Chapter 110: Ancient Studies

Rose had always loved the ritual of the first day of school. She got up early, prepared herself for the day, went to the Great Hall to have a healthy breakfast and waited impatiently for McGonagall to give her her time table for the semester. This year was no different.

“You’ll be happy to know, Miss Potter, that both extracurricular courses, you and Miss Granger selected, will be taught this year and the next.”

Rose felt incredulous. “Enough students took them?”

“No, not exactly.” answered the head of house gryffindor. “The headmaster had found the time to teach alchemy now that his obligations outside Hogwarts have decreased to almost none. As for Ancient Studies you’re the only student that chose that supplementary elective. I don’t know much about the professor but they had the headmaster’s recommendation.”

A realization hit Rose square in the face. “I’m the only one in Ancient Studies?”

“The only student, yes but from what I understood you will not be alone with the professor.” The corner of Minerva’s lips almost twitched.

“Other people will join then? Is that normal, professor?”

“No. Once again, I’m not much aware of the situation,” Minerva was done with the information dumping and moved on to give other students their time table, leaving behind a confused Rose.

Hermione joined her a few minutes later with her own schedule under her arm.

“What did you decide in the end?” Rose asked her friend.

“I dropped astronomy and classic arithmancy or rather, your mom told me I could take the class but not show up for it since I’m also taking the advanced class. I just have to give her some homework at the end of each month.”

“That’s great. Also curious. I didn’t know it was possible to do that.”

“It’s exceptional. It requires the approval of the professor and your head of house. The last person who was able to do that was Bill Weasley as he tutored students in DADA and even taught the class in his last year. He was able to skip transfiguration and charms.”

“Not surprising since my parents tutored him during summers.”

“Speaking of, your parents and your Aunt Marlene were the previous students who were exempt from attending some classes.”

That was shocking news to Rose. Not quite shocking as she knew her parents were intellectually gifted but it was still surprising. “What did they skip?”

“From what Professor McGonagall told me, pretty much everything but the classes of the heads of house.”

That intrigued Rose. “How come?”

“Because Minerva wanted me back on the quidditch team and be the captain.”

Both young women turned around to see Rick standing behind them.

““Hello, professor.””

“How did professor McGonagall wanting you back on the quidditch team allowed you to skip classes?” Hermione asked.

“I negotiated. I didn’t particularly like playing quidditch in those years, just flying, so when she asked me to come back I asked for Lily, Marlene and I to be exempted from going to classes we didn’t need in our seventh year.” he revealed.

“What about sixth year?” Rose inquired.

“Well… Lily and I cheated a bit. All the professors knew we were taking all electives and sharing notes so when they didn’t see us in their class, they believed we were in another. Since our grades were outstanding, pun intended, they never bothered to check. We just worked in our secret room or fooled around.”

Rose was laughing at her parents’ antics. The more she learned about their experience during their time at Hogwarts as students, the more she could somehow relate to them. Sometimes she wished she had been with them to experience all the shenanigans they got into. Hermione, for her part, was both shocked and scandalized.

“You and Professor Potter skipped classes?! B-but, you were prefects and, and…”

Rick cast a soundproof charm around them. “Miss Granger. While I never abused my authority as a prefect or a head boy, it didn’t mean that I wasn’t breaking the rules myself. I’ve probably broken every big rule in the book but was never caught for it. So did Lily.”

“I can’t believe it!” Hermione exclaimed.

“Yet it’s the truth.”

“Examples?” Rose asked.

“Hmm… The very first day of my sixth year? I transformed into a crow, flew to Hogsmeade, took the floo in the Three Broomsticks, arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, went to muggle London to buy as many different kind of sweets I could, made the journey back, infiltrated Dumbledore’s office through the window and get back out without getting caught after leaving the bag of sweets on his desk.” he grinned.

“Why would you do that?!”

“To bribe Dumbledore, Hermione. He didn’t have the time to teach alchemy and there was no one else so I asked him, in front of Minerva, if the promise of very rare and tasty sweets he didn’t know would change his mind. He said yes, mind you more because he didn’t think I could pull it off, but in the end he kept his word. As a result he now always closes his windows when he leaves his office.”

“I can’t believe that Albus Dumbledore was bribed!” At this point Hermione was losing her mind.

Rose was laughing loudly at her father’s disrespect for the rules. “Were you not punished?”

“No. Albus knew it was me obviously but he couldn’t prove it. He asked how I did it and I answered him subtly without incriminating myself, hence why he closes the windows now.”

“That’s a great story, dad! Do you have more?”

“Just one more because I need my breakfast.” his stomach growled to make a point. “The summer of my graduation, Filius and Albus upgraded the defense system for each girls dormitory.”

