For the class, I would personally rather take the hit on the actions seeing as we can brew wideye potions. Also Magical Theory and Arithmacy is directly tied to spell creation and likely spell modification as well. It's not something we want to slack on and certainly not an area I want Jacob to merely keep up with other students in, it's too important in my opinion.
While I also consider Arithmancy really important, we can always train it until we reach Charms or potions level and let it progress naturally with a single level up each semester.
As for another club? I would like to just keep on with dueling club and swap out runes for charms. Charms seems like the type of club that has monthly training rolls or something and would likely dramatically increas Jacob's spell repitore. I wouldn't be against sticking with runes or going to potions as well on top of that.
I also find Charms and Potions clubs really interesting and useful, BUT I find the Magical Creatures projects that we have unlocked really powerful, interesting, and unique... So I am given Magical Creatures club priority over them
The main problem is that last year we only had 3 slots for clubs, ... I hope that with the extra motivation that Jacob may have this year of taking part in more social activities or group projects we will be able to get into 4 or 5 clubs even if it cost us actions, but since we cannot confirm that yet we will have to prioritise certain options over the others.
Guys, since we are only a couple of months before the next course, we should start thinking about what we want to do with the clubs and classes
Regarding the classes it is quite straightforward, we should probably get into Care for Magical Creatures both to level it up and because our interactions with Hagrid are awesome... The main dilemma with this is whether we should pick another extra class in exchange for one action or leave Arithmancy or Magic theory since they level up the same skill ...
What to do with the clubs is much more difficult and frankly much more interesting than mere classes since they give us training, new projects, and social interactions that I would gladly exchange 2-3 actions per month if we could enter 4-5 clubs... I have a few things that we should think about when choosing them.
The obvious one in which we want to remain is the Dueling Club, it gives us a bonus for training on training several skills, extra XP each turn, and the final tournament... But this may not be possible since, due to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Quidditch was canceled and it may happen the same with the Duel Club...
Besides that, I would love to join the Magical Creatures club, if only because it is bound to unlock new magical creatures action, and from what we have seen in the Kelpies and Thestrals they are pretty amazing.
The most difficult question regarding the Clubs is whether we should remain in the A.R.C. or try another thing... On one hand, it is interesting to try new things and the clubs of Potions and Charms are really interesting... On the other hand, we already have friends in the A.R.C. and the projects are quite interesting.
For clubs, I'm open to swapping out Ancient Runes Club for something else if Jacob has already found most of what the Runes club has to offer. This year he managed to find some of the Founders own special rooms through the club actions. If there is more to find then I would want to stick with the Runes Club. If not then maybe swap out for another one. But at most Jacob should probably have only two clubs as any more start to bite into his Normal Actions he has available.
Regarding classes, Jacob should probably keep all the ones he currently has. Arithmancy and Magical Theory should stay since they opened up spell modification and they both bump up the same skill which is extremely useful as it allows Jacob to focus his efforts in other areas (and it is honestly perfect for pushing Jacob past the 12 Skill Threshold as is). Not to mention that a high Arithmancy skill is needed in order to learn the Mastered Protego variant which looks amazing. Runes should probably also be stuck with since a lot of Jacob's friends take the same class and if Rune's Club is dropped then this will still allow them to stay in touch. Also Runes is at the point where it can carry Jacob to and over the 12 skill threshold quite nicely.
Tbh, I'm not really sold on the need to get into the Care of Magical Creatures class. It would level it up, that is true, but at the cost of 10 Normal Actions a year (or 5 Personal Actions) Jacob would only get 2 levels up in the class. He could acually level it up faster on his own with self study using less actions.
If Jacob didn't have things to spend his Normal Actions on then I would be more open to the idea, but those Normal Actions are going to be sorely needed for the coming year, especially since Jacob just discovered all the Founder's hidden Rooms. He now has more options for things to spend his Normal Actions on than he has ever had before. Not to mention any other opportunities that might pop up during the course of the coming year (which I'm sure something will pop up if things go similar to how they did in Canon).
Right now, with the number of Normal Actions Jacob has he can comfortably work on a Case (2 Normal), an Exploration (3 Normal), and a Social Action (Random Encounter = 1 Normal) and convert his left over Normal actions into a couple of Personal Actions (4 Normal = 2 Personal which is what is usually done). If he takes on any more clubs or classes than he already takes though then things might get a little awkward and some things might have to get cut. Either less exploration, less cases, less social actions, or less Actions dedicated to Personal Training (Attributes, Skills, Spells). Also, note that I didn't even include how the Founder's Rooms, Azkaban Actions, nor the Journal might cut into Jacob's free time/schedule for this example.
In regards to Hagrid interactions, having a class with him doesn't ensure that it will be written about. Some classes that Jacob took this year were only mentioned in passing or barely at all (which isn't a bad thing, you don't want to bloat the story and kill the pacing). Jacob also doesn't necessarily need the class to have interactions with Hagrid as he has interacted with him through Constitution training and in other ways throughout the year. I'm sure if Jacob did independent study of Magical Creatures that he would probably also seek out Hagrid for some insight as well.
So, I noticed that my most recent little omake has been made canon. I apologize if Hermione drags Harry and Ron off during either the train ride home or the one in September back to Hogwarts to find Jacob. Though, I can hope Jacob is in a train car with his friends and fellow Ravenclaws and Hermione words her reasons for looking for him in a way that sounds like attraction so it makes the situation hilarious and awkward for everyone.
For clubs, I'm open to swapping out Ancient Runes Club for something else, but only if Jacob has already found most of what the Runes club has to offer. This year he managed to find some of the Founders own special rooms through the club actions. If there is more to find then I would want to stick with the Runes Club. If not then maybe swap out for another one. But at most Jacob should probably have only two clubs as any more start to bite into his Normal Actions he has available.
