Hall, having eaten a late dinner together, before she would wish you a good night. Soon afterwards you would sneak out of a window on the second floor and use your boots to escape the castle and climb into the owlery.
You looked around the castle, searching for Lupin. And you found him, where you suspected his bed. He was not moving and would stay like this for half an hour, before standing up to move into another room. After a short stay there, he would be in bed again for about an hour, in which your Past-Self would be lamenting himself and hating on the world.
After that hour you had seen Lupin start to move irrationally through his chambers. You had suspected the transformation there.
Everything was as expected.
Well, most of everything. There was one thing you had not seen before; Peter Pettigrew was in the room next to Lupin. And very suspiciously, he was at the exact spot where Lupin had moved to around half an hour before turning into a werewolf.
You had not seen the rat the first time around, but it seemed as if there was more foul play at hand than you had thought before.
As you reached for the hourglass hanging from your neck, you saw a few possible next steps.
[ ] Trust in Yourself – Your Future-You had given you a clear command. He had been in the exact same situation you were in right now, but he had chosen to let Pettigrew do whatever he had wanted to do and attack at the exact moment that he showed you. He had likely gotten the same instructions from a future version of him and so on. An infinite number of stable loops that some version of you, in a faraway time had created for a reason. This had to be the best possible solution, if any version of you had settled with it.
[ ] I will try again – Go back one more hour and try to catch Pettigrew before he does whatever he is trying to do in Lupin's chambers. This was the most obvious choice, even if you asked yourself why Future-You had not done so himself. But you needed to keep in mind; this version of Pettigrew that you were looking for also owns a Time Turner.
Well, we finished this without getting bitten and without having to kill Lupin...
That is pretty amazing and a good investment of our time echoes.
I will probably vote for [ ] Trust in Yourself I don´t know how time paradoxes work in the Wizarding World but I doubt that it will be nice for everyone involved, and if "Future us" didn´t get Pettigrew on his way it must have been by something, probably to nullify the "I Have a Time Machine" advantage... View: https://youtu.be/kC6wdfk2M98?t=24
[X] Trust in Yourself – Your Future-You had given you a clear command. He had been in the exact same situation you were in right now, but he had chosen to let Pettigrew do whatever he had wanted to do and attack at the exact moment that he showed you. He had likely gotten the same instructions from a future version of him and so on. An infinite number of stable loops that some version of you, in a faraway time had created for a reason. This had to be the best possible solution, if any version of you had settled with it.
Let's not get greedy where potential paradoxes are concerned. Stable loops are the best loops.
You did not notice that it was waiting for something. For months your wand had felt different, but it had been barely noticeable. As if it was waiting, anticipating something.
I wouldn't say that they were garbage, our rolls at the beginning were decent, good even, remus just rolled better.
except for defense 1, that was terrible
edit: wait, I keep mixing up the actual roll part for us and remus, round 1 went terrible
As we are in the midst of the third-year epilogue, I will bank the bonus for a moment. Feel free to write me a PM if you have an idea for something that you could get for this (Story-wise or non-story).