““Why?””

“For the simple reason that before then the enchantments only activated for male.”

Hermione was confused. “That’s not different from the current enchantments?”

“The current enchantments now include male animagus.” Both young witches’ jaws dropped low, understanding immediately what he was implying.

“Y-you-” Hermione was now pointing an accusing finger at Rick.

“For my last two years at Hogwarts I must have spent less than five nights in my own bed. When I needed something from my own room, I just flew from Lily’s and Marlene’s window to mine. Sometimes I was perched on Lily’s shoulders and everyone thought it was Morrigan.”

“That’s brilliant, dad!”

“In fact the loophole in the system was known only because I told Minerva the day of our graduation.”

“I can’t believe you broke… such rules!” Hermione was still oscillating between shock, outrage and now awe.

“You never got caught?”

“If you mean in the girls’ dorm? Never. If you mean caught for something else then once.”

““What was it?””

“My seventh-year. I led the quidditch team to victory against Hufflepuff at the end of the year and as usual we celebrated in the common room. Lily dragged me outside, right into a broom closet. Minerva caught us past curfew there. At this point, taking points or giving detention was meaningless so she let us go.”

“Now I know you’re having us on! She wouldn’t do that.”

“She had just won the quidditch cup, 75 galleons and bragging rights in front of the other heads of house. She was way too happy to punish her favorite students a week away from the end of their schooling.”

“You should tell us more about those stories, dad.”

“Not until you’ve all graduated.” He winked at his daughter and made his way up the professor table after removing the soundproof charm.

He took a seat between Lily and Marlene and instantly they asked questions.

“I just told the girls a story or two about our days as students.”

“Like?” inquired Marlene.

“My first day of school in our sixth-year, and the fact that I discovered the loophole in the girls’ dormitories enchantments. Hermione is having an existential crisis about the fact I spent our last two years of schooling in your bed.”

“That girl really needs to get a boyfriend and live a little.” Lily commented with a small smile on her face and shaking her head.

“Excuse me?” Marlene interjected. “Were it not for Rick and I, you would have been the same.”

“I take offense to that! I wasn’t as bad!”

Rick protested too. “Why was I included? I never dragged any of you into my shenanigans.”

““You did.””

“I didn’t. You followed me.”

“So you wouldn’t end up in the infirmary. Again.”

Lily agreed with Marlene. “Everytime we let you go alone you got into trouble and half the time Madam Pomfrey fixed you up.”

“Not half the time.” Rick was grumbling in denial.

“Regardless, we went with you so you wouldn’t find trouble.” pointed out Marlene.

Lily had something to add too to that. “And had Amelia babysit you when we were not there during the holidays and even then you managed to find yourself in the infirmary or did you forget the time you jumped head first into the Chamber of Secrets?”

“““WHAT?!”””

A common shout of shock echoed through the Great Hall, from their colleagues around them and the few students seated at the front of their house table who had heard the animated discussion. Lily realized she may have started some trouble speaking too loud when all the eyes were turned on them. Quickly what she had said reached the end of the table.

“Who’s finding trouble now?” Rick smirked at his redhead wife.

“I…” she was blushing because of her blunder and didn’t know what to say to fix it.

“The chamber really exists?” inquired a fourth-year Slytherin.

It was Dumbledore who intervened. “It does but it’s not as grandiose as you might think. It’s quite mundane in truth. A simple room for Slytherin to sleep and not much else. The place is a ruin and very unstable.”

“What about the monster?” A seventh-year Ravenclaw asked, a bit afraid and with good reason. The last time the Chamber had been officially opened a student died from the monster.

“I personally took care of it with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. Never again will it threaten students of the school.”

“What was it, Headmaster?” a Slytherin asked.

“Albus, do you think it’s prudent to tell them?” Minerva asked.

“I agree, didn't you forbid me to talk about it?” Rick supported his friend.

“It matters little now. Amelia and you are quite the accomplished and powerful witch and wizard. There is little Voldemort can do to you for finding the Chamber.”

“Auntie did?!” Susan exclaimed and everyone looked at her.

“Yes. I’m afraid however, that it’s a story for another time, classes are about to begin soon and it wouldn’t do to be late for the first day of school.”

At this point interested students grumbled and went back to finish their breakfast or left the Great Hall to prepare for class. No doubt Hogwarts’ rumor mill would work overtime for this revelation. Already plenty of whispers could be heard.

“You’re trying to piss him off.” Rick remarked.

“Yes. The more unstable he is, the more he will make mistakes. It’s another loss against him and another victory for us.”