I strongly disagree with you, take a look at all the XP that we got from the Duel Club every turn, perks that gave us a flat +20 to learn almost every kind of spell, and how we have transformed normal actions in A.R.C. into training actions... And that without counting the awesome research actions that they have unlocked
While I can see that taking an extra class may not be worth it, I truly believe that getting into as many clubs as possible is an extremely solid investment... Especially if those clubs are related to potions, charms, or magic creatures.
Right now, with the number of Normal Actions Jacob has he can comfortably work on a Case (2 Normal), an Exploration (3 Normal), and a Social Action (Random Encounter = 1 Normal) and convert his left over Normal actions into a couple of Personal Actions (4 Normal = 2 Personal which is what is usually done). If he takes on any more clubs or classes than he already takes though then things might get a little awkward and some things might have to get cut. Either less exploration, less cases, less social actions, or less Actions dedicated to Personal Training (Attributes, Skills, Spells). Also, note that I didn't even include how the Founder's Rooms, Azkaban Actions, nor the Journal might cut into Jacob's free time/schedule for this example.
You seem to have forgotten that with both Wideyes potions available for us to brew we will get a significant number of actions, and that we are nearly at the point at which we won´t be able to keep training our attributes...
So even if we took rhose extra actions for clubs or classes the lose wouldn't be that important
I strongly disagree with you, take a look at all the XP that we got from the Duel Club every turn, perks that gave us a flat +20 to learn almost every kind of spell, and how we have transformed normal actions in A.R.C. into training actions... And that without counting the awesome research actions that they have unlocked
While I can see that taking an extra class may not be worth it, I truly believe that getting into as many clubs as possible is an extremely solid investment... Especially if those clubs are related to potions, charms, or magic creatures.
Yeah, Dueling Club is great I agree and I don't want to drop it. Side note that it gives a +10 in training Charms, Transfiguration or DADA, not a +20. And Runes Club did provide an opportunity for Jacob to up his Rune skill while participating in the club that is true (and it is entirely possible that option may disappear as it looks like all the Runes around Hogwarts have been found and why it may be a good idea to switch it with something else).
The problem with getting into as many clubs as possible is that it cuts into Jacob's ability to explore, socialize, and learn. The bonus to learning some subjects isn't worth it if it causes Jacob to not have enough actions to make use of the opportunities he currently has. If you start piling up clubs, then either Jacob needs to get used to having the minimum number of Personal Actions a month, he needs to take less Cases, less exploration, or less social. Also there is the fact that Jacob doesn't know the bonuses of a club till he takes it. I'm sure all of them offer some nice bonuses, but they may not be what Jacob is looking for at this point in time.
You seem to have forgotten that with both Wideyes potions available for us to brew we will get a significant number of actions, and that we are nearly at the point at which we won´t be able to keep training our attributes...
So even if we took rhose extra actions for clubs or classes the lose wouldn't be that important
No, I didn't forgotten about the Wideyes potions. I took all that into account when I made my reply. The regular Wideye Potion comes with possible side effects and only gives 1 Normal Action (not even mentioning that some Exploration Actions recommend the Wideye Potion being available requiring Jacob to double up on the dose). The Blue Wideye's doesn't apparently have side effects, is the better of the two, and gives 1 extra Personal Action (I do want to make this Potion btw).
Regardless, I think taking both potions in the same month would likely be a mistake. The regular Wideye Potion has possible side effects and I can only assume that taking it regularly or taking both in the same month would be either bad for Jacob's health or lead to him burning out (stress penalties do exist). Nor do I think it is a sustainable solution. Making Potions cost money. With his current funds Jacob can make at most 3 Blue Wideye Potions (the best ones to make) before he is out of funds.
Basically, any plan that requires Jacob to be on potions with possible side effects for the entire year to make ends meet doesn't sound appealing nor healthy.
Edit:
For further example and to get an idea of what time Jacob actually has, his schedule usually looks something like the following:
6 Normal Actions (usually we choose to exchange a few Normal for Personal)
Case (2 Actions)
Exploration (3 Actions)
Personal Encounter (1 Action)
The following are available to Jacob but weren't taken for this example: Hogwarts Founder's Secret (2 Actions), Journal (2 Actions), Splitting Soul (2 Actions), Dementors (5 Actions), Miscellaneous Research (1 Action)
7 Personal Actions (some variation of the following)
1 Attribute
3 Skill Actions
3 Spells
As you can see, without taking any potions or extra clubs Jacob's schedule is still more than full resulting in some things needing to be cut. Even if Jacob had enough funds to take the Blue Wideye Potion every month for the entire year (adding another Personal Action in there), with no extra Clubs taken his schedule would still be full. You add in more clubs on top of that and the guy will be run ragged. What happens when opportunities pop up in the middle of the year? Jacob won't be able to take advantage of them because he doesn't have the actions.
I also think that the Duel Cub is quite awesome, but I am a little worried that we may not be able to join next year because of the Tri-Wizard Tournament... I mean they had to cancel quidditch because the teacher already had their hands full with the Tri-Wizard Tournament and because they needed to use the quidditch field for one of the Tasks
The whole problem with getting into as many clubs as possible is that if you do so you don't actually have enough actions left to make use of the fact or do anything else. It cuts into Jacob's ability to explore, socialize, and learn. The bonus to learning some subjects isn't worth it if Jacob can't actually make much use of the bonus. You start piling up clubs, then either Jacob needs to get used to having the minimum number of Personal Actions a month, he needs to take less Cases, less exploration, or less social. Also, some of the bonuses may be nice, but Jacob doesn't know the bonuses of a club till he takes it. I'm sure all of them offer some nice bonuses, but they may not be what Jacob is looking for at this point in time.