“I won’t be surprised if that story is in the prophet tomorrow and Amelia’s popularity rises even more.” Lily noticed.

At the hall’s entrance, Rose, Hermione, Susan and friends from other houses with which they had their first class were talking animatedly about what they had just learned. Or rather they were asking for details about it to Rose and Draco.

The first one was from Neveille. “What was the monster in the Chambers of Secrets?”

“A sixty foot long basilisk. Dad still has one of its fangs back home.” Rose replied.

“Where is it?” Daphne followed up.

It was Draco who answered her. “No idea. Uncle was never forthcoming with its location for our safety.”

“Susan, Professor Dumbledore implied that your aunt and Professor Potter found the Chamber but when was that?”

“I don’t know, Hermione. I didn’t even know Auntie was involved,” the ginger redhead was a bit peeved by finding that now.

“If I remember correctly: in 72.” Rose filled in.

“Blimey! Your dad was in his second year!” exclaimed Ron and everyone gave him a look of surprise. That was a fast calculation for him then they all remember that Ron was an absolute quidditch fan of Rick so knowing about the age and years like that was natural.

“Oh!” Now it was Hermione who realized something. “That’s why they received a Special Service award from the school! That hadn’t happened since… the last opening of the Chamber of Secrets in the forties.”

“Only you would know that, Hermione.” Hannah Abott, hooked at Neville’s arm, shook her head with amusement.

“I’m curious and I can’t help it!”

“Pretty sure you just wanted the award too.” Draco joked with a composed tone and made everyone laugh.

A few days went by and the sixth-years were already done with school. Not because of the amount of homework they got but because of the speeches from the teachers about the NEWTs. Rose had tuned them all out after the very first one. The only exception had been her father’s speech.

“If you’re here, you either want to take ancient runes for your NEWT or got lost. It seemed no one got lost, so let’s get started.”

And that was it. When Hermione raised her hand and asked if it was, his answer had been golden.

“Your first year in ancient runes had been a difficult learning curve. By the end of it you all had the rhythm to handle the class. Each year afterward I just increased the pace a bit and you had no problem with it. This year and next year will be no different. You’re already ready to tackle this year as such, I don’t see the point of giving you a long speech about how you need to work hard for a good grade. It’s unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and my colleagues already gave you one.”

Rose almost laughed then. It was so much like her father to dismiss important things like this which in truth were not really important. His cool attitude relaxed most students who ended up unsurprisingly more productive.

Regardless, she still felt bored in class. Now she was all excited though. The previous day she had class with Dumbledore and she absolutely loved the two hours spent learning and talking about Alchemy. While her father had taught her chemistry he had left alone alchemy on purpose. The subject had officially become her favorite, above charm and potions and couldn’t wait for the next class tomorrow.

Right now she was waiting in front of the Ancient Studies class and wondered what she would learn. She knew it was related to ancient magics but not much else. In fact very few knew about them. It made sense to her, the magic wouldn’t be ancient otherwise.

“Ready?”

Rose jumped in fright and drew her wand, turning around ready to defend herself from the person who took her by surprise and whispered in her ears while her mind was wandering.

“Dad?! Mom?!”

“Good evening, honey.” Lily greeted with a smile while Rick waved his hand.

“What are you doing here?”

“Same thing as you, Rose. Taking Ancient Studies.”

Her father’s answer took her mind for a spin then she remembered McGonagall trying to not smirk on the first day of school when she told her she would be the only student attending the class.

“You can do that?”

“Yes. We were the ones who negotiated for the professors to come teach.” Rick explained.

“And since we never took the class during our time as students but are still interested in it, we’re taking it now.” Lily explained further, shocking Rose even more.

“We just hope it won’t annoy you too much.”

“I… No! Why would it? You always taught me, either at home or here in school. Seeing you as students… that’s a new experience. One that I look forward to.”

The door of the classroom opened and revealed a woman who looked to be in her early fifties muggle-wise. To Rose she looked as old as her grandmother so she suspected she was around the same age. She invited them to come inside and take a seat.

“Welcome to Ancient Studies. I’m Perenelle Flamel, your professor.” She presented herself with a mischievous smile.

The potter’s jaws dropped to their table, shocked. Rose because she couldn’t believe her teacher was THE Perenelle Flamel, Lily and Rick because she gave her real name.

“Professor, I thought you and your husband would use fake identities?” Rick asked after quickly recovering his mental faculties.

“Husband as in… He’s here too?!” Rose exclaimed, being even more shocked than she was a few seconds ago.

“Yes.” The woman replied still with a smile on her lips. “We will teach alternately. As for our identities, well… we believed it to be a bit rude to hide who we were. Albus trusts you to keep mum about it and so will we.”