TBH, since the maximum number of clubs that we would be able to join next year is 3-4 I don´t think that taking away one or two actions would be that much of a big deal...
And while the Training benefits are pretty awesome I am more interested in the projects that they will unlock, more cool potions, better spells, and more magical creatures projects... And at least for me, getting that in exchange for 1-2 actions is a worthy deal
I disagree with this. Clubs have generally been places where Jacob has done all three of those things. I don't have a particularly strong preference in terms of what clubs we join, but I do hope if we change clubs we will still spend time with Megan. I also think if we have more things than we have time to do them in, then we will just have to go slower and that is probably fine.
[X] Plan: Catching up with family
-[X] A fathers journey
-[X] A mothers travel
-[X] A Grandfather's obsession
Present Date: 1st July 1994
Current Wand: Fagus wood, Phoenix feather core
The summer sun beat down on you as you stepped off the train, a feeling of excitement and adventure coursing through your veins. You had never traveled such a long distance alone before, and the idea of navigating the muggle world without the help of magic was both thrilling and a little daunting. It had not been by your planning though. Arriving at Kings Cross instead of your father, there had been only a letter waiting for you.
As you picked up the envelope from its hidden position near the place where your father usually waited for you, you immediately noticed the stamp with the image of the Tower of London.
Very interesting. Why would it have a stamp?
You carefully examined it, noting the postmark but that there was no handwriting for an address on it. You flipped the envelope over and noticed that it had been sealed with wax, which had been impressed with a seal you did recognize.
"Interesting," you thought to yourself. It was a symbol you rarely saw, but knew to recognize as your family crest.
You carefully broke the seal and opened the envelope, pulling out a single sheet of paper. On it was a riddle, written in a neat, precise script. You read it over once, your mind working to decipher the meaning behind the words. But beyond the obvious, there truly was nothing of further meaning.
You took the letter and threw it away, making your way out of the station. Only the EnvelopE stayed with you, as you tried to turn it and inspect it further. You cheated, trying to feel if there were remnants of magic, before trying any spells on it.
The riddles your father gave you were supposed to be cutdown if you were ahead. Cheating was part of the game. He learned from that and adapted for future problems that he set up for you. But to your surprise, you found no magic on the paper.
Huh.
Every time you thought you were making good progress, your father liked to make clear to you who the real king of riddles was.
You left the station into the muggle area through a solid wall, without looking up.
That was a clue, wasn't it? Both, envelope and letter had been made of paper. Your mother preferred paper to parchment, but your father was agnostic about these kinds of traditions. His choice could have been an intentional one this time. The envelope had no magic on it and was sporting a muggle stamp. You were supposed to go into the Muggle world. First stop London Tower.
From there it took you two hours and a hunt for clues that made you walk through a big chunk of London you had never seen before to finally acquire a small wallet which provided you with enough Pounds and French Franc for your travel.
This time there was no fancy magic involved with your father's unique lesson in travelling, but some experience in independency instead. You were determined to see it through.
You spent a night in a small town near Cherbourg and made your way from there to arrive in Paris before noon. As you made your way through the bustling streets of Muggle Paris, your old trunk in hand, you couldn't help but marvel at the sights and sounds around you. The towering buildings and honking cars were a far cry from the quaint, wizarding village you called home. You took in the sights with wide-eyed wonder, absorbing every detail and storing them away in your memory.
This was delightful!
A hearty breakfast and some exploration of the unknown muggle parts of Paris later, you found your way back to the familiar platform of the Gare de Lyon in Paris. You knew your way around this part because it was close to the Place Cachée. Perenelle had brought you here a few times in your older years before Hogwarts, wanting for you to take as much of French wizardry-culture in as you could while you were still forming your perception of the world.
Back then she was still pushing for your education at Beauxbatons. And she almost won the race with it, seeing a new culture after having spent all childhood on a small island in the middle of the ocean? You had fallen in love with France and had even taken to find the many balls and events she had dragged you to curious. Interestingly enough, her husband had never joined you. Nicolas had distanced himself from the mortal world long before your birth.
His name turned to myth for many over the decades; a figure that no one but his most trusted had access to.
Suitcase in hand and a sense of excitement coursing through your veins you approached the ticket counter. A few muggles were already standing in line before you, their faces wearing bored expressions, while all of this excitement around them was so dearly fascinating!
Were muggles maybe less empathetic? Asking that … where would they fall in a ranking between conscious beings? How conscious could someone really be without magic? You knew that owls had to be raised a certain way to have them develop most of their intelligence, so maybe the same was true for these non-wizards?
You listened to their chatter, but from you were hearing, they sounded very much normal to you. You needed to find out soon where the truth would fall. Maybe you should ask Justin!
And before that, you should ask someone else to help you on how to formulate the question. 'Justin, are your parents more or less conscious than an owl', sounded wrong even to you.
Finally, the people in front of you cleared the line and it was your turn to step up to the counter.
"Bonjour, je voudrais un billet pour le train à destination de Marseille, s'il vous plaît," you said to the woman behind the counter, smiling at her to show that you meant no harm.
"Bien sûr, monsieur," the woman replied, returning your smile. "Aller simple ou aller-retour?"
"Aller simple, merci," Jacob replied, before handing over the money she asked you for. Well, it had one advantage being a muggle – their currency was much easier to handle than whatever wizards used to come up with. Using a base ten number system was elegant and simple.
The muggle nodded and began typing on a grey tool in front of her that you had never seen before. You leaned over the counter to get a better look at it. It had an illuminated painting that was moving. Fascinating. How did they do that without magic?
"Oui, bien sûr. Il y a un train qui part dans une heure. Il y a encore des places disponibles." The woman added with a smile: "Vous avez besoin d'aide pour trouver votre quai?"
Another tidbit for the future; muggles were very nice creatures! She even asked if she could help you finding the train.
"Non, je pense que je peux y arriver," you said shaking your head and taking your luggage again. "Auriez-vous des repas disponibles dans le train?" Was there going to be food available in the train?
"Oui, il y a un service de restauration à bord," the woman replied, confirming that there would be food. "Bon voyage!"
You gave her a toothy smile and turned around to kill some time before the train arrived.
The hustle and bustle of the station, the smell of croissants and coffee wafting from nearby vendors, and the sound of French being spoken all around you all added to the sense of adventure you felt.
As you boarded the train, you greeted the conductor "Bonjour, monsieur" and showed him your ticket. This muggle was a little less enthusiastic though. He simply nodded and replied "Bon voyage, monsieur" as he directed you to your seat.
They even had as many differences in personalities as normal people! Fascinating.
You soon settled into the assigned seat and watched as the train began to move, taking you further on the journey back home. The train was heading for the south of France, and as the countryside rolled past your window, you took in the freedom and independence that Hogwarts sometimes lacked. You loved your home and family, but the idea of being out in the world on your own was exhilarating. Was this what your father was trying to achieve today? Make you yearn for more? He was certainly succeeding.
A few more years of Hogwarts and then … you could travel the world. There was a long list of places you wanted to see.
You fell asleep at some point over the next few hours, but the very-serious muggle conductor helped you out by waking you at your arrival point. You smiled at him and nodded in thanks before handing him some muggle money. There was a middle-aged man with a moustache on it and a nice round '100'. You had no idea how much five of those bills were, but it did not matter. This was not real money anyway.
The man was certainly surprised by it, but he thanked you profoundly.
You stepped out of the train, took a car to the port and then had quite a difficult time to find a captain that would drive you out to a random barren island in the middle of the sea.
The captain that you finally tried a different tactic with, was a rough-looking man, with a thick beard and weathered skin that spoke of many years spent at sea. He had a gruff demeanor and a stern expression and seemed to take great pride in his boat and his profession. Tall and broad-shouldered, he surely had the sturdy build that seemed to match his profession.
You approached the captain while he was tending to his boat and greeted him with a smile: "Bonjour, monsieur. Je suis à la recherche d'un bateau pour me ramener à mon île." (Good morning, sir. I am looking for a boat to take me back to my island.)
While you explained your wish, you took out a mundane map that your father had prepared for your travel. You were pointing at a small, circled in piece of land in the ocean to the south of the coast.
The captain looked up at the map and then you with a skeptical expression. "Your island? What are you speaking off boy? There is nothing there, just stone and salt."
"I know, sir. It is just an empty island to you, but to me it is my home," you replied with a determined look in your eyes.
The captain scoffed. "Go away and don't bother me again." He made to turn around, when your sack of supplies landed in his boat. A few stacks of those nice one-hundred Franc bills fell out of the open bag and onto the deck.
You followed his expression change rapidly through annoyance, shock, and greed, before he looked back at you. His eyes were wider than before. If nothing else, you had gotten his attention now. "Very well, boy. If you insist, but don't bother me afterwards!"
The boat ride was a novel experience for you, the sea breeze and salty smell of the ocean was something you had only ever seen from the shore. You spent most of the journey standing at the front, leaning against the bow pulpit. The sensation of the boat moving below, the sound of water splashing against the sides of the boat, it was all new. You felt truly alive and happy.
As the boat approached the island, the sense of longing for home got stronger though. You couldn't wait to talk to your parents, to share with them all the things you had seen and experienced on this and past journeys.
Your father was waiting for you at the coast. He was tall, lean and just as imposing a figure as always. His eyes stayed on you for a few moments until you jumped out of the boat to walk a few feet above the water. Before the man behind you had shouted out in surprise to your magic trick, a spell by your father had already hit him. Soon enough, he made to turn his boat and return to his home.
He was a much richer man now, but he would be very confused about the details of his day.
"Papa!" You said, running towards your father to pull him into a tight hug.
His arms did not move much, but you felt the tight pressure of them around your sides.
"Son." The warmth in his voice betrayed his stoic expression.
Present Date: 2nd July 1994
Current Wand: Fagus wood, Phoenix feather core
You walked up the cobblestone path leading to Nicolas Flamel's house. You took the shortest route as always, jumping over the hip high fence into the garden. The garden, usually perfectly well-maintained in all seasons, was now overgrown with weeds. Again you noticed, how a persons influence on the world was best shown in death and the passing of Perenelle left the world behind less ordered and fitting.
Walking up to the wooden door, you knocked on it but couldn't help feeling a sense of unease in the pit of your stomach. You had not seen Nicolas in months, and you knew that the old alchemist's health had been declining. Opening the door yourself, you took a look at the entry area of the large house; it was empty. The insides of the building were multitudes larger than the outside, but it was on a scale that had always made you uncomfortable. It felt barren of life with only the two people living here.
Since Perenelle's death it was even worse. The building felt desolated.
Even now it was completely clean, mind you. Your parents would never allow for a state of decay in their good friend's house, but you felt the absence of Perenelle instantly. There was no life and vibrancy left.
"Nicolas?" You called out into the house. No answer was forthcoming. So, you let yourself in.
You walked past the entry floor and the living area that opened up to the left, without giving it a look. If it was Nicolas that you were looking for, then there was only one room he could be in during the day. Your steps quickly brought you down a set of stairs at the back of the house.
"Nicolas?" You asked again as you entered the workshop and heard some muffled movement. The man who was for most a mythical figure was struggling to walk from a shelf to the right of his workshop back to the center of the room, where a cob of something translucent was hanging from the ceiling.