“We will ma’am. Although I’d have to come up with a believable story regarding you. My friend Hermione is very curious by nature and will want to know everything about the class. Who you are included.” Rose had quickly caught on.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Nicolas and I created multiple legitimate identities over the years. Officially we are Marie and Laurent Durand, simple scholars.”

“Noted, professor. I’m curious about… well why you and your husband decided to come teach… me?”

“We negotiated well, Rose.” Lily couldn’t help herself and combed her daughter's hair with her hand. “You wanted to study Ancient Studies and we asked Albus if he could find someone.”

“That someone turned out to be Nicolas and I.”

Rose turned to her parents with worry. “What did you exchange for that? I don’t want—”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that Miss Potter. Your parents gave us something, true but we mainly accepted because my husband and I are interested in you.”

That tidbit of information froze Rose on the spot. “Me?!”

Sighing softly, Perenelle began to explain the reason why she and Nicolas were interested in Rose. “We’re old, Miss Potter. Humans are not supposed to live as long as we do. After a while things began to become a routine and we lost the enjoyments life gives us. Twenty years ago, we already began to plan our final journey, then one day we received a letter from Albus telling us about new things regarding alchemy that we didn’t know about. About two bright students who completely shook his world in the subject.” At this point she was looking at Rick and Lily with a smirk. Rick smirked back and Lily was mimicking her daughter’s expression: shock.

“We learned that muggles had advanced far beyond what we knew in alchemy or chemistry as they call it and were making discoveries after discoveries. Of course we got interested and we learned much but most of all we found a taste for life again. It wasn’t boring anymore. Then two years ago Albus sent the memories of their daughter, a young fourteen years old witch participating in the Triwizard tournament, using alchemy to defeat an Iron Belly and surviving underwater.

We were pleasantly shocked. Directly using your wand to create an alchemical reaction in broad daylight instead of the darkness of a laboratory… A novel concept who interested us very much. So when Albus asked us to teach the very same witch for two years, we agreed. We’re curious about what you will come up with regarding alchemy and how far you will go.”

“I…Why teach Ancient Studies and not alchemy then?”

“We simply don’t have identities related to alchemy. We tend to stay as far away from the subject as much as we can publicly. Besides, Albus knows little of Ancient Magic. Not enough to teach it.”

Rick put a hand on Rose’s shoulder for support. “You earned this, Rose. You’re a bright witch in your own right and not just because you’re our daughter. If anything, your mother and I are riding your coattails now.”

At this moment she wanted nothing more to hug her parents to death. She was so moved by their actions and words.

“I hope you won’t be disappointed, professor. Although, keep in mind that I’m only responsible for my own expectations. No one else’s.”

“Good, now let’s start class with the basic definition of Ancient Magic. What is it?”

The three Potters raised their hands to answer. Rose almost laughed at the sight of her parents behaving like students. Perenelle invited Lily to answer.

“Ancient magic is very old and mysterious magic, sometimes forgotten, which doesn’t necessarily require a wand.”

“Yes, that’s correct. We can define it a bit more however. Rick?”

“Ancient Magic is magic which happens independently of efforts by magicals, an effect which is triggered by events and powers endemic to the nature of reality.”

“Correct but still not quite complete. Rose?”

“Hm… They both said what I was going to say, so I’ll just add…” she was thinking fast now. “It’s raw, pure, powerful. Emotionally and intently based? It’s affected but not really controlled by our emotions and intentions.”

“Yes. Do you have an example in mind?”

“Love.”

“Love is indeed one of the most powerful and mysterious forms of Ancient Magic. What you both forgot to mention plainly is that in consequence there are no proper spells to control it.”

“Dad created one.”

That brought Perenelle to a stop. Usually she would have dismissed the interruption, the idea that ancient magic could be controlled by creating a spell went against everything she knew. However, after what Albus had told her about the three in front of her, she considered listening. They had proven to be able to come up with new ways to use magic and everything was possible with magic.

“What kind of spell is it?” she asked Rick.

“It’s not really controlling Ancient Magic. I’m just sharing what I feel for my loved ones. It’s like a patronus but charged with love.”

Now Perenelle was more than just intrigued. “Show me.”

Rick picked up his wand. “Verus Amor.” The now familiar red phantomatic wolf came out of his wand and trotted around the room in the air before settling down in front of Perenelle who touched it. Like others before she felt the love at contact.

“I based this one on Agape so it’s not that strong. When I used Pragma with Lily in mind, she…”

“I became a very happy and blissful mess.” she finished, Rick not knowing how to describe what Lily went through.