The man's once sturdy but lean frame was now gaunt and frail. His skin was ashen, and his hair thinning and white as snow. His movements were slow and labored, as if each step was of great effort. Nicolas' hands trembled as he reached for a nearby chair to steady himself, surprised by your entry as if you had not called out for him constantly while walking down the stairs. He looked up at you with a faint smile, but his eyes were still showing shock to your sudden arrival.
"Jacob, my boy," Nicolas said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What an entrance. It's good to see you."
You could see that he was in a bad state, and your heart ached at the sight of the man who had always been so full of life and vitality. Time was finally catching up to him. Even the greatest mind you had ever known could not stand indefinitely against the passage of time, once his tool to cheat death had been destroyed.
"It's good to see you too, Nicolas," you replied softly, trying to keep your voice steady. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," Nicolas said with a chuckle, but the effort made him cough. "But I'm still here, and that's what matters."
You suppressed a sigh of distress, feeling a knot in your stomach and a weight on your lungs.
When Nicolas tried to take another step forward, he stumbled and cried out in pain. You were by his side in a furry of steps, catching him in a tight hug as you pulled him against your weight.
"How about you let me help you out?" You asked, releasing a bit of your pressure on him as soon as you were keeping him up steady.
Nicolas eyes stayed on the ground for a bit. When they came out for you, they were clouded in pain.
"It is so strange," he said struggling with his words. "All these centuries and still it is a surprise to feel the shackles of age. Thank you, my boy." Nicolas' hand reached out for yours as you held onto him closely. He walked a step forward and you followed him, keeping him on his feet.
You brought him to the center of the room, where a single chair was waiting for him, sitting right in front of the mysterious fabric that was hanging down from the ceiling. You helped Nicolas sit, as you had a look on the Alchemists current project.
"Is there anything I can do to help? My father has been helping you, I hope?" You asked, knowing the answer but in need of any positive assurances from the man.
"Yes, yes," Nicolas said, nodding his head. "Your father has been a great help. But my boy. You do not need to coddle me because I am frail. I am old, not senile. Drop the polite act and ask your question."
The sad smile on your face transformed into an honest one, as you looked away from the fabric down to Nicolas and back again to whatever it was that he was creating.
"What are you working on, Nicolas? It looks fascinating … it feels …" you stopped to close your eye and take a deep breath of air through your nose. Energy went through your veins like electricity, making your skin tingle. The room felt as alive as Hogwarts, but all of it was concentrated on a few items that shined bright to your senses.
You stood up, leaving Nicolas on his comfortable chair as you closed in on the hanging fabric. Your fingers were gliding over it, not needing to touch it to feel the magic in it.
"This feels so intense!" You exclaimed, not noticing the pure sense elation on your face that made Nicolas smile in return. "And this over here as well!"
You quickly walked over to a table that had been built against a wall. You remembered days from your childhood. Nicolas had used this place to build a hundred things. You remembered the man standing here with a dozen magnifying glasses in different sizes hanging from the wall that he pulled to his face or pushed away as the need arouse.
This time, it was you that stood in front of the table instead and on it there was a thin piece of wood that had been cut open in the middle. It was a curved stick with an unmistakable shape. He was building a wand.
But there was more still! On the other side of the room, another table. This one with a chair in front of it. There was a glimmering dark stone on it and while it was the smallest of the objects, it was in no way or form weaker in its effect on you.
"What are these things?" You asked, fascinated.
"Come on boy, why are you asking the question?" Nicolas said, following your rapid movements through the room.
"I - …" you said and stopped yourself. Your mind asked a question and answered it by itself. Was he building the Deathly Hallows? Yes, most obviously.
"So, it is not just a simply fairy tale?" You asked instead.
"That I can't say," Nicolas said, surprising you with his answer. You turned to him. His words were slow as he was having some trouble breathing. "But I determined that the objects exist. I myself have heard of two, even if I have seen only one close enough to confirm it with my own eyes."
"You have seen one of the Deathly Hallows? Where? When?" You stepped back to the middle of the room, your eyes focused on the fabric in front of Nicolas.
"It was owned by an old acquaintance of your father, long ago." Nicolas said, his description vague. "I have never gotten around to hold it, but I was close enough to get a sense of it and I have my thoughts about where it is now … but I have not been able to confirm."
"Why are you building them now then? I remember asking you as a kid, but back than you said that the Deathly Hallows were even beyond your abilities." You turned to the old man, that was barely able to hold himself in the chair he was sitting on. But even though his physical form was meek, he looked spirited and strong minded, his eyes glowing.
"And that fact has not changed," he said. His statement confused you, but he did not wait for another question from you to clarify. "What I don't have in capabilities, I may be able to make up with need this time. With every passing day, I find myself closer to an old adversary of mine."
Nicolas's voice was barely a whisper, but he might as well have been shouting. There was no other noise in the entire world for you at this moment.
"I have battled Death longer than any other man has and now I find myself on the bridge, crossing the river. I can sense him, Jacob. A skeletal hand is reaching out for me and while I will not fight him anymore …" your eyes were locked with his. The magic in the room vibrated with his words as if there was more in the room than just you and Nicolas. "I will take one more thing from death before I leave the bridge behind. I will build the Deathly Hallows, my boy."
The workshop fell into silence before Nicolas spoke one more question.
"Will you help me on this endeavor?"
Present Date: 4th July 1994
Current Wand: Fagus wood, Phoenix feather core
You had been sitting in front of the blank canvas since breakfast, staring at it intently. The art workshop was quiet and still, save for the soft sound of your breathing and the occasional rustle of your clothes as you shifted uncomfortably in your seat.
Peque had joined you for a bit but left hours ago through the large windows that illuminated the room. The smell of paint and turpentine was strong in the air, mixed with the faint scent of wood from the easel and the workbench. On the walls, there were paintings and sculptures of various sizes and styles, some finished and some in progress, most of them the work of your parents.
Only one of them was of your own creation. It had not moved since you had put it there before leaving for Hogwarts last time. It was a painting of a crowd, standing in the shadows. In the sea of faceless people there were two pairs dancing. There was Isabella Mia Cortez, young and beautiful as she took the hand of her tall husband David Marvan Basques. Both laughing happily as they danced. On the other side there was Nicolas and Perenelle moving to their own rhythm. Perenelle's hand guiding her husband subtly about where he should go next.
While the painting itself had not changed its position, you had noticed how all other artworks had been moved away from it. You could almost see your mother, making room for your painting with a bright smile on her face, just happy that you had left this behind for them.
Back then your artistic intent had been clear and strong. And again, the familiar sensation was growing in you now. There was a need for creation that had no clear form yet because your mind was a jumble of thoughts and ideas, all vying for your attention. You wanted to create something beautiful, something that would capture the essence of the secrets you had unveiled. But instead of seeing a masterpiece growing in front of your eyes, the canvas stayed white and untouched.
Nothing came to you. Your mind was a mess, not taking the time for introspection and self-reflection had left you adrift amongst your obsessions. You had lost touch to your true self in the lust for answers. Sighing, you let the brush drop back to its place onto a flying wooden tablet and didn't mind it as it flew away, sorting itself into one of the many shelves around the room.
Your heard footsteps. Someone entered the room and walked up to you before a tall woman appeared next to your canvas. "Jacob!" The old woman exclaimed. "Why are you not ready? We need to leave about now," your mother said, a hint of concern in her voice.
You sighed and turned to her. "Is it time already? I'm sorry, I was lost in thoughts. I've been trying to paint something, but I can't seem to find any inspiration."
While you were still a mess, your mother was already dressed. Her dress was fitted, with delicate straps that crisscrossed over her shoulders. The dress merged into a robe as it fell in soft waves to the floor, revealing a pair of elegant silver heels when she moved. A pearl necklace sat around her neck and if you looked at them for long enough, they made all light around you shine in strange colors.
"What's wrong, dear?" she asked, stepping around the canvas to stand next to you. While you were as tall as her standing, you had to look up at her from your current sitting position to match her eyes.
"I don't know what to paint," you replied, feeling frustrated.
Your mother placed a hand on your shoulder. "That's alright, dear. Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places. Maybe tonight, at the ball something will spark your creativity!"
She was trying her best to encourage you, like she always did. But you knew that her idea was no avenue to success.
"That's not how it works for me," you said, shaking your head.
She raised her brows with a curious smile. "Uhh, is it not, dear? What is it then for you. Enlighten the amateur that is your mother!"
This made you smile weakly, but you were still distracted by the unrest that you were feeling. "I need to feel real. I need to find myself before I can paint anything of meaning. Everything else is just … not worth it."
"And right now, you are not feeling like yourself?" Your mother asked-
You shook your head. "I don't know. And I think that's the problem."
"I see," she said in response. "You are so special. I can never get over the fact. The greatest artist I have ever taught, but such a lost one." With those words she grabbed your face with both hands, planting a kiss on your messy hair. "But you'll find your way, my dear," she said reassuringly. "For now, let's get you ready."
"I will get dressed then-…" you tried to say but your mother was already moving.
Her wand appeared in her hand suddenly, a trick that both she and your father loved to show off. You had not gotten a hang of it yet. It was difficult to understand how they did it. A swish and a turn later you felt some tugging at your clothes. Your hair moved on your head as the fabric on your body also transformed.
A few seconds later, you stood there in an elegant wizarding outfit that consisted of a long, flowing robe made of rich, dark fabric. The robe had intricate embroidery on it, something only your mother could create off the cuff as if it was nothing. Golden and silver threads intertwined from the collar to the cuffs. The sleeves were wide and full, giving the impression of grandeur and elegance even for someone like you.
Underneath the robe, you had a crisp, white dress shirt with a high collar and a button-up front. The cuffs of the shirt were adorned with silver buttons again and the collar with a small silver pin.
You smiled at her dearly.
She beamed at you with all her heart.
And then you dropped the robe to the ground carelessly. "I would rather die than wear this," you said, the smile not dropping.
Your mother moved her hand upwards, her wand bringing the robe back to life. It rose and moved in to close around your shoulders again.
"I think you should trust your mother's taste in clothing, son," she said.
You did not answer, instead you took your wand out as well. You pulled the robe off and cast: "Incendio!" pointing at the thing as you threw it. The fireball would have hit it before the robe touched the ground, but something purple intercepted it. Your mother's wand work was quicker than yours still. Another flick of her wand and the robe was on you again.
"Mama," you said calmly, both of you still smiling at each other like psychopaths. "I will burn the house down if that might solve this problem."
"Vamos hijo, solo una vez en tu vida. ¡No seas tan terco!" (Come on son, just once in your life. Dont be so stubborn!) Her smile dropped and her voice was raised in frustration.
"How am I the stubborn one! I have my own clothes that I can wear!" You said, raising your voice as well.
"You are too old to look hideous, Jacob! You are a beautiful young man, and you need to own that with your presence as well!" Her frown was barely overshadowing the smile that she was trying to fight.
"Fine, I will keep the shirt. But I will definitely not wear this …" you said and pointed at your robe. "Monstrosity."
Isabella Cortez' expression until you left the house was only slightly above a serious frown. The two of you left the island, your mother grabbing your arm for side-apparition to the mainland of France.
The only thing that stayed in the house, was a perfectly fine robe, that was actually not a problem for you. By the strong grip around your arm and the fierce look in your mother's eye, you knew that she was very happy right now even if she was trying not to show it.