“When dad used it on me I felt… happy, protected, safe. Loved.”

“That’s because I used Storge at the time.”

“I’m sorry dad, but I don’t get what you mean. Storge? Agape? Pragma?”

“Love can be divided into seven categories. Eros is the romantic passionate love of the body. Lust, sexual attraction. It’s usually the most prominent ones among teenagers. Philia is an affectionate and friendly love. It is entirely platonic, yet both meaningful and sweet. It’s how you feel about Hermione for example. Storge is unconditional familial love. It is a protective, kinship-based love that embodies approval, sacrifice, and acceptance. It’s the love from parents to their children.”

“Or siblings even if they are not blood related and even if they keep stealing your clothes?” Rose asked with amusement.

“Yes.” Lily answered, thinking of Marlene, her sister in everything but blood. A better sister than Petunia ever was.

“Next is Agape. It’s a selfless, universal love. An empathetic, selfless love for others that includes a love for nature, strangers, and the less fortunate. It’s altruistic. Then there is Ludus. A flirtatious and playful love. It’s… basically having a crush? It’s what you feel at the start of a romance. The butterflies in your stomach but without strings attached.”

“Common for teenagers too but also for adults.” Lily chimed in.

“The sixth is Pragma. Committed, long everlasting love. It is built on commitment, endurance, companionship, and sharing similar hopes for the future, which includes things like building a family and putting down roots. It’s a love that endures and matures with time.” Rick took Lily’s hand in his and exchanged a look and a smile. Rose understood then that it was the love they shared and she wanted the same because it sounded and looked beautiful. She had never seen two people more in love with each other than them.

“What’s the seventh?”

“The most challenging of them all. Philautia. The self-love. It’s the love you have for yourself which allows you to love others and be loved. At least in its healthy form. It’s in unhealthy form it’s… self-obsession leading to narcissism, selfishness, arrogance, and a delusion of superiority.”

“Does your spell work for all of them?” Rose inquired with curiosity. She’d like to know.

“I haven’t tested it for Eros, Ludus and Phillautia, yet. Agape is still a work in progress. Maybe Albus had tried.”

“I find it hard to believe you haven’t tested Eros, dad.” Rose's flat tone and deadpanned face made Lily snort and laugh.

“After your mother and Bella’s reaction to Pragma, I was hesitant to test this one.”

“Does it count as an actual ancient Magic spell then?” Lily asked Perenelle who was still hand on the Philio, completely frozen in shock.

“Professor?” Rose tried.

Rick shot a low powered stinging hex bringing back the woman to the present.

“That’s… I’m not sure. I’d like to say yes because no magic has ever been able to share what you feel to someone else, the patronus being just happiness in general. On the other hand you do not create love, you share it by the use of the spell.”

“I did feel even more love for my husband when I was under the effect of the spell. So indirectly he created love.”

“Hm… I’d say it’s a huge step towards controlling Ancient Magic but not quite. Nicolas will be very interested in this.”

Afterward Perenelle resumed the class and started with the Ancient Magic of Asia. Most notably the magical language. It seems odd at first to consider a magical language as Ancient Magic but by looking closer it fitted the definition. At the end of the two hours, Rose had had a blast. She didn’t know if it was because of the subject or if it was because her parents were learning with her but Dumbledore’s class had now been relegated to a distant second as the best subject she had studied.

“You’re not going to dinner?” Rose asked as her parents walked toward the stairs to the seventh-floor.

“After being students again for two hours, your father and I want to keep enjoying the feeling for a bit longer.”

The smile Lily had on her lips told Rose everything to know about what was going to happen. She watched them go with a peculiar feeling of happiness. Once again she witnessed her parents being madly in love with each other but this time, not as parents or adults but two teenagers. It was only when they were out of sight that she realized that the only classroom on the seventh floor was Astronomy and that there was no broom closet to do the deed or just snogging. The idea that there was a secret passage or room she didn’t know about crossed her mind and she quickly went after them.

There was no trace of her parents but she noticed a door she had never seen before and which was suddenly disappearing. Without thinking she ran to it and opened it, going inside the room. The sight of her mother in dark green lingerie being held in her father’s arm while half naked stopped her on the spot. The cherry on the cake was that her father was buried deep inside her mother. She had seen her parents’ escapades through what Susan called the ‘Kinky Album’ but seeing them going at it with her own two eyes was another matter.

“Oh.”

Both Rick and Lily stopped kissing and turned her head to look at a befuddled Rose.

“She got it from you.” Rick said pointing out at Rose being a voyeur.

“Fair.”

Rose’s curiosity and sense of adventure had landed her in something she couldn’t describe.