You had learned long ago, that while they were supremely mindful in leaving you enough space to develop your own personality, both your father and your mother loved every trait of them that you called your own.
And for the fierce woman, who had done nothing by the book all her life? She wanted to see you push against all conventions. No matter if it they came from the world or directly from her.
The event was grand, taking place in a large ballroom inside a castle near Marseille. The ceilings were high, the rooms spacious. French architecture was different than what you had seen across the narrow sea in Britain. Here magic was only used sparingly for blatant show and was often the adornment to the physical architecture instead. Where lights would probably levitate above you in a British building, here the crystal chandeliers were hanging from above. The magic was hidden in the flames. Their light making everything inside the room feel warm and soft.
The castle was an old royal inheritance to the 'Ministere des Affaires Magiques de la France' and it showed in its richness. The walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings, all created by the most renowned artists in wizarding history, some had been taken from the muggle world. The floors were made of gleaming marble and the room was filled with gold enough to fund Gringotts for a year.
You had always asked yourself why the cultures were so different and from the stories Nicolas had told you as a child, it might be because the French had been far less strict in their splitting between muggle and wizarding world until a few hundred years ago.
As you walked through the crowd, you found yourself surrounded by the avant-garde of French wizardry society. Men and women were dressed in elegant robes and dresses, adorned with glittering jewels and fine fabrics. They sipped on glasses of champagne and laughed with one another as they mingled. You could see famous wizarding politicians, businessmen, and artists all in one room, all trying to outdo each other with their wealth and status.
You saw nothing of interest in them.
The fundraiser was more of a ball for the rich and bored than a true attempt at doing something good, but your mother had always preached that good things for bad reasons were good things still.
You stood alone by the refreshment table, going for a small lizard that turned golden as you ate it for a snack. Weirdly enough, you did not feel out of place here. There were way too many people around, mind you, but the event itself? The old Madame had been very particular about some parts of your education. You knew how to act to fit in, that was not the problem. Perenelle had failed in a different regard instead. You did not want to fit in.
And so, you kept to yourself and glanced around the room, observing the guests as they mingled and chatted with one another.
A few people you recognized. There was a giant woman to the back of the room that you waved at. When she saw you, she gifted you a smile and waved herself.
There were some folks that you knew gathering in a group. One of them was a member of the International Confederation that had pestered Perenelle for the ability to get an audience with Nicolas every time he got the chance for it. Today, he had chosen a new avenue; your mother. Isabella Cortez was the star of the evening. She was a famous artist, and one of her paintings was going to be sold as the final art piece of the night.
That by itself might be enough to bother her but both she and your father were known to be close to the Flamels. As you watched, she gracefully made her way through the interested, the stalkers and the confused, only stopping to talk with chosen guests and admirers.
She was handling herself easily enough, so your eyes continued to wander. You saw little curiosities everywhere. Waiters flew around with trays of strange snacks, tables were filled with magical objects on display. You could see a potion that changed color depending on the drinker's mood, a potion that made the drinker's voice sound like a choir of angels, and a potion that made the drinker be drunk. That last one was the most dangerous of them; alcohol.
As you stood alone by the refreshment table, eating the golden reptile, you noticed an imposing figure making her way to you. The woman that you had waved at before was broad and as tall as the largest man you had ever seen. But it was her kind expression that made you smile in anticipation.
Madame Olympe Maxime was beautiful and confident as she approached you, a much smaller person in tow.
"Jacob, my dear," she said as she reached you, "I wanted to come and offer my condolences to you and your family on the passing of Perenelle. She was a remarkable woman and will be greatly missed."
You nodded, feeling a twinge of sadness at the mention of Perenelle's passing. You focused on the sadness and tried to not think of the treacherous hate that you felt for her. At times you could not tell which of the two emotions was stronger. "Thank you, Madame. It has been a difficult time for us, but we are trying to carry on as best we can."
Madame Maxime nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I understand, my dear. It is never easy to lose someone we love."
"A person is only lost, when no one remembers her deeds, Madame. I will remember Madame Perenelle's actions for the rest of my life. I will carry them in my heart," you said with a sad smile.
The headmaster paused for a moment, nodding in agreement before trying her best at changing the topic, "And speaking of loved ones, I would like to introduce you to someone. This is Fleur Delacour, a dear friend of mine and a talented young witch of my school."
She gestured to the young woman standing next to her, who smiled warmly at you. Fleur was a striking figure, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a flowing silver gown that sparkled in the light of the chandeliers. It was clear that she had planned for the effect that her dress would have under this specific light.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jacob," Fleur said, extending her hand for you to take. "The Madame told me that we missed out on you in Beauxbatons."
"A terrible mistake," Madame Maxime said, shaking her head with a mischievous smile on her face. "They sent him to the savages on the island instead! How he is supposed to learn anything there is truly beyond me."
You smiled, appreciating how the headmaster had successfully changed the flow of the conversation and took Fleur's hand to shake it. You knew that the expectation would have been a different one, but while you knew of their manners and polite habits, you could not bring yourself to care for them. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Delacour," you managed to say.
"Please, call me Fleur," the girl said with a smile, not dropping a beat at your faux pas. "Madame Maxime has told me so much about your family and your mother's art as well. I am a great admirer of her work."
You smiled, feeling a small sense of pride at the mention of your mother's art. "Thank you, that is very kind of you to say."
"Not at all," Fleur said with a wave of her hand. "I truly believe that your mother is one of the most talented artists of our time. I have some imitations of her things myself."
The conversation continued as Madame Maxime and Fleur talked about the fundraiser and the painting that was being sold that evening. Fleur seemed genuinely interested in your mother's work and you found yourself enjoying the conversation, trying to explain to her some thoughts that might have gone into the few artworks that Fleur claimed to have copies of.
As the night went on, you found yourself exchanging views and opinions about the fundraiser, the paintings, and the people around. You were impressed by her knowledge and passion for art.
And Madame Maxime was as always as kind and interesting a person as there could be. She told you about the past year, about her difficulties in finding a partner at her age and about a secret project that was soon to begin. Surprisingly you did not get any information out of her about this project. Which made it only more interesting for you.
The fundraiser was boring, but the company was surprisingly not.
You are really doing the mingling thing that Perenelle always was speaking of. Look at you, developing into a true social butterfly. You will probably spend the entire next day in your own room and refuse to see anyone, you little introvert! But the night is not over yet. What do you want to do?
[ ] La préparation secrète – Madame Maxime is keeping her secret very close to herself. But maybe if you push and pull at the right moments and with some clever deduction, you might get to whatever it is that she is hiding. You do like her though, so you will rather concede without an answer than be impolite to the kind woman.
[ ] Rien ne va plus! – This is a fundraiser and as far as French fundraisers go, it is tradition that the deep pockets of the Flamels will finance a big chunk of the philanthropic work of the state. Your mother has given you access to the assigned funds for this night. Go and participate on the auction and buy whatever it is that fancies you most for a sum so horrendously high, that a single person could not carry the weight in gold.
[ ] Danse avec moi? – You are at a ball and as far as expectations go, it will not have been a successful one if you did not dance in it. You might be a little rusty as the movements go, but someone might be surprised by how well you will handle yourself. Ask Fleur for the dance of the night. You will definitely want to see absolutely no one tomorrow.
Three-hour Moratorium! As always, please take time to discuss the chapter and the vote first.
I admit the second or third options appeal to me. There are probably interesting items in the auction. Getting close to Fleur would be a nice blow to everyone back at Hogwarts when we interact with her there and are clearly not acting like befuddled morons like most of the male population does to her.
Flamel trying to recreate the Deathly Hallows is either going to succeed beyond his wildest dreams or be a catastrophe that rivals the creation of the Dementors. There can be no in between for such a genius…naturally we must help him with this project
Also dear lord, muggle creatures? I hope we don't say that in front of Hermione or she might break our noses as well!
You did not answer, instead you took your wand out as well. You pulled the robe off and cast: "Incendio!" pointing at the thing as you threw it. The fireball would have hit it before the robe touched the ground, but something purple intercepted it. Your mother's wand work was quicker than yours still. Another flick of her wand and the robe was on you again.
"Mama," you said calmly, both of you still smiling at each other like psychopaths. "I will burn the house down if that might solve this problem."
"Vamos hijo, solo una vez en tu vida. ¡No seas tan terco!" (Come on son, just once in your life. Dont be so stubborn!) Her smile dropped and her voice was raised in frustration.
[ ] La préparation secrète – Madame Maxime is keeping her secret very close to herself. But maybe if you push and pull at the right moments and with some clever deduction, you might get to whatever it is that she is hiding. You do like her though, so you will rather concede without an answer than be impolite to the kind woman.
[ ] Rien ne va plus! – This is a fundraiser and as far as French fundraisers go, it is tradition that the deep pockets of the Flamels will finance a big chunk of the philanthropic work of the state. Your mother has given you access to the assigned funds for this night. Go and participate on the auction and buy whatever it is that fancies you most for a sum so horrendously high, that a single person could not carry the weight in gold.
[ ] Danse avec moi? – You are at a ball and as far as expectations go, it will not have been a successful one if you did not dance in it. You might be a little rusty as the movements go, but someone might be surprised by how well you will handle yourself. Ask Fleur for the dance of the night. You will definitely want to see absolutely no one tomorrow.
I'm between the second and third option myself, the first one would just lead him to learning about the triwizard competition, which he'll learn about anyways.
The only thing I'm thinking about is whether the not wanting to talk to anyone the next day thing from the 3rd option would impede us helping nicolas with the deathly hollows.
But if it does, it would give us an excuse to focus on the solo options like learning apparation and finding our birth place
For his father Jacob spent time travelling throughout France to get back home.
For Nicolas Jacob is helping a dying old man battle Death itself in a final yet pointless struggle.
For his mother Jacob would dine and schmooze with high society like a natural.
If anyone from Hogwarts saw him, they would be shocked to find out about this side of Jacob but he never really hid it. It's just they never asked and it seemed like British magical high society is not really connected to most of the continent if Madame Maxime's comments about the British being barbarians is anything to believe.
[] Danse avec moi? – You are at a ball and as far as expectations go, it will not have been a successful one if you did not dance in it. You might be a little rusty as the movements go, but someone might be surprised by how well you will handle yourself. Ask Fleur for the dance of the night. You will definitely want to see absolutely no one tomorrow.
Were muggles maybe less empathetic? Asking that … where would they fall in a ranking between conscious beings? How conscious could someone really be without magic? You knew that owls had to be raised a certain way to have them develop most of their intelligence, so maybe the same was true for these non-wizards?
The first option actually sounds like the secret could be her half-giant genes instead of the tournament, I think depending on how the conversation goes if the option wins, Jacob could introduce her to Hagrid earlier than canon
The first option actually sounds like the secret could be her half-giant genes instead of the tournament, I think depending on how the conversation goes if the option wins, Jacob could introduce her to Hagrid earlier than canon
Makes me wonder what Nicholas is using as a core. We know canonically the Elder Wand has a threstal feather core. Then again, given types of wizards like Nicolas and Dumbledore and what Jacob seems to be becoming, I would imagine making your own wand was much more of the norm a few centuries ago. At least for a certain kind of intellectual and powerful witch or wizard.
